Chapter 207

Chapter 207: Waiting to Laugh

Qi Shu Xian returned to Duke residence with a belly full of resentment.

Qi Shu Xian thought only a few strands had fallen out, but the moment Qi Shu Xian stepped inside, the servants of Xiao Lan Courtyard kept glancing at the top of Qi Shu Xian’s head.

Meng Yang rushed over, then stopped short.

Meng Yang asked, “Heir Apparent… your hair, how…?”

Qi Shu Xian went into the room and looked into the mirror. Qi Shu Xian’s face darkened instantly.

Qi Shu Xian’s hair had fallen from the front of Qi Shu Xian’s forehead, exposing a pale patch of scalp. It looked ridiculous and pathetic.

Meng Yang followed in and asked, “Heir Apparent, what happened?”

Qi Shu Xian’s expression grew even darker.

Qi Shu Xian was furious, but Qi Shu Xian could not possibly admit that he, a grown man, had been dusted with powder by a maid. And Qi Shu Xian could not admit that it happened when Qi Shu Xian went to see Sheng Zhi Wan after the divorce.

So Qi Shu Xian only took a deep breath and swallowed it down.

As for the hair, luckily it had not fallen too much yet. For now, Qi Shu Xian could find a hair crown to cover it.

Back at the Princess residence, Ting Lan finally could not hold it in.

Ting Lan asked, “Princess, was what you said just now true? Young Master Shang Er… will become your Prince Consort?”

Sheng Zhi Wan said calmly, “Yes. Tomorrow Imperial Father will issue the edict.”

Ting Lan hesitated. Ting Lan said, “But… but…”

What about Young Master Du?

Did Princess plan to let Young Master Shang Er become Prince Consort, while Young Master Du became a male favorite?

Um… it did not seem completely impossible.

Ting Lan’s thoughts drifted for a moment.

Sheng Zhi Wan smiled and asked, “What? Ting Lan did not like Young Master Shang Er?”

Ting Lan hurriedly shook her head. Ting Lan said, “No!”

In the past, Ting Lan really did not like Young Master Shang Er. Back then, Ting Lan only heard rumors about Young Master Shang Er.

But after Ting Lan actually met Young Master Shang Er, Ting Lan realized Young Master Shang Er was a very good person.

At Gathering Sages Teahouse, Young Master Shang Er spoke up for Ting Lan’s Princess.

Later, Young Master Shang Er saved Ting Lan’s Princess from mountain bandits.

And after Princess returned safely, when Duke Qi residence tried to bully Princess, Young Master Shang Er stood up for Princess.

Oh, right. Young Master Shang Er also saved Liu Shang Miss.

Young Master Shang Er almost got tangled up by the Liu Family because of it, but with so many people present, only Young Master Shang Er used a whip to save someone. That alone made Ting Lan believe Young Master Shang Er was a good person.

Those old stories had to be something Young Master Shang Er’s fake, hypocritical Stepmother spread on purpose.

Thinking that way, Ting Lan felt Young Master Shang Er was a little pitiful.

But it was fine. Soon, Young Master Shang Er would marry the best Princess in the world.

The thought made Ting Lan happy again.

Only An Zhi kept frowning, looking worried the whole time.

Ting Lan did not understand.

An Zhi sighed. An Zhi said, “Actually, Qi Shi zi’s words were not wrong either.”

Ting Lan asked, “What?”

An Zhi said, “Back then, Princess married into Duke residence. Duke residence was poor and declining, but Qi Shi zi himself was talented in both civil and martial arts, and Qi Shi zi’s character was outstanding.”

An Zhi continued, “Now Princess divorced, and Young Master Shang Er will become Prince Consort…”

Ting Lan pouted. Ting Lan said, “So what? I think Young Master Shang Er was much better than Qi Shi zi!”

An Zhi said, “I also think Young Master Shang Er was good.”

An Zhi added, “But outsiders may not think so. When the imperial edict comes down tomorrow, I do not know how many people will be waiting to laugh at Princess.”

As An Zhi said this, An Zhi could not help thinking of Ming Jia Commandery Princess.

Ming Jia Commandery Princess was the daughter of Prince Huai. Ming Jia Commandery Princess was spoiled and arrogant, no less than the real Princesses.

And because Ming Jia Commandery Princess was around the same age as Princess, Ming Jia Commandery Princess always had to compete with Princess in everything.

Back then, when Princess married Qi Shu Xian, Ming Jia Commandery Princess had tried to snatch Qi Shu Xian too. But later, for some reason, the matter ended without result.

After Prince Qi’s rebellion case, Ming Jia Commandery Princess returned to the fief with Prince Huai.

But a few days ago, An Zhi heard that this spoiled and fierce Ming Jia Commandery Princess was coming back to capital city to seek a match…

An Zhi sighed and told Ting Lan about how Ming Jia Commandery Princess and Princess had never gotten along.

An Zhi said, “When the time comes, Ming Jia Commandery Princess will definitely mock Princess, saying Princess could only find a dandy to be Prince Consort.”

Ting Lan frowned. Ting Lan asked, “Then what should we do?”

Both of them looked toward Liu Shang, who sat to the side, happily eating the pastries Princess had rewarded her.

Ting Lan pulled Liu Shang over. Ting Lan asked, “Liu Shang, why were you not anxious at all?”

Liu Shang wiped her mouth. Liu Shang said, “You two were thinking too much.”

An Zhi asked, “What do you mean?”

Liu Shang asked, “Look at Princess. Was Princess worried? Was Princess sad? When Princess learned Young Master Shang Er would become Prince Consort, did Princess look unwilling?”

Every time Liu Shang asked a question, An Zhi and Ting Lan shook their heads once.

In the end, Liu Shang clapped her hands. Liu Shang said, “Then that was it. Princess was very satisfied with Young Master Shang Er becoming Prince Consort. Princess liked Young Master Shang Er, and that was enough.”

Liu Shang said, “As for everything else, other people’s opinions did not matter!”

Princess liked Young Master Shang Er?

An Zhi and Ting Lan looked at each other.

Did Princess really like Young Master Shang Er?

But Liu Shang was not wrong. If Princess did not like it, why did Princess not show even a trace of unwillingness?

At the Fengguo General’s residence, the news that Shang Xing Yu went to the Imperial Palace arrived, and Shang Tian Hao’s eyelids jumped wildly.

Shang Tian Hao asked, “You did not see wrong? Shang Xing Yu really went into the palace?”

Shang Xiu Yuan nodded. Shang Xiu Yuan said, “It was true. Eunuch Su personally led him in. Father, did Xing Yu cause some huge disaster again?”

Liang Rao panicked too. Liang Rao said, “General… what should we do? It was all my fault. I did not teach Xing Yu well…”

Shang Tian Hao snapped, “What did that have to do with you? If he caused trouble, he brought it on himself. Do not be afraid. You wait here. I will go to the Imperial Palace and ask what happened…”

Shang Tian Hao turned to leave.

But at that moment, a figure walked in with steady steps.

That person said, “Oh? You’re all here?”

All three of them froze.

Shang Xiu Yuan blurted, “Shang Xing Yu!”

Shang Xiu Yuan stared and asked, “Xing Yu, why are you back?”

Shang Xiu Yuan looked Shang Xing Yu up and down. Shang Xing Yu looked completely fine, without the slightest sign of punishment.

But Shang Xiu Yuan had seen Shang Xing Yu enter the palace with his own eyes.

If Shang Xing Yu did not cause trouble, how could Shang Xing Yu enter the palace with Eunuch Su personally receiving him?

If Shang Xing Yu did cause trouble, how could Shang Xing Yu come out so quickly, and without a scratch?

Shang Xiu Yuan pressed his lips together.

Shang Xing Yu chuckled. Shang Xing Yu said, “This is my home. Why can’t I come back?”

Shang Xing Yu said, “I came back today to tell General Shang and Madam Shang something. Before long, I will be getting married. Please prepare the dowry Mother left behind as soon as possible.”

Shang Tian Hao shouted, “Absurd!”

Shang Tian Hao said, “You were getting married? Who are you marrying? I’m your father, and I didn’t even know you were getting married, yet you dare say you were getting married?”

Liang Rao also spoke quickly. Liang Rao said, “Xing Yu, did you take a fancy to some Miss? If you truly like her, Mother will go propose for you. You absolutely cannot mess around!”

Shang Xing Yu smiled. Shang Xing Yu said, “Madam Shang should stop calling yourself my Mother. Otherwise I’m afraid my Mother will come looking for you at night.”

Liang Rao’s face went deathly pale.

Shang Tian Hao flew into a rage and lifted a hand to strike.

Shang Xing Yu did not hesitate for even a moment. Shang Xing Yu yanked Shang Xiu Yuan over and blocked Shang Tian Hao with him.

Shang Xing Yu said, “General Shang, be careful when you hit. If Elder Brother gets kicked crippled, the Shang Family will end up without heirs.”

Shang Xing Yu said, “After all, I will be marrying into someone else’s household very soon.”

Marrying into someone else’s household?

Shang Xiu Yuan’s heart jumped.

Shang Xiu Yuan said, “Xing Yu, what nonsense are you talking about? You are the Young Master of the Fengguo General’s residence. How could you marry into someone else’s family?”