Chapter 243 - 241: Beauty’s Grace

Words : 1416 Updated : Sep 27th, 2025

Luo Wanxiang said triumphantly, "It’s too late to regret now! I’ll ask my father to request marriage for my elder brother with Lu Qianqian!" Shen Yinning watched her run away quickly, with an even more alluring smile on her lips. She had taken the new tea from Qian Duobao’s ten thousand acres of tea fields—there’s no way Lu Ying would remain indifferent. She wanted to see if Lu Qianqian were truly granted marriage to Luo Xibai, whether he’d personally make a trip to Jiangnan. That night. Shen Yinning was having dinner when Luo Xibai hastily arrived. He was beside himself with rage: "My little sister has gone mad! I don’t know what she’s thinking, but she actually incited my father to petition the court, asking for me to marry Lu Qianqian! I don’t want to get married right now, they’re trying to drive me to the grave!" "What?" Shen Yinning feigned shock, dropping the silver spoon in her hand to the ground. Luo Xibai immediately grew concerned and said, "Shen Sister, what’s the matter?!" Shen Yinning rose and leaned against the edge of the table, her figure swaying like a flower petal trembling in the wind: "Ever since I returned to the Capital from Gan State, Lu Qianqian has bullied and humiliated me repeatedly. Not only did she seize my mother’s dowry, she also framed me for stealing her golden hairpin... Even the offense she herself committed against Shen Xinglei, resulting in her being beaten on her wedding night, she blamed it on me... Luo Brother, if you marry her, I’m afraid I won’t be able to live!" Luo Xibai was taken aback: "There’s such a thing?" "My family upbringing has always been proper, and I’m timid—I’ve never lied or deceived anyone, let alone about such matters. Everyone in the Capital knows about these things; Luo Brother, you can send anyone to inquire and they would confirm it. Luo Brother, thank you for protecting me during this time. You’re a man among men, a hero among heroes. But this humble girl’s life is frail and shallow. I can only die sooner to avoid being suppressed and humiliated by Lu Qianqian in the future!" As she cried, Shen Yinning covered her mouth, and quickly walked toward the window, seemingly about to jump. "Shen Sister!" Luo Xibai, distressed, grabbed her sleeve, his plump face sweating profusely, "You mustn’t!" "Luo Brother, Lu Qianqian has always seen me as a thorn in her side. Perhaps Xiang’er finds me detestable, so she devised this extreme plot to use her against me..." Shen Yinning wept bitterly, her tears falling like raindrops on a pear blossom. "Rather than wait for her to harm and humiliate me in the future, I’d rather die now and be done with it! At least I wouldn’t suffer at her hands, wouldn’t... wouldn’t have to bear the heartache of watching Luo Brother marry her and bring her home..." In Jiangnan, the ideal of beauty is slenderness—not only are women expected to have delicate figures, but the aesthetic preference for men also favors refinement and leanness. Particularly men like Lu Shiyan, who carry themselves with elegance and poise, adorned in snow-white robes, and speak eloquently—they are wildly popular among women. But Luo Xibai, due to illness in his youth and the excessive medications he consumed, grew into a corpulent figure. As a child, he was often bullied by his peers because of his physique. As he matured, even the noble young ladies shunned him. They’d rather marry handsome, impoverished scholars than someone as wealthy as him. He could only rely on his money to maintain beauties in Liang Garden. The beauties he kept were all purchased. He knew very well; he was not only a villain but also an unattractive husband. They didn’t genuinely care for him; they were merely desperate women selling themselves to survive. They never fought for his affection. Though they feigned joy when he touched them, the disdain in their eyes nearly overflowed. They feared him, flattered him, but also despised him. Even his own sister, Luo Wanxiang, had once bluntly remarked to his face that he was fat and lacked any real talent. But Shen Yinning... Only this gentle, like-water Shen Sister sincerely admired his soul and body, complimenting him for being a Prime Minister whose belly could harbor boats. In his entire life, Luo Xibai had never met such a beautiful woman who would shed tears for him, show envy, and feel sorrow. Luo Xibai wouldn’t betray this beauty’s kindness. His eyes turned red as he softly coaxed, "My little ancestor, if you cry anymore, my heart will be shattered! Don’t you know who I hold in my heart? Since you arrived in Liang Garden, I haven’t visited any of those concubines, not even once! Forget Lu Qianqian being the Ninth Princess of the dynasty—even if she were the ruler of heaven, I wouldn’t spare her a glance!" Shen Yinning sniffled and said pitifully, "Really?" "Of course it’s real—truer than pure gold! Even if the Imperial Decree compels me to marry her in the future, I won’t consummate the marriage! If she dares to wed me, I’ll be ready to avenge and defend you! I’ll see just how bold Lu Qianqian is, daring to bully someone who belongs to Luo Xibai!" Shen Yinning immediately broke into a smile through her tears: "Luo Brother, you’re so good..." "Your parents and elder brother are gone, and those people in the Capital keep bullying you—if I don’t treat you well, then who will?" "But..." Shen Yinning lowered her gaze to stare at the toes of her embroidered shoes, "But I’m still afraid. If she marries, she will become the mistress of Liang Garden. The maids and attendants here will all be under her command. What if there’s a day when you’re not around..." She originally intended to hint to Luo Xibai for private soldiers. Unexpectedly, Luo Xibai waved his hand grandly: "What’s so difficult about this?! I’ll give you Liang Garden outright! Someone come, fetch the property deeds, and summon the local magistrate and clerks to witness!" Shen Yinning abruptly looked up at him. "However, only the eastern half of Liang Garden belongs to me; the western half is Lu Shiyan’s territory." Luo Xibai scratched his head, embarrassed. "Shen Sister, you wouldn’t mind, would you?" Shen Yinning furrowed her brows lightly. She looked at Luo Xibai with a complicated expression, as though meeting this plump, comical man, rumored to be Jiangnan’s wealthiest individual, for the first time. Luo Xibai didn’t notice the peculiar emotions in her gaze. He spoke with a soft, coaxing voice: "Look at you, your cheeks still streaked with tears—how it stings the heart, truly!" He dared not touch her on his own and instead held the corner of her sleeve, guiding her back to her seat, before calling in the maids to help clean her face. Shen Yinning looked at the golden basin filled with flower-infused water. Ripples spread across the water’s surface, slightly blurring her reflection. ... "Luo Xibai requesting marriage to Lu Qianqian?" The Eastern Palace. Upon hearing the news, Lu Ying raised an eyebrow. "Indeed," Xue Ling sneered. "If I’m not mistaken, this must be Shen Yinning’s handiwork again. What’s her intent? Mocking you, or trying to provoke you to personally escort the bride to Jiangnan, for a direct confrontation?" Outside the corridor, pear blossoms fell like snow. Lu Ying’s face, hidden amidst the dappled shadows cast by the flowers, appeared exceptionally aloof and desolate. His narrow eyes held no visible emotion, colder than the snow of winter. Xue Ling couldn’t help but think of the recent days, when Lu Ying had successively removed the spies planted in the Imperial Guard by Lu Zhengliu, interrogated imprisoned corrupt officials with cruel means, and executed other corrupt court figures, even those with ties to Empress Dowager Li—such as her own nephew—and ignored her personal pleas to spare them. With the use of the Poisonous Insects, his emotions seemed to have faded more and more, as if he had completely eradicated all seven emotions and six desires. As a minister, Xue Ling hoped that the Crown Prince he served would remain forever clear-headed and ruthless. But as a brother... Xue Ling missed the earlier Lu Ying. After a moment of silence, he suddenly suggested, "Why doesn’t Your Highness make a trip to Jiangnan? Honestly, I feel that your insistence on sending Shen Yinning away without ever considering her opinion wasn’t entirely appropriate."

Chapter 243 - 241: Beauty’s Grace

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