“Your Highness is too kind. The Prince went to great lengths for today’s flower banquet. We can only admire from afar, not dare to take anything home,” a fair-faced woman joked.
Others seized the opportunity to chime in, “Indeed, this is the Prince’s affection for his Consort. It must be cherished.”
Ye Qingcheng smiled slightly, her thin lips parting, “I am indeed moved by this affection, and I will certainly keep it in my heart. However, flowers will eventually wither. To me, affection is the most important thing. Flowers are merely a manifestation of that affection.” Gently touching the rose in front of her, a rare white bloom, she continued, “If you were to take care of them, perhaps I could see their beauty again next year.” Her meaning was clear: accepting the gift was a sign of reciprocation.
The ladies of the inner courts were as adept at playing politics as their husbands in the imperial court, their eyes quickly adapting to the situation. “It is an honor to comply. Thank you, Your Highness.”
Ye Qingcheng deliberately walked to the side of Xue Ling, the general’s daughter. “I believe this purple rose suits you very well, Miss.” Plucking a rose from beside her, she personally pinned it onto Xue Ling.
Xue Ling, overwhelmed by the favor, quickly bowed, “Thank you, Your Highness. I like it very much too.” The general’s daughter’s spirited demeanor, complemented by the allure of the purple rose, created a pleasing sight.
“I’m glad you like it. By the way, what do you usually enjoy doing?” Ye Qingcheng initiated a conversation.
“Me? My father doesn’t bother with me. I follow my master to practice archery and horse riding, and martial arts.” It was effortless to converse with someone so straightforward, without any need for caution.
“It happens that I’m also very interested in horse riding. I’ll come find you to play sometime.”
“Alright! I’ll take Your Highness to choose a horse that suits you.”
At that moment, the wife of the Minister of Rites approached, “Your Highness, Ling’er.”
Seeing it was her aunt, Xue Ling affectionately linked arms with her, calling out sweetly, “Aunt.” She gently swayed her arm, the intimate gesture showcasing the close relationship between their families.
“This is Madam Wen, the wife of the Minister of Rites, a first-rank imperial consort. She is General Xue’s own sister and was a spirited woman in her youth, truly a woman of equal standing to men.” San San’s reminders appeared in Ye Qingcheng’s mind.
The noblewoman before her was dressed impeccably. Judging by the style, it seemed to be the ceremonial attire bestowed when her title was granted. She wore the coral beads unique to a first-rank imperial consort around her neck. Fine lines fanned out from the corners of her eyes as she smiled. Her lipstick was perfectly applied, and her complexion was radiant, a healthy flush on her fair skin. She looked tenderly at the pouting girl beside her, “You, child, Your Highness is busy with state affairs, how can she have time to fool around with you?” She affectionately tapped the girl’s nose.
“Oh, come now.” Xue Ling finally displayed a touch of girlishness.
“Your Highness, Ling’er is still young. Please do not take offense if she has said or done anything improper. Coincidentally, my brother’s military camp has a dedicated horse farm. If Your Highness has time, I’ll have Ling’er accompany you to select a horse you like.”
This development was unexpected for Ye Qingcheng. She hadn’t realized there was a private horse farm, which explained why the Xiao Dynasty was so militarily strong and its cavalry so invincible, earning them the title of “Iron Cavalry.”
“I would be delighted, of course. Speaking with Madam, I am reminded of a flower that would suit you.” Ye Qingcheng pointed to the blooming orchids behind Madam Wen, gesturing for them to look. It was not the season for orchids, yet the ones in the estate bloomed vibrantly today. Behind Madam Wen, they served as a backdrop.
“Your Highness has excellent taste. Auntie’s favorite flower is the orchid. Uncle has even planted orchids of all colors in the back garden,” Xue Ling added.
“Then it seems my eyes not only know how to treat illnesses but also recognize people’s favorite flowers.” Such were the pleasantries exchanged between noblewomen.
This amused Madam Wen, who laughed heartily.
The other noblewomen nearby joined the conversation upon seeing this. Just then, Bi Xi arrived with several maids carrying trays laden with Ye Qingcheng’s specially mixed drinks.
“Ladies, please try my private recipe. Unlike other alcoholic beverages, it’s not as potent and is suitable for our daily enjoyment.”
The ladies were very gracious in accepting the Consort’s special concoctions, each holding a cup of fruit wine. While intending to sample it cautiously, their taste buds were conquered by the fruit wine. Ye Qingcheng had once again won over the ladies present.
However, the unexpected happened.
A surprised exclamation came from a few ladies on the right, “Heavens, Miss Liu, what’s wrong with you?” This outburst, in the midst of the harmonious atmosphere, was like a drop of water landing in a pan of oil.
Ye Qingcheng immediately went to check. She heard whispers from the crowd, “Heavens, Miss Liu, your face…” The surrounding noblewomen dared not come forward. The woman in the center wore a look of utter panic, her face visibly red and swollen.
“Could it be some contagious plague?”
“No, surely not. Why would she dare to attend the banquet then?”
“Who knows what unknown illnesses such merchant’s daughters might have?”
The surrounding crowd continued to chatter, yet no one stepped forward to comfort the affected party.
“Ladies, please make way.” Bi Xi cleared a path for Ye Qingcheng. Although the attendees were all of status, Bi Xi could not stand gossiping women who spoke ill of others to their faces. Her tone carried a hint of anger, making her appear unapproachable.
However, others misinterpreted this as Miss Liu disrupting the Princess’s banquet. They watched with amusement as the Princess approached the center.
“She’ll surely be scolded by the Princess. This will be good to watch.”
San San’s voice echoed in Ye Qingcheng’s mind, “Qingcheng, it’s just simple alcohol allergy.”
Ye Qingcheng had already guessed as much. None of the ladies present had any known pollen allergies, and after eating the pastries, no one had shown any adverse reactions. It was only after drinking the fruit wine that this occurred, making alcohol allergy the most probable cause.
“Bi Xi, help Miss Liu to sit aside and then fetch the red ointment from the second shelf of the cabinet in my study.” She then instructed a nearby maid to bring a basin of water.
The maid was quick, and a basin of water was soon placed on the stone table. Ye Qingcheng comforted Miss Liu, “Miss Liu, please rest assured. This is just a simple allergy, and it will heal within two to three days.” With that, she wet a towel, wrung it out until it was semi-dry, and placed it on Miss Liu’s face.
The water in the Prince’s estate was from a well. It was refreshingly cool as soon as it was drawn. This application brought considerable comfort, and the frightening redness and swelling subsided significantly. Miss Liu’s panicked heart began to calm.
Realizing it was Princess Xiao herself who was wiping her face, she quickly knelt down, begging for forgiveness, “Your Highness, please forgive me. I am only sixteen years old and this is my first time drinking alcohol. I never knew I would, would, be allergic.” In her fear, she even took off the towel. As the daughter of a merchant, she knew best not to offend officials, let alone the Regent Prince’s Consort.
Ye Qingcheng picked up the towel, thoughtfully soaking it again, and offered it to her.
“You didn’t know you would be allergic?” Based on the scene, it seemed no one here knew what an allergy was.
“I’ve never heard of it,” Miss Liu replied honestly. She herself had only just heard of it from the Princess.
It was no wonder the surrounding people had jumped to the conclusion of a plague. “I finally believe I’ve transmigrated into a novel set in ancient times,” Ye Qingcheng confided to San San in her mind. After experiencing a zombie virus, she had thought this might be a post-apocalyptic sci-fi novel.
“You can rest assured now. I will not blame you. Ignorance is not a crime.” Just then, Bi Xi returned with the ointment from the study. “Take this ointment and apply it twice a day, morning and evening. For the next few days, try to avoid the wind. Also, refrain from eating seafood and eggs, and avoid fruits for now. Wait until the swelling has completely subsided before consuming them.”
Ye Qingcheng’s tone was that of an experienced traditional Chinese medicine practitioner, her voice steady and strong, delivered smoothly, making it very pleasant to hear. There was no sense of pressure, only conviction. Miss Liu was even more grateful for this.
“This humble maiden thanks Your Highness from the bottom of her heart. I owe Your Highness a debt of gratitude for saving my life. I shall repay you a thousandfold.”
Adhering to the principle that “wise people stop rumors,” Ye Qingcheng decided to impart some knowledge to the assembled ladies.
She signaled Bi Xi to help her to the pavilion and began, “Everyone, Miss Liu’s sudden condition was merely an ‘allergy.’ To put it simply, she drank something she shouldn’t have. Similar reactions can be triggered by pollen, mangoes, and seafood. If you encounter such a situation in the future, please do not panic. First, apply cool water to the swollen area, and then apply my specially formulated ointment.”
Someone from below inquired, “Then how can we purchase it?” It was unlikely they could seek out Princess Xiao every time an issue arose.
This was a good question. While the situation today was manageable, what if she wasn’t present in the future?
“Qingcheng, this is the perfect opportunity to mention the medical clinic,” San San’s reminder was indeed timely.
“To be frank, I am planning to establish a medical clinic.”