Yesterday, after receiving Xiao Yuanwu’s approval for the divorce, Xiao Wanyu had been overjoyed. After informing Ji Yuanyi, she went to meet with her sisters, got drunk, and was then sent back to the Princess’s residence.
Because of the hangover, she had some memory lapses and momentarily forgot that she had already divorced Qin Yan. Out of habit, she subconsciously called out his name.
“Bring it here.”
After clearing her head, Xiao Wanyu slowly sat up and extended her hand toward the palace maids.
The maids looked at each other in confusion, not understanding her meaning.
“Sober-up soup. I was drunk all last night—shouldn’t there be a bowl ready when I wake up? Don’t tell me none of you prepared it?”
Seeing the maids staring blankly at her, Xiao Wanyu’s face darkened with anger as she shouted.
The maids immediately turned pale. They truly hadn’t prepared the soup—because it was always Prince Consort Qin Yan who made it personally. They had long since grown used to it. With Qin Yan gone, they hadn’t yet adjusted, and simply forgot.
“Please forgive us, Princess! It was always Prince Consort who made the sober-up soup for you. We… we forgot he’s no longer here. Please forgive us!”
“Yes, Princess, we’ll prepare it right away. Please forgive us!”
The maids trembled in fear. This kind of grave mistake was enough to cost them their lives.
“Useless! As my personal maids, how could you forget something like this? What, Qin Yan’s gone, and so are your souls?”
Xiao Wanyu shouted in fury.
“Forgive us, Princess!”
The maids dropped to their knees and begged for mercy.
“Out! All of you, get out! Useless trash!”
Xiao Wanyu hurled a pillow at them and kicked them out. Though angry, she had no real intention of punishing them—after all, she herself had forgotten Qin Yan was no longer there. This chapter is updated first at novelping dot com.
“Princess, those maids have already been demoted to the laundry yard. They won’t appear before you again. Please don’t be upset anymore.”
In front of the dressing mirror, her personal maid was combing Xiao Wanyu’s hair and tried to comfort her. The morning incident had already spread throughout the residence. Even though Xiao Wanyu hadn’t punished them directly, the maids had still received heavy penalties.
“Nanny, when did Qin Yan leave?”
Xiao Wanyu ignored the topic and asked her maid, curious about when Qin Yan left the residence.
“Prince—ah, Young Master Qin… he left the Princess’s residence just a quarter-hour after you entered the palace.”
The maid caught herself, remembering Qin Yan was no longer the Prince Consort.
“A quarter-hour? That fast? Did he take all his things with him?”
Xiao Wanyu was stunned. A quarter-hour wasn’t even enough time to pack properly. Qin Yan didn’t have much, but even so, surely not everything could be taken so quickly?
“Princess… Young Master Qin didn’t take much. He only packed a few clothes before leaving.”
“And, and…”
“And what?”
“And… he didn’t take the settlement money you gave him. It’s all still here, placed neatly in his room.”
The maid looked at Xiao Wanyu and explained.
“What?”
Xiao Wanyu froze and stood up immediately.
“Princess, where are you going?”
“To Qin Yan’s room.”
The side chamber to the left of the Princess’s quarters was once Qin Yan’s room. When Xiao Wanyu opened the door and walked in, she saw everything still in perfect order—nothing missing, everything neatly arranged as if someone still lived there.
On the table sat a box. Seeing it, Xiao Wanyu frowned.
“What’s this?” This chapter was taken from g.com without permission.
“Princess, it’s best if you open it yourself,” the attendant said, gesturing toward the box.
Xiao Wanyu stepped forward and opened it. The moment she saw what was inside, she froze, staring blankly at the contents.
“Princess, these are all the jewels, jade pieces, silver, calligraphy, and paintings you gifted to Young Master Qin over the past three years. When he left yesterday, he didn’t take a single one. He even placed the settlement money you gave him inside this box.”
The maid softly explained.
“What does he mean by this?”
Xiao Wanyu’s brows furrowed tightly. Her heart suddenly ached, as if someone had squeezed it hard. The sight before her stung her eyes and filled her with an inexplicable discomfort.
“Seems the Prince Consort wanted to leave cleanly, without taking anything from the Princess’s residence—completely severing all ties,” the maid said with emotion, her tone filled with admiration for Qin Yan.
Truly, Qin Yan had spent three years in the Princess’s residence. Everyone, high or low, had great respect for him. Princess Changning had been pampered since birth and knew nothing of household management.
During these past three years, it was Qin Yan who managed every matter of the residence. His reputation and capabilities earned him everyone’s support. He treated all the servants and officials equally and kindly—there was no one who didn’t like him.
His dedication to Xiao Wanyu was clear to all. They simply couldn’t understand how such a perfect Prince Consort could be so easily discarded.
And now, with Qin Yan gone and not even taking a single thing with him—not even his rewards—everyone respected him even more. It proved what kind of man he truly was.
“Sever ties with me completely? Qin Yan… you really want to be so heartless? Not even keeping a single thing I gave you?”
Xiao Wanyu said, face full of anger as she resentfully cursed Qin Yan in her heart, clearly furious about what he had done.