Chapter 472 The Crown Prince's Concubine
Shen Wantang's words not only eased the furrowed brows of Prince Ning, but also relieved the tension in Princess Ning's heart, and gave Xiao Qingyuan a way out.
The atmosphere in the room immediately eased considerably, and the previous tension was gone.
Xiao Qingyuan's gaze fell on Shen Wantang. Every time she helped him out of a predicament, he felt that she was the most suitable person to be the Crown Prince's consort.
His mother and father were always very picky and looked down on others. Shen Wantang was of humble origin, but she had the ability to appease them and resolve any chaos.
Xiao Qingyuan even felt a slight regret. He shouldn't have made such a promise to Liu Nanshi. If Shen Wantang really left the Prince's Mansion, no one would ever help him out of such a predicament again.
Besides regret, he also felt a little touched and a little guilty.
Last night, he had just told Shen Wantang about the divorce. His tone was very harsh, and he didn't give Shen Wantang any face. He even mentioned making her a concubine and Liu Nanshi a wife.
However, Shen Wantang was very magnanimous. Not only did she not mind his outrageous remarks last night, she even spoke up for him.
He almost listened to his sister and had someone kill this woman!
It's a good thing he didn't agree to his sister's request, otherwise he would have felt even more guilty towards Shen Wantang today.
From the head of the table came the displeased voice of Princess Ning: "Qingyuan, what are you daydreaming about? Tang'er is asking you a question, why aren't you answering? Do you really want to become someone's son-in-law?"
"Mother, I—"
Before Xiao Qingyuan could finish speaking, Princess Ning interrupted him: "If you really want to marry into the Liu family, your father and I will not stop you. However, we will no longer acknowledge you as our son. After all, if you marry into the Liu family, all your children will have to take the Liu family name. We can't afford to lose face like that. Think it over carefully before you answer me."
Xiao Qingyuan shook his head and followed Shen Wantang's lead, saying, "I was just acting impulsively, which is why I said those things. My surname is Xiao, so naturally, my future children will also have the surname Xiao."
Princess Ning breathed a sigh of relief; at least he didn't really want to marry into the family.
Her son's thought process is quite different from ordinary people; he always does some inexplicable things. Given his personality, it's not impossible that he might actually run off to the Liu family to marry into their family if he gets really angry!
Fortunately, Shen Wantang helped to calm Xiao Qingyuan down; otherwise, they might have ended up arguing again and things would have gotten really tense.
Princess Ning looked at Shen Wantang with satisfaction in her eyes: "Tang'er, you came just in time. If you hadn't come, your father and I would have been driven to our deaths by Qingyuan. I don't know what he's thinking all day long. The heir of the royal family actually wants to marry into the family. Only he could do something like that!"
Shen Wantang smiled gently at her mother-in-law and said calmly, "Mother, don't you understand the young master? The young master only has a sincere heart, nothing else. He doesn't know anything about marrying into a family. He probably listened to someone's instigation and spoke without thinking."
"Besides, the young master already has me as his legal wife, so where would he go to marry into the family? His father-in-law's surname is Shen, not Liu."
"Your Highness will never marry into the family, so please rest assured!"
Princess Ning's heart skipped a beat. She and Prince Ning exchanged a glance and both saw the answer in each other's eyes—who else could be so bewitching their son? It must be that Liu Nanshi!
Prince Ning spoke coldly: "Qingyuan, today Tang'er pleaded for you, so I won't hold your reckless words against you. However, don't even think about marrying Liu Nanshi as your principal wife. In our Prince Ning's mansion, Tang'er is the only heir apparent. Your mother and I will not acknowledge anyone else!"
Princess Ning nodded: "Yes, we don't recognize anyone else, we only recognize Tang'er!"
Xiao Qingyuan became anxious: "Father, Mother, how could you do this? I have wronged Nan Shi, and I should take responsibility for her! Am I just going to ruin her reputation and pretend nothing happened? Would I even be human?"
Prince Ning and Princess Ning were naturally very troubled by their son's actions that had ruined Liu Nanshi's reputation, but they would never agree to expel Shen Wantang from the palace and allow Liu Nanshi to enter.
Putting everything else aside, how come Liu Nanshi is as easy to talk to as Shen Wantang?
Shen Wantang's family was weak, and her relationship with them was just so-so. So she devoted herself to managing the household in the Prince's Mansion and rarely went back to her family home. She was able to handle any messes her family made well and never caused them any trouble.
The Liu family is very powerful. The Liu family elder and his wife are both arrogant and look down on people like the Ning Prince's Mansion who have no real power.
Who would want to be related to someone like that by marriage?
Seeing that Prince Ning and Princess Ning were silent, Shen Wantang knew that they were also troubled by this matter. It would be unreasonable not to give the Liu family an explanation. Shen Wantang was unwilling to let Liu Nanshi become the Crown Prince's wife, and neither were her parents-in-law.
She spoke softly, "Mother, why don't you and the Crown Prince each take a step back?"
Princess Ning knew immediately that she must have a solution. Her spirits lifted, and she quickly asked, "How can we compromise?"
"In the past, such things did happen in the capital. Young men and women would have marital relations before marriage, and in order to silence gossip, they would usually get married."
Shen Wantang said calmly and composedly, "Let the young master take Miss Liu as his concubine!"
Princess Ning was taken aback. She disliked Liu Nanshi very much and didn't want her to enter the Ning Prince's residence at all. But what could she do if she couldn't let her in? Becoming the heir apparent's concubine seemed like a pretty good idea.
Xiao Qingyuan objected angrily, saying, "Shen Wantang, what kind of terrible idea is this! 'Concubine' is just a fancy name; a concubine is still just a concubine! How can Nan Shi be a concubine?"
"Are you doing this on purpose? Last night you said you wanted Nan Shi to be your concubine, but I rejected you. Today you brought it up again in front of Father and Mother. You're just jealous of Nan Shi and want to outdo her!"
"No wonder Qingxi said you're scheming; you're truly despicable!"
Shen Wantang looked completely innocent: "Then what does Your Highness suggest we do? Should I sacrifice myself, resign, and give up my place to your Miss Nan Shi?"
"Then what am I supposed to do? Be homeless? Watch helplessly as you and her are all lovey-dovey while I live a miserable and pathetic life, making myself a laughingstock?"
"The Crown Prince himself said, 'Are there really such foolish people in this world?'"
"I believe I have already been very generous by offering Miss Liu to be the young master's concubine. Young master, please don't push your luck!"
Xiao Qingyuan was both angry and helpless. After all, Shen Wantang's words made sense, and he didn't know where to begin to refute them.
He was sullen for a while, then finally looked at Princess Ning: "Mother, I do not agree to let Nan Shi be my concubine! It is too disgraceful to her! I think the best solution is for me to divorce Shen Wantang and marry Nan Shi as the Crown Prince's wife. Only then will the title of principal wife be worthy of her!"
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