Chapter 32: A Quarrel Between Husband and Wife

Crown Princess: "She hit herself!"
Yu Qingqing: "It has nothing to do with me!"
Crown Prince: "..."!!
Prince An: "..."??

Seeing the two flustered women, the Crown Prince immediately moved to shield the Crown Princess behind him and asked, "Everything was fine when I left. What happened?"

Yu Qingqing looked at Prince An. Seeing his indifference and gloomy expression, her heart ached. Knowing he would certainly not believe her, she said dejectedly, "I will take my leave."

Prince An did not chase after her. Instead, he glanced at the dying Lady Chen and asked the Crown Prince, "Are you not calling the imperial physician?"

The Crown Prince finally snapped out of his daze and hurriedly sent for the physician.

The Crown Princess then stepped forward and said, "Second Brother, this is not Qingqing's fault."

"It was this Lady Chen who was clamoring to ruin the relationship between you two. I happened to overhear it and threatened to expose her, and it was out of shame that she hit her head against the wall."

Prince An interrupted her: "Sister-in-law, why was Qingqing here?"

The Crown Princess was stunned, then explained, "We were walking together and happened to see Lady Chen's eunuch keeping watch outside, so we went in."

Prince An sneered, "You aren't angry that Lady Chen tried to seduce my elder brother, yet you are furious because she mentioned Yu Qingqing. Why is that?"

"Isn't this a scheme plotted by the two of you? I admit I once had feelings for Lady Chen, but that was in our youth. We are both married now; do you honestly think there would be any illicit affair?"

"Big Brother, I am so disappointed in you!"

After saying this, Prince An left abruptly. This move, while seemingly directed at the Crown Prince, was actually an expression of his dissatisfaction with the Crown Princess.

The Crown Princess was furious and chased after him, asking, "Second Brother, what do you mean by this?"

The Crown Prince pulled her back: "That’s enough, let it be."

The Crown Princess said indignantly, "We let him see the true face of that slut, and instead of being grateful, he is angry?"

"I don't understand. It clearly wasn't Qingqing's fault, so just because he doesn't like her, he can suspect her so recklessly?"

The Crown Prince said, "You don't understand. I didn't see him suspecting Qingqing."

"It was just that Qingqing ran off the moment she saw him, clearly worried that she wouldn't be able to explain herself clearly and fearing that Second Brother would not trust her."

"The issues between them are not something we can intervene in. Forget it."

The Crown Princess sighed, "I just feel that now that we are doing well, we should learn to do good deeds and accumulate blessings."

"Sigh, I will never meddle in their business again."

The Crown Prince embraced her, comforting her: "Doing good is a fine thing, but there is more to it than just this. Let things take their course."

The Crown Princess nodded and looked at Lady Chen, asking, "Then what about this woman?"

The Crown Prince replied, "She has poor conduct and attempted to harm her sister-in-law. I will have Minister Chen take her out of the palace."

Hearing this, the Crown Princess smiled happily and embraced the Crown Prince, saying, "My husband is the best."

Although the Crown Prince smiled, he warned, "Only this once. Do not let my wife do such things again next time."

The Crown Princess nodded repeatedly, thinking that she and the Crown Prince were truly a couple who had shared trials, and that the Crown Prince trusted her deeply. Unlike Prince An, whose behavior was truly disheartening.

...

When Prince An and Yu Qingqing left the palace, they were still in a cold war, neither speaking to the other.

After entering the Prince's residence, Yu Qingqing prepared to return to her room, but Prince An grabbed her and demanded, "Are you not going to explain yourself to me?"

Yu Qingqing shook off his hand and retorted, "Explain what? If I said the Crown Princess brought me there, would you believe me?"

"I know you like her, but you don't need to remind me over and over. We were married by imperial decree, and I will fulfill my duties as the Princess of An."

Prince An shouted angrily, "Why wouldn't I believe you? Don't think you understand me so well; if you truly understood me, you wouldn't be acting like this."

"And don't bring Lady Chen into this. Don't you have someone you like, too? Jiang Heng, your father's student—if not for your engagement to me, dare you say you wouldn't have married him?"

Yu Qingqing was livid: "That's right! If not for the engagement, I would definitely have married Jiang Heng!"

Prince An's expression changed drastically, his gaze darkened sharply, and he roared, "So you finally admit it! You do like Jiang Heng!"

"Yu Qingqing, we have been betrothed for a long time. Do you have no shame?"

Yu Qingqing retorted, "Who has no shame? I had no way to break the engagement, but did you really have no way either?"

"Why wait until after we were married to tell me these things? Could it be that it's all my fault? Let me tell you, I don't want to be the Princess of An! If you have the guts, then let's divorce!"

Prince An snapped, "Divorce it is! Who's afraid of whom?"

Yu Qingqing prepared to go pack her things and leave. Seeing this, Prince An grabbed her and said, "You want to go live with Jiang Heng, don't you? You are not allowed to go!"

"If you go, where would that leave my face?"

"You want a divorce? Fine, wait! I will find a way, and only after we are divorced can you leave!"

Hearing this, Yu Qingqing realized that Prince An truly wanted to divorce her. Feeling wronged and hurt, she cried, "Fine! I'll wait!"

Watching Yu Qingqing's retreating figure, Prince An felt miserable, but he didn't want to coax her.

Why should he?

He hadn't accused her of being responsible for Lady Chen's situation; it was clearly her who didn't trust him and was making an unreasonable scene.

She must be pining for that Jiang Heng, which is why she deliberately stirred up trouble. It must be that.

"Hmph!"

"You want a divorce, do you?"

"Just wait! I won't satisfy her so easily. I'll drag this out until the end!"

Just then, the steward came to report: "Your Highness, Prince Huaiqing is here."

Xiao Huailuo was confused. He had forgotten their usual close friendship; instead, he was still brooding over the fact that his Imperial Aunt had mentioned he was too busy chasing Su Yingyue to notice that he and Yu Qingqing were almost burned to a crisp. He asked irritably, "What is he here for?"

The steward replied, "He didn't say, only that he wanted to see Your Highness."

Xiao Huailuo said, "Make him wait. I'm busy right now!"

"Second Brother, what’s wrong with you?"

"Did you have a fight with your wife?"

Xiao Huaiqing had already arrived.

Prince An ignored him and walked away.

Thinking that Prince An had not yet vented his anger, Xiao Huaiqing followed him, consoling, "Doesn't your wife have feelings for you? Just coax her a little, why hold a grudge?"

Prince An turned back, his eyes gleaming with hostility: "How do you know she has feelings for me? I don't even know!"

"Hmph!" She has someone else in her heart, not me!!

Xiao Huaiqing was surprised: "Does that even need to be said?"

"If your wife didn't like you, why would she have married you?"

"Back when we were children, whenever she brought delicious snacks into the palace and we asked for some, she wouldn't give them to us, saying they were for you. Have you forgotten all that?"

Xiao Huailuo: "..."

"How long ago was that? How could I possibly remember?"

"Those little favors were just her trying to bribe me into breaking off the engagement, hmph!"

Xiao Huaiqing: "But she does like you. The way she looks at you is different; she is very protective of you."

Xiao Huailuo: "..." I wonder if that's true?

Why couldn't he bring himself to believe it?

"By the way, what did you come to see me for?"

Seeing that he was finally willing to discuss proper matters, Xiao Huaiqing breathed a slight sigh of relief and asked, "Is Lin Yue still in the palace?"

Xiao Huailuo was suspicious: "Lin Yue? Who? How would I know if she is in the palace or not?"

Xiao Huaiqing: "..."!!