Among the people present, many had never seen Shen Ruoxi, simply because she rarely stepped out of Xiao Mansion, and having grown up away, her days back home were extremely short.
Rumors had it that her beauty was enough to bring down cities and nations.
At this moment, when everyone witnessed her appearance in person, they were all stunned by her beauty, speechless and awestruck.
"Mother-in-law," Shen Ruoxi called softly, her voice filled with sincere emotion.
In this family, only Mrs. Zhou cared for her with all her heart, but Mrs. Zhou was a weak person, kind at heart but powerless to change anything.
"Ruoxi, let me introduce you," Mrs. Zhou led Shen Ruoxi, greeting the ladies and misses present one by one, and after nodding to each other, they went off to greet other guests.
"Xiao Chengyi is truly foolish, having such a beautiful wife and still wanting to marry another," someone whispered.
"Family flower is never as fragrant as wildflower," someone else chimed in.
"That's true, but the problem is, they haven't consummated the marriage."
"Impossible!" Everyone was shocked.
"Who am I? I have sharp eyes! Shen Ruoxi is definitely still an unwed maiden."
"In that case, Xiao Chengyi truly is foolish!"
"Alright, alright, let's not meddle in other people's private affairs. Now almost everyone is trying to curry favor with Xiao Chengyi and Ning Zhen; they're now the favorites of His Majesty."
"Poor Shen Ruoxi, as the daughter of a Marquis Mansion, had it not been for the loss of her parents, how would she have ended up like this, sharing a husband with an orphaned girl."
"That orphaned girl is not simple!"
"No matter how extraordinary, she's only a sixth-rank officer, don't forget, Shen Ruoxi's background!"
"You're right."
"Men's hearts are truly hard to understand. It seems no matter how beautiful a woman is, in the end, she's no different from us ordinary-looking people."
"Alright, alright, let's stop talking about this. Now both General Xiao and Ning Military Guard are in His Majesty's favor, and the Xiao Family isn't foolish; they have their plans.
We can only say that without her parents' protection, Shen Ruoxi is destined to suffer grievances."
"Yes, yes, let's stop talking, and have some tea."
Mrs. Zhou looked at Shen Ruoxi's busy figure, with mixed feelings in her heart, wanting to say something but holding back.
Shen Ruoxi knew Mrs. Zhou's nature; although she came from a prestigious family, she was weak in personality and couldn't take charge.
"Mother-in-law, you shouldn't always be so forbearing; your family background is not bad either," Shen Ruoxi said softly.
"Ah, even when the mother-in-law is wrong, she's right. Sometimes even if you know you're correct, what's the use? Just a slight defense for yourself and you'll be labeled as unfilial. But you, Ruoxi, you?" Mrs. Zhou said with a sour heart.
"Mother-in-law, I'm quite alright," Shen Ruoxi replied with a smile.
Mrs. Zhou felt even more sour and unbearable, just as she was about to say more, suddenly a loud voice came through: "The bride's sedan is here!"
Mrs. Zhou hurriedly lifted her feet and followed, while Shen Ruoxi's lips curled with a slightly teasing expression as she trailed behind.
Ning Zhen, with no one to rely on, had to stay in an inn last night.
By usual practice, when lifting a secondary wife, Xiao Chengyi wouldn't need to personally go to greet the new bride.
However, not only did he go, but he also made it a grand affair, high-profile and ostentatious.
Shen Ruoxi's heart had long become still, as if watching a lively scene that had nothing to do with her.
Kicking open the sedan door, stepping over the fire pan, the bride entered, clad in a fiery red wedding dress, her face veiled by a red cover, standing alongside the handsome groom, they made a perfect pair.
Shen Ruoxi's thoughts drifted, the scene from her own wedding seemed right before her eyes, then she was filled with anticipation, hoping for a beautiful future, but now only chaos remained.
"Who is standing next to Mrs. Xiao?" someone asked curiously.
"Don't you recognize her? Could it be Young Madam Xiao?" someone guessed.
"Shen Ruoxi?" someone suddenly raised their voice, filled with surprise.
"Keep your voice down, it should be her. Think, wouldn't a woman who captivated His Majesty be just like this?" someone reminded.
"I've seen Ning Zhen, how could she compare with Shen Ruoxi? Is Xiao Chengyi blind?" someone said in disbelief.
"What do you understand? This is true love, personal charm is the most important. I heard Ning Zhen is no ordinary girl," someone retorted.
"No matter how extraordinary, it doesn't support my family. I might be shallow, but if I could marry a wife like Shen Ruoxi, I'd wake up laughing in my dreams!" someone stared at Shen Ruoxi's absolute beauty, unable to look away.
"Really shallow! Ning Zhen is now a sixth rank military officer, fighting alongside General Xiao at Pingyang Pass, achieving great military exploits, can she be compared to Shen Ruoxi, a mere woman of the inner courtyard?" someone defended Ning Zhen.
"Abandoning his original wife for her achievements, can that be a good person?"
Suddenly, a cold voice came, startling everyone, and they turned to see the elegant and out-of-this-world Prince Pei, Pei Xuan, walking over coldly.
Everyone hurriedly paid respects, "Greetings, Prince Pei."
Pei Xuan, of noble birth, his mother was the Second Princess, and his father was Duke Dingguo.
At this moment, he wore a splendid brocade outfit, with a gold crown on his head, handsome and elegant, with extraordinary temperament.
"No need for formalities, don't learn from that Xiao Chengyi, a man like him who starts and ends chaotically will eventually face retribution," Pei Xuan said coldly.
"Prince Pei, that's not right," someone refuted, "Ning Military Guard is brave and valiant, not inferior to any man, how can she be compared to ordinary women!"
Pei Xuan glanced sideways at him, this person was Lu An, the illegitimate son of Vice Minister Lu, a fifth-rank Huaihua, precisely Xiao Chengyi's subordinate, who also returned to the Capital City this time.
Pei Xuan's lips curled mockingly, "General Lu is truly noble in character, you mean to say, as long as an extraordinary girl like Ning Military Guard appears today, it's okay to shift affection;
if a Military Guard Wang or Liu appears tomorrow, even more dazzling than Ning Military Guard, you'd change your heart again?
Don't speak of unfaithful men with such righteousness, this is the conduct of a scoundrel, as a man, it is contemptible."
Lu An felt a flicker of anger flash in his eyes, without their bloody battles on the front lines, could they enjoy peace in the Capital City?
He said coldly, "Is Prince Pei here to make trouble today?"
"Make trouble? You think too highly of Xiao Chengyi, he's just a fourth-rank official, does he warrant me making special efforts to make trouble?"
Pei Xuan sneered disdainfully, his voice suddenly taking on an indescribable sinister tone, "I'm here today specifically to watch the fun."
Saying this, his lips curled with a roguish smile, swaggering towards the main seat.
At this time, Old Mrs. Xiao was also brought into the hall with Xiao Chengyu's support, the hosts and guests greeted each other politely.
Old Mrs. Xiao wore a face full of smiles, today her mood was exceptionally joyful.
Usually, where could one see so many court ministers, nearly all the military generals were present, and quite a few civil servants were there too.
Her Xiao Family finally had something to be proud of!
Xiao Chengyi was accepting everyone's congratulations, his face beaming with a smile, looking in very high spirits.
However, as he inadvertently glanced at Shen Ruoxi beside his mother, he was momentarily stunned.