"We were just following Commander Pei's… uh… Officer Pei's orders to apprehend a burglar, when we accidentally startled this young lady's horse… and she asked us to apologize."
Ye Qingcheng nodded, "Oh~" then turned to Han Xuemei, "Are you injured."
Han Xuemei nodded, then revealed the wound on her hand.
This made the other young ladies curious. Seeing Han Xuemei extend her middle finger, they gathered around to look.
Then they exchanged glances.
In unison, they asked, "Where is it?"
Ye Qingcheng looked at the young lady. She recognized her as Sheng Yiran, a talented woman from the capital.
The two exchanged a look and immediately felt a sense of awkwardness.
Clearly, Han Xuemei hadn't noticed the tension between them. She pointed to a tiny wound and exclaimed, "Here! Right here, can't you see it?"
Ye Qingcheng was the first to snap back to reality. Looking at the wound that wasn't even bleeding, she exclaimed, "Wow! Hurry and call the imperial physician, it'll heal if he doesn't come soon."
Sheng Yiran chuckled.
Han Xuemei heard the mockery in their voices, and her tone grew irritable, "It's clearly very serious!"
Ye Qingcheng retorted, "And is this your excuse for stopping your carriage here all this time? Do you know there's a long line of traffic behind you?"
Han Xuemei was also fired up. Without thinking, she blurted out, "Aren't I making them apologize? If they say something nice, I'll naturally leave."
Ye Qingcheng was speechless, "Are you being this melodramatic? They just stopped your carriage, no substantial harm was done. Is it necessary to be so unforgiving?"
Han Xuemei's mouth was also sharp, "Is the wound on my finger not a wound?"
Cheng Yiran also said helplessly, "That's a wound?"
Han Xuemei was somewhat cautious around Ye Qingcheng, but it was different when facing Sheng Yiran.
"Sheng Yiran, you'd better shut up. This is none of your business."
Ye Qingcheng's temper wouldn't tolerate this. "Say that again, and I'll slap you."
Han Xuemei trembled all over and said nothing.
Ye Qingcheng continued, "Tell them to apologize." Then she looked at the constables, "Did you apologize?"
The constables nodded, "We were busy chasing the suspect and apologized at the time, but Miss Han wouldn't let us leave and let the culprit escape."
Ye Qingcheng was exasperated, "Since they already apologized, why didn't you let them leave?"
Han Xuemei looked at them, feeling very annoyed, "Is that what you call an apology? Saying sorry and then leaving? Is that an attitude of apology?"
Cheng Yiran said, "That was understandable given the circumstances."
Han Xuemei looked at Cheng Yiran and wanted to retort, but thinking of Ye Qingcheng's threat just now, she dared not criticize her.
Ye Qingcheng said helplessly, "Han Xuemei, since they have apologized to you, but because of your obstruction, they lost the culprit, can we just let this matter go?"
"No," Han Xuemei refused resolutely, "I'm not happy now, so I want them to kneel and apologize."
At these words, Ye Qingcheng was completely stunned.
The man in the lead refused first, "Impossible. A man kneels to heaven, earth, and his parents, but never to you."
Han Xuemei's temper flared, "Who do you think you are? I feel disgusted just giving you a meal. You're just a mere constable, and it would be easy for me to ruin you."
Ye Qingcheng knew Han Xuemei had been pampered since childhood, but she hadn't expected her to say something like this, which surprised her.
"Han Xuemei, when you can afford to be magnanimous, be magnanimous. Be careful that your troubles don't bring disaster upon your entire family."
Han Xuemei might fear Ye Qingcheng, but the fighting spirit that had just ignited wouldn't allow her to back down now. "Ye Qingcheng, who do you think you are? Do you think your position as Princess Consort is secure?"
Hearing this, Madam Han was a little surprised. Seeing Ye Qingcheng's displeased expression, she quickly tugged at her daughter's sleeve.
But Han Xuemei was getting more and more worked up and wasn't listening to Madam Han.
Ye Qingcheng had bullied, scolded, and threatened her repeatedly. She had been pampered since childhood and had never suffered such humiliation.
Ignoring Madam Han's attempts to stop her, Han Xuemei continued, "Which noble family in the capital doesn't know you're a substitute for Murong Yun? They don't know that the Regent King divorced you that day and married Murong Yun. You won't even have anywhere to cry to..."
"Slap!"
Han Xuemei was slapped.
It was Madam Han who slapped her.
Han Xuemei covered her cheek, looking incredulously, "Mother, why did you hit me? You've never hit me since I was little."
The more she thought about it, the more wronged she felt, and tears streamed down her face. She hadn't cried when Ye Qingcheng hit her, but now her own mother had hit her.
She hadn't cried when Ye Qingcheng hit her because her inherent pride wouldn't allow it, but… why did her mother have to hit her too?
Han Xuemei turned to run, but stopped as she turned.
Everyone followed her gaze. It was… the Regent King, Xiao Wangye.
Everyone quickly bowed, "Greetings, Regent King."
The constables were also surprised. It was the Regent King.
Then they also bowed, "Greetings, Regent King."
Lin Xiao pushed Xiao Wangye slowly towards Han Xuemei.
At this moment, Han Xuemei felt a chill rising from the ground, pressing down on her, making it hard to breathe. She began to tremble all over.
"I heard you know why I married my Princess Consort? Tell me about it."
Han Xuemei immediately knelt, "Your Highness, forgive me. It is… it is this maiden's fault. I hope Your Highness will overlook it." httpδ:/m.kuAisugg.nět
Xiao Wangye's hand tapped the armrest of his wheelchair, "Oh? Then tell me, what is your fault?"
Han Xuemei was frightened. She buried her head even lower, stammering, "I… I…"
Xiao Wangye didn't have much patience, "Do you need me to help you remember?"
Han Xuemei immediately confessed, "This maiden, this maiden should not have insulted the Princess Consort."
Xiao Wangye's voice was deep and somber, like an ice sculpture piercing the heart, "Anything else."
Han Xuemei continued, "This maiden, this maiden should not have spread rumors about you and the Princess Consort."
Xiao Wangye nodded, "Continue."
"This maiden… this maiden should not have obstructed the constables from catching the suspect."
Xiao Wangye looked down at her, his eyes extremely indifferent, "So you still know? Then let's talk about how you obstructed the constables, allowing the culprit to escape. That means in the future, more people will suffer. So tell me, what kind of punishment should such a thing receive?"
Madam Han smiled slightly, "This trivial matter, let Xue'er apologize…"
"Madam Han." Before she could finish speaking, Xiao Wangye interrupted her, "I respect you as an elder, which is why I am somewhat polite. However, I did not ask you to speak. You had best remain silent."
Madam Han dared not speak.
Xiao Wangye continued to look at Han Xuemei, "You say."
Han Xuemei had never considered what punishment she might receive, so she followed Madam Han's words, "Then… this maiden will apologize to them!"
Xiao Wangye remained silent, but his gaze was fixed on her, "Since you can't make a decision, I will make it for you. Lin Xiao."
"Your subordinate is here."
Xiao Wangye's eyes were deep, "Drag Han Xuemei into the prison and administer twenty heavy lashes, to set an example."
Madam Han felt as if she were facing a formidable enemy at that moment, and quickly knelt to beg for mercy, "Your Highness, they are just constables, Your Highness."
Ye Qingcheng whispered to Sheng Yiran, "See, if the blow doesn't land on you, it never hurts."