Chapter 66

Chapter 66: So Eager to Be a Green-Haired Tortoise?

“On the way to Morning Light Temple, Rui’er was suddenly struck by a high fever,” Lady Han recounted softly, her voice tinged with sorrow. “As we were already at the temple gate, I had the servants hurry back to the General’s manor to fetch the house physician. But we waited and waited, and no one ever arrived. It wasn’t until yesterday, when the Princess came, that Rui’er’s fever was finally brought down.”

Her eyes reddened. “The house physician just confirmed that had the Princess not intervened in time, Rui’er likely wouldn’t have survived.”

“I only learned after returning to the manor that those sent for help had been killed along the way. No wonder they never made it back.”

Qi Shu Xian’s eyes narrowed. “Is Lady Han certain of this?”

“Of course. If Heir Apparent Qi does not believe me, you may send someone to Morning Light Temple to verify.”

He turned his gaze toward Sheng Zhi Wan, her face calm as still water. If all this were true, then last night she had indeed been at the temple. But then why had she kept silent? Why had she sent no word back?

It was only now that Madam Cui realized the truth of this visit.

This Lady Han had not come to express thanks. She had come to lend her full support to Sheng Zhi Wan!

At the thought that the Princess’s dowry might slip from her grasp, Madam Cui grew flustered, her words harsh and unguarded.

“Sheng Zhi Wan, don’t think you can rely on Lady Han to prove your innocence. You disappeared for a whole night, and no one knew where you were. Our Duke Qi household does not want a daughter-in-law who lacks all sense of propriety!”

She paused, then seemed to regret her outburst and hurried to soften her tone before Lady Han. “Lady Han, I understand your gratitude toward the Princess for saving your son, but the fact remains—she was taken by bandits. Even if she was rescued and then went to the temple, so what?”

“Can that prove she wasn’t violated by those bandits? That she is still pure?”

“Duchess, what are you implying?” Lady Han’s face darkened. “The Princess was rescued shortly after being captured, and then went to Morning Light Temple to save Rui’er. Of course nothing could have happened in such a short time.”

“And how can you be so sure nothing happened during that time in between?” Madam Cui pressed. She would not let this go.

Today, she was determined—Sheng Zhi Wan’s dowry must be handed over.

And not just the dowry. If the Princess wished to remain the Duke Qi household’s daughter-in-law, even the gifts brought by Han Manor today must be surrendered to them.

“You—” Lady Han’s expression changed. She had never imagined that this Madam Cui, famed for her elegance and restraint, was in truth such a venomous, petty woman.

If Madam Cui insisted that something had happened, who else besides herself could speak in Sheng Zhi Wan’s defense?

“Madam, are you even Princess Ning’s mother-in-law?” Ye Rong suddenly spat. “Any normal person would hope their wife is innocent, and here you are, racing to smear her name. What’s wrong with you—so eager to make your son into a green-haired tortoise?”

Laughter erupted around them.

Ye Rong, far from ashamed, puffed out his chest in defiance.

He was a known scoundrel—who was he afraid of?

This old hag dared humiliate his lifesaver. Ye Rong, Young Master of the Ye family, had to speak out on her behalf!

Duchess or not, even if the King of Heaven stood before him, he’d still hurl curses if they were deserved. What could they do—kill him? He was the only son of his family!

“You—you!” Madam Cui trembled with fury, grabbing the arm of the nanny beside her. “Go! Fetch my court robes! I will go see His Majesty! I will submit a petition!”

“You think I’m scared?” Ye Rong blustered, though truth be told, his heart was pounding. Still, he couldn’t back down now.

“Little Young Master Ye, I will remember what you said today.” Qi Shu Xian’s gaze was frigid, and Ye Rong felt a chill pierce his spine.

He had killed men before, but not in the way Qi Shu Xian had. That man had fought on the battlefield. Just one look from him was enough to make Ye Rong’s back go cold.

Shang Hang Yu stepped forward lightly, positioning himself just ahead of Ye Rong, shielding him.

“Heir Apparent Qi, there’s no need to intimidate Ye Rong. What he said may have been rude, but was it not the truth?” He raised a brow. “Just recently, Duchess clearly said she didn’t care about the Princess’s purity, that she only grieved for the abuse suffered and wanted justice for her.”

“But now…” He paused, smiling faintly. “It seems her words mean little. Duchess now claims our Duke Qi household cannot accept a daughter-in-law who lacks propriety. Whether or not the Princess remained untouched, the way your family shifts its stance, its ruthless, fickle nature, is truly chilling.”

The gathered commoners finally began to see what was wrong.

“That’s right. Didn’t Duchess say she didn’t care before? And the Heir Apparent himself said he wouldn’t blame her… How did that all change so quickly?”

“Could it be that Young Master Ye was right all along? That Duke Qi’s family never cared about what really happened to the Princess? All they want is for her to follow in Madam Dong’s footsteps, so they can take her dowry with no trouble!”

“Shameless!”

“Since ancient times, a woman’s dowry has always been her own. When has the husband’s family ever dared covet it like this?”

“I heard the Heir Apparent’s been selling off residences granted by the Emperor. Could it be that the Duke Qi household is truly running out of money? So much so that they’re even eyeing someone else’s dowry?”

The murmurs fell like stones upon Madam Cui and Qi Shu Xian. Madam Cui was livid, Qi Shu Xian’s expression grew darker still.

“It’s not like that! The Heir Apparent isn’t such a man!” Meng Yang finally stepped forward, unable to stay silent. “In truth, he sold the residences to repay the silver the Princess once gave to help the Duke’s household!”