Xiao Wang Ye’s lips curved into a slight smile as he mockingly regarded the officials before him. He completely ignored the pleading gaze of the young emperor, presenting a façade of unwavering stability. Lin Xiao stood nearby, bringing him a cup of floral tea from Hua Cheng. The fragrance even reached the young emperor, who was seated on the dragon throne. His stomach growled, and his lower lip trembled as he looked aggrievedly at his imperial uncle.
At that moment, the guards Xiao Wang Ye had assigned to protect Ye Qing Cheng appeared at the back of the great hall. Seeing Lin Xiao, they gestured for him to approach.
“My Lord, the old steward just sent someone to ask you…” He seemed hesitant to say the rest.
“Just say it directly.” Xiao Wang Ye sipped his floral tea, thinking that Qing Cheng’s taste was excellent; this floral tea was truly fragrant and delicious.
“It’s just… the Princess Consort asked, ‘If he doesn’t come back, I won’t wait for him.’ That was the exact wording.” The grown man felt a bit embarrassed. When that guard brother had delivered this message with a stoic, expressionless face, Lin Xiao, following behind, had almost knocked over an oil lamp. The Princess Consort was truly eye-opening.
Upon hearing this, Xiao Wang Ye froze for a moment, thinking Lin Xiao was joking. But on second thought, it really sounded like something Ye Qing Cheng would say. He burst into laughter right there on his chair.
The young emperor looked at him in confusion, and the civil and military officials in the hall stared at him in surprise. What good news could make the regent, known as “King Yama Xiao,” laugh so… so chillingly? It was common knowledge that when the regent smiled, it meant no one would lose their life, but three liters of blood would flow. The officials were filled with trepidation.
The great hall, which had been noisy moments before, fell silent as a mouse under the regent’s laugh. Everyone looked up at the regent, awaiting his next decree.
Finally, the hall was quiet. The Prime Minister, nearing seventy, wiped the sweat from his brow, his legs feeling somewhat weak.
Xiao Wang Ye handed his teacup back to Lin Xiao and, with a composed demeanor, addressed the officials below who were awaiting his command: “What is it? Have you finished discussing? Have you reached a conclusion?”
The officials exchanged glances, none daring to answer. It was the newly appointed top scholar who, with a spirit of a “newly born calf unafraid of a tiger,” took a step forward, standing in the center. He bowed to the two highest-ranking individuals in the court and slowly said, “Reporting to Your Majesty and His Highness, we have not reached a satisfactory conclusion through discussion. We were merely curious to see His Highness laughing as if he had just received joyous news. It is also due to our own inadequacy that we could not provide a good discussion result to please His Highness.”
His voice lacked the smooth cunning of other officials and carried the unique vitality of a scholar. Coupled with his scholarly demeanor, his words were not suspected of flattering the regent by those present.
As his words fell, the officials seemed to find a breakthrough, and they all echoed, “Yes, yes, everyone is curious about what good news made His Highness so happy.” “We also wish to know.” “It’s rare to see His Highness smile like this.”
Xiao Wang Ye curved his lips and followed the top scholar’s lead, saying, “It’s nothing much. Someone from home just sent a message saying if I don’t go back tonight, they won’t save me any food.” His tone was filled with helplessness, but the smile never left his face.
The officials fell silent again. Everyone knew that King Xiao had married a “substitute,” but the words spoken today were so audacious that no one in the princely manor, except for that Princess Consort, would dare utter them to the regent.
The officials were shocked but obediently said, “Alas, my ‘tigress’ at home also likes to control me, sometimes not saving dinner for me.” “It’s the same for me, Brother Li. My wife doesn’t allow me to eat out and insists I accompany the family for meals every day.” “What a coincidence, it’s the same for me.” “Me too.”
It seemed they were all good husbands who were “henpecked.”
The atmosphere had reached this point, and if the young emperor had any less foresight, he would be glared to death by Xiao Wang Ye.
“Since that is the case, my dear ministers, that is all for today. You are dismissed. Go back and accompany your families.” With that, he stood up somewhat impatiently. The officials quickly expressed their gratitude and respectfully escorted the emperor.
Having stood in the court for several hours, their stomachs grumbled from hunger. Everyone ran faster than rabbits.
Here, the young emperor ran at the front, followed by a long line of servants chasing after him. The eunuch who served him closely, Eunuch Xun, anxiously shouted, “My ancestor, run slower! The food won’t run away, it’s still hot.” Eunuch Xun was left by the previous emperor to look after the young emperor, so he was naturally different from ordinary attendants.
A young eunuch, supporting him, said, “Master, you slow down too.”
“Oh, don’t mind me. You two run ahead and let the emperor fall!” He pushed away the two young eunuchs who were supporting him and said quickly.
“Yes, yes, yes.” They dared not disobey their master’s command.
As Xiao Wang Ye left the imperial city, he asked again with lingering unease, “Did she really say that? Are you not trying to amuse me?”
“It’s true. The Princess Consort said it herself. The old steward can testify.” When did the Prince become so fussy? This was the fifth time he had asked. How could we dare joke about such a thing? We’re not tired of living? Lin Xiao added this thought in his heart.
“If that’s the case, let’s hurry back to the princely manor.” If his legs were well, he would have flown back using light footwork.
The regent’s carriage sped along the road. Curious citizens looked out to watch. This was also the first time they had seen the regent’s carriage return to the manor so quickly.
Inside the princely manor.
“Reporting to the Princess Consort, His Highness is already on his way back,” the old steward reported as he entered.
At this time, Ye Qing Cheng had already finished the delicious meal prepared by the chef. She was sitting in the pavilion in the backyard, looking at the advanced medical techniques from other worlds rewarded by San San, and sipping the floral tea brought from Hua Cheng.
Upon hearing this, she was slightly surprised, “Didn’t you say he might not come back tonight?”
“Reporting to the Princess Consort, His Highness returned because he was afraid of not getting a hot meal,” the old steward said with a straight face.
“Pfft, you’re quite humorous. Alright, I’ll go and brew the medicine. Have the dishes kept warm in the kitchen brought up,” she said, standing up. She picked up the half-finished floral tea and, holding the medical texts, walked towards the small kitchen.
“Yes.”
As soon as he alighted from the carriage, Xiao Wang Ye asked the steward, “Where is she?”
“The Princess Consort is brewing medicine for you.” Seeing the two masters getting along well made the servants happy too.
“Then I’ll go find her.” Without waiting for Lin Xiao, he eagerly pushed his wheelchair and headed towards the small kitchen.
Inside the small kitchen, Ye Qing Cheng was concentrating on the medicine in the stove. It was not yet time, and the smell of the medicine had not yet diffused.
Xiao Wang Ye looked at the person before him. He had previously thought that Ye Qing Cheng’s claim to be responsible for the medicinal soup just meant putting the pot on the stove and having someone watch it. He had not expected her to be personally supervising it.
Speaking of which, the small kitchen was something Ye Qing Cheng had insisted on building after she transmigrated.
The incident happened a month after Ye Qing Cheng transmigrated.
“Xiao Wang Ye, I need to tell you something.” Ye Qing Cheng entered without knocking.
The men who were discussing matters in the study all turned their heads to look at the Princess Consort, who had already become quite famous among her peers. Seeing her today, she truly lived up to her reputation.
Unlike the noblewomen of the capital, she was wearing a red jacket, and her hair was tied in a simple, neat bun. At first glance, she looked like the daughter of some general, beautiful and radiant like a red rose.
Xiao Wang Ye waved his hand, signaling his subordinates to leave. He said coolly to Ye Qing Cheng, who had barged in, “What is it?”
“I want to build a small kitchen,” she stated her request directly.
“Reason?”
“To brew medicine for you and prevent anyone from poisoning you.” The reason could be considered very sufficient.
“No.” He refused her request.
“Why? I’m doing this for your own good.” She was very confused that he would refuse.
“Because no one will have that opportunity.” He uttered a typical domineering line, which sounded somewhat annoying.
Ye Qing Cheng rolled her eyes where he couldn’t see them. “I shouldn’t have asked you.” She walked out and called, “Bixi, tell the masters to start working!”
Ye Qing Cheng had no intention of discussing it with him; she had made her decision directly.
Memories flooded back. The person before him was as radiant as ever, and her earnestness in caring for him was deeply etched in Xiao Wang Ye’s mind. If he didn’t return tonight, she would be sad, wouldn’t she?
“Host, he’s thinking like this,” San San’s other function, “peeking” into people’s thoughts.
“You’ve had this function all along, you should have told me from the start.” Ye Qing Cheng ignored the person outside the door and calmly looked at the medicinal stove.
“This function was also rewarded as you progressed in completing your missions. No more talk, he’s coming in.”
“I’m back.” If a voice could be considered gentle, it would be to the extent that Zhou Hu would be rewarded with running laps around the military camp with weighted equipment upon hearing it.
“Hmm, the food is still warm. You should eat first, and then get acupuncture.” She still didn’t look at him.
Xiao Wang Ye felt a little hurt. He had finally managed to extricate himself and return according to her words, yet she didn’t even give him a glance. Was the medicinal stove more attractive than him?
“Can you eat with me?” he asked her with a wronged tone.
“No, I have to watch the medicine. Ask Lin Xiao to eat with you. He hasn’t eaten either, has he?” She refused him without hesitation.
Upon hearing that it was for his medicine, the temper he was about to unleash was suppressed. “Alright,” he said, looking wronged.
Lin Xiao, who had followed them, heard the Princess Consort’s words. He was so happy that he almost prostrated himself before the Princess Consort on the spot. The Prince always had a low mood after his rampages in court when he returned to the manor. Not only did the Princess Consort control him, but she also rewarded him with a meal together. It was like pie falling from the sky.
At the dining table, adhering to the noble virtue of “no talking while eating,” Lin Xiao focused on being a dedicated eater. Xiao Wang Ye finished a bowl of rice in a flash and was about to leave when he was stopped by the old steward: “Your Highness, the Princess Consort instructed me to watch you finish that pot of soup. It’s a medicinal herb specially concocted by the Princess Consort.”
“But, I can’t finish such a big pot.” His interrupted temper vanished without a trace upon hearing that it was instructed by Ye Qing Cheng.
“The Princess Consort also asked Lin Xiao to drink it together.”