Chapter 23 Shen Piaoyao vs Liang Yuanbian “Change your clothes—filthy.”…

Chapter 23 Shen Piaoyao vs. Liang Yuanbian

"Go change your clothes. They're dirty..."

Liang Yuanbian frowned in surprise, stepping back. Yue Rongrong hastily moved aside, then looked up to meet Shen Jichen's cold, thinly veiled anger. She met his gaze with calm innocence.

Seeing her act as if it had nothing to do with her, Shen Jichen's anger flared, his face darkening further. Just then, Liang Yuanbian approached.

"Piaoyao? What are you doing here?"

Shen Jichen offered no deference: "If you can be here, why can't I?"

Liang Yuanbian, humiliated and enraged, let out a cold laugh: "I came to see Rongrong about mending an embroidered handkerchief."

Yue Rongrong deliberately added: "It's a handkerchief bestowed by the Noble Consort."

Shen Jichen scoffed, his tone dripping with disdain: "The Noble Consort."

This clearly provoked Liang Yuanbian, whose expression tightened instantly: "What do you mean by that!"

Shen Jichen lifted his eyes with a contemptuous glance, replying casually: "To be so concerned over a mere handkerchief is rather petty. I'll have the Empress bestow a few more later—such trivial matters."

*So arrogant. You're going to get yourself beaten up,* Yue Rongrong muttered inwardly.

No sooner had the thought crossed her mind than she saw Liang Yuanbian charge forward furiously. She immediately stepped between them, mediating: "Both of you are distinguished gentlemen. Making a scene will only invite gossip. Please calm down."

Seeing her interpose herself, Shen Jichen’s eyes visibly darkened.

Liang Yuanbian, fuming, shook his sleeve and pulled Yue Rongrong close, wrapping an arm around her shoulder as he glared arrogantly at Shen Jichen: "Marquis Shen may not care, but Rongrong values it. What are you doing here?"

Yue Rongrong glanced at the hand on her shoulder and instinctively tried to push it away, but Liang Yuanbian only tightened his grip. She immediately felt a piercing, icy gaze and looked up dazedly toward Shen Jichen.

Shen Jichen’s cold, severe gaze shifted slowly from that hand to Yue Rongrong’s face. She shuddered.

"Did she agree to this?" His eyes moved indifferently back to Liang Yuanbian, his voice cold as if flowing through an icy river.

Liang Yuanbian looked down intimately at Yue Rongrong: "She naturally wouldn’t refuse."

Shen Jichen’s pupils contracted for a moment, a cold laugh in his voice as he also looked at Yue Rongrong: "Oh? Is that so?"

Yue Rongrong’s heart jolted. Using all her strength, she pried off Liang Yuanbian’s hand and stepped aside: "No, Liang Shaoqing, I’m afraid I can’t help with this. I still have work from Marquis Shen to attend to. Perhaps I can find someone else for you?"

Liang Yuanbian looked at her, his expression shifting from disbelief to rage. He turned abruptly to Shen Jichen, gritting his teeth in resentment: "Shen Piaoyao! You’re determined to oppose me, aren’t you? You have to compete with me in everything!"

Shen Jichen stood tall and composed, raising his head arrogantly as he scoffed: "You flatter yourself."

Liang Yuanbian’s fists clenched with a cracking sound, his punch fierce and violent, yet the attack suddenly vanished as if softened by a spring breeze. He staggered dazedly, steadied firmly by Wen Song.

"Liang Shaoqing, be careful. The cobblestones here are slippery," Wen Song said with apparent concern, his grip deceptively light.

Only Liang Yuanbian could feel how nearly immobile he was. His face alternated between pale and flushed as he stared at Wen Song, who maintained a humble smile. A sudden chill ran down his spine, and he blustered coldly: "Let go!"

Turning his head, he saw Yue Rongrong already being pulled away by Shen Jichen. His face turned livid.

Wen Song released him and nodded: "There are so many embroiderers, Shaoqing. Why insist on this one? If this escalates, the Noble Consort will worry again."

Liang Yuanbian roared: "You damned slave! How dare you threaten me!"

Wen Song replied: "I wouldn’t dare. It’s just that the Noble Consort is deep in the rear palace, with the Empress above her. You should consider her position."

Liang Yuanbian was about to spout off—what did the Empress matter? His sister was the most favored! But he restrained himself. The Empress might not matter, but behind her stood the Grand Empress Dowager, the Grand Princess, and even the Shen family.

It wasn’t worth breaking all ties with Shen Jichen over Yue Rongrong—at least not yet.

**

Inside the carriage, Shen Jichen’s expression was terrifyingly dark. Yue Rongrong sat far from him, avoiding any provocation.

In the past, no matter how intimidating he looked, Han Zixian and the others would keep their distance—only she dared approach him. And when she drew near, his expression would soften.

*But that was the past.* Seeing her now, avoiding him as if he were plague, Shen Jichen’s mood sank to the depths. Glancing outside, he spotted a clothing store passing by and barked coldly: "Stop the carriage!"

The carriage halted abruptly. Yue Rongrong swayed with the motion and was pulled to her feet before she could react. Only after stepping out did she think to struggle: "What are you doing?"

Shen Jichen’s face was frozen, his voice heavy: "Go change your clothes. They’re dirty."

Yue Rongrong’s face paled instantly as she stared at him, shaken.

Shen Jichen’s brow furrowed, his sharp jawline tensed, a flicker of regret in his eyes, yet he stubbornly held her gaze intensely.

In that moment, both thought of Qu Lieshan.

Yue Rongrong said coldly: "It’s not the clothes that are dirty—it’s me. Marquis Shen, since you mind so much, why keep entangling with me? Just replace me." With that, she turned to leave.

Shen Jichen grabbed her wrist and pulled her back, his face livid: "I’m just asking you to change clothes. Must you make it so serious?"

"Oh, it’s just clothes, isn’t it? I won’t change." Yue Rongrong mimicked his tone, lifting her head stubbornly and insisted.

Shen Jichen’s eyes turned icy cold, his anger palpable: "You know perfectly well I don’t mean the clothes! I mean—" He paused abruptly in agitation, unable to voice the thought, "Does she care about him?" Rage surged through him, boiling in his veins: "First it was Qu Lieshan, now it’s Liang Yuanbian. Yue Rongrong, am I worth nothing to you?"

Yue Rongrong’s heart felt as if plunged into an ice cellar, eerily calm: "Is this interesting? Why bring up the past? The past is torture for both of us, isn’t it?"

Shen Jichen felt a rush of blood to his head, his suppressed emotions erupting instantly, his eyes blazing with pain and fury: "Our past is torture to you?!"

Yue Rongrong pressed her lips tightly together, gazing at him in silence. Shen Jichen’s heart sank completely. He flung her hand away in anger and turned to leave.

A wave of bitterness washed over Yue Rongrong. Her heart ached, her eyes growing hot. She instinctively took two steps after him when a piercing pain shot through her abdomen. Instantly, her limbs stiffened, every breath tugging at her organs, forcing her to crouch down.

"Marquis!" Wen Song was the first to see and called out urgently.

Shen Jichen turned back almost immediately and saw Yue Rongrong curled into a small ball on the ground. Panic seized him, and he rushed over without a second thought, yet at the last moment restrained the impulse to sweep her into his arms. Looking down from above, he said with self-mockery: "Isn’t it torture? Why are you pulling these little tricks now?"

In the past, whenever they argued, she would often crouch down and pretend to cry, making him anxious—always him who yielded first.

But this time, Yue Rongrong didn’t look up or speak. Shen Jichen sensed something wrong. His cold expression gradually shifted, his brow tightening, until he finally saw her clutching her stomach tightly.

Author's Note:

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Wen Song: If this keeps up, should we charge the spectators around here?

[Let me see][Let me see][Let me see]