Chapter 121 Are you going to serve the Crown Prince?

With such a large sum of gold, it would be impossible for the people in charge of registering and recording it at the Duke's mansion to miss it.

The only possibility is that Gu Qianhan deliberately prevented them from remembering it.

Shen Wantang looked at Princess Ning: "Mother, what do you think of this..."

Princess Ning was also surprised: "That boy doesn't seem like such a careless person. He even forgot to record a thousand taels of gold."

Shen Wantang thought of a possibility: "Could it be that this is a special compensation because they stole Miss Chu?"

"That's possible."

Princess Ning nodded: "It seems he really likes Chu Yanluo. He spent a fortune on her at Qingyun Tower before, and this time he gave the Prince's Mansion another thousand taels of gold for her. I wonder what he sees in her? Is it just because she's beautiful?"

Shen Wantang couldn't answer this question either. To each their own. Sometimes you don't need a reason to like someone, but you do need a reason to dislike someone.

However, she also felt that Gu Qianhan really liked Chu Yanluo. He seemed a bit cold on the surface, but in reality, he was very willing to spend money, no, gold, on the person he loved.

Granny Chai quickly had someone carry the thousand taels of gold into the flower hall.

Shen Wantang opened the box and was almost blinded by the glittering gold inside.

She raised her hand and gently stroked the neatly stacked gold ingots, then turned to ask Princess Ning, "Mother, should we give this gold to the Heir Apparent?" After all, with Chu Yanluo being robbed, he seemed to be the one who suffered the greatest loss.

"What should I give it to him for?"

"The young master seemed quite saddened by Miss Chu's departure."

"And what about you? Yuan'er has always revolved around Chu Yanluo, living and dying for her, and deliberately ignoring you for her sake. Aren't you heartbroken?"

"I... am heartbroken."

"Then this thousand taels of gold is yours. You've suffered the most injustice in the entire Prince's mansion. Regardless of who Gu Qianhan compensates with this gold, you should keep it!"

Princess Ning stood up and lovingly straightened Shen Wantang's slightly wrinkled sleeves: "Everyone says that Chu Yanluo is a beauty, but I think our Princess Ning is the most beautiful one. Now that Chu Yanluo is gone, there is no one in the manor who can seduce Yuan'er anymore. Spend more time with him and try to help me hold my grandson soon, okay?"

Shen Wantang lowered her head, a shy expression on her face: "Mother is right, your daughter-in-law will spend more time with the young master."

Princess Ning smiled and left with her maid.

After she left, the shyness on Shen Wantang's face disappeared instantly. She pondered for a moment and instructed Granny Chai, "Have the young master come to my courtyard tonight. Tell him I have something very important to discuss with him."

"yes."

Shen Wantang looked down at the glittering gold and a smile appeared on her face.

No wonder Chu Yanluo accepted Gu Qianhan's gold at Qingyun Tower that day; it's hard not to be tempted by so many gold ingots laid out before you!

However, I later heard that Chu Yanluo returned the gold. I wonder if this is the same box she gave back to Gu Qianhan.

If Chu Yanluo knew that the gold she returned had been delivered here, would she faint from anger?

A day passed quickly.

In the evening, Shen Wantang took her usual stroll in the garden.

Mu Ge waited for her on her usual route. Upon seeing her, she immediately stepped forward and bowed respectfully, saying, "Mu Ge greets the Crown Princess."

Shen Wantang looked at her outfit, which was exactly the same as Chu Yanluo's, and knew what she was up to. Although Mu Ge said everywhere that she wore white clothes and used white ribbons to mourn her parents, in fact, mourning only requires wearing plain clothes, and very few people would wear white clothes all the time.

She looked at Mu Ge calmly and asked, "Miss Mu, is there something you need?"

Mu Ge presented a sachet with both hands: "I am deeply grateful for the Crown Princess's kindness in taking me in. I am not very skilled in any other crafts, except for needlework, which I am somewhat proficient in. So I specially made this sachet for the Crown Princess, and I hope that the Crown Princess will not find it offensive."

Shen Wantang looked at the sachet. It had a sky-blue background and was made of ordinary material, but the pink peonies and pale yellow butterflies embroidered on it were incredibly lifelike. The butterflies looked as if they were about to fly off the fabric at any moment.

Her needlework skills weren't just superficially proficient; they were the result of great talent and diligent practice.

Shen Wantang had Qin Xin put away the sachet, and then said, "Your needlework is quite good."

Mu Ge was filled with excitement: "Thank you for your praise, Your Highness. If Your Highness appreciates my skills, I will make more things for you in the future. What does Your Highness like? I can also make handkerchiefs and shoes!"

Shen Wantang said calmly, "There's no need for you to go to so much trouble. Miss Mu is a guest, so please rest."

She said that to me, and then left with her maids.

Mu Ge stood there dejectedly, watching Shen Wantang leave surrounded by admirers. She bit her lip and walked towards Xinghe Courtyard.

Qin Xin watched the direction Mu Ge left without showing any emotion, and whispered to Shen Wantang, "Princess Consort, Mu Ge went to find the Prince."

Shen Wantang didn't even lift her eyelids: "Let her be."

Qin Xin said worriedly, "Shouldn't we stop her? The young master is probably feeling vulnerable right now, and that Mu Ge might take advantage of that."

Shen Wantang said softly, "You can stop him for a while, but not forever. Everything depends on the young master's own wishes. The future is long. Even if there is no Mu Ge, there will be someone else."

Very few men do not take concubines. Even a noble woman like Princess Ning has to share her husband with other women. Even though Prince Ning respects Princess Ning very much and has not even taken a concubine, he still has several concubines.

However, Princess Ning possessed ruthless methods and was protected by her husband, so none of her concubines had children, which allowed the Ning Prince's mansion to remain much more peaceful.

"Princess Consort, are you suggesting that Mu Ge be promoted? That the Prince take her as a concubine?"

"Why would I promote her? I don't know her background, she might even have ulterior motives, she's not trustworthy. If I were to promote someone, I would naturally promote one of you first, why would I promote someone from outside?"

As Shen Wantang spoke, she looked at Qin Xin, a slight smile in her eyes: "Do you want to serve the Crown Prince? If you're willing, I can..."

Qin Xin was startled: "This servant refuses!"

"Don't panic, I'm not testing you, I'm asking seriously."

As Shen Wantang spoke, she looked at the other maids.

Today, the four maids who accompanied her on the walk were given to her by the Princess Consort of Ning. Qin Xin was usually the most clever and talkative. Of the other three, Qi Yu was calm and composed, spoke little but was very perceptive, and was scholarly but not particularly beautiful. However, she was literate and could read accounts, so Shen Wantang would ask her to help with things like organizing the account books.

The last one, Huayi, is the most beautiful of the four maids.

She had snow-white skin, expressive eyes, cherry lips, a delicate nose, and exquisitely beautiful features.