Quick Transmigration: The Villain Is Too Pampered and Alluring - Chapter 69

The news of the assassination attempt on the Duke of Zhenbei’s manor quickly spread to the palace. Given that the assassins used large weapons like siege crossbows, the Tang Emperor was enraged and ordered a thorough investigation. Despite extensive inquiries, no solid leads were found.

In the end, all the officials responsible for the armory were punished, from top to bottom. The city defense commander was demoted, and the armory guard was beheaded.

The Tang Emperor sent generous amounts of gifts to the Duke of Zhenbei’s manor to appease him. At the same time, the Duke of Zhenbei’s manor also provided substantial compensation to the loyal guards who had died protecting them during the attack.

During this time, Xiao Dingcheng was recuperating from his injuries.

Xiao Dingcheng leaned against the bench in the garden pavilion with one arm hanging loosely, while Sheng Nuan stood opposite him, painting.

After holding the same pose for a long time, Xiao Dingcheng started to feel stiff and asked for a break. Once he received her approval, he walked behind Sheng Nuan to look at the painting she was working on, his eyes widening in surprise.

“Didn’t to agree not to paint with my arm hanging like this?”

Xiao Dingcheng felt a little embarrassed. “This looks ridiculous…”

Sheng Nuan suppressed her laughter, frowning as if she disagreed. “In my eyes, husband always looks dashing, no matter what. Besides, this injury was sustained while protecting the women of the family. There’s nothing ridiculous about it. In fact, it’s quite heroic…”

Xiao Dingcheng was immediately knocked out by her flattery, suppressing a smile as he lightly coughed and said, “Alright, the painting isn’t bad.”

But then he suddenly remembered something. “Nuan Nuan, didn’t you just need a glance last time to paint me? Why did I have to sit there, unmoving, for so long today?”

Sheng Nuan couldn’t hold back her laughter anymore. “Because I think it’s very interesting to see my husband sitting there with his head held high and chest out…”

Xiao Dingcheng realized he had been tricked, feeling both angry and amused. He gritted his teeth, pretending to go after her. “Oh, you cheeky little Sheng lady, daring to play tricks on your own husband! Let’s see how I’ll punish you…”

When Liu Ruming arrived at the pavilion with a servant carrying chicken soup, she saw Xiao Dingcheng and Sheng Nuan laughing and teasing each other. Her expression turned cold, and she took a deep breath before forcing a smile as she approached.

“Your Lordship, Sister Sheng…”

Liu Rumian kept her expression composed, placing the chicken soup beside Xiao Dingcheng. “I simmered this soup over a low flame for two hours. Please drink it while it’s hot, Heir Apparent. You’ve lost so much bl00d, you need to nourish yourself.”

In the past, Xiao Dingcheng would have taken Liu Ruming’s hand to sit down, praised her endlessly, and then enjoyed the soup.

But at this moment, Xiao Dingcheng didn’t even turn around, only replying in a warm tone, “Thank you for the hard work, Mian Mian. Just leave it there, I’ll drink it later.”

Then he pointed at Sheng Nuan with a smile. “Come here, I promise I won’t hit you.”

Sheng Nuan stood on the pavilion railing, raising an eyebrow and lifting her chin. “Husband, you’ve already tricked me once. I’m not falling for it again…”

Xiao Dingcheng didn’t know whether to be angry or laugh. He watched as Sheng Nuan suddenly jumped down.

Instinctively, he moved forward to catch her, but Sheng Nuan landed steadily on the ground and immediately pressed him down, her expression serious. “Husband, have you forgotten your injury? Don’t move recklessly.”

Xiao Dingcheng seized her with a triumphant grin. “I knew I could catch you this way…”

Next to them, Liu Rumian could barely maintain the smile on her face.

It hadn’t been long, barely two months… and Xiao Dingcheng had already forgotten the words he once said.

Wasn’t Sheng Nuan supposed to be her shield? He’d once said she only existed because of her. Is this how he treats his shield?

For a mere shield, he ignored her completely!

No, it was because Sheng Nuan had gone back to save him during the assassination that his attitude towards her had changed… This was only temporary. Yes, temporary. She couldn’t lose her composure.

Liu Rumian forced a smile. “Sister Sheng, are you painting here?”

It seemed only then that Xiao Dingcheng remembered Liu Rumian was still present. He smiled. “Yes, she’s been painting and teasing me, making me sit still for ages.”

Sheng Nuan blinked innocently.

Liu Rumian forced a laugh. “I have nothing else to do, so how about I play the zither to keep Sister Sheng and the Heir Apparent company?”

As she spoke, the maid behind her had already set up the zither.

Xiao Dingcheng sat back on his chair. “Great, music and painting together—what a joy!”

But Sheng Nuan stopped painting and sat down. “I’ll rest for a bit and listen to Sister Liu play the zither.”

Suddenly, Liu Rumian once again became the musician providing entertainment for the two of them. Her smile grew even more strained, but she had no choice but to endure it in silence.

Customer service sighed: It even felt frustrated on Liu Rumian’s behalf…

Liu Rumian hadn’t been playing the zither for long when Liang Chen, the Princess Consort’s head maid, arrived.

“Greetings to the Heir Apparent and to the two concubines… I have come on the orders of the Princess Consort to deliver lychees to Madam Sheng.”

Liang Chen also knew about how Madam Sheng had risked her life to save the Heir Apparent. Over the past few days, the Princess Consort couldn’t stop praising Madam Sheng whenever she was mentioned, and the servants, too, were full of admiration and respect.

Since lychees were out of season, this small plate of lychees was especially precious.

Sheng Nuan quickly thanked her. Next to her, Liu Rumian’s expression was starting to crumble… yet Sheng Nuan cheerfully called out to her. “Sister Liu, come have some lychees!”

Liu Rumian’s zither melody faltered, and she almost couldn’t maintain the mask on her face…

Who the hell wants to eat your broken lychees!?

But it didn’t end there. Not long after the Crown Princess’s maid left, Gui Momo arrived.

Ever since the assassination incident, Gui Momo had taken a particular liking to Sheng Nuan.

In such a dangerous situation, it was already commendable that the young lady remembered to protect the Old Madam. But Sheng Nuan hadn’t just protected the Old Madam—she also didn’t forget her, this old servant, and shielded both of them together.

It’s in life-and-death moments that a person’s true nature is revealed, and this young lady Sheng had proven to be a truly good-hearted girl.

Even the Old Madam would occasionally mention it from time to time, asking why Lady Sheng hasn’t come to visit her—does she no longer want to hold her thighs?

Xiao Dingcheng was surprised. “What brings Gui Momo here?”

Gui Momo smiled and bowed. “I’ve come on behalf of the Old Madam to invite Madam Sheng to join her to eat crabs.”

Xiao Dingcheng feigned surprise and dissatisfaction. “Grandmother eats crabs and calls Nuan Nuan but doesn’t call me? Has she forgotten her own grandson?”

Gui Momo chuckled. “Heir Apparent, you’re welcome to join. The Old Madam would be happy to see you…”

Xiao Dingcheng instinctively started to get up but suddenly noticed Liu Rumian sitting quietly beside him, her head bowed in silence, and that’s when he remembered.

He sat back down and shook his head. “Never mind. Grandmother didn’t call for me, so I won’t be an eyesore. Nuan Nuan, you go ahead.”

Sheng Nuan smiled brightly. “Then I’ll go keep the Old Madam company…”

As Sheng Nuan and Gui Momo left, the pavilion fell quiet.

Since Xiao Dingcheng stayed, Liu Rumian’s expression brightened considerably. She softly asked, “What tune would the Heir Apparent like to listen to?”

Xiao Dingcheng had originally intended to keep Liu Rumian company, but now that he was sitting there, he felt rather bored.

“I’ve already spent half the day here. Let’s head back,” Xiao Dingcheng said lazily, getting up.

Liu Rumian’s forced smile finally disappeared completely.

“Is it because Sister Sheng isn’t here that you want to leave?” Liu Rumian asked quietly.

Xiao Dingcheng paused, frowning as he turned back. “What are you talking about?”

Liu Rumian laughed bitterly. “Your Lordship, why don’t you ask yourself? Since I arrived, have you even looked at me properly?”

Xiao Dingcheng was at a loss for words…

He hadn’t realized it, but his attention had been entirely drawn to Sheng Nuan without him even thinking about it.

Suppressing his frustration, he tried to coax her with gentle words. “I stayed here with you, didn’t I? What more do you want from me?”

Liu Rumian’s smile was sorrowful. “Your body may be here, but your heart has already left with her…”

At that, Xiao Dingcheng finally lost his temper.

Even though he had patience with his women, he had grown up in luxury, used to being the center of attention, and his patience had its limits. His expression turned cold.

“When did you become so unreasonable?”

Without waiting for a response, Xiao Dingcheng turned and left, not bothering to comfort her any further.

Liu Rumian sat there, her face pale, eyes filled with disbelief…

Meanwhile, Sheng Nuan received a notification from customer service: “Host, Xiao Dingcheng’s favorability score for Liu Rumian has dropped to 75.”

Sheng Nuan subtly curled her lips into a smile, then continued cracking open crabs.

Look at this crab, it’s so big and round…

And look at this crab roe, it’s so fragrant and soft…