The scene stunned everyone. The dignified Regent's Consort kneeling for a mere sentence – if this got out, wouldn't it become a laughingstock, with rumors spreading about how they had pressured her?
The Duchess of England was even more terrified. "Oh dear, Consort, whatever are you doing! It was just a joke, why take it so seriously?"
Ye Qingcheng looked at the Duchess of England with a smile. "Madam, that statement is incorrect. The words were not yours, so I wonder if the County Princess spoke truthfully or merely as a... joke."
The Duchess of England hadn't expected Ye Qingcheng to be so troublesome. She had been given a way out, yet insisted on making things so awkward. Now, it was even harder to resolve.
The County Princess pointed at Ye Qingcheng, agitated, the hairpin on her head clinking. She couldn't utter a word. "You… you…"
The Duchess of England's eyes darted, and she quickly supported the County Princess. "Oh dear! County Princess! Be careful, don't lose your senses." In that instant, their eyes met, and the County Princess immediately understood.
Thus, the County Princess, who had been trembling with anger moments ago, rolled her eyes and fainted.
The Duchess of England looked astonished and cried out, "Someone, quickly! The County Princess has fainted, hurry and summon an imperial physician!"
Chaos ensued among the onlookers.
Su Luo quickly got up to check on her mother. "Mother."
Ye Qingcheng raised her eyes to look. Even from a distance, she could clearly see the County Princess's rolling eyeballs.
Ye Qingcheng rolled her eyes in exasperation. Such clumsy acting, such obvious feigning of unconsciousness, and no one could see through it. These people's intelligence was truly worrying!
Hmph! If they could feign fainting, why couldn't Ye Qingcheng?
Ye Qingcheng hunched over, dabbing sweat from her face, and cried out, "Ah~ the weather is too hot, I've gotten heatstroke, ah~ I'm fainting."
Ye Qingcheng fainted as she said it, collapsing directly onto the ground. Bi Xi immediately understood and rushed forward to shout, "The Regent's Consort has fainted, someone, quickly! Someone!"
The Duchess of England, as the host, was in a complete muddle, unsure of what to do.
The Duchess of England looked at Ye Qingcheng with a sense of helplessness.
Their fainting was meant to resolve an awkward situation, but why was Ye Qingcheng fainting!
At this moment, Xiao Wangye intervened.
"The Consort is feeling unwell and fainted at the polo match hosted by the Duke of England's manor. I will take the Consort back to our residence to care for her. " He then glanced at the County Princess. "In my opinion, the County Princess's health is fluctuating, and there may be dire news. Quickly summon an imperial physician to examine her. Lin Xiao, let's go."
The Duchess of England tried to stop them. "Well, I… I see the Consort is also quite injured, she fainted directly. Why don't we both summon imperial physicians to examine her?"
Xiao Wangye refused. "There's no need. We have a resident imperial physician at our manor. Duchess, we bid you farewell."
"Alas…" The Duchess of England could only watch them leave.
"Duchess, Su Luo also bids farewell to the Duchess."
The Duchess of England quickly turned to stop Su Luo. She had organized this polo match hoping for Su Luo to meet her son. Now, not only had they not met, but she had offended both families. She didn't know if they would ever become one family.
"Oh dear, Niece Su, you are too kind. I have already sent for an imperial physician, who will arrive shortly. I imagine your mother has also suffered from a rush of blood to the head. Please rest in the wind tent for a while."
Su Luo shook her head and refused. "No, I think it's best for Mother to rest at home after fainting this time. Madam, we will take our leave."
The Duchess originally wanted to keep her, but Su Luo no longer wished to listen and turned to leave.
Inside the Regent's manor carriage, Xiao Wangye adjusted his sleeves and cleared his throat. "Alright, no need to pretend anymore, you can get up now!"
Ye Qingcheng ignored him and simply turned over, continuing to lie down. "I woke up too early this morning, my back and legs ache. Once I lie down, I don't want to get up."
Xiao Wangye snorted coldly. "You've made quite a name for yourself today, congratulations!"
Upon hearing this, Ye Qingcheng opened her eyes and suddenly sat up. "It was clearly they who were in the wrong first, and then they spoke to me in public. Who am I? I am the Regent's Consort! What right do they have to speak to me, to accuse me? A County Princess, a Duchess, and another with no title, petty and narrow-minded. I should curb their arrogance and show them their place, stop them from holding their heads so high, their eyes looking up to the heavens."
Xiao Wangye said nothing, nor did he deny it.
The more Ye Qingcheng thought about it, the angrier she became. "Sigh! They even want to suppress me with the authority of elders. Pfft! What elders are they? They just think I'm easy to bully. Your temper is known, so naturally, they wouldn't dare to touch you, but they come for me instead. They thought I was easy to handle, what are they? A bunch of bullies who pick on the weak."
When she had vented enough, Xiao Wangye explained softly, "The Duchess of England organized this polo match to arrange a marriage between the County Princess and her son."
"Oh?" Ye Qingcheng was unaware of this. No wonder the Duchess had been speaking up for the County Princess earlier; she was helping her future in-laws.
At this moment, Ye Qingcheng's gossipy side emerged!
"Then why invite so many people? Shouldn't the parents just settle it and send the betrothal gifts directly?"
Xiao Wangye explained, "You think too simply. Although it's said to be parents' orders and intermediaries, it mainly depends on whether the young couple can take a liking to each other. If they do, then they proceed to the next step, exchanging birth dates to see if they are compatible."
"Meeting privately can still affect one's reputation. It's fine for the man, but for a woman, if it gets out, her reputation for life is ruined."
Ye Qingcheng nodded. "Oh!" Now she understood.
Wait, that meant she ruined a matchmaking session?
Good heavens, as the elders say, it's better to demolish a bridge than to ruin someone's marriage. Wouldn't these two families hate her now?
Indeed, Xiao Wangye said with an understanding expression, "Congratulations, you've gained enemies."
Ye Qingcheng simply lay back. "That's not funny, thank you."
Just then, Ye Qingcheng heard the sound of tea being poured. Xiao Wangye said leisurely, "Don't worry. This match didn't work out. If they don't want to give up, there will naturally be other banquets."
"Ah~!" Ye Qingcheng lay down as if dead. "That means I'll have to go again."
Xiao Wangye pondered. "This time, you can probably rest easy. They likely won't invite you again."
Ye Qingcheng flipped over and muttered, "I hope so."
Silence fell in the carriage for a moment. Recalling everything that had happened today, if Xiao Wangye hadn't been supporting her from behind, projecting a silent pressure that told everyone she was the Regent's Consort.
Ye Qingcheng asked herself, if not for Xiao Wangye's trust, those people would likely still be relentlessly pursuing her.
She owed Xiao Wangye a word of thanks.
"Xiao Wangye."
Xiao Wangye turned to look at her. "Yes! I'm here."
Ye Qingcheng took a deep breath. "Thank you for today."
She didn't hear Xiao Wangye's reply, but she did hear his soft laughter.