Before reaching the front hall, he could hear the sound of young men's conversations inside.
"Your Highness, why don't we see the Princess today?" a young man in a green robe asked.
Whenever they visited the princely manor before, it was the Princess who received them. They had taken pains to appease her along the way, which had given them great satisfaction and a sense of pride.
Today, upon entering the manor, they were greeted by an old butler with a face like a dried orange peel. It was truly strange.
What was so strange about it? Ye Qingcheng thought.
The original owner had always meticulously arranged things when these young men visited, as she considered herself Xiao Wangye's princess consort. As a concubine's daughter who was a princess consort, she naturally went out of her way to please her husband's family to establish a foothold in the manor.
But now she was Ye Qingcheng, an independent individual. Not Xiao Wangye's princess consort, nor anyone's appendage.
As soon as Xiao Wangye's leg ailment was cured, she would leave without a second thought, no longer bothering with being some so-called princess consort.
With this thought, Ye Qingcheng entered the front hall.
They were truly young. Looking at the gorgeously dressed noble sons inside, some were handsome, some gentle, and some resolute. They were indeed handsome in different ways.
It seemed the Xiao family had good genes.
"Greetings, Princess Consort." Everyone stood up and greeted Ye Qingcheng. Regardless of Ye Qingcheng's status before her marriage, they still had to pay their respects to her in front of Xiao Wangye.
"Hello, please sit as you please." Ye Qingcheng nodded, looking at the excellent Xiao family descendants in the room. She walked past them and sat on the chair next to Xiao Wangye.
Xiao Wangye had remained silent.
Ye Qingcheng took her seat, picked up the tea from the coffee table, and took a few leisurely sips.
The Xiao family descendants were bewildered by Ye Qingcheng's casual demeanor. Was this still the Ye Qingcheng who used to be timid in front of them?
"Your Highness, we have come today primarily to report on our learning progress during this period."
Among the Xiao family descendants, most were currently undergoing training in the military camps. Of course, some with poorer health or those not interested in the military were now primarily studying in the family academy.
Listening to the young men below speak, Ye Qingcheng simply drank her tea.
"The martial arts examinations are approaching this year. We are preparing to register for them."
Xiao Wangye nodded, "It is good to gain some experience."
After chatting for a while, the young men picked up the various gift packages beside them. "Your Highness, these are gifts we have brought."
Xiao Wangye frowned. Normally, these people wouldn't give gifts for no reason. They would only send him gifts on festivals and holidays. But he would also prepare return gifts for these juniors.
With no special occasion, why were they suddenly sending him gifts?
He put down the teacup in his hand.
"Xiao Yi, what is going on?" He looked at a young man in white sitting below.
Xiao Yi stood up helplessly and explained to Xiao Wangye, "We heard that the Princess Consort is with child." He glanced at Ye Qingcheng, who was drinking tea beside him.
"Upon hearing this, everyone thought of congratulating Your Highness and the Princess Consort."
Ye Qingcheng was instantly startled by the gazes cast upon her from below. Xiao Yi's words almost made her spit out her tea.
Xiao Wangye was even more astonished, his suspicious gaze falling on Ye Qingcheng's belly.
Seeing this, Ye Qingcheng glared at him without mercy.
What are you looking at? She was a doctor, how could she not know if she was pregnant? Moreover, pregnancy was absolutely impossible between them.
Xiao Wangye's fingertips moved slightly. Hearing that Ye Qingcheng was pregnant, a surge of joy unexpectedly welled up in his heart.
However, he knew this was pure nonsense.
"Where did you hear this news?" Xiao Wangye withdrew his gaze and scanned the young men below.
"A few days ago, Princess Jiayun saw the Princess Consort frequently traveling between the pharmacy and the manor. She said the Princess Consort was with child."
Who was Princess Jiayun? So gossipy. And she often went to the pharmacy to understand the herbs and medical standards of this era.
Why was it considered pregnancy? Such baseless speculation.
"Elder Sister must have seen wrong." Hearing about Princess Jiayun, Xiao Wangye felt a slight headache.
This elder sister had always bossed him around since childhood. When he first returned to the manor, he was constantly ordered about by her. Even after becoming the Regent, she always wanted to interfere in his personal affairs.
"The Princess Consort is not pregnant. Please take your gifts back."
"Your Highness, since we have brought them, let us consider them thanks for Your Highness's care and guidance over the years. We hope you will not refuse." Xiao Yi and the other youths said.
"Yes, our families often tell us to listen well to Your Highness's teachings. We hope Your Highness will accept this small token of our appreciation."
"Alright." He would have the butler prepare return gifts another day.
"Since you have brought them, it wouldn't be right to make you take them back."
"Your Highness, the banquet is ready," the butler appeared at the doorway and said.
"Good, let's all go." Xiao Si pushed Xiao Wangye from the front, and Ye Qingcheng walked beside him.
She could feel the displeased glances from the young men towards her.
Ye Qingcheng paid them no mind.
"Your Highness, my gift is precisely two bottles of aged fine wine. Perhaps we can bring them out to drink during the feast?"
"Very well, Butler. Go and fetch Xiao Teng's gift box."
So, the one in green clothes was called Xiao Teng.
The two bottles of wine brought by the butler were exquisitely packaged, resembling a pair of lovebirds. Upon opening the stoppers, a clear, crisp aroma of wine immediately made the young men's mouths water.
"I never expected you to have such good wine, Xiao Teng." Everyone gestured for the maids to pour the wine.
"If it weren't for riding on Your Highness's coattails, you would surely be reluctant to bring it out."
"I obtained it by chance." A few days ago, he had visited some friends in the Jianghuai region. Passing by a winery, he was attracted by the aroma of the fine wine.
After tasting it once or twice, he praised their wine highly. He even found these auspiciously designed wine bottles in the shop and thought they would be perfect for presenting wine to the Prince and Princess Consort.
Ye Qingcheng brought her nose close to the wine glass and sniffed. It was indeed good wine.
She wondered how this wine was made, as it still carried a faint, special aroma. After drinking it, it flowed smoothly down the throat, leaving a sweet aftertaste.
Seeing Xiao Wangye had already drunk two cups, Ye Qingcheng, despite not finding any issue with the wine, still advised him, "Your Highness, it's better to drink less."
For some reason, upon hearing Ye Qingcheng's words, Xiao Wangye smiled faintly and drank another cup with gusto.
What's the problem? The more you advise, the more he drinks. Ye Qingcheng shook her head. She began to eat her food.
This banquet did not last long. Although they were all young men, in front of Xiao Wangye, they were as restrained as they would be in front of elders and teachers, not daring to be too presumptuous.
As the moon rose high, everyone dispersed. The butler arranged rooms for all the young men.
Xiao Wangye had not yet left the courtyard. The wine was beginning to take effect, and he looked up at the moon, feeling a slight dizziness.
Just as he was about to ask Xiao Si to push him back, before he could even speak, he vomited a mouthful of blood and completely fainted.