Chapter 407 Stealing the Painted Boat

Shen Wantang looked in the direction she pointed and saw a dazzling and splendid night scene.

This year, there seem to be an unusually large number of people using lanterns to pray for blessings. Men and women, young and old, have all bought lanterns and released them along the river, so that the river is covered with beautiful lights.

When she was reborn, Shen Wantang didn't feel much, because life went on as before, neither too good nor too bad, and she remained calm.

Even now, seeing such a lively and bustling night scene, the magnificent river surface, and the river lanterns twinkling like stars, she suddenly feels that being able to live a second life is so lucky and wonderful.

She had always lived a routine life, unwilling to do anything out of line or seek the limelight.

Now she suddenly realized that since she had a second life, she should try something different.

Looking at the painted boats drifting on the river, she turned to Gu Qianning and asked, "A'ning, would you like to take a boat trip on the river? There are too many people on the riverbank, and it's not very convenient to release river lanterns. It's more convenient and more interesting to release them from the painted boat."

Gu Qianning looked at her with surprise: "Can we still go to the pleasure boat? You booked a pleasure boat?"

"No, I was just thinking of going on a pleasure boat to cruise the river."

"But if you don't book in advance, you probably won't be able to book now. Every year during the Lantern Festival, there aren't enough painted boats to go around, and they're much more expensive than usual!"

"It doesn't matter if it's a bit more expensive, I still have some money."

Shen Wantang's smile carried a sense of confidence: "Let's go, let's find a pleasure boat. As long as we pay more money, we can definitely book one."

Gu Qianning had only ridden on a pleasure boat when she was a child, and had never ridden one since she grew up. She was as happy as a child: "Come on! Second brother, did you hear that? Atang is going to take me on a pleasure boat!"

Gu Qianhan heard it, of course. He was actually a little surprised that Shen Wantang would take the initiative to suggest taking a pleasure boat, but since they wanted to take one, he would get them one tonight no matter what.

Several people followed the crowd off the bridge. Shen Wantang and Gu Qianning walked in front, asking each house along the river if there were any more pleasure boats available.

Undeterred by the negative answer, the two continued their search to the next company.

Gu Qianhan followed behind, and after increasing the distance slightly, he instructed Jixiang: "Go ahead of them and buy a pleasure boat, no matter how much silver it costs."

"yes."

Ji Xiang left quickly.

Gu Qianhan continued to follow behind Shen Wantang and Gu Qianning. Seeing the two of them offering money and pleading with the owner of a pleasure boat, he did not step forward to help them, but instead let them handle the situation themselves.

He thought he would be rejected by the boat owner again, just like before, but to his surprise, the boat owner actually nodded because the two of them offered a high price and spoke very nicely.

"Originally, I reserved this pleasure boat for a relative out of politeness, but since you two ladies are so eager to have it, and my relative isn't here, I'll rent it to you for now!"

Shen Wantang was overjoyed: "That's wonderful! Thank you so much, boss!"

Gu Qianning exclaimed excitedly, "A-Tang, we have a pleasure boat now! We can go boating on the river!"

The boat owner couldn't help but remind the two ladies: "Ladies, the agreed-upon price is non-negotiable! Tonight, this pleasure boat is in high demand, and mine is large and luxurious. I won't have trouble renting it for eighty taels of silver."

Shen Wantang nodded: "Du Juan, give the boss the silver notes!"

Du Juan immediately stepped forward and handed over the eighty-tael silver note.

The boat owner accepted the silver notes and beamed with joy.

Normally, it's difficult to rent out his pleasure boat, and the rental price is only ten taels of silver. Tonight, the highest price for renting other pleasure boats is only fifty taels. If the price exceeds that, no one will want it.

I never expected to run into two rich young ladies today, who gave me eighty taels of silver right away!

Now he doesn't care about relatives anymore; it would be foolish not to make money when there's opportunity!

The boat owner tucked the silver notes into his pocket: "Ladies, please board the pleasure boat! The tea and wine inside are free, drink as much as you like!"

Shen Wantang reached out her hand to Gu Qianning: "Let's go, A'ning, get on the boat."

Gu Qianning happily grasped her hand: "Get on the boat!"

The two were holding hands and had just lifted their feet when a haughty voice came from behind them: "Wait, I want this pleasure boat!"

Shen Wantang and Gu Qianning turned around at the same time, and then saw Xiao Qingxi walking over with a large group of people.

Xiao Qingxi was in the lead, followed by Liu Nanshi and Lin Rouxin, and then Xiao Qingyuan and Huo Yunzhou.

Four people, plus maids, nannies, servants, and guards, made up a dozen or so people in total, a grand and imposing group.

"Madam, my pleasure boat has already been rented out. You're too late."

Granny Kang said coldly, "What lady? This is Princess Shuyang!"

The boat owner was startled: "So it's the princess! I was blind to your greatness, please forgive me, Your Highness, but... this pleasure boat has indeed been rented out, as you see..."

"So what if it's rented out?"

Xiao Qingxi glanced at Shen Wantang with disdain, her tone extremely arrogant and domineering: "Even if you've already sold the pleasure boat, if I say I want it, you'll have to obediently hand it over to me! No one else has the right to take things from me!"

After she finished speaking, she walked past the boat owner and stood in front of Shen Wantang: "Shen Wantang, what do you say? What right do you, a lowly concubine's daughter, have to snatch things from me? Get out of my way right now!"

Shen Wantang's face was icy, and her voice was even colder: "I won't allow it! The pleasure boat is mine. If you want it, go find another pleasure boat yourself! A princess of such high status, trying to take my pleasure boat, how can you be so noble!"

Xiao Qingxi's eyes turned incredibly dark: "You dare refuse me?!"

"So what if I reject you? Haven't I rejected you enough times? You pride yourself on being noble, yet you don't even own a pleasure boat? You're not even as good as me, are you?"

Xiao Qingxi glared at her fiercely: "Shen Wantang, how dare you speak to me like that? You're courting death! In the entire capital, no one dares to disrespect me, Xiao Qingxi!"

Liu Nanshi, standing to the side, spoke gently: "Princess Consort, quickly apologize to the Princess. We are all family, why hurt the harmony like this? The Princess is pregnant. If you upset her and something happens, can you bear the responsibility?"

Shen Wantang's gaze turned cold: "It's none of your business! She started this argument. If Miss Liu really wants to advise someone, she should advise her! Using her pregnancy to threaten me, are you really afraid we won't have a fight? I didn't realize before that Miss Liu had such malicious intentions!"

Liu Nanshi's face immediately darkened: "Princess Consort, you're really biting the hand that feeds you! I'm clearly here to mediate your conflict, but you're mocking me instead. No wonder the Princess is targeting you like this. I bet you've bullied the Princess quite a bit in the Prince Ning's residence, haven't you?"