Ye Qingcheng looked at Xiao Wangye, "Your Highness, have your legs been feeling any better lately?"
Ye Qingcheng didn't want to continue that topic with him, so she quickly shifted the conversation to his legs, knowing that it was what Xiao Wangye valued most at the moment.
"After your few acupuncture sessions, I do feel a bit better. Do you have the confidence to cure my legs?"
"Your Highness, please rest assured. If I said I could help you heal, then I am confident."
"Since that is the case, return to my manor with me now."
Ye Qingcheng looked at him, not understanding how his thoughts suddenly jumped to this. "Your Highness, I don't need to be at the manor to help you heal. I live here, and it would be more convenient for you to come here for acupuncture."
"You only perform acupuncture once every few days. Come here on the day of the treatment. For now, return to my manor with me. You are not allowed to live here without my permission." With that, he stood up and left.
Ye Qingcheng was exasperated. This Xiao Wangye was truly too overbearing. Unfortunately, she couldn't contend with him yet and could only follow him back to the manor.
Fortunately, after returning to the manor, Ye Qingcheng rarely saw Xiao Wangye. He seemed to be very busy every day. Through the original host's memories, Ye Qingcheng knew a lot about Xiao Wangye. After all, the original host liked Xiao Wangye so much that she constantly paid attention to his affairs.
Xiao Wangye was sent to guard the northwest when he was in his teens. At that time, foreign tribes were invading, and the army had suffered repeated defeats. There was no one in the court capable of going, and somehow, Xiao Wangye was assigned.
Since the original host was a young lady raised in seclusion, she didn't know the specific reasons, so Ye Qingcheng didn't know either. She only knew that after Xiao Wangye went, he repeatedly won battles and forced the invading foreign tribes to surrender.
At that time, all the civil and military officials praised Xiao Wangye, and countless young ladies from official families fell for him. He was also a household name among the common people with high prestige.
Unfortunately, just as everyone was preparing to welcome him back to the court, news arrived: Xiao Wangye was paralyzed.
When the original host heard this news, she was sad for a long time and cried for him countless times. However, Xiao Wangye's paralysis did not affect his position as regent. He could not walk, but this did not affect his handling of state affairs.
One day, Ye Qingcheng was reading a book under the corridor. Beside her, there was a tray with pastries and tea that Bixi had brought her. Ye Qingcheng ate pastries while flipping through the book. Xiao Wangye walked into the courtyard and saw this scene. He suddenly felt a bit displeased. He was so busy working outside every day, yet Ye Qingcheng was living so leisurely.
He walked over quickly and called out, "Ye Qingcheng, I allowed you to live in the manor, not for you to eat and drink for free."
Ye Qingcheng heard his words and looked up. Seeing his expression, she felt a sense of confusion. What was wrong with him now?
"Your Highness, I am not eating and drinking for free. I am diligently studying medicine so that I can treat Your Highness as soon as possible." Ye Qingcheng pointed to the book in her hand as she spoke.
Xiao Wangye then saw that she was holding a medical book and didn't know what to say.
"Then come and try on me now to prove you are not eating and drinking for free. My head hurts, see if you can treat it." Xiao Wangye had been so busy these past few days that he hadn't slept much and had been feeling a headache. He happened to want to test Ye Qingcheng's medical skills. As soon as he returned from outside, he came to find her.
Ye Qingcheng put down her book and carefully looked at Xiao Wangye's complexion. There were faint dark circles under his eyes, indicating a lack of sleep. "Your Highness, you are lacking sleep. You just need to get a good night's rest, and you will recover. You don't need me to treat you."
Xiao Wangye saw that she hadn't moved, nor had she taken his pulse, just by looking at him. He was very displeased. "You are just being perfunctory with me. Treat me properly, or beware of punishment."
Ye Qingcheng rolled her eyes in her heart. This prince was not only overbearing but also fussy. She then pointed to the corridor in front of them, "Your Highness, please sit down, and I will give you a massage."
Xiao Wangye glanced at the place she pointed to, but he did not sit down. Instead, he walked straight into the room and sat down. Ye Qingcheng knew he disliked sitting there, so she stood up and followed him in. She came behind Xiao Wangye and reached out to massage the acupoints on his head.
Xiao Wangye had originally just disliked seeing her so leisurely while he was so busy and wanted to tease her. He didn't expect that Ye Qingcheng's massage technique was actually useful. After massaging a few acupoints, his headache eased a bit. He simply closed his eyes and enjoyed it.
Seeing him like this, Ye Qingcheng was furious and deliberately pressed hard, occasionally accidentally pulling his hair. It seemed to hurt. Xiao Wangye opened his eyes and glared at her coldly, then closed his eyes again.
"Your Highness, massages need to be firm to be effective," Ye Qingcheng said nonsense while secretly chuckling. Her hands didn't stop, and she pressed hard, pulling out a few more strands of hair.
At this moment, a maid was bringing tea and pastries to Xiao Wangye. Seeing the consort viciously pulling the prince's hair, she trembled in fright, almost spilling the tea in her hand.
Ye Qingcheng thought Xiao Wangye would be angry, but unexpectedly, he just opened his eyes and let her do as she pleased. Ye Qingcheng became even more enthusiastic with her massage.
After massaging for a while, Ye Qingcheng's hands became sore. As soon as she stopped, she heard Xiao Wangye's voice, "Don't stop."
"Your Highness, massaging acupoints cannot be done for too long. It is caused by lack of sleep. You should go and get some good sleep."
Xiao Wangye did not know if he had heard her words, but he let her stop, stood up, and walked out.
Ye Qingcheng thought he was finally going to sleep, so she said, "Your Highness is going to sleep. I'll go and sleep too."
"His Highness isn't going to sleep; he's probably going to the Jingzhao Prefecture yamen," Lin Xiao said, looking at Xiao Wangye's retreating back.
"Jingzhao Prefecture yamen? Is something going on?" Ye Qingcheng asked when she heard Lin Xiao say that. There were hardly any entertainment activities in ancient times, and Ye Qingcheng wouldn't miss out on gossip.
"Yes, there have been several murder cases in the capital recently, and the Emperor has asked Your Highness to investigate them with the Prefect of Jingzhao."
"What kind of murder cases are they? Lin Xiao, tell me quickly." Ye Qingcheng stared at Lin Xiao with great curiosity.
"Your Highness, please forgive me, but I cannot say. I fear it might offend Your Highness." Lin Xiao believed that the consort was a lady raised in seclusion. Although her conduct and style were somewhat strange and unlike ordinary women, murder cases were still things that might frighten her.
"You've only said half of it. Not saying it now is truly offending me. I order you to tell me quickly." Ye Qingcheng looked at Lin Xiao with feigned seriousness.
Lin Xiao hesitated and struggled for a moment before saying, "Recently, three women have been murdered in succession in the capital, and the methods of the crime are the same. Your Highness is going to investigate this case."
After hearing this, Ye Qingcheng thought for a moment. "Among these three women, was there anyone of noble status?"
Given Xiao Wangye's status, if it were just ordinary commoners, he wouldn't be sent to investigate.
"Your Highness, you are correct. One of them is the daughter of the Minister of Personnel." Lin Xiao did not expect the consort to have figured out the reason so quickly.