Where is the early stage of the marriage alliance?

Ling Xi was already used to having another man in the room. She gave a slight bow, gave a perfunctory greeting, and returned to the inner room.

It was Xiao Ce himself who was not used to it.

He glanced at the slightly closed partition door, tossed aside the book in his hand, and turned his gaze to the corner of the table, where a stack of plain paper lay quietly—the very ultimatum from the Ministry of Rites that he had had prepared for him that day.

He had originally thought that if she asked him for it, he would naturally give it to her, but it seems that she probably won't need it.

Lu Ming had just reported that she had been going to Prince Yu's residence for the past two days. Prince Yu had also sent someone to the Ministry of Rites today to request an ultimatum.

His fingertips curled slightly, then slowly relaxed.

The ultimatum on the corner of the table was left unattended. He suddenly reached out and pressed it down among the books on the table, then calmly withdrew his gaze, his eyes completely unmoved.

The next day, Ling Xi got up early to dress up. She was overjoyed to see her brother after not seeing him for a year. Although Prince Yu had given her an ultimatum that she could only enter Wanfang Pavilion between 3 PM and 5 PM every day, she couldn't wait to get ready.

Perrin was equally delighted. Only Wushuang remained as calm and composed as ever.

"Wushuang, you're about to see my brother, aren't you excited?"

In the afternoon, the master and servants walked along the long corridor of the Prince Rui's mansion garden. Ling Xi finally realized that Wushuang had been detached from her and Peilan's joy all day.

"This servant... is naturally happy."

When the prince arrived, Wushuang was naturally happy, but she had never expressed her emotions so openly as the princess.

She grew up in the Xuanji Camp, and her memories were filled with nothing but the daily grind of training and fighting. In the years that followed, she stayed by Ling Heng's side, her only thought being to protect the prince's safety. Ling Heng was aloof, and she became even more composed as a result.

Ling Xi glanced at Wushuang again, shook her head, and thought, "Never mind, none of the guards my brother raised have a smile on their face."

However, I still have to ask my brother today. He must have been too harsh on Wushuang on weekdays, which is why she is so unsmiling. Wushuang has such a beautiful face, but she only has a cold expression all day long.

The sky was clear and bright after the snowfall, just like Ling Xi's mood at that moment. The wind was still biting cold outside, but she didn't care at all, her heart filled with excitement at the prospect of seeing her brother.

As soon as the carriage came to a stop in front of Wanfang Pavilion, she couldn't wait to get up. Before Wushuang and Peilan could even help her, she had already lifted the curtain and stepped out of the carriage.

A hand with distinct knuckles steadily reached out in front of her. She looked up in surprise and met a pair of eyes full of doting affection. It was the familiar face she had been longing for.

"elder brother!"

Without thinking twice, she leaped into Ling Heng's arms, crying and laughing at the same time.

"Brother, I miss you so much..."

Ling Heng caught her steadily, gently brushing the tip of her nose with his fingertips, a hint of tenderness hidden in his eyes.

"You seem so aggrieved, did someone from Prince Rui's residence bully you?"

Upon hearing this, the surrounding guards and the two Liang officials accompanying them were all taken aback.

They hadn't expected that the Crown Prince of Huan of Chu would be so outspoken, showing no mercy to the Prince Rui's residence.

He may not have known this when he first arrived, but they knew all too well how unwelcome this Chu princess, who had married into the royal family from afar, was in the Prince Rui's mansion.

The group immediately held their breath. Ling Heng had been in Jinling for two days, and his expression was always cold and intimidating. Everyone could tell that he was not someone to be trifled with.

This was the first time today that he had shown such a gentle smile, yet his words struck at the sore spot of the Prince Rui's residence. Everyone stood aside with their heads down, pretending not to hear.

"No...who could possibly bully me?"

Little did Ling Xi know, her brother knew everything perfectly well.

Ling Heng stared at her intently, a hint of tenderness appearing in his eyes.

"It's true! If you don't believe me, just ask Wushuang. Wushuang wouldn't lie to you, would she?"

Ling Xi turned around and looked at Wu Shuang, who had already gotten off the carriage and was standing to the side. She had already told Wu Shuang and Pei Lan to only report good news to her brother and not bad news.

But Wushuang dared not agree at this moment. She had been exposed for lying to the prince the day before yesterday, and today she was here to receive her punishment.

Ling Heng looked at Wushuang with great interest. Today, she was wearing a light blue silk cross-collar ruqun with a white cloak over it. Her face looked more delicate and serene, a look he had never seen before.

"Wushuang, tell me."

Seeing Wushuang lower her head and remain silent, Ling Xi assumed that she was frightened by her brother, after all, her brother was her true master.

"Alright, let's go in."

Wushuang looked up and saw the prince giving her a cryptic look that didn't seem like a warning.

She frowned slightly, beginning to worry about how the young master would punish her today. She had served Ling Heng for so many years and had never been punished before.

"By the way, brother! Shouldn't the Ministry of Rites send someone on a mission to Daliang? Why are you here?"

As soon as Ling Xi stepped into Linfeng Courtyard, she couldn't help but speak. She glanced at the two Liang officials following behind her and felt uncomfortable being watched.

Ling Heng, however, did not care as much as she did. After entering the main hall, he casually tossed his skirt and sat down at the head of the table, as at ease as he was in the Prince Huan's mansion, without any restraint.

"I've come here... to take you back."

His answer was so nonchalant that it caught everyone off guard, not only Ling Xi, but also Wu Shuang and Pei Lan, as well as the Liang officials who were accompanying them.

"Take me...back?"

Ling Xi's voice was almost choked with sobs, and her wide eyes were filled with disbelief.

"Yes."

Ling Heng casually picked up the teacup offered by the maid, his expression composed.

"But... what about the alliance between Chu and Liang?"

"Xi'er, there's no need to worry about these things. I have my own way of dealing with them."

Ling Xi frowned as she looked at her brother, fearing that he might do something that would be detrimental to himself or the State of Chu.

"This matter was decided after discussing it with Father and Uncle. It involves state secrets and cannot be disclosed in detail for the time being. Xi'er, just wait at Prince Rui's residence and don't overthink it."

Ling Heng put down his teacup. His tone was calm, yet it carried an undeniable sense of pressure.

"The Prince Narui's Mansion..."

"You will divorce Prince Rui."

Divorce? Although Ling Xi disliked the Prince Rui's Mansion and Xiao Ce, she never thought she would leave again from the day she stepped into the mansion. And this day came so quickly.

She stared blankly at her brother. He didn't ask her whether she was willing or liked it, as he used to, as if he knew perfectly well that she wasn't doing well in the Prince Rui's mansion.

"Or is it that you don't want a divorce from Xiao Ce?"

Ling Heng stared intently at his younger sister. Although he wasn't entirely clear about her relationship with Xiao Ce, he had a general idea of ​​it. He didn't believe she would be reluctant to leave a man who didn't love her.