Ye Xianya didn't care about all that and left quickly.

With the Lunar New Year fast approaching, the palace will be holding a family banquet and a state banquet on New Year's Eve, and Ye Miaoyun has been extremely busy these past few days.

After a serious illness, the emperor was very weak and had been recuperating for almost two months, but his condition had not improved much.

He has already issued an imperial decree that Qi Jiu will preside over both the family banquet and the state banquet on New Year's Eve this year, and he will not show his face.

Lately, the people in the palace have become increasingly respectful to Qi Jiu and Ye Miaoyun.

As a result, Ye Xianya, the future princess, also became the object of everyone's flattery. Every time she entered the palace, the palace maids, eunuchs, and concubines in the harem treated her with great courtesy.

In particular, the ladies sent many gifts to Liuyun Palace for Ye Xianya.

Ye Xianya didn't care about these material possessions. Qi Jiu told her to keep them, so she did.

"Princess!" Consort Shun had been waiting outside Liuyun Palace. When she saw Ye Xianya return, she quickly came over to greet her.

"Your Highness Consort Shun!" Ye Xianya nodded with a smile.

As the saying goes, you can't hit a smiling face.

Every time Consort Shun saw Ye Xianya, she had a kind smile on her face. She also frequently sent people to Liuyun Palace to deliver things. She was also very polite to Ye Miaoyun, which was completely different from the previous Consort Shu.

In addition, Consort Shun was already over fifty years old, while Ye Xianya was, after all, a "young girl," so she had to be more polite in front of her.

“Princess, the Crown Princess has been very busy these past few days and may not have time to take care of you. Why don’t you come to my place for dinner? I’ve already had it prepared, and it’s all your favorite dishes!” Consort Shun said with a loving expression.

"Thank you for your kindness, Your Highness, but my father sent someone to tell me that we should have dinner together, so I cannot accompany you today," Ye Xianya said with a smile.

She didn't believe that Consort Shun would be kind to her for no reason; she was sure that Consort Shun had her own motives.

Ye Xianya didn't want to get too close to these people in the palace.

"Alright, let's do it another day then!" Consort Shun nodded quickly, exchanged a few pleasantries with Ye Xianya, and then left with her maids and eunuchs.

After returning to her palace, she glanced at her grandson Qi Chengye sitting in the room, shook her head and said, "It's getting late, you should leave the palace."

"Grandmother didn't invite anyone?" Qi Chengye asked with a smile.

“That Miss Ye is somewhat wary of me and refuses to come over for dinner.” Consort Shun shook her head.

"I knew it! Miss Ye is a cultivator, different from ordinary people. Grandmother, you shouldn't waste your time. You're getting old, you shouldn't worry too much," Qi Chengye said helplessly.

Upon hearing this, Consort Shun glared at him fiercely: "Are you saying that your grandmother is worrying unnecessarily?"

"Grandson wouldn't dare, and absolutely had no such intention. Grandmother has misunderstood," Qi Chengye quickly said.

"I've gone to great lengths to appease the Crown Princess and Miss Ye, all for your sake!" Consort Shun said somewhat irritably. "The Crown Prince has no sons, yet he dotes on Miss Ye, his stepdaughter. If any member of the royal family marries her, they will not only gain the Crown Prince's favor but may also inherit the throne."

“I know my grandmother means well, but Miss Ye… she definitely wouldn’t look down on an ordinary person like me,” Qi Chengye said, shaking his head.

“You are a member of the royal family. In terms of both status and talent, you far surpass many people. Do not underestimate yourself.” Consort Shun said with a smile, “No matter how good or extraordinary Miss Ye is, she still has to get married. You are of noble birth, handsome, and skilled in both literature and martial arts. How can you be unworthy of her?”

Consort Shun was very pleased with her precious grandson and couldn't help but say, "How do you know it won't work if you don't try?"

"I..." Qi Chengye was speechless.

Consort Shun originally wanted to invite Ye Xianya over for dinner, and then let her grandson take the opportunity to show himself so that people could see him. If Miss Ye took a fancy to her family's Chengye, it would be a blessing for the boy.

But the girl refused.

“If it doesn’t work the first time, then try ten times, a hundred times. Once she feels our sincerity, she will naturally not refuse again.” Consort Shun smiled and gently patted Qi Chengye’s hand. “Don’t worry, Grandmother will try again another day.”

"Grandmother, everyone says that Miss Ye is the greatest fortune teller in the world. No one can be kept in the dark about anything she wants to know. Do you think... she already knows about our plans?"

Qi Chengye couldn't help but shake his head: "Her refusal to come over for dinner is actually a rejection of our improper intentions. Let's just forget about it."

He's a grandson of the emperor, it's not like he can't find a wife, there's really no need for him to act like this!

Besides, he had seen Miss Ye from afar a few days ago. Although she was young, she gave him a sense of unfathomable mystery and ethereal beauty.

A girl like that is not someone he can hold onto.

People look down on ordinary people like him.

“How is this an unreasonable thought? The man is unmarried and the woman is unmarried, don’t belittle yourself.” Consort Shun was very displeased with her grandson’s words.

My grandson used to be confident and composed. As a member of the royal family, he was exceptionally outstanding. Why did he back down as soon as this matter was brought up?

"Do you look down on that girl?" Consort Shun couldn't help but ask.

"No!" Qi Chengye shook his head.

"I knew it! Although Miss Ye is young, she is already very beautiful. In a couple of years, when she fully matures, she will definitely be an absolute beauty. In addition, she is very capable. Everyone who mentions her speaks highly of her. You are not the kind of person who is arrogant and ungrateful." Consort Shun breathed a sigh of relief.

"But..." Although Qi Chengye did not want to discourage his grandmother, there were some things he had to make clear so that she would not waste her efforts.

She's getting on in years; she should be enjoying her retirement.

"No buts, listen to your grandmother on this matter. Would your grandmother harm you?" Consort Shun smiled and said, "Tomorrow I will go to the East Palace to help the Crown Princess. In the evening, I invite the Crown Princess and Miss Ye to have dinner together. As long as the Crown Princess agrees, Miss Ye will not refuse."

As long as we get closer, there will always be opportunities.

“Grandmother, I’ve heard that my sixth great-uncle’s brother Chengshuo and Miss Ye are very close and see each other almost every day. He’s very attentive to anything that concerns Miss Ye. Everyone knows what he means by that, and we can’t very well compete with him for her!” Qi Chengye couldn’t help but say.

“A family with a daughter has many suitors, and they’re not even engaged yet, so how can you call it kidnapping?” Consort Shun glared at her grandson, somewhat exasperated, and said, “Don’t you… want to inherit the throne in the future? No matter how outstanding Qi Chengshuo is, he’s not your grandfather’s biological grandson. After the Crown Prince ascends the throne, he won’t pass it on to him. You have a better chance. Marrying Miss Ye would be entirely beneficial to you!”

Qi Chengye was both amused and exasperated after hearing his grandmother's words.

He understood the reasoning, but his grandmother didn't understand what he meant.