Transmigrated into a Scummy Alpha Playboy in Ancient Times (GL) - Chapter 20
“Stop talking nonsense. I’m not your wife,” Su Muyu muttered reluctantly. She had known Shen Xingyue was never serious—always teasing her with things like this.
“Fine. Then I’m your wife, happy now?” Shen Xingyue scooted her stool closer to Su Muyu and leaned in with a grin.
Su Muyu saw how close she was and immediately pushed her back, glaring at her. Her ears were tinged with red as she argued, “When have you ever seen a Qianyuan become someone’s wife? You have no shame.”
“What’s wrong with being your wife? How does that make me shameless?” Shen Xingyue stared at Su Muyu intently as she spoke. When she noticed Su Muyu’s reddened ears, her smile deepened.
Su Muyu couldn’t bear the way she looked at her, so she turned away. “Who talks like that in the middle of the day? I’m not talking to you anymore.”
She stood up and walked to the bed, wrapping herself tightly in the blanket and turning her back to Shen Xingyue, clearly not in the mood to engage. Shen Xingyue knew when to stop—she didn’t want to push too far and really upset her.
She walked over, gently let down the bed’s curtain, and coaxed in a soft voice, “Don’t be upset. I just wanted to cheer you up.”
When Su Muyu stayed silent, Shen Xingyue simply shook her head and chuckled. She reached for the cord by the bed and pulled it to summon the maid standing by in the side room.
“Go call Wenyou and Ziyi. I have some tasks for them,” she said casually, settling down at the table.
“Yes, my lady. Right away.” The maids hurried off, and not long after, Wenyou and Ziyi arrived.
Shen Xingyue looked at them and spoke calmly, “In a bit, take some people and go around to the taverns and other entertainment spots in the capital. Tell all the shopkeepers: from now on, no one is allowed to put anything on the Prince’s Manor’s tab unless they’re part of the manor. We’re not some bottomless purse for random people.”
Wenyou and Ziyi exchanged a glance. Wenyou then stepped forward, bowed, and asked respectfully, “Your Ladyship, what if it’s your friends who are running up debts?”
“If they run up debts, they can pay them themselves. Or are you offering to pay for them?” Shen Xingyue replied with a cold smile.
“I didn’t mean that,” Wenyou said quickly, cold sweat forming on his forehead. “I just wanted to be clear. You used to say that your friends could freely charge things at those places under your name.”
“That was the past. No need to bring it up now. People have to look forward. Do as I said—visit every place and make it crystal clear. If anyone dares use the Prince’s Manor’s name again, they can go explain themselves to the Capital Prefect.”
“Yes, understood. We’ll take care of it immediately.” Wenyou bowed again, then left with Ziyi.
As they left, Wenyou whispered, “What’s going on with the Lady? She’s changed so much.”
“It’s about time,” Ziyi replied flatly. “You have no idea how much the manor has bled covering for those spoiled brats in the capital. The Lady’s finally come to her senses. Better late than never.”
Ziyi had long been disgusted by those arrogant freeloaders but had never dared to speak out. Now, at last, Shen Xingyue seemed to be turning over a new leaf.
Ziyi moved quickly. With over a dozen of the Prince’s guards, he began visiting one business after another, informing each one clearly: unless you’re a member of the Prince’s Manor, you’re not allowed to charge anything to their account. If someone tried, the manor wouldn’t take responsibility.
The capital was soon buzzing with gossip.
“What’s the Prince of Ankang’s household doing this time?”
“No idea. With someone like her running the show, what good could possibly come of it?”
“She’s just a bully—pushing around men and women alike.”
“Shhh! Keep your voice down! That’s royalty. You want to get yourself killed? They could squash you like a bug.”
Because Wenyou often accompanied Shen Xingyue on her outings, he was very familiar with the capital’s entertainment scene. With Ziyi’s team, he quickly made his way through all the venues. By the time night fell, every place had been properly informed.
That evening, Li Minghua had arranged to meet a few other young noblemen at Spring Breeze Pavilion, where they drank and partied. He had hired six Kunze companions—three men and three women—each seated beside one of them.
After a drink, Li Minghua slammed his cup down and cursed, “I wanted to invite Shen Xingyue tonight, but she didn’t even show her face. She actually said she won’t be friends with a murderer? What a joke! With her rotten reputation, she’s the one looking down on me?”
“Second Young Master, don’t say that,” Zhang Xinhuai said with a laugh. “Everyone knows you and the Lady are as close as siblings. She was probably just angry. Give it a few days and she’ll be back, having fun with us like always.”
“Exactly. Everyone in the capital knows you’re the Lady’s favorite. Who would dare disrespect you?” added Tian Dong, piling on the flattery. His father was only a seventh-rank idle official, and Tian Dong had spent a long time trying to cozy up to Li Minghua to gain favor with Shen Xingyue.
Li Minghua, flattered and in high spirits, nodded slightly. “You’re right. That’s just how the Lady is. She’ll come around in a few days. Enough about her—tonight we’re drinking until we drop! No need to pinch pennies; the Lady will settle the bill for us anyway.”
“Great! Thank you, Second Young Master Li. Only people like you, who are close to the Lady, can get away with charging everything to the Prince’s Manor,” Tian Dong chimed in eagerly, quick to flatter.
“Oh, it’s nothing,” Li Minghua waved it off. “We’re all friends. Didn’t the Lady also help me out last time when I killed someone riding my horse? Sure, she was a bit upset, but in the end, she still recognizes me as her brother.”
He spoke as if killing someone had been no big deal, flaunting it like a badge of honor in front of his fellow playboys.
“That’s right. No one compares to our Second Young Master Li. Come, let’s all raise a glass!” Zhang Xinhuai said with a hearty laugh.
They drank deep into the night and only began to leave close to midnight. On their way out of Spring Breeze Pavilion, Li Minghua, as he always did, casually told the staff, “Put it on the tab of Lady Shen Xingyue of the Prince’s Manor.”
The manager—a sharp-eyed madam—gave a respectful bow, then replied with a smile, “I’m sorry, Second Young Master Li, but the Prince’s Manor sent word today: from now on, no one is allowed to charge anything under their name. The manor will no longer be responsible.”
“What? That’s impossible!” Li Minghua sobered up instantly. He had ordered the finest food and wine tonight, all under the assumption that he’d stick Shen Xingyue with the bill like always. And now they wanted him to pay?
“I don’t believe you. How dare you lie to me? Put it under Shen Xingyue’s name right now,” he demanded, scowling.
The madam’s smile faded. A place like Spring Breeze Pavilion—well-known and expensive—surely had powerful patrons behind it. Offending a noble like Shen Xingyue wasn’t an option. But as for a pampered second son like Li Minghua, he was fair game.
“Oh? Could it be that the Second Young Master of Minister Li’s household can’t afford his own drinks? Trying to dine and dash?” she said loudly. “Everyone, come take a look! The mighty Second Young Master Li is trying to stiff us on the bill! Coming to a fine establishment like this with empty pockets—what’s he doing, begging for wine?”
Spring Breeze Pavilion was filled with people of status—sons of officials and nobility. The moment the madam spoke, many turned their attention to the scene, whispering and pointing at Li Minghua.
Veins bulged at his temples from sheer embarrassment. He still refused to believe Shen Xingyue had cut him off. In the past, all it took was a little praise and flattery, and she would grant whatever they asked. How could she suddenly be so hard-nosed?
“I’ve always put it on her tab. You’re just making trouble!” he protested. The night’s expenses were enormous—especially the six Kunze companions he’d hired. Paying out of pocket would wipe out two months of his allowance.
The madam snorted coldly and retorted sharply, “The Lady personally ordered the entire capital to be informed this afternoon. It’s not just us—every high-end tavern and entertainment house in the city was told the same. But if you don’t believe me, feel free to check for yourself. For now, though, kindly settle your bill—or we’ll be forced to send someone to your residence to collect.”
“You… just wait. The Lady would never turn her back on her dear brother,” Li Minghua muttered bitterly, pulling out his silver with gritted teeth. Watching the money leave his hands felt like having his flesh carved away.
He wasn’t the only one. Several other young nobles who used to enjoy spending recklessly under Shen Xingyue’s name were also humiliated that night, forced to pay out of their own pockets for once.
Meanwhile, in the quiet of Shen Xingyue’s bedroom, she was fast asleep, arms wrapped around Su Muyu. The room was warm and cozy, heated by a brazier of fine charcoal—a sharp contrast to the frigid, snowy world outside. Shen Xingyue had no idea that her former “friends” were being denied credit one after another, their faces flushed with anger as they reluctantly settled their bills.
Among them, Li Minghua was the most furious. The Kunze he’d ordered tonight were especially expensive. He had fully intended to dump the cost on Shen Xingyue. Now, with no choice but to pay, he made up his mind to go to the Prince’s Manor first thing in the morning and give her a piece of his mind.
Inside the bedroom, Shen Xingyue remained sound asleep, holding Su Muyu close. She had no intention of waking. Su Muyu, however, had already rested well these past few days and slowly opened her eyes.
At first, she had assumed Shen Xingyue invited her to stay because she wanted to consummate their relationship, which left her feeling nervous. But after a few days, she realized Shen Xingyue had no such intentions. Slowly, she relaxed. Even being held through the night no longer made her freeze up. In fact, she had started getting used to it.
Her own body was weak, and she was always cold in bed. But when she slept next to Shen Xingyue, she felt warm all over, wrapped in comfort.
The curtains around the bed made the light inside dim and soft. Even so, Su Muyu could clearly see Shen Xingyue’s peaceful, sleeping face just inches away. Her expression was gentle, her brow relaxed, one arm still draped loosely around Su Muyu’s waist.
As Su Muyu stared at her sleeping form, an unexpected thought rose in her heart—if Shen Xingyue could always be like this… maybe it wouldn’t be so bad to let her be my Qianyuan.
But the thought startled her, and she quickly shook her head to dismiss it.
No. Shen Xingyue’s heart belongs to Su Muqiu. She’s only treating me well now because the novelty hasn’t worn off yet. It won’t be long before she goes back to how she was before. I shouldn’t get attached to this fleeting kindness… I can’t afford to have false hopes about someone as unpredictable as her.