Chapter 253

Chapter 253: Going Crazy

Sheng Zhi Wan raised an eyebrow: “Maybe.”

An Zhi sighed, “Then how was Ming Jia, the Commandery Princess, supposed to live with herself?”

Sheng Zhi Wan narrowed her eyes as Sheng Zhi Wan recalled Ming Jia’s expression back then. Ming Jia probably knew about this already.

Ming Jia was not Princess Consort Huai’s daughter, but that did not mean Ming Jia was not Prince Huai’s.

Prince Huai had had no sons all these years. There were not many concubines in the manor, but it was not as if there was only Princess Consort Huai. So why was it that only Princess Consort Huai had borne a child?

An Zhi still did not understand: “But Princess, since you knew Meng Yang was Princess Consort Huai’s daughter, why… why did you remind Princess Consort Huai to notice it?”

If not for Meng Yang, Qi Shu Xian would not have treated Sheng Zhi Wan that way. Sheng Zhi Wan would not have fought to the point of divorce with Qi Shu Xian.

Even if Sheng Zhi Wan was doing well now, those things had still happened.

Why would Sheng Zhi Wan help that mother and daughter recognize each other?

Sheng Zhi Wan suddenly smiled: “I was thanking Meng Yang.”

An Zhi stared, even more confused: “What?”

Sheng Zhi Wan said, “I thanked Meng Yang for letting me see Qi Shu Xian’s true face early. I also thanked Meng Yang for earning silver for the Duke household so I didn’t lose too much.”

Sheng Zhi Wan’s smile turned sharper: “Most of all, I thanked Meng Yang for jumping into that fire pit called the Duke household in my place.”

An Zhi frowned. “But… but if not for Meng Yang, Qi Shu Xian might not have become like that!”

Sheng Zhi Wan replied, “If it wasn’t Meng Yang, it would have been someone else. Even without Meng Yang, did you think Qi Shu Xian’s ‘kindness’ toward me was what I wanted?”

Back then, Sheng Zhi Wan had not understood.

Sheng Zhi Wan had thought that loving someone meant swallowing every grievance and bending at every turn. But now Sheng Zhi Wan seemed to understand. If someone truly cared, they could not bear to let her suffer any grievance at all.

But Qi Shu Xian had always put himself first.

Qi Shu Xian worried about his future and refused to marry a Princess, so Sheng Zhi Wan had humbled herself and begged to marry down into the Duke household.

Qi Shu Xian went off to war right after their marriage and left Sheng Zhi Wan alone to struggle through getting along with his family.

In the letters Qi Shu Xian sent from Cang Nan, Qi Shu Xian never once asked whether his family treated Sheng Zhi Wan well. Qi Shu Xian only asked again and again whether his mother’s illness had improved.

Qi Shu Xian asked whether Qi Shu Lang’s academy arrangements had been settled.

Qi Shu Xian asked about Qi Fei Yan, Qi Fei Rui…

Qi Shu Xian took care of everyone, yet Qi Shu Xian never thought of Sheng Zhi Wan.

The only “concern” Qi Shu Xian offered was: “You didn’t need to worry about me. Once I earned military merit, I would make sure you could prove to the Empress Dowager and His Majesty that you hadn’t married the wrong man.”

Qi Shu Xian earned merit for Sheng Zhi Wan?

If Qi Shu Xian had not married Sheng Zhi Wan, would Qi Shu Xian not have needed to earn merit and build a career?

It was ridiculous.

The more Sheng Zhi Wan thought about it, the less Sheng Zhi Wan understood what had blinded her back then.

Of course, the most important thing was that Sheng Zhi Wan truly wanted to see whether Meng Yang, that money-making cash cow, would really stay loyal to Qi Shu Xian.

Would Meng Yang still be devoted when Qi Shu Xian lost a battle and had nothing left?

Sheng Zhi Wan hoped that as Prince Huai’s biological daughter, Meng Yang would still not abandon Qi Shu Xian, staying the same from start to finish. If that day ever came, Sheng Zhi Wan would personally offer her blessings.

There was also another reason.

If Ming Jia was not the only offspring of Prince Huai Manor, and was not even Princess Consort Huai’s daughter, then if the Empress and the Crown Prince – Sheng Zhi Wan’s brother – found out, would they not go crazy? They had paid such a huge price to secure a Crown Princess.

At the thought, Sheng Zhi Wan’s eyes curved.

Fighting heaven was endless fun. Fighting people was endless fun too.

Sheng Zhi Wan’s guess was not wrong.

Many of the madams and noble ladies who attended the Spring Flower Banquet at Prince Huai Manor that day had their own secret thoughts.

Ming Jia had originally been a Commandery Princess, and she had been granted in marriage as the future Crown Princess. They did not dare to dream of anything.

But now Ming Jia’s identity had changed. It was not even certain whether Ming Jia was Prince Huai’s blood. Some people could not sit still anymore.

That night, the Eastern Palace learned about the farce at Prince Huai Manor.

Crown Prince Sheng Yuan Jun felt as if the sky had collapsed. Crown Prince Sheng Yuan Jun rushed into the palace to see the Empress.

After hearing it, the Empress was shocked at first, and then refused to believe it: “Ming Jia isn’t Princess Consort Huai’s daughter? Impossible! Princess Consort Huai treasures Ming Jia like her own eyes. How could Ming Jia not be her daughter?”

Crown Prince Sheng Yuan Jun insisted, “It was true! Meng Yang had a birthmark behind her ear. It matched Princess Consort Huai’s maternal clan exactly, and everyone saw it. Princess Consort Huai even held Meng Yang in her arms. Plenty of people saw that too, Imperial Mother. What were we supposed to do?”

Crown Prince Sheng Yuan Jun’s voice shook with panic and rage: “I am the Crown Prince. If Ming Jia isn’t even Prince Huai’s blood, what help do I get from marrying her as Crown Princess?”

Crown Prince Sheng Yuan Jun clenched his teeth: “Even if Ming Jia is Prince Huai’s blood… Ming Jia still isn’t Princess Consort Huai’s!”

They had nearly lost the position of Crown Prince to obtain this Crown Princess, and this was the result. Sheng Yuan Jun felt both regret and hatred.

Sheng Yuan Jun had always been obedient and fearful toward the Empress, but today Sheng Yuan Jun could not hold back his resentment: “It was all because Imperial Mother insisted I flatter Ming Jia in the first place! Now look! Was Imperial Mother satisfied now?”

Seeing Sheng Yuan Jun like this, the Empress finally understood it was true. The Empress could not hold herself up and sank back, murmuring, “How could this happen?”

If Ming Jia was not the only offspring of Prince Huai Manor, then marrying Ming Jia could not win over Prince Huai Manor.

Why would the Empress want a Crown Princess like Ming Jia, tainted and vicious?

Jing Ren Palace turned into chaos.

Meanwhile, Sheng Zhi Wan stayed busy in the Princess residence, putting away the silver Qi Fei Rui had sent.

Sheng Zhi Wan did not lack silver now, but silver earned from the Duke household felt good even just to look at.

Over the next two days, Sheng Zhi Wan ate well and slept well.

Then, on this day, Sheng Zhi Wan dreamed that Shang Xing Yu, that shameless playboy, actually leaned toward Sheng Zhi Wan. Sheng Zhi Wan jolted awake and sat up in bed.

An Zhi’s voice came from outside: “Princess was awake?”

Only then did Sheng Zhi Wan realize it was already bright outside. Sheng Zhi Wan answered lazily.

Thinking of the face from the dream, Sheng Zhi Wan wondered where Shang Xing Yu was now…

As Sheng Zhi Wan was thinking, An Zhi continued, “Princess, Princess Consort Huai came early this morning. When Princess Consort Huai heard you were still asleep, Princess Consort Huai did not let anyone inform you. Princess Consort Huai has been waiting in front for the time it takes to drink a cup of tea.”