The main attendees of the family banquet had arrived, and it officially commenced. The Empress Dowager, seated at the head, raised her wine cup. "Today is a family banquet. We are all family, so please, no need for formalities."
Everyone raised their cups in response.
After taking a sip, Ye Qingcheng set down her cup, a hint of contemplation in her expression. The Empress Dowager truly wasn't adept at palace intrigue, or perhaps she was overthinking things. In reality, her trust in Xiao Wangye was profound.
Since everyone was in harmony, nothing eventful occurred.
Upon returning home, Xiao Wangye decided to stir up trouble.
Ye Qingcheng suppressed her irritation, her brow twitching. "It's too late tonight. We can treat it tomorrow!"
Xiao Wangye's breath turned cold, his gaze fixed directly on her. "No, we'll do it tonight."
Ye Qingcheng knew Xiao Wangye needed her, but she was not his subordinate. "I'm too tired today. I said tomorrow, and it will be tomorrow."
Xiao Wangye's brow twitched, his expression darkening as he looked at her. "Are you… unwilling?"
Ye Qingcheng was direct. "Yes, I am unwilling."
Xiao Wangye channeled his inner energy and sent a palm strike that grazed Ye Qingcheng's ear, shattering a nearby vase. Ye Qingcheng maintained her composure, showing no signs of alarm. After all, it wasn't her vase; if it broke, it broke.
Xiao Wangye considered this a warning. As he retracted his palm, he said, "The prince's mansion supports you, not for you to eat and drink for free."
Ye Qingcheng paid him no mind. She had spent the entire day out and was genuinely exhausted.
"I am the prince's consort, married to you with all the fanfare. If you don't support me, why would I marry you?"
Xiao Wangye was rendered speechless.
He had never encountered such an unashamed woman.
The two were locked in a stalemate, neither willing to yield.
Xiao Wangye believed that if he relented to Ye Qingcheng today, he would lose his authority in the mansion going forward.
Ye Qingcheng felt that treatment could happen anytime, but just not when she was extremely tired, because she wanted to sleep.
They continued to stall. However, this was Ye Qingcheng's room!
If Xiao Wangye didn't leave, she couldn't sleep.
Finally, Ye Qingcheng conceded.
"Alright, I'll treat you, but I have a condition."
Xiao Wangye, who had been feigning sleep, opened his eyes and looked at her. "What is it?"
Ye Qingcheng extended her hand to him. "I want the treatment fee for this session."
Xiao Wangye's lips pulled back as he struggled to regulate his breathing. "How much do you want?"
"Three thousand taels."
Veins bulged on Xiao Wangye's forehead, throbbing.
"You truly are a lion when it comes to demands!"
Ye Qingcheng crossed her arms. "This is my final offer. If not, we continue stalling! I can fall asleep sitting up anyway."
Xiao Wangye sighed. To prevent his leg ailment from worsening, he reluctantly compromised. "I don't have three thousand taels in cash, but I can give you several famous paintings from the study. They are worth more than enough for three thousand taels."
Ye Qingcheng's eyes lit up. "Is that true?"
Xiao Wangye nodded. "Absolutely not a lie."
Only then did Ye Qingcheng exhale.
She instructed Lin Xiao to help Xiao Wangye onto the couch and then rolled up Xiao Wangye's trousers.
She tapped several of his acupoints with a fan. "Do you feel anything?"
Xiao Wangye shook his head. "No."
Ye Qingcheng took out silver needles and inserted them into several acupoints on Xiao Wangye's leg. For other points, he felt nothing, but when she hit one specific acupoint, Xiao Wangye distinctly hissed.
This indicated that the previous foot bath treatment had been effective.
Following that, Ye Qingcheng wrote down several prescriptions and handed them to Lin Xiao. "Go find these medicinal ingredients."
Lin Xiao took the prescriptions and noticed that the herbs listed were different from before.
Ye Qingcheng, sensing his confusion, explained, "The previous prescription was only suitable for soaking. Now that some parts of his leg have sensation, we need to change the prescription. It's still a soaking prescription, but this time, instead of soaking his feet, we'll steam them."
Steaming feet?
This method was unprecedented.
Ye Qingcheng continued her instructions. "Bixi, go boil some water."
Bixi nodded and left.
"Jingxiu, find a clean cloth, a large one."
Jingxiu nodded. "Okay."
While they were busy, Ye Qingcheng didn't idle and began to needle Xiao Wangye's acupoints.
By the time they had prepared everything, Xiao Wangye's leg was already covered in needle marks, resembling a porcupine.
Ye Qingcheng examined the medicinal herbs and then poured them all into hot water, stirring. Once the aroma of the medicinal bath was released, she placed Xiao Wangye's leg above it, but not submerged in the water.
Then, she covered the area with the clean cotton cloth.
"Just like this, steam for four hours."
Lin Xiao was confused. "What is the purpose of this?"
"To expel blood."
Expel blood?
Everyone exchanged bewildered glances, filled with questions.
Ye Qingcheng explained, "Xiao Wangye's leg has been poisoned too deeply to use ordinary methods. The previous foot soak served to invigorate blood circulation. This steaming method, combined with the silver needle acupuncture, will slowly force out the poisoned blood. However, the process will be rather slow."
Xiao Wangye looked at her. "How long will it take?"
Ye Qingcheng sighed. "Alas, your poison is too deep. This method offers some improvement, but it will still take more than half a year."
Xiao Wangye curved his lips. "It's alright, I can wait."
For the duration of the four hours, the other three remained there, waiting for the prince's feet to finish steaming. Ye Qingcheng paid them no mind and promptly fell asleep on the bed.
Xiao Wangye, meanwhile, was feigning sleep while meditating.
Indeed, after a short while, everyone caught the scent of blood.
The cotton cloth also became stained with blood.
Lin Xiao was extremely flustered, fearing something might happen. He rushed to shake Ye Qingcheng awake.
Woken up, Ye Qingcheng was annoyed but still dutifully looked up. "Mm! It's fine, a normal reaction." She then closed her eyes and went back to sleep.
The others gradually relaxed. When the four hours were up, Ye Qingcheng was already fast asleep on the bed, sprawled in all sorts of awkward positions.
Lin Xiao dared not move and had to shake Ye Qingcheng awake again.
Having been woken up twice, Ye Qingcheng roared, "What is it!"
Lin Xiao trembled slightly from the outburst. "Uh, the four hours are up."
Ye Qingcheng finally came to her senses, her sleepiness dissipating. She got up, wiped the drool from the corner of her mouth, and with her hair disheveled, approached Xiao Wangye.
She directly lifted the cotton cloth. The once clear water was now a pitch-black mess, accompanied by a strong, pungent smell of blood.
Bixi and Jingxiu couldn't stand it and rushed out covering their mouths to vomit.
Lin Xiao stood by, complaining, "They're too delicate."
Ye Qingcheng's lips twitched. "Excuse me, what are your duties, and what are theirs? Have you ever considered the difference?"
Lin Xiao retorted, "My duties are also menial tasks!"
Ye Qingcheng chuckled. "Your menial tasks involve killing. Their menial tasks involve serving people. Are they the same?"
Lin Xiao was left speechless.
Ye Qingcheng pulled out the silver needles. The exposed parts were pristine white, but the parts that had been inserted were dark and murky.
Lin Xiao swallowed hard.