Where is the early stage of the marriage alliance?

When Ling Xi woke up the next morning, the morning mist had not completely dissipated, and the faint sunlight could be clearly seen outside the window. She stared blankly at the bed curtains, and after a moment she suddenly sat up in shock.

She slept in the bed? Then Xiao Ce slept on the floor last night?

She suddenly turned her head and saw that the spot where she had lain last night was empty, and even the bedding was neatly made.

In a daze, she thought she had sleepwalked into bed in the middle of the night, so she hurriedly looked around, but Xiao Ce was nowhere to be found in the room.

She immediately breathed a sigh of relief. It seemed she had stolen Xiao Ce's bed again, and he had been forced to sleep on the floor all night.

Ling Xi rubbed her head, wondering if she had a habit of wandering at night. She certainly didn't think that Xiao Ce had kindly carried her to bed, after all, he was clearly a little angry when he gave her the divorce papers.

"Sister-in-law Xi! Brother Ce! Are you awake?"

A clear, soft voice came from the doorway, interrupting her thoughts. Ling Xi composed herself and quickly concealed the emptiness in her eyes.

"Xiao Xiao! Come in."

The wooden door was gently pulled open, and Xiao Xiao, dressed in a bright and beautiful dress, appeared to have finished washing and dressing. Her cheeks were flushed, indicating that she had slept well all night. Just like her, it was unknown whether Xiao Ce had slept well.

Xiao Xiao stepped in with light steps, her dark eyes scanning the inner room first. Not finding Xiao Ce, she tilted her head.

"Where's Brother Ce?"

As they were talking, Pei Lan tiptoed inside, ready to help Ling Xi get up and change her clothes.

"When I woke up, I didn't see your brother Ce. I guess he got up and went to the government office before dawn."

"So early?"

Xiao Xiao's smile faded slightly, and she pouted, looking disappointed.

"The New Year has only been over for a short time, and Brother Ce is already so busy."

Ling Xi dressed neatly and slowly walked to the dressing table and sat down.

"I told you yesterday that your brother Ce has been very busy with court affairs lately, often leaving early and returning late. Even before yesterday, I hadn't seen him for several days."

She continued talking to herself, her gaze fixed on the mirror, completely unaware that her words carried a different meaning in Xiao Xiao's ears.

Xiao Xiao immediately moved closer to Ling Xi's dressing mirror and blinked knowingly.

"Sister-in-law Xi, do you feel that Brother Ce spends too little time with you? It makes sense. Brother Ce has always been focused on court and military affairs, and he's quite clueless about romance, neglecting you. Please don't be angry with Brother Ce..."

"No, no...that's not what I meant..."

Ling Xi hurriedly waved her hands and shook her head to interrupt her, her cheeks uncontrollably flushing a light red.

Even Peilan, who was serving her hair, was shocked and almost dropped the jade comb in her hand. Although she did not know that her princess had already obtained the divorce papers from the prince, she knew that Prince Heng would soon take the princess back to Chu. Not to mention that the princess and the prince had any feelings for each other, they had never even consummated their marriage.

"Don't worry, Sister-in-law Xi. When I see Brother Ce next time, I will definitely have a good talk with him. Official business is never-ending, but if it affects my relationship with Sister-in-law Xi, then it will be a loss."

"Xiao Xiao, it's not what you think. Your brother Ce... he hasn't neglected me, he..."

Ling Xi suddenly became incoherent. She wanted to explain, but found that the more she explained, the more confused she became.

"Oh, Sister-in-law Xi, don't be shy. If you're embarrassed to say these things to Brother Ce, I can help you!"

Things developed in a completely unexpected direction for Ling Xi. Only then did she realize what it felt like to be unable to defend herself. She couldn't possibly tell Xiao Xiao that she and her brother Ce had already signed a divorce agreement, that they not only had no feelings for each other, but now they didn't even have a proper status anymore.

She sighed helplessly, not intending to explain any further. In any case, Xiao Xiao would find out sooner or later, perhaps not long from now.

"The Crown Princess! The Crown Princess..."

Headmaster Wang of Chuixing Academy knocked urgently on the door outside, his voice trembling with panic. The three of them turned around at the sound.

"Perrin, go out and see what Headmaster Wang has to do."

"Yes."

Xiao Xiao, standing to the side, simply rested her chin on her hand by the dressing mirror, watching her with a beaming smile. Ling Xi was slightly taken aback by her gaze and inexplicably felt a little uncomfortable.

"What's wrong? Why are you smiling at me like that, little sister?"

Xiao Xiao gently shook her head, her smile growing even warmer.

"I just think that Sister-in-law Xi is really beautiful, and she and Brother Ce are a perfect match."

Her abrupt remark left Ling Xi at a loss, and she could only stare intently at her reflection in the mirror to try and distract herself.

"Brother Ce, this courtyard has been so quiet for so many years, but now it finally has a mistress. After Sister Xi moved in, this Chuixing Courtyard... seems to have changed all of a sudden, becoming warmer."

Ling Xi's fingers, which were holding the jade hairpin, suddenly paused. A slight bitterness welled up in her heart. She did not respond, but lowered her eyes and continued to tie her hair.

Whether it's warm or not is irrelevant to her now; she's about to move out of this courtyard.

"Princess! Princess! Something terrible has happened!"

Just then, Perrin strode in through the door.

"What's the matter that you're in such a panic?"

"Headmaster Wang said that the Prince and Princess were having a huge fight in the front hall. Steward Mu sent someone to ask the Princess to come and see what was going on."

A fit of rage? Ling Xi was momentarily bewildered. She had been in the Prince Rui's residence for nearly a year and had almost never seen the Prince Rui and Princess Rui truly angry. Only last time, when Mu Wanning was poisoned, did the Princess Rui lose her temper and hit her. After the misunderstanding was cleared up, she had never seen the Princess Rui get angry again.

In her memory, Prince Rui was always calm and taciturn, and Princess Rui was even more dignified and composed. Why would she suddenly fly into a rage today?

"Who got angry at whom? Tell me in detail."

Xiao Xiao, who was standing to the side, was already anxious. She had known since she was a child that Uncle Wang and Aunt Wang had a very good relationship and she had never seen the two of them quarrel.

"The headmaster said it was...it was the prince and princess who were furious with the heir."

"Xiao Ce!?"

"Brother Ce!?"

Ling Xi and Xiao Xiao spoke in unison, their faces showing the exact same disbelief.

It's no wonder they were so distraught. Princess Rui has always doted on the young prince, and everyone in the palace knows this. Even Ling Xi had heard about it before. The fact that Princess Rui had chosen concubines for him earlier was enough to give a glimpse into this.

"Didn't Sister-in-law Xi say that Brother Ce went to the yamen early this morning?"

"Oh, I forgot, it seems he's off today."

"Hurry, hurry! Sister-in-law Xi, go to the front hall and see. You don't know Uncle Rui's temperament. He is usually taciturn, but when he gets angry, he is as fierce as thunder. Especially if someone displeases Aunt Princess, they will definitely be in big trouble. I guess it must be Brother Ce who displeased Aunt Princess."

Xiao Xiao hurriedly pulled Ling Xi toward the front hall while talking incessantly.

Ling Xi's heart sank suddenly. Could it be that Xiao Ce had already confessed to his father and mother that the two of them had already divorced? And that he had even given her the divorce papers?