Wang Qingyao sensed that Xiao Yun was giving her the cold shoulder.
After returning from the Dingnan Prince's mansion, he seemed to be his usual self.
When the child woke up, he would play with him, hold him, and kiss him. He would also mention any matters concerning the estate to Wang Qingyao.
To outsiders, nothing seemed amiss.
But Wang Qingyao was his wife, sleeping beside him.
She immediately sensed the change in him.
And this change was directed at her.
Previously, they always slept embracing each other. Now, they slept back to back.
The intimate gestures were gone, no more kisses, hugs, or playful, suggestive jokes.
Even when speaking, Xiao Yun avoided looking at Wang Qingyao.
He rarely smiled. When others were present, he was fine, but when it was just Wang Qingyao and him, his expression turned cold, and his entire aura changed.
Wang Qingyao pondered over and over, unable to recall anything she had done to offend him.
She was also quite annoyed. Why couldn't a grown man just say what was on his mind?
Heh, resorting to silent treatment!
Who cared!
Wang Qingyao was different from Xiao Yun. Although Xiao Yun was fearless and appeared arrogant and overbearing, he still had some sense of propriety.
He would never reveal such marital disputes in front of others.
Even when they went to pay respects to the Old Dowager, he acted perfectly normal, leaving no trace of any discord.
Wang Qingyao, however, was the type who would make you uncomfortable if you made her uncomfortable.
Unlike Xiao Yun's silent treatment, hers was overt. She directly instructed Zhizi to pack some of Xiao Yun's belongings and sent him to sleep in the study.
Before sending him away, she said, "If you continue to act like this, you can sleep in the study. I don't want to be infected by your negative emotions every day."
All the maids in the room were bewildered.
Yinzhu: "Princess, what's wrong with the Prince? Did you have a fight?"
When did they fight? She had been serving her closely, how could she not have noticed anything?
Yinzhu looked to Zhenzhu for help. Compared to Yinzhu, Zhenzhu was more inseparable from Wang Qingyao; she must know something, right?
To her surprise, Zhenzhu also shook her head in confusion.
Everyone was bewildered.
Except for Wang Qingyao and Xiao Yun.
Xiao Yun opened his mouth, wanting to say something but couldn't. He turned and walked to the door, then turned back.
"Why should I be the one to leave? You did something wrong, and you have the nerve to blame me?"
"What did I do wrong? You tell me?"
"Think about it yourself. If I say it, it loses its meaning."
Wang Qingyao felt like cursing the essence of Chinese profanity, her myriad of words condensed into a single word: "Scram!"
Xiao Yun left without looking back.
Yinzhu was so anxious she was jumping up and down, "Princess, Princess, hurry and chase after him! If you do this, aren't you just pushing the Prince towards Concubine Wei?"
Wang Qingyao froze for a moment, glanced at the door, and gritted her teeth, "Go or don't, I don't care."
Though she spoke harshly, she felt a little uneasy in her heart.
This was not modern times.
It was perfectly reasonable and legal for Xiao Yun to spend the night at Concubine Wei's residence, and no one could fault her.
Yinzhu, worthy of being Wang Qingyao's self-proclaimed most capable head maid, seeing Wang Qingyao like this, volunteered, "I'll go keep watch near Linglong Pavilion."
Wang Qingyao coughed lightly, not stopping her.
Since Wang Qingyao married into the Ding'an Prince's mansion, she had never quarreled with Xiao Yun. Once this fight broke out, everyone in the Ding'an Prince's mansion knew about it in no time.
Some were happy, others were worried.
Nanny Jing: "Your Highness, should we call the Princess to ask her?"
Old Dowager: "No need. What couple doesn't bicker? It's a matter between young people, let's not interfere..."
Linglong Pavilion.
Liuxing: "Your Highness, Your Highness, have you heard? The Princess and the Prince are fighting, and she sent the Prince to sleep in the study. This is a great opportunity for you. Shall we brew a bowl of pear soup and have you personally deliver it to the Prince?"
Concubine Wei frowned: "No need. You stay in your courtyard and don't go anywhere."
Liuxing was confused.
Meanwhile, Yinzhu had been squatting and watching for most of the night. Xiao Yun neither came to Linglong Pavilion to spend the night nor did Concubine Wei or her people proactively send warmth to the outer study.
Yinzhu was very confused.
The next day, she reported to Wang Qingyao. She wasn't surprised by Xiao Yun's actions, but she was a bit surprised by Concubine Wei's.
Zhizi interjected coldly: "What's so strange about that? Perhaps she's indisposed."
A sudden realization!
When one's period arrives, one can't do anything!
Given Xiao Yun's self-restraint, Wang Qingyao, with a clear conscience, reflected on herself.
Had she really done something to offend Xiao Yun without her knowledge?
But Xiao Yun wasn't someone who would quibble over such things, was he?
What exactly had she done?
Perhaps it was the "three years of foolishness after childbirth," Wang Qingyao thought for a long time but still couldn't figure it out.
Then, Xiao Yun had another accident.
This time, it was a bit more serious than being stung by a hornet.
When he went to the palace to see the Emperor, he accidentally fell down the steps in front of Ninghui Hall, breaking his forehead and bleeding profusely.
At that moment, someone knelt down to confess their guilt, saying that they had accidentally spilled water while washing the ground and hadn't dried it properly.
Xiao Yun was not an unreasonable person. He was distracted by his spat with Wang Qingyao. In normal circumstances, he wouldn't have hit his head if he had fallen.
He did not pursue responsibility for that person. The Emperor was merciful and only punished the person by sending them to the Laundry Bureau.