Chapter 238 - 236: I Didn’t Ask You to Come and Back Her Up

Words : 1523 Updated : Sep 27th, 2025

Luo Xibai snapped out of his thoughts, lightly coughed, and in a softened voice said, "Isn’t this because Shen Yinning has just arrived at Liang Garden? I was planning to slaughter two wild beasts to make a feast to welcome Miss Shen and clear away the dust of her journey. I wanted it freshly slaughtered, so I specially brought the butcher here! Apologies for startling Miss Shen!" Luo Wanxiang was stunned. Her older brother—what nonsense was he talking?! Those agile guards—how did they suddenly become butchers?! And the two prized Northern Border high mountain white wolves he cherished—how did they suddenly become the ingredients for a feast?! Had her older brother gone mad?! She immediately shouted, "Brother, have you been bewitched by this vixen?! Those two white wolves cost you a hundred thousand taels of snowflake-patterned silver and were transported all the way from the Northern Border to Jiangnan. Are you insane to think of slaughtering them?!" Shen Yinning rested her jade-like hand against her cheek and remarked, "So these are Brother Luo’s cherished treasures. If I eat them, I’m afraid Brother Luo would be heartbroken." Her gentle "Brother Luo" melted Luo Xibai’s heart entirely. He had three great passions in life: beauties, beast fights, and plundering wealth. And Shen Yinning was the most beautiful woman he had ever seen. Eagerly, he responded, "Not heartbroken, not heartbroken! If it can bring a smile to a beauty, their deaths would be worthwhile!" Shen Yinning rose and curiously examined the two white wolves. "But they’re so adorable. I can’t bear to eat them." As she spoke, she reached out, attempting to pet them. The two wolves, being ferocious beasts, immediately let out low growls of threat, baring their teeth incessantly. "Ah!" Shen Yinning’s delicate face turned pale as she hurriedly hid behind Luo Xibai, "Brother Luo, I’m so scared!" The subtle fragrance of the girl’s perfumed body wafted over. Her soft, delicate hand tightly clung to his sleeve. Her water-like almond-shaped phoenix eyes peered out, both fearful and curious about the wolves. Truly, a sight to evoke pity! Luo Xibai hurried to reassure her with a gentle voice, "Miss Shen, don’t be afraid. These two beasts are chained up; they won’t be able to bite you!" After comforting Shen Yinning, he turned to sternly order the guards, "What are you standing around for?! Don’t you see these two beasts have frightened Miss Shen?! Hurry up and take them away to be slaughtered!" Luo Wanxiang exclaimed in disbelief, "Brother, I asked you to come here to teach Shen Yinning a lesson, not to support her! Sister and Brother-in-law aren’t on my side anymore. Even you don’t care about me?!" "It’s all my fault..." Shen Yinning suddenly choked up, "It’s because of me that Brother Luo and Sister Xiang’er have grown distant..." Luo Wanxiang, enraged, snapped, "I’m talking to my brother—what does this have to do with you?! Shut up!" "Luo Wanxiang!" Luo Xibai barked her full name, but upon noticing Shen Yinning watching him, he quickly sucked in his large belly and assumed a refined posture like that of an elegant scholar. "Xiang’er, all day you shout and holler, acting vulgar and speaking harshly—how is that befitting of a lady from the inner chambers? You should learn from Miss Shen, to become a gentle, intelligent and graceful woman of true refinement." Luo Wanxiang froze. "Brother, you’ve always praised me for being gallant and bold like a man, saying I’m entirely different from those studied ladies of the inner chambers. Why do you find me crude and sharp-tongued now?" "That was then; this is now," Luo Xibai gazed tenderly at Shen Yinning, "Only after meeting Miss Shen today have I realized ladies can be so emotional, gentle, and kind-hearted." Luo Wanxiang was nearly bursting with fury. No, seriously, which eye did her brother use to see Shen Yinning as emotional, gentle, and kind-hearted?! This vixen was sharper with her words than she was; her tongue was as cutting as a blade. Over the half-month they’d spent arguing aboard the ship, not once had she managed to win against the girl! Furious and unable to contain herself, she blurted out, "Brother, are you bewitched by this vixen?! Look at yourself—you’re so fat, you lack any knowledge, and spend your days looting merchants and selling official ranks. With all your wicked deeds, what could she possibly want from you?! What she truly likes is my elegant and refined Brother-in-law! She’s his soon-to-be concubine!" Luo Xibai’s face turned pale. He had not anticipated his little sister would air out these dirty truths about him! This would ruin his image in the beauty’s eyes! Nervously, he stole a glance at Shen Yinning—only to find her gazing at him affectionately. Shen Yinning’s silky voice chimed, "I happen to think Brother Luo’s figure isn’t fat—it’s broad and magnanimous. A Prime Minister’s belly can hold a boat. Brother Luo has a tolerance and capacity beyond that of most men, beyond even that of a Prime Minister. Look at this General’s belly—though it may lack scholarly ink, it holds the heavens and the people, supporting not only the Luo Family but all of Jiangnan." Luo Xibai, in all his years, had never heard anything like this before. And the one praising him was an exceedingly beautiful woman! While the women around him often flattered him, it was always out of fear—not genuine like Miss Shen’s words. His heart immediately blossomed with joy, his chubby face flushed red like a plump apple, and his gaze softened shyly as he looked at Shen Yinning. Luo Wanxiang stood there, utterly dumbfounded. No, was Shen Yinning’s tongue not only made of blades but also honey?! She had never seen anyone flatter like this before! Shen Yinning continued in her sweet voice, "As for looting merchants, Brother Luo must be fighting injustice and championing righteousness, robbing from corrupt merchants who exploit the common folk! Regarding selling official ranks, Brother Luo surely evaluates the character and talents of the candidates before recommending them to suitable positions—it’s clearly a merit-based appointment, not mere buying and selling!" Luo Xibai was now flustered from being complimented, his chubby face glowing as he scratched his head in embarrassment. Summoning his courage, he looked at Shen Yinning, only to see her gazing at him with an expression of admiration, winking her left eye playfully. That lively and charming wink... Luo Xibai felt as though an arrow had struck his heart, spreading a tingling numbness throughout him. Following that brief palpitation, his heart leapt with joyous excitement, pounding forcefully like a young deer trying to leap out of his chest! He pressed his lips together into a smile, avoiding Shen Yinning’s gaze as he lowered his head in shyness. "Miss Shen, you’ve discovered so much about me... you’re... so naughty!" Luo Wanxiang: "..." She stood there in a daze. No one had informed her that Shen Yinning could twist words and distort reality like this! If Shen Yinning was so gifted with words, why didn’t she go work as a petitioner at the government office?! Seeing that even her own brother wouldn’t defend her, Luo Wanxiang trembled and murmured in grievance, "You... you’re all bullying me!" She stomped her embroidered shoes, teary-eyed, and ran away. Shen Yinning paid her no mind. Her gaze lingered on the plump Luo Xibai before her, a daring plan forming in her mind. She did not want to become Lu Shiyan’s concubine. However, Lu Shiyan and Luo Wanzhao were forcing her into the role, even setting the concubinage ceremony for three days later. Why not use Luo Xibai to help her escape this predicament? With that in mind, she feigned guilt and said, "It’s all my fault for upsetting Sister Xiang’er..." "How could it be your fault?!" Luo Xibai, unable to bear the sight of a beauty in tears, quickly comforted her. "Luo Wanxiang is just spoiled and ill-tempered. If she ever dares to bully you again, just tell me—I’ll stand up for you!" "But... but in three days, I’ll become Prince Wu’s concubine. We’ll be of different genders and statuses. I’m a cultured and rule-abiding lady—how could I frequently trouble you?" Luo Xibai gave a long sigh of despair at the thought of such a beauty becoming his brother-in-law’s concubine. Shen Yinning, tearful and radiant, gazed at him mournfully, "Actually, I didn’t agree to being Prince Wu’s concubine willingly. I don’t even like Prince Wu. I was abducted to Jiangnan by him." "What?! You were taken by force?!" Shen Yinning covered her face with a delicate handkerchief, her sobs tender and sorrowful. "Even so, I don’t regret coming to Jiangnan. Because here, I’ve met the man I genuinely admire. He’s not only heroic and wise, not believing baseless accusations against a vulnerable girl, but also upright and dignified, protecting peace and stability in Jiangnan. He is the true man among men!" As Shen Yinning continued, corners of Luo Xibai’s mouth curled higher and higher, despite his efforts to suppress his joy. Blushing, he shyly stared at his shoes and timidly asked, "Miss Shen, what you’re saying... surely you don’t mean me?"

Chapter 238 - 236: I Didn’t Ask You to Come and Back Her Up

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