Where is the early stage of the marriage alliance?

Those three words floated down, buzzing in her ears. Things had unfolded so naturally before her, a relief she should have longed for, but now that it was truly upon her, she felt lost, as if she wasn't so desperate to divorce him after all.

Seeing that she was just standing there in a daze, Xiao Ce raised his hand and casually straightened his sleeves. He reached for the inkpad on the corner of the table, dipped his thumb lightly, and pressed it heavily on his name. The bright red ink instantly fell onto the paper, so vivid it was almost blinding.

"It's your turn."

The indifferent voice suddenly entered her ears, instantly pulling her wandering thoughts back. Ling Xi quickly concealed the chaotic emotions in her eyes, feeling as if she had been bewitched. This was the liberation she had longed for, yet she had inexplicably hesitated just now.

Without further hesitation, she reached for the pen, steadied her fingers, and carefully wrote her name. Her strokes were crisp and decisive, without any hesitation. After a moment, she dipped the pen in ink and pressed it down gently. Her movements were so fast they were almost hasty, as if she were desperately resisting the absurd wavering she had just experienced.

Xiao Ce sat at the desk, taking in her series of urgent and deliberate movements, and slowly clenched his hands under the table.

"Once everything has settled down and His Majesty's decree is issued, there's no need to make a fuss about this. Take this and leave."

When Ling Xi looked up again, she saw only a cold desolation in his eyes, and his voice was so indifferent that it had no warmth at all.

After she left the study, she suddenly remembered that he had told her not to make a fuss, and the matter of the border market was still far off, so why was he in such a hurry to give her the divorce papers first?

She glanced at the divorce papers in her hand, realizing that living in the same courtyard afterward would be even more awkward.

The next day, her brother finally woke up. Apart from being a little listless, he was fine. Ling Xi couldn't help but once again admire Lu Baixu's medical skills.

She spent half a day in Linfeng Courtyard before she noticed a significant distance growing between her brother and Wushuang.

Two days ago, when her brother was unconscious, Wushuang stayed by his bedside without leaving for a moment. Now that he has woken up, she has not stepped into the bedroom again. The tasks of serving tea and water and taking care of him have all been handed over to the maids of Linfeng Courtyard.

Ling Xi hesitated for a long time before finally asking the question. Her brother only said that he and Wushuang were just putting on an act and told her not to think too much about it.

She was even more confused. Wushuang's concern and care for her brother a few days ago were clearly genuine, but no matter what she said, her brother ignored her.

She couldn't help but ask Wushuang again, only to receive almost the same answer. Wushuang was always aloof and never showed her emotions, so Ling Xi couldn't see through her thoughts at all.

Although she had doubts, she could not press the matter further given that the two parties involved were avoiding the topic.

From that day onward, for several days in a row, she did not see Xiao Ce again. He began to leave early and return late, as if deliberately avoiding seeing her. He would only return to his room after she had fallen asleep each day, and by the time she woke up the next day, he would have already disappeared.

Ling Xi guessed that Xiao Ce was probably feeling awkward, which was why he was deliberately avoiding seeing him to avoid further embarrassment. After all, the divorce papers had already been given, and they could no longer even be considered partners.

A few days before the Lantern Festival, Xiao Xiao came to Prince Rui's residence. She had gone to her maternal grandparents' home in Lincheng a few days ago and had just returned to Jinling yesterday. She said she had heard that her aunt, the Princess Consort, and her sister, Sister Mu, had fallen ill, so she came to visit them.

She only stayed at Zhengyang Courtyard and Yunqi Courtyard for a quarter of an hour each before coming to Chuixing Courtyard to linger. She also brought Ling Xi some firsthand news from the court, saying that the Imperial City Guard had captured a group of Jin spies the previous night. Apparently, this group had failed to assassinate the Chu delegation before, so they had secretly tampered with the food sent to the inn.

The arrest of this group provided a tangible explanation to the Chu delegation, which had been facing repeated dangers. The entire court and the public breathed a sigh of relief, believing that the Jin Kingdom was wary of the alliance between the two countries and had resorted to any means to sow discord and destroy the alliance between Liang and Chu.

Everything seemed too natural, which made Ling Xi suspicious. She racked her brains, going over the cause and effect repeatedly, but she still couldn't come up with any new clues, so she had no choice but to give up.

Xiao Xiao's real purpose in coming to his door was to pester Xiao Ce and beg him to take her to the Lantern Festival.

Since Ling Xi moved into Chuixing Courtyard, Xiao Xiao assumed that she and Brother Ce were a harmonious couple with a deep affection for each other. Moreover, this was Sister-in-law Xi's first Lantern Festival in Jinling, and Brother Ce would surely accompany her to the lantern festival. So she thought that since her father did not allow her to go alone, she would find someone to take her there.

Xiao Xiao, always likable, called Xi's sister-in-law affectionately and warmly, completely unaware that her Xi's sister-in-law's smile seemed a little uneasy today.

But Xiao Xiao miscalculated. She thought that with the New Year just over, the affairs of the government office would be less busy, and her brother Ce would definitely be off duty and return home on time. Despite Ling Xi's attempts to dissuade her, explaining that Xiao Ce had been extremely busy lately, leaving early and returning late every day, working from dawn till dusk, Xiao Xiao was determined to wait, her heart filled with longing to go to the lantern festival.

After dinner, it was already dark outside, and it was getting dark. Even so, Xiao Xiao still refused to give up and said in a soft tone that she wanted to wait a little longer.

The two sat idly in the outer room of the bedroom, chatting about everything under the sun. Of course, it was mainly Xiaoxiao who talked and Lingxi who listened. This casual conversation lasted for a whole hour.

As night deepened, Ling Xi finally felt tired. She forced herself to stay awake, propping her forehead with her hand. Several times she drifted off to sleep, only to be jolted awake by a sudden realization.

By the time she managed to force herself to look up, the laughter around her had already ceased. The girl, who had been so enthusiastic just moments before, was now leaning against the soft couch, fast asleep.

Left with no other choice, Ling Xi had to send another message to the Prince Yu's residence. The previous message only said that he wanted to stay for dinner, but now it said that he wanted to stay overnight.

After making the arrangements, she looked back and saw that Xiao Xiao was sleeping soundly with a peaceful expression. In the end, she couldn't bear to wake her, so she took the brocade quilt and covered her with it.

Ling Xi was probably really exhausted and completely forgot that Xiao Xiao was lying in Xiao Ce's sleeping spot. It wasn't until she finished bathing and comfortably lay down on the bed that she suddenly realized.

If Xiao Xiao were sleeping in her bed, it would be fine; the two of them could at least make do for one night. But now, where will Xiao Ce sleep when he comes back at night?

Reluctantly, she got out of her warm bed, walked barefoot on the slightly cool floor, and slowly made her way to the outer room.

Xiao Xiao had already turned over on the bed. The person who had taken over her bed was sleeping soundly. Looking at the unguarded sleeping face, she finally sighed helplessly.

Fine, when Xiao Ce returns, she'll give up the bed and make do with a makeshift mattress on the floor next to the couch for the night. It wouldn't be right to make Xiao Ce, who's always up early and sleepy, sleep on the floor. After all, that bed was originally his; she was just a usurper.