Chapter 222 - 220: He Wants the Beauty, Not His Life

Words : 1390 Updated : Sep 25th, 2025

Lu Ying remembered how Shen Yinning looked at him with surprise and fear back then, but spoke to Lu Shiyan: "Brother Shiyuan, what’s wrong with him?" Lu Shiyan walked over holding an umbrella, concerned, "Fourth Brother, what’s happened to you?" Lu Ying leaned against the wall, enduring the severe pain, and slowly got up. He lifted his bloodshot eyes and gave Lu Shiyan a cold glance. This half-brother of his was truly hypocritical. Knowing full well that he had been poisoned, yet intentionally pretended not to know, feigning concern for him in front of Shen Yinning. Without the Emperor’s favoritism, paving the way for him personally, how could he have the qualification to be high and mighty before him? And what right did he have to show such a compassionate heart that couldn’t even bear to step on an ant? While others did all the dirty work for him, he still put on a facade of virtue and pretended to care... He ignored the two of them, enduring the pain, and pushed Shen Yinning aside with his shoulder, stumbling into the Yu Mansion. At that time, filled with hostility, he almost knocked Shen Yinning to the ground. Tears welled up in her eyes as she covered her pained shoulder, unable to hold back from quietly cursing, "Brother Shiyuan kindly cares for you, what kind of attitude is this? With such a cold heart, no wonder no one accompanies you for the Dragon Boat Festival. You deserve to be lonely for a lifetime! Brother Shiyuan, let’s go!" The young girl was sharp-tongued. After saying this, she turned her head and got on Lu Shiyan’s carriage. The young Lu Ying leaned against the gate of the mansion, his eyes red as he watched the carriage go down the mountain for the festival. He could imagine how lively and fun they were having celebrating together. At that moment, he suddenly thought, the things he couldn’t have, Lu Shiyan shouldn’t have either. The Emperor wanted to put him to death, desired Lu Shiyan to become the Crown Prince. So, he was determined not to let them have their way. He insisted on ensuring that Lu Shiyan could never again aspire for the Crown Prince’s position. At that time, even survival was difficult for him, so his methods were quite despicable. He ordered someone to forge a carriage identical to Shen Yinning’s usual one, even the horses pulling it had the same color and build. He made Lu Shiyan mistakenly think Shen Yinning was in the carriage. He arranged for the forged carriage to appear as if the horses lost control, falling off a cliff in front of Lu Shiyan, and had Xue Ling inside, imitating Shen Yinning’s voice, shouting for help. How infatuated Lu Shiyan was. He wanted the beauty, not his life. He immediately rushed toward the carriage without regard for anything, trying to grab the reins and tame the fierce horse. The result was that he fell off the cliff. Though he miraculously survived, his legs were completely paralyzed. A paralyzed prince could not possibly ascend to the throne, the senior ministers in the court would not allow their Emperor to be a cripple. Lu Shiyan completely lost hope of competing for succession. Yet, even so, Lu Shiyan never resented Shen Yinning. He continued to like her, love her, and even asked the Emperor to grant their marriage, only to have it snatched midway by him. At that time, Shen Yinning lay on Lu Shiyan’s knees, crying for a long, long time. Looking back now, one wonders if she was crying for Lu Shiyan’s legs or lamenting that she couldn’t become the Crown Princess Consort... Eastern Palace. Thinking of the past, Lu Ying was in an unpleasant mood, the obsession suppressed by the poisonous insect seemed to reignite, like a vixen arrogantly and disrespectfully occupying the depths of his heart, questioning why he tried to forget his feelings and obsession for her. Lu Ying suppressed his chaotic thoughts and said to Lu Shiyan, "No need to talk about considering her under some grand pretense. For a man to want a woman is the most normal thing in the world. Since you’ve agreed to my plan, then let us agree, from now on, never let her appear in the Capital." "But..." Lu Shiyan hesitated, "Abducting Zhaozhao to Jiangnan, though not difficult, how to make her stay there is the challenge. Fourth Brother, I’m afraid she will secretly return, and also make a scene with me." Lu Ying’s expression turned more unpleasant. Many times, he truly looked down on this half-brother of his, Lu Shiyan. Can’t even control a woman, what good is he? He snapped, "Detain her, bind her, threaten her, bribe her... what method can’t be used?" Lu Shiyan furrowed his brows, "Zhaozhao won’t be happy." "Lu Shiyan, she’s merely a weak woman without the strength to truss a chicken. I don’t care what method you use, just don’t let her appear in the Capital, don’t let her appear before me again!" Lu Shiyan had nothing more to say and had to take his leave. But in his heart, he thought, if Zhaozhao were really that easy to deal with, how could his Fourth Brother have been pushed to this point? The way he looked at Lu Ying, it seemed as if he was about to be driven insane by Zhaozhao. It was likely that the reason he agreed to let her leave the Capital was simply because he couldn’t handle it anymore. After Lu Shiyan left, Lu Ying took a deep breath, still unable to calm his mood, his heart pounding violently, contracting and expanding as if about to explode completely. He loathed this unstable emotion. He slashed another cut on his arm, extracting the poisonous insect to feed it. ... Next day. Shen Yinning received Empress Dowager Li’s edict, instructing her to transcribe the sacrificial text, and accompany the imperial carriage to Shengguo Temple for the heaven worship ceremony and blessings. At that time, officials of the third rank and above and their families from the Capital would also attend. Upon learning this, the Gao Family, in excitement, swarmed into her small side courtyard. Gao’s mother was thrilled: "I’ve been a vegetarian and chanted Buddhist scriptures, always having ties with the Buddhists. I must attend this heaven worship ceremony and blessings! Miss Shen, arrange a room for me next to the quiescent room of the Empress Dowager. I’ll chat with the Empress Dowager about Buddhist teachings now and then and will surely become good sisters with her." "Yes!" Gao Yun echoed, "Mother understands Buddhist teachings the best, Miss Shen. If you have any filial piety left, you should introduce Mother to the Empress Dowager. Once the two old ladies have rapport, we won’t have to worry about Big Brother’s future." Gao Zheng chimed in, "Miss Shen, just inform the Empress Dowager that our entire family wishes to attend." Shen Yinning propped her cheeks up. Looking at this family was like watching a joke. She smiled gently, her gaze suddenly passing over Yin Shanshan, "Sister Shan is the most capable. Why don’t you seek her help for such a small matter? With your mighty brother-in-law, arranging for your family to attend the heaven worship ceremony at Shengguo Temple is just a matter of words." Mentioning Yin Yang, the family looked sour. After all, Gao Yun and Zou Dacheng tried to leverage him, not only failing to become imperial merchants but also yet to retrieve those three thousand taels of snow-patterned silver. Yin Shanshan, feeling guilty, coughed lightly in protest, "Although my brother can speak before the Crown Prince, he can’t keep asking him for favors, after all, he’s already helped our family countless times. If he does more, others will say our family is full of connections. Shen Yinning, a homebody like you wouldn’t understand these social graces!" "Is that so?" Shen Yinning sneered, "So our family is full of connections." Yin Shanshan retorted nastily, "If it weren’t for my brother, Zhenglang would still be a County Magistrate in Gan State. Zhenglang relied on my brother to be reassigned as a Capital Official, how is that not connections? If one were to rely on you, a daughter of a criminal, in two hundred years, you wouldn’t be able to help Zhenglang!"

Chapter 222 - 220: He Wants the Beauty, Not His Life

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