Chapter 171: Sixth Husband (Part Four)
Chapter 171: Sixth Husband (Part Four)
Everyone’s attention turned toward Fu Xiao as soon as she spoke those words out loud.
"I just recalled something."
"What do you want to say, Fu Xiao?" Zuan Hu asked in a calm tone.
Taking in a deep breath, Fu Xiao responded, "During our trip to the temple, I noticed the pendant was missing when I helped My Lady to get changed before our return to the manor. When I asked her about it, she did tell me that she had given it to someone, and that the person would come to find her with it in a few months. She also said..."
The young woman trailed off after that as if she didn’t dare to speak the next words. If Zhang Xuan was good with his stories and acting, then Fu Xiao could easily give him a run for his money.
"What did I say?" Xiang Ling asked while pretending to be confused. She realized that it was the right time for her to enter the best play of her life that she was witnessing taking place right in front of her eyes.
"You said... that once that person will come to find you... there will be a huge celebration in the manor..."
"What kind of celebration?" Zhe Yuan demanded an answer from a very scared looking Fu Xiao.
"... a... a wedding... celebration..."
Xiang Ling closed her eyes as soon as Fu Xiao completed her part of the act. She decided to later reward the young woman handsomely. At the same time, she couldn’t help but curse Zhang Xuan for forcing her in the current situation where she had to help him cover up his stupid story even though the result was not in her favor at all.
Slowly, she opened her eyes and realized that within seconds the atmosphere had completely changed. It seemed like everyone had finally accepted that Zhang Xuan was speaking the truth.
"I..." She opened her mouth to speak but closed it when she failed to find the right words to speak.
"Do you still want to marry him?" The sudden question came from Li Xian who had been silent all this time. His question brought her the full attention from all her five husbands. They were looking at her while expecting only one response.
Without wasting any moment, she quickly shook her head in negative and noticed how every single one of the five of them relaxed visibly. But their relief didn’t last long as Hao Ran decided to remind them of reality.
"Does it matter what she wants now? The fact is that she already married him four months ago in that temple. They have already taken the wedding vows!" His voice became sharper by the end of the sentence. He was clearly struggling to hold back his anger.
Noticing her husband’s struggle, Zuan Hu decided to address the situation. "Since it’s proven that what Young Master Zhang just said is true, and the two of them have already taken the wedding vows... there’s nothing that can be changed about it now. The manor will host a simple and small wedding ceremony tomorrow. Uncle Sun, please help Young Master Zhang settle down in one of the guest courtyards for tonight."
And just like that, Xiang Ling’s fate was sealed.
* * *
Xiang Ling made her way toward her bed-chamber as she was in dire need of rest after such an unexpected morning. Her brain was still buzzing as she kept recalling everything that happened with Zhang Xuan’s surprising arrival.
It had been hours since the incident and ever since then, her husbands seemed to have disappeared somewhere. And while she knew that the longer they went without talking out about the issue, the more rift it would create in their relationships, she couldn’t help but feel slightly relieved that she got some time to find a better way to handle their questions. Yet, so far she hadn’t been able to think of anything.
She opened the door of her room and stepped inside. As soon as she closed the door and turned around, someone grabbed her shoulders and pressed her back against the cold wall next to the door.
A sharp gasp escaped her lips while her gaze landed on the dazzling purple eyes that were staring at her with so much intensity that she almost stopped breathing for a moment.
"Zhe Yuan..."
"What is going on?" The Mer Crown Prince demanded as he pressed his body against hers while his hands came to rest against the wall on either side of her head. "Where did you find this new husband of yours?"
"I..." Xiang Ling’s heart was beating too fast and loud for her brain to concentrate on what to say.
"Why are you at a sudden loss for words? We need an answer, Little Star."
It was only when she heard the familiar voice of Dao Ming, did she look past Zhe Yuan and noticed the other two men who were also present inside her room, and all these three men knew that she wasn’t Chen Xiang Ling.
"I... I owe him a favor."
"What favor?" Zhe Yuan pressed for further explanation.
Letting out a small sigh, she confessed, "Remeber the plague case in Lin Family’s Village, he helped me with the antidote. Back then, I gave him my word to return the favor."
"And so you decided to marry him to return that so-called favor of yours?" Dao Ming demanded while trying his best to suppress his anger.
"I am the one who wants to marry her." Zhang Xuan suddenly appeared inside the room out of the blue, taking everyone by surprise. "I wanted to marry her for a long time, and that favor gave me the best chance I could have ever asked for. So, here I am."
Xiang Ling was so done with Zhang Xuan. Why did he have to appear there and make the situation worst? She stepped past Zhe Yuan and moved toward Zhang Xuan only to stop in her tracks when Xin Cheng took out his sword once again.
"Let me end this before it gets too late." The Demon Emperor whispered before his sword sliced through Zhang Xuan’s throat.