The villainous female supporting character becomes a heartthrob, and the powerful man successfully r

The Xie residence, which had been quiet, was suddenly awakened by a commotion.

The courtyard of Xie Chi'an was brightly lit. Madam Xie and General Xie stood at the door with livid faces, listening to the sounds of things being smashed coming from inside.

Several generals rushed forward to report: "General, the young general has been brought back by us. The city gates are closed, and he didn't go too far."

General Xie ordered sternly, "Tie that rebellious son up in his room and keep a close watch on him!"

"General, Chi An didn't do it on purpose. If word gets out that you tied him up on your wedding night, people will laugh at you."

General Xie glanced at Madam Xie, his face growing even colder: "If you hadn't spoiled him, how could he have committed such outrageous acts time and again today! The princess is already waiting in the bridal chamber; no matter what, he must stay inside!"

Madam Xie dared not speak again and could only follow the generals into the house to take care of Xie Chi'an.

Xie Chi'an had no room to struggle anymore. He wanted to ride faster, even faster.

However, the tightly closed city gates instantly brought him to his senses.

It's curfew now, so he can't get out at all.

"No, I want to get out! I was wrong, I was wrong, Princess, you were wrong!"

The guards at the city gate would not allow it to pass, and given Xie Chi'an's mad appearance, they dared not make any rash moves.

Xie Chi'an, who had been brought back, kept muttering that he was wrong, wrong. Xia Jiaojiao was still wearing her bright red wedding dress, her makeup already ruined from crying.

She had never suffered such a humiliation before. Ignoring the presence of others, she tearfully accused Xie Chi'an.

"Brother Chi'an, you clearly said before that you liked me and regretted not being able to marry me. Why are you humiliating me like this now!"

Xie Chi'an's dazed eyes finally focused, and he pointed his anger at Xia Jiaojiao, saying, "It was you! It was you who arranged the marriage between the emperor and the concubine, wasn't it! Do you know that Xia Ying only has me, only me she can rely on? Why are you still bullying her!"

Finally, his voice was almost a shout, his eyes were bloodshot, and he looked like a madman, unlike a normal person.

Xia Jiaojiao continued wiping away her tears, playing the role of the victim.

"Brother Chi'an, if you hadn't said you liked me, if you hadn't often asked me to go on trips before the wedding, if you hadn't been so open about being a couple with me in front of everyone, how could Father have agreed to this!"

"My elder sister knows everything we've done! Otherwise, why would she have agreed to the arranged marriage? Hahaha, Brother Chi'an, why are you denying it now!"

Xia Jiaojiao's words awakened Xie Chi'an's memories.

During this time, he tried his best to make up for Xia Jiaojiao's shortcomings. He believed that Xia Ying owed Xia Jiaojiao in the previous life, and he could make up for it in this life.

But he never imagined that these actions would push Xia Ying further and further away!

"Hahaha, I don't care! My betrothal is to Xia Ying, and she is my only wife. At daybreak tomorrow, I will go to the palace and beg His Majesty to bring you back!"

Xie Chi'an took this as his only solace at the moment; he had never looked forward to dawn more than he did now.

The next day, he wanted to take Xia Jiaojiao to the palace, but General Xie stopped him.

"You unfilial son, are you trying to ruin the entire Xie family?!"

"Father, Yingying is my wife. My wife has been replaced. Can't I get justice?"

General Xie was furious and slapped him across the face to bring him to his senses.

"I don't care which princess you married. The wedding night is over. Even if you didn't consummate your marriage with the princess, you're practically husband and wife now. Use your brain! Without the Emperor's permission, could this marriage have been arranged? You're trying to openly slap the Emperor in the face, and that will ruin the entire Xie family!"

Xie Chi'an's eyes were empty and filled with tears as he gazed in the direction outside the city, weeping silently.

After a long pause, his voice became hoarse, filled with resentment and exhaustion: "But my wife is Yingying."

But all he received in response was General Xie's indifferent gaze.

Xie Chi'an returned to his room dejectedly, only to find the room filled with red, which now seemed extremely ironic.

Xia Jiaojiao clenched her clothes, filled with resentment. But now, she was the one marrying Xie Chi'an; she was the winner! And Xia Ying would die on the grasslands in her place!

Thinking of this, she couldn't help but feel joy and pride in her eyes.

"Brother Chi'an, don't be sad. My sister was just confused for a moment. Maybe she won't be able to endure the hardships of the grasslands for long and will come back on her own."

"Princess, you should stay away from me. It's not appropriate for us to be together right now..." Xie Chi'an felt that he no longer owed Xia Jiaojiao anything, so he pulled out his sleeve and moved away from her.

This action froze Xia Jiaojiao's smile on her face.

She said in a trembling voice, "Brother Chi'an, I... I am your wife now, you can't do this to me."

Xie Chi'an stood not far away, his eyes cold and hard, devoid of warmth and emotion.

*

The news of the two princesses being exchanged for a marriage spread like wildfire, immediately causing a huge uproar in the capital.

Rumors circulated that the Xie family and Consort Xian conspired to bully the eldest princess, tricking her into boarding a carriage to the grasslands and marrying her off to the Xie family.

For a time, everyone from high-ranking officials to ordinary people discussed this matter over tea and after meals.

"The late Empress was kind to the Xie family. How could they bully the Princess like this? It's outrageous!" Grand Tutor Liu slammed his fist on the table in anger at home, and several of his grandchildren rushed forward to help him up and comfort him.

"Now I will go to the palace to report to His Majesty and bring the Princess back."

But he ultimately did not go. After his emotions subsided, Grand Tutor Liu realized that this matter was far from simple. Now, even if he stepped forward, it was too late; the die was cast.

The military officers, on the other hand, held Xie Chi'an in even higher regard.

"A person who doesn't keep his promise is a petty person. Deceiving a woman is truly shameful."

"Exactly, I don't even want this kid. If he hadn't been clinging to the princess, how could he have gotten such a good marriage? Now he's betraying his promise, it's laughable."

When Xie Chi'an passed by, they made no attempt to hide their contemptuous and disdainful glances.

He ignored the stares and headed straight for the imperial study.

The emperor was reviewing memorials when he heard Xie Chi'an requesting an audience outside, and he gave a knowing look.

He did not see anyone, but sent his chief eunuch to report back.

"General Xie, you may return now. His Majesty says that you are newly married and can rest for a while longer to enjoy your life with the princess."

"Father-in-law—" Xie Chi'an said urgently, but was interrupted by the head eunuch as soon as he opened his mouth.

"Young General, you and the princess have already gone through with the deed done, and there's no going back. Besides, it was the princess herself who asked for it. Even if you chase after her to the grasslands, it won't make a difference. You should go back."

Xie Chi'an didn't know how he got back to the Xie family. He was in a daze, in pain and regret. He clenched his fists and pounded on the wall, letting his fists bleed.

Xia Jiaojiao tried to step forward to stop him and apply the medicine for him, but he pushed her away.

"You're disgusting, don't touch me."

Xia Jiaojiao slumped to the ground, watching Xie Chi'an walk away, and vented all the unhappiness that had been building up in her heart.

"Ah! Xie Chi'an, if you don't like me, why did you come to provoke me!"

"You hurt Xia Ying's feelings for me, and now you're abandoning me for Xia Ying again. You're disgusting!"