Chapter 59: Chapter 10: The Emperor Joins the Festivities

Shen Ruoxi let out a cold laugh, a hint of sarcasm flashing in her eyes. “Mrs. Xiao, look at your son, he’s truly ill.”

“You’d better take him to see a doctor right away, instead of talking nonsense here! I’ve already given us both enough face; do you really want to force me to take drastic action?”

“Chengyi!” Mrs. Zhou’s face stiffened, finally unable to hold back her reprimand.

Xiao Chengyi felt tears welling up at the corners of his eyes, and stubbornly lifted his head, his gaze fixated on Shen Ruoxi.

Seeing the moisture in her son’s eyes, Mrs. Zhou felt a wave of indescribable bitterness in her heart and sighed deeply, wondering why things had come to this.

“Chengyi, have some decency for yourself! Must you make such a scene? Let’s go home. You have a wife now, and she is already pregnant. Stop this,” Mrs. Zhou softly advised.

Xiao Chengyi clenched his teeth tightly, recalling how he had been drawn to Ning Zhen’s heroic aura, and now finding Shen Ruoxi even more gallant was a great irony to him.

He didn’t need his mother to remind him, as he had already told himself many times to let go!

But every day, as if he had lost his soul, her image and laughter lingered in his mind from time to time.

He felt he had to do something about it.

However, he was also puzzled.

The day she left Xiao Mansion after their separation, she had retaliated against him, but her martial arts were much inferior to his.

Now, she seemed like a different person, and he, a battle-hardened general, couldn’t even match a woman from the backyard.

“Hurry up and go! It’s embarrassing.”

“Can’t even beat a woman, and still calls himself a general?”

“Truly a daughter of Old Marquis Shen, a woman who doesn’t yield to men!”

“How could the Emperor’s beloved woman be mediocre?”

The crowd around them began murmuring again, discussing in whispered tones.

Shen Ruoxi frowned once more.

“Chengyi, our fate is at its end. Let’s leave.”

Mrs. Zhou gently tugged at his sleeve and turned to Shen Ruoxi, saying, “Ruoxi, we’re sorry. We’ll take our leave first.”

“See Mrs. Xiao off,” Shen Ruoxi responded coolly.

Mrs. Zhou quietly pulled Xiao Chengyi away, and the crowd’s gaze gradually faded as they left.

As things were about to settle down and the crowd was ready to disperse, Shen Ruoxi suddenly walked toward a young man in black.

She stopped and stared at him coldly.

The man was startled, squeezing out a dry smile at the corners of his mouth, “Marquis Shen, what instructions do you have?”

Shen Ruoxi’s gaze was like a knife, her tone icy, “Tell me, who sent you here to spread rumors?”

The young man in black was taken aback, then awkwardly forced a smile, “Marquis Shen, I truly don’t understand what you’re talking about.”

Shen Ruoxi laughed coldly, “Not talking? Then don’t blame me for being impolite!”

As soon as she finished speaking, she launched a swift kick.

The man in black, though not daring to fight back, nimbly stepped aside and suddenly leaped into the air, “Marquis Shen, I must take my leave first!”

His Qinggong was indeed extraordinary, which only reinforced Shen Ruoxi’s suspicions.

If he wasn’t taught a lesson today, such rumors would soon spread throughout the Capital City.

Shen Ruoxi leaped after him.

The man in black never expected Shen Ruoxi’s martial arts to be so formidable, unexpectedly forcing him to halt.

Cold sweat dripped from his forehead; considering Shen Ruoxi’s status, he dared not make a move.

Before he could speak, Shen Ruoxi swiftly approached and seized him, demanding sternly, “Speak! Who sent you to spread these rumors?”

The man found himself immobilized by Shen Ruoxi, mocking himself inwardly. As an Imperial Hidden Guard, to be subdued by a woman was truly disgraceful!

“I have a loose tongue!” he suddenly slapped his face forcefully, drawing blood at the mouth, stupefying Shen Ruoxi.

Taking advantage of Shen Ruoxi’s momentary distraction, the man in black rolled to break free from her grasp and took off into the air again.

Shen Ruoxi frowned but heard Old Mrs. Xu advising, “Ruoxi, it’s better to return home! It is improper for a woman to show herself in public, as it may spark more gossip.”

Shen Ruoxi pressed her lips together tightly, deciding not to pursue further.

She had basically guessed that this person was most certainly sent by the Emperor.

She sighed quietly, now overwhelmed with trouble, questioning why the Emperor would add to the chaos.

“Old Mrs. Xu, continuous tolerance will only make the rumors more rampant,” Shen Ruoxi remarked, not looking at Old Mrs. Xu, and stepped into the Shen Mansion with an icy expression.

If not for her deep understanding of strategic patience, she would have wished to slice Old Mrs. Xu to pieces.

Such a notorious person dared to step across her Shen family’s threshold!

Old Mrs. Xu watched Shen Ruoxi enter the Shen Mansion, a flicker of a different color passing through her eyes.

Whether it was Xiao Chengyi or just now that agile man in black, both their martial arts were outstanding.

However, the martial skills Shen Ruoxi showcased seemed to surpass them, leaving her quite puzzled.

Recalling that day, Shen Ruoxi didn’t catch up with Tai, who remarked that her martial arts were not that strong.

But what she witnessed today was entirely different from that day.

Old Mrs. Xu pondered that perhaps those two men had gone easy on Shen Ruoxi; otherwise, with Shen Ruoxi’s martial prowess displayed today, how could Tai have easily escaped that day?

With this in mind, Old Mrs. Xu’s expression turned stern.

She decided to swiftly remove Cuicui as a threat while advancing her plans for a son-in-law.

She understood that finding a son-in-law was merely a pretext; the real aim was to force the Emperor into making a decision.

She couldn’t believe that the Emperor, upon learning of her plans to seek a son-in-law, would remain indifferent.

As long as Shen Ruoxi could enter the palace, everything of the Shen family would return to her control, and all plans would unfold smoothly.

…

In the Imperial Study Room, Qi Lin stepped forward to report, “Your Majesty, Young General Xiao is outside awaiting an audience.”

The Emperor arched his eyebrows, recalling everything Qi Lin had reported on the day of the marriage, including Xiao Chengyi’s refusal to sign the separation document, regardless of the outcome.

He had already surmised Xiao Chengyi’s purpose for coming, and couldn’t help but let out a cold laugh.

Would he not allow him to regret?

“Let him in!” the Emperor said indifferently.

Shortly after, Xiao Chengyi entered and knelt on the ground, respectfully saying, “Your Majesty, this humble servant greets you.”

“Rise,” the Emperor replied indifferently.

Yet Xiao Chengyi did not rise, continuing to kneel as he said, “Your Majesty, I have a request, and I earnestly plead for your gracious consent. I’m willing to report it on my knees.”

The Emperor frowned slightly; given that he chose to speak on his knees, let him do so.

The matter of Xiao Chengyi raising the issue of reinstating his wife still left a bad taste with the Emperor.

He couldn’t bear seeing Shen Ruoxi suffer any grievance, while Xiao Chengyi had forced her into a corner.

Even if a separation occurred, it was the woman’s reputation that suffered.

“Speak!” the Emperor coldly commanded.

Xiao Chengyi clearly articulated, “Your Majesty, I humbly ask you to retract your command, issuing a decree for Shen Ruoxi to return to the Xiao family.”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep