Chapter 143

Chapter 143: Visiting in Person

On this side, Shang Xiu Yuan had just left the General’s Residence in a carriage filled with apology gifts.

At the same time, Sheng Zhi Wan learned of the rumors from Ting Lan, the local know-it-all.

Ting Lan frowned: “Princess, why did Young Master Shang Er refuse Miss Liu the Second?”

Ting Lan continued, “Leaving everything else aside, even if Miss Liu the Second’s status is a bit lower, she’s still more than good enough for him.”

It was not strange for Ting Lan to think that.

Probably everyone in capital city thought the same way.

Miss Liu the Second was only a concubine-born daughter, but she was still a daughter of the Liu Family. Her father was a Second Rank Chief Minister.

Marrying her to someone like Shang Xing Yu, a notorious playboy, was already a grievance.

On top of that, rumors said Miss Liu the Second was quite pretty.

Wasn’t Young Master Shang Er known for loving beautiful women?

No matter how Ting Lan looked at it, there was no reason to refuse this marriage.

Yet he refused anyway, and even drove the miss to attempt suicide to prove her will.

Liu Shang suddenly blurted out, “That’s not right!”

Ting Lan paused: “What do you mean?”

Liu Shang spoke quickly, “What Miss Liu the Second? Yesterday I went to ask around, and I heard the one who fell into the water was Miss Liu the Eldest.”

Liu Shang added, “Young Master Shang Er also saved Miss Liu the Eldest. How did it become Miss Liu the Second?”

Liu Shang went on, “And Young Master Shang Er didn’t even touch her. He pulled her up with a whip.”

Liu Shang frowned, confused: “Even if his reputation is bad, does that mean if someone wants to marry him, he has to accept it even if he doesn’t like it?”

Liu Shang had grown up in a temple, and her nature was straightforward. She also did not understand the twists between young masters and noble ladies, so she said whatever came to mind.

Ting Lan froze, speechless for a moment.

Sheng Zhi Wan’s face had already sunk: “Liu Shang, go to Liu Manor and the Fengguo General’s Residence and see what movements there are between the two households.”

What happened yesterday, and today it had already spread into something like this.

If no one was pushing it from behind, Sheng Zhi Wan refused to believe it.

As for who was pushing it, there was no need to dig deep.

Just look at where the wind was blowing, and it was obvious it was Liu Manor.

Otherwise, all the dirty water would not have been poured onto Shang Xing Yu alone.

If this had happened in another residence, and their legitimate son had saved someone only to be treated like this, they would never let it go.

But the Fengguo General’s Residence…

Shang Tian Hao would even snatch away a job Grandmother arranged for Shang Xing Yu and hand it to Shang Xiu Yuan.

How could Shang Tian Hao care whether Shang Xing Yu wanted this marriage?

For the sake of Liu Family connections, Shang Tian Hao probably wished Shang Xing Yu would marry Liu Xu.

As Sheng Zhi Wan was thinking, Liu Shang came flying back into the courtyard using her lightness skill: “Princess, the General’s Residence carriage went to Liu Manor.”

Liu Shang added, “I also asked around. The person inside the carriage was Shang Xiu Yuan.”

Just as expected.

Sheng Zhi Wan turned: “Ting Lan, go tell Zhang Da to prepare the carriage.”

Sheng Zhi Wan looked at Liu Shang: “Liu Shang, go do something for me…”

When Sheng Zhi Wan’s carriage arrived outside Liu Manor, First Madam Liu was just discussing the day the General’s Residence would come to formally propose marriage.

When First Madam Liu heard that Princess Qing Ning had arrived, First Madam Liu froze.

Liu Manor had never had dealings with Princess Qing Ning.

Why had she come at a moment like this?

First Madam Liu’s eyelid twitched. She suddenly felt it was not a good sign.

Shang Xiu Yuan noticed First Madam Liu’s expression. The servant had reported the news in a low voice by First Madam Liu’s ear, so Shang Xiu Yuan did not know yet.

Shang Xiu Yuan asked, “Madam, do you have something to handle?”

First Madam Liu hesitated.

Then First Madam Liu remembered something. Not long ago, that playboy Shang Xing Yu had saved Princess Qing Ning.

Could it be that Princess Qing Ning came because of that?

But this…

Wasn’t that sticking her nose in far too deeply?

First Madam Liu frowned and said, “Princess Qing Ning has arrived.”

No matter what, there was no reason for Liu Manor to bear it alone.

Shang Xiu Yuan also froze.

When Shang Xiu Yuan thought of meeting Sheng Zhi Wan twice in such embarrassing states, unease rose on his refined face.

Shang Xiu Yuan’s thoughts matched First Madam Liu’s. Sheng Zhi Wan was probably here because of Shang Xing Yu’s matter.

But Sheng Zhi Wan was an outsider…

Surely she could not actually interfere in Shang Xing Yu’s marriage.

Wouldn’t it sound terrible if it spread?

No matter what the two of them thought, the person had already come, and Liu Manor did not dare to shut the doors on her.

First Madam Liu went out personally to welcome her.

Shang Xiu Yuan wanted to leave, but he could not, so he had to follow along.

But what surprised them was that Sheng Zhi Wan stepped down from the carriage with a smile. She looked pleased, and she brought two maids with her.

One of the maids held a box that looked extremely valuable.

Only then did First Madam Liu finally relax. First Madam Liu quickly led Sheng Zhi Wan into the manor.

As they walked inward, Sheng Zhi Wan asked as if casually, “I heard Young Master Shang the Eldest came to Liu Manor. Was it for Young Master Shang Er and Miss Liu the Second?”

Sheng Zhi Wan added, “Have you decided on anything yet?”

First Madam Liu forced a smile: “Princess guessed correctly. It was indeed for my second miss’s marriage with Young Master Shang Er.”

Sheng Zhi Wan nodded: “Oh?”

Sheng Zhi Wan continued, “So it’s settled? Then I came too late?”

First Madam Liu blinked in confusion: “What does Princess mean?”

Sheng Zhi Wan said with a calm smile, “Young Master Shang Er is my lifesaving benefactor. Now he also saved Miss Liu the Second. That’s a kind of fate.”

Sheng Zhi Wan continued, “So I wanted to be their wedding witness. I even brought a wedding witness gift.”

As she spoke, they arrived at the flower hall.

First Madam Liu first invited Sheng Zhi Wan to sit in the seat of honor, and only then sat down herself.

Shang Xiu Yuan sat silently in a lower seat.

An Zhi presented the box at the right moment and opened the lid.

First Madam Liu had only meant to glance at it, but with that single look, First Madam Liu’s eyes stuck to it and would not move.

Sheng Zhi Wan said, “These are a pair of Purple Cloud Jade Bangles Grandmother gave me when I married.”

As Sheng Zhi Wan spoke, An Zhi closed the box again.

But First Madam Liu’s gaze still would not pull away.

That was not strange.

Before coming, Sheng Zhi Wan had deliberately chosen these bangles because she knew First Madam Liu was obsessed with jade.

Even if Sheng Zhi Wan said they were for Miss Liu the Second, First Madam Liu would still agree to Sheng Zhi Wan’s suggestion just to get them.

After all, Sheng Zhi Wan could not truly stare at Liu Xu’s wrists forever to check whether she wore them or not.

Besides, having Princess Qing Ning as the wedding witness was a good thing for both Liu Manor and the General’s Residence.

First Madam Liu clearly understood all of that. First Madam Liu looked at the box twice more before finally pulling her eyes away, reluctant and slow: “Princess is too kind.”

First Madam Liu said, “It’s an honor beyond what we could ask for, that Princess is willing to be my daughter’s wedding witness.”

Shang Xiu Yuan did not even have time to stop it.

And he could not stop it anyway.

Sheng Zhi Wan smiled gently and took a sip of the tea the maid had poured: “Then I will go see Miss Liu the Second.”

Sheng Zhi Wan continued, “I will personally give her these bangles.”

First Madam Liu froze.

First Madam Liu forced a smile: “To be honest, Princess, my daughter caught a chill from the water yesterday, and later… something else happened. She is lying in bed now.”

First Madam Liu added, “Princess has a noble body. Why not wait until my daughter recovers before Princess meets her?”

Sheng Zhi Wan stood up: “It’s fine. I will go see her. It will also calm her heart.”

Sheng Zhi Wan looked straight at First Madam Liu.

First Madam Liu gave two dry laughs.

But First Madam Liu quickly thought it through.

Even if the Princess personally handed it to that dead girl, so what?

First Madam Liu could still take it back later. A concubine-born daughter would not dare say anything.

First Madam Liu led Sheng Zhi Wan to the back courtyard.

Shang Xiu Yuan could not follow along, but Sheng Zhi Wan glanced at him: “Since Young Master Shang the Eldest came for Young Master Shang Er, then come with us.”

Shang Xiu Yuan drew a deep breath and agreed.