Chapter 45 Did she drain you dry?

Wan Qing understood immediately; she had been waiting for Shen Qingci to say those words!

She happily replied, "Yes!" and ran out with light steps.

The arguing grew louder and louder, seemingly moving towards her.

Shen Qingci quickly put on a cloak, casually tied her hair up, and gracefully strolled out of the bedroom.

As soon as they stepped out of the bedroom, the voice became clearer and more piercing. It was Liu Ruolan's shrill voice, almost cracking, now tinged with a sob: "While I was away from the manor these past few days, you've already gotten involved with that vixen, haven't you?"

"Did you sleep with her? Did you sleep together every night?"

"Did she drain you dry? Or is it that she won't let you touch me?"

"You have no feelings for me, only for her, right?" Shen Qingci narrowed her eyes, her gaze dark and brooding. The voice was clearly directed at her, and it was obvious who Liu Ruolan was referring to as the vixen.

A cold, mocking laugh appeared on her lips. Liu Ruolan, you suspect that I have an affair with Huo Yunzhan, that I have drained him dry, that I won't let him touch you, and even that he has lost interest in you... but you have never suspected that your "husband" is simply... impotent!

"What...what nonsense are you spouting? I'm just a little tired from a busy day on official business!"

Huo Yunzhan's voice was filled with obvious panic and exasperation, as if he was struggling to pull the seemingly deranged Liu Ruolan away, "It's the middle of the night, when are you going to stop making a scene? Do you have to make sure everyone in the mansion knows before you're satisfied? Get back here right now!"

Upon hearing this, Liu Ruolan became even more furious: "Tired? Tired again! You used the same excuse to fob me off a few days ago! Do you think I'm a three-year-old child who's so easy to fool?"

"You've rested for so many days, and you're still not well-rested?"

"What are you afraid of? Are you so afraid that I'll make a scene and the whole household know about it because I've exposed your shameful secrets?"

Liu Ruolan was furious, almost spitting out the words through gritted teeth: "Yun Ting! Don't forget who you are! You are the Marquis of Yongning! You are my husband! If you don't give me an explanation today, I'll never let you off the hook!"

Shen Qingci raised an eyebrow slightly. Liu Ruolan was desperate and trying to use the identity of "Huo Yunting" to suppress Huo Yunzhan.

"I don't care, I won't give up until you give me an explanation today!"

The drama had reached its climax. Shen Qingci gracefully stepped out of the moon gate, her clear, cold voice ringing out like shattered jade—not loud, but enough to instantly silence the arguing couple:

"My older brother and sister-in-law are making a racket outside my yard. What are they doing?"

Huo Yunzhan turned his head sharply, and when he saw the figure in white under the moonlight, he was stunned.

Shen Qingci wore no makeup, only a simple cloak, her long hair loosely draped over her shoulders. The moonlight, like water, poured over her beautiful face, making her even more captivating than when she was dressed up.

Liu Ruolan naturally saw Huo Yunzhan's stunned expression. Her anger completely clouded her judgment, and she was about to rush towards Shen Qingci: "You vixen! Did you seduce the Marquis while I was away and drain him dry, making him lose all interest in me? Today I will tear that vixen face of yours to shreds!"

Huo Yunzhan's expression changed drastically. With lightning speed, he grabbed Liu Ruolan's wrist again, his face extremely grim. He shouted sternly, "Liu Ruolan! Have you gone mad?"

A moment of confusion flashed across Shen Qingci's eyes, then she seemed to finally realize what was happening: "I listened for half a day before I finally understood."

"So, it's because the Marquis... is impotent in bed? You can't feel any desire for him anymore, sister-in-law? And then, you suspect that I, his 'sister-in-law,' secretly seduced him and drained him dry?"

Shen Qingci looked utterly bewildered, and even couldn't help but let out a sneer.

"That's the funniest joke I've ever heard."

“Sister-in-law, the Marquis is dying. What you should do is take him to see a doctor and seek medical treatment as soon as possible, instead of acting like a shrew and making baseless accusations here, doubting this and that.”

"And..." Shen Qingci's eyes suddenly turned cold: "My sister-in-law suspects that I have an affair with the Marquis, but in front of everyone, she openly slanders my innocence and reputation!"

“You’ve always been dishonest! You’ve tried to seduce the Marquis time and time again…” Liu Ruolan frowned, almost instinctively about to retort.

Before she could speak, Shen Qingci turned cold, walked up to Liu Ruolan, and slapped her hard across the face.

"Slap—!" The crisp sound of a slap echoed loudly in the silent night sky!

Liu Ruolan was being held tightly by Huo Yunzhan, and she never expected that Shen Qingci, who was always "weak and easily bullied" in her eyes, would dare to attack her, the Lady of the Marquis, in front of so many servants!

Caught completely off guard, unable to dodge in time!

Shen Qingci slapped Liu Ruolan with all her might, making her face turn sharply to the side. Her lips instantly turned red, and a burning pain quickly spread!

Liu Ruolan and Huo Yunzhan were both stunned.

Liu Ruolan covered her swollen cheek, slowly turning her head, her eyes filled with disbelief, anger, and humiliation: "You dare hit me? Shen Qingci! Do you know who I am...?"

“I know.” Shen Qingci’s eyes were icy cold, a bloodthirsty smile curving his lips. He took a step forward, his aura domineering. “Of course I know who you are. But you seem to have forgotten… who I am now!”

Shen Qingci slightly raised her chin: "The imperial edict that His Majesty just issued during the day is still enshrined in my room! I, Shen Qingci, am a third-rank imperial consort personally appointed by His Majesty!"

"Although you are the wife of the Marquis of Yongning and have a distinguished status, you do not hold any official rank."

"So what if I hit you?" Her voice wasn't loud, but it carried an undeniable authority and a sense of oppression. "Insubordination, rudeness, and slander against a court lady—for this alone, I have every right to slap you!"

“Not only can I hit you, I can also immediately file a complaint! I will accuse you, Liu Ruolan, of repeatedly and openly slandering me for having an affair with your husband, attempting to ruin my reputation and destroy my innocence!”

“My late husband, Huo Yunzhan, sacrificed his life for the country. His body is not yet cold, and he has been gone for less than a hundred days! I, Shen Qingci, am still observing mourning for him! Yet you have repeatedly smeared me, falsely accusing me of having an affair with my ‘brother-in-law.’ What are your true intentions?”