Chapter 58 Because she had an affair with a man

Therefore, Chu Yanlu could only shake her head: "No, they didn't hit me."

"You really didn't hit me?"

Xiao Qingyuan was skeptical. He wanted to pull open Chu Yanluo's sleeve to check if she was injured, but Chu Yanluo stopped him.

He said anxiously, "Yanluo, don't be afraid. I'll stand up for you. Tell me what wrong you've suffered, and I'll definitely get justice for you today and make those who bullied you pay the price!"

Chu Yanluo sobbed, "They didn't hit me, but they locked me in the woodshed and tied me up with rope. That woodshed was filthy, dilapidated, dark, and infested with rats. It was worse than being hit!"

Xiao Qingyuan hugged her tightly, glaring angrily at Shen Wantang: "This is all your doing! Don't you know Yanluo is timid, afraid of the dark and mice? Why did you torture her like this? I've already given you a lot of face, letting you live in the Prince's mansion as the Crown Princess, what more could you possibly want?"

Shen Wantang ignored the two embracing affectionately in public, and remained composed despite Xiao Qingyuan's angry outburst. She calmly asked, "Where did the young master sleep last night? Did he sleep with Miss Chu?"

Xiao Qingyuan was even more furious. He immediately retorted, "Nonsense! I slept in the study last night. My relationship with Yanluo was purely platonic and not as scandalous as you think! I would never ruin Yanluo's reputation before I officially marry her! Yanluo is definitely not that kind of woman. She only moved into the Prince's mansion out of necessity. She and I are completely innocent!"

He thought he was protecting Chu Yanluo's reputation, but as soon as he said that, Chu Yanluo's face turned deathly pale.

She had previously flaunted the hickeys on her collarbone in front of Shen Wantang, and even said that Xiao Qingyuan wanted to sleep with her every night. But now she has been directly slapped in the face by Xiao Qingyuan!

She even mocked Shen Wantang for not consummating her marriage with Xiao Qingyuan, but then everyone found out that she hadn't had any real relationship with Xiao Qingyuan either!

She lifted her head from Xiao Qingyuan's embrace and looked at Shen Wantang, only to find that Shen seemed to have already known what was going on and was not surprised by Xiao Qingyuan's words.

Chu Yanlu finally realized, belatedly, that Shen Wantang seemed to have come prepared!

She had a very bad feeling.

Sure enough, the next moment, she heard Shen Wantang say, "I knew that the young master was a good man who was dutiful and cared for Miss Chu, so I would like to ask Miss Chu, who was the man who entangled with you all night last night and left red marks on your body?"

Chu Yanlu gritted her teeth: "What are you saying? I don't understand!"

Shen Wantang laughed sarcastically: "You don't understand? This evening by the lake, you even pulled open your collar to show me the red marks on your body. Why are you denying it now?"

"You're talking nonsense! When have I ever done such a thing? You're slandering me! Your Highness, don't listen to her lies. She's just jealous that you like me and is deliberately defaming me!"

Xiao Qingyuan looked coldly at Shen Wantang: "What exactly do you want to do? Are you only satisfied when you've driven Yanluo to her death? The Prince's mansion isn't a sieve. Do you think just any man can come in? Last night, besides me, there wasn't another man in Xinghe Courtyard!"

Shen Wantang didn't care about his cold gaze: "Didn't the young master ask me why I tied up Miss Chu? Now I'll tell you the reason. It's because she had an affair with a man. The Ning Prince's Mansion will never allow such a thing to happen. As the head housekeeper and mistress, I have the responsibility and the right to investigate this matter and give an explanation to the whole mansion, as well as to the young master."

Xiao Qingyuan refused to believe it: "You're just trying to frame me! I don't need any explanation from you, and neither does the Prince's Mansion! Yan Luo is a very aloof and proud person. How could she possibly have an affair with a man, especially in my courtyard? Even if you want to slander her, at least come up with a plausible excuse!"

Shen Wantang glanced at him and felt a pang of pity for him. Even now, he still unconditionally believed in Chu Yanluo.

She instructed, "Granny Chai, bring the witness in."

Granny Chai responded and quickly brought the person in.

A rough-working old woman, two servants responsible for guarding the gate, and a palace guard responsible for patrolling at night.

“Report everything you saw and heard last night to the Crown Prince.”

The old woman knelt on the ground, her voice trembling: "Last night when I got up to use the restroom, I heard a series of sounds coming from the young master's courtyard... sounds of a man and woman making love. I couldn't be sure who the man's voice was, but the woman's voice was very clear... it was Miss Chu."

Chu Yanluo was both shocked and furious: "You're lying! I didn't! You must have taken money from someone else to deliberately say these things to slander me!"

But the old woman didn't respond. She left immediately after speaking, and then the gatekeeper took over the conversation.

A servant said, "This servant is responsible for guarding the gate of the Prince's mansion. Last night at midnight, Young Master Yuan left the mansion, which is unprecedented. The mansion never keeps guests until this hour. But Young Master Yuan said that he drank too much and accidentally fell asleep in the Prince's courtyard, which is why he came out late."

Another servant added, "This servant is responsible for guarding the second gate of the Prince's Mansion. Young Master Yuan did indeed leave at midnight."

The guard said something similar.

After they had all finished speaking, Shen Wantang told them to leave.

Xiao Qingyuan was still holding Chu Yanluo tightly. He asked coldly, "Shen Wantang, is your act over? Is this your so-called witness?"

"Your Highness doesn't believe these people?"

"Why should I believe you? Now the Prince's Mansion is your steward. With a single order from you, who would dare disobey you? They could all help you give false testimony and help you slander Yan Luo!"

"Since Your Highness doesn't believe them, then please examine the marks on Miss Chu's body yourself. Surely those marks weren't done by someone I had done?"

Chu Yanluo's expression changed, and she tightly covered her neckline, looking both aggrieved and arrogant, and said, "Shen Wantang, don't even think about stripping me of my clothes and humiliating me! Haven't you bullied me enough today? I'd rather die than let you see my body, you're not worthy!"

Shen Wantang remained calm: "Miss Chu, I didn't want to see your body. I only wanted the young master to see it."

Chu Yanluo hated her to death, staring at her with eyes blazing with fire, but she refused to give in no matter what.

Shen Wantang continued, "Would you rather bear the stigma of having an affair than let the Prince see your body? Is there anyone in this world who treats you better than the Prince? You'll be the Prince's woman sooner or later anyway, so it won't hurt to let him see you. This is a good opportunity to give you a proper status."

Chu Yanluo was furious: "Give me a title? What do you mean? You want me to be the prince's concubine? Absolutely not! I, Chu Yanluo, will never be anyone's concubine in this life. If I'm going to be someone, I'll be their principal wife!"