Transmigrated into a Scummy Alpha Playboy in Ancient Times (GL) - Chapter 19
Shen Xingyue looked at Su Muyu, her eyes crinkling with a gentle smile. “Feeling better now?”
“Yes. Thank you… for everything this time,” Su Muyu replied softly.
She hadn’t mentioned the matter of the silver before, afraid that Shen Xingyue would find her demanding or think she was changing her mind too often. She hadn’t expected Shen Xingyue to handle it for her without a word.
Even if Su Muyu wasn’t fully convinced that Shen Xingyue was doing it out of kindness, she had, after all, helped her.
“There’s no need to thank me. From now on, your problems are my problems. No need to be so polite,” Shen Xingyue replied with a smile.
As the two spoke, a servant outside knocked on the door in a hurry. “Your Grace, it’s the writer. The second young master from Minister Li’s residence has come to see you.”
“Come in and speak,” Shen Xingyue said, frowning slightly as she tried to recall who this “Second Young Master Li” was. The original Shen Xingyue had too many idle, irresponsible companions, and for a moment she couldn’t remember which Li this one was. She simply asked, “Which Young Master Li?”
The writer stepped into the room and paused for a beat upon seeing Su Muyu there. Then, bowing respectfully to Shen Xingyue, he said, “Your Grace, it’s Li Minghua—the second son of Lord Li from the Ministry of Revenue. The one you were always very close to.”
Shen Xingyue frowned slightly as she sifted through the system’s data about the original Shen Xingyue. She finally recalled who Li Minghua was.
His father held the rank of Senior Third Grade and served as the Minister of Revenue. Li Minghua, however, was nothing but a frivolous idler. He spent his days avoiding any kind of meaningful work and often used Shen Xingyue’s name to shield his wrongdoings. He was a master of flattery, and the original Shen Xingyue had been completely taken in by it. She had helped him escape trouble more than once—including the time he rode recklessly through the capital and trampled an innocent civilian to death.
Shen Xingyue’s expression grew cold. To treat human life as if it meant nothing was disgraceful no matter where it happened. These spoiled young men could harm others and still come up with countless excuses to cover it up. Once the heat died down, they would return to strutting through the streets like nothing had happened. In the end, it was always the ordinary people who paid the price.
While Shen Xingyue was lost in thought, Su Muyu was quietly studying her. Earlier that afternoon, Shen Xingyue had helped her, and Su Muyu had begun to think maybe she was starting to become a decent person. But now, hearing that one of Shen Xingyue’s notorious friends had come to invite her out again, Su Muyu’s heart grew cold.
Every time Shen Xingyue came back from drinking with those so-called friends, she’d take it out on Su Muyu—whether through harsh words, threatening to give her away, or forcing her to kneel in the snow wearing only her inner garments.
Su Muyu’s face turned a little paler. These past few days had been unusually peaceful, and it seemed that peace had finally come to an end. Was Shen Xingyue revealing her true colors again?
“Go tell him not to come again,” Shen Xingyue said coldly, turning to the writer. “I have no interest in befriending a killer.”
As her gaze swept toward Su Muyu, she noticed how pale she looked. Shen Xingyue’s voice immediately softened with concern. “What’s wrong? You don’t look well.”
She had seemed fine just moments ago. Worried, Shen Xingyue stood up and gently touched Su Muyu’s forehead. No fever. She then took Su Muyu’s right hand from the table—it was ice cold.
Holding Su Muyu’s hand between both of hers, Shen Xingyue rubbed it gently, trying to warm it up. Her voice was full of worry. “Are you feeling sick? Why are your hands so cold? No, I’m calling Zhou Miao over to check your pulse.”
Su Muyu hadn’t expected this. Shen Xingyue used to never say no to any of her so-called friends. In the past, she had always loved being praised by them, as if being surrounded by those flatterers gave her some kind of worth.
But today, she not only refused to go out with them—she was sitting here, worrying about her cold hands. Su Muyu felt… strange. The Shen Xingyue in front of her felt unfamiliar, almost like a stranger pretending to care.
Shen Xingyue noticed Su Muyu staring blankly and smiled gently. Her voice was soft and comforting. “Give me your other hand too. Why are you so cold? Should I have someone bring you a bowl of bird’s nest soup?”
Her gentle eyes and delicate features only made her appear more beautiful. Her gaze was as calm as a spring, and the soft curve of her lips looked like they had been brushed with honeyed rose.
Somehow, without even realizing it, Su Muyu had given her other hand to Shen Xingyue too.
Shen Xingyue’s hands were slender, pale, and warm. As she held Su Muyu’s hands in hers, a slight blush rose to Su Muyu’s ears. Shen Xingyue hadn’t insulted her or punished her, yet Su Muyu still felt a bit… off. This gentleness almost felt like another form of control.
Had she grown too soft from a few days of peace? Su Muyu couldn’t quite figure it out.
Meanwhile, the writer stood silently on the side, watching this unusual display. His heart was practically in his throat. Wasn’t the Princess known for hating her consort? Ever since she hit her forehead the other day, had something changed in her brain?
Why was she suddenly being so kind?
This wasn’t the same moody, unpredictable Princess they all knew.
The writer was in turmoil. Li Minghua was supposed to be one of the Princess’s closest friends. If he went back with such a harsh message and offended Li Minghua, what would happen the next time the Princess decided to be friends with him again? What if Li Minghua held a grudge and made trouble for him?
If that happened, who would he even complain to?
The writer hesitated, then cautiously asked, “Your Grace, what if Second Young Master Li refuses to leave after hearing that?”
Shen Xingyue’s gaze snapped toward him, and the warmth she had just shown Su Muyu was nowhere to be found. Her voice turned cold. “Do I really need to teach you how to handle that? His father is only a third-rank official. Just throw him out. From now on, he is not allowed to set foot in the prince’s manor again. If anyone dares to let him in, they’ll be expelled from the manor immediately.”
The writer studied Shen Xingyue’s expression and realized this wasn’t just a moment of anger—she truly meant what she said. He quickly bowed and replied, “Understood. I’ll take care of it right away. Please don’t worry, Your Grace.”
As the writer backed out of the room and closed the door behind him, he couldn’t help but glance back one more time. He saw his mistress still speaking softly to the Princess Consort, gently rubbing her hands to warm them. He quickly looked away and silently reminded himself that perhaps it was time to start treating the Princess Consort with more care.
He stepped briskly into the snow and jogged toward the outer courtyard of the prince’s residence. There, a small tea room had been set up to receive guests while the household staff delivered messages to the inner quarters.
Inside, Li Minghua brightened when he saw the writer return, but his smile froze the moment he realized Shen Xingyue hadn’t come with him.
That didn’t make sense.
Every time he came to visit, Shen Xingyue would always accompany the writer out immediately, gather a few servants, and they’d head off to indulge themselves. But today, she hadn’t even shown her face.
“Where’s the princess?” Li Minghua asked, sipping his tea.
The writer bowed and calmly replied, “Her Grace says she won’t be seeing you. She also asked me to tell you not to return again. She doesn’t keep company with murderers.”
“What?!” Li Minghua slammed his teacup down. The sharp sound of porcelain shattering echoed across the room.
His chest rose and fell with fury. “Impossible! Everyone in the capital knows that I’m her closest friend. How could she say something like that? Where is she? I’ll speak to her myself.”
“Second Young Master Li, I must ask you to stop right there,” the writer said firmly. “This manor is not a place you can enter or leave as you please. Her Grace made herself very clear. If you continue to insist, I’ll have no choice but to ask the guards to escort you out—after you pay for the cup you just broke.”
As he spoke, the writer opened the door and gestured. Five or six strong, even-tempered guards stepped into the tea room, surrounding Li Minghua.
Li Minghua gave a cold, angry laugh and slapped a ten-tael silver ingot down on the table. He glared at the servants and sneered, “You worthless dogs, thinking you’re something just because your mistress is in a mood. She’s only angry with me today. Give it a few days, and we’ll be close again. And when that happens, I’ll make sure every single one of you is thrown out of this place. Useless fools.”
Cursing under his breath, Li Minghua stormed out of the prince’s manor, teeth clenched in rage.
Back inside, Yiliu had brought over two bowls of bird’s nest soup before quietly withdrawing to the side chamber to await instructions.
Shen Xingyue sat with Su Muyu, eating the soup together. In her mind, she was already planning what else needed to be done—slowly cleaning up the messes left behind by the original Shen Xingyue.
Su Muyu took a few sips. The sweetness of the rock sugar and the nourishing goji berries blended perfectly with the delicate bird’s nest. Maybe it was all in her head, but she felt her body slowly warming up. She glanced at Shen Xingyue a few times, hesitated, then finally spoke.
Shen Xingyue caught her gaze and smiled. “What is it? You look like you want to ask me something.”
Su Muyu lowered her eyes. After a moment, she asked quietly, “Why didn’t you go out with that Second Young Master Li?”
“Did you want me to go?” Shen Xingyue replied, taking a sip from her bowl as she spoke.
Almost instantly, Su Muyu shook her head reflexively. But the moment she did, she felt it wasn’t quite right, so she added awkwardly, “Who you go out with is none of my business, Your Grace.”
Shen Xingyue saw through her easily and said in a gentle tone, “Of course it’s your business. From now on, you’re in charge of me in this manor. I’ll be very obedient.”
“Only a fool would believe that,” Su Muyu muttered, her ears turning red.
“What was that?” Shen Xingyue leaned in slightly, not having heard her.
“Nothing,” Su Muyu said quickly. “I can’t manage your affairs. It’s better that you make your own decisions.”
Somehow, the bird’s nest soup didn’t taste quite as sweet anymore.
“I mean it,” Shen Xingyue said, chuckling. “I’m done associating with those worthless people. And all that money I wasted playing the fool for them—thinking back, I should’ve saved it to pamper my wife instead.”
She looked at Su Muyu as she said it, her tone playful. She had discovered that Su Muyu was easy to tease. Even if she kept her expression calm, the tips of her ears would always give her away—flushed red like an embarrassed little kitten.
Absolutely adorable.