The next day, Ye Qingcheng stared at the invitation on the table, locking eyes with Bi Xi.
Ye Qingcheng collapsed, "I thought after yesterday's incident, no one would invite me anymore."
Bi Xi giggled, "It means Your Highness the Consort, your charm is still intact!"
Ye Qingcheng tilted her head, refusing to look at her, "Thank you, but I'd rather not have this kind of charm. I'd rather practice martial arts at home!"
Bi Xi propped her chin on her hand, looking at the Consort, "But this is a memorial banquet for Minister Li's deceased father, and many nobles have been invited. Your Highness the Consort, it wouldn't be appropriate for you not to go!"
Ye Qingcheng really wanted to be paralyzed, so she wouldn't have to go out.
"Alas~ Forget it. How long until then?"
Bi Xi checked the time on the invitation, "It's two days from now."
Ye Qingcheng immediately got up and ran into the inner room, "Ah~ For these two days, I'm not leaving my room. Tell Jun Lao to rest for two days! I want to sleep, I want to slack off, I want to be a salted fish."
Bi Xi was helpless.
Two days later, Ye Qingcheng was pulled up from her bed by Bi Xi, "Your Highness the Consort, hurry up! You have to attend the banquet today, you can't be late!"
Ye Qingcheng reluctantly rolled on the bed for a circle before slowly getting up.
She sat in front of the vanity, watching Bi Xi take out a bright red and luxurious outfit from the cabinet behind her.
Ye Qingcheng was very helpless, "Bi Xi, you're not making me wear this outfit, are you!"
Bi Xi looked at the clothes in her hand, confused, "Is something wrong? Your Highness the Consort?"
Ye Qingcheng sighed, "We're going to Minister Li's father's memorial banquet. If we dress too luxuriously, it would make people think we're there to mock them, wouldn't it?"
Bi Xi suddenly realized, "Yes! Your Highness the Consort, you are indeed smart. I didn't even think of that! Hee hee!"
Ye Qingcheng pointed to the plain white outfit in the cabinet, "Let's wear that one."
Bi Xi nodded, "Alright," and put the luxurious clothes back.
Ye Qingcheng was still replaying Bi Xi's words from earlier, then she curved her lips into a smile, "Why didn't I think of this? Bi Xi, you say, if many people don't think of this... what will happen?"
Bi Xi was stunned for a moment, "Ah? Your Highness the Consort, your servant is stupid and didn't think of this. Aren't other nobles very intelligent?"
Ye Qingcheng turned around, stretched lazily, and propped her chin on the mirror, "It's fine, we'll know when we get there."
It had to be said that Ye Qingcheng was a natural clothes hanger. Wearing the plain white outfit gave her a refreshing and refined aura.
Before long, Ye Qingcheng got into the carriage heading for Minister Li's residence. However, just as the carriage was about to depart, Xiao Wangye stopped her, "You plan to go empty-handed?"
Ye Qingcheng looked left and right, confirming there were no gifts in the carriage, then waved her hands playfully, "Isn't it obvious?" She intended to go for a free meal.
Xiao Wangye frowned at her, "This will damage the reputation of the Regent's Mansion."
Ye Qingcheng put her hands on her chest and turned her head away from him, "What does that have to do with me? I don't have money to buy gifts anyway. Are you expecting someone with no money like me to mortgage gifts?"
Xiao Wangye looked at her with disappointment, "Lin Xiao."
Lin Xiao obediently took the gift and handed it to Bi Xi.
Bi Xi hurriedly accepted it.
"This is a thousand-year-old ginseng. Minister Li's old father has passed away, and his old mother's health is not good. Give this to Minister Li's mother for her to recuperate well."
Ye Qingcheng opened the box and glanced at it. Indeed, it was a thousand-year-old ginseng of excellent quality. Good heavens, such a good item was hidden away, not shown to her. Were they afraid she would see it and sell it!
Ye Qingcheng looked up, about to say something to Xiao Wangye, when she saw Xiao Wangye being pushed away by Lin Xiao.
Ye Qingcheng pouted, thinking he was lucky to escape.
The carriage drove into the gates of Minister Li's mansion.
As soon as Ye Qingcheng got out of the carriage, she heard a mocking voice.
"Oh~ It's Her Highness the Consort."
Ye Qingcheng looked up and saw an unfamiliar young woman.
Bi Xi explained from the side, "This is the daughter of the Minister of Rites, Han Xuemei. She is the youngest in her family. It is said that she was raised by her grandmother since childhood, which is why she is so arrogant and willful. Many people in the capital have to indulge her."
Ye Qingcheng sized her up. She was still dressed in a bright red outfit, and the hair ornaments were exquisitely crafted.
"Has the Regent's Mansion gone broke? To have the Consort dress so shabbily!"
Ye Qingcheng was speechless and complained to Bi Xi, "I haven't provoked her, have I!" She was biting indiscriminately like a mad dog.
Bi Xi leaned closer to her and whispered, "Her family wouldn't dare offend the County Princess, and they are followers of the County Princess's daughter."
Ye Qingcheng understood. So, she was here to stand up for Su Luo.
Knowing the reason, Ye Qingcheng was no longer so good-tempered. The corners of her lips curved slightly, and she stepped forward to Han Xuemei.
At this moment, Minister Li had already come out to greet guests. The entrance was filled with carriages, and many people alighting from their carriages noticed the commotion here.
As others looked up at the scene, they saw Ye Qingcheng raise her hand and slap Han Xuemei across the face.
Everyone was surprised.
The slap was so loud that Ye Qingcheng's hand ached. Ye Qingcheng irritably shook her hand.
Han Xuemei was even more stunned. She covered her stinging face and roared, "Ahhh! How dare you hit me."
Ye Qingcheng snorted coldly, "Why can't I hit you? Let alone your disrespect to the Regent's Consort, you didn't even pay your respects when you saw me, and you carried yourself so arrogantly. Who gave you the courage?" Ye Qingcheng advanced towards her step by step.
Ye Qingcheng's aura was very strong. As she approached, Han Xuemei retreated continuously.
"Let me tell you today, even if I decide to punish you today, your parents are not capable of stopping me."
Han Xuemei had been flattered and indulged by everyone since she was young. Never before had she been so threatened and humiliated by Ye Qingcheng.
"You... you..."
Just then, a woman in magnificent attire stepped forward and quickly supported Han Xuemei. Seeing the slap mark on Han Xuemei's face, she felt heartbroken, but facing the Regent's Consort, she naturally dared not say anything.
"My wayward daughter, why don't you pay your respects to the Consort."
Han Xuemei covered her face, looking at her mother in disbelief, "Mother, she hit me."
The woman glared at her fiercely.
"If you don't want the other side of your face to also have a slap mark, hurry and pay your respects."
Han Xuemei was startled. Her eyes glared fiercely at Ye Qingcheng, and she reluctantly paid her respects, "Greetings, Regent's Consort."
Ye Qingcheng just watched her, not allowing her to rise. Han Xuemei could only remain bowed as she had not received the command to rise.
Just then, Minister Li came out to smooth things over.
"Oh, Consort, you've arrived. Please come in quickly."
Facing Minister Li, Ye Qingcheng naturally put on a smile, "Minister Li is too kind."
Minister Li was dressed in simple clothing. The Minister's wife, along with their son and daughter who came out to welcome her, were also all in simple white shirts and skirts.
Seeing that Ye Qingcheng was also dressed simply, he smiled even more warmly.
Ye Qingcheng was not stingy either. She let Bi Xi bring out the ginseng, "I heard the old madam of your household has not been feeling well recently, so I specially brought thousand-year-old ginseng from home for the old madam to recuperate."
Thousand-year-old ginseng was considered quite valuable. When Ye Qingcheng produced such a gift, the reactions of the onlookers varied.