Chapter 200: Losing Everything for a Woman

Chapter 200: Losing Everything for a Woman

A maiden's nickname is not something an outsider can casually call her by.

It's acceptable for her father, brothers, or fiancé to use it in private, but for an outsider to do so would be too intimate and inappropriate.

To Su Zhenyun, Lu Song was now just an enemy, and his calling his beloved daughter by her nickname was simply infuriating.

Lu Song was caught off guard by the punch and momentarily stunned. He didn't expect such a strong reaction from Chancellor Su just because he called Su Youyue by her nickname.

Was it really that big of a deal?

He had called her that before.

Though he felt some annoyance, after the repeated setbacks since the annulment with the Su family, this proud and sensitive man had learned to swallow his pride.

So Lu Song swallowed his anger and hastily apologized, "Chancellor Su is right; I was out of line. But I truly wish to apologize properly to Miss Su..."

Even though he knew that Su Youyue was engaged again, Lu Song didn’t believe she genuinely liked Xie Yan. Their marriage must have been arranged by the new emperor to unite the old and new officials.

Everything Su Youyue did after their engagement ended was surely due to her hatred born from unrequited love.

If he could see her again, maybe a few kind words would make her as foolish as before, following him around once more.

Wouldn’t Chancellor Su still have to help him then?

Li Rong couldn’t bear to watch anymore. How had he not noticed before how shameless Lu Song was?

Just as he was about to pull Lu Song away from his master, a mocking voice interrupted, "Well, young man, your way of apologizing is quite unique. It’s my first time seeing someone trying to apologize by looming over another person. Are you apologizing or forcing them? How can you be so thick-skinned?"

The voice sounded familiar to Li Rong.

Su Zhenyun suddenly turned around.

There stood a woman, holding her arm, looking at them with a raised eyebrow. Her clear eyes were like autumn water, pure and bright, unforgettable amidst the vast world.

Su Zhenyun’s voice trembled like a dewdrop on a leaf, "Xi Xue…"

It was indeed Xi Xue back.

Li Rong turned and saw the strikingly beautiful woman, then froze, "M-Mistress?"

Ji Qingyan rolled her eyes at their titles, "No, don’t mistake me for any Xi Xue. Remember my name, Ji Qingyan, from Dongrong Country."

Confusion flickered in Zhe Jing’s eyes behind Doctor Ji.

If Chancellor Su mistook her last night, why did his personal servant also make the same mistake today?

Could Doctor Ji really resemble the late Madam Su so much?

Ignoring Ji Qingyan’s words, Su Zhenyun pushed away Lu Song and made his way through the crowd to stand before the woman.

His movements were swift, yet when he reached her, his hand trembled as he slowly reached out, as if afraid she might vanish like a reflection in water.

But the woman slapped his hand away, "Listen, I’m not the person you think I am! Would the one you care about be happy knowing they’re being mistaken for someone else?"

Li Rong ran up and scrutinized Doctor Ji, shock evident in his eyes, "Mistress, it’s really you. You didn’t die?"

Ji Qingyan grew even more displeased. Not only were they mistaking her, but they also thought she was dead, "You’ve got the wrong person!"

"I haven’t made a mistake. Xi Xue, I could never mistake anyone for you..." Su Zhenyun said with red-rimmed eyes.

Exasperated with the man, Ji Qingyan urged Zhe Jing, "Deal with this as you see fit!"

Zhe Jing stepped forward, "Chancellor Su, I serve Lord Xie. The woman before you is Doctor Ji, whom our lord found for Miss Su from Dongrong Country. She isn’t your wife."

"That’s right. I told you, I’m from Dongrong Country, not even from Great Shen. How could I be your wife?"

Ji Qingyan felt she had been patient enough with the handsome man. If anyone else dared to harass her, they’d be torn apart.

She tolerated him because he looked decent and fragile, like delicate glass.

Li Rong finally realized the woman might merely resemble his mistress.

But it was uncannily similar, even her tone matched when she used to scold their master.

Despite his doubts, seeing her clearly annoyed, Li Rong tried to persuade his master, "Master, let’s discuss this at home. There are too many people here."

In just a moment, passersby had already started turning to look.

Seeing a man crying in public would naturally draw attention.

Su Zhenyun’s gaze remained fixed on Ji Qingyan, as if she were the only person in the world. He nodded, "Alright."

This person was undoubtedly Xi Xue. She must be angry with him for not finding her all these years, pretending not to know him.

As they prepared to leave, the confused Lu Song hurried over, ignoring being bumped into, and said, "Chancellor Su, regarding what I mentioned earlier..."

Initially, he was upset by the woman’s words, but seeing how warmly Su Zhenyun treated her and her indifference towards him, he knew he couldn’t provoke her and suppressed his anger once more.

Hearing this, Ji Qingyan couldn’t bear it. Though she didn’t want to deal with Su Zhenyun, she found the persistent young man even more unbearable.

"The morals of society are declining. Young people nowadays have thicker skin than city walls!"

Lu Song’s face darkened further.

But Su Zhenyun turned around, and upon seeing Lu Song’s expression towards Xi Xue, his face clouded over as he coldly said, "Lu Song, your family broke faith and annulled the engagement with us. I showed mercy by not destroying your family."

"If you dare to continue harassing our Youyue, don’t blame me for being ruthless."

Suzhen Yun rarely spoke with such malevolence, but the more restrained a person usually was, the more terrifying it was when they did unleash their harsh words, causing one's heart to quiver in fear.

Lü Song looked into his icy, piercing eyes and realized that he was deadly serious, involuntarily taking a subconscious step back.

Watching their retreating figures, a surge of unwillingness welled up within him.

Power, wealth—once things he could easily attain, were now all gone.

For a woman, he had lost everything...