Chapter 496 Can he escape his fate?

The next day, relatives and friends came to offer their condolences.

The Crown Prince arrived with several princesses, but they only spoke to Xiao Qingxi and completely ignored Shen Wantang, treating her as if she were invisible.

Princess Ning fell ill overnight and was unable to get out of bed, while Prince Ning was busy investigating the cause of Xiao Qingyuan's death and ignored everyone who came to him. Xiao Qingxi, on the other hand, still looked dazed and refused to believe that Xiao Qingyuan was dead.

All matters concerning the Prince Ning's residence fell on Shen Wantang's shoulders.

She was dressed in mourning clothes, with white flowers in her hair, her eyes were red and swollen, and her voice was hoarse.

By the end of the day, she was also quite exhausted.

In the evening, people from the Duke's mansion arrived.

Leading the group was Gu Qianling, the eldest son of the Duke of Zhenguo, the heir of the Duke's mansion.

Although the two families had had some disagreements, those were just the younger generation's nonsense. Now that the heir of the Prince of Ning's mansion has died, it is impossible for the Duke's mansion not to send someone to mourn, and the person sent must be the heir of the Duke's mansion.

Behind Gu Qianling followed Gu Qianhan and Gu Qianning.

Gu Qianling's expression was solemn, but her tone was gentle: "Princess Consort, please accept my condolences."

After he finished speaking, he glanced around and saw that only Shen Wantang and Xiao Qingxi were there, while Prince Ning and Princess Ning were nowhere to be seen. He couldn't help but frown slightly.

Such a big matter, why aren't Prince Ning and Princess Ning showing up? Even if they are grieving, they can't just leave everything to two juniors, can they?

This is outrageous!

Gu Qianning stepped forward, took Shen Wantang's hand, and found it was ice-cold. She quickly warmed it with her own hand: "Atang, are you alright? Why are your hands so cold?"

After she finished speaking, she lowered her voice and asked, "Did the people from the Prince Ning's residence give you any trouble?"

Her tone was filled with obvious worry, and her eyes were full of heartache.

Shen Wantang shook her head at her: "I'm fine, don't worry."

As she spoke, she glanced at Gu Qianhan beside her.

Among all the people who came to pay their respects today, he seemed so out of place, so special.

He was as indifferent and cold as ever, as if the death of Xiao Qingyuan was not the death of a Xiao Qingyuan, but the death of an ant.

He didn't even offer a polite "condolences" or, like the others, burn incense and pay respects to Xiao Qingyuan.

"As expected, it was just a bit fast this time. Xiao Qingyuan was in a hurry to be reincarnated."

Gu Qianhan suddenly said something out of the blue, which made Gu Qianling and Gu Qianning turn around and glare at him.

But Shen Wantang knew that he wasn't saying this to them; he was saying it to her. Of all the people present, only she understood the meaning behind his words.

Shen Wantang naturally couldn't respond to him. She lowered her eyes, but in her heart she thought, "This time it's a bit fast, because there's something she's planning behind it."

If Xiao Qingyuan doesn't die soon, then it will be her who dies.

However, everything was happening ahead of schedule. She was worried that the massacre of the Gu family would also happen sooner. When the Crown Prince came in the morning, she felt that he was very different from when she had seen him before. His aura was stronger and he had become colder.

Shen Wantang couldn't help but squeeze Gu Qianning's hand and whispered to her, "Don't act on your emotions, listen to your second brother in everything."

Gu Qianning looked at her in surprise. Even at a time like this, Shen Wantang was still worried about her!

Moreover, there was something wrong with what Shen Wantang said.

It's like... she trusts her second brother a lot?

Gu Qianning sighed, "Now I have no choice but to listen, whether I want to or not. He's the one who has the final say in the family now, and my father's words have no effect. Moreover, he's somehow managed to persuade my mother, and now she listens to him, as does my older brother..."

Shen Wantang was somewhat surprised. She hadn't expected that Gu Qianhan had even won over Madam Gu. In the previous visits to the Gu family, Madam Gu had always been quite assertive, demanding that Gu Qianhan listen to her. Now, the tables had turned.

He's really capable.

Gu Qianning and her group did not linger, as today was not the time for conversation.

On the way back to the Duke's mansion, Gu Qianning sat in the carriage, lifted the curtain and spoke to Gu Qianhan, who was riding a horse outside: "Second brother, you didn't kill Xiao Qingyuan, did you?"

Gu Qianhan glanced at her: "How can you pin the blame on your own brother like this? Didn't he commit suicide by jumping into the river to be with Liu Nanshi? What does that have to do with me?"

"Although that's what everyone's saying, I don't quite believe it. Liu Nanshi isn't that great, is she? Would Xiao Qingyuan be so stupid as to commit suicide for her?"

Gu Qianhan said indifferently, "He's just that stupid, and more than once."

In his previous life, Xiao Qingyuan died for Chu Yanluo.

In this life, he simply committed suicide for love with a different woman.

Even if it weren't for Liu Nanshi, it would have been someone else. This is Xiao Qingyuan's fate, because he's not very bright and always acts like he's going to die for a woman.

Gu Qianning glanced at her eldest brother walking ahead and asked in a low voice, "So, second brother, aren't you planning to marry Atang yet? You can't just stand by and watch her remain a widow in the Ning Prince's mansion, can you?"

Gu Qianhan turned around and glanced at the Ning Prince's Mansion. How could he not want to marry Shen Wantang? When he went in and saw her tired and haggard appearance, even his cold heart ached. He wished he could take her out of the Ning Prince's Mansion and stop her from mourning Xiao Qingyuan.

He tightened his grip on the reins and said softly, "With Xiao Qingyuan dead, the attitude of Prince Ning and Princess Ning towards Shen Wantang will probably change, and her situation in Prince Ning's mansion will likely become even more difficult."

"So you're not planning to help her?"

"I will help, but not now."

Gu Qianning nodded: "That's right. She's a recent widow, so it's really not appropriate for you to propose marriage right away, or even get too close to her."

Gu Qianhan felt a little gloomy. Was he qualified to propose to Shen Wantang?

Xiao Qingyuan couldn't escape his fate and died for love once again. What about him and the Gu family? Can they escape their fate?

The emperor and crown prince have been making frequent moves lately, and even the newly issued decrees are aimed at the Gu family.

Everything in this life seems to be accelerating, and he doesn't have much time left.

——

Prince Ning's Mansion.

Shen Wantang continued to greet those who came to offer condolences. Not long after Gu Qianning and her group left, the Shen family arrived.

Shen Guannian came with his whole family. He originally wanted to take the opportunity to get closer to Prince Ning, but he didn't expect that he couldn't even see Prince Ning's people.

He frowned: "Tang'er, where is your father-in-law? How can you handle such a big matter by yourself? Go and call him here right now!"

Shen Wantang ignored him. She lowered her head, her expression full of sorrow, looking heartbroken and unable to hear anything.

Shen Guannian was very dissatisfied, but he couldn't show it because of the inappropriate occasion.

Standing behind him, Shen Mingxuan stepped forward and walked up to Shen Wantang, saying gloatingly, "Little sister, what are you going to do now? The prince is gone, and you're a widow. Alas, how tragic!"