The person seemed to want to push the oppressive feeling to the extreme, with heavy steps, walking over one step at a time.
Chuntao's heart skipped a beat, secretly guessing, how much of the conversation between her own miss and Ning Zhen'er did the General hear?
It shouldn't be a problem!
Shen Ruoxi, however, remained unperturbed, and slightly bowed, "General."
Seeing him, Zhen'er seemed to see a family member, tears welling up in her eyes as she choked out, "Brother Yi."
Xueyan stared foolishly at this man. She once thought he was her support, yet at this moment he made her heart heavy with sorrow, tears unwillingly slipping down her cheeks.
Xiao Chengyi gently held Ning Zhen'er's hand, but his gaze turned to Shen Ruoxi, his eyes darkened, "Ruoxi, what do you mean when you say you've lost any hope for me?"
Shen Ruoxi lifted her head, her gaze still cold, "The literal meaning, General, is it hard to understand?"
Xiao Chengyi's hand suddenly clenched tight.
"I know you have grievances, as expected. But I also said, I would try my best to make it up to you," Xiao Chengyi said through gritted teeth.
Shen Ruoxi seemed to hear an amusing joke, "Then may I ask General, how do you plan to make it up to me?"
"Whatever you want to eat or use, I will try my best to satisfy you."
Shen Ruoxi's mouth curled into a mocking smile, "Thank you, General, but no need."
Xiao Chengyi's anger surged again, "I know you are angry, but what you just said is incorrect because you are not Zhen'er; I will never let her down."
Hearing this, Chuntao was so angry that tears welled up in her eyes.
Shen Ruoxi gently pulled her, a faint smile appearing at the corner of her mouth, "You said you would never let me down, wasn't this what you told me in our new room? And when you courted me, you told my mother that you would never take a concubine in this life.
General Xiao, can you tell me if I was wrong? It's only been two years, and you've already broken your oath. My worry for Ning's position as the young lady is not unfounded, right!"
Xiao Chengyi was left speechless by Shen Ruoxi, his face flushing with embarrassment, his eyes darkening further.
Ning Zhen'er was stunned upon hearing this; did he really say such things to Shen Ruoxi?
Didn't he say he had no love for her and that they hadn't consummated the marriage?
Feeling Ning Zhen'er's complex and aggrieved gaze, Xiao Chengyi's face suddenly darkened, he said coldly, "That was because back then I was young and ignorant, and didn't understand what love was.
Until I met Zhen'er, she is completely different from you; now I know what love is, Zhen'er is my everything, so the things you mentioned won't happen, I will live a happy life with Zhen'er."
Ning Zhen'er finally felt vindicated, what use is status? Is there anything more humiliating than the truth starkly in front of her?
Such momentum just now, now she's been hit in the face! The more she thought about it, the more pleased she felt.
Shen Ruoxi sneered and said, "General Xiao, I married you at seventeen when you were twenty, to find out your twenty was considered 'young and ignorant'? You've really opened my eyes."
Xiao Chengyi was left embarrassed.
Ning Zhen'er now felt triumphant, saying smugly, "Sister Ruoxi, if there's no love, there's no love. What's the point of dwelling on it? There's no need to find various excuses to save face. Like I've said before, the unloved one is always the superfluous one, isn't that right!"
Shen Ruoxi shook her head at her vainglorious demeanor, choosing not to engage, instead addressing Xiao Chengyi, "General, who you love is none of my concern, but now, you must apologize to me and Xueyan."
"What!" Xiao Chengyi furrowed his brows, his face puzzled.
"You broke your promise and let me down. I may not care, but my mother has passed on. If her spirit in heaven knows you broke the vow you made to her, she won't forgive you.
So, you owe her an apology, I'm demanding it on her behalf, then we'll be even.
As for Xueyan, if you had any sense of responsibility, you shouldn't have sold her out of the house; if you don't mean to retain her in your household, tell your mother-in-law to let her choose whether to stay or leave.
You've accepted her, but let her suffer endless grievances and bullying, several times almost losing her life, and finally being sold, you owe her an apology," Shen Ruoxi said firmly and emphatically.
"Young madam, this servant cannot bear it. I don't need it; I just don't want to be sold, just to stay at your side," Xueyan said, trembling, looking extremely fearful.
All along, this man hadn't looked her in the eye. In his eyes, someone as lowly as her was nothing more than a plaything, unworthy of being considered human.
Xiao Chengyi's face looked particularly unpleasant.
Being publicly exposed for breaking promises and lacking responsibility was unbearably embarrassing.
Besides, he'd gained great merit, was revered by the people, favored by the Emperor, can he bow to two women in the rear courtyard and apologize?
Shen Ruoxi saw the gloom in his eyes, his expression changing unpredictably; under the biting chill, she smirked even more coldly, "Xiao Chengyi, if you're still a man, apologize decisively! Saying it means nothing, meaning it means not saying, hard to imagine you can train good soldiers."
Faced with Shen Ruoxi's aggressive stance, Xiao Chengyi felt utterly infuriated, "Shen Ruoxi, grandmother was right, you've changed, become so unreasonable! I said, I would compensate you."
Shen Ruoxi suddenly found it laughable, she once had hopes for him, thought he could own up to his mistakes.
Unexpectedly, he didn't even have the courage to apologize.
Back then, how blind and foolish was she to marry such a man of low morals!
"Give me Xueyan's deed of sale, here is a silver note of one hundred taels, take it," Shen Ruoxi's voice was icy, devoid of any emotion.
Xiao Chengyi suddenly felt a vague panic in his heart, feeling he should explain something to her.
Although his feelings for her weren't like before, they were still husband and wife, he didn't want any resentment to linger in her heart.
However, for the moment, he was at a loss for words, not knowing how to begin to explain.
"I just won't give it," with a strong backing, Ning Zhen'er became even more audacious.
"Young General Xiao, are you really going to indulge her, not let me have Xueyan's deed of sale?" Shen Ruoxi questioned.
Xiao Chengyi furrowed his brow, feeling awkward with the couple-like formality.
He understood Shen Ruoxi was upset, so he didn't mind, but looked toward Ning Zhen'er, puzzled, "Why must you sell Xueyan?"
Ning Zhen'er, already incensed by Shen Ruoxi's words, impulsively retorted, "Brother Yi, are you reluctant to part with her?"
Xiao Chengyi affectionately smiled, gently placating, "Oh, you're so jealous. Alright, I'll give the deed of sale to Ruoxi. Rest assured, I will protect only you in the future."
After Xiao Chengyi's persuasion, although Ning Zhen'er was unwilling, she handed over the deed of sale to Shen Ruoxi.
Shen Ruoxi accepted the deed of sale, coldly saying, "Let's go."
"Ruoxi," Xiao Chengyi suddenly called out to Shen Ruoxi.
Shen Ruoxi stopped in her tracks and looked back at Xiao Chengyi, mockingly asking, "Anything else, General?"
"My wedding with Zhen'er is set for five days later." Xiao Chengyi didn't know why he mentioned this at this time.
Upon hearing this, Shen Ruoxi's mouth curled into a cold smile, silently saying to herself: who cares when you are getting married!
Chuntao, by the side, couldn't bear it any longer and indignantly said, "General Xiao, abandoning someone like this, one day you will face retribution!"