Xiao Wangye was still reading the memorial, and Ye Qingcheng barged into the study.
She got straight to the point: "Why are you restricting my freedom?"
Xiao Wangye merely glanced up at her before returning his gaze to the memorial in his hands. "You didn't return yesterday. I had something to discuss with you, and you weren't here."
Ye Qingcheng was speechless. "I went home yesterday, and you knew that. I just stayed the night at home. If you had something to tell me, you could have just said so. Why restrict my freedom?"
Xiao Wangye said righteously, "But I don't know where you stayed overnight."
For the first time, Ye Qingcheng found Xiao Wangye to be so childish and unreasonable.
She hadn't returned for just one night, and he had to lock her up. Was he sick!
She took a deep breath. "Fine. I won't argue about this. Then I'll ask the Prince to restore my freedom."
"Freedom?" Xiao Wangye looked up at her. "What freedom do you want?"
Ye Qingcheng couldn't utter a single word, feeling a tightness in her throat.
Suddenly, Ye Qingcheng had a flash of inspiration and put on a playful smile. "How about... you divorce me, grant me freedom, and let me go out to roam the jianghu, how does that sound!"
Xiao Wangye's hand, holding the brush, paused. He looked up at her, and for a moment, Ye Qingcheng's words caused him some discomfort.
Xiao Wangye lowered his eyes. He couldn't deny that he didn't want Ye Qingcheng to leave.
The reason was simple: the current Ye Qingcheng was vastly different from the Ye Qingcheng of the past. He had to take it seriously and thoroughly research whether her true personality was like this, or if she had been replaced.
"Heh!" Xiao Wangye sneered. "You want to leave?"
Ye Qingcheng looked at his smile, feeling a prickle of goosebumps.
"You haven't even healed my leg yet, and you're already thinking of leaving?" Xiao Wangye's deep eyes showed no emotion.
A bead of cold sweat trickled down Ye Qingcheng's forehead. After being together for so long, she had almost forgotten what kind of person Xiao Wangye was. Now, she was reminded that he was still that terrifying regent.
Seeing her terrified expression, Xiao Wangye knew he had exerted some deterrence, but it wasn't enough. He needed to nip her desire to escape in the bud.
Suddenly, Ye Qingcheng felt a gust of wind whistle past her ear, shattering the vase behind her.
Xiao Wangye retracted his palm energy and looked at Ye Qingcheng. "If you can't heal my leg, then keeping you here is a waste of resources, and you should be dealt with."
Ye Qingcheng swallowed. "Do you think you can still decide my life or death now?" Couldn't she escape?
Xiao Wangye curled his lips. "If you don't want Bi Xi and Jing Xiu to die, then you can try. You can escape now, but they can't. If they die, it's as simple as crushing an ant."
Ye Qingcheng met his gaze for a moment before turning to leave.
She wouldn't try, not even if she were beaten to death! She cherished her life dearly. It was just that she couldn't leave now. Losing her freedom was still better than losing her life. Not anyone's life.
Xiao Wangye stared at her retreating back with a mocking smile.
At this moment, Lin Xiao stumbled to the door of Xiao Wangye's study.
Xiao Wangye looked at him, his smile faded, and he lowered his head to continue reading the memorial. "You're becoming more foolish."
Lin Xiao shook his head, trying to clear his mind. "Your Highness, you should see the sneak attack tactics the Princess Consort used. It's too shameless." But then he saw the Prince's cold gaze, and Lin Xiao quickly changed his words. "It's simply brilliant. That's exactly how it should be, to catch them off guard."
Xiao Wangye's expression improved slightly. He continued to critique the memorials, and Lin Xiao was speechless.
Returning to her residence, she dejectedly closed the door to guests.
That damned Xiao Wangye. He was sure that Ye Qingcheng wouldn't gamble with other people's lives. Xiao Wangye was right; she could leave, but Bi Xi and Jing Xiu couldn't. Not to mention whether she could take them with her, their bodies were still with Xiao Wangye. If Bi Xi and Jing Xiu tried to escape, he could easily report them to the yamen for absconding, which was a capital offense.
She couldn't risk that for them!
Alas, with the lives of several people on her shoulders, she had to accept her fate. She would stay in the Prince's mansion.
But she didn't want to stay in the Prince's mansion any longer. However, force wouldn't work now; only strategy would. That meant accelerating the treatment of Xiao Wangye's leg.
So that evening, when Xiao Wangye came for his leg treatment, Ye Qingcheng added some potent herbs.
Lin Xiao looked at the prescription in his hand, which was different from the one a few days ago, and felt uneasy. "Is this alright?"
Ye Qingcheng scoffed. "I'm a doctor. Don't you trust me?"
Lin Xiao was choked and couldn't speak, so he had to go and fetch the medicine.
The potent herbs added this time had a slightly stimulating smell.
Lin Xiao couldn't help but cover his nose. "The smell is quite strong!"
Ye Qingcheng also pinched her nose and breathed through her mouth. "This is why I didn't want to use these herbs. They're just too... smelly." After inserting the needles, Ye Qingcheng couldn't stand it anymore and ran out.
Lin Xiao performed all the proper courtesies, bowed to Xiao Wangye, and then ran out.
Xiao Wangye had sealed his five senses with internal energy, barely managing to endure it.
After the treatment concluded, Ye Qingcheng opened the windows to air out the room before entering. She went in only after the smell had dissipated.
As soon as she entered, Ye Qingcheng didn't stand on ceremony. She directly threw a vase at Xiao Wangye, wanting to test how much his strength had recovered.
Xiao Wangye didn't disappoint her. Without moving her body, his surrounding aura shattered the vase.
Lin Xiao was stunned, incredulously seeing how much his Prince's strength had recovered.
Ye Qingcheng felt a sense of self-satisfaction, attributing it to her medical skills.
But the next second, Xiao Wangye looked at the vase and told her, "This vase is worth about two thousand six hundred taels."
Ye Qingcheng was petrified.
"Is it really worth it?"
Xiao Wangye gestured for Lin Xiao to push him out of the room. As they neared the door, he heard Ye Qingcheng's questioning and nodded. "Yes, it is."
Ye Qingcheng felt like crying. "Then, after treating you for so long, shouldn't I be paid?"
Xiao Wangye waved his hand, signaling Lin Xiao to stop, and turned to look at her. "Then let's settle the expenses you've incurred in the Prince's mansion."
Ye Qingcheng: Sweat... "No need."
Xiao Wangye nodded. "Remember to repay the money."
Ye Qingcheng watched their retreating backs and shook her little fist. "One day, I will make you kneel and beg me."
But then she looked at the mess on the ground and her spirits deflated. "Alas... it seems I need to plan carefully."
The next day, seeing that the Princess Consort had made a big decision, Bi Xi began to vehemently oppose it. "Princess Consort, you can't!"
Ye Qingcheng pushed Bi Xi's head aside. "You just stay here and watch me."
Bi Xi was persistent. "But their family's wine shop is almost out of business!"