Chapter 202 - 200: Once Thought His Favor Meant Affection

Words : 1455 Updated : Sep 23rd, 2025

Qian Duobao froze. He mustered his courage to glance at Shen Yunxi, then at Shen Yinning: "This..." Shen Yinning lowered her lashes, adjusted the golden hairpin adorned with kingfisher and peony atop her coiffure, already guessing the origins of this set of jewelry. To think the court ministers praised Lu Ying for his integrity and uprightness, but he secretly dared to accept bribes. Xue Ling deliberately let this merchant in, purely to use his words to expose the illicit relationship between her and Lu Ying. She had helped Mianmian escape his clutches, and this was his retribution. So young, yet vengeful and utterly ruthless. She didn’t panic, instead casually casting a teasing glance at Lu Ying. After all, if Qian Duobao confesses the truth, Lu Ying wouldn’t escape the crime of accepting bribes. Lu Ying clearly noticed her gaze. He remained composed as a mountain, idly sipping tea. Since entering the court, he had never accepted a bribe. Qian Duobao’s status as the imperial tea supplier was entirely due to the strength of his ten-thousand-mu tea plantations, having little to do with him. The reason he accepted the set of jeweled ornaments was because he kept Shen Yinning in mind. Yet this fox spirit took pleasure in his generosity, only to turn around and wear an expression of mockery. He should never have treated her well. Qian Duobao knelt on the ground, drenched in sweat. A shrewd businessman, leader among merchants—how could he not sense the undercurrents and intrigues swirling among these people? To his astonishment, the Crown Prince and Crown Princess Consort seemed indifferent toward each other, while the Crown Prince held genuine affection for a woman once married! This sort of truth—was it even something an ordinary commoner like him should know?! Would the Crown Prince silence him to cover it up?! He conjured a mental image of a melodramatic tragedy, unable to help but wipe the cold sweat from his brow before flattering, "The reason I misidentified was merely because I did not see the Crown Princess Consort earlier. This humble merchant only caught sight of this lady’s extraordinary beauty, got carried away, and mistakenly assumed she was the Crown Princess Consort. Now, upon seeing you, I truly understand what ’peerless beauty’ and ’immortal concubine’ mean! If this lady and Your Highness stood side by side, there is no way this humble merchant would ever mistake you!" Shen Yunxi let out a cold snort, still feeling a hint of displeasure. She replied icily, "I need to change clothes. Elder cousin, come accompany me." She was the Crown Princess Consort; Shen Yinning could not refuse. Upon arriving at a side chamber in the rear courtyard, Shen Yunxi sat down and questioned frostily, "That merchant calling you the Crown Princess Consort—were you pleased with yourself?" Shen Yinning lowered her gaze submissively: "What is Your Highness saying? This humble wife is already married, and holds no thoughts whatsoever toward His Highness the Crown Prince." Shen Yunxi glared at her angrily: "You’d better not, or I’ll have your skin peeled! His Highness only cares for me now—go inquire at the Eastern Palace and see how long it’s been since those concubines have attended him? Whereas I attended him just half a month ago!" Half a month ago... Shen Yinning recalled how, during that time, she and Lu Ying had quarreled over Lu Shiyan. Now that she thought about it, every time they had a falling-out, he would return to the Eastern Palace to find Shen Yunxi, wouldn’t he? Shen Yunxi was his legitimate Crown Princess Consort—him attending her was only natural. She once thought his visits to her were driven by affection. But later, after asking him directly, she learned he only did so out of fear of hurting Shen Yunxi. A fleeting bitterness swept through Shen Yinning’s eyes, though she maintained an air of detachment as she praised, "His Highness and Your Highness share a deep bond, and this humble wife is genuinely happy for you." Shen Yunxi sipped some hot tea, her mood noticeably improving. She glanced at Shen Yinning, deliberately lying, "Dear sister, His Highness once confessed to me in private that he never liked you back then. Seeing your prominent family name was his only reason for arranging a betrothal. He said you were arrogant and self-centered, vain and sharp-tongued. Relying on your looks, you acted imperious with the temper of a spoiled young lady, and meeting you always made him feel unspeakably annoyed. Before your family was censured, he had already fallen for me." With each word she spoke, Shen Yinning’s face grew darker with coldness. Back then, Lu Ying had been silent and aloof, rarely responding to her. At the time, she suspected this shameless man probably didn’t like her. Today, Shen Yunxi’s elaborate tale seemed to corroborate Lu Ying’s own admissions. He had once said directly that he had long been smitten with Shen Yunxi, and every time he sought her out, it had been to see Shen Yunxi. The chamber was heated with a ground dragon and felt more than cozy. But Shen Yinning only felt an icy chill running deep into her bones. The cold seeped into the depths of her heart, leaving it aching unbearably. She couldn’t help but ask herself, was it really worth it? Years ago, she went to extreme lengths to help Lu Ying destroy evidence of illicit salt and iron trading, coaxed and manipulated Lu Shiyan thoroughly, even sacrificed herself in private. Was it all truly worth it? Lu Ying and Shen Yunxi had betrayed her together... Shen Yunxi savored Shen Yinning’s ashen expression as though finding amusement, smiling, and asked, "Sister, why don’t you say something? His Highness and I share a love truer than gold; doesn’t our romance move you?" Shen Yinning suppressed the storm of emotions roiling in her chest, responding softly, "This humble wife wishes Your Highness and His Highness eternal harmony, lifelong companionship, and countless descendants." "Naturally." Shen Yunxi basked in her triumph, about to dismiss Shen Yinning when her gaze fell on her overly slender figure, wrinkling her brows involuntarily. After all, she hadn’t forgotten—this wretched woman had been deflowered by the Crown Prince during her time in the Heavenly Prison. How ridiculous! Rolling her eyes, Shen Yunxi suddenly removed her white jade bracelet: "No matter what, we are sisters. Now that I’ve risen to become the Crown Princess Consort, I must reward you with something to make it proper. Here, take this jade bracelet—it’s a gift. Don’t say I’ve never treated you as a sister." She reached out her hand. But before Shen Yinning could accept, Shen Yunxi loosened her grip. The white jade bracelet crashed onto the tiled floor, shattering into pieces. "Ah!" Shen Yunxi immediately stood. "Shen Yinning, I kindly offered you something, and this is your attitude?! Are you jealous I became the Crown Princess Consort while you ended up serving a mere Eighth Rank official?!" Shen Yinning remained silent. Their gazes met, and she read Shen Yunxi’s malice clearly in her eyes. In the next moment, Shen Yunxi pointed toward the door, "This white jade bracelet is a family heirloom—it’s priceless, not something money can buy. Considering we are sisters, I won’t demand compensation. Right now, go kneel in the courtyard. You may rise only when I feel appeased!" Having finished speaking, Shen Yunxi initially expected Shen Yinning to respond with sharp rebuttals, summon allies, or find ways to resist the punishment. To her surprise, Shen Yinning simply exited the chamber without a word and knelt in the courtyard. Lian Ye respectfully remarked, "Your Highness is formidable! Seeing Shen Yinning like this, she must have finally been subdued by Your Highness!" Recovering from her initial bewilderment, Shen Yunxi grew delighted. Indeed, she was now the high-standing Crown Princess Consort. No matter how sharp Shen Yinning’s tongue, she was utterly insignificant before absolute power. Obeying meekly was her wisest choice. Shen Yunxi admired Shen Yinning’s kneeling posture in the courtyard, chuckling, "When Grandmother passed away, I played hide-and-seek with my maids, accidentally knocking over her tablet and incense, burning the ancestral shrine along with the ancestors’ tablets. But it wasn’t a big deal—the manor servants managed to extinguish the fire, didn’t they? Yet Aunt was ruthless, ordering me to kneel at the shrine’s entrance for an entire hour. Truly dreadful! Now I’ve punished her daughter to kneel at my doorstep—only then does it feel as though I’ve avenged myself!" Pausing briefly, her grin widened: "Go invite those official wives and noble daughters over. Tell them I’m hosting a leaf card game." Lian Ye reminded her, "Your Highness, Shen Yinning is still kneeling out there." "She’s made a mistake. Let her kneel."

Chapter 202 - 200: Once Thought His Favor Meant Affection

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