Ye Mu was the first to emerge, her face beaming as she looked at Ye Qingcheng.
Jun Lao walked ahead, chuckling, "You, you're so busy! You even forgot your own birthday."
Behind him, Yun Xia pushed Xiao Wang Ye's wheelchair.
Even Li Mo'er and Pei Changqiu had arrived.
This left Ye Qingcheng bewildered, not yet comprehending the situation.
Seeing Ye Mu approach her, she hurried forward, "Mother? Why are you here?"
Ye Mu touched Ye Qingcheng's hand, smiling warmly, "Today is your birthday, how could I not come? After so many years, I can finally openly celebrate my daughter's birthday."
Ye Qingcheng's eyes were filled with melancholy. She dared not tell Ye Mu that her daughter was truly gone, and that the person in this body was not her daughter. What would this loving mother think if she knew!
"Mother, today is my birthday, but it is your day of suffering!"
Ye Mu's eyes welled up, but she smiled without speaking.
Sheng Yiran, sensing the somber mood, stepped forward, took Ye Qingcheng's hand, and said with a smile, "Today is your birthday, be happy and forget your pain. Besides, the Prince asked us to celebrate your birthday with you."
Ye Qingcheng looked at Xiao Wang Ye, her gaze conveying unspoken emotions.
Seeing their affectionate glances, everyone couldn't help but cover their mouths and stifle laughter.
Everyone knew the reason Ye Qingcheng married into the prince's manor. Now that the Prince remembered to celebrate his consort's birthday, his affection was evident.
Xiao Wang Ye looked at her with a hint of helplessness, then turned his head and gave a subtle cough, "Since everyone is here, let's be seated!"
Ye Qingcheng then noticed the round table laden with delicacies, including a new dish, braised pork.
There was also a longevity peach on the table. Ye Qingcheng looked at it and couldn't help but tug at the corner of her mouth. She was celebrating her eighteenth birthday, not her eightieth!
Why give her such a large longevity peach!
Li Mo'er, seeing Ye Qingcheng staring at the longevity peach, thinking she liked it, introduced, "Surprised? The Prince made this longevity peach especially for you!"
Ye Qingcheng: "Heh!" Thank you very much, and thank your whole family.
However, Ye Qingcheng was still very happy today. She instructed Bi Xi, "Bi Xi, it's a happy occasion today, how can we not have wine? Quickly go and get some wine, let's drink until we drop."
Bi Xi, who had been happily chuckling to herself, froze upon hearing this and suddenly looked up.
The others, who were in the midst of picking up food, paused. However, unlike the others, Li Mo'er exclaimed with delight, "Great!"
Yun Xia also nodded in agreement, and Sheng Yiran, though silent, clearly showed her approval through her actions.
Bi Xi quickly tried to stop her, "Consort, you mustn't! Have you forgotten what happened a month ago after drinking?"
Ye Qingcheng thought for a moment, and it seemed to be true! She knew she had a bad temper when drunk. What if they started fighting again?
She then looked around, first at Xiao Wang Ye, then at Pei Changqiu, and realized the matter was easily resolved.
"It's fine, these are all acquaintances, and besides, not everyone can be beaten."
Bi Xi still wanted to persuade her, "But what if something happens after getting drunk? That wouldn't be good."
As soon as Bi Xi said this, the others became displeased.
Yun Xia said earnestly, "Bi Xi, you're wrong to say that. What if we don't get drunk!"
Li Mo'er chimed in, "Exactly!"
Bi Xi, covered in their spittle, felt utterly embarrassed. With no other choice, she went to fetch the wine.
Everyone had just started toasting, but within half an hour, the people at the table were already swaying and falling over.
The banquet ended when Xiao Wang Ye saw that everyone was drunk and unconscious. Since it wasn't safe for the women to return alone, he had Yu Jian escort them to the guest rooms to rest.
Ye Qingcheng was helped back to her room by Bi Xi. However, Bi Xi alone couldn't support the unconscious Ye Qingcheng, so she and Jing Xiu helped the Consort.
Ye Qingcheng was helped onto the bed. Just as her clothes were being removed and her feet were being washed with a cloth, Xiao Wang Ye entered.
He was pushed in by another subordinate, as Lin Xiao was also drunk. Primarily, Ye Qingcheng had been constantly pouring drinks for him. Lin Xiao couldn't withstand Ye Qingcheng's enthusiasm and ended up lying down.
Ye Qingcheng, after drinking, was like a wild horse that had broken its reins, impossible to stop.
As he reached the doorway, Xiao Wang Ye understood that men were not allowed inside the women's rooms. He instructed his subordinate to wait outside the door and was pushed in by Bi Xi.
Xiao Wang Ye looked at Ye Qingcheng, who was lying on the bed, sleeping and blowing bubbles, a hint of tenderness flashing in his eyes.
Then, to the astonishment of all the maids, they watched as the Prince personally tidied the bed for the Consort, then tucked her in, carefully arranging the blanket.
Amidst their stunned gazes, Xiao Wang Ye dismissed everyone, "Do not disturb the Consort's rest."
The maids obediently retreated. Watching the Prince's retreating back, they could finally gossip quietly.
"Oh my god! The Prince is actually folding the blanket for the Consort."
"Is the Prince finally starting to care about the Consort?"
"I feel so happy!"
"It's a pity! They still sleep in separate rooms. I wonder when they'll share a room!"
"Since he's folding the blanket for the Consort, it probably won't be long."
Just then, Yu Jian, who was passing by, overheard these words. For some reason, a surge of anger rushed to the top of her head, and she directly reprimanded the maids, "What are you doing?"
Seeing that it was Aunt Yu Jian, they quickly knelt, "Aunt, please forgive us."
Yu Jian's eyes narrowed, "Are you allowed to discuss the master's affairs? Hurry back and rest."
The maids quickly got up and left without looking back, afraid that Aunt Yu Jian might get angry and punish them.
Although Aunt Yu Jian's authority was severely curtailed by the Consort, she still had more authority than maids like them.
Yu Jian watched the maids flee, then looked back at Ye Qingcheng's door, shaking her head with a bitter smile. She had told herself to let go, but hearing these things still made her heart ache.
The next day, Ye Qingcheng awoke with a throbbing headache and felt a wave of regret. She had explicitly told herself not to drink, but she couldn't help herself. Indeed, she had to bear the headache herself the next day.
"Bi Xi, Bi Xi?"
As soon as she called out, Bi Xi entered with washing utensils, followed by Jing Xiu, holding a hangover soup.
As soon as they entered, they saw the Consort sitting on the bed, clutching her head and complaining of a headache.
Bi Xi grinned, "Consort, you've healed the wound and forgotten the pain. Yesterday, no matter how I advised you, you wouldn't listen. Now you know the power of drinking, don't you!"
Upon hearing this, Jing Xiu slapped Bi Xi, "You've become so bold in my absence, daring to talk back to your mistress. Have you forgotten all the rules you learned?"
Bi Xi immediately fell silent, nervously put down the washbasin, and began to wring the cloth.
Ye Qingcheng's head was still aching, and she was unaware of the exchange between the two.
At this moment, Jing Xiu brought over the hangover soup.
"Consort, quickly drink this hangover soup to refresh yourself."