Chapter 225: Chapter 168: Three Women, One Drama

Shen Ruoxi slightly furrowed her elegant brows, her heart filled with indignation, He Hongying was truly too malicious!

Such disgraceful matters, how could they be spoken aloud in such a public setting?

Recalling the incident where Ning Zhen was assaulted, Shen Ruoxi couldn’t help but feel a pang of self-blame.

After all, the original target was her, but unexpectedly a mistake was made, causing Ning Zhen to suffer in her place.

Therefore, this matter was strictly forbidden from being spread at the time. Even when Xiao Chengyi dismissed her, the official statement was not about this matter, but rather about her being reckless and almost causing a grave mistake, which led to her being abandoned.

Those in the know understood without needing to be told and did not mention a word about it.

However, that detestable Xiao Chengyi actually disclosed such a secret to He Hongying, he really wasn’t a man!

Customers on the second floor, hearing He Hongying’s shouting, had already begun pointing fingers at Ning Zhen.

Yet Ning Zhen’s view was completely different from those of ancient times; being assaulted was not her fault, so why should she die to apologize?

Those who stand on a moral high ground casually criticizing others are the truly laughable ones.

Facing the pointing fingers and even the contemptuous gazes, Ning Zhen’s anger was instantly ignited.

She sneered, “He Hongying, you know about such things! Were you hiding under my bed and saw it all yourself? How much did you see, care to give everyone here a detailed description?”

He Hongying, not having Ning Zhen’s shamelessness, turned livid with rage at these words, “Ning Zhen, stop spouting nonsense!”

“I’m spouting nonsense? Then how do you know? Are you not speaking without proof?” Ning Zhen did not back down, glaring fiercely at He Hongying.

He Hongying instinctively glanced at Xiao Chengyi, only to find his face livid, his gaze vicious as if he wanted to devour her.

In truth, Xiao Chengyi hadn’t even disclosed such matters to his own mother or grandmother.

The reason he told He Hongying was merely impulsive at the moment, and he regretted it the moment the words left his mouth.

So, he repeatedly urged He Hongying not to spread it, because he had already dismissed Ning Zhen, and if the matter got out, his reputation would be utterly ruined.

Unexpectedly, the matter he had emphasized time and again, He Hongying blurted out without any concern in public.

At this moment, it seemed He Hongying still wanted to seek confirmation from him, and the fact that he hadn’t exploded already was a tremendous tolerance on his part.

“Stop talking nonsense, let’s go!” Xiao Chengyi’s voice was icy, filled with suppressed fury, as he spoke to He Hongying.

Seeing Xiao Chengyi making every effort to defend Ning Zhen, He Hongying’s face turned extremely unsightly, and she shouted angrily, “Xiao Chengyi, wasn’t this the issue you told me yourself?”

Xiao Chengyi gritted his teeth tightly and replied, “You’d best not believe a man’s words; if he loves but can’t have, he’ll say anything.”

The moment those four words “loves but can’t have” came out, the gossiping hearts of the people present were ignited.

Their eyes darted back and forth between the three of them, completely ignoring the matter He Hongying mentioned about Ning Zhen being humiliated.

Everyone speculated in their hearts, did Xiao Chengyi’s words indicate that he was referring to Ning Zhen?

Right before their eyes were all three of his wives gathered in one place, making everyone very curious as to who he truly liked the most deep down inside.

It’s really quite peculiar; these two ex-wives could actually dine together peacefully, an unprecedented scene indeed.

Seeing that Xiao Chengyi was already hinting at leaving, He Hongying couldn’t help but laugh sarcastically out of anger, “Xiao Chengyi, what are you afraid of? Afraid I’ll bully these two of your precious ones?

If you still have feelings for your two ex-wives, why did you marry me? I’ll go to the palace myself and have this marriage annulled!”

Xiao Chengyi desperately wished for this, but he knew full well that neither he nor He Hongying could possibly annul this marriage.

This was because it was a marriage decreed by His Majesty himself, and He Hongying was merely using it to compel him into declaring his stance.

“Look at the state you’re in now, isn’t it embarrassing enough? How long will you continue to make a spectacle of yourself?” Xiao Chengyi frowned deeply, his expression full of discontent.

“Xiao Chengyi, I’m not afraid of making a spectacle, but you, with all three of us here now, must clarify who you truly like?” He Hongying’s eyes were red, her emotions out of control.

She knew in her heart that perhaps she wasn’t astoundingly beautiful, maybe she couldn’t make Xiao Chengyi fall head over heels.

But her father was a second-rank official, and she had just lost face to this mere daughter of a sixth-rank officer, Ning Zhen. She was determined to regain her dignity.

Ning Zhen suddenly began to laugh, her tone full of derision, “He Hongying, is it? I was dismissed by Xiao Chengyi because I had long seen through it, that he didn’t truly love me, so I resolutely demanded a dismissal from him.

What makes you think you’re better than me? Forcing him like this, it’s best you never find out the answer, because it’s just self-humiliation.”

“Shut up!” Xiao Chengyi’s face instantly turned extremely unsightly, glaring at Ning Zhen with fury.

He knew very well that she was now Princess Consort Zhan, and no unfavorable rumor about her could ever get out; otherwise, her life in the Prince Mansion would be extremely difficult.

After all, who didn’t know that Jun Moling’s heart had always held a girl who was like a bright moon, for the sake of whom he would even give up his life.

He hadn’t married by the age of twenty-five precisely because of that girl.

She hadn’t married for love, and Jun Moling was narrow-minded. If he found out she still had feelings for himself, who knew how he would torture her.

Ning Zhen smiled suddenly as Xiao Chengyi glared at her, glancing provocatively at He Hongying, the meaning in her eyes clear – see, who’s the one he truly cares about?

He Hongying clenched her fingers, her face turning extremely ugly.

Xiao Chengyi, however, bowed to Shen Ruoxi, “My fiancée has disturbed the Princess Consort, please forgive us.”

After saying this, he rebuked He Hongying coldly, “Aren’t you leaving?”

He Hongying was never a calm person, always used to being overbearing and arrogant, shouted loudly, “I’m not leaving, I’m here to eat, waiter!”

The waiter looked at the people before him and knew they weren’t to be trifled with.

He had listened to the argument earlier and understood it was Xiao Chengyi and his several past and present women, feeling this situation was truly dramatic.

“Madam, your orders.” The waiter, though nervous inside, still responded politely.

“I want to dine in a private room.” He Hongying said arrogantly, her chin raised high.

The waiter replied with apology, “I’m truly sorry, madam, but there are no private rooms available, only the hall.

Would you care to join the gentleman at a random spot? There’s a seat by the window, offering not only a panoramic view but also a delightful sight outside.”

Upon hearing this, He Hongying’s brows shot up in anger, “My father is the Minister of War, a second-rank official. Find me a private room, or I’ll have my father demolish your Quanju Building.”

The waiter frowned, unable to help but laugh coldly in his heart.

A second-rank official? Quanju Building had hosted countless nobles of high status, and here was the daughter of a second-rank official acting so arrogantly?

“This lady looks like Princess Consort Zhan, and she doesn’t have a private room; we’re truly full up, I apologize.” The waiter said, unfaltering in his tone.

He Hongying sneered, “She’s willing, but I’m not. Find a room now!”

Mind you, owning such a large-scale restaurant in a prosperous place like Capital City, thriving as it has, with even nobles giving face to the owner, how could the proprietor be an ordinary person?

The waiter’s face instantly turned stern, smirking coldly, “Madam, I’ve already told you there are none available. If you wish to eat, sit down; if not, please leave.”

How could He Hongying, ever have suffered such humiliation?

Xiao Chengyi had always been smitten with Shen Ruoxi and Ning Zhen; earlier he watched her being bullied without intervening, even reprimanding her.

Now even a mere waiter dared to treat her like this; it was simply unbearable.

Fueled by rage, she lunged toward Shen Ruoxi and Ning Zhen in a frenzy.

Under their astonished gazes, she swept the four dishes and one soup onto the floor.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep