Where is the early stage of the marriage alliance?

"I'll figure something out."

Xiao Ce spoke again, his tone slow and serious.

Ling Xi suddenly raised her eyes and looked straight into his cold phoenix eyes, which seemed to hold a solemnity she had never seen before. Then, his face gradually became illusory and blurry in front of her.

Ling Xi was in a state of fear and anxiety all day and barely ate anything. Suddenly, a dizzying wave of dizziness swept over her, and she lost all strength, unable to control herself as she leaned backward.

Xiao Ce's expression suddenly changed, and he stretched out his long arm to steadily pull her limp and powerless body into his embrace.

When Ling Xi opened her eyes again, it was past noon the next day. Pei Lan was dozing off by the bedside. The inner room was completely silent, as was the outer room.

Her body felt lightheaded, her mind blank, and she didn't even have the strength to lift her hand. She propped herself up and sat up, her memory still stuck on the time she yelled at Xiao Ce last night, and after that, it was all a chaotic blank.

Startled by the noise, Perrin's eyelashes trembled, she opened her eyes groggily, and then suddenly sat up.

"Princess! You're finally awake! Waaaaah..."

"Perrin, why are you crying?"

"Waaaah... The princess has been unconscious for a whole day, and I was so worried."

Unconscious? She shook her dizzy head, trying to clear her thoughts, when she suddenly felt a churning in her stomach. She instinctively pressed her abdomen, her brows furrowing slightly.

"Is the princess hungry? There's some congee simmering on the stove. I'll go and bring it to her."

Perrin got up and left in a flurry of activity, then quickly returned just as quickly.

The sky outside the window was overcast, the sunlight indistinct, as if a rain had just fallen. She gazed silently out the window and spoke softly:

"What time is it?"

Perrin placed the warm bowl of porridge on the low table, carefully helping her to sit up as she replied:

"It's already late afternoon. The princess fainted at Yunqi Garden last night, and it was the young master who carried her back. The young master came to see the princess once before, but seeing that you were not awake, he did not let anyone disturb you."

Xiao Ce? She suddenly remembered that last night, she and Xiao Ce had a heated argument in Yunqi Courtyard over her brother's matter, and she couldn't remember what happened next.

Unexpectedly, she slept for a whole day and night.

"By the way! How is my brother?"

She then remembered that her brother's life was still uncertain, and she could no longer lie in bed. She threw off the covers and got out of bed.

"Why is the princess getting out of bed?"

"I want to go to Wanfang Pavilion..."

"Princess, don't worry, our Prince Heng should be alright now."

"Nothing's wrong?" Ling Xi stopped what she was doing and looked at Pei Lan with a puzzled expression.

"What do you mean?"

"Shortly after the princess fainted last night, Wushuang rushed to the Prince's mansion, saying that the young master Heng had been poisoned and that Imperial Physician Jiang could no longer control him. Later, the young master had Lu Ming take medicine with Wushuang to Wanfang Pavilion, and as soon as he took the medicine, the poison was immediately brought under control."

"The medicine that the young master took is truly remarkable. People from Linfeng Courtyard came early this morning to say that when Imperial Physician Jiang took his pulse this morning, the young master was already temporarily out of danger, which puts the princess at ease."

"Temporarily? That means the poison still hasn't been cured?"

"Princess, please don't rush. Have some porridge first. The young master has sent men to Jinyun Mountain overnight. Around this time, Academician Lu should have arrived at Wanfang Pavilion."

Xiao Ce sent someone to invite Lu Baixu.

Ling Xi's fingers, which were gripping the brocade quilt, suddenly loosened. She couldn't believe that Xiao Ce would help her. She had originally planned that if she couldn't get the antidote from Mu Wanning, she would try to find Lu Baixu.

"Princess, please have some porridge."

Ling Xi's tense energy suddenly dissipated, and she gently leaned against the soft pillow. An indescribable bitterness surged in her heart. She had thought that the argument last night had already broken off all ties with Xiao Ce.

Pei Lan carefully scooped up a spoonful of congee and held it to her lips. Ling Xi did not refuse and slowly swallowed it, and soon a warm feeling came from her chest and abdomen.

"Oh, Princess! There's one more thing."

Perrin suddenly lowered his voice and leaned closer.

"After the young master brought the princess back last night, he went back to Yunqi Courtyard. Upon his return, he immediately dealt with the people. I heard that Xianyue was sent to the princess's courtyard last night."

"Crescent moon?"

Ling Xi repeated it softly, her lowered eyelashes trembling slightly. It seemed that she was the person that Princess Rui had placed in Chuixing Courtyard.

Since Xiao Ce was able to deal with the people so decisively, he must have already found out the whole story and should already know who the real mastermind was.

But she knew in her heart that he would protect both Mu Wanning and his mother, and even if he found out the truth, he probably wouldn't let her know a single detail. To him, she had never been one of his own.

Ling Xi slowly raised her eyes, gazing at the dark sky outside the window, her eyes filled with an unfathomable calm.

Enough! What is she hoping for? Xiao Ce's willingness to help save his brother is already going against his own heart.

……

When Ling Xi arrived at Linfeng Courtyard, it was already dawn. The bedroom window was half-closed, letting in a few rays of clear sunlight that made the dust floating in the air clearly visible.

Lu Baixu was administering acupuncture to Ling Heng, while Wushuang remained by the bedside, her back ramrod straight, intently watching the person on the bed.

Lu Baixu's fingertips were as steady as a rock as he precisely inserted the silver needles into the acupoints on Ling Heng's shoulders and back, his movements fluid and without the slightest hesitation.

Noticing someone stepping in behind him, he turned his head slightly, his slender profile appearing indifferent in the light and shadow. He glanced at Ling Xi, showing neither surprise nor inquiry, but after a moment, he looked away and returned his gaze to the needle. He remained silent throughout, as if nothing around him could disturb his mind.

Ling Xi stood frozen in place, her heart pounding in her throat, silently standing three feet away, watching Lu Baixu perform the acupuncture without blinking.

It wasn't until 15 minutes later that Lu Baixu slowly straightened up, his expression still calm.

Ling Xi could no longer suppress her anxiety and quickly took two steps forward to meet her.

"Professor Lu, how is my brother?"

"The poison has been cleared, and his life is not in danger. He should wake up by tomorrow at the latest."

Lu Baixu looked up at her, his tone calm and firm, without a trace of empty words of comfort.

It was just a simple sentence, without any solemn promises, but Ling Xi's heart, which had been hanging in suspense for so long, suddenly settled down when she heard his words.

Looking at Lu Baixu, who was as aloof and cold as Wushuang, she felt that his words were inexplicably believable.

She was so excited that her eyes reddened, her eyes were brimming with tears, and her lips trembled slightly uncontrollably.

"Thank you so much, Academician Lu. I will never forget your help."

If even Lu Baixu is helpless today, and her brother has almost no chance of survival, then she is afraid she will truly fall into boundless despair.

"General Ling was able to save his life thanks to the life-extending pill he took yesterday. Otherwise, even if I had arrived today, I would probably have been powerless to save him."

Ling Xi stood there, stunned. Yesterday, Xiao Ce had sent the pills to his brother. He had said he would find a way to help, and he hadn't lied to her.

"I heard that Vice Minister Lu was out for a stroll in the suburbs with my grandfather. I'm truly sorry..."

"It's alright, I will do my best to help Yizhi."