Chapter 203

Chapter 203: A Hundred Times Better

Qi Shu Xian wanted to speak and then stopped.

Meng Yang watched him like this, and her heart felt as if two hands were squeezing it tight until she could not breathe.

But then she remembered – Sheng Zhi Wan was about to remarry.

Thinking of what Third Prince had said, that everyone the Empress Dowager picked had refused Sheng Zhi Wan and they could only look further down, Meng Yang felt a little better.

That was right. A woman on her second marriage – what kind of good young gentleman would want her?

In any case, it was impossible she would find someone better than the heir apparent.

Even if Qi Shu Xian had no official post right now, it was only temporary. In the future, he would become the Right Chancellor who held power over the whole court.

Sheng Yuan Hao set the perfume essence on the table. “This is good. As for how to sell it, that will trouble Miss Meng. The split stays the same as before. I want eighty percent.”

He had no interest in women’s things. As long as Meng Yang delivered the silver on time, that was enough.

Meng Yang had wanted to use this chance to beg Third Prince to smooth over her status as a bedchamber maid.

But before she could even open her mouth, Qi Shu Xian stood up and asked to leave.

Meng Yang swallowed her words back down.

The moment they got back on the carriage, Qi Shu Xian ordered, “Go to Yong Kang Street!”

Meng Yang froze for a moment before she remembered what was on Yong Kang Street.

The Princess Qing Ning Residence.

Heir Apparent… was going to the Princess Qing Ning Residence?

Meng Yang steadied herself, forced a smile, and said, “Heir Apparent wants to go see the Princess? But you and the Princess are already divorced.”

Meng Yang continued, “And the Princess is meeting other families now. If you go at a time like this, it will harm the Princess’s reputation. I’m afraid even fewer men will be willing to marry her.”

Qi Shu Xian’s face darkened, and then he snapped back to himself.

Meng Yang was still sitting in the carriage. Sheng Zhi Wan and he had reached this point because of Meng Yang.

Qi Shu Xian lifted the curtain and stepped down. “You go back to the Duke’s Manor first. I still have something to do.”

After that, Qi Shu Xian walked away without looking back.

Meng Yang could only bite down hard and stare at his retreating back.

Sheng Zhi Wan had not expected Qi Shu Xian to come looking for her at a time like this.

Sheng Zhi Wan said without a trace of hesitation, “Tell him to get as far away as possible.”

She did not need to think to know he must have heard the rumors outside.

No matter what Qi Shu Xian’s purpose was, the result of him coming to find her was obvious.

It would only make her reputation worse.

They were divorced, yet her ex-husband still came to entangle her. If she truly were choosing a husband, or if there had been any household that wanted to meet her, they would probably think twice because of his actions.

In matters of love, whether right or wrong, women always stood on the weaker side of public opinion.

“Wait.” Sheng Zhi Wan stopped Nanny Yu, who was about to go out.

Sheng Zhi Wan went to the study, took out a bottle of powder, and handed it to Liu Shang. “Liu Shang, go with Nanny Yu.”

Sheng Zhi Wan said, “Every time he says one sentence, sprinkle this powder over his head once.”

Sheng Zhi Wan added, “Be careful. Don’t let it touch your own head or face. Nanny Yu should also stay farther away.”

Liu Shang answered, “Yes, Princess!”

Nanny Yu lowered her head and went out.

Ting Lan’s eyes shone brightly. She wanted to ask, but the Princess did not speak first.

Ting Lan remembered what An Zhi had told her, so she forced herself to hold it in.

Sheng Zhi Wan looked at Ting Lan and said, “If you have something to ask, ask it. Otherwise I’m afraid you’ll roll your eyes right out.”

Ting Lan scratched her head, grinning. “Princess… what powder did you give Liu Shang?”

Sheng Zhi Wan lifted her brows. “Depilatory powder.”

Back when she stayed at the travel palace, there had been an estate nearby that raised many geese. One of them had an especially large fleshy bump on its head, and it was always vicious when it saw her.

Once, when she was not paying attention, it had even yanked out a few clumps of her hair.

Several of her masters had been furious and heartbroken. They had wanted to buy that goose, kill it, and eat it, but she refused.

Instead, she studied for days and came up with a powder that could remove feathers.

Not long after, the goose that bullied her became a smooth, bald goose.

If it could remove goose feathers, then of course it could remove other hair too.

Thinking of that, Sheng Zhi Wan’s eyes curved slightly with amusement.

Ting Lan stared blankly. “Princess, you look so pretty when you smile…”

An Zhi wished someone could paint the Princess at this very moment.

With the Princess’s looks, so what if she was divorced? Even if she divorced eight hundred times, she could still make countless young gentlemen fall for her.

Outside, Qi Shu Xian had not expected Sheng Zhi Wan to refuse to see him at all.

It was already like this, yet she still insisted on putting on airs.

Did she truly plan to marry some small household’s man just to anger him?

Qi Shu Xian pressed down the irritation in his heart. “Please trouble Nanny to go report again. Say that Qi Shu Xian has an important matter to discuss with the Princess.”

Zhang Da could not help repeating Nanny Yu’s words. “Heir Apparent, you should go back. The Princess said you can get as far away as possible and roll there.”

Qi Shu Xian glared at Zhang Da. “Do you even know she’s about to be forced to marry? If I don’t come-”

Pfft!

A cloud of powder splashed over Qi Shu Xian’s head. He instinctively raised his sleeve to block his face.

Liu Shang tugged Zhang Da back a step.

Qi Shu Xian shook his sleeve and saw only white powder scattered everywhere. Yet it did not seem to feel like anything.

Flour?

Qi Shu Xian grew even angrier. He gritted his teeth and lowered his voice. “You’re her maid. Go back and tell her this.”

Qi Shu Xian said, “Third Prince and His Majesty want her to marry. Even if she doesn’t want to, she will have to. If she regrets it and is willing to return to the Duke’s Manor-”

Pfft!

Again.

Qi Shu Xian truly could not reason with these servants who refused to listen.

He stared hard at the closed gates of the Princess Residence.

Sheng Zhi Wan truly was not coming out.

Fine.

If she did not know to worry for herself, then he would wait for the day she regretted it and came begging him.

Qi Shu Xian flicked his sleeve and left.

Zhang Da asked Liu Shang, “Why did Miss Liu Shang sprinkle flour on Qi Shi Zi?”

Liu Shang shook her head. “That wasn’t flour. Maybe it was poison that can make someone drop dead the same day?”

Zhang Da immediately stepped farther away. He did not want to stay close at all. What if there was still some in the air and it got on him?

Liu Shang really could say anything.

After Nanny Yu returned from delivering the message, Zhang Da still could not help warning, “Miss Liu Shang, don’t say things like that again. It will bring trouble to the Princess.”

Liu Shang blinked. “Oh. All right.” She remembered it and went back to report to the Princess.

Only after Qi Shu Xian returned to the Duke’s Manor did a servant remind him that there was still powder on top of his head.

Qi Shu Xian washed his hair.

He did not know if it was his imagination, but his scalp felt oddly itchy, and more hair seemed to fall out than usual.

But it was winter, and hair did shed more in winter. Qi Shu Xian did not take it seriously.

His mind stayed on Sheng Zhi Wan.

He wanted to see Sheng Zhi Wan’s reaction when she learned she had no choice but to marry, and could only marry down. He wanted to see her regret, her unwillingness.

Third Highness had said that soon there would be a chance for him to return to the battlefield.

When that time came, he could use fresh war merit to marry her back again.

Even if His Majesty punished him, so what?

That was why he went today. He wanted to tell Sheng Zhi Wan all of that.

Yet she would not even meet him.

But it did not matter.

In another day or two, she would definitely come to him, beg him.

After all, reconciling with him was a hundred times better than marrying those low and worthless men.