Where is the early stage of the marriage alliance?

Ling Xi panicked instantly and reached out to push him away, but her palm was pressed against a body as hard and hot as a copper wall. No matter how hard she tried, he remained unmoved.

Xiao Ce's movements were no longer as gentle as before. Instead, they became more forceful and domineering due to her struggles. He gradually increased the pressure on her lips, relentlessly seizing the sweet breath from her mouth with an uncontrollable obsession, leaving her no way to break free.

Let alone kissing a man, even physical contact was something Ling Xi had never experienced before in her life. This unfamiliar feeling made her heart flutter with anxiety.

The water in the bath rippled, and with the movements of the two people, ripples spread out in circles.

The burning sensation and the panic in her heart made Ling Xi feel as if all her strength had been drained away, and her body fell heavily downwards uncontrollably.

Xiao Ce's long arms held her slender waist tightly, his strength steady, making it impossible for her to break free. In the end, she could only lean against him, her body limp, letting the water lap against her chest.

He finally released her only when she was so exhausted that she didn't even have the strength to lift her hand.

Ling Xi was panting heavily, her chest heaving, and her cheeks were flushed red from excessive tension.

"Xiao Ce, what... are you doing?"

Even her voice became weak and feeble; at this moment, her eyes showed an innocent look of being bullied.

He didn't reply, but simply raised his hand slightly, wanting to brush away the stray hairs clinging to her cheek. Ling Xi suddenly turned her head away, using the last of her strength to push him away a little.

Ling Xi was still breathing heavily, feeling both ashamed and angry, as if she had been greatly bullied.

Wasn't he deeply in love with Mu Wanning? He even refused to take a concubine for Mu Wanning's sake, so why would he make such an intimate move towards her today?

Ling Xi felt indignant. Was the love of all men in the world so fickle?

She was filled with unbearable anger when Xiao Ce's hand reached up again, gently approaching her cheek, but remained suspended, never actually touching it.

Ling Xi looked up, and he leaned closer, his head slightly flushed with alcohol. She then realized that he was clearly drunk, or perhaps he had mistaken her for Mu Wanning.

Upon thinking of this, Ling Xi's annoyance intensified, and she felt no longer flustered.

He gazed at her silently, his eyes filled with resentment, showing no trace of affection or emotion, a barely perceptible hint of hurt flashing in his deep eyes.

She had already made up her mind to divorce him and leave Daliang completely. What exactly was he doing when he acted so out of control just now?

No! She can't leave. Now that she's entered Prince Rui's residence, she's Xiao Ce's person. Why should she be able to leave whenever she wants?

He slowly lowered his right hand, bracing it against the edge of the pool behind her, his gaze still fixed on her slightly flushed face.

"You sent Lu Baixu some writing brush and ink?"

Ling Xi looked up in surprise, meeting his dark eyes that were inches away. Was this person drunk or not? How come he seemed so sober?

"You sent people to follow me?"

Xiao Ce did not answer, as if he silently agreed, but there was no guilty look on his face, as if he always took it for granted what he wanted to do.

"Didn't I tell you not to mess with Lu Baixu?"

"I gave him a gift as a token of my gratitude for saving Wushuang's life. When did I offend him?"

Ling Xi's eyes widened. She wouldn't accept a fabricated charge. Besides, when did they ever start restraining each other?

"Last time he came to the Prince's residence, you deliberately waited for him in the garden, didn't you?"

She waited specifically for Lu Baixu? Ling Xi felt that even if Xiao Ce slandered someone, there should be a limit.

He specially invited a royal physician for Mu Wanning. She happened to be injured as well, so why not ask for some medicine while she was at it? Besides, the thank-you gift she gave to Lu Baixu back then cost several hundred taels of silver.

Seeing that Ling Xi remained silent, Xiao Ce hooked his hand around her waist and pulled the distance between them back together. Ling Xi subconsciously reached out and placed her hand against his chest.

"Xiao Ce, what's wrong with you? My relationship with Lu Baixu is completely innocent. He treats patients and saves lives, and I pay for it..."

Ling Xi suddenly seemed to remember something and abruptly stopped. What was she talking about with a drunk man? What a waste of breath! Besides, why should she explain what she was doing to him?

"Speak up, why have you stopped explaining?"

"What's there to explain? Why should I explain to you? What is our relationship? Besides..."

Ling Xi reached out and gently touched her lips, only to find that she still felt a slight numbness and pain there.

"Besides, you made indecent advances towards me today, and I haven't even pursued the matter yet. If it weren't for the fact that you were drunk..."

"I'm not drunk!"

His eyes were clear and bright, as if what had just happened was perfectly natural.

Ling Xi pursed her lips, not wanting to argue. She was angry but couldn't vent it; even drunk people would say they weren't drunk.

"Don't go too far, Xiao Ce! This princess is not your drunken entertainment..."

"If I go too far, what do you want to do...?"

As Xiao Ce spoke, he lowered his head and gradually moved closer. Ling Xi instantly turned her head to avoid him, but her body was restrained by him and she could not move.

Xiao Ce's lips barely brushed against her cheek, and a tingling sensation immediately rose up there, followed by a tingling feeling that spread to behind her ear.

"Xiao Ce, you're drunk."

She lowered her eyes, no longer looking at him, pressed down his hand on her waist, and lifted her foot to leave.

Xiao Ce stood frozen in place until she took two steps. Suddenly, he turned to the side and pulled her into a tight embrace, so tight that she couldn't break free at all.

His chin rested on the top of her head, his breath hot and disordered.

"I'm not drunk..."

Ling Xi was held tightly in his arms and couldn't move. The air around her nose was filled with his cool yet strong scent, mixed with a faint hint of alcohol, which made her feel uneasy and dizzy.

"Ling Xi...don't go."

He even claimed he wasn't drunk, and his reluctance to part made it seem as if they had a deep relationship.

"You're so drunk you're talking nonsense, I can't be bothered to talk to you, just let me go."

Her voice was soft, yet carried a hint of aloofness. As soon as she finished speaking, the force around her waist suddenly tightened.

"nonsense?"

His voice was terribly hoarse, and he sounded visibly flustered.

"Isn't that right? If you don't let go, I'll tell Mu Wanning, and then your household will never have peace!"

Ling Xi deliberately talked nonsense, because he had taken advantage of her while drunk that day.

"Go ahead, I..."

"Your Highness! Someone has arrived at Consort Mu's residence, saying that Consort Mu has suddenly fainted."

Lu Ming's voice suddenly rang out from outside the door, interrupting Xiao Ce before he could finish speaking.

Ling Xi looked up at him, feeling a sense of irony. It was truly a case of speaking of the devil and he appears. Now that the person he cherished had fainted, he wouldn't bother him anymore.

He looked at her, a complex and unreadable hesitation flashing in his eyes, before finally letting go.

Watching him hurriedly put on his clothes and leave, Ling Xi curled her lips in a sarcastic smile.

What a scoundrel! He has one lover in his heart and another in his mouth. Even a normally upright man like Xiao Ce couldn't control himself when drunk. Are there really no good men in this world?