Rebirth and Marriage: I am the Mistress of the Palace

Therefore, Chu Yanluo could only shake his head: "No, they didn't hit me."

"Didn't I really hit you?"

Xiao Qingyuan didn't quite believe it. He wanted to pull open Chu Yanluo's sleeve to see if she was injured, but was stopped by Chu Yanluo.

He said anxiously: "Yanluo, don't be afraid, I will take care of it for you. If you have suffered any injustice, just tell me. I will definitely seek justice for you today and make those who bullied you pay the price!"

Chu Yanluo cried, "They didn't beat me, but they locked me in the woodshed and tied me up with ropes. The woodshed was dirty, broken, dark, and full of rats. This was more terrible than beating me!"

Xiao Qingyuan hugged her tightly and glared at Shen Wantang: "It's all your fault! Don't you know that Yan Luo is timid and afraid of the dark and mice? Why do you torture her like this? I have given you a lot of face and let you live in the palace as the prince's consort. What on earth are you not satisfied with?"

Shen Wantang ignored the two people hugging and embracing each other in public, and was not flustered by Xiao Qingyuan's scolding. She asked calmly: "Where did the prince sleep last night? Did he sleep with Miss Chu?"

Xiao Qingyuan became even more angry. He immediately refuted, "Nonsense! I slept in the study last night. Yan Luo and I were in love but polite. It's not as bad as you think! Before I officially marry Yan Luo, I can't destroy her innocence! Yan Luo is definitely not that kind of casual woman. She moved into the palace only out of helplessness. She and I are innocent!"

He thought he was protecting Chu Yanluo's reputation, but as soon as he said this, Chu Yanluo's face suddenly turned pale.

Before, she had been showing off the kiss mark on her collarbone in front of Shen Wantang, and even said that Xiao Qingyuan wanted to sleep with her every night, but now she was slapped in the face by Xiao Qingyuan!

She also mocked Shen Wantang for not consummating her marriage with Xiao Qingyuan, but then everyone knew that she didn't have any substantial relationship with Xiao Qingyuan!

She raised her head from Xiao Qingyuan's arms and looked at Shen Wantang, only to find that she seemed to have known everything for a long time and was not at all surprised by Xiao Qingyuan's words.

Chu Yanluo finally realized belatedly that Shen Wantang seemed to be well prepared!

She had a very bad feeling in her heart.

Sure enough, the next moment, she heard Shen Wantang say, "I know that the prince is a good man who abides by his duty and cherishes Miss Chu, so I want to ask Miss Chu, who is the man who entangled with you all night and left red marks on your body last night?"

Chu Yanluo gritted his teeth: "What are you talking about? I don't understand!"

Shen Wantang laughed sarcastically: "You don't understand? When we were by the lake in the evening, you even pulled open your collar to show me the red marks on your body. Why are you denying them now?"

"You are talking nonsense. When have I ever done such a thing? You are slandering me! Prince, don't listen to her nonsense. She is jealous that you like me and is slandering me on purpose!"

Xiao Qingyuan looked at Shen Wantang coldly: "What do you want to do? Are you going to force Yan Luo to death? The palace is not a sieve, do you think any man can come in? Except for me, there was no other man in Xingheyuan last night!"

Shen Wantang didn't care about his cold gaze: "Didn't the prince ask me why I kidnapped Miss Chu? Now I tell you the reason, it's because she had an affair with a man. Prince Ning's Mansion will never allow such a thing to happen. As the housekeeper, I have the responsibility and the right to investigate this matter and give an explanation to the whole mansion and the prince."

Xiao Qingyuan was not willing to believe it: "You are just trying to find a pretext to accuse me! I don't need you to give me any explanation, and the palace doesn't need it either! Yan Luo is a cold and proud person. How could she have an affair with a man, and in my yard? Even if you want to slander her, find a decent excuse!"

Shen Wantang looked at him and felt a little pitiful for him for a moment. Even now, he still believed in Chu Yanluo unconditionally.

She ordered, "Madame Chai, bring in the witness."

Nanny Chai responded and quickly brought the person in.

A maid, two gatekeepers, and a palace guard responsible for night patrols.

"Report to the prince everything you saw and heard last night."

The maid knelt on the ground, her voice trembling: "When I got up last night, I heard a sound of a man and a woman making love coming from the prince's courtyard. I'm not sure who the man's voice belongs to, but the woman's voice is very clear, it's... it's Miss Chu."

Chu Yanluo was shocked and angry: "You are talking nonsense, I didn't! You must have received money from others and deliberately said these things to slander me!"

But the old woman did not respond. She immediately left after she finished speaking, and the gatekeeper took over to answer the question.

A servant said, "I am in charge of guarding the gate of the palace. Last night, Master Yuan left the palace at midnight. This has never happened before. The palace never keeps guests until this time. But Master Yuan said he drank too much and accidentally fell asleep in the prince's yard, so he came out late."

Another servant also said, "I am responsible for guarding the second gate of the palace. Young Master Yuan did leave at midnight."

The guard said something similar.

After they finished speaking, Shen Wantang asked them to leave.

Xiao Qingyuan was still hugging Chu Yanluo tightly. He asked coldly, "Shen Wantang, are you done with your act? Is this what you call a witness?"

"Your Highness, don't you believe what these people say?"

"Why should I believe it? You are the steward of the palace now. Who dares not to obey your orders? They can all help you to bear false witness and slander Yan Luo!"

"Since you don't believe them, then please check the marks on Miss Chu's body yourself. Those marks on her body can't be caused by me, right?"

Chu Yanluo's face changed, and she covered her collar tightly, looking aggrieved and proud as she said, "Shen Wantang, don't even think about stripping off my clothes and humiliating me! Isn't it enough that you have bullied me today? I will never show you my body, you are not worthy!"

Shen Wantang looked calm: "Miss Chu, I didn't want to see your body, I just wanted the prince to see it."

Chu Yanluo almost hated her to death. He stared at her with eyes spitting fire, but he refused to give in.

Shen Wantang continued, "Would you rather bear the stigma of having an affair than show your body to the prince? Is there anyone in this world who would treat you better than the prince? Anyway, you will be the prince's person sooner or later, so it doesn't hurt to let him see you. I can take this opportunity to give you a status."

Chu Yanluo was furious: "Give me a status? What do you mean? You want me to be the prince's concubine? This is absolutely impossible! I, Chu Yanluo, will never be a concubine in my life. If I want to be someone, I want to be his legal wife!"