"This child!" The Grand Princess was taken aback for a moment, then shook her head with a chuckle. "She's already grown up, but still as naughty as a monkey. She doesn't take her own marriage seriously at all."
The maid beside her smiled and said, "Your Highness, you're the one who raised Princess Jingyang to be like this. Why are you complaining about her now?"
"Yes," at this, the Grand Princess also recalled the first time she saw Ji Qingshu. "At that time, she was just a poor little thing who had just lost her birth mother and only knew how to cry on the ground. She was so small and ate so little. I was afraid she would starve to death at any time. Who would have thought that time would pass so quickly and Jingyang has grown up so much..."
"Yes. Once Princess Jingyang's marriage is settled, it will be a weight off Your Highness's mind."
"Alright, it's almost time. Everyone should be here by now. Let's go out."
The maid supported the Grand Princess and they walked out of the room. "Your Highness, just now I sent someone to check. There are quite a few young and promising aristocratic sons here today. There must be someone the Princess likes."
The Grand Princess smiled. "Let's hope so."
Just a short while after Shen Qing and the others arrived, the Grand Princess came out.
Everyone bowed in unison. "May the Grand Princess enjoy eternal prosperity and boundless happiness!"
The Grand Princess stood on the high platform, smiling. "Get up, everyone. Today is a good day. I didn't call you here to restrain you. Since you're here, have a good time. If you find someone you like, feel free to tell me. I'll personally arrange your marriage!"
"Thank you, Grand Princess!"
Everyone was overjoyed, especially some young ladies who already had someone they liked. They couldn't even help blushing. Their mothers wouldn't restrain them today, and they were already thinking about what to do with their sweethearts later.
This racecourse was built under the supervision of the Grand Princess's late husband when he was still alive. Hearing that the Grand Princess liked to have fun, he built it for her personally. It had all kinds of entertainment facilities and was envied by many people at that time.
Even though the Grand Princess's husband had passed away for many years, she still often came here to stay for a while. They were able to come here this year to broaden their horizons thanks to Princess Jingyang.
Just as everyone got up to express their gratitude, a loud announcement came from behind:
"His Majesty the Emperor has arrived!"
"Her Royal Highness the Noble Consort has arrived!"
Everyone was shocked. Without having time to think about why the Emperor would be here, they quickly made way and knelt down.
"Long live the Emperor! Long live! Long live!"
"Greetings to Her Royal Highness the Noble Consort!"
Ji Junye and the Noble Consort walked onto the high platform one after another. The Grand Princess was about to bow, but Ji Junye stopped her.
"Today is Jingyang's good day. I'm just here to take a look. Auntie, don't stand on ceremony."
The Grand Princess was the first person to support Ji Junye after he ascended the throne. Otherwise, with the royal family almost extinct, as the younger sister of the late emperor, she wouldn't have received such special honors.
The Noble Consort also said with a charming smile, "Yes, today is Jingyang's good day. When His Majesty heard that Auntie was going to choose a husband for Jingyang, he rushed here from the palace."
Shen Qing was kneeling on the ground. She watched as the boots embroidered with cloud and golden dragon patterns walked past her mercilessly. The two figures standing side by side on the high platform made her feel inexplicably uncomfortable under the sun.
Ji Junye was still wearing a black robe today, with dragon patterns embroidered on the collar and cuffs. His expression was cold. Standing on the high platform, he was as tall as a god looking down on all sentient beings.
The Noble Consort was wearing a bright red palace dress embroidered with large patterns of phoenixes flying through peonies, looking extremely noble and elegant.
Shen Qing heard some whispers around her.
"The pattern of phoenixes flying through peonies is only for the empress. It seems that the Noble Consort is truly in the Emperor's favor."
"His Majesty is as handsome as a god, and the Noble Consort is so noble and elegant. They're really a perfect match."
"Indeed. The Noble Consort is the only one in the harem who has the Emperor's exclusive favor. If she hadn't been childless, she might have already become the empress."
"Alright, stop talking. How can we guess the Emperor's thoughts?"
An older lady whispered a warning, and the two who were talking fell silent.
For some reason, listening to these remarks and looking at the two figures on the high platform, Shen Qing felt a bit irritated.
Shen Qing was so lost in thought that she didn't even hear Ji Junye's order to get up. Everyone had already stood up, but she was still kneeling there.
It wasn't until Xu Yanchi pulled her that she came to her senses. "Why are you still kneeling?"
Shen Qing then reacted. She gently withdrew her sleeve. "Thank you, Marquis, for the reminder."
Just as she was about to stand up, Ji Junye's voice came from the high platform.
"Madam Guangping Marquis has been kneeling. Do you have any dissatisfaction with me?"
As soon as these words were spoken, everyone's eyes immediately turned to Shen Qing.
Before Shen Qing could stand up, she knelt back down again. She cursed Ji Junye in her heart.
Ji Junye had seen her as soon as he came. He didn't expect that after she only glanced at him, she lowered her head and didn't know what she was doing. She was also pulling and tugging with Xu Yanchi.
Shen Qing took a deep breath. "I wouldn't dare, Your Majesty. It's just that the sun is a bit too strong today. I felt a bit unwell, so I was a bit slow."
"So it's because the sun is a bit too strong." Ji Junye looked up at the outside.
The banquet was surely set up under a canopy, but it was still July, and the heat hadn't subsided. Even with the canopy, some female guests couldn't bear it.
Others didn't know the tension between the two. They all held their breaths for Shen Qing. They knew that the last person who made the Emperor speak in such a cold tone already had grass taller than a person on their grave.
But the next second, everyone heard the person on the main seat say, "Then... move all the seats for the female guests to a shady place."
"Get up. Don't let people think I'm deliberately making things difficult for you."
Shen Qing thanked him and stood up. She thought to herself, Isn't it exactly making things difficult for me by talking to me like this in public?
If those who had seen Ji Junye angry heard what Shen Qing was thinking, they would probably cry their hearts out.
What had the Emperor said before?
If you want to kneel, then kneel. When you die, I'll send someone to collect your body!
Making things difficult for you? A useless person like you isn't even worthy of making me deliberately make things difficult for you. If you think I'm making things difficult for you, then just smash your head against the wall and die. After you're dead, I definitely won't make things difficult for you anymore.
It was a pity that they didn't know and would never know.
The seats for male and female guests were separated but not too far apart. As soon as Ji Junye gave the order, the seats for the female guests were quickly moved to a shady place. The originally orderly seats were suddenly in disarray.
But it didn't matter. Not many people came to this kind of banquet for the food.
Shen Qing's new seat was just under a big tree. The tree was quite old, with a large canopy. It was completely shaded, and the view was also very good.
Shen Qing walked to her seat and sat down. As soon as she sat down, Jiang Chan leaned over and asked, "Sister, why did the Emperor talk to you just now?"
"I don't know either. How can we guess the Emperor's thoughts?"
Shen Qing glanced at her indifferently. "I don't have a younger sister, and I'm not used to being called sister. Please call me Madam from now on, Side Concubine."
"Yes." Jiang Chan failed to get closer to Shen Qing and had to sit back down awkwardly.