Chapter 203 Shen Wantang, thank goodness it's you
In a hazy state, a distant yet familiar voice rang in my ears: "Your Highness, Your Highness, wake up."
The sound rang out again and again, forcing Xiao Qingyuan to open his eyes with difficulty. He then saw Mo Ji standing by the bedside with a bowl in his hand.
"Sir, you're finally awake! Please drink your medicine!"
"What medicine?"
"The medicine for treating colds and high fever. You probably caught a chill in the woodshed and developed a high fever not long after you came back. Fortunately, the Crown Princess came by and gave you acupuncture, which made you feel much better."
Xiao Qingyuan was momentarily dazed: "Princess Consort? Which Princess Consort?"
Mo Ji was taken aback: "My lord, are you delirious from the fever? You only have one princess consort!"
"Just one?"
"Yeah, what else?"
"Yes, just one, named Shen Wantang, right? Not Shen Mingxuan, is it?"
Mo Ji's eyes widened in shock, and she almost covered his mouth: "Master, you can't talk nonsense! Madam Shen is the eldest sister of the Crown Prince's wife. She is already married, and her husband's surname is Liao!"
Xiao Qingyuan was taken aback. How come he remembered that in his dream, Shen Wantang's husband seemed to have the surname Liao?
Seeing him in a daze, Mo Ji brought the bowl to his lips: "Sir, you'd better drink your medicine quickly!"
If I don't take my medicine soon, who knows what nonsense I might spout? It's terrifying!
Xiao Qingyuan took the medicine bowl, drank it down in a few gulps, got out of bed, and strode out.
Mo Ji exclaimed in surprise, "Master, where are you going? You're not dressed yet!"
Xiao Qingyuan only realized after stepping outside that the snow was still falling and the outside world was completely white.
Mo Ji draped the cloak over him: "Master, go back inside. Standing outside like this will only worsen your cold."
Huayi stepped forward with concern and handed over her small hand warmer: "If Your Highness really wants to see the snow scene outside, then please take this hand warmer!"
Xiao Qingyuan looked at her, then at Moji, and suddenly said, "I just had a dream that the Crown Prince's consort I married wasn't Shen Wantang. The dream felt very real. Do you think it's possible that I really didn't marry Shen Wantang?"
Mo Ji couldn't help but scratch his head. The dosage didn't seem to be enough, and the young master was talking nonsense!
Huayi was much more understanding than Moji. She said softly, "Why don't you just go to the Crown Prince's wife's courtyard and see for yourself?"
Xiao Qingyuan had originally intended to visit Shen Wantang's courtyard as well, but upon hearing Huayi's words, he no longer hesitated and strode out.
Wutong Garden.
Outside, snow was falling heavily, but inside the house it was warm and cozy.
After taking a bath, Shen Wantang reclined on the chaise lounge, reading a book and eating walnuts.
Qin Xin and Du Juan each had a soft handkerchief and were wringing out her hair.
When the three of them heard Granny Chai say that the young master had arrived, they were all taken aback: What is he doing here at this time?
However, after a moment of stunned silence, Shen Wantang quickly got up and put on her coat.
Just as I finished dressing, Xiao Qingyuan came in.
Shen Wantang clearly saw that the moment he saw her, he actually breathed a sigh of relief.
"Shen Wantang, it really is you. Thank goodness it's you."
Shen Wantang asked in confusion, "What does the young master mean by this?"
Xiao Qingyuan walked up to her, looked her up and down, and after confirming that it was really her, said, "I had a very strange dream. In the dream, my Crown Princess was not you."
Shen Wantang's heart skipped a beat, and she asked him, "Who is that?"
“It’s your elder sister, Shen Mingxuan.”
Qin Xin and Du Juan stared wide-eyed at the same time, almost thinking they had misheard and that the young master was talking nonsense!
Who would say to his wife that the princess consort in his dream is his wife's elder sister?
Isn't this an insult?
Even Granny Chai's expression changed, and she immediately said, "Young Master, be careful what you say!"
Xiao Qingyuan knew that it wasn't appropriate to say that, and he said with a hint of apology, "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to, it was just that the dream was too real."
Of all the people present, Shen Wantang was probably the only one who remained calm and composed, because she knew that Xiao Qingyuan hadn't come to humiliate her on purpose tonight; he had genuinely dreamt of his past life.
But he told her—it's good that it's you.
Is it because he disliked Shen Mingxuan in his past life?
"It's alright, it's just a dream, Your Highness need not take it to heart."
Shen Wantang said something indifferently, and then fell silent. She neither invited Xiao Qingyuan to sit down as she had done before, nor did she take his pulse or inquire about his condition.
Xiao Qingyuan felt the cold shoulder, but he really didn't know how to resolve it.
In the past, when Shen Wantang treated him kindly, there was usually no awkward silence. But now that she was cold to him, he didn't know what to say, and the conversation suddenly fell silent.
After a long while, he said, "In the dream I had, Yanluo died, and I died too. My father and mother were devastated. It was all Shen Mingxuan's fault. Fortunately, my Crown Princess is you in reality. Those things in the dream shouldn't happen, right?"
Shen Wantang said softly, "Your Highness, Consort Chu is alive and well, and so is Your Highness. Everything in the Prince's Mansion is fine. As long as Your Highness is filial to your father and mother in the future, they should have nothing to grieve about."
Her words, "Aunt Chu," completely pulled Xiao Qingyuan out of his dream.
Yes, in his dream, Chu Yanluo was not his concubine; she was always "Miss Chu".
It's clear that it was just an absurd dream, not real.
The room fell silent again. Shen Wantang's attitude was indifferent, so Xiao Qingyuan couldn't stay in her room any longer.
He gave her a deep look, then left.
Even after returning to Xinghe Courtyard, Shen Wantang's indifferent appearance remained in his mind. He used to think that her lack of closeness to him was an act, but now he knew that she wasn't faking it; she genuinely disliked him.
But something strange happened; the more aloof she became, the more ethereal he felt she was.
He was so lost in thought that he didn't hear Huayi calling him several times.
"Your Highness?"
When Huayi called him but he didn't respond, she tugged at his sleeve and said, "What are you thinking about, Your Highness? It's time to rest. Let me help you change your clothes!"
Xiao Qingyuan nodded and stood up.
With his clothes half off, Mo Ji came in and said, "Master, a maid from Consort Chu's courtyard has come to report that Consort Chu has fallen ill. What do you think..."
"Is Yanlu sick?"
Xiao Qingyuan frowned, then quickly put his clothes back on: "Go and see, maybe he's gotten sick from kneeling for a whole day and night for me."
He took Moji and Huayi to Qingwu Courtyard, but when he returned, only Moji and Huayi were there.
Xiao Qingyuan was forced to stay overnight at Qingwu Courtyard by Chu Yanluo.
Mo Ji glanced at Hua Yi and saw that she had her head down and her face showed no abnormality, but the handkerchief in her hand was tightly clenched together.
She's probably unwilling to accept this, isn't she?
Chu Yanluo knelt all night and won back the prince's heart; the prince treated Chu Yanluo differently after all.
Hua Yi was indeed unwilling at this moment. The prince had clearly promised her that he would promote her after he came out of the woodshed.
However, on his first night away, he first went to the Crown Princess's courtyard, and then slept in Chu Yanluo's courtyard. He completely forgot about her!
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
