Chapter 242 - 240: Has She Ever Turned Raw Rice into Cooked Rice with Lu Shiyan?

Words : 1597 Updated : Sep 27th, 2025

Xue Ling thought about how, during the past half-month, the Emperor frequently praised Cui Ji in court. Only then did he realize that everything had its traces to follow. He cast a complicated look at Lu Ying. Lu Ying had his back turned, silently facing the pear blossoms beyond the corridor. The Crown Prince he was loyal to, though dignified as the heir apparent, couldn’t receive anything from his father—neither words of praise nor material rewards. He had nothing. Though the legitimate eldest son, he was even less favored than an illegitimate child wandering outside. How much must the Emperor loathe Lu Ying? If he hated him so much, why did he even bring him into this world? Xue Ling suddenly grew restless. His voice was low and vicious as he said, "Since he hasn’t openly acknowledged him, why not take advantage of his unformed wings and kill him directly? That way, we’ll have one less person to oppose you in court in the future!" Lu Ying fiddled with the Moyu Ring. If he wanted to kill Cui Ji, he would’ve done it long ago—ever since he discovered Cui Ji and Shen Zhaozhao boarding a boat together to enjoy lanterns on the Qixi Festival night. In a low voice, he said, "Though I despise Cui Ji, he remains fearless before the powerful. He is a rare talent suited to be a minister of state—" "Are you insane?! You’re starting to appreciate talent now?!" "If I hadn’t valued talent, there wouldn’t be a Xue Ling today." Xue Ling was momentarily choked by the words, recalling his own past. When he first met Lu Ying, he wasn’t yet the son of the Chief of Staff but only a stable boy in the Xue Family. During a Xue Family banquet, a playboy ignored his warnings and insisted on taming a fierce horse the family had just purchased, only to be thrown off and break a leg on the spot. With the horse running amok, Xue Ling unhesitatingly leaped up and tamed the wild beast in front of all the guests. But the playboy, unwilling to let it go, sought to vent his anger by insisting that both the lowly stable boy and the horse be killed. At barely fourteen or fifteen years of age, he was just a despised horse servant whom no one respected. Even the Chief of Staff viewed him as a lowly servant, expendable to appease the playboy’s rage. But Lu Ying stepped forward and spared him. Not only did Lu Ying not despise his status, but he also praised his courage and skill, saying he shouldn’t be confined to the small stables of the Xue Family. He asked if he wanted to leave and earn glory in the military. Great steeds are common, but a discerning eye is rare. Lu Ying was his discernment. "Alright then, we won’t kill him." Xue Ling muttered as he sat down. He secretly glanced at Lu Ying. The young Crown Prince, clad in a dark robe and golden hairpin, stood tall with his back turned, his figure framed by the shadows cast by the pear trees. Somehow, it exuded a faint sense of early spring’s desolation. Though noble as the heir to the throne, he wore a perpetual stern expression, never smiling even once. Since Shen Yinning’s departure, this had only worsened. Lu Ying seemed like a spinning top that never stopped. From predawn until late at night, he busied himself—handling state affairs, consulting with advisors, toiling for hours on end. It typically took Gui Quan and De Sun urging him multiple times for him to extinguish the lights and rest. The vast Eastern Palace harbored no one beyond Gui Quan and De Sun who would remind him to eat or rest on time, who would urge him not to push his body too hard. Loneliness at the summit is chilling... Xue Ling, peeling peanuts as if he were indifferent, casually changed the topic: "Wasn’t someone planning to send Lu Zhengliu to the Northern Army for training? As it happens, the seasons are changing, and many at the border have caught colds. I’ve asked a few generals to submit memorials making up a rumor about an outbreak of disease at the border. Those memorials are already on someone’s Dragon Desk. Treating Lu Zhengliu like the apple of their eye, they’ll undoubtedly hold off sending him north upon hearing news of an outbreak for now." Lu Ying said, "You certainly play your cards well." "What can I do? I’m your confidant. If someone isn’t going to plan on your behalf, then I must, right?" Otherwise, who else would truly care for their Crown Prince? After Xue Ling left, Lu Ying glanced at the flower table. Xue Ling had peeled a small plate of peanuts, which he knew was meant for him. This kid, still so young, couldn’t even sort out his own family affairs but somehow managed to care about him. Lu Ying grabbed one and placed it in his mouth. Crunchy and fragrant. Lu Ying turned his gaze back to Cui Ji’s dossier. Had Shen Zhaozhao guessed Cui Ji’s parentage? When she introduced Cui Ji to her teacher, was it gratitude or something linked to his origins? Lu Ying couldn’t fathom the girl’s thoughts. To provoke feuds among the royal brothers, she truly was like a bona fide temptress. A spring breeze blew through the window, bringing with it a pear blossom petal. Lu Ying caught it in his hand. The snow-white, delicate petal reminded him of Shen Yinning’s face—like pear blossoms reflected in spring waters. He wondered how she fared in Jiangnan. Had she and Lu Shiyan consummated their union, grown fond of Jiangnan’s landscapes? Would she also act spoilt with Lu Shiyan, as she had with him before? Perhaps she would steal Lu Shiyan’s quilt at night, deliberately refuse to eat the dishes he ordered, or impetuously demand him to gift her all sorts of precious and costly jewelry... Surely, when she dressed in the morning, she’d ask coquettishly whether her makeup looked good; when in a good mood, she might even personally pick out Lu Shiyan’s hairpin and robe for the next day; during festivals, she might cook for him, showing off her culinary skills... She had always been adept at charming others—besides Lu Shiyan, perhaps there were other men pining for her. Like Luo Xibai. The thought of Shen Yinning mingling with other men, of using the same playful tactics she once used on him with someone else, tightened his chest as though someone were brutally tugging at it, robbing him of something profoundly vital. Some things were better left unthought of. Lu Ying rolled up his sleeve and, without hesitation, cut into his flesh, feeding a poisonous insect into his blood. As the insect melded into his bloodstream, a cold sensation spread through his body like an ice-chilled mint leaf dropped into a bowl of wine, sending a subtle chill down his limbs and seeping into his internal organs. He would gradually forget that temptress. He had to forget her. ... Jiangnan. Shen Yinning ordered a high swing to be tied to the pear tree outside the Zhaoyue Pavilion. Standing tall on the swing, the young maids below pushed her gently, propelling her higher and higher, as though she could fly to the heavens. When Luo Wanxiang approached, she saw Shen Yinning’s draping scarf and wide-sleeve skirt fluttering in the wind. Under the dappled floral shadows, her skin was fairer and more delicate than pear blossom petals, resembling a celestial nymph born of the pear tree itself. She was undeniably far more beautiful! No wonder her brother-in-law had defied all opposition to take her as a concubine! Now, throughout Liang Garden, everyone said that Miss Shen was the true number one beauty, a humiliation Luo Wanxiang could hardly bear! Suppressing her jealousy, she sneered coldly, "Oh, you still have the mood to play on swings? Don’t you know my brother is soon to be betrothed?! Once he marries, he won’t have time to care whether you live or die!" Shen Yinning was unperturbed. Luo Xibai had already told her about this matter. Luo Wanzhao, spiteful after Luo Xibai defended her, went to report him to Luo the Magistrate, even exposing his theft of imperial merchant goods. Luo the Magistrate believed Luo Xibai’s insolence stemmed from having no one to rein him in and decided to marry him off to a wife who could keep him in check. The corners of Shen Yinning’s lips curled slightly. "As long as the woman Luo Brother marries isn’t Lu Qianqian, I’m not afraid." "Lu Qianqian?" Luo Wanxiang quickly recalled some rumors she’d heard during her time in the Capital. Apparently, the Ninth Princess Lu Qianqian had unresolved animosity with Shen Yinning. It was said her ribs had been broken on her wedding night—three of them—by none other than Shen Yinning. Luo Wanxiang’s eyes darted mischievously. If her brother married Lu Qianqian and brought her to Jiangnan, wouldn’t there finally be someone who could subdue Shen Yinning?! "Oh!" Shen Yinning suddenly raised her hand to cover her lips, pretending to be regretful. "How foolish of me to expose my only weakness! If Lu Qianqian were bestowed in marriage to Luo Brother, the Crown Prince would surely send Xue Ling to escort her to Jiangnan. Wouldn’t that create opportunities for you and Xue Ling to grow closer?! How could I help the people I dislike? I truly hate myself for this!" Upon hearing this, Luo Wanxiang’s eyes lit up, visibly thrilled.

Chapter 242 - 240: Has She Ever Turned Raw Rice into Cooked Rice with Lu Shiyan?

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