Where is the early stage of the marriage alliance?

Ling Xi followed the direction Xiao Xiao had run off in to look for her, but the streets were packed with people, and she was bumped into several times.

As I walked up to a row of brightly lit lanterns, I was suddenly bumped by the crowd of people watching the lighting ceremony. My body suddenly lost its balance and I was about to fall straight backward.

Just as Wushuang, who was separated from Ling Xi by the crowd, was about to step forward, someone beat her to it and firmly grabbed Ling Xi's wrist from the other side.

Ling Xi looked up in a panic, and under the dazzling lights beside her, the person pulling her was none other than Lu Baixu.

"Provincial Secretary Lu?"

Her gaze shifted downwards to her wrist, which was being held. His grip was gentle and steady, and in the next instant, he released her.

"Why is the Crown Princess here all alone?"

He straightened his sleeves, his elegant and refined appearance truly out of place with his surroundings.

"I came out with Xiao Xiao, but we got separated just now, and I'm going to look for her ahead."

Lu Baixu looked ahead, his brows furrowing slightly.

"There are too many people on the street right now. Why don't we send someone to search for her first? Princess Consort, please come with me to the teahouse to rest for a while."

Ling Xi followed his gaze and looked up, only to see a teahouse on the side of the street.

"Alright. Wushuang, you come upstairs with me. The rest of you, go ahead and find Princess Yongle."

"You will also come along to search for them."

Lu Baixu turned around and gave instructions to his two attendants.

"Yes, young master."

Ling Xi turned around in surprise. Lu Baixu was always so considerate. She forced a smile and suddenly remembered that she still owed him a favor.

"Please, Your Highness."

"Um."

As soon as she entered the teahouse, Ling Xi couldn't help but speak:

"I still owe Academician Lu a favor. You... haven't figured out what you want yet?"

Lu Baixu stopped and looked back at her with a gentle smile on his face.

"Princess Consort, are you in such a hurry to repay my favor?"

Ling Xi frowned. Why didn't he just say what he wanted? She was leaving Jinling tomorrow, and might go straight back to Chu afterward.

"I'm going to Night City with my brother tomorrow, and I'm afraid I won't be back in Jinling for a long time..."

"The Crown Princess can't possibly never come back, can she?"

"I....."

"Let's talk about it when the Crown Princess returns."

He turned around again, looking nonchalant and casual.

"If the Crown Princess doesn't return, then this favor... won't need to be repaid."

When he said this, he didn't turn around. He walked up the stairs with his back to her, still as calm and collected as ever.

Ling Xi stood there stunned for a moment, thinking that Lu Baixu was truly different from ordinary people. She followed him, and only when she entered the private room did she find that a man and a woman were already sitting inside.

The man was Qin Qi, whom she had met twice before, but she had never seen the gentle and quiet woman beside him before.

"Bai Xu, why did you come with the Crown Princess?"

When Qin Qi saw the two of them come in together, he stood up somewhat awkwardly, his eyes full of surprise. The woman beside him also looked surprised.

"We bumped into each other downstairs."

The woman also stood up and gave her a slight curtsy.

"Greetings, Princess Consort, and Vice Minister Lu."

Lu Baixu responded calmly and slowly walked to Qin Qi's left and sat down. Ling Xi nodded slightly, and since only the seat opposite Qin Qi was left, she sat down as well.

It was only through Qin Qi's introduction that he learned that this woman was his cousin, the eldest daughter of a Hanlin scholar, Qin Zhiyi.

Throughout, Lu Baixu maintained a calm demeanor, slowly picking up the teapot, first pouring a cup of tea for Ling Xi and pushing it towards her, then filling his own cup.

"Why isn't Yizhi here yet?"

Qin Qi frowned and subconsciously looked up towards the door.

Ling Xi's hand, which had just placed the teacup on the table, trembled slightly. Was Xiao Ce coming too?

Indeed, the three of them often appeared together. If she had known, she shouldn't have come up with Lu Baixu.

"Yizhi! You've finally arrived. We've been waiting for you."

As she was pondering to herself, a series of steady footsteps came from outside the door, and Qin Qi's cheerful voice made her heart tighten instantly.

She dared not turn around, feeling inexplicably nervous, wondering what his expression would be when he saw her there, after all, they had not seen each other for several days.

This time, only Qin Zhiyi stood up in the room and bowed respectfully to the person behind Ling Xi.

Ling Xi did not hear a single reply, but based on her understanding of Yin Ce's temperament, she could almost accurately guess his reaction. It was probably the same as Lu Baixu's earlier reaction: he would only nod slightly, without giving any extra glances.

"Oh, I forgot to tell you..."

Seeing Xiao Ce standing there with a puzzled look on his face, staring intently at Ling Xi, Qin Qi spoke first with a smile.

"Just now downstairs, Bai Xu happened to run into the Crown Princess, so he invited her up."

Only then did Ling Xi slowly turn around, offering him a very faint smile, the curve of her lips stiff and awkward.

He didn't reply, but calmly walked over and sat down next to her. She suddenly realized that she seemed to have taken his original seat, so she obediently moved to the left to make room for him.

"How did you get out here?"

Xiao Ce did not look at her. He calmly raised his hand to take the teacup that Lu Baixu handed him, his fingertips lightly touching the rim of the cup, his expression indifferent.

"I......"

"Yizhi, what kind of question is that! The Crown Princess has been in Jinling City for a year, and this is her first time celebrating the Lantern Festival. Naturally, she wants to come out and enjoy the lively Lantern Festival in Jinling City. Originally, it should have been you who brought the Crown Princess out."

Xiao Ce turned his head and looked at her intently, his eyes filled with unfathomable emotions. Qin Qi didn't know that she was leaving tomorrow, leaving Jinling for good and never coming back.

"I came out with Xiao Xiao. We got separated in the crowd, and we just happened to run into Academician Lu downstairs in this teahouse."

Ling Xi's heart tightened slightly. She knew there was no need to report everything to him, but he had misunderstood her several times before, as if he was afraid that she would ruin the reputation of their Prince Rui's Mansion and Lu Baixu. She thought it would be better to explain things clearly.

"Seeing that the street was crowded and chaotic, I asked the Crown Princess to go upstairs and wait for a while. I have already sent someone to find Princess Yongle."

Lu Baixu remained silent for a long time before finally speaking. Although he appeared calm, Qin Qi, who was usually insensitive, felt that something was off about the atmosphere today.

On the night of the Lantern Festival, his cousin begged him to bring her to the festival. He knew exactly what she meant. Qin Zhiyi had feelings for Lu Baixu, so he simply invited Lu Baixu out. Fearing that Lu Baixu would feel awkward alone, he also invited Xiao Ce along.

His gaze swept across their faces seemingly casually, yet he couldn't discern anything from them.

Qin Zhiyi was dignified and elegant, exuding a scholarly and refined air. Her thoughts were seemingly focused on Lu Baixu, while Qin Qi couldn't understand the thoughts of the other three.