Chapter 18

Chapter 18: Was It All Just Rumors

Even for a Princess, it was far too much.

Wang Huai Zhi said with growing disdain, “Princess thinks I can’t verify it, so you even made up this kind of attention-seeking nonsense!”

Ting Lan shot back, “What’s that supposed to be? On the day Princess married, her dowry procession wrapped ten li around the city! If Princess hadn’t used tens of thousands of taels these past two years to cover the Duke Qi residence’s expenses, Princess could have donated even more!”

Ting Lan’s words stunned everyone around.

What did it mean, covering the Duke Qi residence’s expenses by tens of thousands of taels? Could the Duke Qi residence really be so poor that it had to live off the Princess’s dowry?

Sheng Zhi Wan could not help smiling at Ting Lan. This girl never missed a chance to broadcast what Sheng Zhi Wan had suffered in the Duke Qi residence.

“Dowry?!” Wang Huai Zhi believed it even less.

Dowry was a woman’s pride. Every woman Wang Huai Zhi knew stuffed her dowry full until it overflowed. Donate it? How could she bear to?

Wang Huai Zhi sneered. “Princess doesn’t need to say things that can’t be verified to brush me off.”

Ting Lan’s face reddened with anger. Ting Lan snapped, “You’re truly ridiculous! You’ve done nothing, yet you call yourself a man of national righteousness and shout the loudest. When someone else actually did something, you judge them by your own filthy mind. You really think my Princess is like you?!”

“It isn’t impossible to verify,” Sheng Zhi Wan said, looking at Shang Xiu Yuan.

Sheng Zhi Wan said, “I remember Shang Da Young Master’s father, General Shang, has ties with several marshals stationed at the borders. If you don’t believe me, you can ask General Shang to write and inquire.”

Sheng Zhi Wan continued, “Every time I donated, I used the name Sheng Shi Hall. It meant I hoped for a flourishing age and lasting peace.”

“I will verify it,” Wang Huai Zhi said coldly. “But I’ll have to trouble Xiu Yuan to ask General Shang for me.”

Wang Huai Zhi absolutely did not believe there was a woman willing to give up her dowry. Women were always chasing money and trapped in narrow views, so Wang Huai Zhi would verify it.

When the truth came out, Wang Huai Zhi would make Princess Qing Ning lose face.

Shang Xiu Yuan nodded, but Shang Xiu Yuan thought differently.

Shang Xiu Yuan already believed Sheng Zhi Wan’s words were true. Otherwise, with so many people here, even if just one person got curious and checked, she would have been exposed. More than that, she had even named the name she used for the donations, which clearly meant she was not afraid of verification.

Sheng Zhi Wan suddenly smiled and asked, “If what I said is true, what do you plan to do?”

Wang Huai Zhi blinked at that smile. “…Naturally, I will apologize to Princess.”

“No need.” Sheng Zhi Wan said, “As the Wang Family’s eldest son, you should have some private money, right?”

Wang Huai Zhi froze.

Sheng Zhi Wan said, “When the truth is verified, take out two thousand taels and set up porridge distribution in the capital city’s slums. And on the porridge stall, you must write my title clearly.”

Wang Huai Zhi said nothing.

In Wang Huai Zhi’s eyes, it was exactly what a petty-minded woman would do.

“Fine!” Wang Huai Zhi said at last. “This one agrees. But if Princess never donated grain, or if the numbers are wrong, then Princess must treat every guest to tea at the Gathering Sages Teahouse for three days in a row. And Princess must write today’s matter clearly and hang it at the door!”

“Agreed,” Sheng Zhi Wan said calmly.

After accepting that bet she could only win, Sheng Zhi Wan finally turned and looked to the side.

For the first time, Sheng Zhi Wan met the gaze of the famous Qin Yu Wang from her previous life.

He looked extremely good.

Yet the first thing that caught Sheng Zhi Wan’s attention was not his face, but his eyes-those shameless, brazen eyes. The moment Sheng Zhi Wan looked over, he also met Sheng Zhi Wan’s gaze, and his eyes curved slightly.

For an instant, Sheng Zhi Wan seemed to see bright, sparkling light in them, and also seemed to glimpse a bottomless, freezing abyss.

Only then did Sheng Zhi Wan notice his features.

His face was sharp and defined, as if carved by a blade. His brow bone slanted upward, giving him a wild, unruly charm. His peach blossom eyes looked teasing and dangerous, and his nose bridge was high and straight.

From any angle, the only word that came to mind was “stunning.”

His gaze stayed locked on Sheng Zhi Wan as he said, “Shang Xing Yu greets Princess Qing Ning!”

For a moment, Sheng Zhi Wan felt a strange, unexplained burning pain.

“Xing Yu! Don’t be rude!” Shang Xiu Yuan hurried forward half a step and blocked Shang Xing Yu. Shang Xiu Yuan said, “Princess, my younger brother has always been unruly and disrespectful. Please don’t lower yourself to argue with him.”

“Shang Da Young Master jokes,” Sheng Zhi Wan said, glancing at Shang Xiu Yuan. “I think Young Master Shang Er spoke openly and straightforwardly. He’s far more real than certain hypocrites who talk behind people’s backs.”

Sheng Zhi Wan asked, “Shang Da Young Master, don’t you think so?”

Shang Xiu Yuan’s expression turned awkward. Sheng Zhi Wan’s words felt like they were pointing right at Shang Xiu Yuan.

After all, Shang Xiu Yuan had not joined in the insults, but Shang Xiu Yuan had not stopped them either. Worse, Shang Xiu Yuan had even tried to force Shang Xing Yu to apologize.

If Shang Xiu Yuan said yes, it would be slapping himself in the face. But could Shang Xiu Yuan say no?

Shang Xiu Yuan gave a bitter smile and said, “Princess’s lesson is correct. From now on, we will remember today’s lesson.”

Sheng Zhi Wan nodded. “Mm.”

Just as Shang Xiu Yuan thought today’s farce had finally ended, Sheng Zhi Wan smiled and said, “Then Shang Da Young Master should apologize to Young Master Shang Er.”

Shang Xiu Yuan froze.

Apologize to Shang Xing Yu? How could that be possible? Shang Xing Yu was a useless good-for-nothing who did nothing but cause trouble. Shang Xiu Yuan was supposed to apologize to him?

Shang Xiu Yuan’s lips moved, but no words came out.

Sheng Zhi Wan asked, “What? Shang Da Young Master won’t? Everyone says Shang Da Young Master is a humble gentleman, warm as jade, and especially protective of the half-brother not born of the same mother.”

Sheng Zhi Wan’s smile sharpened. “Could it be… they were all just rumors?”