Where is the early stage of the marriage alliance?

Ling Xi looked up at Mu Wanning standing opposite her, and a sense of melancholy suddenly welled up in her heart. Apart from disliking her, Mu Wanning had almost never taken the initiative to cause her any trouble in the past year.

If she had never married into the Prince Rui's mansion, she should have stood firmly by Xiao Ce's side, their hearts in harmony, living an enviable life.

"A-Ce, yesterday I sent someone to the Spirit Medicine Valley to find some excellent external wound medicine. This morning I had Physician Du examine it and brought it to you on the way."

Mu Wanning slightly raised her hand in greeting, and her personal maid immediately stepped forward with the medicine box and gently placed it on the table.

"Thank you for your help, Wan Ning."

Xiao Ce responded gently, his eyes still soft.

Ling Xi sat quietly to the side, looking at Mu Wanning's gentle appearance across from her. Suddenly, her heart ached, and she hurriedly looked away, not wanting to look at him any longer.

So it turns out that she really did care about Xiao Ce. Otherwise, why would she feel so resentful and bitter just because Mu Wanning cared about him so much?

"Since you are injured, you should rest and recuperate at home."

Princess Rui spoke calmly and with concern, her gaze falling on Xiao Ce.

"These next few days, you should spend more time with An'er at Yunqi Courtyard. A child changes every day, and in a few months, he will start to walk and recognize people. If you don't spend more time with him, when you return from Qizhou, this child may not even recognize you."

Xiao Ce subconsciously turned his head, his gaze fixed on Ling Xi beside him. She was holding a teacup to her lips, her eyelashes drooping gently, perfectly concealing all the emotions in her eyes, making it impossible for anyone to see anything through them.

From Xiao Ce's perspective, her calm and composed actions made it seem as if her mother's words had nothing to do with her.

Xiao Ce's eyes paused slightly, a complex bitterness flashed through his heart, and he composed himself and turned his head away.

"I understand."

Ling Xi lowered her head and slowly drank the tea, sip by sip, until not a drop was left. The tea was clear and refreshing, soothing her lungs, but it did nothing to suppress the bitterness in her heart.

She gently placed the teacup back on the table without making a sound. She had almost forgotten that he and Mu Wanning had a child, a child with whom she shared blood.

At that moment, she suddenly felt a pang of regret, realizing she shouldn't have acted impulsively and stayed out of kindness.

"Since that's the case, you haven't seen An'er for several days. You might as well go and see him now, and while you're at it, take Wan Ning back to Yunqi Courtyard."

Xiao Ce frowned slightly, instantly understanding his mother's ulterior motive.

His lips moved slightly, but before he could speak, Princess Rui added in a calm tone:

"I have a few more words to say to Ling Xi in private."

Ling Xi looked up in shock, her heart pounding with confusion. What did those two have to say? And why did they have to send Xiao Ce and Mu Wanning away?

Xiao Ce pondered for a moment, his gaze lingering on Ling Xi's slightly hesitant expression for a moment, before finally suppressing his doubts and saying nothing more.

Once only the two of them were left in the hall, the hall fell silent instantly, and Ling Xi felt extremely uncomfortable.

Princess Rui remained calm for a long while before speaking in a low voice:

"Are you still taking the contraceptive medicine that Granny Sun sent over earlier?"

So that's what they wanted to ask her about. Ling Xi secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

"A while ago, Ce'er sent Xian Yue back to me. Others may not know why, but I know in my heart that he was protecting you."

"Don't worry, Mother, I've been taking that medicine all along."

Ling Xi lowered her eyes and answered softly. She didn't think it was a lie. Although she hadn't taken the medicine, she would never get pregnant with Xiao Ce's child no matter what. Whether she took it or not, the result was the same.

"You don't need to take that medicine anymore."

The next moment, Princess Rui slowly uttered a sentence that overturned her expectations.

"what?"

Ling Xi looked up abruptly, momentarily thinking she had misheard. She stared intently at Princess Rui, only to see that her usually dignified face was now devoid of all its majesty, covered only with a deep sorrow and exhaustion.

"Ce'er has already volunteered to lead troops to the border of Qizhou. On the battlefield, fortune and misfortune are never predictable..."

She choked back tears and fell silent, gazing at Ling Xi in quiet contemplation. After a moment, she slowly spoke again:

"Since you're not going to Night City this time and are willing to stay in the Prince's Palace, I suppose you must have a plan in mind."

Ling Xi was completely bewildered, still unable to grasp the deeper meaning behind Princess Rui's words.

"Have a child for Ce'er."

These words were like a thunderclap, leaving Ling Xi stunned and at a loss for words.

Having a baby?!

She froze, her heart pounding wildly, her eyes filled with fear and astonishment. She never imagined that Princess Rui would keep her behind for this reason.

Her lips trembled slightly, her mind went blank, and she couldn't think of how to respond.

Princess Rui was completely oblivious to her panic, only secretly grieving, a faint sadness veiled in her eyes. Perhaps waiting for a long time without receiving a single response, she slowly came to her senses and looked up at her.

"You...don't want to?"

Princess Rui frowned suddenly, her tone becoming somewhat somber.

Ling Xi was flustered and embarrassed, unable to explain herself. How could she tell Princess Rui that she and Xiao Ce had never shared a bed, and how could she have a child?

"Mother, it's not that I'm unwilling..."

"Ce'er refuses to take a concubine, and now you are the only one in the room. I'm begging you. The battlefield is dangerous, and swords have no eyes. If... if something really happens to Ce'er in the future, at least he can leave behind a child."

Before Ling Xi could finish speaking, she was interrupted again. Just as she was feeling helpless, she suddenly seemed to remember something.

"My husband and Consort Mu, don't they... already have An'er?"

Ling Xi's voice held a hint of barely concealed bitterness, and her heart ached slightly. She had only just realized her feelings for Xiao Ce yesterday, but after thinking it over, she felt that her feelings were probably a mistake.

Xiao Chen'an has received another imperial decree; is she still worried about the lack of a successor in the Rui Prince's mansion? Ling Xi really couldn't understand why the Rui Prince's wife insisted that she give Xiao Ce another child. Ling Xi lowered her eyes, her heart filled with endless melancholy.

It is perfectly natural for powerful men to have multiple wives and concubines. But Xiao Ce, as the heir of the Prince of Rui, could not possibly have only one woman.

Moreover, he and Mu Wanning knew each other first and had a prior relationship, while she was just a newcomer.

Princess Rui saw the desolation swirling in her eyes, and her previous solemn and earnest expression vanished completely, replaced by a heavy sigh.

"Enough! In the year since you entered the Prince Rui's residence, my father and I, because of our own inner conflicts, have never truly treated you well. We are the ones who have wronged you."

She slowly lowered her eyes, her tone softened, and all that remained was a heart full of guilt and relief.

"Having a child is my own selfish desire. If you are unwilling, I will absolutely not force you in the slightest."