Chapter 244 - 242: Has His Highness Truly Fallen for Shen Yinning?

Words : 1669 Updated : Sep 27th, 2025

Seeing that Lu Ying had no reaction, Xue Ling deliberately provoked him, saying, "First, she robs the imperial merchants. Then, she schemes to manipulate the imperial marriage decree. She’s baring her fangs and claws, throwing a war gauntlet at your face from a thousand miles away. How is this any different from challenging a tiger head-on? Your Highness, are you really not going to take a look? Could it be that... you’re afraid of her?" Lu Ying looked back, casting a cold glance at him. It was clear he saw through the provocation. Xue Ling clutched his wide sleeves nervously but couldn’t suppress his curiosity. "Have you truly fallen for Shen Yinning?" As a bystander, Xue Ling was acutely aware that, to Lu Ying, Shen Yinning had always been the most unique one. Even when he made a mistake, he would have to roll through the Punishment Room as penance, but Shen Yinning, no matter the offense, was never truly punished. Even the grave crime of causing the Crown Princess Consort to become barren, which warranted execution, was ultimately dismissed without consequences. He recalled their youth, when he first met Lu Ying. He once saw him standing alone outside a crowd, silently gazing at Shen Yinning, who was lively, unrestrained, and engaging in cheerful conversation with others amidst the noblewomen. That deep, focused expression in Lu Ying’s eyes was something Xue Ling could never forget. Yet, when faced with his question, Lu Ying merely brushed his fingers over the scars hidden on his arm and replied icily, "No, I don’t like her." Xue Ling pouted. He didn’t believe it! He looked at Lu Ying with sympathy. As an observer, he felt it was obvious that their master, the Crown Prince, had fallen for Shen Yinning. But alas, while Prince Xiang pursued the goddess with affection, the goddess herself remained indifferent. She was wholly consumed by revenge and had been using him from beginning to end. To put it bluntly, Shen Yinning’s feelings for Xue Mianmian were far more genuine than anything she felt for Lu Ying. Lu Ying’s expression darkened considerably. "Xue Ling, if you dare to look at me with that expression one more time, I’ll banish you to the border." Xue Ling didn’t dare provoke him further. He raised his sleeve to cover his eyes. "Fine, fine, I won’t look, satisfied?" The study fell into prolonged silence until a breeze stirred in the courtyard outside. Petals of pear blossoms danced in the air. Lu Ying toyed with the Moyu Ring on his finger and said, "Leaving her aside, the local forces in Jiangnan have shifted their support to Lu Zhengliu due to the arranged marriage between Lu Shiyan and Luo Wanzhao. Since we already know about their collusion with bandits, why not take advantage of the wedding procession to capture all the southern faction officials in one fell swoop?" Xue Ling let his wide sleeves fall, his peach-shaped eyes lighting up. "Your Highness means that you still plan to journey to Jiangnan yourself?" "Jiangnan’s wealth and beauty beckon me," he said. His tone carried undertones, faintly dangerous. Like a thunderstorm, simmering beneath a clouded sky. Xue Ling curled his lips into a grin, his smile wild and unrestrained. He didn’t care if Lu Ying’s trip to Jiangnan was about keeping southern officials in check or about Shen Yinning. He only wanted Lu Ying to find a little happiness. Meanwhile... The Emperor had approved Magistrate Luo’s request for the marriage decree. Lu Qianqian, who had just recovered enough to walk again after Shen Xinglei broke three of her ribs earlier in the year, learned she was to be married off to distant Jiangnan. She was devastated and erupted into tears and protests in her chambers, refusing to marry. Consort Liu, distressed for her daughter, knelt outside the Imperial Study, sobbing and begging the Emperor to rescind the decree, but she knelt for half a day without the Emperor granting her an audience. In the end, it was Noble Consort Zhang who came to see her. From her lofty position, Noble Consort Zhang spoke gently. "The Emperor’s word is law. Since His Majesty has agreed to the Luo family’s proposal, how could he go back on his word? Sister, kneeling here and pressuring His Majesty like this only puts him in a difficult position, bringing shame upon him." Consort Liu was incensed. "Shut up! It’s not your daughter being married off. Of course, it’s easy for you to stand there and spout nonsense!" Noble Consort Zhang pressed her lips into a faint smile. Of course, she felt no sympathy. Consort Liu and Lu Qianqian were aligned with Lu Ying’s faction. If Lu Qianqian were to marry a powerful official in the Capital, it would strengthen Lu Ying’s influence. It was better to marry her off to the Luo family in faraway Jiangnan. That way, her marriage would be of no strategic benefit to Lu Ying. The Emperor had likely taken this into account when he agreed to the Luo family’s proposal. In a soft voice, she advised, "Sister, as a kindness between us, don’t fault me for not warning you. Rain and dew alike are blessings from the Emperor. Knee-deep before the Imperial Study, in plain view of the court officials, some might think you bear a grudge against His Majesty. Sister, you were once a palace maid. Without valuable assets to prepare a dowry, what can you offer Qianqian? If you offend His Majesty, then when Qianqian is married off to distant Jiangnan without a proper dowry, how will she manage in an unfamiliar place?" Consort Liu trembled with rage. She watched helplessly as Noble Consort Zhang, smiling serenely, entered the Imperial Study, while she herself was stopped at the door by the eunuchs. She realized the Emperor would not relent. Desperate, she could only retreat hastily. Out of options, she eventually turned to Lu Ying for help. However, the guards at the Eastern Palace would not let her in. Left with no other recourse, Consort Liu shouted outside the palace gates, alternating between wailing about how Lu Ying and Lu Qianqian were bonded siblings who should help each other, and accusing Lu Ying of owing her a debt of gratitude for raising him, which he should repay by preventing the marriage to Jiangnan. Informed of this by Gui Quan, Lu Ying continued sketching a map of Jiangnan on rice paper. With downcast eyes, he said in a faint voice, "Expel her." And so, two eunuchs politely carried Consort Liu away. Lu Ying set down his brush and washed his hands in the basin brought by a palace maid. "When is the wedding date?" "Reporting to Your Highness: the wedding is scheduled for the eighteenth of March. His Majesty and Noble Consort Zhang wish for the procession to leave the Capital at the beginning of March, to ensure no delays to the auspicious timing." "Draft a memorial for the Emperor on my behalf. Say that out of concern for my imperial sister being wedded far away, I request to personally escort her to Jiangnan." "Yes, Your Highness." Lu Ying wiped his hands with a silk cloth and gazed at the map of Jiangnan spread across the desk. The one who wished for his absence, for his departure to Jiangnan. Perhaps even hoped for his demise in Jiangnan. This journey was bound to be anything but simple. ... Jiangnan boasted two treasures. One was the Lin’an Liang Garden. With its red-painted columns, green railings, intricately carved beams, and opulent décor, it stood as the most magnificent garden under heaven. The other treasure was the beauty residing within the garden, a woman named Lv Zhu. Some claimed she came from the north, the concubine of Prince Wu and his confidante. Others said that Luo Xibai had fallen for her at first sight and, unable to bear losing her, fought fiercely with his brother-in-law, Prince Wu, until they agreed to lock her within the Liang Garden, to be shared between them. Still more outrageous tales suggested that Lv Zhu was a fox spirit from the mountains who had taken human form to tempt men, her presence explained by how Jiangnan’s flowers seemed to bloom for longer periods since her arrival. Rumors abounded among the populace. The people relished the scandalous entanglements and eagerly wove outrageous and titillating tales over their meal tables. When Lu Ying’s wedding procession reached Jiangnan and paused to rest, these stories reached their ears. Sitting in a rustic teahouse, Xue Ling listened intently to the locals’ chatter. Unable to resist gossiping, he asked, "Your Highness, any guesses as to who this so-called Lv Zhu might be?" Lu Ying poured boiling water to rinse a tea cup. The riverside teahouse was too shabby and rudimentary, with coarse tea ware, though the tea itself was freshly brewed. Xue Ling, accustomed to such settings, answered himself as usual. "Shen Yinning truly has a way with things. She hasn’t been in Jiangnan long, yet her name has already spread like wildfire. Thankfully, Prince Wu and the others at least gave her a fake identity and a new name. Otherwise, if the world knew her married status, it would cause an uproar." As they spoke, a fleet of ships appeared in the distance, approaching on the river. It was Luo Xibai’s welcoming procession. Aboard the lead tower ship, Luo Xibai rubbed his hands eagerly. "Sister, I see Lu Ying’s marriage escort team! After waiting for so long, I can finally settle accounts with Lu Ying and Lu Qianqian, those despicable siblings! Don’t worry, your sworn brother will surely avenge you today!" Though he admired Shen Yinning, he felt unworthy of her, so he had taken her as his sworn sister. Now living in the Liang Garden as its young lady, Shen Yinning stood by a lattice window, elegantly holding a Western-style telescope, her lens pointed toward the riverside teahouse. As if sensing something, Lu Ying suddenly looked in her direction from afar.

Chapter 244 - 242: Has His Highness Truly Fallen for Shen Yinning?

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