Quick Transmigration: The Villain Is Too Pampered and Alluring - Chapter 81

When Sheng Nuan arrived at Miaoshan Hall, she saw Xiao Dingcheng sitting in the corner outside, his head buried in his knees.

The once spirited young man, clad in fine clothing and riding boldly through the streets, had transformed into such a pitiful sight in just a few days.

Sheng Nuan walked over without expression.

Although she could understand Xiao Dingcheng’s despondency and confusion, if it weren’t for her mission, she would disdain to have anything to do with a man like him.

In life, one can only rely on oneself… Even if one is knocked down to the bottom, one must grit their teeth and climb up step by step.

If one cannot support themselves or stand firm, they will forever be trampled upon by others…

Xiao Dingcheng didn’t realize Sheng Nuan had arrived.

He didn’t dare to return and didn’t know how to face his family.

When Xiao Dingcheng left, he hadn’t thought much, but the moment he stepped into the pawnshop, he felt as though all his dignity and pride had been stripped away and trampled into the ground.

Most people in the capital recognized the Duke of Zhenbei’s son and knew that the Duke’s manor no longer existed. Yet he, the once arrogant and bold young man who rode freely through the streets, was now in the position of exchanging his mother’s only cherished possession for silver.

Faced with the open and secret looks of those in the pawnshop, Xiao Dingcheng felt extremely embarrassed. He couldn’t take another step inside and turned to flee.

But how could he escape? His grandmother and mother were still ill. As he wandered aimlessly outside the pawnshop, he finally made up his mind to go in, only to realize that the bracelet he had been holding was gone.

That’s when he remembered the person who had bumped into him…

The bracelet was something his mother had never taken off for decades. When the manor was raided, she had desperately kept it on, but now she had given it to him to ensure the family could survive, and yet he had lost it.

His father had died in battle and his remains are unreturned. At home, he had a sick grandmother, a mother in distress, and a pregnant woman to care for…

Xiao Dingcheng had never had such a moment of confusion and despair. He wished this were just a nightmare from which he would wake up and find everything was a lie, where everything was fine—his father was still alive, and the Duke of Zhenbei’s manor still stood…

But even in his confused state, he was painfully aware that it was impossible!

At that moment, a voice called from above his head, “Husband…”

Xiao Dingcheng froze and slowly looked up to meet Sheng Nuan’s calm gaze.

She was no longer wearing the luxurious dresses of the Duke’s manor but a plain cloth dress. However, her demeanor remained the same, with her brows and eyes brimming with vitality.

Sheng Nuan said to Xiao Dingcheng, “Stand up.”

Xiao Dingcheng’s body suddenly trembled, and he instinctively wanted to shrink back but held himself steady… He reminded himself that he couldn’t back down!

His family was waiting for him to return. If he retreated, what would they do?

A small woman like Sheng Nuan was standing there, what right did he have to back down…?

Xiao Dingcheng bit his lip, and in the next moment, he braced himself against the wall and stood up, his voice hoarse as he said, “I’m sorry, Nuan Nuan, I lost the bracelet.”

“Hmm, I know.”

Sheng Nuan pulled him silently toward the pawnshop not far away. With a calm expression, she entered the shop and removed a silver hairpin from her head, placing it on the counter while smiling at the shopkeeper. “I’d like to pawn this.”

The pawnbroker already knew the down-and-out heir had lost something. Now seeing Sheng Nuan enter, his expression became somewhat complex as he agreed and offered a good price for her item.

After thanking him, Sheng Nuan took Xiao Dingcheng to Miaoshan Hall to fetch a doctor.

After the doctor examined the Old Madam and the Princess Consort, Wen’er rushed over to ask the doctor to check on Liu Rumian.

After receiving the prescription, Sheng Nuan paid the doctor’s consultation fee. “I will only pay for the Old Madam and the Princess Consort, not for anyone else. Doctor, please do as you please.”

Wen’er immediately panicked. “But our lady is in a lot of discomfort!”

Sheng Nuan replied nonchalantly, “What does that have to do with me?”

Wen’er was instantly anxious and instinctively wanted to seek help from Xiao Dingcheng, only to see him sitting in the courtyard, lost and blank-faced…

Wen’er stomped her foot, turned, and rushed into the house. Afterward, she brought out a pair of earrings belonging to Liu Rumian to finally ask the doctor to come in…

Sheng Nuan turned to prepare medicine when she suddenly noticed Gui Momo trembling as she walked outside.

Her heart stirred, and she chased after her. “Momo, where are you going?”

Gui Momo’s figure stiffened slightly, then she continued walking quickly without saying a word. Sheng Nuan hurried to catch up and block her path.

In a gentle tone, Sheng Nuan asked, “Gui Momo, what’s wrong?”

Gui Momo averted her gaze. “My lady, I’m leaving. Please take good care of the Old Madam.”

If it were another servant, Sheng Nuan would definitely not have stopped them from finding another place to go. But Gui Momo had been with the manor her whole life and had no relatives. At her old age, no one would hire her.

Sheng Nuan furrowed her brows. “Gui Momo, you have no children, and at your age, where are you going to go if you leave?”

Gui Momo’s lips trembled slightly, pausing for a moment before her eyes turned red. “The family can no longer support itself. If I leave, it saves a meal for the Old Madam to eat better.”

Sheng Nuan felt a pang in her heart but smiled on the surface. “Don’t worry, Momo, you won’t be taking up the old lady’s rations. Besides, I’ve secretly saved some silver. Also… I still need you to take care of the Old Madam. If you leave and she wakes up without seeing you, I won’t know how to explain it.”

Gui Momo’s tears fell.

She knew it wasn’t that the family couldn’t do without her, but that Sheng Nuan had a good heart and wouldn’t abandon her, this old woman who had nothing…

“Alright, Momo, the medicine for the Old Madam is ready. You should go and give it to her.”

Gui Momo responded, wiping her tears as she headed toward the kitchen.

In the small side room, Liu Rumian lay on the shabby bed, looking pale.

Wen’er sat beside her, wiping her tears. “Miss, what are we going to do… it’s even worse than when we were at the Minister of Revenue’s manor. When have you ever suffered like this?”

Liu Rumian’s lips moved, but she couldn’t utter a word.

Back at the Ministry of Revenue’s manor, she had always felt inferior as a daughter of a concubine, constantly trying to elevate herself above the legitimate daughters. But how did she end up in such a dire situation despite all her efforts to climb?

In these past few days, Xiao Dingcheng hadn’t even come to see her once… What had she aimed for?!

The shabby courtyard had a total of five rooms, with Gui Momo sleeping in the Old Madam’s room, where they could keep each other warm.

Wen’er naturally stayed with Liu Rumian, while the other three each had their own room.

After seeing the Old Madam settled, Sheng Nuan returned to her own place and was about to take a simple wash when she suddenly heard customer service remind her, “Host, someone is coming to arrest you.”

Sheng Nuan was taken aback. “Who is it?”

Customer service replied: “Those who support Bai Chengze. They think Bai Chengze has lost control and want to capture you to control him.”

Sheng Nuan cursed under her breath, thinking of the elderly, sick, and frail people in the courtyard. After a moment’s hesitation, she took flight and left…

This place was already on the edge of the capital. She easily escaped the residential area and reached a nearby forest, where her pursuers quickly followed.

As Sheng Nuan lightly landed, she turned around, only to find five dark figures surrounding her. Four of them had their faces covered with black scarves, while only one… had a face obscured by a swirling black mist.

Customer service’s tone was rarely serious: “Host, be careful. The one without a face is a sorcerer from the Southern Frontier… They want to capture you to control Bai Chengze.”