Chapter 18 Princess

——Princess Mansion——

Xu Qingyan and Pei Jinyu each took the Duke's wife's wrist and smiled as they got off the carriage that was carved with exquisite patterns, while Xu Qingyue got off an ordinary two-wheeled carriage with the people from the second house of the Duke's Mansion.

"Hmph! Let's see how you can laugh later!" Xu Qingyue glanced at Xu Qingyan jealously and muttered softly.

She had made sufficient preparations for today's banquet. Since Xu Qingyan, a concubine's daughter, dared to covet things that did not belong to her, she must bear the corresponding price.

Walking into the princess's mansion, there was laughter and joy inside, and it was very lively. The banquet held today was the birthday banquet for Anyang Marquis' mother.

Anyang Hou was originally a small guard, but the princess later discovered his martial arts prowess and recommended him to the emperor, who was still a prince at the time. He made countless military exploits on the battlefield, and after the emperor ascended the throne, he made an exception and conferred him the title of Marquis of a different surname. It can be said that no one in the Great Xia Dynasty could match him.

"Is that Young Master Pei's new wife? She's pretty, but I heard she's just the daughter of a sixth-rank official, and a concubine's daughter!"

As soon as Xu Qingyan and the Duke's wife entered the banquet hall, she heard people talking about her in the crowd.

"I don't think she could have attracted the young master if she didn't have such a seductive face!"

"I heard that when the young master found out that she had snatched his elder sister's marriage, not only was he not angry, he even had sex with her."

"Ah, how could the young master be such a superficial person? This concubine's daughter of a sixth-rank official is not worthy of the young master. When he found out that this concubine was trying to steal the marriage, he should have demoted her to a concubine!"

"Otherwise, why do you say she is very resourceful? I heard that not only did the young master not blame her, but he also helped her bully her elder sister. To be honest, the most pitiful one is her elder sister."

There were more and more slanders against Xu Qingyan, and even the Duke's wife and Pei Jinyu standing by could no longer bear it. They glanced at Xu Qingyan, fearing that she would be sad, and were about to teach those women a lesson.

But what they didn't expect was that Xu Qingyan had already taken a step ahead of them and walked towards the group of women.

"You... are jealous of me?" Xu Qingyan said with a smile as she stood in front of the group of women.

"What nonsense are you talking about?" One of the women looked at Xu Qingyan in surprise. She seemed not to have expected Xu Qingyan to ask this.

Xu Qingyue, who was standing in the crowd at this time, was looking at them with gloating, thinking: Fortunately, someone spread those words in advance. Now everyone thinks that it was Xu Qingyan who stole the marriage, and her reputation is ruined. Today, she did not avoid the limelight, and took the initiative to provoke the noble ladies. This is simply a cocoon for herself.

"I mean you all got together just to be jealous of me." Xu Qingyan repeated to them very clearly.

The woman sneered and said, "We are jealous of you? I'm afraid you are just wishful thinking. What do you have that is worthy of our jealousy?"

"Of course... You are jealous that I, a concubine's daughter of a sixth-rank official, can marry the young master! And he doesn't even look at you, the legitimate daughters of noble families." Xu Qingyan curled her lips and smiled, raising her chin.

She knew that although Pei Jingchuan was a short-lived prince in the book and many people were unwilling to marry him, that was only because their parents disagreed, and there were many young ladies from noble families who admired Pei Jingchuan.

Sure enough, Xu Qingyan's words seemed to have hit the nail on the head. The faces of several noble ladies instantly became extremely ugly, but some of them even became excited.

"Humph! You are shameless. You stole my elder sister's marriage and used tricks to seduce the young master. This shameless behavior makes us despise you!"

"That's right! When you are old and ugly, do you think the young master will still want you?"

Xu Qingyan replied calmly, "I don't know what will happen in the future. But now... the young master and I are in love, but you unmarried ladies are here to gossip about us. If you are like this before you even get married, which rich family would dare to marry you!"

Xu Qingyan glanced at the noble ladies and continued, "Anyway, I'm already married, and as for you, now that your reputation as a gossip has spread, you should worry about yourselves!"

The noble ladies realized it later. Yes! If they were exposed for gossiping, it would damage their reputation. The timid women were so scared that they dared not speak.

They were originally jealous that Xu Qingyan could marry the handsome and elegant Young Master Pei, which was why they were so indignant and gossiping about her, but they didn't expect that it would ruin themselves.

At this time, they saw people around looking at them, and they were all ashamed and hid in the crowd.

"Tsk... Do you think you'll be fine if you hide? In this future, each of you will be more miserable than the other." Xu Qingyan stood aside, gloating in a low voice.

Xu Qingyan looked at the backs of the noble ladies and said with emotion: [Hey! The one in blue and purple, you will marry the second son of the Minister of Rites. But your husband is a man, not only is he a widow, but he also let me sleep with you to cover up his own affairs! Look at that woman in green, she was originally going to marry the prince as a concubine, but the eldest sister was jealous and designed her to lose her virginity and contract syphilis! Let me think about that one...]

The Duke's wife and Pei Jinyu, who were originally a little angry, couldn't help but sigh after hearing Xu Qingyan's complaints: "This evil man will be punished by his own evil!"

"Come, Qingyan, I'll take you to see the princess!" After Xu Qingyan came back, the Duke's wife enthusiastically took her hand to see the princess.

The princess was wearing a bright red palace dress. When she saw the Duke's wife, she immediately walked over with a smile, hugged her, and said, "Jingshu, I haven't seen you for a long time. I miss you so much!"

"Princess, I miss you very much too." The Duchess said to the princess with a smile.

Afterwards, the Duke's wife pulled Xu Qingyan over and said to her, "Qingyan, come and meet the princess! Princess, this is my daughter-in-law Xu Qingyan, she's a good girl."

"Qingyan greets the princess." Xu Qingyan bowed to the princess.

"Jingshu, it seems that you are very satisfied with this daughter-in-law! But for a woman that you like, I think this is enough. Come, bring the things I prepared." The princess looked at Xu Qingyan kindly and said.

When Xu Qingyan heard about the princess's reward, she bowed to the princess and thanked her, and said with emotion: "Qingyan, thank you for the princess' reward."

[Wow! The princess is so nice! She doesn't even look down on my background and gives me a gift as soon as we meet. Woohoo... It would be a pity if such a nice princess died!] Xu Qingyan sighed in her heart.

After hearing Xu Qingyan's voice, the Duke's wife said excitedly: "Yes, the princess is so good. So, Qingyan, please tell me what danger the princess will be in later and how to save her!"