Chapter 203

Chapter 203: A Hundred Times Better

Qi Shu Xian seemed about to speak, then stopped himself.

Meng Yang watched him silently, her heart feeling as if a giant hand had squeezed it tight, leaving her breathless.

Thankfully, Sheng Zhi Wan was about to marry again!

Thinking of what Third Prince had just said—that the families chosen by the Empress Dowager had all refused Sheng Zhi Wan, forcing her to lower her sights—Meng Yang felt a bit better.

Indeed, who would want a woman who had been married once already? She would never attract someone better than Qi Shu Xian.

Though Qi Shu Xian currently held no official position, that was only temporary. Eventually, he would become the powerful Right Prime Minister!

“This scented dew is quite good. As for how it’s sold, I’ll leave it to Miss Meng. The share remains the same as before—I want eighty percent.” Sheng Yuan Hao placed the bottle of scented dew onto the table.

He had no interest in women’s things. He only cared that Meng Yang regularly gave him the silver ingots.

Meng Yang wanted to ask Third Prince to help change her status from concubine to proper concubine. But before she could speak, Qi Shu Xian rose to leave.

The words she was about to say died unspoken.

“Go to Yong…Kang Street!” Qi Shu Xian commanded as soon as he boarded the carriage.

Meng Yang was startled for a moment before remembering what was on Yong…Kang Street—

Princess Ning’s mansion!

[Does he really want to visit Princess Ning?]

Meng Yang swallowed her anger, forcing a smile. “Heir Apparent, do you wish to see the Princess? But you and she have already divorced, and she’s now looking at other suitors. Visiting her now would hurt her reputation even more, making it harder for her to find a husband.”

[She won’t find better anyway!]

Qi Shu Xian’s expression turned dark. Coming back to his senses, he remembered Meng Yang was still in the carriage. It was precisely because of her that he and Zhi Wan had reached this point!

Qi Shu Xian lifted the curtain and stepped down from the carriage. “You go back to Duke Mansion first. I still have something else to do.”

Without another glance, he walked away.

Meng Yang could only grit her teeth bitterly, watching his back.

Sheng Zhi Wan hadn’t expected Qi Shu Xian to visit her at such a time.

“Tell him to get as far away from here as possible,” Sheng Zhi Wan answered decisively.

She didn’t need to think to know Qi Shu Xian had surely heard the rumors.

Whatever his purpose, his visit would only worsen her reputation.

Having divorced, she couldn’t afford any more entanglements with her former husband.

If she really were choosing a husband—or if there had been any potential suitors interested in her—they might reconsider because of his actions.

In matters of affection, women were always at a disadvantage in public opinion.

“Wait!” Sheng Zhi Wan stopped Nanny Yu, who was about to leave.

She took a bottle of powder from her study and handed it to Liu Shang. “Liu Shang, accompany Nanny Yu. Each time he says a word, sprinkle some of this powder over his head.”

“Be careful not to get it on yourself, and Nanny Yu, stay far away.”

“Yes, Princess!” Nanny Yu bowed.

Ting Lan’s eyes sparkled with curiosity, desperate to ask, but remembered An Zhi’s warning and held back.

Seeing this, Sheng Zhi Wan teased, “Just ask what you want. Otherwise, I worry your eyes might roll out.”

“Hehe, Princess…” Ting Lan scratched her head sheepishly. “What’s the powder you gave Liu Shang?”

“Just some hair-removal powder.” Sheng Zhi Wan raised an eyebrow mischievously.

She remembered how once, at the Detached Palace, a particularly aggressive goose at the nearby country estate had ripped out several strands of her hair.

The palace masters, distressed, had wanted to buy and cook it, but Sheng Zhi Wan refused. Instead, she spent days concocting a powder to remove feathers.

Within days, the fierce goose became bald.

If it worked on geese feathers, surely it would work elsewhere too.

Thinking of this, Sheng Zhi Wan couldn’t help smiling.

“Princess, your smile is so beautiful…” Ting Lan stared, mesmerized.

An Zhi secretly wished someone could immortalize the Princess’s enchanting smile. With looks like hers, what did it matter if she divorced once—or even eight hundred times? Countless young men would still yearn for her.

Outside, Qi Shu Xian hadn’t anticipated that Sheng Zhi Wan would refuse to see him.

Even now, she dared act proud!

[Does she truly plan to marry some nobody just to spite me?]

Suppressing his frustration, he pleaded, “Please trouble Nanny again. Tell her Qi Shu Xian has something important to discuss.”

“Young Master…perhaps you should leave. The Princess said clearly for you to roll as far away as possible,” Zhang Da couldn’t help repeating Nanny Yu’s words.

Qi Shu Xian glared. “Do you even know she’s about to be forced into marriage? If I don’t—pfft!”

Suddenly, a powdery substance flew toward him. Instinctively, Qi Shu Xian raised his sleeve to shield his face.

Liu Shang gently pulled Zhang Da backward.

“What is this?” Qi Shu Xian shook his sleeve, annoyed at the white powder.

But it didn’t seem harmful.

[Flour?]

Qi Shu Xian became angrier. Clenching his teeth, he hissed, “You’re her maidservant, right? Tell her clearly—Third Prince and His Majesty are forcing her to marry. Even if she resists, she can’t refuse. But if she regrets and wants to return to Duke Mansion—pfft—”

Again!

Qi Shu Xian found these stubborn servants impossible!

He glared at Princess Mansion’s gates one last time.

Sheng Zhi Wan truly wouldn’t appear.

Fine, if she didn’t care now, he’d wait until she regretted and begged him!

Qi Shu Xian stormed off.

Zhang Da asked Liu Shang, “Miss Liu Shang, why did you sprinkle flour on Heir Apparent Qi?”

“It wasn’t flour,” Liu Shang shook her head solemnly. “Perhaps it was poison that kills instantly.”

Zhang Da stepped back fearfully. “Then…then I’d better stay away, just in case some remains in the air.”

[Really, Miss Liu Shang shouldn’t casually say things like that!]

Fortunately, no one else was around.

After Nanny Yu delivered her message, she left.

Still, Zhang Da couldn’t resist warning Liu Shang, “Miss Liu Shang, you shouldn’t say such things in the future. It might cause trouble for the Princess.”

“Oh? Alright.” Liu Shang nodded, remembering to report back to the Princess.

When Qi Shu Xian returned to Duke Mansion, a servant pointed out the powder still in his hair.

After washing, he felt oddly itchy, noticing more hair falling than usual. But since hair loss was common in winter, he dismissed it.

He focused instead on Sheng Zhi Wan’s situation.

He wanted to see her regret and frustration when she realized she had to marry low, compelled by circumstance.

As long as she admitted her mistake and stopped being jealous…

Third Prince had mentioned a chance for him to return to the battlefield soon.

Then, with military achievements, he could marry her again—even if His Majesty punished him afterward.

Today, he had wanted to explain all this to Sheng Zhi Wan.

But she wouldn’t even see him.

No matter. He’d wait patiently. Soon enough, she would beg him. Surely, returning to him was a hundred times better than marrying some worthless nobody.