"Qi Feng, what did the Princess Consort send over today?" After working until midnight, Duan Huaijin unconsciously asked.
Qi Feng’s face showed embarrassnt as he carefully said, "Prince, Miss Ye Qiu has already gone to the manor, and tonight’s al was sent from the main kitchen. It was also made according to the nu provided by Miss Ye Qiu. It’s shredded chicken noodles. Would you like to eat now, Prince?"
Upon hearing this from Qi Feng, Duan Huaijin rembered that Ye Qiu was no longer his Princess Consort, and she no longer lived at the residence, so naturally, there was no late-night al made by her for him today.
"Serve it," he said after a mont of contemplation.
Having originally been an Imperial Chef, the cook’s skills were naturally quite good. The shredded chicken noodles were steaming hot when served, with an appetizing aroma, and each strand of chicken was evenly cut with clear lines, topped with verdant chopped green onions, looking delicious and tempting.
However, Duan Huaijin frowned slightly before picking up the fine noodles with his chopsticks, and his frown deepened the mont he tasted it.
In the end, he didn’t finish the bowl of shredded chicken noodles, having only a few bites before setting it aside, leaving most of it untouched.
"Take it away," he said.
"Prince, soone from East Lake Garden is here to see you," said the ssenger.
"Hmm," Duan Huaijin initially had no intention of paying attention, but sothing ca to mind, and he got up to go there.
Ye Xia, on the other end, received the news that Duan Huaijin was heading her way and was thrilled. She readjusted her carefully applied make-up before standing at the door to wait.
"Prince, you’ve arrived," Ye Xia greeted, her face shy.
Duan Huaijin passed by her and sat down in a chair before saying, "Princess Consort, you may rise."
Ye Xia’s face showed a mont of embarrassnt, but she quickly recovered, gracefully moving to his side and shyly said, "Prince, why do you no longer call Xiaxia?"
Duan Huaijin looked at her deeply, unsettling Ye Xia with his gaze before he slowly said, "It’s unseemly. What brings the Princess Consort to call upon at such a late hour?"
Ye Xia thought he was scolding her for being improper, but she quickly realized that she was now the Princess Consort and that calling her Xiaxia was indeed inappropriate. Her heart lifted with joy again, convinced that the Prince really cared about her and was always considering her.
"I heard from the servants that the Prince requires a late night al every day, so I personally prepared a few dishes and would like the Prince to taste them," Ye Xia said, and the maids brought the sumptuous al to the table.
"These are all dishes that the Prince loves. I made these fish balls myself and spent an hour removing the bones. Please try it, Prince," Ye Xia said as she served Duan Huaijin a bowl.
As Duan Huaijin looked at the full bowl of fish balls, and then at Ye Xia continuing to ladle bird’s nest soup for him, he suddenly felt overwheld. Was Ye Xia treating him like a pig? Who eats so much for a night snack? Would he still be able to sleep at night?
This thought reminded him of Ye Qiu, who had never done such a thing. Although the variety of the als she sent were different each day, each was just a small bowl, enough to warm his stomach, and it would not make him feel bloated or disturb his sleep.
Thinking of this, he lost his appetite, not wanting to take even a single bite.
Ye Xia’s face showed embarrassnt as she carefully asked, "Prince, why aren’t you eating?"
"No need, I’m not hungry," Duan Huaijin said indifferently.
"It is my lack of consideration," Ye Xia bit her lip in frustration, but she couldn’t allow her temper to show, so she held it in.
"Did you redecorate this room?" Duan Huaijin suddenly asked.
Ye Xia, seeing that he showed no emotion, felt extrely anxious inside. Could it be that he was blaming her? Thus, she boldly probed, "After all, it was previously inhabited by my second sister. My preferences differ from hers, so I had everything changed. Is the Prince displeased? If the Prince doesn’t like it, I can change it back."
After she finished speaking, her expression looked so aggrieved that it greatly irritated Duan Huaijin, "No need."
Once Ye Xia heard his response, she imdiately felt relieved, but little did she know that Duan Huaijin was actually thinking about sothing else. When Ye Qiu first married into the family, he had harbored a grudge against her, and naturally, he didn’t have the servants prepare the best courtyard for her. And now that Ye Xia had lived in it, how could he possibly let Ye Qiu live there in the future? He would naturally have to change it, and to a better one at that, so let Ye Xia do whatever she wanted with this courtyard.
But while he thought this way, others did not. Ye Xia thought she had won, while in his heart, Qi Feng felt injustice for Ye Qiu.
"Let attend to the Prince’s washing and dressing," Ye Xia, having eased her mind, beca even bolder, her cheeks flushing with embarrassnt as she already stood behind Duan Huaijin, reaching out to help him undress.
"What are you doing?" Duan Huaijin asked coldly, dodging her hand.
Ye Xia’s hands froze in place, and she felt incredibly awkward, "It’s late; is the Prince not staying to rest?"
"I still have official duties to attend to; I shall leave first."
Ye Xia followed and asked, "Then why did the Prince co over tonight?"
Duan Huaijin didn’t turn back. Could it be that he originally wanted to ask about matters concerning Ye Qiu but found himself unable to utter the questions on the tip of his tongue?
He wasn’t foolish, and after arriving here, he knew it was probably futile to expect anything favorable about Ye Qiu from Ye Xia’s mouth, so he didn’t want to listen.
Watching his heartless silhouette leave, Ye Xia harbored anger inside, convinced that he still had lingering feelings for Ye Qiu. In deep resentnt, she sent soone to Ye Qiu’s rural estate and drove away the only tenants who could provide them with living supplies.
"Miss, isn’t the Eldest Lady being too heartless? Should this old servant go and plead with the Prince?" The wet nurse said to Ye Qiu with a face full of pity.
"There’s no need, wet nurse," Ye Qiu coughed heavily, "My sister is intent on taking revenge and won’t allow us to see the Prince. I still have so Silver; take it and buy what we can from other farrs for now."
"Alas!"
"Furong, Shao Yao, here are ten thousand taels of Silver, five thousand taels for each of you. Take these indentures and go back to your families. Being with has wronged you," said the weakened Ye Qiu.
Hearing this, both maidservants burst into tears and knelt down together, "No, Miss, we won’t leave you, how can you manage without us at a ti like this?"
"Be obedient, don’t make speak any further. My ti is running out, and once I’m gone, Ye Xia, to vent her anger, will not treat you kindly."
"Then we’ll fight the Eldest Lady to the end. We must reveal her true nature to the Prince."
"Are you two being foolish?" Ye Qiu sighed, "The Prince now loves her, not . Why would he listen to you?"
"We still won’t leave," both maidservants said resolutely.
Ye Qiu, left with no choice, conceded, "Then keep these indentures and silver notes safe. If anything goes wrong, leave at once."
"Yes, we thank Lady Xie for her generosity."
anwhile, Duan Huaijin was still unaware that due to the harsh environnt, Ye Qiu’s illness was worsening by the day, waiting for her to co and apologize to him. But by the ti he couldn’t wait any longer and took the initiative to inquire about news of Ye Qiu, it was already too late.
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