Xu Shaoyang hurried forward to apologize, "No, Your Highness, I didn't mean that."
Ye Qingcheng gave a sarcastic laugh, "If you didn't mean that, then why did you strike someone!"
Xu Shaoyang was at a loss for words.
"I... I didn't know this was your restaurant, Your Highness!"
Ye Qingcheng chuckled, "When I opened this restaurant, there was such a big lawsuit, everyone in the capital knew about it! I said I bought a restaurant, opened a restaurant, I said it openly, and I did it. Now you tell me you didn't know this restaurant was mine, are you joking?"
Xu Shaoyang was so cornered he couldn't say a word.
"Yiran, our friendship is quite deep. If you wanted to drink, you could have just come to my manor to find me. Why did you come to drink with this scoundrel? You're lowering your status!"
Xu Shaoyang was speechless, "Your Highness, you can't say that! I'm an official's son, after all."
Ye Qingcheng sneered, "An official's son? You're merely the fourth son of the Earl's mansion, with three legitimate elder brothers above you. The current Earl's mansion relies entirely on your elder brothers to hold it up, and it's long lost its former glory."
Xu Shaoyang looked at her with a very unpleasant expression.
Ye Qingcheng never minced her words when retorting, "Your eldest brother, followed the imperial examination system, and passed the exams. That was truly a glorious achievement for the family back then! Your second and third brothers chose the path of military commanders and are currently stationed at the frontier guarding the army. And you? You're neither academically nor militarily accomplished. Last month's imperial examination results were released, and you seemed to have failed. It's only been this long, and you're already putting on airs of an Earl's son. How amusing."
Xu Shaoyang's face turned ashen. He knew she was belittling him, yet he couldn't refute a single word because what she said was true. Seeing that no one among his companions spoke up for him, his expression grew even more grim.
He wanted to leave, but Ye Qingcheng was the princess. Without her word, he couldn't leave arbitrarily. If the meaning of slighting the princess were to spread, his father and mother would surely beat him to death.
Ye Qingcheng didn't want to waste any more words with him. She pulled Sheng Yiran along and left.
Once the princess left, everyone breathed a sigh of relief.
Ye Qingcheng turned and opened the door, only for a group of people to tumble in.
"Oh dear!"
When the fallen people looked up and saw who was standing there, everyone felt as if a flock of crows had flown overhead in the quiet air.
Ye Qingcheng exclaimed, "What are you all doing?"
The crowd was awkward for a few seconds. Yun Xia was the first to react, "Well, we were afraid you'd be at a disadvantage, so we came to pick you up!"
Elder Jun immediately understood, "That's right! We're here to back you up!"
Ye Qingcheng chuckled, "Alright, who doesn't know you all? Get up quickly, you're embarrassing yourselves." With that, she pulled Sheng Yiran along and left.
Back in Ye Qingcheng's private room, Sheng Yiran finally caught her breath and spoke to Ye Qingcheng for the first time with a request, "I want to drink."
Ye Qingcheng exchanged a look with Yun Xia, understanding that the young lady was in a bad mood and wanted to drown her sorrows. It was not a difficult request. Ye Qingcheng readily agreed.
"Okay, let's get some. Bixi, go to the kitchen and bring the best wine."
Bixi nodded and went to fetch it.
"This is fine peach blossom wine, most suitable for Your Highness and the others."
Ye Qingcheng glanced at her, saying nothing. After all, for an educated intellectual like Sheng Yiran, it was best not to drink.
However, the alcohol content of this wine was too low. Just as Ye Qingcheng was about to suggest a different wine, Sheng Yiran unceremoniously poured herself a glass.
Ye Qingcheng thought that she had something on her mind and didn't want to pry, so she let her be.
As a result, this young lady didn't have a high tolerance for alcohol. After three cups, she spilled everything.
"Xu Shaoyang wants to marry me."
Ye Qingcheng was somewhat tipsy at this point.
Upon hearing this, she became indignant, "What nonsense! That scoundrel wants to marry you..."
Yun Xia had also not drunk much alcohol and was tipsy now. Coupled with her naturally gregarious personality, and having heard Ye Qingcheng's sharp remarks earlier, she was naturally protective. She certainly didn't think highly of Xu Shaoyang.
"Someone like him, a toad wanting to eat swan meat, *hic*!"
Ye Qingcheng nodded, "Exactly."
Sheng Yiran, filled with resentment, continued to pour and drink.
Ye Qingcheng was also feeling a bit lightheaded now.
"Hmph! Him, the Earl's mansion, relies on his three elder brothers today. It would be better if you married his three elder brothers; at least then you would have dignity. Look at him, he's fond of chasing women and frequenting wine houses. What do your parents think?"
Sheng Yiran gave a wry smile, "My parents are long gone. My aunt is in charge of the household, and I've always lived with my second aunt. My second uncle passed away early, making my second aunt a widow. However, she treated me very well. Since childhood, I felt that if I were even more outstanding, my life would be more secure. That's why I worked hard to earn the reputation of a talented woman in the capital." She then gave another wry smile and drank another cup of wine.
"I don't like Xu Shaoyang, but he is the fourth legitimate son of the Zhongqin Earl's Mansion. If he wants to marry me, my aunt will naturally be delighted, and even my second aunt will have to yield. There will be no way to resist."
Xiao Wangye put down his wine cup and listened quietly.
Sheng Yiran mocked herself, "I've worked so hard for so long, only to find that I can't even decide my own marriage."
Everyone fell silent. As the saying goes, even a wise official finds it difficult to settle a family dispute. This was something only Sheng Yiran could resolve, but... facing the matriarch, she couldn't even decide her own marriage.
However, this current situation was quite normal.
But Ye Qingcheng could not let such a good girl marry a libertine in the future and be trapped in a large mansion, tormented to death.
She put an arm around Sheng Yiran's shoulders, "What's so difficult about this? You can't resist because you lack the power to resist. From today onwards, you... are my sister. Let's become sworn sisters. Let's see if your aunt dares to forcibly marry you to someone you dislike against your will."
Sheng Yiran looked at Ye Qingcheng with dazed eyes, then smiled, "Don't joke, Your Highness, how is that possible!"
Yun Xia immediately chimed in, "Why not? Come, the three of us will swear our allegiance to heaven and earth. Old man, go and find some prayer mats."
Elder Jun, not one to shy away from a bit of drama, immediately went to find them.
Bixi, however, was frantic.
"Your Highness, absolutely not! Your Highness, please persuade them!"
But Xiao Wangye paid her no mind, still immersed in the good food and wine.
Lin Xiao, however, was roaring with laughter.
Soon, Elder Jun returned with prayer mats.
He thoughtfully set up the wine and dishes for the three of them by the window.
The three knelt down, "We... the three of us, here and now, pledge ourselves to heaven and earth, and from this day forward, we become sisters."
Yun Xia volunteered, "I, Yun Xia..."
Ye Qingcheng was stunned for a few seconds before coming back to her senses, "I... Ye Qingcheng..."
Sheng Yiran, kneeling in the middle, was still in a daze, "I... Sheng Yiran..."
"From now on, we are sworn sisters. Yun Xia is the eldest sister, Ye Qingcheng is the second sister, and Sheng Yiran is the third sister."
Afterwards, the three of them drank another cup of wine and then immediately collapsed.
Elder Jun was completely overcome with laughter.