Chapter 8 Fury “You made me feel utterly foolish!”…

Chapter 8: Blinding Rage

"You make me feel utterly foolish!"

Yue Rongrong's instinctive struggle only intensified the fury in Shen Jichen's eyes.

"Back then, you so resolutely swore you'd never be a concubine, yet today you eagerly entertain other men!" He slammed her wrist against the wall. If Yue Rongrong could now bow her head and yield, what did that make him back then? A sharp pain pierced his heart as he snarled, "You make me feel utterly foolish!"

Catching the furious outburst in his eyes, Yue Rongrong's heart trembled. "If it weren't for you, would I even be here? You know perfectly well that Jin Tangsong falsely accused me! You didn't believe me, and you even stopped my stipend!"

Shen Jichen was momentarily stunned, staring at her in disbelief. "Money again? You'd go this far for money?"

"Yes!"

Shen Jichen heard himself draw a sharp, pained breath, still struggling to contain his anger. "Do you even know what kind of man Liang Yuanbian is? How he treats women!"

Yue Rongrong replied coldly and calmly, "I know. I've known for three years."

Her indifference was like a sharp blade, piercing straight through his chest. He understood that her "know" wasn't about Liang Yuanbian—it was about him. She had grouped them together as the "same type."

Furious and heartbroken, Shen Jichen's brows furrowed tightly as he spat out venomously, "Are you that desperate for money? How much do you want? A hundred taels? A thousand? Ten thousand? How far would you go for money? Entertain with drinks? Smiles? Or even... sleep?"

*Smack!* Yue Rongrong's free hand involuntarily struck his face. It wasn't a hard blow, but both froze instantly. The air seemed to solidify. Her shoulders and palm trembled uncontrollably—whether from anger, fear, or heartbreak, she didn't know.

Shen Jichen's expression turned even colder, his eyes bloodshot. "If you still had the dignity you had back then, I wouldn't think our past was so laughable and foolish. Since you came here today, why keep up the act?"

Yue Rongrong's heart plunged into icy depths. Her face was pale, and her eyes shone like moonlight on frozen ice.

Shen Jichen stopped speaking, staring intently at her. For a moment, he felt a flicker of panic, but then he heard Yue Rongrong let out a mirthless laugh. His heart clenched.

"I'm not pretending. So, how much can you offer, Marquis? I can entertain you too." She smiled, her starlit eyes shimmering as she slowly raised her hand and hooked it around Shen Jichen's neck.

As if struck by lightning, Shen Jichen flung her away and recoiled several steps, his eyes wide with shock and anger. An icy dread flooded his entire body.

Ignoring the pain in her back from the impact, Yue Rongrong smiled self-deprecatingly. "Marquis, you are soon to be wed. Naturally, you must maintain your virtue and wouldn't soil yourself with my kind. So, may I leave now?"

After a long moment, his suppressed rage erupted from his chest as he roared, "Get out of my sight!"

Yue Rongrong fled as if blown by the wind. Not far away, she bumped into three dashing and refined men.

Zheng Xuchao and He Minxuan remained composed, but Han Zixian was startled and blurted out, "Rong Rong! What are you doing here? When did you come to the capital?"

His wife, Ye Shuyi, liked Yue Rongrong very much, so he loved her like his own and held a fondness for her too.

He Minxuan, however, was different. He sneered, "Zi Xian, can't you see she's avoiding us? Probably not in the mood to catch up."

Yue Rongrong ignored He Minxuan and said softly to Han Zixian, "Sorry."

Han Zixian was taken aback. Watching Yue Rongrong flee in panic, he sighed and turned around, only to meet He Minxuan's scowling face. He stepped back in alarm. "What's wrong with you?"

"I should be asking you! You know what she did back then! She hurt Piao Yao so badly. Why are you being so nice to her?"

Han Zixian stayed silent. He Minxuan's expression suddenly shifted, and he lowered his voice. "She's in the capital. Who knows what she might do to bother Piao Yao again? Should we have her expelled?" He added, reminding Han Zixian, "Don't say anything in front of Shuyi, or she'll cause trouble again."

They had grown up together. Besides Han Zixian, He Minxuan and Zheng Xuchao had also doted on Ye Shuyi since childhood and had once had romantic feelings for her. Even Shen Jichen, because of Han Zixian, treated Ye Shuyi like a little sister. So, He Minxuan was quite afraid that Ye Shuyi would get angry with them over Yue Rongrong.

Han Zixian naturally disagreed. Before he could speak, Zheng Xuchao said seriously, "Better not."

He Minxuan looked at him, puzzled.

Zheng Xuchao explained, "We've all seen how Piao Yao has been these past few years—increasingly merciless and decisive. None of us can be sure what place Yue Rongrong holds in his heart now. If we interfere rashly, it'd be fine if Piao Yao doesn't care, but otherwise... Let Piao Yao handle it himself. If he doesn't want to see her, he'll drive her out of the capital sooner or later."

Though He Minxuan didn't agree, he still shuddered involuntarily and forced a scornful laugh. "Piao Yao hasn't mentioned this woman once in all these years. After what she did, betraying him back then, how could he still love her?"

As soon as he finished speaking, they saw Shen Jichen approaching from the corridor. They couldn't help but tense up and watch him closely.

Han Zixian couldn't resist tentatively asking, "Piao Yao, we just saw Rong Rong. Her eyes seemed red."

Shen Jichen's steps hesitated slightly. His low, icy voice showed no emotion. "It has nothing to do with me."

The three fell into simultaneous silence. The proud young man who once declared, "Everything about Rong Rong concerns me," could now utter such cold words.

He Minxuan grew smug. "See! I told you Piao Yao has no regard for her anymore!"

**

Yue Rongrong felt unwell, perhaps truly coming down with a chill. Returning to Cloud Brocade Residence, she pulled the covers over her head and fell asleep.

By the time Zhen Xi and the others returned, it was already dark. Ren Hanzhen seemed in a poor mood and didn't say a word.

Zhen Xi, however, appeared very excited, chattering nonstop and even trying to pull Yue Rongrong up. Unable to feign cheerfulness, Yue Rongrong pretended to be asleep. Zhen Xi had no choice but to turn to Ren Hanzhen, but Ren Hanzhen seemed down and unwilling to talk much, excusing herself to wash up and go to bed.

That night, Zhen Xi tossed and turned until midnight before finally falling asleep. She woke up early the next morning when a maid from Brocade Tower knocked on the door, saying a Young Master Luo had sent a gift for Zhen Xi.

Ren Hanzhen woke up too, watching as Zhen Xi accepted an ornate box before turning away.

Zhen Xi opened it to find a gold hairpin adorned with several peony blossoms clustered together. Delighted, she sat before the vanity table to try it on. Noticing Yue Rongrong approaching from behind, she put away her smile, set down the hairpin, and turned with a bright grin. "Rong Rong, you're awake."

Yue Rongrong yawned, unconcerned. "Is it from Young Master Luo from yesterday's banquet?"

Upon hearing this, Zhang Jing, from the other bed, grew excited. "Why is he sending you gifts, Zhen Xi? Are you about to fly up the social ladder?"

Zhen Xi hurriedly explained, "There's nothing between us. We only spoke a few words. He asked me to embroider some handkerchiefs for his mother. This is probably just a thank-you gift."

Yue Rongrong chuckled lightly, half-joking, "So that's it. I was worried for Li Suian for nothing."

Li Suian was Zhen Xi's childhood sweetheart, currently enduring hardship in his studies for the imperial exams in March. It was said that once Li Suian passed the imperial examinations, they would marry.

Zhen Xi smiled, turned back to the mirror, and inserted the gold peony hairpin.

Zhang Jing sighed enviously, "How lucky you are! Either receiving gifts from noble young masters or soon becoming an official's wife."

Ren Hanzhen had already stood up, managing a thin smile. "I'll go ahead."

Zhen Xi was puzzled. "What's wrong with her? She seems upset."

Zhang Jing giggled. "She's disappointed, feeling the disparity." With that, she left too.

Yue Rongrong glanced at Zhen Xi, who was admiring the hairpin in the mirror with joy, hesitating to speak. But since Young Master Luo hadn't said anything or made any further moves, directly warning might only upset Zhen Xi. As they walked out arm in arm, she couldn't help reminding her, "Didn't you promise to go burning incense with Li Suian today?"

Zhen Xi suddenly remembered and smiled again. "Yes, I did."

As they left Cloud Brocade Residence, Zhong Yu was waiting for them, looking surprised. "Rong Rong, aren't you going to the Marquis's residence?"

Yue Rongrong's expression stiffened slightly. Perhaps she would never need to go again.

The three entered the embroidery workshop together and saw groups of embroidery ladies huddled together, chatting animatedly. Someone noticed them and hurriedly signaled, and the room fell silent instantly.

Something was wrong.

Zhong Yu said with a hollow smile, "Why so quiet as soon as we arrived?" She always despised those who were plotting behind others' backs.

Ren Hanzhen smiled, her mood seeming much better than before.

Du Yan raised her eyebrows smugly, oozing with contempt: "Rong Rong, aren't you going to the Marquis Residence?"

Before Yue Rongrong could speak, Zhong Yu said, "What's it to you? She's here to get her things."

Du Yan laughed out loud: "To get her things? Could it be that Marquis Shen kicked her out?"

Yue Rongrong froze. Zhong Yu and Zhen Xi immediately turned to look at her, their eyes full of concern.

"I heard someone offended Miss Jin and ruined the finest cloud-patterned brocade, angering Marquis Shen. Marquis Shen was furious and kicked you out." After saying this, Du Yan bent over with exaggerated laughter. "What a disgrace to our Brocade Tower!" Venting her malice, she felt immense satisfaction, especially after Liang Yuanbian's special attention to Yue Rongrong yesterday—she relished the humiliation.

Someone exclaimed, "Ah, she offended Marquis Shen! Could this bring trouble to our Brocade Tower?"

Immediately, some people's expressions changed, and their gazes toward Yue Rongrong turned accusatory.

Zhong Yu stepped in front of Yue Rongrong, demanding, "What nonsense are you all talking?"

Du Yan snorted, "It's from Master Zhou, of course. He said Marquis Shen utterly despises Yue Rongrong."

Master Zhou, Zhou Jian, was the mounting master of Brocade Tower. Others called him "Master Zhou." He was the "know-it-all" of Brocade Tower, rumored to be aware of everything.

"That busybody," Zhong Yu cursed coldly.

She was right. Yue Rongrong had never met such a meddlesome man, one who loved spreading rumors and exposing private matters for conversation.

Just then, the shopkeeper hurried over, shooting Yue Rongrong an annoyed glance. "Rong Rong, come with me." He hesitated for a moment, then looked at Ren Hanzhen. "Han Zhen, you come too."

About the time it takes for half an incense stick to burn later, Yue Rongrong returned alone. Zhong Yu rushed to her side: "What happened?"

Before Yue Rongrong could answer, excited screams erupted from the other side. Du Yan exclaimed gleefully, "Wonderful! The job at the Marquis Residence was originally Yue Rongrong snatching it from Han Zhen anyway. Now it's returned—truly the heavens are just! Don't they say a blessing in disguise?"

Her words carried a pointed meaning. Those who attended yesterday's banquet quickly caught on. Ren Hanzhen's cheeks flushed pink, and she chided coyly, "Stop talking nonsense." Yet the gloom from last night to this morning had completely vanished. She glanced in Yue Rongrong's direction, smiling with restraint and a hint of triumph.

Yue Rongrong ignored her and returned to her embroidery bench. She had no time for self-pity—she had to come up with three hundred taels within the next few days.

＊＊

When the moon hung high in the night sky, in the training grounds of the Marquis Residence, Shen Jichen stood with noble bearing, radiant, drawing his bow and nocking an arrow. With a "whoosh," the arrow shot out like lightning, piercing the bull's-eye with precision. A closer look revealed the target densely studded with arrows.

"Again!" Shen Jichen bellowed angrily.

Immediately, someone tremblingly stepped forward over the ground littered with arrows to replace the target.

Suddenly, arrows flew out one after another. Shen Jichen channeled all his fury and frustration into each shot, mixed with disappointment and despair. His back remained straight, his posture like a towering pine, even as his bow-drawing hand began to shake.

A servant couldn't bear to watch any longer and whispered to Wen Song, "Who is the Marquis so angry with? Why don't you go advise him?"

Wen Song sighed, his face expressionless. "If I went to advise him, the Marquis would be shooting me, not the target." He sighed again, his eyes showing heartache and helplessness. "Let him be. The Marquis is suffering."

The servant was astonished. "Who doesn't know our Marquis is like the moon in the sky, a golden child on earth? How could he suffer?"

Wen Song patted his shoulder with the air of an experienced elder. "You're too young to understand. Go on, it's time to change the target."

"......."