Chapter 26: Chapter 26: Tearing Down the House

The surrounding guests, upon seeing this scene, began to discuss fervently again.

“Is she a concubine maid?”

“This new lady is really jealous! She not only pushed away the main wife but also wants to sell the concubine. How terrifying!”

“Exactly! I heard she was brave in battle before, and I admired her quite a bit.

I didn’t expect her to meddle in others’ marriages and not even tolerate a concubine.

In the future, Young General Xiao may not even dare to have a concubine!”

“A woman pregnant before marriage, what good can she be? Only Xiao Chengyi would treasure her!”

Zhen’er’s face, hidden under the bridal veil, turned red instantly, her fingers clenched white with anger.

This was supposed to be her wedding day, a time of celebration, yet now it was filled with sarcasm, humiliation, and spite, nearly driving her to explode with rage.

What made her heart grow cold was that the man who once claimed to love her deeply, who claimed not to love Shen Ruoxi, was willing to disobey orders and endure all sorts of ridicule rather than let go when facing the matter of peace and separation.

Does he really not love her? She couldn’t help but smile bitterly, merely deceiving herself!

“Ruoxi.” Mrs. Zhou’s lips trembled, her tears blurring her vision, and her voice carried endless guilt.

“Mrs. Xiao.” Shen Ruoxi replied softly.

These three words made the sorrow in Mrs. Zhou’s heart unbearable: “It’s our Xiao Family that has wronged you, I apologize on behalf of my unworthy son to you. You’re right; I was too weak, causing you so much grievance.”

Shen Ruoxi smiled calmly and said, “Mrs. Xiao, you don’t need to apologize to me. This has nothing to do with you. The road ahead is long; take care. I will take my leave first.”

After she spoke, she nodded to Mrs. Zhou, turned with her entourage, and was about to leave.

“Young… Marquis Shen, since you and Chengyi are separated, what about these things?” Old Mrs. Xiao said awkwardly to Shen Ruoxi.

She hoped Shen Ruoxi would not eye the things of Xiao Mansion, as now being conferred as Marquis, she wouldn’t lack those things.

Shen Ruoxi paused, smirked disdainfully, “Old Mrs. Xiao, rest assured, what belongs to me, Shen Ruoxi, even if I smash it, will not stay in Xiao Mansion;

what doesn’t belong to me, I will not take a shred. You can have the butler check with my people.”

Old Mrs. Xiao’s body instantly went limp; over these years, nearly all the things bought were from her dowry.

Mrs. Xiao was at a loss for tears, not daring to think.

Someone beside them whispered, “Two years ago, the Xiao Family couldn’t even afford a betrothal gift, and the household was quite simple in decor.

Since Marquis Shen married in, the family situation improved a lot soon after.

Old Mrs. Xiao is afraid she’d take things, fearing she’d empty the Xiao Mansion!”

“Maybe even the chair we’re sitting on belongs to Marquis Shen!”

“Exactly, exactly, a family of ingrates.”

Mrs. Zhou was ashamed, Old Mrs. Xiao was furious; what’s wrong with using Shen Ruoxi’s dowry? She married in with the surname Xiao, isn’t it rightful?

But now she wants to take things away, and there seems to be no way to stop her.

“Ladies and gentlemen, the chairs and tables you’re using indeed belong to me, Shen Ruoxi.

But today is special, and I won’t move those, so there’s no need to worry.

I only need to take things from the backyard. If there’s any disturbance, I beg your pardon.” After Shen Ruoxi said this, she nodded slightly and turned to leave with her people.

The Shen Family people who came with Shen Ruoxi to the Xiao Family two years ago had long been notified, so everything was pretty much packed and ready.

As soon as they heard they were leaving today, everyone hurriedly started packing; whatever could be taken was taken, and what couldn’t be taken was mercilessly destroyed.

Soon, even the flowers, plants, and trees in the backyard suffered unjust damage.

Seeing this, Shen Ruoxi couldn’t help but frown, “Leave those!”

“Drag everything back for firewood; don’t leave anything for them!” The crowd was indignant.

Shen Ruoxi understood their need to vent their dissatisfaction, so she let them be.

So, half of the doors and windows, everything that could be dismantled, was taken down.

Especially at the Bamboo Pavilion, even the bed was torn apart, pieces of arrangement were all packed and taken away.

Chuntao went as far as hiring six carriages to transport these items.

Looking at all of Xiao Family’s belongings, Shen Ruoxi felt bothered and didn’t want to stay a minute longer.

She instructed the others to keep packing but returned to the Shen Mansion ahead.

Although Old Mrs. Xiao was receiving guests in the front yard, her heart was always uneasy about Shen Ruoxi’s side.

Afraid that Shen Ruoxi might really dismantle the Xiao Family, she sent Nanny Yu to check the situation in the backyard.

Soon, Nanny Yu came back panting, almost out of breath, “Old Madam, the young madam is really dismantling the house…”

Upon hearing this, Old Mrs. Xiao’s face changed instantly; she stood up, trembling with anger, but Nanny Yu whispered, “Old Madam, please don’t.”

In her heart, she cursed quietly, thinking how the butler could let this happen unfettered.

In fact, the butler knew exactly what belonged to Shen Ruoxi and what was the property of Xiao Family; he was clear on it.

Since the front yard was untouched due to the wedding celebrations, Shen Ruoxi had given enough face to Xiao Mansion.

Now that what Shen Ruoxi wrecked were her own things, it wasn’t something the butler could intervene.

“Quick, get Chengyi to stop her.” Mrs. Xiao clutched her chest in anguish and said.

“Understood.” Nanny Yu hurried to find Xiao Chengyi.

At this time, Xiao Chengyi was still immersed in confusion.

His face wore a mechanical smile as he toasted with the guests, but his heart was already drifting towards Shen Ruoxi.

Soon, Hu pulled him aside and murmured, “General, the young madam is dismantling the house in the backyard.”

Xiao Chengyi was taken aback, but felt somewhat relieved internally, muttering to himself, “Let her dismantle; if she’s angry, it means she still cares. Once she’s done, she’ll calm down, and I’ll then ask His Majesty to undo the decree.”

Hu thought the General’s view was rather naive; the lady has already separated from him, yet he talks about this. Isn’t this a bit too naive!

“The young madam has already packed her things and is planning to leave first.” Hu said.

Startled by this, Xiao Chengyi lifted his leg and ran towards the backyard.

Nanny Yu returned to report to Old Mrs. Xiao, “The General has gone over.”

Old Mrs. Xiao was thus slightly relieved, but couldn’t help but scold internally: Such an ingrate, caring for her was wasted, and showing no regard for kindness at all.

When Xiao Chengyi reached the backyard, Shen Ruoxi had already left the mansion.

His heart tightened, immediately rushing out.

At the gate, seeing Shen Ruoxi about to board the carriage, Xiao Chengyi shouted, “Shen Ruoxi!”

Shen Ruoxi frowned and looked back, seeing him in the groom’s outfit standing at the gate, she coldly smirked, “Young General Xiao, please do me the honor of addressing me as Marquis Shen.”

“Shen Ruoxi, you’ve played too big, there’s no turning back now! Come back.” Xiao Chengyi yelled angrily.

Shen Ruoxi gave him a cold glance and said, “Young General Xiao, have you gone mad? His Majesty’s decree is here, are you still talking about play? Shouldn’t you have the Imperial Physician check your brain? No need to send me off.”

Xiao Chengyi felt that if Shen Ruoxi boarded that carriage, they would never have another chance together, so he rushed forward and abruptly grabbed her arm.

Shen Ruoxi tried to break free but couldn’t move him; with her inner strength sealed, she was no match for Xiao Chengyi.

“Xiao Chengyi, what madness is this?” Shen Ruoxi rebuked angrily.

“You cannot leave; there are things between us that haven’t been settled yet.” With that, ignoring Shen Ruoxi’s objections, he was determined to take her back to Xiao Mansion.

“Let go of my lady!”

Chuntao and Xueyan rushed forward together, but Xiao Chengyi flung them aside with a shake of his hand, shouting, “Miss.”

Angrily, Shen Ruoxi struggled to break free from Xiao Chengyi’s grip, but he only held her tighter, her heart blazing with fury, almost to the point of spitting blood.

She never expected the world to have such shameless people!

Her other hand rose swiftly, becoming a fierce strike, aiming directly at Xiao Chengyi’s throat.

However, Xiao Chengyi’s reaction was even swifter; one hand precisely clamped down on Shen Ruoxi’s fingers, and with a follow-through, turned attack into defense, striking at her acupoint.

At this moment, many townsfolk had gathered at the gate, pointing and commenting, making for quite a spectacle.

Suddenly, the neigh of a warhorse drew near, a sharp lance tip pointing directly at Xiao Chengyi.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep