Transmigrated into a Scummy Alpha Playboy in Ancient Times (GL) - Chapter 25

“Cousin, what’s going on here? Did I perhaps fail to host properly?” Shen Yijia asked with a smile.

“It’s nothing,” Shen Xingyue replied mildly, her tone relaxed as she glanced at Shen Yijia. “These two couldn’t keep their mouths shut and dared to slander Yu’er in public. People like that should be thrown out—no need to let them ruin everyone’s mood.”

Shen Yijia smiled in agreement. “Indeed. Now that you mention it, I don’t recall sending an invitation to the Su family. There must have been a mix-up.” She turned to the attendants behind her and instructed, “Escort these two from the estate.”

“Yes, Your Highness,” several guards from the estate responded, quickly surrounding Su Muqiu and Su Muxue to escort them out.

Su Muqiu nearly ground her teeth to dust. She had thought today would be her moment to shine, to seize attention through her connection to Shen Xingyue. Who could’ve guessed things would end in such humiliation? Shen Xingyue had utterly disgraced her, and now the Fifth Princess herself had ordered her thrown out of the banquet. After today, what hostess in the capital would dare invite her to a private gathering again?

Fearing the guards might use force and strip her of the last shreds of her dignity, Su Muqiu quickly helped the bruised and swollen-faced Su Muxue to her feet and, along with their attendants, followed the guards out in silence.

Su Muxue, still dazed and aching from the beating, dared not utter a single sharp word.

Once they were gone, Shen Yijia smiled apologetically at Shen Xingyue. “I must take the blame for not screening the guest list properly and allowing you to be startled, Cousin.”

“No harm done,” Shen Xingyue replied flatly. “Let’s not let a few clowns spoil everyone’s mood. Let’s go on enjoying the plum blossoms.”

She gave Shen Yijia a brief look before gently placing her arm around Su Muyu and continuing forward.

Shen Yijia chatted briefly with others nearby, though her gaze kept drifting toward her cousin. Shen Xingyue had changed—become someone unfamiliar, someone… impressive. Shen Yijia’s eyes darkened slightly, thoughtful.

Su Muyu was only now beginning to process what had just happened. It all felt surreal—Shen Xingyue had actually protected her. She looked over at her, hesitating slightly as if she had something to say.

Noticing her gaze, Shen Xingyue asked gently, “What is it?”

“Nothing. I just… thank you for what you did earlier,” Su Muyu said quietly, her lips barely moving. Shen Xingyue had done many cruel things to her in the past, but today, she had genuinely shielded her. Su Muyu couldn’t deny that warmth had bloomed in her heart.

Shen Xingyue smiled. “No need to thank me. You’re my wife—protecting you is my duty.”

Then, as if remembering something, she turned toward Ziyi and instructed with a furrowed brow, “Ziyi, take some men and go to the Su residence. I’m worried Su Muqiu and Su Muxue, after being humiliated, might vent their anger on Yu’er’s mother. Tell Lord Su they are to be confined to their rooms for a month as punishment for disrespecting the royal family. A small penalty, but a clear warning. And if they dare trouble Yu’er’s mother again, I won’t hesitate to destroy the Su family.”

“At once, Your Ladyship,” Ziyi replied, immediately leading several guards toward the stables.

After making the arrangements, Shen Xingyue turned back to Su Muyu and said warmly, “Everything’s been taken care of. Don’t worry about your mother. As for what happened earlier, forget it—it’s no different from running into two rabid dogs.”

Su Muyu was amused by the comparison and chuckled. She hadn’t expected Shen Xingyue to be this thoughtful, even thinking of her mother. Her heart warmed once more. Still, confusion lingered. The pleasant atmosphere between them emboldened her to ask what had been on her mind.

“You… didn’t you like Su Muqiu? Why would you treat her that way?” she asked softly.

Shen Xingyue gave a snort of laughter, pulled Su Muyu gently into her arms, and said tenderly, “Didn’t I just say? I used to be blind—couldn’t see her true nature. But now I know exactly what kind of person she is. How could I still like someone like that? She’s not even one-tenth of what you are. I have you now—how could I possibly have eyes for anyone else?”

Her tone was so soft, so completely unlike her sharp and imposing demeanor from earlier, that Su Muyu flushed. She pushed at Shen Xingyue’s chest and muttered, “You say these things out in the open? Have you no shame?”

Shen Xingyue only held her tighter and leaned in to tease by her ear, “How is it shameless to say sweet things to my own wife? It’s not like I’m talking to some outsider.”

Su Muyu tugged on her sleeve, cheeks reddening as she glared. “Just stop saying things like that!”

Seeing that she had flustered her, Shen Xingyue quickly changed her tone and coaxed softly, “Alright, I won’t say another word. Your hands are freezing—let’s look around a bit more and then go rest.”

She took Su Muyu’s hands, holding them between her own to warm them. The gesture made Su Muyu feel shy, but she didn’t pull away. Shen Xingyue was always so handsy—even out here—but despite her embarrassment, Su Muyu couldn’t stop the smile playing at her lips.

Not far away, Li Minghua and a few other noble heirs were still in shock from what they had just witnessed. As they saw Shen Xingyue and Su Muyu’s intimate interaction, they exchanged glances, and without a word, each saw the same two words in the others’ eyes: “What sorcery?”

“No way… Has Shen Xingyue really changed?” Li Minghua whispered, still stunned. “She just tore into Su Muqiu so badly even her own mother wouldn’t recognize her—and now she’s being all sweet and doting with Su Muyu? When did she ever treat her this well?”

After what had just happened, he was now oddly afraid of Shen Xingyue. Her stern, commanding presence moments ago had carried the unmistakable weight of a true royal princess.

“I don’t know either, but thank goodness we didn’t go over to bother Shen Xingyue just now. If we had, we might’ve been thrown out too. That would’ve been humiliating,” Zhang Huaixin whispered cautiously.

“Seriously,” said Feng Wenbin with a slight shiver. “Did you see Shen Xingyue’s expression just now? It was downright scary. We really can’t keep using the Prince’s Manor as our personal credit line. She didn’t look like she was joking.”

“Sigh… I need to find a way to get close to Shen Xingyue again,” Li Minghua said with a heavy sigh. “My father’s monthly allowance isn’t even enough for two nights of drinks. Last time at Chunfeng Pavilion, I had to pay myself. Handing over that silver nearly killed me.”

While Shen Xingyue was still chatting with Su Muyu, a young noblewoman in court dress approached from the distance. She looked hesitant, as though she wanted to say something but was unsure how to start.

Shen Xingyue noticed her and quickly searched through the original host’s memories. The young woman before her was Xiao Yang, someone the original Shen Xingyue had grown up with. Her mother was a high-ranking second-grade official in the Ministry of Revenue. The two had been close since childhood.

That is, until Shen Xingyue started mixing with Li Minghua and the other idle young men. After that, her relationship with Xiao Yang faded.

Xiao Yang had warned her more than once—saying those men were only hanging around for her money, that they didn’t truly care about her. But Shen Xingyue had enjoyed being the center of attention. Only in their flattery did she feel powerful—not like some naïve, spoiled noble girl, but like a real princess.

Because of this, she and Xiao Yang had fought many times, eventually ending their friendship. From then on, Shen Xingyue spent her time entirely with Li Minghua and his crowd, never speaking to Xiao Yang again.

Now, looking at her with clearer eyes and memories in place, Shen Xingyue realized Xiao Yang had been one of the few genuinely kind people in the original host’s life. So she smiled and said, “Is there something you want to talk about?”

Xiao Yang hesitated for a moment. But seeing that Shen Xingyue was speaking kindly, she bit her lip and nodded. “Yes, I have a few things I’d like to say. Could we talk privately?”

Shen Xingyue glanced at Su Muyu standing beside her and gently said, “Take your time and enjoy the plum blossoms—I’ll be back shortly.”

Then she turned to the guards and Wenyou behind her. “Wenyou, keep a close eye on the Princess Consort. I won’t be long.”

“Of course, Your Highness,” Wenyou said, cupping his hands with a smile. After what had happened earlier, he wouldn’t dare treat Su Muyu lightly again.

Shen Xingyue walked quickly toward Xiao Yang. Since it was their first conversation in years, she didn’t speak right away.

They walked a fair distance before Xiao Yang finally broke the silence. She glanced at Shen Xingyue, paused for a moment, and said, “You’ve really changed. I heard you no longer let Li Minghua and the others charge things in your name?”

Shen Xingyue smiled and nodded. “That’s right. I was foolish before, being used like a free purse for so long. But that’s over. If they try clinging to me again like leeches, I won’t hesitate to cut them off.”

Xiao Yang continued, “And you actually threw Li Minghua out onto the street?”

“I did,” Shen Xingyue replied with a shrug. “He was running his mouth inside the Prince’s Manor. What choice did I have?”

She looked at Xiao Yang’s face for a moment, then sighed and took a few steps closer. Her voice softened. “About everything in the past—I was wrong. I misjudged people. I’m sorry.”

Xiao Yang froze for a moment, clearly not expecting an apology from Shen Xingyue. She was caught off guard and didn’t know how to respond. After a long pause, she finally stammered, “You… you’re apologizing to me?”

Shen Xingyue smiled and gave a gentle nod. Her voice softened. “Mm. I pushed away a real friend just to stay close to that crowd of scoundrels. That was my fault. Don’t be mad at me anymore, okay?”

Hearing her say that, Xiao Yang instinctively nodded. Then she rolled her eyes at Shen Xingyue and muttered in annoyance, “Don’t use that tone with me. I’m not your kunze.”

Shen Xingyue let out a laugh, shaking her head in amusement. All these pretty girls, and she just naturally used a coaxing tone out of habit. Was it really that offensive?

“Alright, alright, don’t be mad at me anymore. In a few days, come visit my manor. I’ll treat you to some amazing food you’ve never had before.” Her voice returned to normal as she smiled and dangled a little promise like bait.

She’d recalled from the original Shen Xingyue’s memories that, despite Xiao Yang’s usual prim and proper demeanor, she was a true foodie. Most of her visits to high-end restaurants were just for the food, not the company.

“What kind of food is this mysterious?” Xiao Yang asked skeptically, raising an eyebrow. “Do you really think there’s something I haven’t eaten before?”

After all, she wasn’t like those freeloading young lords—her mother was a proper second-rank minister, and her family was one of the most well-off in the capital.

“Would I lie to you?” Shen Xingyue grinned. “I promise it’s something new. Treat it as my way of making amends. Don’t stay angry, alright? Real friends don’t fall out that easily. But if you’re still mad, I guess I’ll just have to keep coaxing you like I did earlier.”

As she spoke, Shen Xingyue moved in again, reaching out.

Xiao Yang quickly took two steps back, startled. “Why don’t you go back and coax your Princess Consort instead?”

Shen Xingyue chuckled. “Obviously. I always coax my Yu’er.”

Xiao Yang gave her a look of exaggerated disgust, but deep down, she felt relieved—like a heavy weight had been lifted from her chest. Her friend had finally come back.

Meanwhile, Princess Shen Yijia had taken an interest in Su Muyu.

They had met once or twice before, and Shen Yijia had always found Su Muyu oddly familiar—perhaps because they were both born of concubines. But more than that, Su Muyu seemed intelligent and clear about what she wanted, something Shen Yijia respected deeply.

What intrigued her most now was how Su Muyu had managed to gain a foothold in the Prince’s Manor. After all, she’d also heard the rumors—that Shen Xingyue once despised her. So why was Shen Xingyue treating her so kindly now?

With curiosity piqued, Shen Yijia decided to approach. She smiled at Su Muyu and said, “Princess Consort, I hope you’re well. May I have a word with you—just the two of us?”

Su Muyu hadn’t expected Princess Yijia to seek her out directly, but she gave a slight nod. “Of course.”

Wenyou, standing nearby, glanced at the two of them, and then subtly stepped closer. After everything that had happened earlier, he knew how much the Princess cared about Su Muyu. If anything happened to her, he wouldn’t be able to take the blame.

Shen Yijia noticed Wenyou’s movement and lowered her gaze toward him. “What’s the matter? Does my word not carry weight with you? Besides, I have Haoyue with me. It’s not like I’m meeting her completely alone. What exactly are you so worried about?”

“N-no, Your Highness. I wouldn’t dare,” Wenyou stammered, stiffening under her gaze. A chill ran down his spine, and goosebumps rose on the back of his neck. He didn’t dare take another step forward.