"Then I shall trouble City Lord Ye," Meng Jiangming said.
"His Highness the驸马爷 is too kind," Ye Che replied.
Upon arriving at Ye Che's residence, Xue Xingyue was astonished. Calling this a residence was generous; the homes of wealthy merchants in Jing'an City were far grander.
If not for the two stone lion statues guarding the entrance, Xue Xingyue would never have believed this was the dwelling of a city lord.
The gate was an old, vermillion-red door, with a few sparse servants standing by. Xue Xingyue glanced around and counted only five people. Was the mansion truly this understaffed, or was there something else?
As Xue Xingyue pondered, Ye Che bowed and said, "Your Highness the 驸马爷, this is my humble abode. It is simple and crude; I hope Your Highness will forgive its deficiencies."
"Master Ye, you are too modest." Ye Che led Meng Jiangming into the residence.
Ye Che's mansion was quite small. For a city lord, residing in such a humble place was truly surprising to Xue Xingyue.
The servants were even more pitiful. Besides the five outside the gate, there were two maids and a wet nurse brought by Ye Che's wife, Madam Wu.
Madam Wu was suffering from a cold and had not come out to receive guests.
They arrived at the front hall where Ye Che had prepared wine and food. The table held a meager six dishes, mostly vegetarian. Xue Xingyue looked at Meng Jiangming, whose face remained impassive. Suddenly, Meng Jiangming turned to look at her, their eyes meeting.
Xue Xingyue quickly lowered her head. Just then, Ye Che said, "Your Highness the 驸马爷, I hope you will forgive us. Ye City is often covered in snow, and the citizens only have about three months for planting. The grain harvested is meager."
"It is of no consequence," Meng Jiangming said, taking a seat.
Seeing Ye Che still standing, Meng Jiangming added, "Master Ye, please be seated as well."
"Thank you, Your Highness the 驸马爷," Ye Che replied, sitting down.
"You too, sit," Meng Jiangming said, glancing at Xue Xingyue, who remained with her head bowed.
Xue Xingyue trembled. What did Meng Jiangming intend by this?
Ye Che quickly stood up and bowed slightly, "And this person is...?"
"My personal guard," Meng Jiangming stated calmly.
"Why are you still standing? Do you expect Master Ye to invite you to sit?" Meng Jiangming asked coldly, looking at Xue Xingyue standing with her head down.
Ye Che was momentarily stunned. Someone who could earn such a special glance from His Highness the 驸马爷 Meng Jiangming was likely more than just a personal guard. He had heard that General Xie of the Xie Family Army outside the city had a preference for handsome young men. Could it be that His Highness the 驸马爷 also harbored such inclinations?
He recalled the rumors circulating in the capital: His Highness the 驸马爷 had been married to Princess Xingyue for half a year, yet they had never shared a bed.
With this thought, Ye Che's gaze towards Xue Xingyue shifted slightly.
"Yes, Your Highness the 驸马爷," Xue Xingyue quickly sat down. She had already noticed Ye Che's gaze, which made her feel profoundly uneasy.
"Pour wine for this 驸马爷," Meng Jiangming said, sweeping a glance at Xue Xingyue.
Ye Che stepped forward to pour the wine, but Meng Jiangming stopped him. "Why would Master Ye do such a task?"
"Your Highness the 驸马爷 humbles this subordinate," Ye Che bowed.
"Little Yue, aren't you going to pour wine for this 驸马爷?" Meng Jiangming said coldly, his eyes fixed on Xue Xingyue.
Xue Xingyue gritted her teeth and reached for the wine jug. Suddenly, she noticed something amiss in Meng Jiangming's gaze. Xue Xingyue blinked in surprise and followed his gaze, realizing he was looking at her hand.
What was wrong with her hand?
"Your Highness the 驸马爷's guard is truly delicate. She looks no more than fourteen years old," Ye Che remarked.
Xue Xingyue poured wine for Meng Jiangming. "Pour a cup for Master Ye as well."
Xue Xingyue, holding the wine jug, approached Ye Che. Ye Che extended his hand to take the cup, smiling, "Thank you."
After the wine was poured, Ye Che's hand, holding the cup, suddenly tilted, spilling wine at Xue Xingyue's feet. The cup clattered onto the table.
"How did you pour that wine?" Meng Jiangming frowned.
Ye Che quickly said, "It was my carelessness. This guard is not to blame."
"Master Ye, I am clumsy and awkward. Please forgive me," Xue Xingyue bowed.
"It is nothing," Ye Che replied. He picked up the wine cup and, taking the wine jug from Ye Che, poured himself a drink.
He stood up and said, "Your Highness the 驸马爷, I am not accustomed to being served."
Meng Jiangming glanced at Xue Xingyue. "You may leave."
"Yes." Xue Xingyue walked out of the room, feeling a sense of relief.
However, as Meng Jiangming's personal guard, she could not wander freely. Even if she wanted to leave, Meng Jiangming's four guards would not allow it.
What puzzled her, though, was why Meng Jiangming's gaze had suddenly changed when she was pouring the wine. Had she revealed some flaw?
Suddenly, she heard crying from ahead, followed by another person's scolding.
"Look at your clumsy hands. You clearly come from common stock. What noble lady has such rough hands? You overestimate yourself. Do you think you can climb onto the master's bed? Dream on."
Then, it seemed someone sternly rebuked the two, and silence fell thereafter.
Although Ye City was not as fiercely battered by wind and snow as the areas outside, it was still very cold at night. Even though Xue Xingyue wore a short padded jacket made of seamless, fleecy material underneath her clothes, she could still feel the biting wind.
She unconsciously rubbed her hands together. Yet, looking at Meng Jiangming's four guards, whose figures remained upright in the frigid wind, she felt a surge of admiration. Truly worthy of being soldiers. If she had to stand in the wind and snow for that long, she would surely be unable to bear it.
She brought her hands to her mouth, exhaling warmth to alleviate the cold on her skin.
"Little Yue, His Highness the 驸马爷 said you can return to your room now," Meng Lie, who had been following Meng Jiangming, emerged from the room and said.
"Thank you, Your Highness the 驸马爷," Xue Xingyue said.
"My good sir, this way please." A servant from the residence quickly led Xue Xingyue to a room.
"My good sir, I cherish my life. If you need anything, you can just tell me directly," Si Ming said ingratiatingly.
"Alright, I understand," Xue Xingyue nodded.
Si Ming left. Xue Xingyue pushed open the door. The room was simple and unadorned, but for someone who had spent the entire day in a carriage, she was quite content.
Lying on the bed she had missed for so long, Xue Xingyue felt the comforting familiarity of a proper bed.
"My good sir, I have brought you some charcoal," Si Ming's voice came from outside the door.
Charcoal? Xue Xingyue quickly opened the door and saw Si Ming holding an iron basin filled with brightly burning charcoal. Si Ming said obsequiously, "Master asked me to deliver this."
Ye Che? Xue Xingyue's heart was filled with confusion. She had only met Ye Che for the first time today, so why did it seem as though Ye Che knew her?