Where is the early stage of the marriage alliance?

"Yes."

Lu Baixu quickly packed up his medicine box and stood up.

"The Crown Princess found an ancient zither somewhere and sent it to the Lu residence the other day, saying it was to thank me for helping her out of that predicament the other day. I never like to owe favors, so I brought her a bottle of medicine today."

Xiao Ce's eyes were unfathomable. She was good at catering to his tastes, giving him a sword and Lu Baixu a zither.

……

Not two days later, Ling Xi's foot had just recovered a bit, and she thought of going out of the manor for some fresh air. She had just reached the gate of the manor when a slender figure suddenly rushed from the side of the street and knelt down in front of her with a "thump".

Caught off guard, Ling Xi was startled by the sudden appearance of the woman and staggered, instinctively taking half a step back.

Wushuang immediately stepped forward and shielded her firmly behind him.

"presumptuous!"

"Princess Consort! I was wrong! I beg you, Princess Consort, to have mercy on my father! Please, Princess Consort, have mercy!"

The woman cried her heart out, banging her forehead heavily against the bluestone slab, tears streaming down her face.

Ling Xi lowered his eyes to look at her, feeling that her eyebrows and eyes looked somewhat familiar, but he couldn't remember where he had seen her before.

"Who is your father? I have never met you before, why should I let your father go?"

"The Crown Princess..."

The woman raised her head, her face streaked with tears, looking utterly pitiful.

Wushuang saw her face clearly, and his eyes suddenly sharpened.

"Princess, it was her carriage that hit us on the street that day."

Ling Xi's gaze paused slightly as she looked the person over more carefully. It was her! Miss Zhuang. This was one of the portraits of the Princess Consort Rui had chosen for Xiao Ce when she selected concubines.

"You are... Zhuang Shaoai?"

Her voice was soft and gentle, yet carried a hint of coldness that was barely perceptible.

"Yes, Your Highness, I am Zhuang Shao'ai, and my father is Zhuang Xu, a judge in the Court of Judicial Review. I beg Your Highness to be lenient and not transfer my father to Liuzhou! Liuzhou is a remote and desolate place; if my father goes there, I fear..."

Tears streamed down her face, and she choked up, unable to say anything more.

"It's all Shao Ai's fault! It was Shao Ai who offended the Crown Princess that day. Please punish me, Crown Princess, and please don't take your anger out on my father!"

Ling Xi stood there, looking down at her swaying, crying figure, and felt speechless.

She didn't do anything. Although Lu Baixu told her that day, she didn't even have time to think about revenge.

"What does your father's transfer have to do with me, Princess?"

Zhuang Shaoai was startled, her crying paused for a moment, and then she kowtowed heavily again.

"My father is a low-key official who never offends anyone. Only I, only I have offended you recently... I beg Your Highness, please forgive my father for his petty transgression..."

She cried and kowtowed, giving Ling Xi no chance to interject.

"Liuzhou is rife with miasma, and the journey is a thousand miles. My father is already old, and if he goes there... I fear he may never return! I beg the Crown Princess to have mercy. I am willing to serve as your servant, at your beck and call!"

"Wait! Begging me won't help. I really didn't do it. I know nothing about it. Instead of wasting your time, why don't you go to the Ministry of Personnel and pull some strings to see if your father has offended anyone..."

"The people from the Ministry of Personnel said that... it was because we offended the Prince Rui's residence."

Prince Rui's residence? Ling Xi stood there, her fingers tightening slightly, but it really wasn't her who did it!

Could it be Xiao Ce?

Did Lu Baixu tell him? But Xiao Ce has no reason to help her deal with the Zhuang family.

She looked at Zhuang Shaoai, who was prostrate on the ground, and then at the dark sky outside the mansion. Her face suddenly turned cold.

"Stand up and speak. I, the princess, know nothing about this matter. You have the wrong person."

"Princess Consort! Please, Princess Consort, show mercy..."

As if convinced that this matter was related to Ling Xi, she suddenly rushed forward without regard for anything else and hugged Ling Xi's legs tightly, refusing to let go.

Wushuang and Peilan tried to pull her away, but she wouldn't budge, fearing they might hurt their princess.

Ling Xi was too busy to move, and at this moment she was only glad that Xiao Ce hadn't taken Zhuang Shao Ai into the family. She was much more troublesome than Mu Wanning. At least Mu Wanning wouldn't cause trouble unless he saw her.

"Let go right now!"

Wushuang coldly shouted, making a move to attack.

"What are you doing?"

Ling Xi breathed a sigh of relief when she heard Xiao Ce's deep voice behind her.

"Young Master, you've come at the right time. Miss Zhuang insists that her father was transferred away from Jinling because of me."

Ling Xi turned to ask for help, but her legs were still being held tightly by Zhuang Shaoai.

Xiao Ce glanced sideways at her right leg, which had been limping a few days ago, and a hint of coldness appeared in his eyes.

She's right.

Was it really because of her? Ling Xi was surprised; she knew nothing about it.

Upon hearing this, Zhuang Shaoai quickly released his grip and knelt down towards Xiao Ce.

"I beg Your Highness to have mercy and spare my father and the Zhuang family. I know I was wrong; I shouldn't have offended the Crown Princess..."

"presumptuous!"

Lu Ming let out a cold snort, which froze Zhuang Shaoai in place.

"Since you dared to confront the Crown Princess in the street, you should have thought about the consequences."

Xiao Ce looked down coldly, his phoenix eyes showing no anger, yet they sent shivers down one's spine.

Zhuang Shaoai slumped to his knees, his face filled with disbelief. Wasn't it said that the Prince Rui disliked this Princess of Chu? Why would he stand up for her?

Equally unbelievable was Ling Xi herself; she hadn't expected that this was actually because of her.

Although it would be easy for the Prince's Mansion to influence the transfer of an eighth-rank official in the capital, Xiao Ce had no reason to help her.

After Zhuang Shaoai left, Ling Xi spoke again:

"Your Highness...why are you helping me?"

Xiao Ce glanced at her indifferently, his gaze settling on her face.

"When you gave me the Lingxiao Sword last time, didn't you say you wanted to seek protection from the Prince Rui's mansion?"

Ling Xi blinked, and then realized what was happening.

Sure enough! She knew it; the saying "He who takes a gift is bound to be obligated" is an eternal truth. It seems she has no choice but to continue down this path of gift-giving.

"Then... is there anything else you like? I'll go find it for you."

Her fox-like eyes were wide and bright as she stared at Xiao Ce. They were originally clear and innocent eyes, but after looking at them a few more times, he inexplicably felt a touch of alluring charm in them.

Xiao Ce felt a slight tightness in his throat, but quickly withdrew his gaze and took a step forward.

"Hey, wait a minute! Tell me first! What else do you like?"

She hurried to catch up, but he subtly quickened his pace, and she couldn't keep up no matter what she did.

Ling Xi was not annoyed at all. She stopped and watched Xiao Ce's departing figure. She was unhurried, upright, and her clothes fluttered lightly. Her whole body exuded indifference and arrogance.

Unexpectedly, he managed to transfer Zhuang's father away from Jinling in just a few days without making a sound.

In short, Ling Xi was in a good mood. She suddenly felt that Xiao Ce was a reliable person, and she had a moment of disorientation, as if she had returned to the days when her brother protected her so much.

She finally figured out Xiao Ce's temperament. Although she was insignificant to him, as long as she was still a member of the Prince Rui's mansion on the surface, he would protect her.