Chapter 209: Chapter 152: Take Care of Xiao Chengyi

Shen Ruoxi’s heart suddenly skipped a heavy beat, and she said lightly, “Bring it here.”

Just as Chuntao was about to reach for it, an old nanny named Deng quickly said, “Princess Consort, this is the Prince’s cherished item, always carefully kept, and I don’t know how it ended up here. This old servant will tidy it up for him.”

A sense of grievance inexplicably surged in Shen Ruoxi’s heart. Since he could never let go of that person in his heart, why did he still come to entangle with her and treat her so well?

Why is this?

“Put it down and bring it here!” Her voice carried anger and unintentionally grew louder.

Nanny Deng, being someone of the old Princess Consort, was respected by Jun Moling for her experience, and he asked her to take care of Shen Ruoxi here.

Of course, Jun Moling had specifically instructed her that everything must be in accordance with Shen Ruoxi’s wishes, and any act of defiance was absolutely not allowed.

He even said, even if Shen Ruoxi wanted the stars in the sky, she must find a way to get them. Therefore, at this moment, Nanny Deng could only obediently hand the small box to Shen Ruoxi.

She lowered her head; it was still that same smooth surface, no different from what she remembered, except that the exquisite little lock was already gone.

As long as she gently lifted the lid, she could know what exactly was hidden inside?

She could understand what kind of thing he cherished so much that it was hard for him to let go even on this grand wedding day.

Shen Ruoxi’s fingers pinched until they turned white, as if trying to crush the small box in her hands.

Even though she was covered with a bright red veil, Chuntao could still sense her extreme unease and softly asked, “Miss, what’s wrong? What exactly is in this box?”

What kind of thing?

Bitterness filled Shen Ruoxi’s heart; after a moment, she spoke bitterly, “Nanny, I will keep this for the Prince, and return it to him when he comes back.”

“Yes,” Nanny Deng respectfully replied.

Every servant in the Prince’s Mansion had been strictly warned by the Prince. If they disobeyed the Prince’s instructions, there might be a chance for a warning and correction. But if they didn’t obey the Princess Consort’s, it would be a dead end.

Who in this Prince Mansion dared disobey her?

“Miss, are you all right?” Chuntao asked with concern.

Shen Ruoxi took a deep breath, striving to calm her emotions, and said in a cold tone, “I’m fine, it’s all just a matter of mutual need.”

Chuntao couldn’t help but sigh inwardly; when the Miss got married, she wasn’t like this at all.

At that time, the happiness on her face was visible to the naked eye, especially when the Prince had just been in the bridal chamber, she could truly feel the Miss’s full expectation as a new bride.

However, at this moment, she had turned into this indifferent demeanor.

“Is there something wrong with this little box?” Chuntao carefully asked again.

“Don’t ask, just ask the Nanny if she could bring me a pot of wine?” Shen Ruoxi said lightly.

“Ah!” Chuntao was taken aback. Which bride drinks on the wedding night?

Not to mention her Miss’s drinking habits, Chuntao was just about to blurt out “No.”

However, Nanny Deng quickly said, “Yes, yes, the Prince instructed that whatever you want, just say it, and it will surely be met.”

“It’s not like that.” Chuntao anxiously wanted to stop it, but Nanny Deng had already let the maids inside prepare it.

“Miss, you can’t drink. Whatever’s in that box, just open it and take a look! I want to see too.”

Chuntao was anxious because this very small box was the issue that led her Miss to the thought of drowning her worries in wine. She had to find out what was inside.

Shen Ruoxi held onto the small box, wanting even more to know what was inside. But she gently shook her head, “It’s impolite to open others’ things without permission; I’ll hand it to him personally.”

She wanted him to open it personally; if he still couldn’t let go of the past, she would withdraw her true feelings.

She absolutely could not repeat the same mistake with two similar men, couldn’t let herself get hurt again.

Chuntao saw her young lady’s resolute attitude and, unable to forcefully intervene, secretly pondered that if the Prince did not treat her young lady well, she would support the Emperor in taking her young lady into the palace.

At this moment, the Prince Mansion was full of guests, especially since the Emperor himself was present. Everyone was indulging in flattery, praising the Emperor and Jun Moling to be as perfect as deities.

With the keen intuition of a love rival, Jun Moling immediately spotted Xiao Chengyi sitting in an inconspicuous corner.

He seemed to be in a very bad mood, drinking alone, with no idea of how many cups he had consumed.

“Mi Yi, find someone to give special attention to Young General Xiao,” Jun Moling instructed softly, his black eyes icy.

“Master, rest assured!” Mi Yi responded promptly.

Xiao Chengyi was feeling immensely frustrated within; how had his wife become someone else’s?

He couldn’t comprehend it. Even though he said he would let Ning Zhen’er be a consort of equal status, he never intended to shortchange her in the slightest.

He thought he was just fascinated by Ning Zhen’er for a couple of days, and afterward, he would realize that she was still the one he cared about the most. But why wouldn’t she give him a chance?

Other couples, even if they quarreled physically, never divorced. He had been hit by her but never hit back, so why was she no longer his wife?

Another cup of wine was drained down his throat as he raised his eyes to look at Jun Moling in the distance.

In his luxurious groom’s attire, he appeared more like an otherworldly being.

His face was full of joy and satisfaction, with a smile that never faded, as if he possessed all the world’s beauty.

Xiao Chengyi’s eyes were stung with redness by the scene, his heart full of unfathomable resentment.

He couldn’t understand why this had come to be the outcome when he knew he was wrong. If she would just look back, he would treat her even better than Jun Moling. But why had it ended this way?

A sudden severe pain struck his waist, as if someone had ruthlessly elbowed him.

Even under the numbing effect of alcohol, the pain made his whole body tense. He turned around sharply, only to find it was a servant of the Prince Mansion, who hurriedly saluted as he was about to serve dishes, “Young General Xiao, apologies, I was in a rush just now.”

“No matter.” Xiao Chengyi said, his eyes red and his head somewhat dizzy.

However, before he could regain his composure, an abrupt sharp pain struck his arm again.

It turned out to be General Chen, who had once fought alongside him on the battlefield. He didn’t seem to realize that he had used excessive force and continued to grip Xiao Chengyi’s arm tightly, his tongue somewhat swollen, “General Xiao, coming back from the battlefield together, surviving is not easy, come, come, come, I’ll toast the General with three large cups.”

Xiao Chengyi gritted his teeth, and only with great effort did he manage to free his arm, which was numb on one side, still nodding in agreement, “General Chen, please.”

The three spicy cups of wine went down in succession.

Then a sharp pain came from his neck, shooting straight to his brain, making his vision blur, almost causing him to faint on the spot.

Struggling to see, it was a burly man with a braided beard who had just slapped the back of his neck, laughing thunderously, “General Xiao, nice to meet you! It’s rare for us brothers to drink at the Prince’s wedding banquet, come, come, come, three large cups are a must.”

Xiao Chengyi only felt his vision darkening. He wanted to say he couldn’t drink any more, but the other party relentlessly poured down three more large cups.

With these six cups of strong liquor consumed, Xiao Chengyi felt as if a fire was burning in his heart, indicating the high potency of the alcohol.

With a “bang,” Xiao Chengyi’s head slammed heavily onto the table. General Chen shouted loudly, “Someone, General Xiao is drunk, quickly help him down.”

Servants swiftly came over to assist him. Although at this moment, his limbs wouldn’t obey him, his whole body was powerless, and his mind was drowsy, yet the pain from the various parts of his body while being moved was so painfully clear, it almost made him scream.

His ears were also filled with various mocking and sneering voices, “Making such a spectacle at Prince Zhan’s wedding banquet, who is he trying to show off to? Isn’t this clearly to disgust people?”

“Exactly, where was he earlier? Didn’t know to cherish before, now it’s deserved that he lost it.”

“Speaking of which, it seems Princess Consort Zhan has the fortune! She knew to aim higher; what does Xiao Chengyi count for? His house is bare, and creditors have come knocking. I heard the bride-price for his new wife was quite high, perhaps he’s in debt again.”

“Pah, what a nothing! Still dared to create trouble at Prince Zhan’s wedding, truly disgraceful!”

Xiao Chengyi felt extremely aggrieved in his heart, wanting to argue that he just felt unbearable inside and wanted to drink in solitude, that even one hundred boldness wouldn’t dare to create trouble at Prince Zhan’s wedding.

But at this moment, he couldn’t utter a single word of defense and had to continue suffering from the various covert attacks of the Prince Mansion’s servants, the pain nearly causing him to faint.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep