A scumbag husband fakes his death to escape his marriage? I'll burn down his funeral hall and s

Chapter 555 He Strikes the Crown Prince! What's with Being Worshipped?

Su Wan's smile remained unchanged, and she nodded slightly. "That's exactly right. It's best for men and women to make their own decisions about matters between them, and others can only offer assistance from the sidelines."

Her tone was gentle, but her gaze seemed to casually sweep over Xuan-ge'er and Gu Qingchen, who was not far away trying to reach the butterflies on the crabapple blossoms with a small twig.

“Speaking of which, it’s rare for the Crown Prince to come out for a stroll today. Xuan’er and Qingchen are about the same age as him, so they can play together,” Su Wan suggested.

Just as Chu Ruohan was about to agree and give Qingchen a few instructions, a sudden change occurred over there.

It's unclear who provoked whom first, but the Crown Prince somehow ended up next to Gu Qingchen, and the two seemed to be arguing over a butterfly fluttering among the flowers.

The Crown Prince pointed at the butterfly and said something, but Gu Qingchen wouldn't let him get close. She blocked his way with her small body.

The Crown Prince, perhaps accustomed to being flattered, was displeased by the sight. His face hardened, and he reached out to push Gu Qingchen away.

Gu Qingchen is not one to suffer a loss.

She stumbled half a step after being pushed by the Crown Prince, and her stubborn temper immediately flared up.

"How dare you push me!" she cried out in her childish voice, clenching her little fist and swinging it without hesitation at the prince's chubby face!

With a crisp "snap," the force, though not too great, was still solid.

The prince was stunned by the blow. He was taken aback for a moment, then burst into tears with a startling cry, his tears falling like beads from a broken string.

This really stirred up a hornet's nest!

The surrounding palace maids and eunuchs panicked instantly and swarmed around the prince, but dared not touch him easily.

"His Royal Highness!"

"Oh dear, what should we do!"

Chu Ruohan felt a sudden darkness before her eyes and almost fainted.

She rushed forward in three strides, pulled Gu Qingchen away as he was about to throw another punch, and held him tightly in her arms.

"Qingchen!" She was both angry and anxious, her voice trembling slightly.

She quickly turned to the Crown Prince, who was crying his heart out, and then looked at Su Wan, who was walking over after hearing the commotion. She knelt down to beg for forgiveness.

"Your Majesty, I have failed in my duty to educate my daughter, and she has disturbed His Highness the Crown Prince. Please punish me!"

Su Wan was also taken aback by this sudden turn of events, but she quickly calmed down.

She first gestured to the palace servants to comfort the Crown Prince, then helped Chu Ruohan up. Although there was some helplessness on her face, there was not much anger.

To everyone's surprise, the Crown Prince wiped away his tears, sobbing as he pointed at Gu Qingchen, who was being held down by Chu Ruohan. His voice was unusually loud, though choked with sobs.

"Mother! She...she's amazing! Even more amazing than the martial arts taught by the Grand Tutor!"

His little face was flushed from the beating, but his eyes shone with a strange light, carrying a hint of...admiration?

Su Wan was taken aback at first, then almost burst out laughing.

She bent down and gently wiped away the prince's tears, soothing him softly, "Alright, alright, An'er, don't cry anymore."

"You're a man, what's a little injury like this?"

Then she said to Chu Ruohan, "Sister Ruohan, please don't say that. It's inevitable that children will bump into each other when they play together."

"The Crown Prince is quite resilient, and Qingchen is also a straightforward and adorable child."

She downplayed the matter, skillfully defusing a potential storm with her words.

Chu Ruohan felt a mix of emotions, a sense of lingering fear and helplessness.

She looked at her daughter's smug, arrogant face, then at the prince's strange expression, a mixture of grievance and admiration.

I felt completely overwhelmed.

Gu Qingchen's lawless nature is truly a headache.

She was completely clueless about music, chess, calligraphy, painting, needlework, and embroidery; she couldn't even sit still.

He was particularly interested in things like wielding knives and guns, climbing trees and raiding bird nests. He was barely literate, but his ability to cause trouble was second to none.

But Gu Junze always said, "Girls should be more spontaneous and not be too restrained."

In retrospect, this casualness may have gone too far.

Amidst the chaos, Chu Ruohan caught a glimpse of the crabapple tree not far away.

Lin Xingyao was watching this side with great interest, especially the way she was staring at Gu Qingchen, which made her feel inexplicably uneasy.

Just as Chu Ruohan was secretly racking her brains, pondering how to "discuss" her daughter's education with Gu Junze when she got back, a voice carrying obvious dissatisfaction still came through clearly.

It was the old Princess Consort of Yong. Her face was already ashen when she saw the Crown Prince being beaten.

At this moment, she muttered to the ladies of the imperial family beside her, "It seems the upbringing of the Duke of Zhenguo's family is nothing special now. Which family would dare to marry such a rude and uncouth girl?"

Though spoken softly, not a single word was uttered, and it drifted right into Chu Ruohan's ears.

Chu Ruohan slowly straightened up. She didn't even turn around to look at Princess Yong. Instead, she lowered her head and gently tidied the slightly disheveled hair of her daughter in her arms.

Those little fists were still clenched, and her little face was full of stubbornness and defiance.

The air in the Imperial Garden seemed to freeze at that moment.

All eyes were on the Duchess of Zhenguo, waiting to see how she would handle this embarrassing situation.

Seeing that she remained silent, the old Princess Yong assumed that she was guilty and in the wrong. Her cold smile became more pronounced, and she gave another light snort, full of disdain.

Just then, Chu Ruohan slowly turned around and calmly met the gaze of the old Princess Yong.

There was no anger on her face, and there was even a very faint smile, but the smile did not reach her eyes. Instead, it was like the thin ice on a lake in winter, chillingly cold.

"Your Highness, Princess Consort Yong, are too kind." Her voice was not loud, but it clearly reached the ears of everyone present.

"As parents, who doesn't hope that their child is innocent, carefree, and acts on their own whims? It's better than them learning to be two-faced and hypocritical at a young age."

Upon hearing this, several ladies' expressions changed slightly.

Princess Yong's face darkened instantly; these words sounded like a veiled insult.

Chu Ruohan seemed oblivious, continuing unhurriedly, "As for what Your Highness is worried about, who will dare to marry me in the future..."

She paused, raised her hand and gently patted her daughter's back. Her movements were gentle, but her eyes were sharp as knives as she looked straight at the old Princess Yong.

"I have never worried about this matter. My daughter, a daughter of the Duke of Zhenguo, is of noble birth and has been raised with utmost care and affection. There is no reason for her to compromise herself to please others just to get married."

"In the future, if she meets a kindred spirit, a man of upright character who is worthy of her trust, my Duke Zhenguo's mansion will naturally find a husband for her. In the future, the couple will live in harmony, and she will have children to enjoy. Wouldn't that be wonderful?"

Her voice suddenly rose, carrying an undeniable force and arrogance.

"If we don't meet her, surely my Duke Zhenguo's mansion can support its daughter for the rest of her life?"

"In the end, this is all a family matter of our Duke Zhenguo's mansion, so there's no need for Your Highness, Princess, to trouble yourself on Qingchen's behalf."

His words were firm and resounding.

The entire Imperial Garden was so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

Everyone was stunned by Chu Ruohan's shocking remarks.

A son-in-law is to be brought to the family home for marriage?

Isn't that something only merchant families without sons would do?

The legitimate daughter of the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion is actually seeking a husband?

This is simply unheard of!