Even the crown prince is getting a marriage of convenience? Why are you in such a hurry to stop bein

"What a fool! That third prince was just using her..."

She was foolish enough to actually play the villain, offending the Shen family, who held considerable power and prestige in the court. Although the Shen family was not as respectable and noble as the Meng family, even a rabbit will bite when cornered.

However, the enemy of my enemy is my friend. Since Jiang Heng doesn't like him, he's going to lend a hand.

With that thought in mind, Xiao Lie walked out leisurely.

"Wait, what did Princess Jingrong just say?"

Shen Qinglan's face turned pale and then red, her chest heaving with anger as she stared intently at him, a hint of grievance flashing in her delicate, beautiful eyes.

Shen Qinglan gripped the maid's hand tightly, forcing herself to speak, "Young Master Xiao, I have no grudge against you, why do you join with others to insult me?"

It was common knowledge in the capital that Xiao Lie liked Lin Wan'er, and since Lin Wan'er disliked Shen Qinglan, it was natural that he also disliked Shen Qinglan. Thinking of this, Meng Yueyao immediately straightened her back and sneered.

"Do I have to say it again? You're a barren hen. If you had any shame, you should have asked to step down and give way to a more capable person."

Xiao Lie scoffed. "Are they not even going to act anymore?"

Meng Yue was basking in the praise of the noble ladies, feeling quite pleased with herself, when she suddenly heard his cold laugh, and her face flushed slightly.

"Young Master Xiao, why did you sneer just now? Do you think I was wrong?"

"Of the three unfilial acts, the greatest is to have no offspring, which is indeed true. But this is a matter concerning the inner quarters of the Kang Prince's residence. How has it fallen into the hands of a mere woman from another household, the Princess? Could it be that, without others' knowledge, the Princess has already become the mistress of the Prince's residence?"

He stroked his chin, clicked his tongue twice, and spoke loudly, "I've long heard that the princess is deeply in love with Prince Kang and has admired him for a long time. You so confidently and unilaterally blamed the lack of an heir on the princess. Could it be that you've already tried it?"

His gaze lingered on Meng Yue's lower abdomen, and he gradually realized what was going on.

"Princess, you are truly remarkable."

These words immediately sparked whispers among those around them.

"What does this mean? Does it mean that Princess Jingrong and Prince Kang have been in contact for some time and have been exchanging gifts privately?"

"More than that. Before even entering the manor, she's already putting on airs like a princess. I'm afraid she's already pregnant. Is this a ploy to gain power through her child and force Princess Kang to step down?"

"Tsk tsk, first there was his childhood sweetheart who married someone else, and now there's his cousin from a noble family. Prince Kang is truly blessed. He's of noble birth, after all. He doesn't have to do anything, yet a bunch of women come rushing to him. We common folk can't compare..."

Meng Yue's face darkened inch by inch. She gritted her teeth, her eyes turning red with anger.

"Xiao Lie, how dare you insult me? Do you want to die?"

Xiao Lie snorted coldly and glanced at her disdainfully.

"Princess, please be careful with your words. My Xiao family is a first-rank duke's mansion. My grandfather was a founding hero and the Grand Marshal of the army guarding the northern border. He protected the peace of the border for decades and made great military achievements. The only person in the world who can kill us is His Majesty. Has Your Majesty become so arrogant that you think the Meng family is so noble that you can exercise His Majesty's power and kill a son of a first-rank duke's mansion?"

"you……"

Meng Yue's face turned pale. She was stupid, but not hopelessly so. Such a huge accusation felt wrong even to her. She stammered, then quickly said...

"You...you stop talking nonsense. I'll ask you this: on what basis did you spout such nonsense and slander my relationship with Prince Kang?"

"Slander?" Xiao Lie pondered for a moment, then feigned sudden realization, "Could it be that the Princess and His Highness are actually innocent?"

He glanced at Meng Yue from head to toe, still hesitant. "I thought that Princess, you were so determined to take charge of the inner affairs of the Kang Prince's residence because you were already the undisputed next Princess Consort of Kang. It turns out... you're just meddling in other people's business?"

"Princess Kang was personally selected by Consort Xian, appointed by His Majesty, and agreed to by the Third Prince. None of her family has said anything, yet you, an outsider, are complaining. Princess Jingrong, this cousin... she's really doing a good job."

Meng Yue's face stiffened, becoming increasingly unsightly. The overwhelming murmurs around her almost drowned her out. Even the noble ladies who had come with her felt ashamed and covered their faces, afraid of ruining her reputation.

"Tsk tsk tsk, a cousin meddling in the home of her married cousin, what kind of nonsense is this?"

"Ha, what kind of unmarried woman would do such a thing? Tsk tsk tsk, what's really going on underground? It's hard to say..."

Meng Yue had never suffered such humiliation. She glared at Xiao Lie fiercely, covered her face, and ran away in a panic.

Shen Qinglan looked at the handsome profile of the young man beside her and felt a strange sensation in her heart.

She suppressed her complicated feelings, walked up to Xiao Lie, and gave him a slight bow.

"Thank you for your help, Young Master Xiao."

The woman's figure was as graceful as a willow, and her beauty was unparalleled. When she lowered her eyes slightly, her long eyelashes trembled, just like a gardenia with dew on a branch, making her appear melancholy and fragile, which made people feel sorry for her.

Xiao Lie's heart was filled with complex emotions.

This Princess Kang is quite pitiful. She was targeted by Consort Xian, who forcibly requested permission to take her away. However, after marrying into the Kang Prince's mansion, she was disliked by Jiang Heng and became a mere tool to fill a position. She also suffered humiliation from some disreputable people.

Even to an outsider like Xiao Lie, it seemed that she was truly pitiful.

This Consort Xian and her son are truly inhuman.

Shen Qinglan bit her lip slightly, a hint of confusion flashing in her eyes.

"I just don't understand why the young master is suddenly helping me, as he never did before..."

In the past, the original owner of this body was bewitched by Lin Wan'er, so naturally he treated her with disdain. But he is not the original owner of this body.

He waved his hand, "It's nothing, I just suddenly saw some things clearly and realized that I and the princess are somewhat in the same boat."

Feeling the same pain?

"What does the Crown Prince mean?"

"The Third Prince clearly loves someone else, yet he still agreed to marry you. Since he married you, he should have taken responsibility, but he neglected you and let others humiliate you. Is this the behavior of a man? Even I, an outsider, cannot stand it."

Shen Qinglan trembled, her eyes suddenly reddening. All the grievances in her heart finally found an outlet at this moment.

Yes, everyone thinks she's a hen that's just sitting there without taking any orders, but who knows, since the marriage, the Third Prince has been living in separate rooms from her and has never touched her. Who can she tell about this?

She didn't want to confide in outsiders, fearing betrayal, and she didn't want to tell her family, afraid they would worry. She never expected that her secret would be seen through by a complete stranger with whom she had never gotten along.

Even though Prince Xiao felt sorry for her, her husband was indeed the culprit behind all of this.

Shen Qinglan forced back the tears welling up in her eyes and nodded to Xiao Lie.

"Your Highness, I still have some chores to attend to at my residence, so I'll take my leave now."

Seeing her leave, Xiao Lie frowned and couldn't help but remind her.

"Your Highness, the root of all these problems lies with Jiang Heng and Lin Wan'er for being inhuman. If you are truly heartbroken for them and take the blame on yourself, then you have fallen into their trap."