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

Qiu Niang lowered her eyes, seemingly wanting to speak but holding back.

"If you don't mind, young master, Qiu Niang... is willing to serve you as your servant."

"Well... to be honest, I already have a wife at home."

"Even if it's just a bed warmer, Qiu Niang is willing. To be honest, young master, now that my father has passed away, Qiu Niang has nowhere to go. Why don't you go all the way and take Qiu Niang in?"

The woman nervously twisted her fingers, looking increasingly haggard and pitiful.

"Or is it that the young master finds Qiu Niang too ugly and is unwilling to take her in?"

A gentle breeze ruffled her dark hair, making Qiu Niang, who was dressed in a loose mourning gown, appear even more slender. She raised her bright, watery eyes, her small face pale and incredibly beautiful, hardly resembling the word "ugly."

But Qiu Niang seemed unaware. Seeing that Xiao Lie did not answer, she bit her lip in embarrassment, covered her face, and left.

"It's all wishful thinking on Qiu Niang's part. Qiu Niang will leave now and will never bother you, young master. Even if Qiu Niang has to eat chaff and wild vegetables and live in a dilapidated temple, Qiu Niang will never appear before you, young master."

With all this back and forth, which spoiled brat could withstand it?

Sure enough, Qiu Niang had only walked a few steps when someone grabbed her arm. She turned around hesitantly, her eyes filled with hope, and she met a face full of inner turmoil and wavering.

She smiled inwardly, her voice growing even gentler, "Young Master is in such a predicament; it is Qiu Niang who has caused you trouble. Qiu Niang understands..."

Before she could finish speaking, she saw that the young man in front of her had already made up his mind and said solemnly.

"Sixteen, escort Qiu Niang back to the manor and have the steward arrange for her to stay. Just say it was my order."

Qiu Niang bowed gracefully, concealing the smug look in her eyes.

"Young master, you are so kind."

……

As soon as Qiu Niang entered the mansion, news about her spread like wildfire throughout the entire Duke's mansion. Countless maids and servants were discussing whether the Duke's mansion would have a new mistress in the future.

A maid twisted her waist, which was shaped like a water bucket, and snorted coldly.

"No matter how tolerant and kind the young master is, he cannot tolerate an adulterous slut riding on his head. That slut is already lucky to be locked up and well taken care of in Qingzhi Courtyard. As for anything else, she shouldn't even think about it."

Even a young maid was indignant.

"Yes, the prince treats her so well, but she just doesn't appreciate it. She does shameful things that break his heart. No wonder he wants to find someone else. I think, maybe in the future, the title of prince's wife will fall on that Qiu Niang's head."

Although Xiao Lie was a womanizer, he only indulged in drinking and music with women and never brought anyone back to his residence. Now, a beautiful woman suddenly appeared in his mansion, and Xiao Lie even agreed to let her stay. This inevitably caused the servants to speculate wildly, and some even harbored thoughts of currying favor with him.

Inside Qingzhi Courtyard, listening to the maids gossiping, Chunxue, unable to contain her anger, threw out a pot of cold water, soaking the maids' skirts.

The maids, who had been looking angry, immediately shut up when they saw her, not daring to even breathe loudly.

Chunxue stood with her hands on her hips and sneered.

"You bunch of motherless wretches, born of mothers but raised without mothers, living the life of servants yet worrying about the minds of masters. Don't you even know your own worth? If you didn't know better, you'd think you were the ones living in the Hibiscus Courtyard."

"Everyone's eyes are glued to that woman in Furong Garden. What, are they seeing the Crown Princess fall from grace and thinking they can follow in Qiu Niang's footsteps, climb the social ladder, and enjoy wealth and luxury?"

"Pah! A slut is a slut. Once a slave, always a servant, she'll only ever be trampled on."

They were all fourteen or fifteen-year-old girls, and Chunxue's direct and vicious insults instantly made them blush and their eyes well up with tears. One of the girls couldn't take it anymore, raised her sleeve to wipe her tears, and retorted.

"Sister Chunxue, you've gone too far! You're the Crown Princess's personal maid, so we dare not say anything, but go and ask around the entire Duke's mansion. Who doesn't think the Crown Princess is about to fall out of favor?"

"You're just upset, why are you taking it out on us little maids?"

The other maids couldn't help but echo this.

"Yeah, if you're so capable... go and shut the others up."

Seeing that these maids still dared to be stubborn, Chunxue gritted her teeth and glared angrily. She immediately stepped forward to give them two slaps to set them up, but the maids only saw her raise her hand and then quickly scattered.

Chunxue returned to the house holding her breath, only to be surprised to see the woman sitting in front of the dressing mirror, applying makeup.

Chunxue froze, immediately kneeling down, her face pale. "Miss..."

Lin Wan'er should have been asleep, but she woke up at some point. It seems she heard everything that was said earlier. Thinking of this, Chunxue was so angry that she wanted to tear the mouths of those talking nonsense maids to shreds right then and there.

They angered their master, but now they're implicating her...

But right now, Chunxue could only lower her head even further.

Lin Wan'er suddenly smiled, but there was no smile in her eyes.

"Why are you so nervous? Do you think I'll be angry? I don't like him at all, that spoiled brat; I'd be happy to keep him far away from me."

Chunxue felt a slight joy in her heart, thinking that she could escape a disaster. Just as she was about to look up and say a few words, she saw countless pieces of jewelry being swept away by Lin Wan'er. The woman raised her chin and her face was distorted.

"No matter what, I am still the daughter of the Minister's family. Xiao Lie brought back a peasant girl who relied on her family for support. His taste is... truly terrible."

"Miss, don't you dislike Xiao Lie?"

"I don't like it. I'm also a princess consort, and Xiao Lie openly brought her back. Isn't that a slap in my face?"

A hint of hatred flashed in Lin Wan'er's eyes. This Xiao Lie said how much he liked her, but once he met someone else, wouldn't he forget her in the blink of an eye?

As for Qiu Niang, she was someone arranged by her and the Third Prince, so she naturally knew what was going on. Their script didn't include Qiu Niang moving into the Duke's mansion. Qiu Niang was here entirely because of Xiao Lie's favor.

"What a Xiao Lie! He's truly heartless and fickle."

The thought of this stirred a strange, twisted jealousy within Lin Wan'er. She sat here, alone in her empty room, while Xiao Lie held a beautiful woman in his arms… What right did Xiao Lie have?

The hidden guards watched this scene from the shadows, scratched their faces, and were somewhat puzzled.

Xiao Lie raised an eyebrow slightly, his voice rising.

"You mean, Lin Wan'er was furious when she found out I brought Qiu Niang back?"

"Yes, I think she seems to be jealous."

Otherwise, why would she react so strongly?

But Xiao Lie gave a cold laugh, directly rejecting his guess. Such words might fool the original owner, but they were useless to him; he wouldn't believe them.

"Lin Wan'er's personality isn't jealousy; she's clearly worried about her unstable position, afraid that she can no longer control this young master and no longer have the power to make things happen in the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion, and that's why she's uneasy."