Xiao Wangye sat in his room reading a book. Suddenly, he saw Bi Xi flickering outside. Xiao Wangye looked up at Bi Xi and asked, "Why are you here?"
"Your Highness, please spare the Princess."
"Spare?"
Xiao Wangye put down the book in his hand and looked at Bi Xi. Her face and hands were covered in injuries, but he didn't ask further. A chilling coldness flashed in his eyes. He flicked his long sleeves, nearly hitting Bi Xi's face. Xiao Wangye stood up and walked to the door, looking out. He said coldly, "If you beg to spare her again, I will deal with both of you."
The moment these words were spoken, the already dejected Bi Xi instantly fell into despair, slumping to the ground. Xiao Wangye glanced at Bi Xi and flicked his sleeves, saying, "Go back."
Bi Xi, in a daze, walked out of Xiao Wangye's room. At this moment, her spirit was somewhat absent, and she nearly bumped into Xiao Wangye's hidden guard, Lin Xiao.
Lin Xiao casually supported her and then paid no further attention to Bi Xi.
Bi Xi waited in Ye Qingcheng's courtyard from daytime until deep into the night. Every night, people from the palace would come out, beating gongs and drums, shouting: "The weather is dry, beware of fire."
Summer heat continued. Ye Qingcheng, who hadn't eaten all day, felt her stomach rumbling. She touched her stomach, no longer having the energy to complain about Xiao Wangye. After complaining all day, she felt sufficiently tired.
She looked at her stomach, which hadn't eaten all day, with heartache. She couldn't help but pat her belly. At this moment, she sprawled onto the wooden chair without any regard for her image.
Her gaze drifted towards the crack in the door. The stars in the sky twinkled.
She could still hear the cicadas chirping outside, so noisy that she couldn't sleep peacefully. She had thought that if she fell asleep, she wouldn't be hungry anymore. But what Ye Qingcheng didn't expect was that the cicadas also chirped in summer here. She sighed irritably. The guards watching her had finished their shifts, leaving her alone, bored enough to count stars.
Bi Xi carefully avoided the night patrol. Bi Xi had lived in the Regent's Mansion for several years and was very familiar with the terrain. She cautiously opened the kitchen door and placed the box she brought with her on the cooking table by the chef's door. She took out some pastries that Ye Qingcheng usually liked. She counted, and seeing the box was already full, Bi Xi happily closed the box and sneaked out.
When she confirmed no one was around, she quickly walked towards the woodshed. This scene was witnessed by Yu Jian, who had just finished her work. She gritted her teeth and muttered to herself, "This stupid thing."
Yu Jian cursed fiercely. She glanced in the direction Bi Xi had left and thought, is she going to deliver food to Ye Qingcheng?
Yu Jian pretended to ponder for a moment, then let out a cold laugh. Looking at Bi Xi's retreating back, she thought: You like sending her food, don't you? Then don't blame me.
At dawn, when the sky was just beginning to brighten, Yu Jian came out of her room. She found a maid, gave her some copper coins. The maid, receiving the money, was naturally happy. Looking at the thick money bag, she found a few people to surround Bi Xi, leaving her with no way to escape. Bi Xi looked panicked. The box she was carrying was knocked to the ground by them.
"What crime is it to privately send food to an imprisoned maid?"
"And to secretly take food? If Prince Xiao discovers us, it's us who will be scolded. What crime do you have?"
Saying this, several maids grabbed Bi Xi and beat her severely. Bi Xi, leaning on the wall, slowly walked towards Ye Qingcheng's courtyard and then fainted on the bed. She no longer cared if her body ached and just fell asleep with her head down.
It wasn't until late at night that Ye Qingcheng, waiting for Bi Xi to deliver dinner, felt extremely bored. The guards outside were also so bored that they started to doze off. Ye Qingcheng, with her hands tied, felt her hands going numb. She really wanted to untie them but found there was nothing sharp around to cut the ropes. Even if she untied them, she couldn't escape.
Ye Qingcheng heard several maids walking outside and approaching the woodshed door. They didn't find the guards' presence strange.
They whispered to each other very quietly, "Hey, Sister Lin, I heard that Sister Yu Jian caused trouble again."
"Yu Jian?"
Ye Qingcheng's eyebrows furrowed slightly. "What did she do again?"
Ye Qingcheng quietly moved to the door and listened to the two passing maids say, "I heard she bribed some maids to beat Ye Qingcheng's maid. I heard she even got a fever."
"What? Aren't they afraid of Ye Qingcheng?"
"Shh, keep your voice down. Ye Qingcheng is locked in this woodshed now. If she overhears, it won't be good."
The two maids looked up at the guards watching Ye Qingcheng. Didn't they look like they were asleep?
"Let's go quickly."
"I think so too."
The two maids exchanged a glance. Ye Qingcheng, hiding behind the wall, had already heard all their conversation. A strong killing intent flashed in Ye Qingcheng's eyes, causing the two guards outside to have a false impression.
"Is there danger coming?"
The other guard silently rolled his eyes and said to his partner, "Where is the danger? Are you stupid from sleeping?"
Ye Qingcheng saw a sharp little corner on the wooden chair. Although not very sharp, it was just enough to untie the ropes. Ye Qingcheng quickly broke free from the ropes. Taking advantage of the two guards yawning, she stole the keys and knocked them unconscious on the ground.
Her first action after coming out was to return to her courtyard. Ye Qingcheng saw Bi Xi lying on her bed, covered in wounds. She gently placed her hand on Bi Xi's forehead; it was very hot. She quickly fetched a basin of water, took a towel, and applied it to Bi Xi. She then began to clean Bi Xi's wounds, her expression complex.
After treating Bi Xi's wounds, the next morning, Yu Jian went to tidy up things in the mansion as usual. When she opened the door, she saw Ye Qingcheng. Her face changed drastically, and pointing at Ye Qingcheng, she said, "You, you will be executed by the Prince for escaping privately. Wait here, I'll go tell the Prince."
Ye Qingcheng sneered and said, "Fine, I'll wait for you here."
Soon, as Yu Jian had said, Xiao Wangye arrived. Ye Qingcheng sat leisurely on the steps. Xiao Wangye saw the familiar figure and a cold glint flashed in his eyes. He said, "Ye Qingcheng, you escaped privately. Do you know your mistake?"
"Know my mistake? Heh, why don't you ask what your good maid by your side has done? Didn't she also abuse her power and beat my maid? Isn't she also at fault?"
"This..."
Hearing this, Yu Jian sensed that something was going wrong and quickly knelt down to beg for mercy. Xiao Wangye didn't look at Yu Jian again and said, "You can handle it yourself!"