Chapter 25 The Prince Has the Scent of a Fox Spirit

Words : 1534 Updated : Sep 10th, 2025

Chapter 25: Chapter 25 The Prince Has the Scent of a Fox SpiritShen Yunxi and Yin Shanshan initially managed to coexist peacefully. Yin Shanshan heard that Shen Yunxi was the Crown Princess Consort and even fancied herself as a protagonist in a novel, encountering an important figure and a stroke of fortune. With that thought in mind, she shamelessly introduced herself to Shen Yunxi, but Shen Yunxi barely acknowledged her. Yin Shanshan took the opportunity to inquire whether Shen Yunxi had read the recent hit in the capital, "Your Highness the Crown Prince, This Humble Wife Greets You," proudly proclaiming that she was the author of the book, expecting to win acclaim as a talented writer from Shen Yunxi. However, the moment she spoke, Shen Yunxi’s fury erupted. She slapped Yin Shanshan across the face without hesitation! As Lu Ying entered, he was met with the sight of Shen Yunxi straddling Yin Shanshan, furiously slapping her face over and over. "Wretched woman! How dare you fabricate tales of the Crown Prince being affectionate with other women?! I’ll beat you to death, you despicable wretch!" Yin Shanshan’s cheeks were swollen red, utterly baffled and humiliated, for who could have imagined that the dignified Crown Princess Consort was nothing less than a shrew! She wailed hysterically, "I didn’t do it on purpose! Do you really have to act this way?! Do you even understand the idea of equality for all?!" Shen Yunxi screamed at her in fury, "Wretch! Who gave you permission to address yourself as mine in my presence?!" A group of Ministry of Justice officials had gathered around Lu Ying, observing the scene. Seeing the Crown Princess Consort behave so unrestrainedly left them exchanging baffled glances. Who would have thought that the woman they knew to conduct herself with literary refinement, engaging in flower arranging, calligraphy, and painting, would display such deplorable behavior in private? Lu Ying toyed with the Moyu Ring on his finger, his expression cold as ice. He wanted nothing more than to turn and leave, but Shen Yunxi happened to be his Crown Princess Consort. He called out, "Shen Yunxi." The sound snapped the enraged woman out of her frenzy. Shen Yunxi turned her head and saw Lu Ying, along with the Ministry officials, staring at her. Her face turned deathly pale on the spot. Biting her lip, she stood up awkwardly, her disheveled hair resembling a bird’s nest. She shuffled and offered an uneasy curtsy. "This consort greets Your Highness..." "Greetings?" Lu Ying sneered. "With a Crown Princess Consort as ’extraordinary’ as you, I can hardly sleep or eat in peace." "Your Highness..." Shen Yunxi replied, both frustrated and ashamed. "Your Highness, it was not intentional! It’s all Yin Shanshan’s fault for spreading slander, fabricating that Your Highness was romantically involved with women from the court. This consort simply wished to mend Your Highness’s reputation and, in haste, spent a significant sum commissioning writers to create stories about us. This consort had no idea they would write something so vulgar. Your Highness, please understand! This matter has nothing to do with me!" The Duchess of the Shen Family, Mrs. Qin, approached with her eldest son, Shen Xinghan. She persuaded, "Xi’er is young and naïve; it’s natural to make mistakes occasionally. Having spent a night confined in the Imperial Prison, she has surely realized her error. Your Highness, please do not punish her further." Lu Ying replied coldly, "Young and naïve? When I was her age, I was already leading an army south to suppress revolts." "Your Highness possesses an exceptional aura and military brilliance unmatched by anyone, least of all Xi’er, a mere woman," Mrs. Qin responded with a flattering smile. "Given the Shen Family’s service and my husband’s history, Your Highness, I implore you to overlook Xi’er’s transgression. She will not dare act out again." She shielded Shen Yunxi closely. Given her seniority, Lu Ying refrained from saying much further and had the procedures for Shen Yunxi’s release processed. Shen Yunxi still fumed, snarling, "And Yin Shanshan? Is that wretch being bailed out too? Your Highness, this consort demands her death!" Lu Ying remained expressionless. "You’ve already caused enough commotion. If you wish to bear the reputation of a callous and unkind Crown Princess Consort, feel free to demand her death." Shen Yunxi bit her lip reluctantly, forced to grudgingly respond, "This consort understands—" Before she finished her words, a strange fragrance drifted from Lu Ying. It was an unusual scent—a blend of rich gardenia sweetness with hints of green plum and citrus zest. Searᴄh the novёlF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. She realized suddenly that she had smelled this fragrance before... Her pupils contracted. She remembered! On that day at Shengguo Temple, the golden hairpin left behind by that seductress carried this exact scent! She had thought the Crown Prince had severed ties with that woman, but evidently, he had visited her again! No wonder he hadn’t shown up all night and arrived late today—it turned out he had been ensnared by that seductress! Shen Yunxi’s heart clenched violently. With her mother and elder brother present, she threw a fit without inhibition, crying bitterly, "Your Highness reeks of that seductress! Was Your Highness with that wretch last night?!" Her abrupt outburst drew everyone’s attention. Even Mrs. Qin and Shen Xinghan found the situation incredibly humiliating. Mrs. Qin, fearing her daughter’s jealousy would mar her reputation in front of the officials, scolded sharply, "Xi’er, why are you causing trouble at the Ministry of Justice?! If there’s an issue, let’s discuss it back at the palace!" "Mother, I’m not causing trouble!" Shen Yunxi cried, her grievances and fury accumulated over months bursting forth. "The Crown Prince keeps a seductress in the palace, and she has repeatedly provoked me. Last night, she even clung to the Crown Prince and delayed his rescue of me from the Ministry! Mother, please persuade His Highness to execute that seductress with a rod!" Mrs. Qin’s cheeks burned as if they were aflame. Persuade the Crown Prince? How could she dare to convince the Crown Prince? The Crown Prince had already grown formidable, no longer the isolated royal figure he had been three years ago, relying on the Shen Family through marriage. Xi’er had married into the Eastern Palace three years ago but had yet to bear offspring, while she forbade other concubines in the palace from conceiving. It was thanks to the Crown Prince’s gratitude toward her husband’s support in solidifying his throne that Xi’er hadn’t been divorced yet. For a Crown Princess Consort to be openly associated with obscene and indecent writings, if the rumors spread, the officials would surely impeach her! Mrs. Qin cast a pleading look at Shen Xinghan. Shen Xinghan glanced coldly at Shen Yunxi. Shen Yunxi feared her elder brother deeply, far more than her mother, and immediately fell silent under his gaze. Shen Xinghan bowed formally to Lu Ying. "Xi’er is young and uninformed, and such foolishness is indeed to be expected. I entrust her training to Your Highness—whether through confinement within the Eastern Palace or through copying Buddhist scriptures as penance, the Shen Family will offer no objection. As for the so-called ’seductress,’ Xi’er must be mistaken. Your Highness is renowned for your virtuous conduct, and it is inconceivable for you to harbor mistresses outside the palace." His words were skillfully crafted. The Shen Family’s fate was now intertwined with Lu Ying’s. If word spread that the Crown Prince kept a mistress, it would tarnish his reputation irreparably. The Shen Family’s prosperity was tied to the Crown Prince’s success, and they had no reason to sabotage him. Lu Ying stroked the Moyu Ring. Among the Shen Family, Shen Xinghan alone demonstrated a clear understanding of the situation. Lu Ying said indifferently, "This matter has blown out of proportion. I must return to the palace and report to the Emperor. I will take my leave." "Your Highness!" Shen Yunxi called out, but Lu Ying left without turning back. Shen Yunxi stamped her foot fiercely in frustration. "Mother, look at him! Not only does he keep that seductress, but now he’s also showing me disdain! When he was with Shen Yinning, that wretched woman, he never treated her like this!" "Enough," Shen Xinghan snapped sternly. "Shen Yinning employed underhanded methods, while you have relied on yours—how dare you compare yourself to her?! You’ve spent three years in the palace with no offspring, consumed by jealousy. Keep playing petty games, and I’ll arrange for a half-sister to enter the palace and bear a child in your place!" Terrified by this threat, Shen Yunxi burst into tears. "Enough," Mrs. Qin intervened gently, patting Shen Yunxi’s shoulder to console her, then glared at Shen Xinghan. "What nonsense about sending a half-sister to the palace? The Crown Prince’s first child must come from my daughter’s womb!" The three of them continued talking as they reached the gates of the Ministry of Justice. Shen Xinghan walked with his hands behind his back, acutely aware of a probing gaze targeted at him. He looked toward the long street across from a carriage.

Chapter 25 The Prince Has the Scent of a Fox Spirit

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