Chapter 220 - 218: Shen Yinning, You’re Driving me Crazy

Words : 1510 Updated : Sep 25th, 2025

The corridors of the Yu Mansion. Shen Yinning called out from afar, "Crown Prince, please wait." Lu Ying glanced toward the opposite corridor, where the young woman was hastily approaching while holding an umbrella. He hadn’t intended to wait for her, but seeing the drifting rain soaking the hem of her skirt, he nonetheless paused where he stood. His tone was cold. "What is it?" "I haven’t properly thanked Your Highness for what happened during the Lantern Festival." Shen Yinning caught up and handed the paper umbrella to him. "After thinking about it over and over, I realized I have nothing to offer that is truly worthy. The only thing that might occupy Your Highness’s thoughts is none other than this body of mine. In the past, I always tried to win Your Highness’s heart. After facing setbacks, I even harbored resentment and plotted to harm Your Highness’s life. But after that night in the small courtyard north of the city, I’ve come to understand completely: the only one in Your Highness’s heart is the Crown Princess Consort. Please be assured that I will no longer be so tactless as to ask Your Highness those foolish questions again. From now on, I will not cling to you anymore. I will be a considerate and proper lover." Rarely was she so distant and earnest. Lu Ying stared intently into her eyes, clearly catching a hint of respect and gratitude in her gaze. She respected him. Shen Zhaozhao now actually respected him... Lu Ying found it utterly ridiculous. What use did he have for her respect?! He was neither her teacher nor her elder! Their relationship was one hidden from the light, between a man and a woman. Neither was nobler than the other; in private, when no one was watching, they were both consumed by carnal desire, always craving to conquer and be conquered. In their relationship, there could be admiration, obsession, anticipation, the spark of passion—there could even be desire, jealousy, greed, resentment, and possessiveness, all these negative emotions. But respect had no place here. An overwhelming sense of absurdity welled up in him, and he said, "You mean to tell me that all you have to say is this nonsense?" Shen Yinning looked baffled. "This is the result of my careful consideration. It’s not nonsense." Lu Ying fixed his gaze on her eyes. "You like Cui Ji." Shen Yinning looked even more perplexed. "I don’t like Cui Ji." "You do." Lu Ying’s tone was cutting, with a hint of biting sarcasm. "You and he are so destined for each other. Imagine, you saved him on the journey of exile to Gan State. Step by step, you’ve supported him to where he stands today—practically his salvation. And he, in turn, would bow to you alone, serving you with the devotion of a servant, more loyal than any death warrior. You met in humble beginnings; over the years, you’ve braved adversity together with unwavering faith. Who has a bond as deep as yours?" The more he spoke, the redder his eyes became. He approached Shen Yinning step by step. "I once thought that the person you loved had always been Lu Shiyan. But now it seems... I’ve been wrong. Shen Yinning, your heart changes faster than anyone’s. Whoever brings you benefit, whoever stays by your side, whoever bares their heart to you, that’s who you like. "You are greedy, selfish, and utterly callous. Your heart is filled only with thoughts of revenge, blind to others’ efforts, ungrateful for their sacrifices. You fawn over me one moment, seeking favor, only to turn around and ruthlessly plot to end my life. Shen Yinning, I am a living, breathing person. I have emotions, too. I am not a dog for you to summon at will or dismiss when you please!" He was meant to be the Crown Prince, an existence beneath one man but above all others. Meant to be Shen Yinning’s master. But every time Lu Ying faced this woman, he felt a profound sense of helplessness. As if, all along, the one being led by the nose was him, not Shen Yinning. This past year, aside from attending to state affairs, he’d had to go to great lengths to cover up their illicit relationship, pulling strings to clean up her messes, resorting to all means to amass wealth so she could squander it. What’s more, he constantly had to guard against the possibility that she might rekindle old flames with former lovers, maintain ambiguous ties with Cui Ji, or even seduce other men behind his back. He, who should have been the superior, now lived in disgrace and humiliation. He no longer recognized himself. The leaden-gray sky flashed with a few streaks of white lightning, quickly followed by rumbling thunder. With spring thunder awakening, all things began anew. But Lu Ying’s heart seemed like a seed buried deep in the earth, wholly dead at the root of this winter’s flower. The light rain was cold and chilling. The wind carried the rain onto both of them, soaking their hair at the temples and the hems of their clothing. The spring chill made every drop feel biting, and it was hard not to shiver. Droplets of rain clung to Lu Ying’s lashes. His narrow eyes, bloodshot and frightening, brimmed with tension. He gazed closely at the young woman standing before him. She still wore that innocent, harmless expression, as if she genuinely didn’t understand why he was angry, why he was falling apart. She even had the leisure to take out a handkerchief, unhurriedly dabbing away the raindrops on her face. As if she was afraid the rain might ruin her makeup or beauty, she remained poised, her every gesture ladylike. Even now, her sleeve slipped just enough to reveal the gleaming golden bracelet on her wrist—calculated, it seemed, to accentuate her snow-white skin. A long while passed before she put away the handkerchief and said expressionlessly, "I admit I’ve done many things wrong in the past. But, Lu Ying, if you were in my position, you might not have done better. Besides, I’ve already apologized to you. What more do you want?" Lu Ying stared at her. This was Shen Yinning. Shameless, heartless, soulless. She only ever blamed others, never truly reflecting on herself. She didn’t love him; she only loved herself. His eyes, blood-red as if about to bleed, fixated on the woman who had consumed his entire youth. He spoke in a low, barely audible voice: "Shen Yinning... you’re driving me mad..." At that moment, a clap of thunder rumbled across the sky. Lu Ying’s words were drowned out by the thunder, and Shen Yinning didn’t hear them. When she thought to ask, Lu Ying had already turned and left the Yu Mansion in quick strides. Shen Yinning stood still for a moment, then nonchalantly turned back. She hadn’t expected to hear anything pleasant from Lu Ying anyway. Today, she had genuinely intended to express her gratitude, lowering her stance as much as she could, but alas, the other party hadn’t appreciated it. That wasn’t her fault. Back at the Eastern Palace, Lu Ying fell ill, his body overwhelmed by internal heat and the incessant rain. In a daze, he burned with fever for two days, his mind unbiddenly recalling memories of his younger years with Shen Yinning. Memories she didn’t care for, he remembered with perfect clarity, every detail etched in his mind. In his fevered dreams, the scenes shifted erratically. At times, it was before their arranged marriage, the two of them bickering. At others, it was after the marriage decree, when he would take her to the night market to buy trinkets. He remembered how, as a child, she loved the fried rice cakes and sweet lotus roots sold by an old woman at Fu’an Bridge. When that old woman passed away, she never ate them again. He had scoured the entire Capital to find her similar treats, yet she only took a bite before discarding them. She said they didn’t taste good... In his fevered haze, Lu Ying suddenly realized he couldn’t go on like this. The struggle for the throne had never ended; he hadn’t truly ascended to that seat. He couldn’t afford to let Shen Yinning derail him any further. Shen Yinning... ... couldn’t stay in the Capital any longer. On the third day, Lu Ying’s fever subsided. Gui Quan brought him some porridge, his tone laced with concern. "Your Highness needs to take better care of yourself!" Pale and bloodless, Lu Ying took a sip of the porridge but couldn’t taste anything. He said, "The food box I brought back from the Yu Mansion—take out the spring pancakes and warm them up." Gui Quan hesitated. "Those spring pancakes have been sitting for three days. While the cold weather means they’re still edible, they’re certainly not fresh. If Your Highness wishes to eat spring pancakes, this servant can have the Imperial Kitchen prepare fresh ones!" "I only want the ones in the food box."

Chapter 220 - 218: Shen Yinning, You’re Driving me Crazy

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