Chapter 40 This son was raised in vain!

Yanluo has been arguing with him several times these days because she has no clothes to wear. He borrowed money from Shen Wantang to buy her a few outfits, but she either complained that they didn't fit or that the colors were too vulgar and didn't match her elegant temperament.

If he takes this piece of fabric back, Yan Luo will definitely not mind, and might even give him a smile.

She hadn't smiled for days, and he was willing to do anything to win her favor and bring a smile to her face.

Xiao Qingyuan stood there, stroking the fabric while lost in thought about how Chu Yanluo would react to seeing it, unaware that the princess's face had already turned completely cold.

How could the princess not know what her son was thinking? He wanted this piece of fabric not for himself, but for that little slut he kept in the house!

With a loud bang, a teacup was smashed to the ground by the princess.

The teacup shattered into pieces, startling Xiao Qingyuan from his reverie.

He looked at the princess in astonishment: "Mother, what's wrong with you?"

"What's wrong? You have the nerve to ask me what's wrong?!"

The princess trembled with rage: "You unfilial wretch, you actually came here to beg for something from that little slut! Didn't you even ask if she deserved this piece of fabric? This is a priceless piece of colorful brocade! Even selling her wouldn't be enough to cover the scraps of this fabric!"

Xiao Qingyuan couldn't help but frown: "Mother, no matter how expensive the brocade is, it's still meant to be worn by people, regardless of social status. Everyone can wear it. Anyway, this pattern doesn't suit you. What's wrong with you letting me take it? You used to give me whatever I wanted, how come everything has changed now?"

The princess was furious. She slammed her hand on the table, knocking a teacup to the ground. "Have I, as a mother, changed, or have you, as a son, changed? You even have to beg for a bolt of cloth!"

"Let me tell you, this is a special pattern that the Crown Princess specially searched for for me as a token of her filial piety. You won't find another one like it in the entire capital! No one can take it away from me!"

"You're blind and delusional, saying this fabric doesn't suit me. Is there any pattern in the world that suits me better? I'm getting old, and I shouldn't wear such elegant colors. Am I supposed to dress like a young girl?"

"The Crown Princess is so filial to me, sending me fabric to make clothes, but what about you? You only have that shameless, disgraceful hussy in your heart, you don't care about me as your mother at all! Even if I throw this fabric away, I will never give that hussy a single thread!"

Xiao Qingyuan was stunned: "What? This was given to you by Shen Wantang? How is that possible! Doesn't she only like gaudy colors like bright red and green? Why would she choose such an elegant fabric to give to you?"

"The bright red and green fabrics were gifts from me to her, and she wore them as a sign of filial piety! The simple and elegant fabrics were gifts from her to me; she chose them, which proves she has good taste and knows what I like and what suits me. She really cares about me, her mother-in-law!"

As the princess spoke, her eyes reddened.

The more filial and considerate the daughter-in-law is, the more it reveals how unfilial and absurd the son is.

This son was raised in vain!

She's not old enough to be immobile yet, and her son is already trying to steal her fabric for some slut. If she gets old and can't move, will her son be filial to her?

He might actually listen to that vile woman and kick her, his mother, out of the palace!

Suppressing her anger and sorrow, the princess said in a hoarse voice to Granny Quan, "Tang'er is such a good girl, living a quiet and peaceful life, managing the household diligently, and being so filial to me. I can't mistreat her. Go to the Crown Prince's private treasury and pick out a few valuable items for him to send to the Crown Princess on my behalf."

"Mother, why should I be the one to deliver it to her? I won't go!"

"You have to go, whether you like it or not!"

Of course, she wanted her son to deliver it. She wanted her son to have more contact with Shen Wantang to enhance their relationship and ruin her son's relationship with Chu Yanluo.

Only when her son completely rejects Chu Yanluo can this family be at peace! Only then will she have someone to take care of her in her old age!

A good wife is one who is virtuous, and Shen Wantang is that virtuous woman!

“I’m doing you a favor by allowing that shameless slut to live in the Prince’s mansion without any proper explanation! Similarly, you should also give me, as her mother, face. I just asked you to deliver some things to Tang’er for me, and you won’t even do that? If you’re going to be so disrespectful to me, then I’ll have to be disrespectful to you in return.”

The princess said coldly, "Granny Quan, go to Xinghe Courtyard and throw that shameless woman out! Tell her that the young master won't even suffer the slightest grievance for her, she deserves to be left to wander the streets!"

Granny Quan responded and immediately walked out.

Xiao Qingyuan hurriedly said, "Mother, please don't drive Yanluo away! She's homeless now, and even Jixin Nunnery won't take her in anymore! If you drive her away, you'll be forcing her to her death!"

"Am I the one who wants to force her to her death? Or are you the one who wants to force her to her death? All you have to do is make a trip to the Crown Princess's courtyard for me, and she can stay in the manor. You didn't want to, did you?"

"Yes, I'm willing! I'll go in my mother's place!"

The princess nodded coldly: "That's right, Granny Quan, go ahead, remember to pick the best for the princess, don't embarrass me."

"Yes, Your Highness."

Granny Quan responded and quickly went out.

A moment later, she came in carrying three boxes stacked together: "Please take a look, Your Highness."

The princess opened the three boxes one by one, and then closed the lids again: "Alright, these will do!"

Granny Quan then handed all three boxes to the servant Moji: "Young Master, you may now go to Wutong Garden."

When the box was opened, Xiao Qingyuan saw the contents: a jade Pixiu with a pure green body, a pair of rare jade bracelets, and a painting of a thousand birds by a master calligrapher from the previous dynasty.

He then realized that the things his mother gave to Shen Wantang were all taken from his private stash!

He couldn't help but say, "Mother, Shen Wantang doesn't like these things. She only likes gold and silver. Why don't you give her some gold and silver?"

The princess sneered, "What, you're already feeling sorry for the Crown Princess because you only gave her such a small thing? You even casually gave away the blood coral that the Empress Dowager bestowed upon you to that wretched woman to play with, so why can't I give the Crown Princess a few things?"

"I refuse to believe that the Crown Princess, who loves gold and silver, would dislike jade and calligraphy and paintings. These are far more valuable than gold and silver!"

"Stop your little schemes and quickly send these things to the Crown Princess!"

Xiao Qingyuan had no choice but to reluctantly agree.

He took the inkstone to Wutong Garden, and as soon as he reached the entrance, he heard a burst of laughter and cheerful voices coming from inside.

"Thank you so much, Your Highness. You went out and even bought us gifts. You really do care about us!"

"Oh my, Your Highness has such good taste! This dress looks so good on Granny Chai, she looks ten years younger!"