Xiao Wangye emerged in his wheelchair and looked at the scene before him, his face expressionless. Ye Qingcheng saw him and hurriedly called out, "Your Highness, please save me. I still need to cure your legs."
Xiao Wangye merely stared coldly, still saying nothing. Lin Xiao walked to his side, bowed, and asked, "Your Highness, should this subordinate rescue the Princess Consort first?"
As soon as Lin Xiao finished speaking, Bi Xi ran out. Seeing the bandit holding Ye Qingcheng hostage with a knife at her neck, she began to cry in fear. Although she knew the Princess Consort had conspired with the bandit beforehand to seek revenge on the Prince, she hadn't heard her mention this part. Bandits were bandits, and Bi Xi had never had a good impression of them, so she assumed he was genuinely holding Ye Qingcheng hostage.
"Princess Consort, are you alright?" Bi Xi asked, her eyes red, looking at Ye Qingcheng.
Ye Qingcheng saw her state and worried she might reveal too much, yet felt this would make Xiao Wangye believe them more easily.
"Bi Xi, don't cry. His Highness will find a way to save me, after all, he still needs me to treat his legs," Ye Qingcheng said, casting a feigned pitiful glance at Xiao Wangye.
"I ask you, why did you come to the villa to find me?" Xiao Wangye looked at the bandit, his tone stern, exuding an undeniable pressure.
"We heard you were here, so we came," the bandit replied, unsure why he was being asked and giving what he thought was the safest answer.
"Who told you I was here?" Xiao Wangye asked casually, his gaze subtly drifting towards Ye Qingcheng.
Ye Qingcheng felt a pang of guilt under his gaze. Had Xiao Wangye seen through something? He did have reason to suspect her. How could she dispel his suspicions?
"Your Highness, they must have heard that you often come here to soak in the hot springs, so they observed from the shadows. They happened to see you arrive today," Ye Qingcheng quickly offered a plausible explanation.
"That's right. We heard that His Highness the Regent has been enjoying the hot springs recently, so we ambushed in the vicinity. Seeing you arrive today with only one guard, we charged in," the bandit actively cooperated with Ye Qingcheng's act.
"Why did you charge in to find me?" Xiao Wangye maintained his casual demeanor, making it impossible to discern his thoughts.
"Of course, to gain fame. If we could defeat you today, who would dare look down on us outside? We just didn't expect you to be so powerful. We are truly convinced by our defeat," the bandit added flattery, realizing that all of them combined were no match for the Regent.
"How dare you few plot against His Highness? You are truly courting death," Lin Xiao shook his head, having overheard their words.
"We didn't know the dignified Regent was so skilled in martial arts. If we had known, we wouldn't have dared to come. As long as you let us go, we will avoid you whenever we see His Highness," the bandit was adept at reading the situation and adapting. Now, as long as he could get away, he'd flatter them all day.
"First, release my Princess Consort. You've forgotten the kindness of my Princess Consort healing your joint pain, you are truly ungrateful," Bi Xi wiped away her tears and yelled indignantly at the bandit.
She still couldn't tell that her Princess Consort was acting with the bandit and only thought that this bandit was ungrateful, having once flattered her Princess Consort.
Ye Qingcheng saw that Bi Xi was about to reveal the truth and quickly stopped her, "Bi Xi, don't say any more. Be careful not to anger the chieftain. He might cut me with his blade."
Hearing her words, Bi Xi covered her mouth in fright, looking at Ye Qingcheng with worry.
"Your Highness, please save me quickly. It would be such a waste of my medical skills to die like this," Ye Qingcheng continued to shout at Xiao Wangye. She knew Xiao Wangye had no feelings for her and didn't care about her life or death, but he cared about his legs, and her ability to treat them was her bargaining chip with Xiao Wangye.
"Your Highness, please save the Princess Consort," Bi Xi knelt beside them and pleaded. However, she lacked confidence. She knew the Prince had always disliked the Princess Consort, even wishing her dead, but who else could she beg? Thinking this, Bi Xi felt even more heartbroken for Ye Qingcheng and cried even more sorrowfully.
"Your Highness, should this subordinate go and rescue the Princess Consort?" Lin Xiao again asked Xiao Wangye for instructions.
He knew Xiao Wangye had disliked Ye Qingcheng in the past, but there seemed to have been a change recently. Moreover, having been ordered to monitor Ye Qingcheng during this time, he had some understanding of her and did not wish to see her die like this. He knew that with Xiao Wangye's skill, rescuing Ye Qingcheng would be as easy as lifting a finger, but he couldn't guess if Xiao Wangye would act. If the Prince was unwilling, then he would do it. He had another reason to want to save Ye Qingcheng: she could cure the Prince's legs. Having been by the Prince's side for many years, he knew how difficult it was to find someone who could cure the Prince's legs; it was like searching for a needle in a haystack.
"No need. I don't think he dares to act."
As soon as Xiao Wangye said this, the bandits exchanged glances. The bandit indeed didn't dare to kill Ye Qingcheng. What could be done?
"Who says I don't dare? I just don't want to suffer mutual destruction and have my brothers buried here with me. I am a true bandit, my trade is killing and looting," the bandit declared with feigned ferocity.
"Exactly. Why don't you go ask around? How much did we loot back then, how many people did we kill? Today, it's just a mere woman. Why would my elder brother not dare? On the contrary, His Highness the Regent himself won't even save his own Princess Consort. Wouldn't he be ridiculed if this got out?" Hu Xiaohu also chimed in.
"She's your woman. Save her or not, give us a clear answer, be decisive," the bandit said to Xiao Wangye.
Xiao Wangye remained silent, a hint of amusement appearing on his face. He looked at the bandit, then at Ye Qingcheng, "What if I say I won't save her? Would you truly dare to kill her? If I wanted to save her, what power would you have to kill her?"
His words were arrogant and domineering, befitting Xiao Wangye. Ye Qingcheng was infuriated listening to him. At this critical moment, why was this man playing the fool? It was clear he didn't want to save her; he was such a heartless man.
"Stop with the nonsense. If you don't save her, I'm going to act," the bandit said, wanting to provoke him.
"If you truly dare to act, then act. I will not save her."
As soon as Xiao Wangye uttered these words, the bandit couldn't hold back. He pushed Ye Qingcheng into Xiao Wangye's arms and turned to shout, "Brothers, run quickly!"
Lin Xiao was also caught off guard by this turn of events and hurriedly chased after them. Ye Qingcheng clung tightly to Xiao Wangye's waist, embracing him, to prevent him from chasing after them.