Chapter 57 I can write a divorce letter and divorce you!

Princess Ning slammed her fist on the table in anger: "I'm your own mother, would I lie to you? Many people in the manor saw Chu Yanlu insult the Crown Princess today. If you don't believe me, just ask anyone and see if the Crown Princess provoked her or she provoked the Crown Princess!"

Xiao Qingyuan's face turned cold: "I don't believe Yan Luo would insult Shen Wantang. Mother told me to ask someone, but who am I supposed to ask? Everyone in the manor listens to you, and no one will speak up for Yan Luo. No matter who I ask, they will definitely say things that are unfavorable to Yan Luo!"

Princess Ning was almost driven mad by her son. She pointed at his nose and said "you" for a long time, but couldn't utter a single word.

She originally intended to act, but as she acted, it became real.

While helping the princess to calm down, Granny Quan said, "Your Highness, what the princess said is true. Chu Yanluo publicly scolded the princess for being shameless, just because the princess accepted the three things you sent. She even forced the princess to hand over the jade bracelet that the princess gave her, and later threatened to sell the princess's head maid, Qin Xin."

Princess Ning, her anger subsiding, said with red eyes, "I'm not even dead yet, and she's already so arrogant. If I were dead, would she trample the Crown Princess to the ground? What kind of family has such rules? A nobody who isn't even a concubine dares to insult the mistress of the house and threaten to sell her maids! Is there no law anymore? Does Chu Yanluo call the shots in this family now?!"

"Mother, please don't worry. Yanluo is very honest and straightforward, and doesn't know how to beat around the bush. Perhaps there's a misunderstanding here. Maybe that maid offended Yanluo, and Yanluo said she was selling her out of anger. Let me go back and ask her what happened, and then I'll report back to you."

As Xiao Qingyuan spoke, he began to walk out.

Princess Ning immediately said, "You don't need to go back and ask. Chu Yanluo has already been locked in the woodshed. Tell her to reflect on her actions in the woodshed for three days before we talk again!"

Xiao Qingyuan's expression changed drastically. He exclaimed, "Yanluo has been locked in the woodshed?! Who locked her up? Was it you, Mother, or Shen Wantang?! Did you deliberately take advantage of my absence to bully Yanluo? She's already pitiful enough, why won't you let her go?!"

Seeing his instantaneous change in expression, as if imprisoning Chu Yanluo could kill him, Princess Ning said irritably, "The Crown Princess imprisoned her, and I gave my permission, so what? Now that the Crown Princess is in charge of the household, does she not even allow herself to imprison one person? What kind of look is that? Are you trying to eat me alive? You..."

Before she could finish speaking, Xiao Qingyuan had already turned and left with a gloomy face.

Princess Ning sensed something was wrong and hurriedly said, "Granny Quan, quick, follow the young master. If he tries to cause trouble for the princess, stop him and don't let him hurt her!"

Granny Quan hurriedly went out.

In the Wutong Garden, Shen Wantang had already finished her dinner and was looking at the account books under the lamp.

Although her cousin went to Jiangnan, the shops are still operating normally. The manager brought over this month's accounts today, which she naturally had to review carefully.

Just as he was pleased with the good profits this month, he heard an angry roar from outside: "Shen Wantang, you come out here!"

Qin Xin's expression changed: "Princess Consort, the Prince is here. He sounds very angry. Perhaps you should hide!"

Shen Wantang put down the ledger: "Why are you hiding? I'm more afraid he won't come!"

As she spoke, she stood up and left the inner room.

Xiao Qingyuan had already rushed into the house. When he saw Shen Wantang come out of the inner room, his eyes were so cold that it looked like he wanted to kill her: "Where is Yanluo?"

"He's locked up in the woodshed."

Xiao Qingyuan was practically roaring: "Who gave you permission to lock her up? Who do you think you are? What right do you have to detain Yan Luo? Release her immediately!"

Shen Wantang looked at Granny Chai: "Granny, bring the person here."

Granny Chai responded and left.

Xiao Qingyuan was still furious. He pointed at Shen Wantang's nose and cursed, "I only put you in charge of the household for a few days, and you've become so arrogant that you don't even know who you are anymore? Let me tell you today, you are nothing. You are not even worth a hair on Yan Luo's head!"

"Even if Yanluo doesn't have the title of Crown Princess, she's a thousand times, ten thousand times more important to me than you! Get out of our manor immediately! We don't need a treacherous person like you who's outwardly magnanimous but secretly jealous!"

His angry curses echoed in the room, and his fingers almost poked Shen Wantang's face.

Qin Xin and the others felt wronged and embarrassed for Shen Wantang, but since they were all servants, no one dared to speak up for Shen Wantang at this time.

Shen Wantang didn't need them to speak for her. When she kidnapped Chu Yanluo, she had already anticipated this scene.

Her tone was calm and without any ripples: "I was brought into the Prince's mansion with the formal betrothal ceremony, not by my own decree. Our marriage is protected by the laws of Dafeng. If the Prince wants me to leave, he can write a letter of divorce, but I have not committed any of the seven grounds for divorce, so the Prince's letter of divorce is without justification."

Xiao Qingyuan said sternly, "You have arbitrarily used private punishments and arbitrarily punished my woman. Your moral character is flawed. Based on this alone, I can write a letter of divorce to end our marriage!"

“Your Highness, please be careful with your words. I did not use any torture. Miss Chu was simply locked in the woodshed. No one beat or scolded her.”

"What right do you have to lock her up?! Just because she said she was going to sell your maid? Just because she wanted her bracelet back?"

"Of course it's not because of these things. My maid is not for anyone else to deal with, and my bracelet does not belong to Miss Chu. The word 'reclaim it' is inappropriate for the young master."

"Then why did you lock her in the woodshed? Wasn't it to vent your anger? You think I only love her, you're jealous of her, so you took advantage of my absence to harm her!"

Xiao Qingyuan was heartbroken. He had already imagined that the woman he loved had suffered a great injustice and harm, and that he had arrived too late to see a pitiful girl covered in wounds.

Shen Wantang did not answer his question; she waited quietly for Granny Chai.

A moment later, Granny Chai brought Chu Yanluo over.

The ropes binding Chu Yanluo had been untied, and she was free to move. As soon as she saw Xiao Qingyuan, she cried and threw herself into his arms: "Qingyuan, I thought I would never see you again in this life! Why did you take so long to come back? I was so scared!"

Xiao Qingyuan hugged her tightly, his heart aching with concern: "Yanluo, are you alright? Are you hurt? Did they hit you?"

Chu Yanluo really wanted to say they should fight, but unfortunately, they didn't.

If she were to lie, Xiao Qingyuan would likely examine her injuries, but she had no injuries whatsoever, only traces of her intimate encounter with Yuan Zheng last night. Therefore, she absolutely could not let Xiao Qingyuan see her body.