Where is the early stage of the marriage alliance?

With a swift, deft flick of his wrist, Wushuang pierced the chest of an assassin. The instant he withdrew his sword, his pupils contracted sharply. From the shadows of the rooftop, a dark figure drew a bow and nocked an arrow, aiming it directly at Ling Heng not far away.

"Your Highness, be careful!"

Without a moment's hesitation, Wushuang cried out, exerted force with her feet, and pounced forward, blocking Ling Heng's path without hesitation.

"Whoosh!" The sharp, piercing sound of the arrow piercing the air was deafening as it pierced her back. Instant pain swept through her body, and Wushuang let out a suppressed groan, her brows furrowing as she nearly dropped her sword.

"Qingyun!"

Ling Heng's eyes were bloodshot as he looked at the swaying figure in front of him and let out a furious roar.

Seeing that Wushuang was injured, Qingyun, who was not far away, immediately understood and leaped forward to cover her.

Ling Heng caught Wu Shuang, who was about to slip away, and his fingertips touched the warm, sticky blood on her back. The panic in his eyes was instantly replaced by killing intent.

"Kill them all, leave no survivors!"

He picked Wushuang up in his arms, his cold voice echoing throughout the courtyard.

Wushuang leaned against his chest, her consciousness gradually becoming blurred. The sword in her hand had fallen out, and she could only weakly clutch his clothes.

She struggled to lift a slit in her eye, her blurry gaze falling on Ling Heng's face, which was so close to hers. She could clearly see that in Ling Heng's usually calm and cold eyes, there was an undisguised tension and panic, completely devoid of his usual composure.

Before she could discern the truth, darkness swept in, her hand gripping Ling Heng's clothes fell limply, and she lost consciousness.

The next day, as soon as Ling Xi stepped into the gate of Linfeng Courtyard, she saw servants washing the courtyard. A faint smell of blood lingered in the air, and the outer hall was empty, with no sign of her brother. Her heart tightened, and she immediately guessed that something must have happened.

Just as she was panicking, Qingyun walked out quickly with a solemn expression.

"Qingyun, what happened? Where's my brother?"

"Your Highness, the young master is currently in his bedroom. There was an assassin attack last night, but the young master is unharmed. However, Wushuang took an arrow for the young master and remains unconscious."

"Wu Shuang got hit by an arrow?"

"Yes, the arrowhead is highly poisonous. We've consulted several doctors, but none of them have been able to help."

Upon hearing this, Ling Xi's heart sank, and she quickened her pace, heading straight for the bedroom. The moment she pushed open the door, she saw her elder brother sitting by the bed.

"elder brother."

She called softly, and Ling Heng slowly turned his head upon hearing her voice. His eyes were bloodshot, indicating that he had not slept all night.

Ling Xi stepped forward and looked at Wu Shuang, whose face was pale on the bed. Her heart suddenly felt heavy. The usually aloof and resilient person was lying there quietly, her face so pale that it was almost transparent, and even her breathing was so weak that it was almost imperceptible.

"Wushuang...how is she?"

"We've seen five different doctors, and they're all helpless."

Ling Heng's voice was hoarse, and a lingering pain remained in his eyes.

"What kind of poison is it?"

Ling Heng shook his head weakly, his shoulders and back slightly hunched, no longer the spirited man he once was.

This was the first time Ling Xi had ever seen her brother so dejected.

In her panic and anxiety, a sudden thought flashed through her mind: Mu Wanning's Frostless Poison was ultimately cured by Lu Baixu. Lu Baixu, he must have a way.

"Brother, wait for me! I know someone who can definitely save Wushuang!"

Before her brother could say another word, Ling Xi lifted her skirt and dashed out.

Once she was in the carriage, she began to worry. Apart from the time he helped her, she and Lu Baixu had almost no interaction. He was cold and taciturn, almost on par with Xiao Ce, but since he was Xiao Ce's friend, he shouldn't refuse to help her again.

The Lu residence wasn't far, less than a quarter of an hour away. She got off the carriage and looked at the unfamiliar mansion, feeling a moment of unease. As the heir apparent of the Prince Rui's mansion, it was against etiquette for her to rashly visit him.

Lu Baixu spotted the familiar figure at her door from afar, her brows furrowing almost imperceptibly. Only after taking a few steps closer did she see the anxiety on her face.

As Ling Xi turned around, she saw him. The apprehension in her eyes was instantly replaced by joy. She quickly went to meet him, her eyes shining with a pleading light.

"Has the Crown Princess come to the Lu residence on some important matter?"

Lu Baixu stopped and bowed respectfully, his tone calm and indifferent.

"Professor Lu, a friend of mine is suffering from a deadly poison. We've consulted many doctors, but none have been able to help. We have no other options, so I've taken the liberty of coming to you. Please, help me!"

Lu Baixu's gaze fell on her tightly furrowed brows, her exquisite face filled with helplessness and earnestness. For the first time, he understood the true meaning of the phrase "beauty begets the soul."

He had never cared about worldly matters, but this time, without a second thought, he nodded slightly as if possessed.

When Ling Xi hurriedly led Lu Baixu into Linfeng Courtyard, she saw that her elder brother was still motionless, guarding the bedside.

Her heart skipped a beat, and she suddenly remembered that Wushuang was lying in her brother's bed. Although Wushuang had been his bodyguard for many years, her brother wouldn't be so devoted to her every step of the way.

"Brother, I've invited Dr. Lu from the Imperial Medical Bureau. Let him examine Wushuang first."

Ling Heng slowly came to his senses, made room for her by the bed, and turned around, her eyes filled with undisguised worry.

Thank you for your trouble.

Lu Baixu nodded slightly, his expression calm, and slowly stepped forward. When he saw the woman's face clearly, a hint of doubt rose between his brows. She was clearly the maid who was always by Ling Xi's side, so how could she be poisoned and unconscious in Wanfang Pavilion? Doubts quietly arose in his heart, but he did not show them on his face. He reached out and began to take her pulse to diagnose the poison.

The atmosphere in the room became heavy for a moment. Ling Xi looked at her brother's tense profile and then at the lifeless Wu Shuang.

"Brother, have you found out where the assassin came from?"

Ling Heng's eyes suddenly darkened, his eyelids narrowed, and his eyes instantly filled with a chilling and murderous aura.

"They are from the Jin Dynasty."

"The Jin Dynasty?"

The three kingdoms of Liang, Chu, and Jin are located at the border of Qizhou. Liang and Chu have been at war for many years, while Jin is the weakest and has always tried to remain aloof.

"They disguised themselves as Chu people and used weapons from Liang people. Perhaps... the Jin people were the least willing to see Chu and Liang people cease hostilities and make peace."

Ling Xi thought that her brother would be in danger when he came to Jinling, but she never expected that he would come so quickly.

Lu Baixu, with the calm and gentle demeanor unique to a physician, quietly took the pulse, as if they had not heard a word they said.

"The poison has entered the meridians, but fortunately it hasn't been delayed for too long, and there is still an antidote. Please turn the patient over and cut open the clothing around the wound."

After saying that, he got off the bed, went to the table, and opened his black lacquered medicine box.

Ling Xi figured that Lu Baixu's refusal to act must be to avoid suspicion, so it seemed more appropriate for her to go. However, just as she was about to head over, her brother had already set off.