Chapter 164 Shen Wantang is that virtuous wife

Xiao Qingyuan's face instantly darkened: "I'm talking to the Crown Princess, what right do you have to interrupt? So what if Yanluo is a concubine? She is well-read, talented, and very knowledgeable. What's wrong with asking her for advice?"

Qin Xin really wanted to roll her eyes at him again, but in the end she didn't dare to do so. If she completely angered Xiao Qingyuan, she was afraid she would be beaten to death.

"Also, you're not allowed to call Yanluo 'Auntie'! I don't like hearing those two words!"

Qin Xin bit her lip and remained silent.

Chu Yanluo was originally a concubine, so what else should she be called but Aunt? Should she still be called Miss Chu as before? Or Madam Chu? Does she deserve that?

The Crown Prince's wife probably knew that the Crown Prince was sensitive about this, so she never called her Aunt Chu, and now she just calls her Madam Chu.

The Crown Prince's wife gave him plenty of face, but he was still not satisfied. He came to his wife early in the morning to praise his concubine and even told his wife to learn from her. He was really quite ill!

No wonder the Crown Princess doesn't take him seriously; he deserves it!

Just then, the chief steward of the Prince's mansion hurriedly walked in.

The head steward was slightly surprised to see Xiao Qingyuan there, but he didn't say much. He simply bowed and greeted him before looking at Shen Wantang.

"Your Highness, there is an emergency. The rain just stopped today, and a large number of refugees entered the city early this morning. I heard there is another large group outside the city. They are all people whose farms and houses were destroyed by the torrential rain. There are too many people. The people from the Pacification Office have already set up tents and distributed porridge, but it is still not enough. They just sent someone to ask us to help them as well."

Shen Wantang couldn't care less about Xiao Qingyuan now. Her expression was solemn as she walked out, saying, "It's only right. Steward Liu, please have someone open our granary. Help as much as you can. Don't be stingy with food and silver right now. Also, send some herbs. There must be many refugees who are sick and have no money for treatment. Sending them some medicinal soup can also relieve their immediate crisis."

The chief steward was filled with respect when he saw that she was willing to open the granary and send out food without hesitation, and even thought of medicine soup.

Not everyone can be so decisive. Some petty people will hesitate in such matters. Although Shen Wantang comes from a humble background, her vision is exceptionally high. Whenever there is a major event, it is always right to seek her help.

However, the Prince Ning's mansion cannot send out all its grain; it must keep some for its own use. In the coming days, grain prices are likely to skyrocket and become very difficult to buy. The mansion cannot afford to have no grain reserves at all.

So the head steward began to discuss with Shen Wantang how much grain to donate, how much porridge to distribute each day, and what kinds of medicine to use, etc.

Xiao Qingyuan watched helplessly as Shen Wantang and the head steward left, and couldn't help but touch his nose.

Sometimes he felt that he held no weight in Shen Wantang's heart whatsoever; he wasn't even as important to her as a steward.

Because it involved refugees and grain donations, Xiao Qingyuan couldn't help but follow them.

He followed behind for quite a while, but Shen Wantang didn't notice him. She went to check the granary, then the pharmacy, and then counted the silver and coarse cloth with the head steward, preparing to donate some of it to the refugees.

During this time, maids and servants kept coming to report on all sorts of matters, big and small, all waiting for Shen Wantang's instructions. Shen Wantang showed no impatience whatsoever and handled everything in an orderly manner.

A while later, the pacification commissioner from the pacification office arrived in person, requesting Shen Wantang to represent the Prince's Mansion and take the lead in setting up tents to distribute porridge and appease the refugees, so as to prevent them from causing a major disturbance due to extreme hunger.

In the past, there have been instances where refugees gathered and uprisings broke out after major disasters.

The number of displaced people after this torrential rain was quite large, putting immense pressure on the Pacification Commissioner. Therefore, they had already begun resettling the displaced people before the rain had even stopped, but they simply didn't have enough manpower and had to ask the noble families in the capital to help out.

Having the experience of her previous life, Shen Wantang naturally knew that the situation was indeed very serious this time, so she cooperated fully with the Pacification Commission, quickly donating silver and grain, and sending people to set up sheds outside the city to distribute porridge.

As Xiao Qingyuan watched her bustling about, planning for the entire palace and donating to the displaced people, a sudden, overwhelming sense of shame rose in his heart.

She seemed to have been prepared for this, otherwise she would never have responded to the Relief Department so quickly. Her concern for the disaster victims must have been going on for more than just a day or two.

And him? He seems to have never thought about these things.

He's been living a life of debauchery these past few days, spending every day in absurd ways with Chu Yanluo.

He had just tasted the sweetness of love and found it incredibly wonderful. He wished he could die on Chu Yanluo's body. His mind was filled with nothing but love, and he had no thought of the disaster victims.

Having followed Shen Wantang for most of the day, Xiao Qingyuan still didn't seem to have noticed him, so he frowned and left.

The more excited and thrilled they were when they arrived, the more dejected and ashamed they felt when they left.

As soon as they returned to Xinghe Courtyard, Chu Yanluo rushed over and hugged him, kissing him as she asked, "How did it go? Did you get the money? I can't wear these clothes anymore, I need to get new ones."

Xiao Qingyuan avoided her mouth and gently pushed her away.

He was sometimes relieved that the Crown Prince's wife was Shen Wantang, not Chu Yanluo.

If the Crown Prince's wife were Chu Yanluo, he simply couldn't imagine what the Ning Prince's mansion would be like right now.

After several days of absurdity, he finally came to his senses a little better. Everyone says that a good wife is a virtuous one, and that is absolutely true. Shen Wantang was such a virtuous wife.

If it were Chu Yanluo... well, he doesn't plan to change her in this lifetime.

When Chu Yanluo saw that Xiao Qingyuan had avoided her kiss, her expression immediately turned sour: "What's wrong with you, Prince? You were fine when you left, but you've become a different person since you came back. You don't want to be close to me or talk to me anymore. Could it be that Shen Wantang spoke ill of me to you?"

Xiao Qingyuan frowned at her: "Can you stop being so jealous all the time? You're jealous of Huayi, scolding her more than ten times a day. You're jealous of Shen Wantang too. I only went to her courtyard once, and you came back being sarcastic. Shen Wantang doesn't have time to talk bad about you. You're overthinking it!"

Chu Yanluo was stunned. She had used all her charm and stayed by Xiao Qingyuan's side for five days, both in and out of bed, only for him to go to Shen Wantang's courtyard once and then come back complaining that she was jealous and jealous, and that she was being sarcastic and strange?!

What kind of spell did Shen Wantang cast on him? Why does he change every time he goes there?

Chu Yanluo's eyes reddened: "Xiao Qingyuan, you're just like any other vulgar man, you don't cherish what you've got! You've changed!"

Xiao Qingyuan sighed, "You've only been feeling better for a few days, why are you starting again?"