Chapter 169 - 167: His Body Craves Her, Wants Her

Words : 1256 Updated : Sep 19th, 2025

Chapter 169: Chapter 167: His Body Craves Her, Wants HerHere’s the line-by-line English translation: He finished speaking but saw Shen Yinning not responding, so he glanced at her. The young girl seemed lost in thought, her expression contemplative, though her musings were unclear. He called out, "Shen Zhaozhao." Shen Yinning snapped back to reality, her brows and eyes arching pleasantly. "Not too heavy, just right." Just right for the plans she had in mind. Lu Ying finished handling state affairs, bathed, and then sat by the bed. Shen Yinning, in high spirits, stretched her feet out of the blankets and showed them to him. "I just dyed my toenails with crimson lacquer—look at the color! Isn’t it pretty?" Lu Ying lowered his gaze. This coquettish seductress loved beauty and charm—so much so that even her feet were pampered until they were delicate, smooth, and snowy white. Her elegant toes were adorned with a striking crimson polish, perfectly complementing the slender golden bell anklet at her ankle, creating quite an enticing aesthetic that made one feel an indescribable softness and sweetness just looking at her. He held her calf, stroking as he remarked nonchalantly, "Shen Xinglei has been stripped of his position. Father handed over his fifty thousand elite soldiers to Lu Zhengliu." Shen Yinning admired the crimson lacquer on her toes, responding absentmindedly with an "Oh." "Father is growing old. Over the years, his health has been hollowed out due to Noble Consort Zhang’s manipulations. Since winter started, his deterioration has only worsened, so he’s desperately scheming on behalf of Lu Zhengliu. In court coalition disputes, he pushes the waves from behind, intensifying the clashes between factions, both openly and in secret. Shen Xinglei’s downfall, though engineered by you, is something he might also have welcomed. Shen Zhaozhao, he dislikes me and wants Lu Zhengliu to replace me." Lu Ying pulled Shen Yinning into his arms, his large palm caressing her soft, delicate waist and abdomen—not with any lewd intent but with what seemed more like wistful affection. Shen Yinning said, "If that’s the case, then my scheming against Shen Xinglei surely interfered with Your Highness’s power struggle? By saying this, Your Highness seems to be blaming me." Lu Ying spoke seriously, "Although Shen Xinglei is a formidable general, his atrocities against civilians and his corrupt nature make him utterly detestable. Even if I were vying for power, I would never stoop to using such a person." Shen Yinning studied him carefully, finding no trace of blame in the emotions conveyed by his brows and eyes. He possessed sharp, noble bone structure, with an upright and disciplined aura that set him apart from his peers, utterly devoid of the bad habits of frivolous playboys. He wouldn’t exploit Shen Xinglei’s position to bend the rules, despite Xinglei being Shen Yinning’s older brother. Righteous to a fault. Shen Yinning’s eyes flickered with mischief as she suddenly straddled his waist, her delicate fingers brushing across his thin lips. "People say the Crown Prince Lu Ying is upright and dignified. I never thought much of it before, but now I seem to understand it better." Her tone carried an unmistakable sarcasm. Lu Ying looked down at her, already predicting that her next words wouldn’t be kind. Just as expected, Shen Yinning’s crimson lips parted. "How can the esteemed Crown Prince, so upright and disciplined, secretly entangle himself with his wife’s sister? If the censuring ministers were to learn of Your Highness stealing a subject’s wife—imagine how they might impeach you?" The malice in her phoenix eyes gradually solidified into a shadowy gloom as she leaned closer to whisper into Lu Ying’s ear maliciously: "The Emperor wishes to depose you and install Lu Zhengliu as Crown Prince instead, yet your radiant reputation remains untarnished, making it impossible for him to find fault with you after all these years. But now, it seems I’ve found the leverage I need over Your Highness..." "Your Highness, I am your leverage." The girl spoke softly, her breath fragrant as orchids. Lu Ying chuckled faintly, firmly gripping her hand. "I have no leverage, because anyone holding leverage against me is already dead. Shen Zhaozhao, do you want to try?" Their eyes met. Sparks flew, neither willing to yield first. After a long pause, Shen Yinning reclined slightly, coyly lifting her foot and slowly sliding it down Lu Ying’s chest. Her tender, snow-white foot formed a stark contrast against the dark fabric of the man’s trousers. His words might deny it, but his body betrayed no such dishonesty. His body wanted her. She appeared like a triumphant little fox spirit, her voice tender and dripping with sweetness: "Your Highness, can you bear to let me go?" Lu Ying replied, "I cannot." "I knew it—" Before Shen Yinning could even revel, Lu Ying pressed her into the embroidered quilt. Her face burned bright red. "Lu Ying, whenever we argue and you realize you can’t out-talk me, you resort to physical moves! Is there anyone as unreasonable as you?!" Lu Ying’s lips pressed tightly together. Was he the one who initiated it? It was clearly this cunning little fox spirit’s wandering hands and feet that provoked and seduced him! There was no one under the heavens better at flipping accusations than Shen Zhaozhao. He bent down and kissed the girl’s earlobe. The kiss began delicately. But upon sensing resistance, it turned into gentle bites. Sharp teeth left flush red marks on the girl’s pale, snow-like shoulder and neck, as though a wolf king had clamped down on the fox’s vulnerable lifeblood. Lu Ying raised his deep, black eyes. "Shen Zhaozhao, in the face of absolute power, no argument holds sway. So what if I entangle with my wife’s sister? So what if I steal someone’s wife? So what if I’m impeached? If I wish, the officials in court can all be replaced, even the historical records—every word of them—can be rewritten as I see fit." The man’s ruthlessness and dominance surged forth. As if the cold, dignified composure displayed in the daylight was all just a facade. The golden embroidery on the quilt depicted a pair of entangled mandarin ducks. "Lu Ying, dear brother..." Shen Yinning rolled over atop the embroidered quilt, a mist of fragrant sweat clinging to her skin despite the snowy night, saturating the atmosphere with a heavy allure. The flickering candlelight wavered as the long winter night pressed on. The next day. Lu Ying left early to attend court, while Shen Yinning slept till the afternoon. After dressing up meticulously, she boarded her carriage and headed to the Imperial Prison. Cui Ji, knowing she would come, had been waiting in advance. He saluted her and said, "The Duchess is inside along with Shen Xinghan and Shen Yunxi, visiting Shen Xinglei. You may have to wait for a while." "Things are far more fun this way." Shen Yinning handed her cloak to Wei Yu and strode directly into the prison. The Imperial Prison was cold, damp, and dark. Shen Xinglei, having endured twenty lashes, was now sprawled pitifully on a straw bed, grimacing in pain. "Mother, stop crying! It’s no big deal. Once my brother-in-law ascends the throne, by virtue of our family ties, he’ll surely recall me from the borderlands!" "You’ve been beaten like this—it breaks your mother’s heart!" Mrs. Qin scolded tearfully. "It’s all because of Lu Qianqian! That so-called noble daughter, nothing but a walking disaster and jinx for her husband! Before she married into our family, none of these problems existed!"

Chapter 169 - 167: His Body Craves Her, Wants Her

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