The maids were incredibly envious, forming a new opinion of Ye Qingcheng's status in the prince's manor.
Some also felt uneasy about their recent unauthorized absences.
Ye Qingcheng placed her hand on the phoenix coronet, its exquisite craftsmanship truly astonishing.
"What does the Prince mean?"
"The Prince's deep affection for the Princess has moved him, so he asked me to present the ancestral phoenix coronet to the Princess," Xiao Si said, carefully choosing his words as he looked at Ye Qingcheng's expressionless face.
Ye Qingcheng closed the gift box. "Take it back."
"Princess, you... this is the Prince's heartfelt gesture." Xiao Si was puzzled by the Princess's action. This was the ancestral phoenix coronet of the prince's manor; shouldn't the Princess be overjoyed and treasure it?
"Tell the Prince that instead of giving such a grand item, it would be more practical to give me tens of thousands of silver notes." This phoenix coronet clearly had a significant background, being ancestral to the prince's manor. If she left the manor, she probably couldn't take it with her, so what use was it?
"Princess, it would be better if you told the Prince yourself," Xiao Si said, looking troubled.
"Then you can come with me," Ye Qingcheng replied, not making it difficult for him.
"So, you don't want the phoenix coronet?" Xiao Wangye leaned against the bed, looking at Ye Qingcheng standing before him.
"No," Ye Qingcheng placed the gift box on the table. "Moreover, since I am the Prince's physician, saving lives and healing the injured, and detoxifying the Prince are naturally my responsibilities." Ye Qingcheng had her own pride.
"If the Prince insists on showing gratitude, a few silver notes would be much appreciated," Ye Qingcheng said. "Silver notes are more convenient than a phoenix coronet; one cannot get by without money when traveling."
Xiao Wangye, instead of being angered by Ye Qingcheng's refusal of the phoenix coronet, laughed. "Good."
A faint smile touched his pale lips. Although he was still weak from the detoxification, his demeanor was full of presence.
"Xiao Si, go to the accounting office and get a hundred thousand silver notes for the Princess."
Ye Qingcheng was somewhat surprised by the large sum. Seeing Xiao Wangye cough lightly in bed, she took out a pouch of pills from her person.
"Your Highness, these are restorative pills I made. Rest assured, I will regulate your body as quickly as possible during this time."
"Then I will entrust it to the Princess," Xiao Wangye said lightly, taking the cloth bag from her hand. Ye Qingcheng, this prince will not let you leave so easily.
Two days passed without incident. Ye Qingcheng devoted herself to treating Bixi, while also visiting the physician's residence to learn medical skills from Chu Xiu.
Bixi's condition had improved significantly. Although she still needed to rest in bed, she could now communicate with them.
Ye Qingcheng had also inquired who had attacked her so viciously.
As expected, it was Yu Jian. Fortunately, Bixi was too nervous while doing wrong and misremembered the location, preventing Yu Jian from discovering the box.
"Miss, I'm sorry. Bixi was too foolish," Bixi said tearfully, her head wrapped in several layers of bandages.
"Silly girl, it's good that you're alright," Ye Qingcheng said, feeding her some medicine. "It was also my oversight to entrust this task to you alone."
"No, Bixi couldn't even manage such a simple task..."
Seeing the young girl still blaming herself, Ye Qingcheng said helplessly, "Don't think about it anymore." She looked around to ensure no one was present and then whispered, "I've already retrieved those things."
"Really?"
"Yes. So, don't worry anymore. Focus on recovering from your injuries."
There had been too many injuries recently, including Yu Jian's severe attack on Bixi.
Ye Qingcheng knitted her brows. Since Yu Jian had injured Bixi, she intended to settle the score.
But why had Yu Jian been unconscious for so long? The last time she checked, based on her injuries, she should have woken up by now.
Thinking it over, she decided to go and see.
Halfway there, she saw the old steward hurrying towards Xiao Wangye's room. What had happened now?
"Princess," Lin Xiao said, bowing to Ye Qingcheng as he passed.
"Lin Xiao, has something else happened in the manor?"
"It's Princess Jiayun who has arrived," Lin Xiao said with a troubled expression.
Princess Jiayun? Was she Xiao Wangye's elder sister? The one rumored to be pregnant. It seemed this person was not easy to deal with, as even Lin Xiao looked troubled.
In the front hall at this moment, a noblewoman in yellow was seated in the host's position.
"Why hasn't Xiao Wangye come yet?" she asked a nearby maid, frowning.
"And where is Ye Qingcheng? I've been sitting here for half a day, and she hasn't shown her face. Does she have any regard for me?"
"Princess, please calm your anger. This old servant has already informed the Prince and Princess," the old steward said, trying to appease her. "The manor has just received a batch of Longjing tea. Please try some."
"Elder Sister, why have you come?" Xiao Si pushed Xiao Wangye into the front hall. Xiao Wangye also felt a headache coming on with this elder sister.
"Where is your Princess?" Xiao Wan Yi looked behind him, not seeing the usually timid Ye Qingcheng.
Hearing from the younger generation who had returned from the prince's manor that Ye Qingcheng was not pregnant, Xiao Wan Yi had immediately come to Xiao Wangye's manor to investigate.
"The Princess is feeling a bit unwell." Xiao Wangye had not informed Ye Qingcheng at all; this elder sister always interfered in his household affairs.
If Ye Qingcheng encountered her, who knew what might happen.
"Ye Qingcheng is sick?" she looked at Xiao Wangye suspiciously. "I heard she's been going to the medical clinic frequently lately."
"The Princess is merely worried about my health, which is why she visits the medical clinic so often."
"Is that so?" Xiao Wan Yi picked up the Longjing tea presented by a servant. "You have been married for many years, yet you have no heirs. Could it be..."
"That she has a health problem?"
Xiao Wangye said calmly, "Elder Sister worries too much. The Princess's health has always been robust."
"Didn't she suffer from heart disease not long ago?" Xiao Wan Yi gestured for her personal maid to bring over a booklet. She had another purpose for her visit.
"As a Prince, you currently only have one Princess and a few concubines in your manor. These booklets contain people I have selected for you. I believe it's time to decide on a secondary consort."
"Princess Jiayun," Ye Qingcheng said as she entered the front hall, seeing Princess Jiayun introducing women to her husband.
This woman, why was she even managing Xiao Wangye's marriage affairs? Was she his mother or his sister? She was being far too meddlesome.
"Princess Jiayun..." Lin Xiao sighed. "Even before the Prince was separated from the former Prince's manor, she was always bossing him around."
Even though Princess Jiayun had left the prince's manor to get married, the Prince was no longer the same heir who had to read faces in the manor. Yet, she still interfered in the Prince's life from time to time.
Seeing Ye Qingcheng arrive, Xiao Wan Yi showed no embarrassment at being caught by the person involved.
"I've been sitting here for half a day, why are you only arriving now?" Judging by her complexion, she didn't seem unwell at all.
"I heard you were sick?"
Ye Qingcheng glanced at Xiao Wangye, who was seated at the main table, understanding that he had made an excuse for her. The one who was truly unwell was Xiao Wangye.
Considering that Xiao Wangye had given her tens of thousands of silver notes this time, she would reluctantly drive away this annoying woman.