“I heard that Princess Jiayun came to visit, so of course I had to come,” Ye Qingcheng said, seeing Xiao Wanyi and Xiao Wangye seated in the main seats. She then took a seat in the lower seat beside Xiao Wangye.
Seeing Ye Qingcheng’s casual action, Xiao Wanyi felt displeased. “It seems the Princess Consort’s illness is not serious.”
“It’s just some minor ailment,” Ye Qingcheng said, gesturing to a servant beside her to prepare a cup of tea.
“What were the County Princess and His Highness discussing just now?” Ye Qingcheng asked, feigning curiosity.
“I think this manor is a bit too desolate. So I suggested to your Highness that perhaps more young ladies should be brought into the manor to take care of him.” As she spoke, she handed a booklet to Ye Qingcheng.
“Why don’t you pick out someone for your Highness as well?”
Seeing Xiao Wanyi’s provocative gesture, Ye Qingcheng’s expression remained unchanged as she took the booklet from her maid.
Xiao Wanyi sneered. She was still the same timid Ye Qingcheng, who dared not make a move when asked to choose women for Xiao Wangye.
“His Highness’s backyard is indeed a bit desolate,” Ye Qingcheng said as she flipped through the booklet.
She muttered to herself that there were already quite a few concubines in the backyard; it was far from desolate. It was just that many of them harbored ulterior motives.
Xiao Wangye looked at Ye Qingcheng taking the booklet and seemingly engrossed in it with a sense of annoyance.
Was she that happy to choose women for herself?
“I heard that the County Princess’s backyard is quite lively. I also wish to seek your advice, County Princess.”
Since that day when she heard of Princess Jiayun among the younger generation of the Xiao family, she had heard quite a bit of news about her from the manor servants and Bixi over the past few days.
Princess Jiayun was most famous, not only for being the daughter of the Old Prince, and the sister of Xiao Wangye and Xiao Wangyan. She was also related to her husband.
Logically speaking, for someone of Xiao Wanyi’s status, her husband should have been devoted only to her.
But it was not the case. Women entered Xiao Wanyi’s husband’s household one after another.
The reason was none other than that Xiao Wanyi married into the Nanfeng family, which was no less influential than the Old Prince’s manor.
Moreover, Xiao Wanyi was deeply in love with her husband. After causing a fuss about her husband’s behavior, she could only accept it helplessly. However, just as her husband brought women into the household one after another, she also “removed” them from the household one after another.
Xiao Wanyi’s expression changed. “What did you say?” She couldn’t believe Ye Qingcheng dared to mock her so directly.
“Did I say something wrong? People outside say the County Princess manages her household effectively, and the Nanfeng family is known for its strict family discipline,” Ye Qingcheng said, feigning innocence.
“Who told you these things?” Xiao Wanyi hadn’t expected that outsiders were actually laughing at her and gossiping behind her back.
“I occasionally heard some ladies and madams at banquets say these things,” Ye Qingcheng said, feigning ignorance. “I hope the County Princess can impart some of her wisdom.”
“Shut up,” Xiao Wanyi could no longer tolerate it. “You fool.”
She couldn’t even discern polite words from insults, yet she brought them before her to stab her where it hurt.
“Cough, cough. Eldest Sister, the Princess Consort was merely asking out of ignorance,” Xiao Wangye suppressed his laughter, catching a fleeting glimpse of cunning in Ye Qingcheng’s eyes.
“Eldest Sister, your temperament truly needs to change.” He had warned the Nanfeng family before, but Nanfeng Zhu was simply a lone wolf, acting as he pleased.
Although he was now the Regent, the Nanfeng family’s influence in court was not to be underestimated.
After this incident, Xiao Wanyi had no mood to stay any longer. She took back the booklet and left with a gloomy expression.
After seeing off Princess Jiayun, the front hall became much quieter.
Ignoring Xiao Wangye’s occasional glances, Ye Qingcheng leisurely sat in the front hall, finished her Longjing tea, and then left.
After leaving the front hall, Ye Qingcheng proceeded to Yujian’s room as planned.
She didn’t encounter the maid from a few days ago outside the door. Ye Qingcheng pushed the door, only to find it unlocked.
The room was silent. She walked directly to the bedside.
Not on the bed? Ye Qingcheng was surprised by the empty bed.
She then looked around the room. Quite a few items were missing.
Could it be that Yujian could already walk around?
She walked out and stopped a passing maid. “Where did Yujian go?”
“Princess Consort.” Seeing it was Ye Qingcheng, the maid holding a basket immediately bowed. “This servant does not know where Aunt Yujian went.”
“Wasn’t Yujian recuperating on the bed these past few days? Where is the maid who took care of her?” Ye Qingcheng frowned, recalling the woman standing by Yujian’s door a few days ago.
“These past few days, only this servant has been taking care of Aunt Yujian,” the maid said, confused. “Is the Princess Consort looking for this servant?”
“What?” Ye Qingcheng couldn’t believe it. The person she saw that day was clearly not the maid in front of her. Then who had she met?
“When did Yujian disappear?” she pressed on.
“Just last night. When this servant woke up this morning, she was gone.”
Afraid that the Princess Consort before her would blame her, she quickly recounted what happened. “As soon as this servant discovered Aunt Yujian was gone, she immediately informed the steward.”
“But…” At this point, she was also a bit confused. “The steward told this servant not to worry about it and to come clean this room.”
Could it be Xiao Wangye’s doing? That’s why the steward said not to worry? Ye Qingcheng felt her doubts increasing.
When she reached Chu Xiu’s courtyard, she was still thinking about this matter.
“Princess Consort, Princess Consort,” Chu Xiu called from the side.
“I apologize, Physician Chu,” Ye Qingcheng came back to her senses, surprised that she had zoned out while discussing with Physician Chu.
“Is the Princess Consort tired? Perhaps you should rest first.”
“I’m fine. Where were we, Physician Chu?” Ye Qingcheng waved her hand dismissively.
“His Highness’s poison still requires one more medicinal ingredient?”
“Precisely,” Chu Xiu said. “Although the poison in His Highness’s body has been alleviated, there is still some residue left in his body.”
“Then, what is the medicinal ingredient you mentioned that can expel all the poison?”
“Other medicinal ingredients are relatively easy to gather. The most crucial and difficult one is the Snow Lotus. Once it is picked, its medicinal properties will volatilize quickly. Therefore, it must be made into medicine immediately after it is picked.”
Ye Qingcheng lowered her head in thought. “Where is this Snow Lotus located?”
“As the name suggests, it’s in the snowy mountains. But the nearest snowy mountain is a three-day and three-night journey away,” Chu Xiu said, taking out a map he had drawn when he was a country doctor.
He pointed to a spot on the map and said, “It’s this Mount Zhonghan.”
“Princess Consort, allow us to take Physician Chu there,” Lin Xiao advised from the side. “The journey is long, and the snowy mountains are extremely cold. You won’t be able to endure it.”
“So much nonsense,” Ye Qingcheng called for Huangli to bring out all the cotton clothes and the small alchemy furnace she had bought earlier.
“I know how to refine pills, so I can immediately make it into pills once it is picked.”
“Then wouldn’t it be better if I just ate the Snow Lotus after picking it?” a voice came from outside the room.