Xiao Chengyu lounged leisurely with his legs crossed, arrogantly ordering Xia Lian to do this and that, while Xia Lian wore a tolerant expression, not bothering to argue with her.
Seeing Shen Ruoxi return, Xiao Chengyu stood up, his face plastered with a fake smile, "Sister-in-law, you're back at last? I've been waiting for you all day, where have you been?"
Shen Ruoxi suppressed the sarcasm at her lips and replied distantly, "Chengyu, what do you want with me?"
Xiao Chengyu was slightly taken aback; she was usually always kind to her, but today her attitude was rather strange.
Thinking she might be upset over Ning Zhen's matter, Xiao Chengyu didn't care too much, as Shen Ruoxi would always go along with her regardless of how she treated her.
"Why are you bothered by that Ning Zhen? We are family.
By the way, sister-in-law, those two pearl hairpins you wore in the front hall today were really beautiful, I quite like them, why not just give them to me!"
Shen Ruoxi inwardly laughed coldly; when they were family before, she naturally didn't mind these things, but now, wanting her belongings is simply a fool's dream!
"Chengyu, I also like those two pearl hairpins, not giving them away. Besides, don't you have a new sister-in-law now? Go ask her."
Xiao Chengyu was utterly shocked; how could it be? She usually was generous and never stingy with her things, why was she so miserly today?
She had always had her way with Shen Ruoxi, but now being treated like this in front of her maid made her angry and humiliated, "Sister-in-law, no wonder Brother married someone else, with you being so stingy, how could he possibly fancy you? Two lousy hairpins, what's so great about them, I don't want them anymore!"
Shen Ruoxi's lips curved in mockery, "You want, I must give? Since it has come to this, you have a new sister-in-law, don't call me sister-in-law anymore, and don't even think of touching my things from now on."
Xiao Chengyu, always pampered and spoiled at home, had never been humiliated like this before and her face turned ashen, "Fine, very fine! Shen Ruoxi, just wait to grow old and gray in the backyard, dying alone! My brother can't fancy you one bit."
"Young Miss, your words have gone too far!" Chuntao protested indignantly.
"You wretched maid dare speak to me? Are you asking for a beating!" Xiao Chengyu snarled, raising her arm to slap Chuntao's face.
Her wrist was suddenly seized by Shen Ruoxi.
Shen Ruoxi's eyes were cold and her entire body exuded a frosty aura that warned others to stay away.
She sneered, "Xiao Chengyu, this is Bamboo Pavilion, not a place for you to run wild, return to your Haitang Courtyard, you're not welcome here!"
Xiao Chengyu was startled for a moment, it was her first time seeing Shen Ruoxi with such presence, causing her heart to skip, it felt like facing a stranger.
But how could she bear such grievance, she shouted indignantly, "Shen Ruoxi, get it straight, this is my house!"
Shen Ruoxi stared at Xiao Chengyu coldly, sarcasm dripping, "Your house? Leave every piece of clothing you're wearing, everything you use, then have the face to call it your house.
You're not welcome here, Xia Lian, go inform the gatekeeper, from now on, Xiao Chengyu is not allowed to set foot in Bamboo Pavilion."
Xiao Chengyu was so shocked she could barely speak, she glared at Shen Ruoxi, "Shen Ruoxi, you're... you're crazy! How dare you? Doing so will just make my brother hate you even more!"
At this, Shen Ruoxi snorted, unkindly saying, "Xiao Chengyu, is it possible that I dislike your brother even more? Seeing him makes me sick."
"You... you're crazy, crazy!" Xiao Chengyu trembled with rage.
"Xia Lian, kick her out!" Shen Ruoxi, tired of further chatter, directly instructed Xia Lian.
Xia Lian immediately stepped forward, grabbing her clothes, coldly saying to Xiao Chengyu, "Young Miss, please!"
Xiao Chengyu scolded Xia Lian, "Don't touch me."
Saying so, she gave Shen Ruoxi a vicious look, leaving a harsh remark, "Shen Ruoxi, just you wait, I'll go find my brother right away, don't regret it."
Then she stormed off.
Shen Ruoxi's lips curled into a cold smile; her tolerance was only for family, for such an ungrateful wretch, she naturally needed no courtesy.
"Miss, when can we leave this Xiao Family?" Xia Lian sighed softly, what kind of family is this!
"Wait for His Majesty's decree, it should be soon."
Chuntao, hearing this, couldn't help but redden her eyes, feeling unjust for her Miss, "Miss, such a good person like you, why can't you meet a good match?"
Shen Ruoxi shook her head, "Silly girl, what's there to be sad about, I'm only nineteen, life is still long ahead!"
Xia Lian choked, "Exactly, Miss deserves the best man in the world, surely a million times better than Xiao Chengyi."
Shen Ruoxi sighed inwardly, one marriage had already exhausted her; men? She was really a bit scared now, it would be fine just to stay with family.
"Is everything packed? Go prepare quickly."
Chuntao said, "Miss, everything can be packed at any time, but I'm a bit worried, the General Mansion has always been living off your dowry, now that we won't let them use it anymore, I'm afraid this might cause an uproar."
Shen Ruoxi's lips curved into a sarcastic smile, "An uproar? That would be best, the silver is ours, I'd love to see just how shameless they can be!"
"Right, no need to be afraid." Xia Lian said firmly.
Chuntao, infected by them, changed her dejection to full of fighting spirit, "Right, not afraid."
...
Xiao Chengyi returned to Plum Garden, and upon entering the house, he saw Ning Zhen'er with her head lowered, her shoulders slightly trembling, as if bearing endless grievances.
His heart tightened, and he swiftly stepped forward, gently calling, "Zhen'er."
Upon hearing his voice, Ning Zhen turned her head to one side, her voice slightly hoarse, "Brother Yi, you're here. I'll go prepare tea for you."
Xiao Chengyi gently pressed her shoulder, tenderly turning her face towards him.
What met his eyes were her swollen, red eyes, and the traces of dried tears on her face.
A wave of inexplicable anger surged in his heart, he asked in a deep voice, "Who bullied you?"
Ning Zhen shook her head, forcing a smile, "No one, just the wind made my eyes uncomfortable."
The maid newly assigned to serve Ning Zhen, named Lv Zhu, was someone who adapted to circumstances, "Reporting to the Young General, who else could it be? Naturally, it was the one from Bamboo Pavilion."
Upon hearing this, Ning Zhen intentionally gave Lv Zhu a warning look, then explained to Xiao Chengyi, "Brother Yi, don't listen to Lv Zhu's nonsense, it has nothing to do with Sister Ruoxi."
Since meeting Ning Zhen, Xiao Chengyi had never seen her cry, she was cheerful, broad-minded, and able to fight alongside men.
Now she was wronged in her own home, how could this not make him distressed?
He earnestly asked Lv Zhu, "Do tell, what is actually going on?"
Lv Zhu promptly said, "The Young Madam is pregnant now and wanted to make two pieces of clothing. Young Madam Shen sent over a stack of account books, telling the Madam to use her own silver.
The Madam looked for a long time and found that there wasn't a single silver piece on the accounts, clearly making things difficult."
Upon hearing this, Ning Zhen sniffled but said nothing more.
Xiao Chengyi's heart burned even more furiously, he said in a stern voice, "Bring the account books, I need to look at them myself."
Lv Zhu did not dare delay, hurriedly bringing over a stack of account books.
Xiao Chengyi took the account books and flipped through them page by page, his internal fury growing hotter with each empty page he saw.
"Brother Yi, actually, it's my problem too, if you let me wield a spear and a sword I have no problem, but these back courtyard matters I can't do, I just wanted to make two clothes."
Seeing Ning Zhen suffer such grievance, Xiao Chengyi was outraged, Shen Ruoxi was truly outrageous.
Using such filthy methods in the back courtyard against principled Zhen'er was both malicious and foolish.
Marrying her back then was truly a blindness.