Chapter 156 - 154: Not Tonight, It Hurts

Words : 1396 Updated : Sep 19th, 2025

Chapter 156: Chapter 154: Not Tonight, It HurtsLu Ying lowered his eyelids, teasingly pressing down on Shen Yinning’s small tongue, wantonly stirring her lips and teeth, drawing out a scene of intimate tenderness. Though Lu Ying had seen countless beauties of every kind, he still thought Shen Yinning’s lips were the most exquisite. Their color was naturally peony red, the shape slightly upturned, the lip petals like water-soaked flower petals, and, due to his teasing, under the candlelight, they shimmered with a crystalline glow, making his eyes darken and throat tighten. Shen Yinning’s seductive eyes slightly closed, her lips parted, distressed by his actions. Her lotus-like face blossomed with a faint pink hue, tempting Lu Ying to lean forward and nibble her cheeks, wishing he could swallow this delicate beauty whole. Lu Ying withdrew his fingers, lowering his head to envelop her lips. The soft, tender sensation felt like savoring the bit of red bean paste atop a steamed bun. "Lu Ying哥哥..." Shen Yinning knew exactly what he wanted. She breathed softly, remembering the stormy passion they shared last night in the inn’s bathing pool, feeling a lingering ache. She pushed hard against the man’s chest: "Not tonight, it hurts..." "Hurts?" Lu Ying raised an eyebrow, glancing under the lamplight, and indeed, there was a trace of disheveled misery. His gaze returned to her lips, his Adam’s apple bobbing: "Shen Zhaozhao..." Shen Yinning knew what he was up to. She was unwilling to indulge him in that. Extending a finger, she pressed it against his lips: "No! Even the palace maids and servants have their days off. Why is it that when it comes to me, I’m supposed to be on duty every single day?" Lu Ying raised an eyebrow. When the little fox first returned to the capital, she obeyed him in every way. Yet, after just a few months, she started to push boundaries. "I pamper you, and you act like you dislike it. Who spoiled you?" He cursed softly, grasping Shen Yinning’s hand, kissing her finger pressed to his lips, and then slowly grinding it between his teeth. "Hurts..." Shen Yinning coyly whimpered, withdrawing her hand. "I originally planned to visit the northern night market with Mianmian, but because of what happened last night, we never made it. Lu Ying哥哥, will you accompany me tonight?" Lu Ying understood. Young girls always loved shopping. Shen Yinning especially so. Shen Zhi and Cheng Hui were indulgent parents. Back when the Duke Mansion hadn’t been confiscated, outings happened every few days—small trips every three days, larger excursions every five—with carts full of silks, jewelry hairpins, and adornments being hauled into the mansion. At the time, he wasn’t yet the Crown Prince, just an unvalued prince. When studying at the Imperial College, he often heard young gentlemen gossiping about how Shen Yinning spent money extravagantly, used outrageously pricey cosmetics, lived a lavish lifestyle, and was meticulous about every detail of her attire, meals, and residence. Though undeniably beautiful, she was dismissed as a woman lacking virtue—one who would only ruin a household if married. Their words carried disdain, yet their eyes betrayed a hidden desire to possess such a beauty. Lu Ying thought little of those men. Shen Zhaozhao wasn’t spending their money, so why did they feel the pain? Besides, every beauty in the world was cultivated with wealth. Even ordinary women with mere five points of attractiveness could be nurtured into seven points of beauty with riches. Thus, ever since Shen Zhaozhao became his, he had never been stingy with her financially. Lu Ying pondered and said, "Tonight is the second day of the night market’s opening. Commoners from surrounding cities have flocked here for the excitement, making it a mix of all sorts—chaotic and crowded. Better not go." Shen Yinning frowned in displeasure: "Does Your Highness look down on common people?" Lu Ying patiently explained, "I’m worried they might provoke you." The little fox was as delicate as anything; how could she possibly squeeze through a crowd? What if some reckless man took advantage? Nonetheless, this explanation failed to satisfy Shen Yinning. She pouted and got up, ignoring Lu Ying entirely, walking straight to sit at the desk by the window to read. Lu Ying rubbed his temples. The only woman bold enough to throw him a tantrum was this little fox. Though he refused to take her to the northern night market, he never said she couldn’t stroll through a night market. He got up and left the room, whispering a few words to Gui Quan outside. Inside the room, Shen Yinning clearly wasn’t in the mood to read. Lu Ying was utterly stingy, not even letting her visit a night market! Was he unwilling to spend on her? She had no idea what this wretched man was up to outside, seemingly whispering something to Gui Quan under the corridor—likely scheming something bad. Stretching her neck to see, she caught sight of Lu Ying pushing the door open and stepping inside. She quickly retracted her gaze, pretending not the least bit curious, focusing anew on her book. Lu Ying noticed her little antics immediately. Glancing at her, he said, "You’re holding your book upside down." Shen Yinning hurriedly adjusted her booklet, only to find it hadn’t been upside down in the first place—this vile man had tricked her! Blushing slightly, she glared at Lu Ying with a mix of shyness and anger before burying herself back in her reading. Lu Ying curled his lips into a smile, choosing not to argue with her. He sat on the divan and picked up the scroll she had been reading earlier, continuing from where she left off. Night enveloped them in quiet. During the time, Shen Yinning stole glances at Lu Ying several times, but the man seemed unfazed, like a monk deeply immersed in contemplation. Shen Yinning grew annoyed, intentionally making a racket while switching books, yet Lu Ying remained unyielding. "Wretched man..." Shen Yinning muttered under her breath. Right then, Gui Quan knocked and entered, whispering a few words to Lu Ying. Lu Ying set the scroll down and turned to Shen Yinning: "Let’s go." "Go where?" Shen Yinning huffed. Lu Ying picked up the white fox fur cape from the wooden stand and draped it over her shoulders, taking her hand: "To stroll in the garden." Shen Yinning refused. This man seemed utterly insane—ignoring the lively night market, yet dragging her to tour the garden! The garden was so cold and bleak under winter’s grip; what was there to see at night? She wasn’t some lofty intellectual. She only loved the splendor of royalty and the bustle of human life, caring nothing for the so-called refined arts and poetry! With one hand held by Lu Ying, she clung to the desk’s edge with all her strength using the other, resembling a Persian cat dragged unwillingly by its owner, its fur bristling. She stubbornly argued, "I’m not going, the garden is too cold!" Lu Ying wouldn’t let her have her way. Effortlessly prying her fingers off the desk’s edge, he pulled her straight out of the room. The two made their way through several corridors and screen walls, eventually arriving at the northern garden. Shen Yinning froze. The garden, usually dim and silent on winter nights, was now illuminated with lanterns, bustling with over a hundred stalls offering fried tofu, stewed duck feet, roasted lamb, and other street foods. There were vendors selling clothes, jewelry, jade items, quirky trinkets like Mohe puzzles and Lu Ban locks, as well as performers singing, archery games, face-changing acts—the delights of every corner of the world, even exotic wares from foreign lands. The garden attendants and Lu Ying’s personal guards mingled among these stalls, laughing and chatting in groups just like ordinary citizens experiencing a night market. Lu Ying explained calmly, "The night market in the northern district is noisy and chaotic. I had people pick out some of the finer vendors from there and bring them into Shen Garden to set up stalls. This way, you can avoid the crowds, lines, and jostling, while freely shopping and buying whatever catches your fancy." The night wind brought a chilling air. Shen Yinning fiddled with a strand of her hair, her expression concealed within the shadows of the lanterns. Lu Ying held her hand: "You don’t like it?"

Chapter 156 - 154: Not Tonight, It Hurts

Comments (0)