"Your Highness," Lin Xiao said as he approached, "Miss Murong Yun is here." He then glanced at Ye Qingcheng, who was packing her needle bag.
Ye Qingcheng appeared calm, as if she hadn't heard Murong Yun's name. She simply said, "Your Highness has a visitor. I shall take my leave now."
Xiao Wangye's gaze darkened. "You may go."
Lin Xiao couldn't help but sigh at how much the Princess Consort had changed. In the past, when a concubine entered the manor, she would cry for quite a while. When she met His Highness, she would act like a devoted wife, full of concern. Now, she treated His Highness like an ordinary patient.
Lin Xiao mused that she was probably even more indifferent than the villagers and patients in Yishan Village.
However, he wouldn't say it aloud; it wouldn't do him any good to displease His Highness.
This woman was becoming increasingly brazen. Watching Ye Qingcheng turn and leave without a backward glance, Xiao Wangye felt a flicker of displeasure for reasons he couldn't quite fathom. He attributed this emotion to mere dissatisfaction with her disrespect.
Upon hearing that Xiao Wangye's leg ailment had recurred, Murong Yun couldn't help but feel worried.
In her past life, Xiao Wangye's leg ailment had never truly healed, and after she left, he had become gloomy and unpredictable. She felt a pang of sadness, believing it was her departure that had turned Brother Xiao into that state.
Since heaven had given her another chance, it must be to allow her to atone for her mistakes. This time, she was determined to stay by Xiao Wangye's side and care for him diligently.
"Brother Xiao, are you alright?" As soon as she entered Xiao Wangye's room, Murong Yun hurried to his bedside and sat down.
She looked at Xiao Wangye leaning casually against the bed, his dark hair cascading behind him, his lips slightly pale and dry, lacking energy. His long, feather-like eyelashes were lowered, adding a touch of颓废 beauty unlike his usual demeanor.
Murong Yun's cheeks flushed faintly. "Brother Xiao, I brought some medicinal herbs. Does your leg still hurt?"
"I'm fine, Yun'er." Xiao Wangye coughed lightly and instinctively reached for the blanket beside him to cover himself.
"Brother Xiao, how about I find a renowned physician for you?" Murong Yun's gaze was filled with concern as she looked at Xiao Wangye. Although his leg had never healed in her past life, perhaps her rebirth would bring him a turning point.
Xiao Wangye did not want Murong Yun to know that Ye Qingcheng was his physician. He merely said gently, "Very well, I'll trouble you, Yun'er."
Hearing this, Murong Yun couldn't help but feel delighted. Brother Xiao trusted her. A sense of anticipation welled up within her, imagining the healed Xiao Wangye walking alongside her.
However, Murong Yun soon thought of Ye Qingcheng. Now, Xiao Wangye's wife was Ye Qingcheng, not her.
With this thought, Murong Yun's smile faltered slightly. "Where is Princess Consort Sister?" she asked, glancing around the room. "Brother Xiao is ill, and Princess Consort Sister didn't come?"
Xiao Wangye's gaze swept towards Lin Xiao, who understood and bowed. "The Princess Consort had matters to attend to and went out. She didn't have time to rush back."
"Is that so?" Murong Yun pondered. Her own husband was ill, yet she went out. Did Ye Qingcheng truly love Xiao Wangye?
"Since Princess Consort Sister isn't here, why don't I stay for a few days to take care of Brother Xiao?" With Ye Qingcheng absent, her heart stirred with ambition. Recalling Xiao Wangye's deep affection for her in the past life, she couldn't stand by and do nothing while he was sick.
"Yun'er, this is not proper," Xiao Wangye said. "You are still unmarried and should not be so presumptuous. It would invite gossip from outsiders."
Upon hearing this, Murong Yun realized she had overstepped. She was the legitimate daughter of the Prime Minister and the foremost talented woman in the capital. Xiao Wangye already had a Princess Consort, and her eagerness to enter the manor would surely lead to idle gossip from commoners if word got out.
Her face flushed. "I apologize, Brother Xiao. I was simply worried about your injury and lost my composure."
Xiao Wangye also noticed that ever since Murong Yun returned to the capital, her temperament seemed to have changed from what it once was. However, as they had grown up together, he found it difficult to scold her too harshly. "You must be more mindful in the future. I am doing this for your own good."
Murong Yun felt it was no longer appropriate to stay. After chatting with Xiao Wangye for a while, she got into her carriage and left.
Ye Qingcheng had been in the adjacent room the entire time. She was thinking about returning to Yishan Village with Lin Xiao and wondering how Bi Xi was managing. Hearing that Murong Yun wanted to stay, she couldn't help but curl her lips. She would have to leave quietly without being discovered.
Fortunately, Xiao Wangye had refused her with just a few words. Listening to Murong Yun's forced smile, Ye Qingcheng shook her head. The female protagonist was still unable to compose herself. It was understandable; after all, having been reborn, she naturally wanted to be with Xiao Wangye as soon as possible.
After Murong Yun left, Ye Qingcheng emerged from the adjacent room. "Your Highness, this treatment session is concluded. Lin Xiao and I will return to Yishan Village for now, and I will come again in a few days."
"Ye Qingcheng, do you treat the manor like an inn? Coming and going as you please?"
"What are you talking about, Your Highness? I want to cure Your Highness's leg ailment as soon as possible," Ye Qingcheng replied casually, maintaining a strictly professional demeanor.
"It's too late today. You and Lin Xiao should stay here tonight and leave tomorrow," Xiao Wangye said. "Tomorrow, I will send a detachment of guards to accompany you."
Ye Qingcheng wanted to refuse, as she was concerned about Bi Xi. However, it was indeed too late, and she feared displeasing him if she argued further.
"Then I'll do as Your Highness says. Lin Xiao and I will leave tomorrow." It's only one night; it shouldn't matter, should it?
"What are you doing?"
Bi Xi was startled by the voice and turned around hastily. It was Yu Jian.
"N-nothing," Bi Xi stammered, standing up and patting the dirt off her hands. "I just remembered that Miss used to like eating sweet potatoes from this back mountain, so I came up to dig some after finishing my business."
"Is that so?" Yu Jian looked suspiciously at Bi Xi's unnatural expression, feeling increasingly certain that she was hiding something.
"Move aside." She walked past Bi Xi and looked down at the ground. She squatted down, intending to investigate.
"Sister Yu Jian," Bi Xi tried to stop her, but Yu Jian didn't believe her at all. Bi Xi could only hold onto her hand tightly.
Seeing Bi Xi getting in her way, Yu Jian forcefully shook her off.
"Ah!" Bi Xi lost her balance and hit a nearby tree, sustaining a gash on her head.
Yu Jian ignored her and dug at the ground for a long time.
Seeing Bi Xi's flustered state, Yu Jian became convinced that there was some secret of Ye Qingcheng's here. If she found it and presented it to the Empress, she would surely receive a reward. Ye Qingcheng would be expelled from the manor, and then she would be the only governess, perhaps even gaining the Prince's favor.
The more she thought about it, the more vigorously Yu Jian dug.
However, after digging for a long time, she found nothing. As dusk deepened, her expression grew increasingly displeased.
Bi Xi had been nervous from the moment Yu Jian started digging. But as Yu Jian dug without finding anything, she too began to doubt. Miss had said there was a treasure, so why was there no sign of it?
Then she thought carefully. Could she have remembered the direction incorrectly? It must be that. Miss wouldn't lie to her. It could only be her own foolishness in remembering it wrong.
With this thought, Bi Xi let out a sigh of relief. It seemed fools were blessed. This made her even more determined to insist that she had only come up the mountain to dig sweet potatoes for Miss.