Chapter 175: Chapter 117: The Ruthless Prince Zhan

The woman who accused her of being jealous just now was suddenly stuffed with a handful of leaves without any warning.

She instantly widened her eyes, trying to make a sound, but she couldn’t say a word. For a moment, the leaves were stuck in her mouth, and no matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t spit them out, making her face flush with anxiety.

“Is my word no longer valid?” Shen Ruoxi’s voice was cold and sharp, carrying an undeniable authority. “I said I would silence you if you dared to slander me again. Now, clean your filthy mouth properly!”

The woman clawed and pinched, finally managing to get the leaves out of her mouth after a great effort.

Her eyes were red, tears welling up in her eyes, and she was held tightly by those around her, only able to cry in a muffled voice, not daring to provoke Shen Ruoxi any further.

“Marquis Shen, are you disregarding the mother of this County Princess? Don’t forget, she is your elder! How dare you be so brazen.” Cheng Caiyun shouted angrily.

Shen Ruoxi coldly glanced at Cheng Caiyun, full of disdain: “County Princess Cheng, you didn’t interfere just now, and now you want to step in?”

Cheng Caiyun was so angry that her fingers clenched tight, her knuckles turning white, feeling unable to gain any advantage over Shen Ruoxi.

Suddenly, she shouted at the maid beside her, “Go fetch my mother.”

The maid received the order and hurriedly went to fetch her.

Shen Ruoxi slightly lifted the corner of her mouth, thinking to herself: She doesn’t even take the Emperor seriously, so who would she fear?

She actually wished for the situation to escalate further!

At this moment, Mu Jinxuan, who was kneeling on the ground, suddenly clung tightly to Shen Ruoxi’s leg, bursting into tears as she said, “Marquis Shen, it’s all my fault. Please don’t vent your anger on others, don’t take it out on the County Princess. If you need to vent, take it out on me, but don’t involve innocent people.”

Indeed, Mu Jinxuan’s plea won her quite a bit of sympathy from the onlookers.

Although everyone was angry but dared not speak up, they all felt that Shen Ruoxi was too domineering and ruthless, giving no consideration to County Princess Cheng.

After all, they were still relatives to some extent.

The scene was one of intense confrontation, the atmosphere tense to the extreme.

Just then, a noisy sound of footsteps came from not far away, getting closer and closer, as if a large crowd was approaching.

Everyone fixed their gaze and was taken aback.

Not only had the Eldest Princess arrived, but even the Emperor and Prince Zhan had come along.

It was no secret that the Emperor was fond of Shen Ruoxi, and Prince Zhan was Shen Ruoxi’s fiancé, also the Eldest Princess’s nephew.

This scene was truly bustling and lively.

Seeing the Emperor’s arrival, everyone hurriedly paid their respects. For a moment, the vast space fell silent, as no one dared to speak rashly, the atmosphere instantly freezing like ice.

The Emperor swept a sharp gaze over the crowd, only to see Shen Ruoxi with a calm expression, her own cousin full of anger, and on the ground, a woman was kneeling.

He frowned slightly, full of doubt, what on earth was going on?

Jun Moling’s eyes immediately caught Shen Ruoxi’s figure among the crowd. Though she wasn’t dressed extravagantly today, her brilliance was hard to conceal.

In this crowd, she was always the most outstanding and beautiful one.

However, it seemed that everyone’s gaze contained different meanings, and when he saw the kneeling woman, his deep black eyes instantly turned cold like a pond.

“What is going on?” The Emperor’s deep voice rang out, the inquiry directed at Cheng Caiyun.

Cheng Caiyun quickly bowed, looking aggrieved, “It’s Marquis Shen causing trouble, deliberately bullying others at my mother’s birthday feast.”

This accusation was indeed heavy and severe.

Upon hearing this, the Emperor’s expression suddenly changed, even Jun Moling’s complexion turned gloomy.

However, at the center of this vortex, Shen Ruoxi still maintained a calm expression, as if everything Cheng Caiyun said had nothing to do with her.

The Eldest Princess inherently disliked Shen Ruoxi. As an elder, there was always some bias against women with outstanding beauty.

Moreover, firstly, she was a divorced woman, if she were to remarry, it would be her second marriage; secondly, both the Emperor and Prince Zhan were interested in her. Isn’t this a typical case of a femme fatale?

By now, there were already many unfavorable rumors about her circulating in the Capital City.

Now, to hear that she caused such a commotion at her own birthday banquet, the anger in her heart was erupting like a volcano.

However, with the Emperor and Prince Zhan present, she could only hold back and wait for the development of the situation.

“Marquis Shen, what happened?” The Emperor put away his anger and asked with a gentle tone.

With the Emperor’s mild attitude, everyone inwardly admired Shen Ruoxi, who has kept the Emperor’s attention for years, and is now marrying Prince Zhan as a second marriage. It truly is a remarkable story.

“Your Majesty, should we ask this Miss Mu?” Ruoxi spoke calmly.

At this moment, Mu Jinxuan was still sobbing, and the clear slap mark on her face made her look pitiful.

“Miss Mu, what exactly happened?” The Emperor frowned, his gaze sternly landing on Mu Jinxuan.

Mu Jinxuan bit her lip, looking aggrieved, while Old Mrs. Cui quickly bowed and said, “Your Majesty, my granddaughter and I saw Marquis Shen and thought since we’re all family, we would invite her over. Unexpectedly, she slapped someone without a word.”

The Emperor’s gaze shifted to Ruoxi, questioning sternly, “Was it you who slapped her?”

Before Ruoxi could answer, the Zou Family was already bowing, “Your Majesty, I was the one who slapped her, it has nothing to do with Ruoxi.”

“Why did you do it?” The Emperor pressed further.

Ruoxi respectfully bowed and slowly said, “Your Majesty, allow me to explain!

This Miss Mu, today is the first time I’ve met her. As soon as she appeared, she accused me of not being able to tolerate her.

She also claimed to have a marriage contract with Prince Zhan, and Old Mrs. Cui insisted on vouching for this.

I explained that I had never heard of such a thing and suggested she speak to Prince Zhan, yet she continued to be unreasonable, insolent, and even called me by name. It was only because my sister-in-law could no longer tolerate it that she slapped her,” Ruoxi said.

Before Ruoxi could finish, Jun Moling’s dark eyes narrowed dangerously, and his sharp gaze turned to Mu Jinxuan, “Mu Jinxuan, what did you say?”

Mu Jinxuan bit her lip, her heart full of resentment.

To her, she and Prince Zhan had known each other since childhood, and he had always been courteous to her, surely harboring feelings for her.

But now, because of Ruoxi, he treated her this way, reluctant to take her as his concubine.

At this moment, she steeled her heart, suddenly reaching out to grab Jun Moling’s trouser leg, tearfully pleading, “Your Highness, I know you have me in your heart.

Otherwise, when my grandmother jokingly mentioned this earlier, you did not refute it.

You are a prince; you can make the decision. I am willing to serve you for a lifetime, just please don’t marry me off to someone else.”

Jun Moling was taken aback by her words.

He instinctively looked up, meeting Ruoxi’s teasing gaze, and his heart flustered.

He had no time to explain to Ruoxi, already burning with anger.

The hand clutching his trousers felt like something filthy, and he kicked it away forcefully.

“Mu Jinxuan, are you dreaming? You and Old Mrs. Cui spread rumors claiming you would become my concubine. Out of respect for your grandfather, I didn’t pursue it, and even arranged a marriage for you, yet you dare babble nonsense before Ruoxi.”

The kick was so strong that Mu Jinxuan was sent flying, letting out a miserable cry as she spat a mouthful of blood.

Old Mrs. Cui cried out in alarm, “Xuan!”

Everyone witnessing the scene felt their hearts leap, too frightened to breathe.

Some young ladies who once admired Prince Zhan were instantly scared off by this ruthless display.

This Prince Zhan truly was merciless!

However, everyone quickly realized that the rumors in the Capital City about Mu Jinxuan becoming Prince Zhan’s concubine were indeed unfounded, spread by her and Old Mrs. Cui. That kick was well deserved!

Could Prince Zhan tolerate such deceit?

“Moling.” The Eldest Princess expressed her displeasure, intervening as having a death at her birthday banquet would be inappropriate.

Jun Moling, however, ignored it, angrily snapping, “Aunt, stay out of this. This wretched woman brought this upon herself.”

The Emperor also spoke coldly, “Old Mrs. Cui, I have heard the rumors you and Miss Mu spread. Prince Zhan has shown leniency and did not hold it against you, yet you provoke in the Princess’s banquet seeking your own end?”

Old Mrs. Cui was full of regret, not expecting the Emperor and Prince Zhan to favor Ruoxi so much, this truly was a miscalculation.

Evidently, they had determined it was her granddaughter causing trouble at the Eldest Princess’s birthday banquet!

“Your Majesty, it is my fault, this should not have been mentioned in the Princess Mansion, but since Xuan is heavily injured, I beg your Majesty to allow me to take her back for treatment, and we will never mention this again.”

This was leading to someone’s death; Old Mrs. Cui was really afraid, never daring to provoke this living King Yan again.

“Granted.”

With the Emperor’s permission, Old Mrs. Cui quickly called on her people to carry Mu Jinxuan away.

Watching them leave, Ruoxi suddenly stepped forward, speaking coldly, “County Princess Cheng, who is truly at fault? You chastised and slandered my sister-in-law, wrongfully accusing me. I expect an apology.”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep