You're the one who wants to marry a mistress, and I'm marrying someone else, yet you still

“I, Xie Wanru, am certainly not some lowly woman who needs to fend for herself under the tutelage of your Shen family. I have people who love and care for me. Once I leave the Shen family, I am Princess Yongchang, the only daughter of the Xie family. And you? What are you? Just because you hear a few flattering words from these people, you think I can't live without a man like them? I, Xie Wanru, will never depend on a piece of trash like you, and I disdain to have anything to do with you again. I hope that Second Young Master Shen can at least have some self-awareness.”

After speaking, she gently lifted the carriage curtain, her gaze sweeping over the faces around her, some showing pity, others mockery. She used to be like these women, believing that silent dedication would eventually be rewarded.

Little did they know that some men are venomous and ungrateful, and these women are just as foolish as she once was.

Xie Wanru left haughtily, not even glancing at Shen Nian'an. Her actions were undoubtedly a slap in the face to those ladies.

They all revolve around their husbands; once they leave their husbands' families, they are nothing. But Xie Wanru is different; she has a powerful maternal family to support her.

The ladies were indeed somewhat angered by Xie Wanru's words and whispered among themselves. Those ladies who hadn't commented on Xie Wanru covered their mouths and chuckled, with the old lady of the Marquis of Zhennan laughing the loudest.

"What Xie girl said is right. No wonder she is Xie Yun's precious daughter, haha."

The old lady of the Marquis of Zhennan came out accompanied by a group of ladies.

Although she hadn't said anything, she had clearly seen those who had spoken ill of Xie Wanru. She had just told her eldest daughter-in-law that if the family were to hold a banquet in the future, they should not invite those gossipy people.

Both sides had their own thoughts; a thousand people would have one opinion. Old Madam Yuan listened to the fragmented conversation for a while, and after getting into the car, she spoke in a loud voice:

"Women all need to get married, but only those ugly and deformed men can marry. You can't let good girls go into a den of wolves."

After she finished speaking, she deliberately glanced at some of the women with sons. Those women felt a chill in their hearts and quickly shut up and slipped away.

The title of the Marquis of Zhennan is not high, but this old lady Yuan is of a very high generation. Even the Empress would treat her with great respect. All the ladies present knew that they could not afford to offend old lady Yuan, so naturally no one dared to object.

At that moment, in an inconspicuous corner, a man witnessed the entire process.

"It's not too stupid of her to divorce Shen Nian'an. I thought she would be like other women, confined to the inner quarters for the rest of her life."

The man chuckled.

"Your Highness, perhaps the old man's words are not accurate. With so many sons in the Xie family, how can the fate of the world be changed by a woman?"

The attendant beside him bowed respectfully and responded to the man's words: "The old gentleman's words may just be a prophecy and should not be taken seriously. However, this Princess Xie Wanru is different from other women. She is courageous and insightful. Her actions today will probably be talked about in Xuancheng for some time to come."

A playful smile curled at the corner of the man's lips: "Spread rumors? Hmph, I'd like to see if Xie Wanru can truly break free from these worldly constraints. So many eyes were on her at the banquet just now, and many people couldn't stand her. She's certainly angered quite a few people. However, interesting, very interesting indeed. I'm becoming more and more interested in her."

Having said that, the man lightly patted the barely visible dust off his robes, turned around, and strode away.

The attendant immediately followed, but as he looked at his prince's back, he wondered to himself if his prince, who was usually indifferent to women, had really taken a liking to this Yongchang County girl.

No way! This is unacceptable! For a royal man to fall in love with a Xie family woman is a death sentence!

The Emperor forbade the Xie family from marrying into the princes, fearing that the Xie family might control the court in the future. So how could he allow the Xie family's daughter to marry a prince?

Sure enough, the next day, everyone in Xuancheng was talking about Xie Wanru. Xie Wanru had no mind to pay attention to her and was preparing to let the public opinion ferment further when she heard Lin Qing say that Shen Nianqing had let a gold shop burn down.

And the owner behind that Golden Pavilion happens to be Lin Qing himself.

Without a doubt, Xie Wanru knew that this was most likely a trap set by Lin Qing for Shen Nianqing. Lin Qing was always decisive and reckless in his actions, the type who wouldn't stop until he had taken a piece of the other party's flesh.

Xie Wanru scolded Lin Qing. Her third brother had also committed arson, but Lin Qing was too audacious. The shops were all connected. If he burned down someone else's shop and attracted the attention of the government, the investigation would expose him, and Lin Qing would be arrested and imprisoned.

After listening to her mutter a few words, Lin Qing said she missed her mother and had to go back for a few days before slipping away. Anyway, she told someone to make Shen Nianqing pay 30,000 taels of silver, or she would report her to the authorities and have her arrested.

"Wanwan, just wait and see the Shen family's downfall. I'm leaving!"

Lin Qing made a hasty escape, running away without looking back.

Xie Wanru could only shake her head; no matter how much she said, Lin Qingzhen wouldn't listen to a single word.

She asked her eldest brother to accompany her third brother to meet the Simons. Although her eldest brother was not as good as her third brother in terms of strategy, he was better at light footwork. If anything happened, he would be safe whether to gather information, send messages, or escape.

She arranged for her third senior brother to go with Xiao Yan again. She didn't know the emperor's next plan, but just wanted to know Xiao Yan's movements as soon as possible.

After learning about Shen Nianqing's situation, Shen Cong'an thought Xie Wanru would behave herself for a while and wait to see the Shen family make a fool of themselves. However, Xie Wanru's next plan was to intercept the money that the Lou family was paying to the Northern Barbarians.

His men received the news and gave Xie Wanru a copy. Xie Wanru told the Crown Prince that she was going to chase after this batch of goods, and he immediately came to the Princess's residence to find her.

"The dealings between Lou Li and the Northern Barbarians are all done in secret. My people only found out that the Lou family replaced a batch of furniture, saying they were going to take the old furniture back to their hometown to use. They left Xuancheng three days ago. If the Lou family wants to appease the Northern Barbarians, they will definitely give them benefits. This batch of furniture may be disguised valuables."

Shen Cong'an regretted telling Xie Wanru about this; he should have stopped it.

When Xie Wanru found out, she wanted to chase after him. He should have been the one to do this kind of public display, but unfortunately, his martial arts skills were not as good as Xie Wanru's. After studying for a month or two, he could only defeat two servants.

If he were to chase after it, he wouldn't catch the item, and he'd probably get captured himself.

“The Lou family is very careful in their work. We have been unable to find any evidence of their collusion with the Northern Barbarians. If we can find evidence and hand it over to the Emperor for punishment, we will not have to worry about it. Without the support of the Lou family, Xiao Yan will be intimidated by others.”

As he spoke, he glanced at Xie Wanru beside him, a hint of tenderness flickering in his eyes.

This thought was kept carefully, for fear of being discovered.