Chapter 137: Chapter 79: He Seems Especially Happy

Shen Ruoxi fell into silence, and Jun Moling did not rush her for an answer, instead silently accompanying her side.

The sky was incredibly dark, as if a torrential downpour could unleash at any moment. Only the sound of footsteps broke the delicate atmosphere, adding an inexplicable layer of awkwardness.

In the deep darkness, a man and a woman hid in the shadows, their eyes fixed intently on the two people in front of them.

The corners of the woman’s mouth lifted subtly, forming a meaningful smile, while the man’s knuckles cracked audibly with anger, his eyes filled with malicious resentment.

“How about it? Wasn’t I right? The Prince is finally blooming like a flower, Emperor, Prince, I bet returning to the Capital City will be quite the spectacle!”

Although Ning Zhen’er had a charming face, it now wore a hint of provocation, as if afraid the current animosity wasn’t fierce enough, she added more fuel to Xiao Chengyi’s fire.

Hearing this, Xiao Chengyi’s heart surged with an uncontrollable fury, and he barked, “Ning Zhen’er, doesn’t everyone say that a harmonious home leads to prosperity? What good is your schadenfreude to you!”

Ning Zhen’er’s heart turned sour and irritated instantly, her voice icy and sharp, “Xiao Chengyi, what did you promise me before? You and she have separated and have no ties anymore, so what ’home’ are you talking about?

Shouldn’t you be wholeheartedly devoted to me? Haven’t I given you my true heart? But at the critical moment of life and death, the one you care about is your ex-wife, where does that leave me? Is this fair to me?”

Xiao Chengyi laughed coldly, his gaze unwavering and resolute, “On the battlefield, who remains unscathed? At that time, Ruoxi held the lifeline of the war, if anything happened to her and the drawbridge didn’t fall, we would have been stuck outside the Guard River. Not to mention victories, how many of our blood-soaked soldiers would have been lost?

Who doesn’t say that she made the greatest contribution to this victory? This war has already been going on for almost six years, everyone thought it would take at least another year or more to reclaim Xia Pass, yet it was recovered in just a few short days?

Don’t you know how the soldiers in the barracks speak of her? They say she is a lucky star, bringing good fortune to the battlefield, also blessed by the Loyalty Marquis. How could I let anything happen to her?

Besides, she saved you, wasn’t it right for me to save her? Aren’t you done yet?”

Ning Zhen’er let out an angry laugh, realizing she was humiliating herself.

“Now we have nothing more to say to each other. You were right about one thing, she saved me.

Even toward me, her rival in love, she could lend a helping hand, showing that she never even cared about us. I’m going to her tent to wait and thank her and apologize!” Ning Zhen’er finished speaking, sneering, and left.

Xiao Chengyi instinctively wanted to follow Ning Zhen’er, but his feet felt as if they were nailed to the ground, unable to move an inch.

His gaze went past Ning Zhen’er and landed on a pair not far away, walking side by side.

Their gestures exuded a kind of intimacy that no outsider could intrude upon.

Xiao Chengyi’s heart felt like it was hammered hard, churning with complex and turbulent emotions.

Are they…truly together? Once this thought emerged, it grew like wild grass, impossible to restrain.

The wind howled, yet it couldn’t disperse the bitterness and resentment in his heart.

Shen Ruoxi walked slowly, suddenly startled, pondering silently, what exactly was she hesitating about?

Hadn’t she long lost confidence in men? By now, this result was actually for the best.

So what if he doesn’t like her? She needs a marriage to resolve issues with the Emperor’s side, why care so much about his feelings?

She forcefully suppressed the discomfort in her heart, “Prince Zhan, I just think you might be at a loss.”

Jun Moling smiled faintly, his smile seemed to bring a trace of brightness in the dull sky, “I was the one who proposed this, naturally, I’m the one benefitting. I’m giving you time to consider, no rush for an answer.”

Shen Ruoxi raised her eyes, her gaze firm and clear, “No need to consider, as long as Your Highness agrees, I have no objections and will be grateful to you.”

Jun Moling’s smile grew even stronger, his entire being was almost uncontrollably excited, but he suppressed his inner joy, “Alright, it’s late, I’ll take you back to rest. The army still needs a few days to organize, and we have to accept Beichang’s surrender and tribute. Oh, from now on, you don’t have to call me Prince Zhan anymore, you can call me Yuan.”

Yuan was his courtesy name. During his coming-of-age ceremony, his parents had already passed away. It was his maternal grandfather who gave him this name, hoping he would be as noble and flawless as beautiful jade, living a life of peace, health, and happiness.

“Ah?”

Shen Ruoxi looked shocked, directly calling the Prince by his courtesy name, wasn’t that somewhat inappropriate? Also, was it just her illusion earlier? Why did it seem like he was unusually happy?

It must be her illusion!

As he grows older, perhaps he is destined to be without his beloved, lending her a hand to stop the gossip while helping her once more.

She was still filled with gratitude in her heart, at least, he helped her solve an urgent problem.

“Call me Yuan and let’s see.” Jun Moling’s eyes were filled with a bit of expectation, he suddenly teased and said.

An indescribable sensation surged in Shen Ruoxi’s heart, and merely calling his name made her feel entirely uncomfortable.

To escape this awkward situation, she quickly changed the subject, “The sky is so gloomy, it seems like it’ll rain soon, I better hurry back to my tent, Your Highness, please stay put.”

Jun Moling’s heart felt a slight pang of disappointment, but he quickly adjusted his emotions.

Because he keenly sensed her discomfort, knowing that he couldn’t rush the matter, he had to take it slow.

After all, she was now distrustful of men, and he needed to gradually make her understand that he was not like Xiao Chengyi, but would wholeheartedly treat her well.

“I’ll escort you.” His voice was firm yet gentle.

As soon as these three words left his mouth, raindrops began to fall from the sky, each large, and then cascading down like broken beads, causing both to pause.

“No need, Your Highness, run quickly, let’s head back to our tents!” Shen Ruoxi shouted loudly, before she could finish her words, she intended to use her Qinggong and leave.

However, Jun Moling firmly grabbed her arm, Shen Ruoxi’s heart puzzled, only to see Jun Moling quickly remove his coat, covering her head, “Your tent is too far, mine is close, let’s head there first, wait for the rain to lessen before going back.”

Before Shen Ruoxi could refuse, Jun Moling tightly pulled her arm, sprinting towards his tent.

In an instant, a torrential rain poured down, drenching Xiao Chengyi from head to toe, yet he stood motionless as if in a stupor, his gaze vacant, fixed on the two figures running together.

It wasn’t until they entered Jun Moling’s tent together that Xiao Chengyi’s legs began to weaken.

Despite trying hard not to think about her, despite his resolve to stand alongside Ning Zhen’er, facing life together.

But when he saw her again, all his defenses crumbled in an instant, all thoughts turned chaotic.

It wasn’t that she couldn’t live without him, rather it was himself who couldn’t live without her.

Merely watching her nestling with Jun Moling was already unbearable for him. What about the day she gets married? Wouldn’t he plunge into utter madness?

He struggled to move his stiff legs, ignoring the torrential rain, with a hint of self-abuse, he slowly walked to the outside of Jun Moling’s main tent.

The rain soaked through his clothing, streaming continuously down his face, yet he remained oblivious.

His eyes fixed intently on the tightly closed tent flap, his heart a complex mix of pain, regret, and jealousy entwined, leaving him nearly breathless.

Meanwhile, Liu Qian watched the torrential rain with delight, feeling it was divine intervention, quietly slipping into Shen Ruoxi’s tent.

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