Where is the early stage of the marriage alliance?

Meanwhile, in the Zhengyang Courtyard of Prince Rui's residence, Ling Xi was paying her respects to Princess Rui.

In the past, Princess Rui exempted her from the morning and evening greetings, and never required her to serve in the courtyard. In the year since she came, their relationship has been as indifferent as flowing water.

But today is different. It's New Year's Day, and even if it's just for show and to go through the motions, she can't miss the daughter-in-law's New Year's greetings to her mother-in-law.

This is what Granny Qi told us when she came to Chuixing Courtyard early this morning, although she had originally planned to come as well.

She wore a neat and appropriate lotus-colored brocade jacket and skirt, with a plain velvet-trimmed cloak over it. She wore light makeup and no elaborate decorations, exuding elegance and grace.

She entered Zhengyang Courtyard with light steps, her expression respectful, her eyes revealing no trace of aloofness or resentment. Her greetings to the Princess Consort of Rui were impeccable, her words gentle and submissive; every action was befitting the role of a princess consort of the Prince's residence, without a single fault to be found.

Ling Xi felt no anger at all. Her obedience was merely a facade for outsiders; her composure reflected her true state of mind. This was her first New Year after marrying into the Prince Rui's household, and it would also be her last.

Over the past year, the people in the Prince's mansion have not treated her with great kindness or warmth, but in reality, they have never deliberately made things difficult for her. There has been no deep favor or old grudge.

Although Xiao Ce punished her once at the beginning, he also helped her a few times later. So their debts were even, and they had no further obligations to each other.

After the New Year, once she receives news from her brother, she will be able to submit the divorce papers to Xiao Ce. This marriage will then end peacefully and cleanly.

After bowing, Ling Xi remained gentle and humble, sitting quietly in the hall waiting for Mu Wanning to arrive.

Princess Rui sat upright in a grand chair covered with fox fur cushions, her fingertips idly twirling the warm bracelet on her wrist. She looked up at the obedient and well-behaved Ling Xi, her face unusually free of its usual coldness, and a rare gentle smile appeared between her brows and eyes.

Ling Xi's heart skipped a beat, and her thoughts suddenly drifted back to a year ago.

On her second day at Prince Rui's residence, when she was serving tea to the new bride, Princess Rui deliberately made things difficult for her, showing no regard for the new bride's dignity. Now, looking back, it seems as if it happened just yesterday.

A year has passed in the blink of an eye.

Looking at Princess Rui at this moment, she felt no resentment or rejection whatsoever. Perhaps, she had already resigned herself to leaving soon, and all the past events had faded away.

"Granny Sun, send someone to Yunxi Courtyard to check if Wanning has encountered any trouble?"

Ling Xi sat there for about fifteen minutes before Princess Rui finally showed some concern. She suddenly remembered that Xiao Ce had gone to Yunqi Courtyard last night and hadn't returned. She thought that Mu Wanning might be quite ill.

But Princess Rui looks so worried right now, could it be that she already knew? If she had known all along, she wouldn't have been waiting for Mu Wanning to come and pay his respects.

Just as I was pondering this, I heard frantic cries from outside the door.

"Your Highness! Your Highness!"

A maid stumbled in; Ling Xi recognized her as Mu Wanning's personal maid.

"Why are you in such a panic? Has something happened to Wan Ning?"

Princess Rui frowned slightly and rebuked in a deep voice.

"Your Highness, the Crown Prince's concubine... remains unconscious! Last night, the Crown Prince summoned the imperial physician to examine her and administered medicine, but her condition has not improved today."

Ling Xi's heart tightened, and she also became nervous. It seemed that Mu Wanning was really seriously ill. No wonder Xiao Ce left in such a hurry last night and stayed at Yunqi Courtyard all night.

"last night?"

Princess Rui stood up, her eyes thoughtful.

"Yes. Last night before going to bed, the concubine drank two cups of Tusu wine and then developed a high fever. Later, the young master invited Imperial Physician Lu, who administered medicine, and the fever subsided. However, when we went to the room just now, we couldn't wake her up no matter what we did. We have already asked Physician Du to go, but he said that the concubine's condition is not good and we need to ask Imperial Physician Lu to come."

Princess Rui froze, standing there in a daze, speechless for a moment, her composure completely shattered.

"Last night... last night..."

She murmured to herself, her gaze fixed on the void, her whole being exuding a sense of dazed disorientation.

Seeing her so lost in thought, Ling Xi assumed that she was too worried about Mu Wanning's condition and had lost her composure, without paying attention to the unclear words she was saying.

"Go find Steward Mu and have him go to the Lu residence and invite Academician Lu over."

Ling Xi immediately stood up and gave orders to the maid she had slapped before. But when the maid looked up at her, her eyes held the same hatred as her mistress's, clearly indicating her unwillingness to obey.

"If you truly care about your master, then go now!"

Ling Xi's expression was sharp, and her voice suddenly rose. This shout startled the Princess Rui, who had been lost in thought. She slowly came back to her senses and looked in her direction.

"Mother, why don't we move to Yunqi Courtyard first and hear what Physician Du has to say?"

Princess Rui's eyes narrowed slightly upon hearing this, a moment of doubt flashing through her mind, before she finally nodded slowly in agreement.

She had always thought that Ling Xi had only ever been insincere with everyone in the Prince's mansion and had never been sincere with them. But now, looking at the genuine look in her eyes, she suddenly found it hard to tell.

Mu Wanning had always hated her, so Ling Xi naturally couldn't care much about her. However, since she was about to leave the Prince Rui's residence anyway, there was no point in arguing with a patient like her. Besides, she was still staying in the residence today, and neither Prince Rui nor Xiao Ce were there, so she couldn't just sit idly by.

This was Ling Xi's first time visiting Yunqi Courtyard. Mu Wanning's courtyard was meticulously maintained, with lush flowers and trees, exuding elegance and refinement. Ling Xi didn't have time to examine it closely before hurrying inside. However, just looking at the courtyard, it was worlds apart from her Yuehua Courtyard.

She might have felt a little uncomfortable before, but now that she's leaving, she feels much more at peace. Given Princess Rui's affection for Mu Wanning and Xiao Ce's doting on her, even if Yunqi Courtyard were ten times more luxurious, it wouldn't be excessive.

When Ling Xi saw Mu Wanning lying on the bed with a deathly pale face, she couldn't describe her feelings. Mu Wanning lay there quietly, motionless and lifeless, as if she were about to die.

It seemed she had never truly spoken a few words calmly with Mu Wanning. Every time they met, it was either tense and hostile or they ignored each other. Although she never felt she had done anything to wrong Mu Wanning, he hated her with all his might from beginning to end.

She saw Princess Rui sitting by the bed with red eyes, gently holding Mu Wanning's hand. She was completely unrecognizable as the mother-in-law who had made things difficult for her back then.

Perhaps this is what favoritism is, Ling Xi thought. Just like when she was sick, even the Du family physician couldn't be summoned, while when Mu Wanning was sick, Xiao Ce always personally went to fetch the imperial physician.

Just as the heavy, deathly silence in the room pressed down like a cold fog, the Du family physician entered, carrying medicine and lifting the curtain, his steps carrying a hint of cautious restraint.