Chapter 213 - 211 Verification

Words : 1613 Updated : Sep 23rd, 2025

Cui Ji has now officially been promoted to Vice Minister of the Ministry of Justice. The wound he sustained while shielding Shen Yinning last year has already healed. Standing under the lamplight in his vermillion official robes, he resembled a cold blade unsheathed amidst the spring rain. Shen Yunxi gritted her teeth. "Hand her over to the Ministry of Justice? Everyone knows that you, Vice Minister Cui, share the closest relationship with this wench. How should I believe you wouldn’t shield her in private?! I demand an immediate inspection—right here, right now!" "I’ll do it." A crisp voice rang out from beyond the crowd, carrying an overwhelming weight of authority. It was Lu Ying. With his hands behind his back, he looked down at Shen Yinning from on high. "Like all present, I, too, was trapped in the Treasure Pavillion, barely escaping a fiery demise. If this woman is indeed the culprit, I won’t spare her." Shen Yunxi froze momentarily. Fearing that Lu Ying had already been bewitched by Shen Yinning, she initially wanted to intervene. But the enigmatic expression Lu Ying wore clearly indicated an intent to handle the matter impartially. If she obstructed him, it would only make her seem petty and jealous. She doubted Lu Ying would let the assassin who attempted on his life go unpunished, so she reluctantly took a step back and said, "Your Highness, I wish to witness the inspection personally." "Let me handle it instead." Luo Wanzhao, who had been silent until now, suddenly spoke. "The Crown Princess Consort and Shen Yinning have always been at odds. To avoid further unnecessary disputes and conflicts, it’s best if I perform this duty on behalf of the Crown Princess Consort. After all, our household was a victim in tonight’s events as well, so it’s most fitting for me to conduct the inspection and represent the Prince." Shen Yunxi trusted her in this regard. After all, Shen Yinning was a mutual rival to both herself and Luo Wanzhao. And so, the four of them entered the inner chamber. Behind the partition screen, Shen Yinning stood with her back to the three others, her slender fingers resting on the jade clasps of her garment. Slowly, she unfastened the clasps, one by one, removing her intricate and heavy satin gown. Her inner garment was thin. With her long hair swept to the side, she partially removed her inner clothing, revealing a snow-white, delicate back. Under the soft glow of the lamplight, it appeared almost translucent. Her butterfly-like shoulder blades were exquisitely sculpted, like jade, and further down, her slender waist was so narrow it seemed one could encircle it with a single hand. The shallow dimples at her lower back evoked a dangerous allure. Every inch of the young maiden’s skin and bone structure was flawless, truly embodying the phrase "skin of ice, bones like jade." This was the first time Cui Ji had ever seen this side of Shen Yinning. Even with his usual composure, he couldn’t help but feel parched, his gaze turning deep and turbulent. The inner chamber felt deathly silent. It seemed as though one could hear even the faintest of breaths. "That’s enough." Just as Shen Yinning was about to continue disrobing, Lu Ying stepped forward abruptly and draped her inner garment back over her. His warm, calloused palm covered the back of her hand firmly, his grip so tight that it seemed he wouldn’t allow her to shed another inch of fabric. Shen Yinning tilted her head up to meet his gaze. She didn’t believe that Lu Ying was acting out of concern for her dignity or reputation. After all, he had left plenty of fresh, intimate marks on her body just tonight. If she continued to disrobe, the other two would undoubtedly notice. Cui Ji could be dismissed, but Luo Wanzhao was an outsider—and what’s more, she belonged to his rival’s faction. If that happened, news of him coveting another man’s wife would surely spread. He was only protecting himself. He wasn’t doing it for her... Lu Ying glanced at Cui Ji and Luo Wanzhao. "I have completed the inspection. Do you still wish to proceed?" As the Crown Prince, the imposing weight of his royal authority bore down on them, making it impossible for them to meet his gaze. Already inclined towards Shen Yinning, Cui Ji cupped his hands and said, "I, too, have completed my inspection." Luo Wanzhao, who had been planning to take Shen Yinning to Jiangnan to serve as a concubine for Lu Shiyan, was similarly unwilling to see her implicated. She smiled and said, "I’ve looked as well. Shen Yinning is spotless; her body bears neither burns nor scars. Tonight’s events have nothing to do with her." With that, Lu Ying and Cui Ji exited the room, leaving Luo Wanzhao behind to considerately assist Shen Yinning in dressing once more. As Luo Wanzhao carefully tied the sash of the inner garment, she spoke softly, "Shen Yinning, the Crown Princess Consort has her eye on you, ready to pounce at the slightest provocation. Situations like this are too dangerous. You can’t always count on coming out unscathed. Please, listen to my advice—come back to Jiangnan with the Prince. Only in Jiangnan can you truly be safe—" Her words trailed off as she caught a faint, lingering scent from Shen Yinning’s body. She raised her eyes, astonished, and stared at her. Shen Yinning asked coldly, "Why are you looking at me like that, Princess?" "Silu grass perfume." Luo Wanzhao’s brows knit slightly. "There’s a trace of silu grass perfume on you, Shen Yinning." Shen Yinning’s face instantly turned pale. She had read about silu grass perfume in books; it was a newly popular fragrance from the Western Regions in recent years. Once it adhered to the skin, it was nearly impossible to wash off, requiring three to five days to dissipate entirely. She had never come into contact with such perfume before. Its sudden appearance on her body tonight could only have happened at that small courtyard house in the northern part of the city—when Lu Ying must have transferred it to her. Yet Lu Ying had never shown interest in such peculiar fragrances. He only ever used ambergris as his usual scent. The presence of this silu grass perfume was peculiar—could it be that Shen Yunxi had secretly applied it to Lu Ying’s clothing to expose the woman he was having an affair with? Evidently, Luo Wanzhao had reached the same conclusion. Her expression darkened. "Tonight, I only detected a strong trace of silu grass perfume on His Highness the Crown Prince, and now... on you, Shen Yinning. Shen Yinning, you and His Highness... No wonder you refuse to become a concubine to the Prince. It turns out you’ve attached yourself to someone more illustrious." The typically gentle and demure woman now revealed undisguised displeasure in her almond-shaped eyes. As if Shen Yinning had betrayed Lu Shiyan. Finished donning her gown, Shen Yinning’s initial fear faded, replaced by an icy aloofness. "You needn’t put on that look, Princess, as though you were the wronged first wife catching her husband’s affair. I am neither his concubine nor your servant. Whoever I choose to ’attach myself to’ has nothing to do with you or Prince Wu. If you can let tonight’s events go unnoticed, we can continue to associate amicably. But if you wish to report this to Shen Yunxi, I’m not afraid to see this through to the bitter end." Luo Wanzhao hesitated, as though at a loss for words. "Does the Prince know about this?" "He knows everything." Luo Wanzhao was even more stunned. The Prince, a man so gentle, refined, and abiding by the rules, still held feelings for a woman like Shen Yinning, who would stray outside the bounds of propriety?! Here she was, devoted in her purity to him, yet unable to earn even a fraction of his favor... Was it simply because Shen Yinning was more beautiful than her? But apart from her face, what did she have that was superior to her? A bittersweet ache filled Luo Wanzhao’s chest as she felt herself crumble internally. Shen Yinning cast her an irritated glance. "You don’t need to act so pitiful, as though burdened with infinite grievances. Matters of male-female affection have no predictable pattern; it’s not because he favors me that I’m inherently better than you. Everyone has their own merits. A man’s affection is not the measure of our worth." "What do you know?!" Luo Wanzhao suddenly snapped. "My entire life revolves around the Prince. His affection is the one thing I’ve chased after all these years! Shen Yinning, you’re the daughter of a disgraced minister. How dare you belittle the Prince’s love?! Do you even understand how many women covet such a treasure?!" "Shen Yinning!" Shen Yunxi suddenly barged in, cutting off their conversation. She stormed in furiously. "I don’t believe you’re innocent! There’s no doubt His Highness and Cui Ji are covering for you! I must personally inspect you to see if there are any burn marks on your body!" As she spoke, she reached out to tug at Shen Yinning’s gown. Her expression icy, Shen Yinning firmly grasped Shen Yunxi’s wrist. She had more than just burn marks on her body; she was also tainted by Lu Ying’s silu grass perfume. The thick, elaborate gown still masked its fragrance somewhat when worn. But if it were removed, the scent would instantly become detectable. Already in a precarious situation, Shen Yinning had no desire for Shen Yunxi to uncover her affair with Lu Ying, to avoid getting entangled in more trouble.

Chapter 213 - 211 Verification

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