Chapter 86: Chapter 37: Old Flames and New Lovers Gather Together

The crowd was momentarily stunned, as if frozen in place.

After a brief moment of stupefaction, the Emperor took quite a while to digest the words of the Shen Mansion guards.

His gaze swept over the ten outstanding sons from distinguished families seated below, then considered himself, and finally rested on the name “Xiao Chengyi.”

An old flame and a new love gathering in one place? This play is truly colorful and lively.

He almost laughed from anger.

Shen Ruoxi, upon hearing this, was instantly furious. She abruptly stood up and bowed to the Emperor to apologize, “Your Majesty, I indeed mishandled this matter; please wait a moment…”

Before she could finish, Xiao Chengyi had already rushed in anxiously.

Due to his earlier fight with the Shen Mansion guards, he looked somewhat disheveled.

At this moment, he knelt down, his voice firm, “I have offended you, Your Majesty, and deserve to die a thousand deaths. Please pardon me.

Shen Ruoxi is my wife. Today, I must take her back to the Xiao Family.”

With that, he banged his head three times on the ground before the Emperor, then stood up and walked straight towards Shen Ruoxi.

Xu Ji couldn’t help but curse, about to stand up and reprimand Xiao Chengyi, but was held back by Lan Jue.

Glancing at him coldly, he warned in a deep voice, “Sit down! This is none of your business.”

Xu Ji was taken aback, clearly sensing the oppressive aura surrounding his cousin, making him wonder: Is this still the gentle and warm cousin he used to know?

Lan Jue’s grip was almost crushing, distressed by the news of Shen Ruoxi choosing a husband. He felt an indescribable sourness in his heart.

For a moment, he impulsively wanted to stop everything, but ultimately resisted the urge.

With the Emperor present today, a faint joy rose in Lan Jue’s heart. He felt that Shen Ruoxi’s decision about choosing a husband was somewhat rushed and not necessarily sincere.

Unexpectedly, Xiao Chengyi’s sudden intrusion added a combustible tension to the already charged atmosphere.

Lan Jue’s anger was almost overwhelming; he wished to instantly dispose of Xiao Chengyi. He couldn’t understand how someone could be so shameless!

How could he have the audacity to come to the Shen Mansion?

Yet, with the Emperor and numerous elders present as witnesses, Lan Jue could only suppress his anger.

Xiao Chengyi reached Shen Ruoxi in a few steps, reaching to grab her arm, but she unceremoniously kicked him.

Xiao Chengyi dodged, but the scene prompted the Emperor’s icy question: “Xiao Chengyi, do you take Us for a mere decoration?”

“Your Majesty, I implore you, I cannot lose her. Would you allow me to take Ruoxi back to the Xiao Mansion?” Xiao Chengyi’s eyes showed deep pain, and his voice trembled.

The mere thought of her becoming someone else’s wife was enough to make him uncontrollably jealous and bitter.

To onlookers, Xiao Chengyi’s behavior seemed almost hysterical. Having betrayed Shen Ruoxi first and now showing such affected affection was simply laughable.

Like spectators, they silently watched this drama unfold, finding the plot increasingly captivating.

Shen Ruoxi suppressed her anger, “Your Majesty, Young General Xiao openly defies the decree. How should he be handled?”

The Emperor’s gaze fell on her frost-like face, his heart’s anger surging like a tide.

The entanglements left by an ex-husband were unresolved, yet she was eager to choose a new husband, a grave disrespect to him.

After all, she had assured him that choosing a husband was sheer nonsense. What is this now?

That night, when he disclosed his intention to bring her to the palace, she expressed no desire to consider it.

It turned out she simply did not want him. For others, she could not wait to find a match. How could this not make him angry and disappointed?

“How should he be handled? To be executed perhaps?” the Emperor retorted irritably.

The crowd gasped, but Xiao Chengyi seemed unaffected by the threat.

He obstinately gazed at Shen Ruoxi, speaking tenderly, “Ruoxi, let’s discuss our matter at home.

You don’t like Zhen’er, so I’ll do my best to avoid you two meeting. From now on, at home, everything will be as you wish, and I’ll comply with you in every way.”

At that moment, Shen Ruoxi finally understood that Xiao Chengyi’s temperament was just like Old Mrs. Xiao—unreasonable and stubborn. Communicating with him was like speaking in tongues.

How did she end up choosing such a person back then?

Furious to the point of her lips losing color, Shen Ruoxi sharply reprimanded, “Xiao Chengyi, have you lost your memory? We’ve already divorced, and as you see, today is the day I choose a husband. Stop causing trouble and leave!”

A flicker of pain crossed Xiao Chengyi’s eyes. Sincerely, he said, “Ruoxi, isn’t it normal for couples to argue? Should we all divorce? At the time, I had no choice because of the Emperor’s command, but even divorced couples can reconcile.”

He further persuaded, “I told you before, Zhen’er once saved my life. Ruoxi, come home with me, and let’s start over. I promise to treat you even better from now on.”

“Young General Xiao, the Emperor is present, and I should not speak out of turn, but your behavior is intolerably bullying! If I do not teach you a lesson today, I would be failing as Ruoxi’s grandmother.”

The Duchess Xu finished speaking and raised her cane to strike Xiao Chengyi.

Surprisingly, Xiao Chengyi did not dodge and took the blow from the Duchess Xu directly.

His face immediately turned pale, but he still stood his ground without flinching, only sincerely saying, “If Grandmother still feels aggrieved, please continue until you feel appeased.”

This spectacle left Old Mrs. Xiao and Lin dumbfounded, watching as he neither fought back nor retorted, acting as if he was remorseful, akin to a pig unconcerned with scalding water—surely they wouldn’t actually beat him to death!

“Xiao Chengyi, you scoundrel, I’ll beat you to death!” Xu Ji finally lost his temper!

Lan Jue tried to stop him but failed, and Xu Ji launched into a barrage of punches and kicks aimed at Xiao Chengyi.

Instantly, Xiao Chengyi’s handsome face bore marks from the blows, yet he stubbornly kept his eyes on Shen Ruoxi, allowing Xu Ji to vent his anger.

The Emperor, his head aching from the chaos, angrily commanded, “Enough.”

Xu Ji stopped, but the one who had been fighting now had tears in his own eyes, “Your Majesty, let me kick him to death! Why is he so foolish? He can’t stand seeing my cousin doing well. Why is my cousin’s fate so bitter?

I beg you to grant me a marriage decree! I’ll marry my cousin and ensure she never suffers.”

Shen Ruoxi knew he was speaking out of youthful indignation, simply wanting to protect her, which instantly brought tears to her eyes.

The Emperor’s anger burned like blazing fire inside, wondering how many men Shen Ruoxi had entangled herself with, each wanting to marry her.

When he looked at her and saw the tears in her eyes, he was dumbfounded, suddenly deflated like a punctured balloon, leaving words stuck in his throat.

“Xiao Chengyi, I hear you have a sister sent to Nvzhen Hall to learn etiquette, and two young brothers at home. Is this true?”

Finally, the serene and gentle Prince Lan spoke, breaking the strange atmosphere in the hall.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep