Chapter 130 Who doesn't praise the Crown Princess's magnanimity!
"Princess Consort, I'm not making this up. That's what everyone's saying outside, and it was spread by the servants of the Shen family. They all know that Madam and Young Master Liao haven't consummated their marriage, and they don't even sleep in the same room!"
Although Qin Xin was very gossipy and wanted to confide in someone, she was also afraid that Shen Wantang would be saddened if he heard the words "not consummating the marriage" and would remember that she herself had not consummated the marriage with the prince.
She said in a very low voice, "They said before that it was because Young Master Liao was focused on his studies and preparing for next year's imperial examination that he abstained from women and lived alone. Now it seems that he has indeed abstained from women, because he is attracted to men."
Shen Wantang shook her head and said nothing more.
Liao Youhe was indeed attracted to men, but in his previous life, he had always been very careful and strict in keeping this secret, and he dared not let her know.
To cover up his affair, he even found a man with a similar build to consummate their marriage. After she discovered the truth, he kept apologizing and asked his younger siblings to plead for him.
Because at that time, she controlled everything in the house, both inside and out. The maids and servants were all her people, she earned all the money, she managed his younger brothers and sisters, and even his shrewish and shameless mother relied entirely on her care. She had absolute power in the Liao family.
Liao Youhe never dared to say "no" to her. For ten years, he was obedient and submissive. When he occasionally went out to find other men, he would carefully avoid her so as not to make her feel disgusted with him if she found out.
However, now, Liao Youhe dares to run to Wanye Tower. He has some reservations about Shen Mingxuan, but it doesn't seem like he has too many.
Otherwise, he should have waited until he passed the imperial examination next year before revealing his true nature.
The news of the Shen family's affair quickly reached Princess Ning's ears and spread throughout the capital.
Princess Ning didn't care about the troubles in the Shen family. She just said to Granny Quan with relief, "Luckily, I chose Tang'er back then. If it had been Madam Shen, I'm afraid our family would not have had any peace either. I've heard that she is not a kind person."
Granny Quan nodded repeatedly: "That's right, Madam Shen and her mother beat up her mother-in-law, her brother-in-law and sister-in-law. Her mother-in-law is now homeless with her children!"
"What about Liao Youhe?"
"He's still being held at Wanye Tower. The Liao family doesn't have the money to ransom him, and the Shen family isn't willing to pay the ransom either. He's probably doing hard labor at Wanye Tower right now!"
Princess Ning sighed, "He's quite the troublemaker. I used to think Yuan'er was outrageous, but compared to him, at least Yuan'er likes women, so there's still hope for him, don't you think?"
So people are all relative. No matter how bad Xiao Qingyuan is, he wouldn't sleep with a male prostitute at Wanye Tower. Chu Yanluo, on the other hand, is a girl, and a respectable girl at that.
Granny Quan quickly agreed, and added, "Our young master is just a little too devoted and infatuated. As long as he is properly guided, there is no need to worry about him not returning to the right path. The young master's wife you chose for him is both beautiful and talented. One day, the young master will realize his mistake and return to the right path."
Mentioning her son, Princess Ning suddenly remembered that he was still ill: "Is Yuan'er feeling any better? Is he still refusing to eat? Isn't he afraid of starving himself to death?"
Granny Quan bowed and replied, "The young master still has recurring fevers, but Huayi is serving him now. Huayi is meticulous and coaxes him to take his medicine on time, and she also makes him different kinds of food. Although the young master doesn't eat much, he has managed to eat some."
Princess Ning felt relieved, and her tone revealed a sense of satisfaction: "Tang'er is so thoughtful. She allocated the most detailed painting to Yuan'er. It's all thanks to her generosity. As soon as Chu Yanluo left, she brought up the painting."
Granny Quan also felt that Shen Wantang did an impeccable job in this regard. Anyone who saw her would praise her for being generous and magnanimous: "The Crown Princess has the demeanor of a matriarch. She is more dignified and poised than many young ladies raised by noble families."
"It is indeed inappropriate for the young master to have only Mo Ji by his side. Chu Yanluo is too jealous and instigated the young master to get rid of all the maids around him. As soon as she left, the young master's wife immediately assigned maids to the young master. The difference in their status is obvious."
Princess Ning was extremely pleased with her daughter-in-law at this moment: "Tang'er is really capable. I've tried to give that scoundrel maids before, I've tried all kinds of maids, fat and thin Yan Huan, and he didn't want any of them. I also gave him Huayi, but he refused that one too. How come he accepted it when Tang'er gave it to him? Did Tang'er say something to him?"
"As far as this old servant knows, the Crown Princess didn't say anything. She just let the Crown Prince choose a maid. At that time, there were only Qin Xin, Du Juan, and Hua Yi in the room, so the Crown Prince chose Hua Yi."
Princess Ning found it unbelievable: "It's that simple?"
That's right.
"But I arranged six or seven maids for him back then, all of them beautiful and well-behaved, including Huayi. Moreover, Huayi wasn't even the most outstanding one, and that scoundrel didn't even choose one!"
Granny Quan seemed to have grasped the situation: "Perhaps it's because you gave the young master too many choices, and he didn't know which one to choose, so he simply didn't want any of them."
"The Crown Princess only gave the Crown Prince three choices, two of which were not to his liking. In comparison, Huayi stood out, so the Crown Prince subconsciously chose Huayi."
"In addition, the timing of your son's attempt to place the person was not quite right, but the Crown Princess just happened to seize the moment when the Crown Prince was most vulnerable and needed someone to take care of him, so she was able to succeed immediately."
Princess Ning was stunned for a moment, then turned to look at Granny Quan: "This move seems to be from Sun Tzu's Art of War... attacking the mind?"
Granny Quan had never read Sun Tzu's Art of War, but she felt that the phrase "winning hearts and minds" was quite apt: "It should be."
Princess Ning's expression gradually turned solemn: "Granny, it seems we've really struck gold this time. Our Crown Princess is no ordinary woman; she possesses great wisdom!"
Granny Quan nodded. She had already told the Princess that Shen Wantang was really different. She had clearly seen through the ways of the world, but she did not despise any worldly matters. She had found a balance in this mundane world. No matter how the outside world wavered, her heart remained firm and steadfast, and she was content.
If it were any other woman, married to a husband like Xiao Qingyuan, facing a formidable opponent like Chu Yanluo, she would either break down or cry several times, and might even harbor resentment.
But Shen Wantang did not. She dealt with these things calmly and composedly. She rarely coaxed Xiao Qingyuan. Instead, she often came to Shaoguang Courtyard to coax her mother-in-law and persuade the princess to think positively, which gradually broadened her mind.
She generously provided the prince with a beautiful maid, which also relieved the princess of a worry that had been on her mind. She had always hoped that a maid could meticulously manage the trivial matters around the prince.
These trivial matters are naturally not for the Crown Princess to handle. She is the mistress of the household and does not need to worry about these things. What she should be in charge of are the important affairs of the Prince's Mansion.
Hua Yi was the princess's favorite candidate, but she failed to deliver the painting. However, Shen Wantang succeeded in delivering it.
Even Granny Quan admired him; with the young master's stubborn temper, it was truly not something an ordinary person could control.
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