Where is the early stage of the marriage alliance?

"Princess."

Ling Xi remained standing in the warm sun, her gaze fixed on the tightly closed wooden door of the study, her mind in turmoil, completely unaware that someone was approaching from behind.

It wasn't until Wushuang's cold and indifferent voice, devoid of any warmth, rang out behind her that she snapped back to reality and turned around in astonishment.

"Wushuang? What brings you here?"

However, after not seeing her for several days, she hadn't noticed before that Wushuang had been by her brother's side for more than half a month and had obviously lost weight. She was also colder than before, even though she had always been a cold and aloof person.

"The Crown Prince instructed me to inform the Princess that he will depart for Ye City the day after the Lantern Festival. He asked the Princess to make preparations in advance. He also instructed the Princess to dispose of all her belongings in the Prince Rui's residence as soon as possible."

Wushuang lowered her eyes, her bowing posture was so proper it was almost distant, and her tone was flat without a trace of emotion.

"There's one more thing. The Crown Prince ordered Arno and me to... switch back."

"Switch back?"

Ling Xi frowned slightly, unable to understand for a moment. Then, her relaxed expression was covered with another layer of doubt. If her brother truly had feelings for Wushuang, why would he send her back to his side?

She subconsciously looked up and glanced at Wushuang standing in front of her. Wushuang was dressed in a plain, close-fitting outfit, her brows and eyes were cold and aloof, showing neither reluctance nor the slightest joy. Her indifferent appearance seemed no different from the Wushuang she always was.

Could it be that she was wrong? The relationship between Wushuang and her brother was purely that of master and servant. Perhaps it was just that she had spent a long time by her brother's side, so she was naturally more familiar with him than others.

"Wushuang, go to Yuehua Courtyard first and quietly tell Granny Qi that after we leave the manor, she should take the valuables and valuables in Yuehua Courtyard to Suojin Pavilion in batches to pawn. As for the remaining items that are inconvenient to move, just discard them. Remember to tell her to take only one or two items at a time, and to do so discreetly and discreetly, without alerting the people of the Prince's Mansion."

"Yes."

Wushuang bowed his head in acknowledgment, then turned and walked away, his figure quickly disappearing into the shadows of the corridor.

Ling Xi stood there, lost in thought for a long time.

Princess Rui was furious today upon learning that Xiao Ce was going to the border in person. If she finds out again, and given that she and Xiao Ce have already signed a divorce agreement, another fight is inevitable. If this delays the divorce proceedings, it would be a greater loss than a gain.

As she was pondering to herself, she suddenly turned her head and was caught off guard by a deep gaze.

Xiao Ce stood outside the study door, his face gloomy, his gaze fixed on her without blinking, making her feel a chill run down her spine.

Ling Xi hurriedly lowered her eyes, not daring to meet his gaze, only feeling that Xiao Ce's phoenix eyes were particularly eerie when they were slightly narrowed.

"You...are you getting ready to go to Night City?"

He finally spoke first, his voice low and hoarse.

"Um."

After a brief exchange, the two fell into a deathly silence once again.

However, Ling Xi had long been used to getting along with Xiao Ce like this. Having lived in Chuixing Courtyard for so long, he was usually quite taciturn.

A moment later, she looked up uncomfortably, only to see his brows furrowed, his eyes still fixed on her, his gaze now filled with a complex and obscure look that she couldn't decipher, a hint of displeasure and restraint, and a faint trace of sadness.

"You...are you going to Qizhou?"

She said this out of the blue, since he didn't seem to be leaving and she didn't want to be impolite and leave first. But just standing there without saying anything would only make things more awkward.

"Um."

After a moment of silence, he responded faintly.

"Why the sudden trip to Qizhou? Could it be that there's a threat on the border? Or perhaps... the Jin Kingdom is about to send troops?"

Although the Huanwang Mansion had not previously set specific requirements for Ling Xi's studies, she had read through all the books in her father's and brother's studies.

The border city of Qizhou of Liang is adjacent to Yongxing City of Chu and borders Shazhou of Jin. At present, Liang Chu Yanhe is about to open a border market. The fact that Xiao Ce has personally gone to the border must mean that something has changed on the Jin side.

Her two speculations caused a hint of surprise to flash across Xiao Ce's eyes. He did not expect that she, despite living a secluded life, could guess the military situation in Qizhou so accurately. He nodded and said no more.

"Thank you for saving my brother earlier. The border battlefield is dangerous, so please be careful and take care of yourself."

She lowered her eyes, softened her tone, and her concern was tinged with a hint of unease and genuine sincerity.

At this moment, Xiao Ce fell silent once again.

From the moment she turned around and saw him, he had only said less than two words. Ling Xi couldn't help but wonder if Xiao Ce was born with such a cold and taciturn nature.

"Oh, by the way, I plan to move all my belongings from Chuixing Courtyard to Night City this time. I was thinking... perhaps when I leave Jinling, you'll still be in Qizhou..."

"what ever."

He interrupted her, then turned and walked straight to the study without looking back.

Ling Xi stood there, speechless for a moment, still with that indifferent expression. Oh well, she was leaving anyway, so what did it matter what he looked like?

For the next two days, she again failed to see Xiao Ce, even though the two of them appeared in Chuixing Courtyard every day.

The vast Prince Rui's mansion has been shrouded in a heavy, gloomy cloud for days, with a somber atmosphere permeating the entire mansion.

Princess Rui stayed indoors all day, constantly weeping, and looked extremely haggard. Prince Rui also took leave from the court and stayed by her side at home.

Even when she went to Zhengyang Courtyard to say goodbye, she was prepared to be reprimanded, but the two of them didn't say a word of trouble. It seems that their hearts were full of Xiao Ce and they had no time to care about such trivial matters as whether she stayed or left.

Within two days, Princess Rui had become gaunt and pale, and Ling Xi suddenly felt a complex and indescribable pang of sorrow. All the past conflicts and unpleasantness between them seemed insignificant at this moment. She was, after all, just an ordinary mother worried about her children.

Perhaps due to the approaching departure and excessive excitement, Ling Xi woke up before dawn on the third day.

But Xiao Ce was still nowhere to be seen outside, and there was no trace of anyone having stayed overnight on the bed.

She had just quietly pushed open the door when the figure standing outside startled her.

"The Crown Princess."

Lu Ming, dressed in a close-fitting outfit, stood upright in the morning mist, his posture as straight as a pine tree. Ling Xi was full of surprise; why was he, a personal guard, not with his master, but standing guard at her door?

She composed herself and suppressed her astonishment.

"What are you doing here? Where is the Crown Prince?"

"The young master went to the training ground before dawn."

Lu Ming looked up, his tone calm, and handed her an envelope with both hands.

"This was instructed by the Crown Prince to be given to the Crown Princess early this morning."