Chapter 230: Even More So Now!

"Traitorous villain?"

Cheng Old Madam let out a cold laugh.

"Everything that has happened today is the sin you brought upon yourself!"

Cheng Sitao tightened his grip on the sword in his hand.

"Grandmother, why waste words on him?"

"Exactly!"

Cheng Qiuluo leapt down from her horse, walked to the front, and fixed the Shunhe Emperor with a grim stare filled with hatred and killing intent, the hand gripping her blade itching to strike.

"Grandmother, Qiuluo requests that this incompetent ruler be executed on the spot!"

"How dare you?!"

The Shunhe Emperor panicked a little and took two steps back.

He looked around.

"Where is Cheng Chengxuan?"

"Is he really going to just stand by and watch his own birth father be killed?!"

"This is unfilial of him!"

"If word gets out, he'll be cursed and shamed by every person under heaven!"

"No need to call."

Cheng Old Madam's tone was flat.

"Don't waste your energy. Chengxuan isn't here."

"Even if he were, would he dare defy me?"

The Shunhe Emperor frantically signaled Shi Gui with his eyes — the look was so obvious that even Hua Ru could see it clearly.

She hurled the water-soaked Bamboo Tubes straight at him.

"Your Majesty need not look. These can no longer be used."

Now the Shunhe Emperor was thoroughly panicked. He raised his head and began begging Cheng Old Madam for mercy.

"Mother-in-law!"

"Mother-in-law! I am A Zhu's husband, the birth father of your grandson. For A Zhu's sake and Chengxuan's sake, spare your son-in-law's life!"

Cheng Qiuyun gave a cold snort and, looking at him, said in a mocking tone.

"The entire Shen clan is being held outside Wu Gate awaiting sentencing. Does Your Majesty, the Shunhe Emperor, not intend to beg on their behalf at all?"

The Shunhe Emperor naturally did not care.

Cheng Old Madam kept her gaze fixed straight ahead, not sparing him a single glance.

"You murdered your wife and harmed your son — how do you deserve to be a husband, and how do you deserve to be a father?!"

"You indulged treacherous sycophants, colluded with foreign powers, slaughtered the innocent, caused more than a hundred thousand soldiers to die wrongful deaths, wallowed in pleasure, and turned a blind eye to the people struggling in misery. You are even less fit to be an emperor!"

"Speak Chengxuan's name no more! He is entered in the Cheng Family genealogy! What has he to do with you?"

"Today, this old woman shall, on behalf of her daughter, cast off her husband! On an auspicious day we shall open the ancestral hall and revise the genealogy. From this day forth, the Cheng Family has no married-out daughters, and in this world there is no longer a Noble Consort Jin — only the Cheng Family's legitimate daughter, Cheng Yuzhu!"

Cheng Old Madam let out a furious shout.

"Men!"

"Take him away! Drag him outside Wu Gate and execute him alongside the Shen clan, to comfort the heroic spirits of those one hundred and forty thousand innocent Cheng Family sons who perished!"

"Hahahahaha!"

The Shunhe Emperor was dragged backward. He struggled twice, but it was useless. Throwing caution to the wind, he burst into a fit of mad laughter and shouted at the Cheng Family.

"Don't think you've won! Sooner or later, your Cheng Family will follow in my footsteps. I curse you!"

"My today shall be your tomorrow — no! You will suffer a thousand times, ten thousand times worse than me!"

The Shunhe Emperor's voice gradually faded into the wind.

Cheng Old Madam lifted her head, slowly closed her eyes, and a single clear tear slid down the corner of her eye.

After a long while, she opened her eyes, gazed at the palace gates ahead, and said in a low voice.

"Enter the palace!"

……

"Your Majesty! Your Majesty!"

Shi Gui chased after them and witnessed the Shunhe Emperor being beheaded.

He rushed over, knelt before the Shunhe Emperor's body, and with reddened eyes slowly helped straighten his appearance.

Then he drew a Dagger and drove it heavily into his own chest.

"Walk slowly, Your Majesty. Your Servant is coming."

Before he fell, he glanced in Hua Ru's direction.

Meeting his gaze, Hua Ru's body stirred, as if she wanted to step forward, but in the end she turned and left.

Perhaps for Shi Gui, this was the best possible outcome.

The Cheng Family's vengeance was exacted, the life-saving grace Noble Consort Jin once bestowed had been repaid, and the Empress was dead as well.

With debts of gratitude and grievance settled, from now on she would live for herself.

……

Three days later, Cheng Chengxuan Ascend the Throne as the new emperor. His very first act was to rehabilitate the Cheng Family and restore the title of Pingnan Marquis Residence.

The new emperor's ascension brought a general pardon throughout the realm.

Many Imperial Officials who had been framed and sent into exile under false charges were pardoned.

Those willing to return to the capital had their posts restored and were given compensation; those unwilling to return could have the court step in to provide a sum of silver and return home to live out their days in honor.

Zhou Old General's family, along with the Chen Family, also set out on the road back to the capital.

After following the Cheng Family into the capital, An Luo also moved into Pingnan Marquis Residence.

A pile of messes on the Imperial Court awaited handling, and for half a month straight, she hadn't seen Cheng Chengxuan.

This day, as dusk was falling, An Luo returned from the dessert shop, and the moment she stepped into the courtyard, she saw a tall, upright figure in dark robes.

"How come you're here?"

"You're back?"

The two of them spoke almost at the same time.

Cheng Yao sensibly tugged Cheng Xin out of the courtyard.

Cheng Chengxuan stepped forward, first taking her hand and giving it a feel; sensing a slight chill, the corners of his lips pressed together slightly.

"Your hands are a bit cold. Autumn's already here—you should still wear more in the mornings and evenings."

Saying so, he unclasped his own cloak and draped it over her.

After the cloak was draped, his hand didn't leave either; instead, he kept it there, wrapped around An Luo's shoulder, and led her forward.

"Come on, I'll walk you back to your room."

An Luo felt something was off, and lightly sniffed twice with her nose.

Why was there a smell of alcohol?

"Have you been drinking?"

With a creak, the room door was shut.

Looking at a certain someone's back, An Luo asked again.

"You wouldn't have gotten drunk, would you?"

"You should drink some water first."

Just as An Luo was about to turn around, her hand was caught and pulled back, her waist locked in by a pair of large hands, and then her left shoulder felt a weight settle on it.

Cheng Chengxuan buried his head in the crook of her neck and nuzzled.

An Luo didn't know if it was her imagination, but she always felt there seemed to be a hint of acting coy in his tone.

"Don't go."

Sensing his mood wasn't quite right, An Luo soothingly patted his back.

"Cheng Chengxuan."

The certain someone leaning on her shoulder: "Mm?"

"I'll be by your side, you know that, right?"

Cheng Chengxuan curved his lips and let out a soft laugh.

"Mm, I know."

Warm breath sprayed against An Luo's neck, carrying a faint scent of wine.

An Luo flushed red, starting from her neck all the way up to her forehead.

"You, you get up first."

"No getting up."

"Unless you give me a reason."

Cheng Chengxuan nuzzled again with his eyes closed.

In past years on this day, Grandmother would have him enter the palace to pay respects to Aunt—no, to Mother.

He had never thought about the reason before; now he understood, but Mother was no longer here.

Today his heart was uncomfortable; he had originally wanted to come find An Luo, but she had gone out to busy herself.

So he went to find Big Brother and had a few drinks, and indeed drank a bit too much.

Strands of hair brushed against An Luo's neck, tickling her so badly goosebumps rose.

Hearing his words, An Luo didn't know if it was from anger or embarrassment, but her face turned even redder.

And here I was, seeing you in low spirits and actually comforting you.

What kind of person is this—latching onto my shoulder and still needing me to give you a reason before you'll get up?

Where's the sense in that?

As if venting, she reached out and poked a certain someone's forehead hard.

Forget it, no arguing with a drunk!

"I heard tomorrow is your birthday. I've prepared a gift for you—want to take a look?"

Hearing her say that, Cheng Chengxuan thought for a moment, then straightened up and nodded at her with a smile.

"Okay."

An Luo lowered her head in a glance, hinting at him.

"Let go of me first."

Cheng Chengxuan shook his head, circled behind her, and rested his chin on her shoulder.

"No, just walk like this."

An Luo: "……"

Oh my, who'd have thought he turned into this kind of person when drunk!

He clearly looks perfectly normal, so how is he acting like a child throwing a tantrum?

"Fine, fine, fine, we'll walk like this."

What else could she do? She could only coax him.

An Luo exerted a bit of effort walking toward the cabinet, and Cheng Chengxuan, arm around her waist, followed her steps, matching her stride for stride.

She opened the cabinet and took out the wooden box inside.

"Ding ding ding ding!"

"Look."

The box opened, revealing a pair of black boots, the uppers traced with simple auspicious cloud patterns in gold thread.

An Luo rubbed her fingertips together, a little shy.

"Um, they're not that great. Once my skills are better, I'll make you an even nicer pair next time."

Cheng Chengxuan hugged the wooden box, smiling with utter satisfaction.

"They're beautiful. I really like them."

Remembering what had happened before, he set the wooden box down, took An Luo's hand, and looked at the new needle pricks that had appeared on top of the already healed spots. Heart aching, he pressed her fingertips against his cheek and nuzzled them, then gently kissed them twice.

"Your hands are hurt again. You're not allowed to do this anymore."

Her fingertips touched his soft, warm lips, and An Luo's breathing gradually quickened; her heart was pounding terribly.

She tried to pull her hand back but couldn't manage it, and she glanced to the side a little awkwardly.

"You—you weren't just saying you really lik— mm."

The face of the person before her suddenly filled her vision. Cheng Chengxuan held her fingertips against his chest, lowered his head, and pressed his lips to hers, swallowing every word she hadn't yet spoken.

An Luo first widened her eyes slightly, then slowly closed them.

After a long while, An Luo's breathing had grown unsteady, and only then did Cheng Chengxuan release her.

Their foreheads pressed together. Cheng Chengxuan nuzzled her nose with his, and in a shamelessly domineering tone said:

"I don't care. Anyway, I just don't want you working this hard. You're not allowed to hurt yourself anymore!"

But someone's domineering act lasted no more than three seconds. He bent down, wrapped his arm around An Luo's waist, and rested his chin on her shoulder, nuzzling her.

"Promise me, alright?"

An Luo lowered her head, blushing, and said nothing.

Help!

Drunk Cheng Chengxuan seems even better at this!