Ye Qingcheng gasped, bracing herself against the table after Xiao Wangye left.
No one knew that Ye Qingcheng was nothing more than a paper tiger; outwardly calm, inwardly a trembling kitten.
And this time, she had clashed with Xiao Wangye twice in one day. She felt utterly despondent.
If you can't beat them, flee! Regardless of the consequences, she just wanted to pack her things and disappear!
However, the moment she finished packing her belongings and opened the door, she saw Jing Xiu approaching with fruit, smiling brightly as she called out, "Princess Consort, look, this servant has brought the fruit you love the most."
Ye Qingcheng stared at her for a few seconds, then, under Jing Xiu's gaze, she slammed the door shut.
Jing Xiu looked at the fruit in her hands, bewildered, "Does the Princess Consort not like it? But that shouldn't be! Didn't Bixi say this was the Princess Consort's favorite?"
Ye Qingcheng pressed herself against the door, listening to Jing Xiu's retreating footsteps, feeling like she was about to cry without tears.
Even heaven didn't want her to leave?
Bixi woke up late that night. To be precise, she woke up thirsty. When she opened her mouth, her throat felt like it was on fire, unbearable. "Water... I want water..."
A nearby maidservant heard the sound and went to Bixi's bedside. Seeing Bixi's eyes open, she heard a voice as faint as a mosquito saying she wanted water.
The maidservant was overjoyed. She quickly poured water for her. A cup of warm water was like spring water for a parched tree; she felt much better.
Only then did Bixi regain some spirit. The maidservant stood beside her, recounting the Princess Consort's heroic deeds for the day, "You don't know, I've never seen Aunt Yu Jian so scared. Indeed, no matter how arrogant she is, she's no match for the Princess Consort, the mistress of the house."
Bixi latched onto the key point, "You mean, the Princess Consort punished Aunt Yu Jian for me?"
The maidservant was still excited, "Yes! Oh? What are you doing? You're still injured, why are you moving!"
Bixi ignored her and insisted on getting up, "You don't know, Aunt Yu Jian was promoted by the Prince. If the Princess Consort punished her, how will the Prince deal with the Princess Consort? The Princess Consort is already struggling in the manor, and if she offends the Prince for me... then... then what will happen in the future?"
"Whatever you want to do!" Ye Qingcheng's voice rang out from the doorway. She strode in, like a celestial being descending from heaven, bathed in radiance.
The maidservant quickly kowtowed, "Greetings, Princess Consort."
"No need for such formalities." With that, she quickly stepped forward to support Bixi, who was trying to get out of bed. "Just lie still and recover. You have injuries and cannot move. I know you don't want me to worry, which is why you've swallowed all your grievances. But my maid, Ye Qingcheng's maid, has been bullied, how can she be someone who swallows grievances? You focus on recovering, and don't worry about anything else."
Bixi's eyes welled up with tears, grateful to have found such a good mistress.
Ye Qingcheng reapplied the medicine for her. After finishing, she left, reminding Bixi of a few more things before leaving with peace of mind.
Back in her chambers, she saw Xiao Wangye waiting for her. Ye Qingcheng felt speechless. This young man was like a lingering ghost, "Why are you here? Come to interrogate me again?"
Xiao Wangye pushed his wheelchair to the bedside. "To treat my leg."
Ye Qingcheng rolled her eyes, "I'm busy today. Next time!"
Xiao Wangye looked up at her, "Next time, when will that be?"
Ye Qingcheng gave a sarcastic smile, "When I'm in the mood!"
Xiao Wangye frowned, "When will Yu Jian be released is also dependent on your mood?"
Ye Qingcheng walked towards the inner room, undressing as she went, "It's hard to say. Let's wait until Bixi has recovered before letting her out. Don't worry, she won't lose too much flesh. You don't need to worry too much about her."
Xiao Wangye was immediately angered by her words, "You are a woman, how can you speak such vulgar words? Do you not understand etiquette?"
Ye Qingcheng found it amusing, "Oh? Your Highness has come to lecture me here." By now, she had already shed her outer clothes, leaving only her innermost white robe. The robe was slightly sheer, subtly revealing the rosy-colored camisole underneath.
Xiao Wangye's face remained expressionless, but he still subconsciously swallowed. The sides of his ears turned red, "You... do you not understand the distinction between men and women? How can you undress in front of a man?"
Ye Qingcheng chuckled, "Oh! So Your Highness does know about the distinction between men and women? I thought Your Highness considered us husband and wife, after all, we have performed the rites of Zhou Gong and shared the pleasures of the flesh! Now that I think about it, you do have a unique charm!"
Xiao Wangye's cheeks flushed, and his ears became completely hot, "You... you..."
Ye Qingcheng took off her inner garment, revealing her flawless white shoulders, exuding feminine allure. "Your Highness, do you want to try again?"
Xiao Wangye turned his head away, pushing his wheelchair to leave. He understood that Ye Qingcheng wanted him to go, and he naturally would not pursue intimacy with her again, as she was not Yun'er. But... Xiao Wangye looked at the bright full moon in the dark night sky. Why did his heart feel so heavy?
Ye Qingcheng watched him leave, her expressionless face tidying her clothes. She made an international gesture towards his retreating figure, "Hmph, you little thing, I'll make sure you wither away. Jing Xiu, prepare the water. Your Princess Consort wants to bathe and change."
Jing Xiu was thoroughly amused. Upon hearing this, she immediately kowtowed, "Yes." and hurried out to prepare.
Ye Qingcheng slept soundly that night. The next morning, she woke up to find Jing Xiu by her bedside with washing supplies ready. Seeing someone standing by her bed so early in the morning startled Ye Qingcheng. However, she immediately considered that if this person by the bed were to stab her, it wouldn't be impossible! She would have to discuss with Xiao Wangye later to change this peculiar rule.
Jing Xiu's hands were deft, and she styled Ye Qingcheng's hair into a neat and beautiful updo. However, while the updo was pretty, it looked slightly matronly.
Ye Qingcheng quickly asked Jing Xiu to change it.
Jing Xiu was puzzled, "How does the Princess Consort wish to change her hairstyle?"
Ye Qingcheng pondered for a moment, "Hmm... how about a maiden's hairstyle?" She hadn't had a chance to feel like a young girl since arriving here.
This frightened Jing Xiu, "Princess Consort, you are now married into the Regent's manor and are a wife. Naturally, you must wear your hair up. How can you change it..."
Ye Qingcheng pouted, unhappy. Jing Xiu became anxious and tried to appease Ye Qingcheng, "Princess Consort, how about we go shopping? It will be fun."
Ye Qingcheng shook her head, muttering with displeasure.
Jing Xiu had no other choice but to take down the updo and style it into a maiden's hairstyle. This made Ye Qingcheng very happy.
Jing Xiu's craftsmanship was better than Bixi's. Looking into the decorative mirror, her face bloomed with a maiden's rosy smile, making her look decades younger.
Ye Qingcheng transformed into a child and tugged on Jing Xiu's hand, asking, "Jing Xiu, Jing Xiu, how old am I this year?"
Jing Xiu was a little confused by the Princess Consort's question and said uncertainly, "Sixteen?" After all, sixteen was considered the age of coming-of-age in ancient times.
Ye Qingcheng understood this perfectly.
Her mouth split into a wide grin, "Yes, I'm sixteen, forever sixteen." Who wouldn't want to be younger?
Jing Xiu felt helpless, but her heart was filled with joy. If the Princess Consort was happy, she was happy.