He was quite pleased, even though it was the blood-drop seed that had enticed her to agree.
"Then hurry and pack your things. We're setting off later."
Ye Qingcheng nodded at his words and was about to pack her luggage when Xiao Wangye stopped her again.
"As for the matter of the blood-drop seed, don't mention it to anyone for now."
Although Ye Qingcheng had many questions regarding this, she didn't probe further. She simply nodded and left.
After noon, both their luggage was packed and loaded onto three fully laden carriages waiting at the back gate of the prince's manor.
There was no telling when they would return after leaving the capital this time.
Most of the servants in the prince's manor had been sent by Xiao Wangye to various estates, leaving only a few for cleaning and washing, looking after the luxurious empty mansion.
After tidying themselves up, Xiao Wangye and Ye Qingcheng did not board the carriages to head to their fiefdom. Instead, they went straight to the imperial palace.
Although there had been a farewell banquet the previous night, the step of bidding farewell to the Emperor before departing could not be skipped.
The young Emperor showed no surprise when he saw the two entering the palace for an audience and received them in the Imperial Study as usual.
"Your Imperial Brother departs today and has specifically come to pay his respects to Your Imperial Majesty!"
Xiao Wangye bowed respectfully to the young Emperor. Ye Qingcheng, standing beside him, also curtsied.
Looking at the two, the young Emperor did not hide the killing intent in his eyes.
He had already made his plans; this time, he would ensure Xiao Wangye would never return.
As for Ye Qingcheng, the young Emperor cast a fleeting glance at her, with a hint of something more concealed.
This princess consort, now possessing unparalleled beauty and extraordinary medical skills, would be his to claim!
The Emperor's decree had only stated that Xiao Wangye was to go to his fiefdom and had not mentioned bringing Ye Qingcheng. Therefore, he naturally assumed she was merely accompanying him.
The young Emperor had not abandoned his desire to possess Ye Qingcheng, and this desire was precisely why he wanted to put Xiao Wangye to death.
As long as Xiao Wangye died, wouldn't Ye Qingcheng obediently fall into his arms?
In that instant, the young Emperor's gaze towards Xiao Wangye intensified with more murderous intent, his sinister look sending a chill down one's spine.
Xiao Wangye, however, remained unfazed by the other's unconcealed emotions, proceeding with the formalities in an orderly fashion before bidding farewell to the young Emperor.
Ye Qingcheng, being shielded behind him, did not get to see the young Emperor's expression.
Saying goodbye was a matter of a few sentences. The young Emperor had no intention of making things difficult for him; in fact, he was eager for him to set off sooner.
Thus, in less than fifteen minutes, the two had exited the Imperial Study together.
Just a few steps after walking out, they coincidentally encountered a familiar person.
"Greetings, Consort Li."
The two bowed.
Ye Yunli's expression seemed calm, but the hatred in her eyes could not be hidden.
"I have come to deliver soup to His Majesty."
With a wave of her left hand, she gestured for the eunuch behind her to step forward, revealing the soup tureen she was holding.
Ye Qingcheng had no idea that the defamation of the cosmetics shop was orchestrated by her cousin, so she harbored no ill will towards her and nodded with a slight smile.
However, Xiao Wangye on the other side had a cryptic expression, a brewing storm in his deep eyes.
"I heard that my cousin and the Prince are leaving for your fiefdom soon. I suppose we'll have little chance to see each other from now on."
Ye Yunli smiled, half mocking and half triumphant, her tone carrying a hint of reluctance.
She was indeed reluctant, not out of sadness, but because she would have fewer opportunities to take revenge on Ye Qingcheng in the future.
"Yes."
Xiao Wangye nodded in agreement. He suddenly took a step forward and spoke to Ye Yunli with a seemingly intimate tone:
"May I ask Consort Li... if you would be willing to step aside for a private word?"
This sudden action startled Ye Yunli for a moment. She eyed him suspiciously before nodding in agreement.
After all, they were in the palace, under the Emperor's jurisdiction, so she wasn't afraid of what he might do.
Ye Yunli followed behind Xiao Wangye to a spot beside a rock garden, away from the crowds, before stopping.
Ye Qingcheng, left behind them, stared at the two with a resentful gaze, trying hard to suppress her anger before deciding not to follow.
"Brother-in-law, what is it you wanted to see me about?"
Facing Xiao Wangye alone, Ye Yunli shed her previous haughtiness, her face now showing a hint of shyness and coquettishness.
Although she was married to the Emperor and had been enfeoffed as Consort Li, she had always harbored feelings for the more handsome Xiao Wangye.
While the young Emperor was not unattractive, he was the Emperor with three thousand beauties in his harem, and the affection he bestowed upon Ye Yunli was limited.
Furthermore, the first time Ye Yunli served him, she encountered his impotence, which naturally left a worse impression.
Xiao Wangye glanced at her indifferently, ignoring the blush on her face.
"I heard that Your Imperial Brother has recently taken a new consort, Noble Lady Xiao Xiaoyu, the legitimate daughter of Minister Liu of the Ministry of Revenue. Does Consort Li know her?"
Upon hearing the name, a hint of panic flashed across Ye Yunli's face.
Had Xiao Wangye found out about her using this noble lady to suppress Ye Qingcheng?
Ye Yunli speculated inwardly, growing flustered. Her gaze began to waver.
She decided that no matter what, she could not admit to anything. Since there were no obvious clues, she just had to insist she didn't know her.
Regaining some composure, she looked up, about to feign ignorance of Xiao Xiaoyu, when Xiao Wangye preempted her.
"Perhaps Your Ladyship is forgetful and has forgotten this Noble Lady. But there is something, and I don't know if I should say it..."
Hearing that the other party wasn't accusing her of knowing Xiao Xiaoyu and coming to question her, Ye Yunli finally relaxed.
However, upon replaying Xiao Wangye's words, she became utterly bewildered and looked back at him with a confused expression.
Meeting her blank gaze, Xiao Wangye cleared his throat, lowered his voice, and said with apparent concern:
"When we entered the palace earlier, my subordinate unintentionally overheard Noble Lady Liu's maid discussing in the palace how it was thanks to your help that her mistress was able to enter the palace and gain the Emperor's favor."
After saying this, he didn't stop there. He paused before deliberately adding his own conjecture.
"But I've thought about it, and Your Ladyship has no reason to deliberately send a woman into the palace to compete for favor, does she? Perhaps this Noble Lady sought to curry favor with you."
Xiao Wangye feigned ignorance of their clandestine dealings, shifting all the blame for Xiao Xiaoyu's promotion to Noble Lady onto Ye Yunli, embellishing the story as he went.
Ye Yunli, who had already been suspicious of Xiao Xiaoyu's sudden favor and enfeoffment, latched onto Xiao Wangye's words, her mind racing.
When she had agreed to help Xiao Xiaoyu speak well of her to the Emperor and find her a good marriage, it had merely been lip service.
She was just a minor Consort Li; how could she wield any influence with the young Emperor?