Chapter 245 Xiao Qingyuan's Reputation Takes a Dramatic Turnaround
Xiao Qingyuan was stunned: "What did you say?"
"Your Highness is truly righteous! You sacrificed yourself to bring the corrupt official's daughter back to the palace, and then used her to pretend to rescue the official. When the official went to look for the silver, you caught him red-handed! Your Highness is so clever!"
Xiao Qingyuan was stunned: "Huh? Is that so...? How come I didn't know that myself..."
Mo Ji, who was next to him, quickly tugged at his sleeve, signaling him not to blurt out the truth.
Xiao Qingyuan came to his senses: "Oh, that should be right, you're right."
As soon as he finished speaking, several more people gathered around, their eyes filled with admiration as they looked at Xiao Qingyuan.
"I originally thought the Crown Prince had taken a fancy to that corrupt official's daughter and wanted to bring her back to the palace as a concubine, but who knew that the Crown Prince would directly send her to the Ministry of Justice prison! It's really unexpected!"
"What are you talking about? The young master was probably just afraid that Magistrate Ye's daughter would run away, so he brought her back to the Prince's mansion. The Prince's mansion and the young master have done a great service this time. Otherwise, who knows when the corrupt official's embezzled silver would have been found!"
"Oh dear, I must apologize to the young master. This morning, I was scolding him, thinking he couldn't distinguish right from wrong and even wanted to save a corrupt official and his daughter. It turns out it wasn't like that at all!"
“How could the young master be unable to distinguish right from wrong? He is just kind-hearted, but when it comes to corrupt officials like Magistrate Ye, he shows no mercy!”
"Young Master Xiao truly deserves to be called the most handsome man in our capital. He is both handsome and intelligent. I think he is much better than Second Young Master Gu. He is too heartless and cold-blooded. He is not as genuine and passionate as Young Master Xiao!"
"Your Highness, will you still take a concubine? A hero like you has too few concubines! My daughter is sixteen years old, beautiful as a flower, gentle and virtuous. Your Highness, please take her!"
Surrounded by a group of people praising him, Xiao Qingyuan felt a little dizzy and flattered.
His fame and popularity are so high now?
This was the first time in his life that he had heard someone say that he was much better than that genius Gu Qianhan!
There were too many people surrounding him, and it took him a lot of effort to get back to the palace.
Overwhelmed with joy, Xiao Qingyuan was eager to share his success with someone, and naturally, Shen Wantang was his first choice.
Because it was Shen Wantang who told his father and mother about him helping Ye Lingyun, which not only got him a scolding but also locked him in the woodshed, where he almost froze to death.
Now, he finally has a chance to turn the tide!
He took exceptionally long strides and walked exceptionally fast, so much so that Moji could only jog to keep up.
In no time, he went to Wutong Garden.
"Shen Wantang!"
Before seeing Xiao Qingyuan, Shen Wantang heard his voice. She put down her pen, paused her calligraphy practice, and waited for him to come in.
The curtain was lifted, and Xiao Qingyuan, bringing a chill with him, strode quickly to her.
"Shen Wantang, what do you have to say now?"
His seemingly random question left everyone in the room stunned.
Only Shen Wantang knew the truth. She remained seated and asked calmly, "What is the young master talking about?"
"I'm talking about Ye Lingyun and Magistrate Ye! I did nothing wrong in helping Ye Lingyun, and I did nothing wrong in bringing her back to the Prince's Mansion! The one who's wrong is you!"
"Oh, really?"
Seeing her calm reaction, Xiao Qingyuan couldn't help but raise his voice: "You even complained to my mother back then, saying that I was meddling in other people's business and helped the daughter of a corrupt official. Have you forgotten all that?"
“I haven’t forgotten. I still believe that the Crown Prince should not have helped her.”
"Ha, Shen Wantang, I always thought you were quite intelligent and capable, but it turns out you're actually quite short-sighted!"
Qin Xin and the others frowned upon hearing this.
Shen Wantang remained calm, her face showing no anger or displeasure, only a serene indifference: "Next time something like this happens, it would be best if the young master didn't get involved."
"I told you you're short-sighted, but you wouldn't admit it."
Xiao Qingyuan looked at her, his expression becoming confident and arrogant: "If something like this happens again, I will still step in!"
"It was because I helped her this time that I gained Ye Lingyun's trust. I rescued her father from prison, and both she and her father believed it and lowered their guard. That's how the Imperial Guards followed the clues and found the million taels of silver that Ye Chongli had embezzled!"
"Without me, would this case have been solved so quickly? Would the money have been recovered so soon?"
"Do you know how people are praising me now? They all say I'm righteous, that I'm a hero who caught a big corrupt official!"
"Those who used to criticize me are now apologizing to me!"
"Shen Wantang, shouldn't you apologize to me too?"
A hint of surprise finally appeared on Shen Wantang's usually calm face: "I still have to apologize to the Crown Prince?"
"Of course! I am your husband. A woman should obey her husband after marriage. No matter what I do, you should support me, instead of running to my mother to report me for something you don't approve of, causing me to be scolded!"
Shen Wantang shook her head and didn't say anything.
Xiao Qingyuan frowned: "Shen Wantang, I used to apologize to you when I did something wrong, so why are you so unwilling to apologize to me now?"
Shen Wantang calmly said, "Because I did nothing wrong."
"You won't admit your mistake?!"
“You are not wrong, so there is no need to admit it. You should not have gotten involved in Magistrate Ye’s case in the first place; you are the one who is wrong.”
Xiao Qingyuan's face turned ashen with anger: "Shen Wantang, I never expected you to be this kind of person! Fine, you don't believe that Magistrate Ye's case was solved because of my intervention, right? Then I'll solve another case and show you!"
After he finished speaking, he flicked his sleeves and stormed off.
Everyone in the room was stunned and felt frustrated by his outburst.
Shen Wantang acted as if he had never been there, picked up his brush again, dipped it in ink, and continued practicing calligraphy.
Du Juan tried to hold back, but finally couldn't help but complain in a low voice, "The Crown Prince is really too much. How could he make the Crown Princess apologize? Crown Princess, why don't you tell the Crown Prince that you helped him reverse his reputation?"
"Originally, everyone outside was cursing the young master. It was you who found someone in the crowd to speak on his behalf, saying that he took in Ye Lingyun to help solve the case. It was also you who had someone say that the young master deliberately rescued Magistrate Ye, just to cast a long line to catch a big fish."
"As a result, the Crown Prince took it seriously. He now seems to think that this is exactly what he thought and did."
"But back then, he didn't think Magistrate Ye had embezzled at all. He felt sorry for Ye Lingyun's plight and was determined to help Magistrate Ye clear his name. He was even tricked by Ye Lingyun into bribing the jailer to release Magistrate Ye. He almost ruined the entire Prince's Mansion!"
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