Chapter 23 She’s Just a Pastime

Words : 1429 Updated : Sep 10th, 2025

Chapter 23: Chapter 23 She’s Just a PastimeThe words fell, and the atmosphere around them instantly turned icy. Lu Ying seemed to recall some unpleasant memories as his thin lips curled into indifference. "Love you? Shen Yinning, in this world, no man would love a plaything of the bedchamber." A plaything of the bedchamber... Shen Yinning quietly looked at him. In the darkness, Lu Ying’s face remained expressionless. "I forbid you from seeing Cui Ji, not because I love you, but because I don’t like sharing my belongings with other men. Filthy." Shen Yinning smiled, but the smile never reached her eyes. She said, "This humble wife understands." Lu Ying was quite pleased with her docility and compliance. He called in Nanny Chen and motioned for Shen Yinning to stand by the wall. While gently brushing the tea with the lid, he dispassionately instructed Nanny Chen, "I need to know if there are any marks left by other men on her body." Nanny Chen was a long-serving member of the Eastern Palace staff. In Lu Ying’s presence, she wore a stern expression as she meticulously inspected Shen Yinning’s body from head to toe. Shen Yinning remained expressionless throughout, silently complying. After half an hour, Nanny Chen respectfully reported, "Your Highness, I can confirm that the Madame’s body is pristine. Other than the faint scent of liquor, there are no traces of other men." Lu Ying nodded slightly. After Nanny Chen withdrew, he said, "Come here." Shen Yinning gathered her flowing skirt and sat atop his lap, her long lashes lowered, silent. Lu Ying pinched her chin, forcing her to lift her face. "Feeling wronged?" "This humble wife wouldn’t dare..." Shen Yinning lowered her gaze submissively. "Will Your Highness be staying here tonight?" Lu Ying let out a low "Hmm." Shen Yinning abruptly lifted her curled lashes. "The quarters of this humble wife are indeed a bit small, and close to the Gao Family. If there’s any commotion, it might reflect poorly on Your Highness. Why not move to Shen Garden instead?" Shen Garden was once a grand estate owned by Shen Yinning’s ancestors. After the Shen Family’s fall, it had changed hands and ended up in Lu Ying’s possession. seaʀᴄh thё Nôvel(F)ire.ηet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Lu Ying’s expression darkened as if recalling something and murmured a faint approval. But he did not take Shen Yinning to the pavilions of Shen Garden. Instead, the two arrived at an old gazebo in the southeast corner. Under the bright moonlight, the place was desolate, surrounded by the swaying shadows of flowers and drifting subtle fragrances. A few moths fluttered around a stone lantern, dancing to the sound of chirping crickets. Lu Ying sat down on a stone bench and extended a hand toward Shen Yinning. Shen Yinning snickered softly and placed her small hand into his palm. "Your Highness, you indeed have refined tastes. Bringing this humble wife here, could it be merely to admire the moon—" Before she could finish speaking, Lu Ying grabbed her wrist in a countergrip. He pressed her to kneel before him. Shen Yinning raised her head, but Lu Ying stood against the light, and she could not discern his expression. Lu Ying reached out, tracing her lips, as tender and rosy as a flower petal, before caressing her hair and pressing her face forcefully downward. Three years ago, he might never have imagined that someone as proud as Shen Yinning would fall to such humiliation. About a quarter-hour later, he motioned for Shen Yinning to lean over the stone table. The stone table was icy cold. Lu Ying’s hands wandered lightly over her smooth back, as flawless as jade, before he grabbed a handful of her dark hair, forcing her head to tilt high. "You’ve likely forgotten this place," he said. The posture was one of pure humiliation. Shen Yinning’s voice quivered with faint pleading. "Your Highness..." Lu Ying’s strong chest pressed firmly against Shen Yinning’s back while one large hand gripped her slender waist, nearly pale. He forced her face toward him, bent down, and claimed her lips. In the next moment, he swallowed all her muffled moans. The stars and night tumbled, and it was impossible to keep track of the passage of time. When Shen Yinning’s consciousness began to blur, Lu Ying bit her earlobe as if delivering punishment. His voice was hoarse. "You don’t remember." Three years ago, in this very place, Shen Yinning had betrayed him. It was when Shen Yinning’s mother celebrated her birthday, and many guests were invited to Shen Garden. He, as the fiancé, naturally attended. After the banquet, he was anxious to return to the palace and went to bid farewell to Shen Yinning, only to discover her absence. When he eventually found her at this gazebo, he saw her in the arms of Lu Shiyan. Lu Shiyan was the oldest son of Noble Consort Zhang. Unfortunately, he was disabled, confined to a wheelchair, and had long lost any hope of competing for the throne. On the day of Lady Shen’s birthday, it was also the eve of Lu Shiyan’s departure for his fiefdom in Jiangnan. At that time, his wheelchair had toppled over, and he lay with Shen Yinning sprawled beside the steps. Breathless, he had asked Shen Yinning, "If Lu Ying weren’t here, would you choose me?" Back then, Lu Ying had overheard the question and found it laughable because Shen Yinning had always claimed to love only him. But Shen Yinning had clung to Lu Shiyan’s neck and coquettishly replied, "My engagement to the Crown Prince is merely the will of my parents and the matchmaker’s arrangement. I have no feelings for him. Every moment I spend with him disgusts me. The Crown Prince is too silent and dull—unlike you, Shiyan brother, who understands me so well." Lu Shiyan had been elated by her response, embracing her as they kissed. Lu Ying couldn’t remember how he had walked out of Shen Garden that day. He only remembered the torrential rain drenching his robes, chilling him to the bone. Shen Yinning, this woman, had never been worthy of his love. Dark clouds shrouded the moon. At the gazebo, beside the stone table, Lu Ying had no pity left for Shen Yinning. Shen Yinning could barely endure it at first. Eventually, only her hysterical pleas for mercy remained. By the time the moon had climbed to its zenith, she lay on the stone table, her back bruised and aching, her gaze unfocused and adrift. In truth, there were many times she couldn’t fathom Lu Ying’s thoughts. He was like a cold, ancient well. Gazing into its depths, she could never discern what lay in its darkest corners. She no longer remembered the gazebo, nor could she understand what she had done wrong. She didn’t comprehend why Lu Ying had suddenly erupted into fury and turned so cruel. Tears slid from the corners of her eyes. Her soft voice pleaded, "Lu Ying, please... forgive me, let me rest..." The man paid her no heed, only becoming even more unrelenting. The night was dense and seemed endless. By dawn, Lu Ying finally carried Shen Yinning back inside to bathe and change her clothing. She had long since fainted, leaving Haitang and Wei Yu to tend to her motionless body. The two young palace maids exchanged a glance, their eyes filled with horror. Neither could fathom how their Madame had managed to anger the Crown Prince to such an extent tonight, leaving her so utterly devastated! Once they had carefully cleaned her up, they tremblingly laid Shen Yinning onto the bed. Lu Ying had also bathed by then. He gazed at the unconscious woman lying beside him, his narrow eyes reflecting a deeply complex emotion. Shen Yinning. Shen Yinning... He silently murmured her name. Even after ruthlessly tormenting her all night, it seemed to do nothing to ease the hatred he harbored within. But why hate her? This woman was neither deserving of his love nor his hatred. She was merely a distraction, a plaything. Lu Ying thought to himself that he should not waste love or hatred on a mere plaything. The events of the previous night had gone on far too long. By the time Lu Ying and Shen Yinning woke up, it was already midday. Gui Quan entered timidly. "Your Highness, something grave has happened—The Crown Princess Consort has been arrested by the Ministry of Justice and taken to the prisons!"

Chapter 23 She’s Just a Pastime

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