Chapter 357: You’re Questioning Me?

The Princess Consort’s eyebrows rose. "What nonsense are you spouting, girl."

"I don’t understand what you’re saying."

She could understand why Shen Qingluan was losing her composure. After all, anyone in this situation would find it difficult to bear. Her words were an attempt to help Shen Qingluan save face—how could a young lady possibly bring up such a matter herself? It was best to gloss over it and be done.

But Shen Qingluan didn’t appreciate the gesture. She gave a cold laugh, staring directly at the Princess Consort. "Princess Consort, you clearly promised my mother back then that our families would be joined by marriage once the Young Master Heir came of age. Why have you gone back on your word?"

In front of the Prince and Xiao Yu, the Princess Consort usually maintained a sweet and simple persona. But out in the world, she was the high and mighty Princess Consort of Ping’an City! Who would dare speak to her like that!

The Princess Consort was annoyed. The corner of her lip curled slightly as she said coolly, "Miss Shen, are you questioning me?"

"I don’t recall ever saying such a thing."

"In the past, your mother was simply worried about your marriage prospects, and I was worried about Yu’er’s. We just exchanged a few words on the matter, that’s all. When did we ever speak of an engagement? I’m afraid you’re overthinking things, Miss Shen."

Her words weren’t entirely wrong. The trouble lay in their unspoken understanding. These noble ladies, born into families of high officials, were accustomed to speaking evasively. They disliked making definitive statements, which always left them with room to maneuver.

Besides, even if she had said it outright, the Princess Consort wouldn’t have been afraid.

’An engagement is only official once betrothal gifts have been exchanged. Since no gifts were exchanged, the marriage was never settled. How could a few mere words count for anything?’

’And this slip of a girl actually has the gall to question me!’

After speaking, the Princess Consort let out a cold huff. Just then, her sedan chair arrived. With a flick of her handkerchief, she turned and boarded it.

Shen Qingluan was practically mad with anger. Watching the Princess Consort’s sedan chair depart, she was in no mood to return to the flower hall and face those other noble ladies. Furious and indignant, she clenched her fists tightly and ran like a madwoman toward her own courtyard.

Her maids scrambled to follow behind her in a panic.

One maid turned and rushed back to the flower hall to report to the Guardian Lady.

Seated in her sedan chair, the Princess Consort lifted a corner of the window curtain and spoke to Nanny Xu outside. "My son was right after all. I thought that Qingluan was a decent girl, but I never expected her to be so disrespectful. Did you see the look on her face just now? It was like she wanted to eat me alive!"

Nanny Xu, still shaken, replied, "It’s true. Whenever we saw Miss Shen in the past, she was always so polite. I never imagined she would dare show such an attitude to you, Princess Consort. On any other day, we would never have let her get away with it."

The Princess Consort sneered. "Now that the marriage is off, that mother and daughter pair must despise me."

"Was it I who told her to wait for Yu’er?"

"I never said such a thing!"

"It was that mother and daughter who were fixated on the position of the Heir’s wife. So many suitors went to their home in recent years, but they turned them all down themselves. And now they have the nerve to blame me? What sort of logic is that!"

The more the Princess Consort thought about it, the more justified she felt. The Guardian Lady and her daughter were the ones being unreasonable.

She beckoned, and Nanny Xu leaned in close. The Princess Consort whispered, "The Prince is now interested in arranging a marriage for his other son with Qingluan. What do you think we should do about this?"

Nanny Xu frowned. "This is a matter the Princess Consort should not get involved in."

"But if this marriage goes through, I’m afraid they will join forces to oppose you and the Young Master Heir."

The Princess Consort gave a cold laugh. "Of course they will."

"We can’t let them succeed."

"Nanny, have our people keep a close watch lately. Report any movements from that side to me immediately."

Nanny Xu acknowledged the order, and only then did the Princess Consort lower the curtain.