Quick Transmigration: The Villain Is Too Pampered and Alluring - Chapter 75

As soon as Liu Rumian finished speaking, the Princess Consort’s expression immediately turned cold as she glanced over, her face emotionless.

This little wretch, not even considering the occasion, and is already scheming here… She thought she could use Sheng Nuan to restore her own dignity, but didn’t want to think about whose face would be lost if Sheng Nuan also embarrassed herself.

It would still be the Duke of Zhenbei’s manor!

Liu Rumian was frustrated, and after speaking, she realized something. At first, she felt a twinge of regret, but then she reminded herself that she was pregnant now, so no one would hold it against her too much.

In short, as long as that vixen Sheng Nuan made a bigger fool of herself than she did, it would all be worth it!

At this time, the Old Madam spoke up, “Lady Sheng is indeed talented. Her calligraphy is good, she’s well-read in Buddhist scriptures, and she’s skilled in martial arts… much more presentable than your three-legged cat skills.”

Liu Rumian’s face, which had just started to regain some composure, became stiff again in an instant.

She hadn’t expected the Old Madam to humiliate her in public like this…

Xiao Dingcheng spoke up, “Mian Mian, come back and rest.”

Liu Rumian bit her lip, unwilling to leave but with no other choice, she slunk back dejectedly… She had thought Xiao Dingcheng would comfort her, but when she sat back down beside him, she realized that Xiao Dingcheng didn’t say a word, not even offering a single word of comfort.

Just then, the Duke of Zhenbei suddenly voiced out, “Since Mother praises Sheng Nuan so highly, let her also perform a song.”

Liu Rumian was stunned, but then her eyes lit up.

Sheng Nuan might be able to write a few words and swing a sword around… but no one had ever heard her mention anything about being skilled in playing the zither.

Sheng Nuan stood and bowed. “Yes.”

Liu Rumian kept her eyes fixed on Sheng Nuan, eagerly waiting for Sheng Nuan to embarrass herself…

Sheng Nuan didn’t have the same graceful, like a weak willow swaying in the wind demeanor that Liu Rumian had just displayed. Instead, she walked over boldly, and when she sat down, it was with the air of someone ready for battle, not to play the zither.

Everyone watching was left slightly dumbfounded…

Immediately afterwards, the sound of the zither began to play.

At first, the audience prepared to politely endure and offer some hollow praise, considering Sheng Nuan was well-liked by the Old Madam… But it didn’t take long before their expressions began to change.

The powerful, clanging notes of the zither seemed to carry the sound of armies clashing on the battlefield. The night itself felt as if it had become filled with the shimmer of blades and swords. A woman dressed in scarlet red gown sat calmly in front of the zither, her expression calm and even a bit casual, yet somehow exuding an otherworldly presence…

Xiao Dingcheng raised his wine cup to his lips, but it never moved again as he stared in a daze at Sheng Nuan, who was calmly playing the zither with her eyes lowered, his gaze filled with heat.

Next to him, Liu Rumian’s face turned ashen, her fingernails digging into her palms until they snapped…

When the song ended, a heavy silence filled the air, followed by the Duke of Zhenbei’s loud exclamation, “Excellent!”

As if awakened from a trance, the surrounding guests erupted in applause.

The Duke of Zhenbei tilted his head back and downed the wine in his cup, eyes full of satisfaction. “A fine melody, excellent skills… What is the name of this piece?”

Sheng Nuan stood and bowed. “To answer Your Grace, this piece is called ‘Ambush from All Sides¹.’”

“‘Ambush from All Sides,’ indeed. I’ve never heard it before. Is it your own composition?”

Sheng Nuan shook her head. “No, this piece was given to me by a friend I once met by chance years ago. Today, I offer it to Your Grace as a birthday gift, wishing you health and happiness.”

The Duke laughed heartily. “Wonderful! Reward!”

Sheng Nuan bowed and returned to her seat…

The moment she sat down, she was met with the Old Madam’s reproachful gaze. “How come you’ve never played the zither for me before?”

Sheng Nuan couldn’t laugh or cry, so she could only plead for mercy…

After the banquet, Xiao Dingcheng approached Sheng Nuan, gently squeezing her fingers, his eyes tender. “Nuan Nuan, tonight I’ll come to Tangnuan Courtyard…”

Without saying much more, he turned around to see the guests off, leaving Sheng Nuan standing there, stunned like a wooden chicken.

It’s over…

Customer service gloated gleefully, “Host, you’re about to lose your chastity!”

Sheng Nuan snapped out of it and let out a cold laugh. The next moment, she turned and headed straight for Liu Rumian.

When Liu Rumian saw Sheng Nuan, her expression immediately turned unpleasant, but she still managed to maintain a smile. “Is there something you need, Sister Sheng?”

Sheng Nuan deliberately flashed a provocative smile: “I heard Sister Liu hasn’t been feeling well, so I came over to check on you.”

Liu Rumian suddenly had a bad premonition, but forced a smile and said, “I’m fine. Why would Sister Sheng say this?”

Sheng Nuan widened her eyes. “Huh? Just now, husband mentioned that Sister Liu hasn’t been sleeping well recently, so he didn’t want to disturb you. He said he’d be staying in Tangnuan Courtyard tonight…”

After finishing, Sheng Nuan didn’t give Liu Rumian a chance to respond. She left behind a smug, highly provocative smile and turned to leave.

Liu Rumian’s face turned deathly pale.

Customer service was a bit bewildered. “What does the host plan to do?”

Sheng Nuan grinned. “You must make good use of all the resources at your disposal…”

Facts have proved that Sheng Nuan was right.

No sooner had Xiao Dingcheng finished sending off another wave of guests than Wen’er hurried over, saying that her mistress wasn’t feeling well and had asked for the Heir Apparent to come.

When Xiao Dingcheng heard that Liu Rumian wasn’t feeling well, he had no choice but to turn around and head to Feixu Courtyard instead of going to Tangnuan Courtyard…

When Sheng Nuan learned about it, she immediately relaxed.

With Liu Rumian’s methods, Xiao Dingcheng definitely wouldn’t be bothering her tonight…

After bathing and changing into fresh clothes, Sheng Nuan lay in bed and asked customer service to check on the mission progress.

Customer service informed her that Xiao Dingcheng’s favorability value had already reached 85. Sheng Jingting and his wife had bought that little house, had some silver on hand, were living more comfortably, and were in better health than before.

Everything was moving in a positive direction, except…

Sheng Nuan suddenly remembered that Princess Lin’an hadn’t attended the Duke’s birthday banquet. Could it be that she was really unwell?

She couldn’t help but think, if things were truly following the original plot, then Princess Lin’an…

At that moment, Qing’er’s voice came from outside. “Madam, Su Gugu from Jingluan Courtyard is here.”

Sheng Nuan paused for a moment, then got up and went outside.

Su Lan stood at the door, and upon seeing her, rushed forward with reddened eyes. “Please, Miss Sheng, go check on our princess. The princess has been ill for several days and refuses to see a doctor. I’ve tried to persuade her, but she just won’t listen…”

Meanwhile, at Feixu Courtyard, Liu Rumian lay in Xiao Dingcheng’s arms, quietly sobbing.

In the past, seeing Liu Rumian cry like this, delicate as pear blossoms in the rain, Xiao Dingcheng would have been filled with pity, unable to think of anything else. Yet in this moment, hearing Liu Rumian’s constant sobbing, Xiao Dingcheng found himself feeling slightly irritated.

He wanted to go find Sheng Nuan, thinking that even chatting and laughing with her would be better than listening to this endless crying… but the next moment, he caught himself.

This was Mian Mian, the woman he loved, who was pregnant with his child. How could he be so impatient with her?

It’s normal for newly pregnant women to be more sensitive and emotional.

Xiao Dingcheng sighed softly and continued to comfort her in a gentle voice…

Just then, the voice of Xiao Dingcheng’s personal servant called from outside. “Your Lordship, His Highness the Ninth Prince is waiting for you outside Feixu Courtyard.”

Xiao Dingcheng paused, then gently pushed Liu Rumian aside. “The Ninth Prince is here. I’ll go see him.”

Hearing it was the Ninth Prince, Liu Rumian didn’t dare act coy anymore. She stood up and looked at Xiao Dingcheng pitifully. “Then, I’ll wait for the Heir Apparent to come back.”

Xiao Dingcheng hesitated for a moment before finally agreeing.

Liu Rumian was pregnant after all… As for Sheng Nuan, he could explain things to her tomorrow. After all, she was always the most understanding…

1. Video of Ambush from All Sides《十面埋伏》played on guzheng ↵

T/N: Let’s all give a round of applause to Liu Rumian—protector of Sheng Nuan’s chastity ᕙ( •̀ ᗜ •́ )ᕗ