Where is the early stage of the marriage alliance?

Ling Xi, holding a neatly folded quilt, paced back and forth in the middle of the outer room, considering where to stay for the night, when the door suddenly creaked open and was gently pushed open from the outside.

The soft, heavy brocade quilt covered part of her vision. She turned her head to look in the direction of the sound and saw Xiao Ce closing the door with his back to her.

He then turned around and slowly walked towards her. Seeing her like this, he raised an eyebrow, a hint of doubt appearing in his eyes. He had thought that she would be fast asleep by this time.

"What are you doing?"

His voice wasn't loud, but in the still of the night, it was exceptionally clear and audible, startling Ling Xi and making her heart tighten slightly.

"Shh-"

She quickly put a finger to her lips and gestured for him to be quiet, afraid of disturbing Xiao Xiao who was sleeping peacefully.

Unfortunately, she had been holding the blanket for too long, and her arms were already sore and weak. With this movement, she couldn't hold on, and the blanket slid down her arm.

Xiao Ce reacted quickly, stretching out his long arm to catch the falling quilt. His fingertips brushed against her warm hand, and he then calmly took the quilt from her.

"What's wrong?"

"Keep your voice down, Xiao Xiao is sleeping over there."

Ling Xi turned her head slightly and gestured softly to the left side of the couch, her voice extremely low.

Upon hearing this, Xiao Ce turned his head, his brows furrowing almost imperceptibly. Just now, his mind had been completely focused on her, and he hadn't even noticed that there was another person in the room.

"She just returned from Lincheng yesterday and came today specifically to visit my mother and Mu Wanning."

Ling Xi saw through his confusion at a glance, and before he could ask, she quietly explained why Xiao Xiao was there.

However, the wrinkles between Xiao Ce's brows did not smooth out. Since Xiao Xiao had come to visit her mother and Wan Ning, and there were many empty guest rooms in the mansion, why did she choose to sleep in their Chuixing Courtyard?

He lowered his eyes to look at the brocade quilt he was holding firmly in his arms, his gaze filled with a hint of inquiry.

"I... I've been working tirelessly day and night, managing all the affairs of the court. There's no reason for you to sleep on the floor. Tonight you'll sleep on the bed, and I'll make do with a makeshift bed on the floor in the outer room."

Ling Xi felt a slight tightness in her heart under his gaze, and hurriedly spoke, her tone carrying a hint of resignation and accommodation. Her eyes were clear and bright, and she appeared open and considerate, which inexplicably stirred a trace of annoyance in his heart, which quickly disappeared in his eyes.

"Go in first."

He spoke casually, carrying the brocade quilt straight into the inner room. Ling Xi glanced back at Xiao Xiao, who was sleeping soundly on the bed, making sure she hadn't been disturbed, before quickly following her.

As soon as she stepped into the inner room, she saw him already on the floor beside the screen, neatly spreading out the brocade quilt that had been there earlier.

I'll sleep here tonight.

"But……"

Ling Xi felt very embarrassed, as that was originally his bed, and she had been occupying it for many days.

"We are not officially divorced yet. Xiao Xiao is in the outer room, and we are both resting in the inner room. That is the only reasonable arrangement."

Seeing that she kept looking unfriendly, Xiao Ce assumed that she didn't want to be in the same room with him, and his tone became even more indifferent.

Ling Xi then realized that he meant it that way and didn't want to take her bed on the floor, which made her feel a little relieved.

"Then... Your Highness, please go and take a bath."

"Um."

After Xiao Ce took his clothes to the bathroom, Ling Xi took a quilt from the wardrobe and lay down comfortably on her makeshift bed on the floor.

Having solved her sleep problem, she was finally able to rest without any distractions. She had been sleepy before Xiao Xiao, but she had been forcing herself to stay awake so as to keep her company.

When Xiao Ce returned after his bath, he stepped into the inner room and saw, under the dim light, the brocade quilt that had originally belonged to him was slightly raised, forming a peaceful outline.

He approached quietly, slowly crouched down, and looked closely in the dim light, only to find that she was fast asleep. It had only been a quarter of an hour; she must have been utterly exhausted.

He gently placed the cotton towel he was using to dry her hair on the ground beside his feet, knelt on one knee, and slowly lifted the corner of the blanket. He first helped her up slightly, supporting her steadily on his right arm, then reached out his left hand, carefully slipped it under her knees, and with a little effort, lifted her up in his arms.

He had just straightened up and steadied himself when the person in his arms seemed to be startled. Her eyelashes trembled slightly, and her cheek unconsciously rubbed against his chest. She found a stable and comfortable position, let out a very soft murmur, and then fell into a deep sleep again.

Xiao Ce's tense body relaxed instantly. He looked down at the unguarded sleeping face of the person in his arms, and his cold expression gradually melted away, leaving only a tender and affectionate look that no one could see.

After gently placing her back on the bed, he was about to pull away when he felt a very light force pulling at his chest. He looked down and saw that her hands were tightly gripping the front of his shirt.

He froze, reaching out to gently pry her fingers apart, but she used the slight force of his hand to tilt her head slightly forward, her cheek brushing against his shirt, murmuring in a daze:

"It smells so good..."

He paused, then released his grip and didn't move again, letting her warm breath gently brush against his chest through the thin nightgown.

He propped himself up on the bed with one hand, leaning over to look at the face so close to his, his gaze softening unconsciously.

The flickering candlelight illuminated her radiant skin, untouched by any worldly dust. Her rosy lips were slightly pursed, and soft wisps of hair clung to her cheeks. Her eyes were relaxed, radiating natural beauty. Even in her slumber, she was captivating, making it impossible to look away.

Xiao Ce extended his slightly trembling hand and lightly brushed her cheek with only the pad of his thumb, so lightly that it was as if he had never actually touched her skin.

His eyes suddenly darkened and surged, all the restraint he had just maintained crumbled, and a strong sense of regret unexpectedly welled up in his heart. He regretted it; he regretted giving her the divorce papers.

At this moment, a thought seemed to be screaming wildly in his chest, surging with an irrepressible passion and desire, wanting to keep her forever and ever by his side.

"Father, Mother..."

His fingertips were hovering in mid-air when he heard her soft, sleepy whisper, filled with childlike longing. Her hands, which had been tightly gripping his clothes, slowly loosened.

The intense, obsessive regret that had been churning in his chest was gradually suppressed by her dream-like words, leaving only a bittersweet emptiness in his heart.

Even without her restraints, he did not move the distance between them at all, staring intently at the unguarded face on the bed, never looking away for a moment.

After an unknown amount of time, he finally stepped back slightly, then suddenly leaned down again, his cool lips gently kissing her smooth forehead with utmost sincerity.

The next moment, he abruptly pulled away, got out of bed without looking back, and left without lingering for another second.