Chapter 46 Xiao Qingyuan was utterly ashamed

Seeing that the servant didn't understand, Xiao Qingyuan coldly shouted, "What are you doing with your head hanging down? Hurry up and go! I'm starving, tell them to come quickly!"

Mo Ji had no choice but to turn around and walk out. Just as he was about to leave, he heard the prince say, "Let the two of them take a few more roast chickens, a few drunken crabs, and a few side dishes to go with the wine!"

Mo Ji paused, feeling extremely embarrassed, and lowered his head even further.

What's the difference between this and begging, young master?

Xiao Qingyuan had no idea what the servant was thinking. He didn't think there was anything wrong with having his two good brothers bring their own food and drinks for dinner.

He also stepped outside and went straight to Wutong Garden.

Since Yan Luo likes those bracelets, he should at least go and get them back for her, right? Although it might be a little embarrassing, he was willing to go all out to make Yan Luo happy. Anyway, Shen Wantang was easy to talk to and wouldn't do anything to him.

Although he had planned everything perfectly on the way here, when he actually saw Shen Wantang and saw her serene and unassuming demeanor, he still found it rather difficult to speak: "Shen Wantang, I..."

Shen Wantang looked at him calmly: "Is there something you need, Your Highness?"

She was very kind and gentle, and her words always gave people a feeling of warmth and comfort.

Xiao Qingyuan himself felt that he had gone too far in bullying Shen Wantang. Just an hour ago, he had delivered the jade bracelet to her, and now, an hour later, he wanted to take it back. Was this how a human being acted?

If it were a more assertive woman, she probably would have splashed tea in his face and then beaten him with sticks.

He was nothing more than a opportunist who judged people by their appearance. He only dared to come because he knew Shen Wantang was easy to talk to. If Shen Wantang had been fierce, he would never have dared to step into Wutong Garden.

Without a clear conscience, one cannot speak with conviction. Xiao Qingyuan's voice was even three degrees lower than usual: "Shen Wantang, could you... give me back those jade bracelets? I'll give you something else to replace them later. You won't suffer any loss."

From the moment Xiao Qingyuan stepped into Wutong Garden, Shen Wantang had already guessed why he had come.

Before leaving, Chu Yanluo was so determined to get the jade bracelet that it was impossible for her not to ask Xiao Qingyuan to get it for her.

Given Xiao Qingyuan's infatuation with Chu Yanluo, it would be strange if he didn't come!

However, Shen Wantang also liked the jade bracelet very much, so she didn't intend to give it away. She said with a troubled expression, "Young Master, although you sent this jade bracelet, you also said that Mother asked you to run the errand. So, the jade bracelet was actually a gift from Mother. I really can't just hand over a gift from an elder to someone else!"

"If it were something the young master gave me and then wanted back, I would have let you take it without the slightest hesitation."

"But this wasn't a gift from the Crown Prince, it was from my mother. She gave it to me, and I gave it away right afterward. What will she think? This is her heartfelt gift. If I don't cherish it, I'm afraid she'll be heartbroken!"

These words made Xiao Qingyuan feel utterly ashamed, as if he were a heartless, ungrateful, disloyal, and unfilial scumbag!

This bracelet wasn't even given to Shen Wantang by him, yet he wants it back. That's just outrageous!

Granny Chai, standing to the side, spoke with a sorrowful expression: "Young Master, if I may presume to speak, you have gone too far this time."

"The Crown Princess is kind-hearted, but you can't treat her like this. First, Miss Chu came and made a scene, crying and shouting to take away the Crown Princess's bracelet. The Crown Princess didn't hold it against her and silently swallowed all her grievances."

"Then, you also came to ask for the Crown Princess's bracelet. Isn't this putting the Crown Princess in a position of being unfilial? Have you considered the consequences the Crown Princess will face after you take the bracelet away?"

"She came to the Prince's mansion all alone and without any support. She could barely survive because the Princess Consort liked her. You have repeatedly humiliated the Princess Consort, and now you want her to give the bracelet that the Princess Consort gave her to Chu Yanluo. If she really gives it to her, not only will the Princess Consort be angry, but the servants in the mansion will also change their tune and think that she is weak and easy to bully, and they will no longer listen to her orders!"

"Your Highness, you're trying to drive your wife to her death! How cruel you are! Is Chu Yanluo's life worth anything, but the princess's life isn't? Why are you treating her like this? What did she do wrong? Hasn't she done enough?"

"It's just a pair of bracelets. The young master could have bought her another one. Why did he have to ask for the one on the young princess's wrist? Isn't this just deliberately provoking and making things difficult for the young princess? How long will the young master continue to indulge Chu Yanluo? Today she took a fancy to the young princess's bracelet, and you asked for it for her without hesitation. Tomorrow she takes a fancy to the princess's bracelet, will you ask for it for her too? The day after tomorrow, if she takes a fancy to the empress dowager's bracelet, will you ask for it for her too?"

In the end, Granny Chai was almost in tears, partly out of genuine heartache for Shen Wantang, and partly out of heartache for herself.

She raised the prince as if he were her own child, but Xiao Qingyuan actually drove her out of the palace for a shameless woman. She had been holding a grudge and felt extremely uncomfortable.

After hearing what Granny Chai said, Xiao Qingyuan was too ashamed to stay any longer. He forced a sentence, "Yanluo doesn't want just any bracelet," and then hastily bowed to Shen Wantang as an apology before leaving in a hurry.

As Shen Wantang watched Xiao Qingyuan leave, she couldn't help but touch the bracelet on her wrist again.

Chu Yanluo was reborn; she shouldn't have acted like a naive woman, frantically trying to snatch her bracelet.

Shen Wantang raised her wrist and stared at the bracelet for a long time, but she couldn't figure out what magic it had. At most, the bracelet was just a bit more translucent and clear. How could it make Chu Yanluo so crazy that she even asked Xiao Qingyuan to ask for it for her? This didn't fit her usual aloof persona.

This bracelet seems quite special.

Meanwhile, Xiao Qingyuan returned to his own courtyard.

As soon as he entered, he saw that his two friends had already arrived, and neither of them had come empty-handed.

The stone table in the courtyard was already laden with fine wine and delicacies. Gu Qianhan and Yuan Zheng were sitting on either side of the table, while Chu Yanluo, who had been arguing with him, was now sitting between them, chatting and laughing.

Upon seeing Xiao Qingyuan return, Yuan Zheng immediately poured a glass of wine, stood up, walked to Xiao Qingyuan's side, and shoved the glass into his hand: "Qingyuan, you're really something! No wonder you wouldn't let the brothers see Miss Chu all this time. It turns out it was because Miss Chu's beauty was too stunning, and you were afraid we'd steal her from you! It's such a pity that I only got to see such a beauty today. You have to drink a penalty cup!"