Chapter 123 - 121: The Old Servant Accuses Sister Ling of Shamelessly Engaging in Illicit Relations with Someone

Words : 1465 Updated : Sep 17th, 2025

Chapter 123: Chapter 121: The Old Servant Accuses Sister Ling of Shamelessly Engaging in Illicit Relations with SomeoneShen Yinning neither dodged nor flinched, her phoenix eyes shimmering like water. Shen Xinglei’s arrow shot straight toward her face, but just as it was about to strike, it was forcibly snapped in mid-air by Lu Ying’s arrow! She lowered her eyes to the broken arrow lying in front of her embroidered shoes and curled her lips into a bewitching, captivating smile. Shen Yunxi and Lu Qianqian, who had been waiting to watch her make a fool of herself, were both stunned. The Crown Prince... Is he helping Shen Yinning?! Shen Xinglei frowned. "Your subject had no idea that Your Highness is so tenderhearted toward beauty. Could it be that you still harbor feelings for Shen Yinning?" Lu Ying calmly nocked another arrow. "The Empress Dowager holds her in high regard and ordered her to personally transcribe the scriptures to be burned for the Imperial Aunt on New Year’s Eve at the Dharma Hall. If Little General Shen intends to displease the Empress Dowager, feel free to pierce her brow with an arrow." Shen Xinglei’s expression grew even darker. He knew the Empress Dowager Li favored Shen Yinning, but he hadn’t expected her regard to be so extensive. If he were to blatantly harm Shen Yinning, it would appear as though he was challenging the Empress Dowager... Lu Ying, his face expressionless, shot an arrow straight through the apple atop Shen Yinning’s head. "Little General Shen, won’t you continue?" Shen Xinglei lost all interest. The archery setup today was originally a ploy to frighten Shen Yinning into groveling in terror before everyone, or perhaps to ruin her face outright. But with the Crown Prince speaking as he had, how could Shen Xinglei proceed? He fired an arrow into a distant tree trunk and smiled sarcastically. "Your Highness’s archery skills are unparalleled; your humble subject is utterly outmatched!" Shen Yunxi and Lu Qianqian exchanged looks. The two of them were not particularly favored by the Empress Dowager, and thus couldn’t continue openly humiliating Shen Yinning in this manner. Fortunately, they had prepared other means... seaʀᴄh thё nôvelFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Enough, enough!" Shen Yunxi feigned a composed and graceful smile. "This is supposed to be a plum blossom feast, not a battlefield. I’ve already instructed the palace attendants to prepare a banquet in the Warm Pavilion. Everyone, please proceed upstairs." The guests moved in a grand procession to the upper floor. Shen Yinning picked up the apple from the snow, pulled out the feathered arrow, and handed it to Lu Ying. "Your Highness’s arrow." Lu Ying looked at her. "Are you afraid?" Alone at the feast, deep in the dragon’s den, surrounded by wolves—was she afraid? Shen Yinning met his gaze, her smile blossoming like a flower. "With Your Highness present, your humble subject is not afraid. Your Highness will always protect your humble subject, just as you protected me from Shen Xinglei’s arrow just now." Her expression was so certain. Lu Ying wanted to deny her words. Wanted to deny any regard he had for Shen Yinning. The betrayals of the past—he still hadn’t forgiven her. But... Even if he could deny her words with logic, he couldn’t deny the jolt in his chest during that split second as the arrows flew. The fear that he might miscalculate and fail to deflect Shen Xinglei’s arrow. The fear that Shen Zhaozhao might have her appearance ruined because of it. It wasn’t that he coveted her beauty, but he remembered how this little vixen had always been vain back when they studied together at the teacher’s residence, tying ribbons of various colors into her hair. If she bore scars or flaws on her face, how heartbroken would she be? Lu Ying couldn’t face his own thoughts. Couldn’t face the part of himself that, despite having endured Shen Yinning’s betrayal, still felt a tinge of pity for her. His tone grew colder, and he warned quietly, "Don’t say things like that in public—lest the Crown Princess Consort overhear and misunderstand." He didn’t take the feathered arrow she handed over and instead turned to enter the Warm Pavilion. Shen Yinning laughed in frustration. That moody man—if he weren’t so high-ranking, she wouldn’t bother tolerating him. She’d have gone to curry favor elsewhere long ago! She ascended to the second floor of the Warm Pavilion and was about to take her seat, only to find all the chairs already occupied. Shen Yunxi smiled. "It’s all Lianxin’s fault—she miscalculated the number of guests and forgot to prepare an extra chair. Sister, if you don’t mind, why not stand and eat? Or, if it’s more convenient, wait until we’ve finished and then dine together with Lianxin and Lian Ye. There’s no rush." "Your tolerance for her is truly excessive, Royal Sister-in-law!" Lu Qianqian sneered. "Just look at the people attending this feast today—aren’t they all of noble birth and high status? And yet she’s merely the wife of a low-ranking official now. What right does she have to sit alongside us as equals? She should be serving you and plating your food! It’s a privilege for her to even have the chance to wait on you!" Shen Yinning toyed with her small hand warmer. After narrowly surviving her family’s downfall three years ago, she no longer intended to endure any humiliation at Shen Yunxi’s hands. If she couldn’t eat, then neither would Shen Yunxi and the others. She strolled gracefully to Shen Yunxi’s side. "Her Highness speaks wisely. Your humble subject’s current status is indeed lowly and unworthy of sitting alongside her Grace to dine. I am more than willing to serve her Grace during the meal." Shen Yunxi’s lips curved upward. After so many years of enduring Shen Yinning’s defiance, she never thought she’d see the day this wretched woman would bow and scrape before her! However, just as she was about to take her first bite of the dish Shen Yinning served, Shen Yinning suddenly sneezed! Shen Yinning raised her sleeve to cover her nose and mouth, feigning guilt. "Second Cousin had me standing in the snow earlier, and I caught a bit of a chill. My apologies—this entire table of food is likely no longer edible. Please forgive me, Your Highness! Please forgive me, Your Grace!" Shen Yunxi: "..." Lu Qianqian: "..." The entire table of guests stared wide-eyed at the lavish spread of delicacies before them. They couldn’t tell if Shen Yinning had sneezed genuinely or on purpose, but being people of propriety, how could they continue eating after this? What’s more, Shen Yinning had genuinely been standing in the cold earlier, and it was indeed Shen Xinglei’s fault. They really had no grounds to hold it against her. Shen Xinglei, unable to hold back any longer, slammed the table and stood up. "Shen Yinning, you did that on purpose, didn’t you?!" Shen Yinning put on a look of terror and cried out loudly, "Second Cousin, don’t hit me!" Shen Xinglei’s face turned black with rage, his chest rising and falling heavily. Shen Yinning’s shouted protest made it sound as if he often hit women! He had a fairly decent reputation since returning to the capital—it was Shen Yinning’s antics that had painted him, in everyone’s eyes, as a volatile and irritable man! Shen Yunxi slammed her chopsticks down heavily, her face twisting with displeasure. She had had enough and decided to play her trump card. She clapped her hands, and two maids helped a bruised Zhang Cuichun into the room. Shen Yinning’s expression turned solemn. Zhang Cuichun was supposed to be detained in the Imperial Prison. How had she ended up in the Duke Mansion? Shen Yunxi sneered. "Despite lacking evidence, the Ministry of Justice unlawfully detained my wetnurse and even subjected her to torture despite her advanced age. If I hadn’t sent someone to rescue her in time, she would likely have perished in that prison! After returning to the Mansion, my wetnurse confessed a shocking secret to me. It involves Shen Yinning. Out of regard for our past sisterly bond, I initially considered letting it go. But the matter is too grave. If left unchecked, it might lead to disaster. I have no choice but to pursue it." A shocking secret about Shen Yinning? The Warm Pavilion buzzed with curiosity as the guests exchanged glances. Shen Yunxi turned to Zhang Cuichun. "Wetnurse, speak." Zhang Cuichun staggered to her knees. "Your Highness, Your Grace, this old servant wishes to expose the disgrace of Lady Yinning. Although she is a married woman, she shamelessly consorted with another man in secret and acted as his forbidden fruit and kept prostitute!"

Chapter 123 - 121: The Old Servant Accuses Sister Ling of Shamelessly Engaging in Illicit Relations with Someone

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