Ye Qingcheng turned to get on the carriage, only to hear Xiao Wangye's threat: "If you leave, I will let Elder Jun leave and will no longer teach you."
Ye Qingcheng incredulously said, "Heh! You think Elder Jun will listen to you."
Xiao Wangye gestured for Lin Xiao to push him forward, "Don't forget why he is here. But since you think so, you might as well try."
Ye Qingcheng deflated and had no choice but to continue following Xiao Wangye.
"Hmph! In a few more months, when you can stand up, I'll let you try walking such a long road too."
Xiao Wangye smiled without speaking.
The polo field was divided into two halves, one for playing polo and the other for horse racing and shooting.
However, judging by the scene, more people were playing polo.
When Xiao Wangye and the two arrived, the Duchess of England hurried to greet them, "Oh~ Your Highness the Regent, Your Highness the Regent's Consort, you're here. We've been waiting for you. Come, your seats have the best view."
It was a separate tent, with chairs, a table, and fruits all prepared, and maids attending them.
Ye Qingcheng, as the Regent's Consort, carried herself impeccably, "Thank you, Duchess of England."
The Duchess of England smiled and said, "You're welcome. More guests are arriving, so I'll go and greet them. If there's any inattentiveness, I hope Your Highnesses will forgive me."
Xiao Wangye nodded in acknowledgement.
Ye Qingcheng bowed slightly with respect. Facing the Duchess of England's words, she smiled and remained silent.
Ye Qingcheng sat in her seat, and a maid beside her began to fan her.
Ye Qingcheng glanced at the maid, raising her eyebrows. Indeed, this was why subordinates wanted to become superiors.
Suddenly, the crowd began to stir. Xiao Wangye glanced at Lin Xiao, who understood and turned to investigate.
This scene was seen by Ye Qingcheng. She looked at Bi Xi, raising her eyebrows. Bi Xi immediately stepped forward, "Your Highness Consort, what's wrong with your eyes?"
Ye Qingcheng was stunned. She then sighed and waved her hand, "It's nothing."
Alas, this was why many people liked intelligent people.
She and Bi Xi lacked tacit understanding.
A moment later, Lin Xiao returned, "Your Highness, the County Princess has arrived."
The two on the main seats were startled and then exchanged glances.
Ye Qingcheng looked at Xiao Wangye in confusion, "Who is the County Princess?"
Lin Xiao explained, "This County Princess was decreed by the late Emperor. She was originally the legitimate daughter of the Xu family. When the late Emperor ascended the throne, the Xu family contributed the most. The County Princess was originally betrothed to the eldest son of the Marquis's estate, but the former Marchioness interfered, and she was mistakenly betrothed to the second son. The Xu family, unwilling for their daughter to suffer, intended to annul the marriage. Just then, the late Emperor's decree arrived, specially bestowing the title of County Princess upon the legitimate daughter of the Xu family, her name… County Princess Jia."
Oh!
Ye Qingcheng understood.
But she was still a little puzzled, "Then why is the County Princess coming to such an event?"
As soon as Ye Qingcheng finished speaking, she heard a voice from outside, "If the Regent's Consort can come, why can't I."
The two looked towards the sound and saw the County Princess dressed in luxurious attire, with a white inner garment and golden outer robe as embellishment. Her hair was styled up, exuding nobility and elegance.
She was accompanied by a petite and delicate young lady.
"Greetings, County Princess."
The County Princess sized up Ye Qingcheng, almost brazenly, "Wangye, is this your Consort? How can she be so rude and ignorant of etiquette? Isn't that a huge embarrassment to the world? Is this the example she sets for everyone? Shouldn't she be punished?"
Her words shocked everyone present, and even Xiao Wangye looked up to face the County Princess.
Ye Qingcheng pursed her lips and smiled, "Your Highness the County Princess, you are right. I am indeed ignorant of etiquette. After all, I am Wangye's Consort. When I go out, people bow to me, and I rarely have to bow to others."
The County Princess was surprised by Ye Qingcheng's sharp tongue and was enraged. Pointing at her, she was unable to utter a word, "You... you..."
The young lady beside the County Princess immediately stepped forward to support her and said with difficulty, "Consort, what do you mean by being so disrespectful to your elders?"
Ye Qingcheng looked at the young lady's features, which resembled the County Princess's, and guessed her identity, but asked knowingly, "Who are you..."
The young lady's face flushed and paled, somewhat enraged, "I... I am..."
The County Princess supported her, "She is my daughter."
"Oh~" Ye Qingcheng feigned understanding, "The County Princess's daughter! What is her name?"
The young lady proudly stepped forward, "My name is Su Luo."
Ye Qingcheng nodded understandingly, "Oh~ Su Luo! So you do know I am the Consort!"
With that one sentence, the mother and daughter were left in an awkward position.
For a moment, the County Princess felt as if she had been slapped, the pain stinging her face.
Just moments ago, she had criticized Ye Qingcheng for her lack of etiquette, and now her own daughter was overstepping her bounds to reprimand the Consort.
The young lady glanced at the County Princess, then at Ye Qingcheng, feeling uncomfortable. Although she disliked Ye Qingcheng, she still had to observe proper etiquette.
"Greetings, Consort."
Ye Qingcheng nodded, but did not allow her to rise, "Hmm, your mother just said that you are ignorant of etiquette and that it's a huge embarrassment to the world and deserves punishment. Do you object?"
Su Luo looked at Ye Qingcheng, not understanding her intention, but she naturally agreed with her mother's words.
"I do not object."
Ye Qingcheng nodded, turned, and sat back in her seat, leaving behind, "Very good, then you shall kneel here!"
Su Luo and the County Princess were stunned.
The County Princess stepped forward to argue, "Ye Qingcheng, what do you mean by this?"
Ye Qingcheng appeared confused and helpless, "Isn't this what you said, County Princess? Ignorance of etiquette deserves punishment. Shouldn't your daughter, who is disrespectful to me as the Consort, also be punished?"
"This... I..." The County Princess was choked and unable to speak.
Ye Qingcheng continued to eat and drink as usual.
Su Luo was at a loss.
The County Princess was rendered speechless by the retort.
Xiao Wangye chuckled inwardly, but did not intervene, allowing the situation to remain tense.
For a moment, the atmosphere was quite awkward.
"Oh dear!" The Duchess of England, as the host of the banquet, naturally stepped forward to smooth things over, "Look, this is all a joke. Consort, you see, the ground is dirty and there are many stones. Su Luo is about your age, let's let this matter go! Let Su Luo get up. It's not good for her to keep kneeling like this, right?"
Ye Qingcheng chuckled at the Duchess of England's words, as if she were gaining some great advantage.
Ye Qingcheng finally understood that the County Princess and the Duchess of England were in cahoots, otherwise, they wouldn't have come to flatter her.
Ye Qingcheng spat out a grape skin, "Alas~ I actually think the County Princess is quite right. Ignorance of etiquette is a huge embarrassment to the world. Why should only Sister Su Luo be punished! The County Princess also said my etiquette is not proper, so naturally, I should also be punished. Bi Xi."
Bi Xi immediately responded, "Yes."
Ye Qingcheng stood up, "Bring a kneeling cushion."
Bi Xi obediently brought a kneeling cushion. Ye Qingcheng took it, placed it directly on the ground, then knelt down and turned to say sincerely to the County Princess, "The ground is dirty and there are many stones. I am more precious than Sister Su Luo, so I naturally need a kneeling cushion." After saying this, she did not forget to give a smile.
However, this smile was particularly perfunctory.