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

At this moment, there was another commotion outside the Prince Kang's residence.

"A royal family like yours can't even pay back this little bit of money?"

"He's using his status as a prince to renege on his debts; where can we complain to him?"

……

This scene made the butler sweat profusely with anxiety.

He didn't know why, even though the prince had told him before leaving the mansion that he was going out to discuss the debt with the young master Xiao, not long after the prince left, these people from the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion came to his door to demand repayment.

The steward had no choice but to bite the bullet and go to Qingyi Garden to ask the princess to come out and handle the matter.

However, when Shen Qinglan learned of the purpose of the visit, she remained indifferent and gently smoothed out the messy incense ash in the burner with an incense press.

Her voice was calm and unhurried, yet it carried a chill.

"Why are you looking for me? The prince has already taken away my power as steward. What kind of princess am I now? If you want to find someone to take charge, you should go find your proper master."

The maid Yunxiu chimed in, hands on her hips, "That's right. When nothing's wrong, you treat our young lady like she's invisible, but when something happens, you expect her to step in. How shameless of you, the Prince's Mansion!"

Yunxiu had long disliked this Steward Jiang. This old man was a senior member of the Prince's Mansion. He seemed to be well-mannered and extremely respectful to the Princess, but in reality, he only listened to the Prince.

If the prince didn't agree, her young lady's words were like water off a duck's back in the mansion, carrying no weight whatsoever. With this old man as their example, the servants followed suit, treating the princess as a precious, revered deity.

Seeing the old man get his comeuppance, Yunxiu finally felt relieved and overjoyed.

"What are you still doing here? Don't you understand? My little stutterer doesn't want to see you."

The steward panicked even more, his forehead covered in sweat. He knew it was because he had offended the master and servant so badly in the past. He immediately knelt down with a "plop" and begged Shen Qinglan to go out and take charge of the situation.

"Your Highness, it is all my fault, no matter what. If you are dissatisfied, you may punish me a few times, and I will have no complaints."

"But the most important thing right now is what's happening in front of the Prince's mansion. Letting those people block the gate and shout like that—where does that leave the Prince's mansion's reputation?"

The butler felt a wave of dizziness wash over him, realizing his future was bleak.

Shen Qinglan sneered coldly, "Truly a loyal servant, still concerned about the reputation of the Prince's Mansion."

"Unfortunately, the prince may not remember this when he repeatedly had affairs with married women. Now that the prince's reputation is ruined, what's the point of me showing up? It's just a matter of being laughed at more or less."

The fact that Prince Kang had an affair with a married woman not only made him and his mansion a laughingstock, but also made Shen Qinglan an utterly humiliated figure in the entire circle of noble ladies.

Now, this person actually wants her to step forward and maintain something that no longer exists. Shen Qinglan finds it laughable.

Seeing the woman put down the incense burner, her expression cold and displeased, the steward was at a loss for what to do. Just then, several more maids rushed in, their faces filled with panic.

"Your Highness, those people are getting impatient. They can't see the person in charge, and they're making a scene and trying to force their way in. You'd better go and see, or things will really get out of hand."

The others echoed, their faces showing panic, as if they were quite frightened by the scene outside the door.

Shen Qinglan's mind wavered, and she showed slight doubt.

Xiao Lie's men are so audacious that they dare to trespass into the Prince's residence. Aren't they afraid of being punished by His Majesty?

Urged by the housekeeper and servants, Shen Qinglan hesitated for a moment before getting up and going.

The people outside were indeed making a fuss, demanding that she return the money. If she didn't, they were ready to turn the Kang Prince's mansion upside down.

Shen Qinglan had a headache from the noise, but she wasn't unwilling to actually use her own money to plug the hole.

One of them raised an eyebrow and said reluctantly.

"Before coming here, the Crown Prince instructed that this debt is related to Prince Kang and should not implicate the Princess. If the Princess finds it troublesome, the Crown Prince is willing to compromise and discuss with the Princess a solution that satisfies both parties."

"But if the princess is unwilling to even discuss it, then don't blame us for making things too awkward."

Shen Qinglan frowned, feeling as if she were being roasted over a fire. She already regretted coming out. But with so many people watching, it was too late for her to leave.

The woman took a deep breath, forced a smile, and said slowly.

"Since the young master has said so, it would be too disrespectful of me to refuse."

"Please lead the way, I'll go with you."

As for discussion, that was impossible. She had no say in the Kang Prince's household, and even if she wanted to agree, the Kang Prince might not. Shen Qinglan sighed inwardly, thinking that Xiao Lie, usually so clever, was so muddle-headed when it came to serious matters.

What good will it do to ask her to pay off debts, unless...

Unless Xiao Lie came specifically for her.

"What exactly is the meaning behind Prince Xiao's performance of this play?"

As soon as Shen Qinglan stepped into the garden, she saw that tea and snacks had already been prepared in the pavilion. Against the backdrop of the tranquil lake and the garden full of flowers, it looked quite elegant. A handsome young man stood not far away, looking at her with a smile in his eyes, gently waving a folding fan in his hand, without the slightest hint of impatience.

This scene was completely different from the aggressive attitude of those debt collectors.

Shen Qinglan finally realized that Xiao Lie seemed to have ulterior motives for contacting her.

Seeing her so wary, Xiao Lie raised an eyebrow slightly, a hint of wickedness in his eyes.

"Your husband touched my woman. Since I can't get revenge on him, I can only target you."

Xiao Lie brazenly glanced at her from head to toe.

He said a few nonsense words, originally just to put the woman in her place, but upon closer inspection, he found that the woman in front of him was like a piece of fine mutton fat jade with a green patina, with a restrained charm and hidden elegance. She exuded a gentle and noble air from a noble family, and was far more pleasing to the eye than the frivolous and superficial Lin Wan'er and her ilk.

His gaze paused involuntarily.

Shen Qinglan's expression froze, and she took a step back. She pursed her lips and forced a smile.

"Your Highness, don't try to scare me. If you were truly such a wicked and reckless person, you wouldn't have reminded me when we met at the temple."

Xiao Lie couldn't help but look at her with newfound respect.

"Oh? Your Highness has so much confidence in me? But I am quite dissatisfied with your Kang Prince's residence."

Shen Qinglan gave a slight snort, "Your Highness is joking. Although I hold the empty title of Princess Consort, Your Highness knows that I don't hold much of a place in the Prince's heart. Besides, didn't Your Highness specifically send someone to tell me before that the affairs of the Prince's residence should not implicate me?"

"The fact that the Crown Prince can say such things shows that he is an upright and reasonable person."

"I'm afraid the Crown Prince summoned me here today not to do anything to me, but rather to ask me to do something for him, right?"

"Unfortunately, I am not as bold as the young master. I don't want to get involved in the murky waters of the Kang Prince's mansion at all."