Chapter 25: Chapter 25: Refusing to Sign No Matter What

Old Mrs. Xiao was furious at Mrs. Zhou for siding with outsiders at this moment.

What would happen to the Xiao family if they divorced? They would lose money and reputation. Besides, she had a noble title now, such a glorious honor could not be allowed to flow away from her family.

“Chengyi’s mother, why are you interfering! How can a couple divorce so easily? Ruoxi, listen to your grandmother, go to the Emperor and tell him you don’t want a divorce.

For the past two years, I have always treated you as a granddaughter. Though Chengyi is reckless, a man taking a concubine is no big deal. He won’t dare to mistreat you in the future, be good!”

“Old Mrs. Xiao, please refer to me as Marquis Shen. I won’t hold your age against you for not saluting me, but please remember your identity! Do not address me incorrectly again,” Shen Ruoxi said coldly.

Old Mrs. Xiao was rendered speechless by these words, her face turning red with anger, and she could only swallow her anger.

This time, Mrs. Zhou finally showed some backbone. Since she had decided on the divorce, she fulfilled her child’s wish.

In a cold voice, she said, “Xiao Chengyi, look at the guests filling the hall, and your newly married bride. If you don’t want to be embarrassed, sign the papers quickly!

Your grand wedding must continue, new brides come, old ones go; this is your choice, don’t let your mother look down on you!”

“Exactly, what’s with the pretense of deep affection now?”

“Two years without consummating the marriage and bringing back a pregnant woman, what woman could endure that?

Not to mention Ruoxi’s status! If Old Marquis Shen knew how you bullied his daughter, could he rest in peace?”

“She is a woman even the Emperor couldn’t gain.”

“Are you courting death, daring to sully even the Emperor…”

“Smack!” That person slapped themselves hard, quickly apologizing, “Look at my big mouth!”

“I have to say, the Shen family is truly extraordinary. Even in divorce, Ruoxi is still treated as a discarded woman, a title from the Emperor to appease her, yet her reputation is already ruined. It’s as if she doesn’t care at all.”

“Xiao Chengyi is laughable, clearly he wronged her first, but he acts as if he was wronged by others?”

“He looks deeply in love with Shen Ruoxi, as if no one else will do, while the new bride seems like a joke!”

“Can’t understand it!”

Ning Zhen’s fingers turned white from being clenched so tightly, her body trembling slightly, was she prophesied by Shen Ruoxi’s words.

Today, he abandoned Shen Ruoxi for her, and someday he might abandon her for someone else.

Xiao Chengyi’s vow of growing old together seemed like a joke. She never imagined that her rival, others, would somehow turn the tables back to Shen Ruoxi, truly a great irony!

No matter how others discussed and criticized, Xiao Chengyi stubbornly stared at Shen Ruoxi, determined not to sign.

Shen Ruoxi frowned tightly, her lips pressed firmly, this Xiao Chengyi was beyond insane, what exactly did he want to do!

At this moment, a handsome young man stepped forward, speaking with a tone full of sarcasm, “Xiao Chengyi, is this meaningful to you? You clearly wronged her, sign the papers quickly, otherwise this Princely Heir will truly look down on you!”

After speaking, out of everyone’s sight, he winked flirtatiously at Shen Ruoxi.

Shen Ruoxi raised an eyebrow, itching to hit someone.

“Prince Pei, this is a Xiao family affair, please refrain from interfering,” Xiao Chengyi said coldly.

Pei Xuan had never been so openly snubbed before, he replied coldly, “Xiao Chengyi, you’re something else! Qi Lin!”

“At your service,” Qi Lin replied.

Pei Xuan said sternly, “This shameless person dares openly defy an imperial order, are you deaf or blind?”

“I am at your command,” Qi Lin replied.

Qi Lin’s expression darkened, “General Xiao, are you committing treason openly?”

This accusation was too serious, leaving the Xiao family members deathly pale as if they had seen a ghost.

The guests present were varied in their expressions, murmuring amongst themselves.

“To give up a bright future for a woman of the sixth rank? It’s like dropping a watermelon to pick up a sesame seed, the Xiao family might become the laughingstock of the entire Capital City!”

“That might be his reason for not divorcing, unwilling to give up such immense benefits at hand.”

“Who knows? Didn’t expect to attend a wedding and witness such a drama.”

Xiao Chengyi wanted to say, no, it’s not about the noble title, he never cared what Shen Ruoxi’s status was.

But he couldn’t defend himself with a single sentence, he could only coldly question Shen Ruoxi, “Shen Ruoxi, I’ll ask you one last time, are you really determined to divorce me? Once divorced, we will truly have no more ties to each other!”

Shen Ruoxi lost all patience, “Xiao Chengyi, stop pretending in front of the guests as if you’re incomplete without me.

I’ve given you enough face, you insist on stripping away the facade. Who was it that declared Ning Zhen as your true love, who swore to grow old with her alone?

Your mouth, what exactly is it for! Don’t be shameless, hurry up, don’t waste my time.”

“How can he say such things to his own wife?”

“Exactly, if you don’t love her, don’t marry her, I heard he went to great lengths to marry Shen Ruoxi back then, after all, many prominent young men wanted to marry her!”

“General Xiao is an upright man on the battlefield, who knew he’d be so unseemly in matters of the heart, preferring someone to die alone rather than let go, truly disgraceful!”

“Right, with true love, let her go, no need to be so scummy.”

Xiao Chengyi felt desolation sweeping over him, as if soaked in an ice cellar, without a shred of warmth.

It’s not like that, it’s not like that, he shouted in his heart, yet couldn’t utter a word.

“Brother, hurry and sign, stop harming us! The family was so harmonious before, wasn’t it you who made it like this, haven’t you already said you don’t like her, then sign the papers quickly!” Xiao Chengyu shouted loudly.

Defying an imperial order could lead to family extermination, she didn’t want her brother’s life to be collateral damage.

“Chengyi, sign it!” Old Mrs. Xiao said bitterly.

Even though she cherished that noble title, cherished those dowries, she couldn’t defy the imperial order, she could only say as if cutting flesh.

Surrounded by calls to sign, Xiao Chengyi gritted his teeth, finally unable to keep holding a tough face, he coldly said to her, “Shen Ruoxi, don’t regret it!”

“I’ll never regret it!” Shen Ruoxi said disdainfully, being his Young Madam Xiao was what disgusted her.

Signed his name, pressed his handprint, Xiao Chengyi felt his mind drifting, an emptiness in his heart, every step felt light and unsteady.

Shen Ruoxi, holding the divorce papers, elegantly raised her hand and softly said, “Ladies and gentlemen, I’m truly sorry for interrupting your enjoyment. Please continue to drink and be merry, I’ll be leaving now.”

Then, she turned to Chuntao, Xia Lian, and Xueyan, instructing, “Pack our things, let’s go home.”

“Xueyan, you belong to the Xiao Mansion, you cannot leave.” Xiao Chengyi, though addressing Xueyan, his gaze was locked on Shen Ruoxi, full of challenge and unwillingness.

Xueyan, inspired by Shen Ruoxi’s calmness and determination, felt a surge of pride.

Heavens! The young lady was just too cool! Yes, women could live wonderfully without men.

She no longer longed for the general, what was she to hold onto?

So, she knelt down, for the first time in her life, speaking loudly and confidently, “Young General Xiao, this servant kowtows to you for the last time.

Since the age of six, this servant has followed you, thankful for the lady’s respect, who raised this servant’s status, but ever since the new lady wanted to sell off this servant, this servant has had no ties with you or Xiao Mansion.

This servant now belongs to the Marquis, sincerely wishing you a bright future, smooth sailing, thus this servant takes her leave!”

After speaking, she respectfully kowtowed three times to Xiao Chengyi, then rose with a full smile to join Shen Ruoxi, as if reborn, “Young Mistress, let’s go!”

“It’s Marquis,” Chuntao quietly corrected.

“Alright, let’s go.” Shen Ruoxi nodded with a smile.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep