Chapter 155 The Crown Prince's First Woman

Chu Yanluo found it hard to believe that he had just brushed the matter aside so casually.

A bloody scratch was left on the back of her hand, and it was still throbbing slightly. It was clearly Hua Yi who had deliberately scratched it, but Xiao Qingyuan turned a blind eye and let Hua Yi off the hook!

Chu Yanluo now deeply regrets leaving the Ning Prince's Mansion. Now that she has returned, she has lost all the advantages of timing, location, and popular support.

Now Xiao Qingyuan is the only one she can hold onto; she can't push him back to Huayi's side.

"It's time to rest."

As Chu Yanluo spoke, she stepped forward and tugged at Xiao Qingyuan's sleeve: "Qingyuan, it's been thundering and raining outside, it's a bit scary. I can't sleep alone, will you keep me company tonight?"

Xiao Qingyuan hesitated for a moment: "It's fine for me to accompany you, but aren't you afraid of being gossiped about? After all, we don't have any formal relationship right now, and I'm afraid it will make you feel wronged."

"As long as the prince is with me, I don't feel wronged. Even if people gossip about me, I'm willing to accept it. Anyway, I've never cared what they say. It's enough for me to be myself."

Touched, Xiao Qingyuan couldn't help but ask again, "Would you be willing to be my concubine? Don't worry, even if we're not in the same league in terms of status, I'll treat you like my wife in every other way!"

Chu Yanluo had already thought this through clearly during the days she waited for him—she couldn't continue living in the Ning Prince's mansion without any official status, otherwise she would easily be kicked out, and she wouldn't get any real benefits.

Most importantly, she wanted to fulfill the wish she hadn't been able to in her previous life: she wanted to give Xiao Qingyuan a son!

Without a formal title, Xiao Qingyuan would not touch her. Even if he did, the son she bore would only be an illegitimate child who could not be brought into the light of day.

Having a formal title makes all the difference. Even if she becomes his concubine, as long as she gives birth to a son, he will be the legitimate eldest son of the Prince Ning's mansion and will be able to inherit the entire mansion in the future!

So when Xiao Qingyuan brought up the matter of concubines again, Chu Yanluo no longer hesitated: "I am willing. As long as I can be with the young master for a long time, what's wrong with being his concubine? Titles are meaningless. I don't care about that. I only care about whether the young master will treat me well and whether he will be with me for life."

Xiao Qingyuan was surprised that she agreed so readily this time. He was both excited and happy as he grasped Chu Yanluo's hand: "Of course I will treat you well. I will never have another woman in the future. You are the only one for me!"

Chu Yanlu smiled at him: "That's it. As long as I have your words, I'm content."

Instead of tugging at Xiao Qingyuan's sleeve, she grasped his hand and said, "Your Highness, you are now my husband. We will never be apart again."

With red eyes, Xiao Qingyuan hugged her: "Yanluo, although you can't be my wife, you are more important to me than a wife. From now on, no one will be able to bully you anymore, no one!"

Chu Yanluo was held in his arms. She looked over his shoulder at Huayi standing behind him, her eyes filled with provocation and disdain.

In her past life, this woman was sold directly to Chichun Lane and became one of the lowest-class women.

Now, she actually dares to try to seduce Xiao Qingyuan; she's really courting death!

It's time to sell her back to Chichun Lane.

Hua Yi naturally saw the provocation and disdain in Chu Yanluo's eyes. Her face showed a humble and weak appearance, but she was uneasy and anxious. Chu Yanluo had returned too quickly. She hadn't even won the prince's favor yet, and Chu Yanluo had already come back to cause trouble.

This is very bad news for her!

The only person who can help her now is probably the Crown Princess. She has to cling tightly to the Crown Princess's leg so that she won't be kicked out of the Crown Prince's courtyard by Chu Yanluo.

Xiao Qingyuan had already led Chu Yanluo into the inner room, where two people could be heard whispering intermittently. Then, the sound became inaudible.

Huayi is not a clueless little girl. She is seventeen years old this year. Two years ago, when she was chosen by the princess to be sent to the prince as a concubine, the nannies had already taught her how to serve men.

Because the Crown Prince was inexperienced in such matters and was like a blank slate, the nannies taught her very carefully, so that they could guide him when he didn't know how to proceed.

But now it seems the nannies were overthinking it. Although the young master is inexperienced, he has spent a lot of time with experienced women like Yuan Zheng and frequented brothels like Wan Hua Lou and Wan Ye Lou. He knows everything he needs to know.

Hua Yi listened to the sounds inside and felt extremely uncomfortable, as if someone was cutting her heart with a knife, making even breathing extremely painful.

From the first day she entered the manor and met the prince, she fell in love with him. She knew that she was of lowly status and could never be the prince's wife, but she fantasized every day that she would become the prince's first woman.

But now, that illusion has been shattered.

She couldn't bear to listen anymore. She rushed into the heavy rain and ran crying to Wutong Garden.

Qin Xin was taken aback when she saw Hua Yi running over without even taking an umbrella: "Hua Yi, what's wrong? What happened?"

Huayi's tears mingled with the rain, dripping down her chin: "Sister Qinxin, the Prince... he..."

"What's wrong, Your Highness? Tell me quickly!"

"The young master is going to take Chu Yanluo as a concubine. They have already... already... slept together."

Qin Xin didn't notice Hua Yi's unusual mood. She thought Hua Yi was in a hurry to report the news, so she ignored Hua Yi and turned to go into the inner room to report the news to Shen Wantang.

"Princess Consort, Huayi comes to say that the Prince wants to take Chu Yanluo as a concubine, and they have already done it."

Shen Wantang paused slightly as she turned the pages of her book, then continued turning them: "Alright, I understand. Let Huayi keep an eye on things. Tell her to serve the young master well, and I will promote her."

"yes."

Qin Xin responded and then left.

While trimming the candle wick, Du Juan complained in a low voice, "Princess Consort, the Prince is really outrageous. He just consummated his marriage with you, and he's already in a hurry to bring Chu Yanluo back and even wants to take her as a concubine. Isn't he deliberately trying to embarrass you? Anyone who doesn't know the situation would think that you and the Prince made some kind of deal, which is why he agreed to consummate your marriage."

Shen Wantang didn't react much. This whole thing did seem like she had made a deal with Xiao Qingyuan. He offered to consummate their marriage in exchange for her agreeing to let him bring Chu Yanluo back to the palace and for Chu Yanluo to become his concubine.

Because she was his trusted maid, Shen Wantang did not hide anything from her: "The prince and I have not consummated our marriage, so there was no transaction between us."