Chapter 497 How come I didn't kill you?

Shen Wantang raised her head and looked at Shen Mingxuan with a cold expression: "Sister, you should take care of yourself first. I heard that you and your brother-in-law are arguing fiercely and are almost getting a divorce."

Shen Mingxuan's expression changed: "Nonsense! Youhe and I are doing very well. Youhe will become a high-ranking official in the future and bring me back a titled lady!"

Shen Wantang glanced at Liao Youhe, who was standing at the very back of the Shen family group, and a cold smile appeared on her lips: "Didn't he fail the imperial examination? How can he become an official? How can he earn you a titled lady? All of this depends on your dreams?"

Shen Mingxuan's expression was gloomy: "Whether I'm dreaming or not, you'll know in time! Hmph, when Youhe becomes a high-ranking official and I become a noblewoman, don't be jealous of me! Youhe is extremely learned and very capable; he just didn't perform well in this year's imperial examination. He'll definitely pass next time!"

"You don't need to worry about my affairs with Yoo Hyuk. We'll definitely have a much better life than you in the future! But you, you've brought death to your husband. Won't your in-laws look down on you as a jinx? They won't kick you out, will they?"

"Let me tell you this first: if you get kicked out of the Ning Prince's Mansion, the Shen Mansion won't want you either. You're too unlucky!"

After Shen Mingxuan finished speaking, she turned to look at Xiao Qingxi: "Miss Xiao, let me tell you, my half-sister has a tough fate. She brings misfortune to those close to her. Her birth mother, Aunt Jiang, was killed by her! Young Master Xiao was perfectly fine before, but now he has suddenly died. Maybe he was also killed by her!"

Xiao Qingxi's blank eyes slowly turned, finally landing on Shen Wantang. Then, her expression gradually turned ferocious and vicious: "Yes, it's all your fault! You're the one who killed my brother! I'm going to kill you to avenge my brother!"

She lunged at Shen Wantang, but Shen Wantang didn't move an inch, not even blinking.

Because she had arranged for people to handle things in order to prevent any accidents, as soon as Xiao Qingxi rushed over, maids and servants pulled her back.

"Let go of me! How dare you pull me away?"

Xiao Qingxi's eyes were bloodshot, and she looked like she could kill someone with her gaze: "Anyone who dares to stop me, I'll have her beaten to death right now! I am the master of the Ning Prince's Mansion, what is Shen Wantang? You all listen to her but not me? Are you all going to rebel?!"

Shen Wantang walked up to Xiao Qingxi and looked at her with a mocking gaze: "You know better than anyone who killed your brother."

"You say I brought death to your brother? Well, how come I didn't bring death to you? You're just afraid to admit that you killed the prince. You're truly despicable!"

"Xiao Qingxi, you are cowardly, despicable, and trying to shirk your responsibilities by pinning the blame on me to make things easier for yourself, right? But don't worry, I won't take the blame. Whoever killed your brother, whoever is punished, has nothing to do with me."

Xiao Qingxi's face turned pale, and she screamed shrilly, "It wasn't me! I didn't kill my brother! I just fought with him and cursed at him a few times. We used to fight all the time! My brother was never really angry! It was you, it was you who killed my brother!"

Shen Wantang shook her head: "Granny, please take the young lady away. I'm afraid she won't be able to bear the torment if she stays here any longer. I can keep vigil tonight, so the young lady doesn't need to."

Xiao Qingxi screamed, "I'm not leaving! I'm going to keep vigil for my brother!"

Shen Wantang nodded: "In that case, you can keep watch!"

After she finished speaking, she turned and walked away, completely ignoring Xiao Qingxi's angry curses behind her.

As soon as she left, the Shen family members followed her, and all the maids and servants she brought with her also left with her.

In the mourning hall, only Xiao Qingxi, her nanny, and her maid remained.

It was completely dark when a gust of wind blew by, causing the white lanterns outside the mourning hall to sway and the white candles inside to flicker. The white banners hanging in the hall fluttered softly, emitting a pale light.

In the deathly silence, Xiao Qingxi turned her head and saw the two pale faces of Granny Kang and Bizhu.

She was terrified and was about to speak when the offerings placed in front of her suddenly collapsed with a loud noise.

"ah!!!"

Xiao Qingxi screamed and ran out without looking back: "Help! There's a ghost! Someone help!"

Bizhu's face was ashen, and she ran as fast as she could.

Granny Kang was also terrified and ran outside after her.

Shen Wantang watched them run away from afar, sneered, and instructed Granny Chai: "Send more people to guard the mourning hall. There can't be a shortage of people inside."

"Yes, Princess Consort."

Granny Chai whispered a reminder to her, "Princess Consort, according to the rules, you must keep vigil tonight."

Shen Wantang nodded: "I know. I'll go back and grab a bite to eat, then I'll be back at the mourning hall soon. Don't worry, Granny."

She just didn't want to be with Xiao Qingxi. It was fine when Xiao Qingxi didn't say anything, but as soon as he spoke, she wanted to beat him up.

Granny Chai breathed a sigh of relief. The young master was dead, and there wasn't even a close relative keeping vigil by his side. If word got out that the deceased princess would be drowned in spittle.

There's no one in charge of this household. If Shen Wantang were to quit again, then it would be truly over.

According to the regulations of Dafeng, Xiao Qingyuan, as the heir apparent of the Prince of Ning, was to have his body kept in state for five days before being buried.

Shen Wantang kept vigil for five days in a row. Even though she was not sad or grieving, her body could not take it, and she quickly became thin.

Princess Ning's illness worsened, and Prince Ning summoned more than a dozen imperial physicians to treat her, but to little avail; Princess Ning remained bedridden.

Xiao Qingxi also fell ill. She kept saying she had seen a ghost and refused to go to the mourning hall again.

So, apart from Shen Wantang, there was no one else in the mourning hall.

Five days later, Xiao Qingyuan's funeral was held, and Shen Wantang was finally able to return to her own courtyard and get a good night's sleep.

But before she could rest for long, Prince Ning sent someone to summon her, asking her to treat Princess Ning's illness.

Shen Wantang took the silver needles to her mother-in-law's courtyard.

Princess Ning was awake, but she lay on the bed without saying a word, lifeless.

She looked ten years older than before, her face was deathly pale, and even her lips were bloodless.

Shen Wantang took her pulse and administered acupuncture.

Prince Ning frowned: "Did you not treat your mother properly? Why is it not working at all?"

Shen Wantang had long sensed the change in her father-in-law's attitude. Since Xiao Qingyuan's death, her parents-in-law had become much colder towards her.

But this was within her expectations, so her emotions didn't fluctuate much. She said respectfully as usual, "Your daughter-in-law will do her best to treat you, but you have too much emotional distress and need to resolve it slowly."

Prince Ning waved his hand impatiently: "You may leave."

"yes."

Shen Wantang responded and walked out calmly.

As soon as I stepped out of Shaoguang Courtyard, I saw Huayi.

Upon seeing her, Huayi immediately clutched her stomach and took a step back.

Shen Wantang's gaze followed her hand to her protruding belly, and she asked calmly, "Huayi, how many months pregnant are you now? Are you about to give birth?"