Chapter 404 Life is like a play, all about acting skills

Chu Yanluo felt a surge of pleasure when she saw that he was angry.

Great, Xiao Qingyuan is definitely going to go back and yell at people. Shen Wantang deserves it!

Who told her to be the one in charge and send Xiao Qingyuan the fabric first? Did she think she could win Xiao Qingyuan's heart with that? Hmph, we'll see if she agrees!

Xiao Qingyuan arrived full of expectations, but left in a rage.

But no sooner had the two left than the shopkeeper's expression changed. He anxiously instructed the waiter, "Go and urge Boss Hong again. I need to get that batch of silver-gray goods today! The more the better!"

"With so many customers coming to buy, it's like picking up money! Everyone else is frantically selling goods and making money, but I have nothing to sell. This is even worse than losing money!"

"Tell Boss Hong that I'll give him an extra 10% on the price, and that he needs to prioritize supplying me with the goods! Take the money and come back quickly!!"

The waiter pocketed the silver and hurriedly ran out.

Meanwhile, Xiao Qingyuan quickly returned to the Ning Prince's residence.

He led Chu Yanluo straight to Shen Wantang's courtyard.

"Shen Wantang, are you lying to me? Is the fabric you gave me just unsellable stock?!"

Xiao Qingyuan's roar echoed throughout the entire Wutong Garden.

Shen Wantang knew immediately that he had probably heard some rumors.

She sipped her tea leisurely, waiting for Xiao Qingyuan to come in.

As soon as Xiao Qingyuan entered, she immediately stood up, looking at him with a face full of surprise and said, "Your Highness has arrived. Will Your Highness stay overnight in my courtyard tonight? Should I have someone prepare water?"

Xiao Qingyuan's face stiffened, then he said stiffly, "No! What are you thinking about all day long?! I came to see you because of the fabric!"

Shen Wantang exclaimed in surprise, "Oh dear, what happened to the young master's clothes? How did they get so stained? Take them off, young master, and I'll wash them for you!"

"This was given to me by that madman Gu Qianhan... That's not what I want to talk about! What I want to talk about is, is the fabric you bought for me the cheapest quality? Is it something that others didn't want?"

Shen Wantang stared at him wide-eyed in shock: "What did you say, Your Highness? I bought you the best fabric, the most fashionable and sought-after color!"

"But I heard from a fabric shop owner that this is the worst color, and it never sold in previous years! You must have been trying to save money, that's why you bought me this garbage! Shen Wantang, you've disappointed me so much!"

Shen Wantang stared blankly at Xiao Qingyuan, her eyes slowly reddening, and then a tear fell: "Your Highness, you came back to question me just because of a few words from an outsider, is that right?"

Xiao Qingyuan was taken aback: "You, why are you crying? Is it really that serious?"

Shen Wantang's tone was heartbroken: "Is it really necessary? How could it not be? The young master trusts outsiders but not me. No matter what I do, the young master is never satisfied. What's the point of me living?!"

"I spent a lot of money and put so much effort into choosing the fabric for the young master, and yet, with just one sentence from someone else, the young master came to me to demand an explanation!"

"Since Your Highness dislikes the fabric I gave you so much, then give it back to me! When I make a garment for a dog, it wags its tail to thank me, but Your Highness only blames me and doesn't even say thank you!"

"My heart aches so much! I... I will never give the prince anything again!"

She finished speaking in a fit of pique, then turned her head, buried her face in her hands on the desk, and began to cry.

Xiao Qingyuan was dumbfounded. How could this be?

He clearly came back to settle scores with Shen Wantang, so how did the situation change so suddenly? Why is Shen Wantang acting all wronged? It makes him look like a heartless man!

Wait a minute, didn't Shen Wantang just call him a dog?

No, no, it sounds like she's insulting him, saying he's worse than a dog!

Qin Xin chimed in sarcastically, "Oh dear, Your Highness is getting more and more audacious. You believe everything you hear outside, but you never believe your own wife! You're always siding with outsiders. Aren't you afraid of hurting your wife's feelings? Or perhaps Aunt Chu said something to you? You didn't believe her again, did you? She's a liar, Your Highness!"

Xiao Qingyuan's face was as black as the bottom of a pot: "It's you again! Shut up! You have no right to speak here!"

"Your Highness, it's not that I want to speak up, but you've misunderstood the Princess Consort. Even I, a mere maid, can't stand by and watch!"

Qin Xin spoke quickly and fluently, like pouring out beans: "If Your Highness wants to know the quality of the fabric that Your Highness's Consort gave you, it's very simple. Just go to a few large fabric shops and ask!"

"I told you that the Crown Princess spent several hundred taels on fabric for your clothes. You probably don't believe me, but there are always people in fabric shops who know their stuff. Change into some ordinary clothes, take the leftover scraps from making the clothes, and go ask them!"

Xiao Qingyuan was also wondering to himself, could he have been tricked by the shopkeeper?

When he looked up, he saw Shen Wantang still sobbing on the table. He suddenly felt that he had gone too far by rushing back to question her.

The shop we just visited was indeed quite small, and the shopkeeper might be inexperienced.

He turned to Chu Yanluo and scolded, "It's all your fault! You insisted on taking that shopkeeper's side and made me believe him! You're so biased, don't you have a brain? Go back to your courtyard and reflect on your actions. You're not allowed to leave the house for the next few days!"

Chu Yanluo couldn't believe her ears!

She originally came to see Shen Wantang make a fool of herself, but she never expected that she would be the one to make a fool of herself!

A giant cauldron fell from the sky! She was grounded!

"Your Highness, I..."

Before Chu Yanlu could finish speaking, Xiao Qingyuan impatiently waved his hand at her: "Enough nonsense, go back and reflect on your actions!"

After he finished speaking, he turned and left without waiting for Chu Yanluo.

Having suffered a great loss at Shen Wantang's hands, Chu Yanluo dared not stay there alone, so she ran away.

Everyone had left, and Shen Wantang raised her head.

She took a handkerchief and gently wiped away the dried tears from the corners of her eyes: "Qinxin, go to your mother's courtyard and tell her that I'm not feeling well and can't take the princess's pulse. Please have Physician Zhou come instead!"

"yes."

Qin Xin accepted the order and left.

Du Juan served a cup of fresh tea: "Princess Consort, please try this. This is Jin Jun Mei tea that Miss Gu sent to you. She said it's from the palace."

Shen Wantang picked up her teacup, took a sip, and then her eyes lit up: "Excellent! Dujuan, grind the ink, I want to write a letter to A Ning!"

Du Juan laughed: "Princess Consort, are you no longer sad?"

Shen Wantang chuckled: "Acting is enough to fool others, how could I possibly fool myself?"

"Your acting was quite convincing! But aren't you worried that the Crown Prince might actually discover that the fabric you gave him is unsellable?"

"Don't worry, because this material and color are already very popular. Didn't Qin Xin tell him to ask at the big shops? He won't get a second answer."