"Your Highness, do you mean you will still treat me like this in the future?"
She looked at the man before her with disbelief.
"Yes, that's how it is. If you find it unbearable, you are free to leave." After speaking, Xiao Wangye did not look at Ye Qingcheng again before turning to leave.
Ye Qingcheng's eyes welled up with tears. She watched his departing figure, unable to speak.
The little maid following behind her saw Ye Qingcheng shedding tears and couldn't help but say, "Your Highness, please don't be sad. Perhaps the Regent is just joking with you."
"Joking? But why would he joke like this?" Ye Qingcheng wiped away her tears and asked.
"I don't know, perhaps your birthday is coming soon?" the little maid ventured a guess.
Ye Qingcheng shook her head, "I don't know, it's probably not my birthday coming up."
"Then perhaps he wants to give you a big surprise, maybe a grand gift, or even directly propose marriage to you," the little maid said with a smile.
Hearing this, Ye Qingcheng was taken aback, "What are you talking about? Marriage, marriage, what is that?"
The little maid smiled, "Perhaps it's like that. They say men nowadays like to play hard to get. You think he's neglecting you, but he's not. He's actually preparing a future for you."
Ye Qingcheng looked at her, "Are you serious?"
"I am, Your Highness, haven't you read many storybooks about these things? You must know." the little maid said.
After a moment of thought, Ye Qingcheng wiped all the tears from her face, "Okay, then I won't be sad anymore. I want to see what kind of surprise he has prepared for me."
The little maid said, "Yes, so, Your Highness, you must appear calm and composed now."
Ye Qingcheng nodded, feeling that what the little maid said made a lot of sense.
A man like Xiao Wangye would never hurt her.
The reason he said those words was purely because he wanted to give her an unexpected surprise. Before that, she had to appear sensible and not make things difficult for him.
With this realization, Ye Qingcheng felt she was no longer angry about what Xiao Wangye had said earlier.
When she saw Xiao Wangye and Gu Paner sitting in the courtyard talking intimately, Ye Qingcheng was furious and almost stormed forward to overturn the table and scold them both.
But she restrained herself.
She glanced back at the little maid and said with a smile, "You're right, I need to appear calm and composed."
So, she walked forward with dignified grace and sat down next to Xiao Wangye and Gu Paner.
Xiao Wangye and Gu Paner, who had been chatting happily and laughing, both stopped and looked at Ye Qingcheng.
"It's alright, you continue chatting, please."
Ye Qingcheng smiled generously.
Xiao Wangye looked at her, showing a somewhat puzzled expression.
Didn't she feel jealous? Not angry at all? It was truly strange.
Ye Qingcheng smiled back at Xiao Wangye, then looked at Gu Paner, her smile undiminished.
For the second time, she bumped into Xiao Wangye and Gu Paner meeting. They were talking and laughing, seemingly getting along very well. This was completely unlike the tense atmosphere between her and Xiao Wangye, so she was also very surprised.
But Ye Qingcheng still suppressed her inner rage and walked forward with a cheerful and amiable demeanor, engaging with them kindly.
At first, Ye Qingcheng could maintain a happy expression, but after a few times, she didn't want to stay any longer.
Xiao Wangye and Gu Paner got along very well. When they spoke together, Ye Qingcheng generally couldn't interject. If she did, the three of them would easily fall into silence.
Finally, Ye Qingcheng couldn't bear it any longer.
"I don't care! If he has any surprise, then show it to me quickly, don't torment me like this, I can't stand it."
She tearfully confessed to the little maid, and finally, refused to step out of her courtyard again.
The little maid was also at a loss and could only comfort her young lady. At the same time, she couldn't help but wonder what the Regent was planning to do this time?
They had never seen the Regent treat the Princess this way before, nor had they seen such extreme neglect.
Xiao Wangye was preparing to leave his study to meet Gu Paner. As soon as he stepped out of the door, he was called by a voice behind him.
"Regent, don't be in such a hurry to leave."
Gu Qingyuan stood behind him, having appeared at some unknown time.
Xiao Wangye stopped and turned to look at him, "What is it? Is something the matter?"
"For the past few days, Regent, you have indeed followed my advice, and it has been very effective. Look, she now refuses to go out and refuses to see you." Gu Qingyuan said.
"So what?" Xiao Wangye frowned deeply.
He knew she must have been very sad these past few days, but how could he have been alright?
Following Gu Qingyuan's suggestion, which was also part of their pre-arranged plan, Xiao Wangye met Gu Paner almost every day. He was incredibly indifferent to Ye Qingcheng, the woman he loved, yet he had to show a tender side to Gu Paner, whom he did not love at all.
Although Gu Paner was a lady from a reputable family and observed all the proper etiquette, her adherence to etiquette was perhaps too much.
It seemed that Xiao Wangye was conversing with her very happily and congenially. In reality, Xiao Wangye had long wanted to end those conversations.
How could Gu Paner compare to Ye Qingcheng?
Ye Qingcheng was lively and cheerful. Talking with her was always interesting and never boring.
However, he could only watch her, unable to converse with her. Every time he swept his gaze over her, forcing a smile while sitting beside him, Xiao Wangye's heart would ache with bitterness.
But this was for her own good, he was helpless and could only stick to the plan resolutely.
"Now that the matter has progressed to a very important stage, it is all thanks to your efforts, Regent." Gu Qingyuan said, patting his shoulder with a smile.
"The most important stage? What does that mean?" Xiao Wangye asked with a frown.
"Have you forgotten our plan, Regent? The final and most crucial step, it all depends on you to complete it." Gu Qingyuan said.
To arrange this progression, he had transformed himself into Xiao Wangye's appearance and had a good talk with Gu Paner.
After finally reaching an agreement, Gu Paner agreed to act in front of Ye Qingcheng to make her give up on Xiao Wangye, which had taken him considerable effort.
Xiao Wangye remained silent.
He remembered that step, and it was indeed something only he could accomplish.
"Once the entire plan is completed, Your Highness will be able to protect your beloved Ye Qingcheng. As long as she can harden her heart and kill you, then Ye Qingcheng will not be annihilated. In that case, she can live a better life in this world," Gu Qingyuan said.
Xiao Wangye still did not speak.
Gu Qingyuan glanced at him, "Could it be that you are reluctant, Regent? Reluctant to leave?"