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

Xiao Lie nodded and turned to leave, but as he crossed the gate of the Kang Prince's Mansion, he couldn't help but turn back and speak in a low voice.

"If you ever need any help in the future, feel free to come to me. I may not be able to help with big things, but I can still offer some assistance with small matters."

Shen Qinglan was taken aback, and a hint of warmth appeared in her eyes.

This Prince Xiao repeatedly showed her kindness, and she could sense that he truly understood her difficulties as the Princess Consort of Kang.

She paused for a moment, nodded, and silently memorized that dashing and unrestrained figure.

The maidservant came forward to support her, her face showing worry.

"Miss, you're being too impulsive. What if the Prince holds a grudge and takes it out on you later..."

"If I don't do this, won't he take his anger out on me? I can't live like this anyway. If he wants to break off relations, he can come and confront me. I want to see who loses face more."

King Kang is preoccupied with the wives of his ministers and neglects his principal wife. If King Kang pushes her too far, she can simply make a scene. In that case, no one will be better off.

The maid sighed inwardly, her worries growing. She wondered whether her mistress's sudden change in demeanor was a good thing or a bad thing.

As expected, when he learned that Xiao Lie had left just like that, the Prince of Kang was shocked. After asking him in detail, he learned that he had a considerable debt.

He was so angry that he vomited blood. He hurriedly went to Qingyiyuan, only to see Shen Qinglan holding a jade cup, sitting upright at the table. Her eyebrows and eyes were indifferent, as if she had expected this moment long ago.

Seeing this, Jiang Heng became even more furious.

"You foolish woman, do you even know what you've done? I only asked you to send Xiao Lie away, why did you take it upon yourself to assume this debt?"

A surge of anger welled up inside Jiang Heng, burning within him and making him feel panicked.

Xiao Lie has already caused him great harm by distorting the truth and fabricating lies, making him bear the brunt of Liu's messy debt. Now, Shen Qinglan, as the Princess Consort, not only fails to protect the interests of the Prince's Mansion but also indulges Xiao Lie's absurd demands. What does she take the Kang Prince's Mansion for? Xiao Lie's backyard?

Jiang Heng's eyes were bloodshot as he stared intently at the woman in green.

But Shen Qinglan remained unmoved, and even the expression between her eyebrows and eyes did not change much. She only slightly raised her eyes, and a hint of mocking cold light flashed in her eyes.

"Since Your Highness is so decisive, why should I, an ignorant woman, be put in charge?"

"I...I..."

Jiang Heng's face flushed red as he turned around and angrily flung his sleeves.

He can't very well say that he pushed people out to quell the farce and clean up the mess, can he?

Shen Qinglan curled her lips slightly, a mocking smile playing on her lips.

"Your Highness usually ignores me and is very harsh on me. Now that Xiao Lie has come to our door, Your Highness is afraid that he will be humiliated and unable to face him, so he sent me away. I would like to ask Your Highness a question then: In Your Highness's heart, what am I?"

"A clay doll devoid of joy or sorrow? A shameless ornament? A lowly maidservant at the beck and call of the prince? All the noblewomen in the capital envy my good marriage, but who knows the bitterness and helplessness within? If I had known this would happen, why would I have married into the prince's mansion? I would have been better off marrying an ordinary commoner. At least I would have had a husband who would have been kind to me, and I wouldn't have had to suffer such humiliation."

"You...you married me, and you're really that unhappy?"

Jiang Heng was born into a noble family, was renowned for his virtue, and possessed outstanding talent and appearance. He never imagined that one day he would be so disliked.

In the eyes of his "good princess," he was actually inferior to an ordinary commoner.

"Very well, since the Princess is so aloof, then there's no need to concern yourself with the affairs of the household. Just enjoy your peaceful days at Qingyi Garden."

With just a single sentence, she stripped Shen Qinglan of her housekeeping power and the key to the mausoleum, leaving all the servants of Qingyi Garden trembling on the ground. But Shen Qinglan remained expressionless, as if she hadn't heard a thing.

Yunxiu, the personal maid, had red eyes and was filled with tears, feeling heartbroken for her mistress.

"Miss has endured so much neglect and hardship since marrying into the Prince's mansion, and has never been disrespectful. Now, with just a few words, the Prince has turned his back on her without mercy. The Prince's heart is harder than stone."

She had initially thought her young mistress's attitude was too cold and hard, but now it seemed that her mistress was the one who was truly clear-headed and understanding. A heartless and cold-blooded man like the prince was not worth entrusting anything to.

Shen Qinglan reached out and wiped away her tears, sighing softly, "Why are you crying? It's not like I didn't expect this outcome. Now that we've torn things up and talked things out, it might not be a bad thing."

Yunxiu buried her face in her knees and began to sob, "I just feel it's unfair to you, Miss."

"Alright, if you keep crying, you'll look really pathetic, and those crooked-headed maids and old women will look down on us for nothing."

Hearing this, the little girl reluctantly wiped away her tears and snorted.

"Miss, don't worry, Yunxiu will protect you. Even if the prince takes away the power of housekeeping and the key, the entire manor will not look down on you. If any unruly servants dare to cause trouble, Yunxiu will be the first to rush up and tear their faces to shreds."

Shen Qinglan couldn't help but smile. Yunxiu had been with her since childhood and was extremely loyal. She was one of the few sources of comfort for her in the palace, and a warm feeling welled up in her heart.

"With you here, how much harder can life get?"

Moreover, the Shen family is a noble and prestigious family. No matter what, Prince Kang and Consort Xian wouldn't dare to treat her too badly, which is the source of her confidence to break off relations.

Meanwhile, Jiang Heng returned to his room and smashed things all over the floor, his eyes red and his breathing heavy with anger. But after he calmed down, he suddenly realized something was wrong.

Shen has always been submissive and is a well-known model of virtue in the capital. Why would such a person suddenly talk back to him? Could it be that she was provoked by those people?

Jiang Heng felt something was amiss and called the butler over to inquire, but the butler shook his head and claimed to know nothing.

"I was too far away to hear the few words the Princess and Prince Xiao exchanged, but Prince Xiao returned and seemed hesitant to speak. The Princess also appeared moved by him. It seems the two of them..."

Jiang Heng felt a chill run down his spine and spoke in a deep voice.

"What do you mean? Tell me!"

The butler trembled and stammered, "The two seem less distant and more harmonious than usual."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Heng immediately felt like he was wearing a green hat.

He said that the reason why the Shen family suddenly became so strange was because Xiao Lie was instigating them behind the scenes.

He slammed his hand on the table, his eyes wide and his teeth clenched.

"This Xiao Lie is really going too far. Does he really think I can't do anything about him?"

As his thoughts raced, the young man's eyes turned sinister, and he had already formed an idea.

"Uncle Jiang, please take a message to the Wang residence later and tell him that I have something to discuss with him."