Where is the early stage of the marriage alliance?

Ling Xi accepted Xiao Ce's favor and found him to be an approachable person.

In order to solidify her relationship with Xiao Ce, Ling Xi began sending things to Chuixing Courtyard every few days, based on what she had previously learned about his preferences.

Xiao Ce initially refused several times, but she persisted. Fortunately, nowadays she mostly sent novel foods or clothing, no longer expensive items like the Lingxiao Sword, so Xiao Ce eventually went along with it.

After visiting several times, Ling Xi finally met Mu Wanning at Chuixing Courtyard for the first time.

She wore a light blue cloak, and her face still showed obvious signs of illness.

Coincidentally, Mu Wanning also came to Chuixing Courtyard to deliver something today.

Even more coincidentally, both of them gave her cloaks.

The main hall of Chuixing Courtyard was warm and inviting, but it couldn't dispel the tense and stagnant atmosphere within.

The two sat facing each other in the hall. Logically speaking, given Ling Xi's personality, she would be too lazy to confront her directly. But for some reason, seeing that Mu Wanning had also given her a cloak, she felt a little tempted to stay.

Whether it's good or bad, I'm the wife and she's the concubine, so why should I be afraid of her?

Mu Wanning glanced at the cloak on the opposite table, a faint hint of disdain playing on his lips.

Ling Xi prepared a black cloak made of fine, fluffy, soft, and smooth sable fur. It felt soft and boneless to the touch, clearly made of the finest material.

She specially went to the most famous Jinxiu Pavilion in Jinling and spent a lot of money to have it custom-made. She doesn't have many skills, and she knows absolutely nothing about needlework.

What Mu Wanning prepared was a white brocade cloak with a white fox collar. Although it was not as luxurious as the sable cloak, it showed his care in sewing it by hand.

Ling Xi naturally knew that even though she had spent a lot of money, in Xiao Ce's heart, it was still not as good as what Mu Wanning had made by hand.

Clearly, Mu Wanning was extremely familiar with Chuixing Courtyard and showed no signs of being a stranger. She picked up the teacup on the table, took a slow sip, and her demeanor was relaxed and at ease, indicating that she often frequented this courtyard.

"Ace won't use your cloak."

Mu Wanning gently put down her teacup, looked up at him, and spoke in a light tone, yet with an undeniable certainty.

Ling Xi's heart tightened, feeling a little guilty that what Mu Wanning had said had hit the nail on the head, but she still looked up to meet Mu Wanning's gaze.

What makes you think he doesn't know how to use it?

Although her question was forceful, she was unsure of herself. Everyone in the Prince's mansion knew how much Xiao Ce cared about Mu Wanning, but she just liked to be quick-witted.

Mu Wanning slowly placed the teacup in her hand on the table. The porcelain cup touched the wooden table with a soft sound. She looked up at Ling Xi, her eyes showing no emotion.

"Because you are from the State of Chu."

In just a few words, without any further explanation, Ling Xi understood even more clearly that Mu Wanning's only advantage was that Xiao Ce would protect her.

The cold wind howled in the courtyard, and the lanterns under the eaves flickered on and off.

As soon as Xiao Ce stepped into the gate of Chuixing Courtyard, the servants guarding the gate immediately bowed and stepped forward.

"Your Highness, the Crown Princess and the concubine... are waiting in the hall right now."

Xiao Ce was slightly taken aback, and his tired expression faded a bit. It was quite strange that the two of them appeared here at the same time.

A question arose in his mind, and he unconsciously quickened his pace. Just as he stepped onto the bluestone steps of the main hall, the hall door was gently pushed open from the inside.

Ling Xi walked out of the hall, and a few strands of her hair clung to her cheeks as the cold wind blew outside.

"You...are back."

She spoke first, a smile immediately spreading across her face, exactly the same as when she came to deliver things a few days ago, showing no trace of the tension she had felt when confronting Mu Wanning in the hall just now.

"I went shopping today and happened to see a cloak at Jinxiu Pavilion that suits you very well, so I bought it for you on a whim."

It was a precious item she had commissioned at great expense, but the nonchalant tone in her voice made it seem like it was just an ordinary, commonplace object.

"It's getting late, so I'll head back to Yuehua Courtyard first."

Before Xiao Ce could respond, she spoke again, her face still bearing the same smile, but her tone carrying a hint of imperceptible haste.

She didn't look at Xiao Ce's expression again, turned around and walked quickly towards the courtyard gate, soon disappearing from the gate.

Standing on the steps, Xiao Ce watched her hastily departing figure, his doubts growing ever stronger.

A moment later, he turned and went inside, where Mu Wanning greeted him with a smile.

"A-Ce, come here and try on the new cloak I made for you."

Upon hearing the word "cloak," Xiao Ce's gaze suddenly shifted to the other side of the table, where the black cloak that Ling Xi had just mentioned was neatly placed.

Mu Wanning turned around with the cloak in her hands, just in time to see Xiao Ce's gaze fixed on the cloak Ling Xi had brought. Her fingertips paused slightly, and she gently pursed her lips.

"A-Ce, come and give it a try."

Xiao Ce then snapped out of his reverie, a faint smile appearing on his face.

She walked slowly behind him and gently wrapped the cloak around his neck. Before she could do it, Xiao Ce quickly tied the ties in front of him himself.

"It fits perfectly, thank you."

"Every winter, I make one for you and one for Brother Mo..."

Before Mu Wanning could finish speaking, his eyes had already reddened.

"Wan Ning..."

"I'm fine."

She hurriedly raised her hand to wipe away the tears from the corners of her eyes, and managed a weak smile, but the smile froze on her face, devoid of any warmth.

"I've heard that the Crown Princess has been visiting Chuixing Courtyard quite frequently lately..."

She didn't continue speaking, but Xiao Ce already understood completely.

He reached out and took off his cloak, casually draping it over a nearby wooden chair before sitting down in the spot where Ling Xi had just been. He didn't reply, his expression remaining calm, his eyes completely undisturbed.

"A-Ce, don't forget, Brother Mo... died at the hands of the Blazing Flame Army."

Her voice trembled slightly, and her eyes were already misty.

"Of course I won't forget."

Xiao Ce's hand on the table gradually tightened, and his originally gentle eyes were now filled with a deep gloom.

Mu Wanning stared at Xiao Ce for a moment, seemingly analyzing the truth or falsehood of his words, but he still couldn't tell.

"Then you should get some rest. I'll head back now."

"etc……"

"Your body has not yet fully recovered, and the winter is cold, so you should avoid being outdoors in the wind to prevent catching a cold."

Mu Wanning was slightly taken aback and nodded subconsciously. But as she turned around, a question arose inexplicably in her heart. Xiao Ce was always aloof and cold. When did he become so considerate and thoughtful?

Xiao Ce stared at that slender, frail figure for a long time, his knuckles tightening slightly.

Lu Baixu said she has less than three years left.

Ling Xi returned to Yuehua Courtyard, still unable to understand why she had fled in such a panic. Even though Xiao Ce had returned, she didn't dare to hand him the cloak in person.

Perhaps she was afraid that, as Mu Wanning had said, Xiao Ce wouldn't use her cloak?

Even so, this was all expected. What was she afraid of?

Sure enough, the next day in the garden, they met Xiao Ce returning home after his shift. He was wearing the moon-white cloak that Mu Wanning had sewn by hand.

He met her several times afterward, but the sable cloak she had given him never appeared on him.