Chapter 285 He's asleep again!

"Didn't Young Master Xiao use a scheme to help find the silver that Magistrate Ye had embezzled last time? How could he not have real skills?"

"Let me tell you a secret, I have a relative who works in the Embroidered Uniform Guard. He said that Prince Xiao didn't actually help much. He took in Magistrate Ye's daughter because he thought Magistrate Ye hadn't embezzled. He released Magistrate Ye from prison because he was bewitched by a woman and lost his mind. The Embroidered Uniform Guard was just playing along, which is why they let him escape Magistrate Ye."

"Oh my, I knew it! That sucker—uh, that romantic—how could he suddenly change his ways and become so smart? It was all an act! Our romantic prince is still the same as before; he gets completely fooled by women!"

"Who says otherwise? Someone like him got into the Dali Temple as a vice minister; the Dali Temple will be ruined by him sooner or later!"

"I think he's only fit to be a monk at Fazhen Temple! It's such a pity that he's gone back to secular life. I guess he's too stupid for even Fazhen Temple to accept him!"

...

Shen Wantang sat in the carriage, listening to the discussions outside, and hearing Xiao Qingyuan's reputation begin to decline again. She remained calm, as if she had heard them say, "The snow is really nice today."

Du Juan glanced at her mistress's expression, momentarily unable to fathom her thoughts: "Princess Consort, the Prince's reputation has worsened again. Are you going to help him reverse his bad reputation this time? Should I instruct our people to speak well of the Prince?"

Shen Wantang shook her head: "No need."

"Huh? Why is that?"

"Because I found that it's good that his reputation has deteriorated."

"But didn't you say last time that husband and wife are one, and the prince's reputation is your reputation?"

Shen Wantang smiled calmly and frankly admitted her mistake: "I am a human being, not a god. I am bound to make mistakes. Not everyone is worth my help, even if that person is my husband."

"So, you're not going to help the Crown Prince recover his reputation anymore?"

Du Juan's eyes lit up: "That's great!"

Seeing her so happy, Shen Wantang couldn't help but chuckle: "I'm not helping him anymore, why are you so happy?"

"Because I feel sorry for you! Last night, the young master listened to the eldest young lady's slander and came to scold you in the middle of the night, and even wanted to examine your body. I get angry just thinking about it! The young master is too easily swayed and too trusting of others!"

Shen Wantang patted the maid's hand and said in a good mood, "Haven't I already taken my revenge? I'm sure my methods have some deterrent effect, and those causing trouble should be quiet for a while."

Du Juan nodded in agreement; at least Shen Mingxuan would definitely not dare to spread rumors and cause trouble again in the near future.

Upon returning to the Ning Prince's residence, Shen Wantang's first question was about Xiao Qingyuan: "Qinxin, where is the young master right now? Has he gone out?"

"Your Highness, the Prince hasn't gone out. He's in his own courtyard. I heard he didn't sleep well last night and is catching up on sleep."

"Catch up on sleep?"

Shen Wantang gave a meaningful smile: "Falling asleep again!"

Qin Xin could tell from her tone that the Crown Prince was in trouble again, and she asked with some excitement, "Would the Crown Princess like to go and see the Crown Prince?"

"The young master is sleeping, what would I do there?"

"Oh? You're not going? That's a bit of a shame."

"you go."

"ah?"

"Go tell the Crown Prince that the Ministry of Justice requests his presence. There are still doubts in the Xin family case, and Lord Lü and Young Master Gu are interrogating my father."

Qin Xin was a little confused. Did the Crown Princess still want the Crown Prince to participate in solving the case? Was she no longer angry with the Crown Prince?

She had her doubts, but didn't ask any further questions. She happily ran out of Wutong Garden and headed straight for Xinghe Courtyard—after all, it felt pretty good to wake Xiao Qingyuan up with a perfectly legitimate reason.

Xiao Qingyuan's door was kicked open again. He woke up to Qin Xin's startled voice, his head buzzing.

"Why are you here again?!"

He was sleeping soundly when he was suddenly woken up. Xiao Qingyuan was furious: "Did Shen Wantang send you? What does she want? Is she ever going to stop?"

"Your Highness, the Ministry of Justice requests your presence!"

Qin Xin repeated Shen Wantang's instructions, then urged him, "Your Highness, please get up. You now hold an official position. If you don't get involved in such a big case involving the Xin family, people outside will probably criticize you for being incompetent!"

Xiao Qingyuan vaguely felt that the maid was taking the opportunity to mock him, but he didn't care too much. Hearing that the Ministry of Justice had summoned him and that Gu Qianhan was also there, and that they were interrogating Shen Wantang's father, he hurriedly got up and dressed.

"There must be new evidence, so Gu Qianhan's previous reasoning was all wrong! If the murderer is Shen Guannian, then things will get interesting. Gu Qianhan might lose his reputation as a genius this time!"

Xiao Qingyuan no longer felt sleepy. He put on his clothes and cloak and went outside.

Wutong Garden.

Just as Shen Wantang was about to rest for a while, she heard Granny Chai say, "Princess Consort, the Princess has arrived."

Shen Wantang raised an eyebrow slightly. Even with such heavy snow, it still couldn't stop Xiao Qingxi from causing her trouble? Couldn't she just rest and focus on her pregnancy? The roads were slippery in the snow; wasn't she afraid of something happening to her?

This person is so energetic that she doesn't seem like a pregnant woman at all.

As soon as Granny Chai finished speaking, Xiao Qingxi walked in.

She shook the snow off her clothes, casually sat down on a chair, and stared at Shen Wantang with a strange look: "Hey, I heard that you kidnapped your own sister last night?"

Shen Wantang didn't even look up, and said while drinking her tea, "Your Highness has misheard. My sister was invited by Consort Chu to catch up."

"ha!"

Xiao Qingxi laughed exaggeratedly: "You really know how to lie through your teeth! How could Aunt Chu have such great ability to invite your sister! Shen Wantang, I didn't expect you to be so ruthless. You even went so far as to punish your own sister. Aunt Chu almost turned your sister into a beehive with a hairpin!"

"A hornet's nest? Aunt Chu is ruthless."

Shen Wantang recited a sentence lightly, then took out her gold hairpin, poked a few holes in a piece of jujube paste cake, and asked her, "Princess, would you like to try some?"

Xiao Qingxi stared wide-eyed in disbelief: "Shen Wantang, what do you mean? Are you threatening me? Are you trying to turn me into a hornet's nest too?!"

Shen Wantang looked completely innocent: "This is a new way to eat jujube paste cake. I was just asking the princess if she wanted to try it. What are you thinking, princess?"

"You're insane! You're a madman! No, I have to tell Mother that a vicious woman like you can't stay in our Prince Ning's mansion! You're terrifying!"

Xiao Qingxi hadn't even had a chance to sit down properly before she stood up again and hurriedly left with Granny Kang.

Seeing her leave, Dujuan couldn't help but worry: "Princess Consort, the Princess must have gone to complain. What should we do? Will the Princess Consort listen to her and blame you?"