Chapter 43 Rumors Arise

Upon hearing these words, the Ning Consort suddenly felt guilty. Although she never thought it was wrong to prevent the Shinzi from taking concubines and finding women, she did feel sorry for her son.

Seeing her son’s sorrowful appearance, she also felt a bit distressed.

But! It was impossible to marry the legitimate youngest daughter of the Shu family!

The Ning Consort advised, “Shinzi, if you missed the opportunity, then it’s gone.”

“It was a missed opportunity before, but as long as you help me mother, I can seize it now.”

“If An Shaoyu had always treated her well, I wouldn’t have interfered with her happiness. But now that they have separated, this is the chance given to me by fate. Do you want me to regret it for the rest of my life?” Prnice Shinzi looked at the Queen and asked.

The Queen felt a headache coming on.

” Shinzi…”

“Mother, besides Shu Yuwan, I will not marry anyone else!” The Ning Heir interrupted the Ning Consort’s lengthy speech.

“For all these years, she has already married. I have not taken a wife, and now that she has divorced, how could I possibly marry another woman!”

“Either I marry Shu Yuwan, or I remain unmarried for life, letting the Ning residence end with me.”

“Discuss it with Father and choose!”

After saying this, the shinzi strode away.

Her mother slumped in her chair, “What a troublesome child…”

…

Zhao Qing Qing returned to the Mansion. She had already transformed the Begonia hall into the Xiaoxiang Pavilion, lavishly decorated inside. However, as soon as Zhao Qing Qing entered, she knocked over a pile of things.

The maid Chang Feng stepped forward and advised, “Madam, these are your dowry items, it’s all good. It’s a waste to break them.”

Without any hesitation, Zhao Qing Qing forcefully threw the vase in her hand to Chang Feng feet, “Am I someone who lacks money?”

The broken porcelain shards scattered onto Chang Feng, who dared not advise further.

Although the young lady often said they were equals, she was ultimately the mistress. If the young lady got angry, they would still suffer. Previously, Chang Feng had a lapse in judgment, thinking she was equal to the young lady and advised her not to have private dealings with the Marquis, which would ruin her reputation. She spoke too harshly and was being slave by the young lady!

And she was sold to that kind of place!

That girl was foolish!

They were servants. They couldn’t even control their own lives. When the young lady said they were equal, they were equal. When the young lady didn’t want to be equal with them, there was no equality to speak of.

Chang Feng silently retreated to the side, waiting for Zhao Qing Qing to vent her anger.

After breaking some more things, Zhao Qing Qing finally calmed down.

She called Chang Feng, “Good Chang Feng, come here.”

“Madam.” Chang Feng approached affectionately.

A sly smile crept up on Zhao Qing Qing’s lips, “Go contact the manager of Xinglong Tavern and other inns, spread the news in the shops.”

“Say that the legitimate youngest daughter of the Shu family, who has divorced, has an improper relationship with the Ning Prince’s heir.”

Chang Feng hesitated for a moment, then swallowed the advice that was on the tip of her tongue, “Yes, Madam.”

When An Shaoyu entered, he coincidentally met Chang Feng on her way out.

Chang Feng greeted him and hurriedly left.

The young lady always valued the Marquis, and Chang Feng dared not get involved.

Seeing the broken porcelain pieces scattered all over the floor that hadn’t been cleaned up yet, An Shaoyu was surprised, “What’s going on? Who made you so angry?”

Zhao Qing Qing turned away, ignoring him.

An Shaoyu approached and pulled Zhao Qing Qing into his arms, “I truly haven’t done anything to upset you Madam!”

“Hmph!” Zhao Qing Qing turned away.

“If it weren’t for you marrying someone else first, I wouldn’t be like this!”

As soon as An Shaoyu heard this, he knew it was about Shu Yuwan. Thinking back to the beating he received when he visited her before, he also felt apprehensive, “If I hadn’t met you before, I wouldn’t have married that shrew. Now that I’ve married you, let’s not bother with her anymore.”

“Who wants to bother with her!”

“However, no matter what, it was me who came later. I actually wanted to apologize today. Who knew that I would run into the Ning Prince’s heir loitering in front of your ex-wife’s house. This Ning Prince’s heir said he is willing to marry Shu Yuwan.”

Zhao Qing Qing casually remarked.

An Shaoyu’s expression darkened upon hearing this.

Zhao Qing Qing continued, “Do you think there was something between them before?”

“Is Shu Yuwan’s child really the husband’s?”

An Shaoyu’s face visibly darkened, “Is it true?”

“Can I deceive you?” Zhao Qing Qing replied unhappily, “If you don’t believe me, ask the people who went with me today. They all saw it!”

Upon hearing this, An Shaoyu had no doubts. His inner guilt towards Shu Yuwan was now overshadowed by anger.

Thinking about how the Shu family insisted on recording the child born to Shu Yuwan in the Shu family genealogy, did the people in the Shu residence also know about it?

An Shaoyu smirked and got up, but Zhao Qing Qing held him back.

“What are you going to do?”

“I want to go ask that woman!”

“Are you treating our family as a joke?”

Zhao Qing Qing didn’t let go, piercing his heart with her words, “You have already divorced! The child hasn’t been added to the Anding Marquis genealogy! What right do you have to ask?”

“Moreover, even if you ask, will she admit it?”

“Husband, you know the truth in your heart.”

“If you go up there and ask without evidence, the Shu family will only cry foul. They might even turn the tables and accuse you of slander! It might even reach the Emperor’s ears.”

Upon hearing this, An Shaoyu’s steps came to a halt.

It was ridiculous that he had once felt a bit of regret, never having seen his own daughter. He had some feelings for the child in his heart. Now, it all seemed laughable.

The Ning Prince’s heir…

An Shaoyu suddenly remembered that when the Ning Prince’s heir had just returned to the capital, he often visited him and Shu Yuwan, asking about family matters.

He had thought it was because the Ning Prince’s heir had a special connection with him.

The more he thought about it, the more An Shaoyu believed Zhao Qing Qing’s speculation.

At that time, the Ning Prince’s residence must have been mocking him in his heart!

Seeing An Shaoyu’s expression, Zhao Qing Qing felt triumphant. Finally, the grievances of today were not in vain…

But in just two or three days, new rumors began circulating in the capital.

“Have you heard? The daughter of the Shu family who divorced has an affair with Prince Ning Shinzi!” A man with a lecherous face whispered mysteriously to his companion.

“The third son’s of Anding Marquis former legitimate wife, now his new wife, is not simple at all!”

The two thought they were discussing secretly, full of interest in the gossip of the upper-class society.

…

Chen Gongzi patted the Ning Heir’s shoulder with a flattering smile, “Hey, do you really have an affair with the Shu family’s woman?”

The Ning Heir pushed Chen Gongzi away, “Stop causing trouble. Do me a favor, go ask your friends from all walks of life where these rumors are coming from!”

After speaking, he walked away.

“You always bossing me around,” Chen Gongzi muttered as he watched the figure walk away.

Upon returning to the Ning Prince’s residence, the Ning Heir went to find the Ning Consort, “Mother.”

“I have always restrained myself and never overstepped.”

Upon hearing this, the Ning Consort breathed a sigh of relief, a cold glint passing through her eyes.

“Do you know who spread the rumors?”

The Ning Heir nodded, “It’s probably the new concubine from the Anding Marquis residence. That day, she went to cause trouble for Shu Yuwan, and I happened to see it. I spoke a few words in Shu Yuwan’s defense.”

“I have already sent Chen Gongzi to investigate.”