Chapter 283 - 281: Call a Few More Times, I Love to Hear It

Words : 1450 Updated : Oct 1st, 2025

The young girl’s voice was cool and detached: "Monks are so common, what’s the point of watching a tonsure ceremony?" The bond between her and Lu Shiyan had long been worn away during those days when he had forced her to become his concubine. To her, Lu Shiyan was no different from the other monks in Ciyin Temple. Dew slid down the tip of the banana leaf above her head, landing squarely on Shen Yinning’s brow. Lu Ying clasped her waist and lowered his head to kiss away the droplet, then pressed delicate kisses upon her cheek, her lips, and finally her tender, full lips. The girl’s hairpin tumbled to the ground, and her loosely arranged hair cascaded down like fine silk. Shen Yinning turned and hit him: "I just did my hair, and now it’s messy again—" Lu Ying paid no heed. He held her wrists firmly, prying open her lips and teeth to intermingle their breaths. She had been standing by the banana tree for a long time, and even her breath seemed to carry the faint sweetness and bitter tang of the banana leaves. Yet her lips and tongue were like fragrant nectar, soft and luscious flowers. Lu Ying was consumed by her flavor, pressing her against the windowsill, turning her over and over in relentless entanglement, like a fish playing in water—sometimes sucking her lips, sometimes gently biting them, never satisfied enough. But his thoughts were not entirely here. He was thinking about Lu Shiyan. Seeing this vixen’s indifference toward Lu Shiyan, he ought to feel delighted. But for some reason, amidst this vibrant spring day filled with birdsong and verdant foliage, he caught a faint trace of mourning—an unsettling sadness akin to a fox lamenting the death of a rabbit. Shen Zhaozhao’s heart was like two locked vermillion gates, their keys nowhere to be found, while the metal rings on the doors were rusty. No matter how he knocked from the outside, he couldn’t get them to open. His eyes grew dark and profound, hiding a shred of rationality within his desire: "What kind of man does Shen Zhaozhao like?" Shen Yinning was trapped in his embrace, unable to escape. The scent of cedarwood on the man was crisp and pleasant. She opened her eyes in his palm and fluttered her lashes. The young Crown Prince, in his dark robe and golden hairpin, possessed the grace of jade and the perfection of noble bone structure. His celestial poise exuded an aloof and distant majesty. Yet, within his cold and deep gaze, it mirrored only her face. She replied, "Why do you ask that question?" "Simply because I wanted to." Shen Yinning smoothed her long hair, answering seriously: "I don’t know what kind of man I like, but one thing is certain—Your Highness will never be someone I admire." Without a word, he gave her away to Prince Wu. He ignored her pleas, took the life of Luo Xibai. In his heart, there was only the empire, the people, and the state. He sought nothing but the perfect marriage and the orderly life of the inner court. He was destined to be the future Emperor of Great Zhou. The imperial family is heartless. She wasn’t foolish—how could she ever fall for an emperor? Silence enveloped the pavilion. Lu Ying’s voice was low: "I suppose you’re right." He lifted Shen Yinning onto the windowsill. As the girl’s sash loosened, her brocade undergarment and gauzy skirt fell in disarray on the floor. The banana leaves swayed lush and green, casting shadows that veiled and revealed. The silhouette of the girl—delicate, supple, and shimmering like water—was fleetingly visible. Sitting on the windowsill, her thick and luxurious raven-black hair spilled outside the window, highlighting her rosy beauty. She seemed like a pear blossom spirit hidden in a Jiangnan garden. "Mm... Lu Ying..." She clung to Lu Ying’s neck, her breath hitching into soft, desperate moans. Her pearl earrings swung violently. Morning dewdrops danced among the banana leaves, trickling with liquid sounds that soaked the soil into rich hues. The hidden banana flower shyly revealed its faint pink and deep red petals, glistening dew pooling within its heart, frolicking and sliding over it, provoking the flower to retreat bashfully into the leaves. Shen Yinning’s delicate face glistened with fragrant sweat; her trembling hands raised deep blue wide sleeves to shield her flushed, damp cheeks, her voice breaking hoarsely into scattered whispers: "Lu Ying! Lu Ying..." Lu Ying did not stop, leaning down to kiss her brow: "Say my name a few more times. I love hearing it." Shen Yinning was bullied to the point of sobbing: "You bastard..." "Even if you curse me, I still love hearing it." "..." After half an hour, Lu Ying finally finished his indulgence, his expression indifferent as he tidied his appearance—completely different from the reckless and frivolous man he had been moments ago. Shen Yinning’s legs shook, barely able to steady herself against the window frame. Blushing with anger, she glared at Lu Ying: "Your Highness took advantage of me last night, and this morning you’ve yet to restrain yourself. Tell me—what exactly is our relationship now?" "The same as it was before." Lu Ying had clearly thought this through. "You’ll continue being Gao Zheng’s wife in name. Once I ascend the throne, I’ll bring you into the palace. Below the consort rank, you may choose any title you like. If you don’t want the child to be raised by Shen Yunxi, I’ll allow it. As long as you behave yourself, the child can remain by your side under your supervision." Shen Yinning hadn’t expected him to promise the Empress’s position right away. But the assurance regarding the child was an unexpected boon. She extended her milky-white foot, pressing it against Lu Ying’s chest with an air of arrogance: "I haven’t decided whether to remain your lover yet... Lu Ying, that depends on how you behave." Lu Ying didn’t take offense. After losing Shen Yinning to Lu Shiyan and regaining her now, he considered it a blessing. He couldn’t afford to be greedy, expecting her forgiveness without effort. His large hand stroked her foot lightly. Picking up the scattered garments and shoes from the floor, he said, "The morning is chilly. Let me help you dress." Today was the day they were to depart for the capital. Shen Yinning finished her preparations, ate breakfast, and boarded a fragrant sedan chair for the dock to board a ship. Lu Ying followed shortly after. He opened the jade box presented by Qian Duobao, its contents revealing ten remaining poisonous insects. He lifted his sleeve and carved another wound into his skin, feeding all ten insects into his flesh. As expected, even though the insects melded with his blood, his emotions remained unchanged. He hadn’t released his obsession with Shen Zhaozhao, nor had he become indifferent and unfeeling. The poisonous insects had failed. Lu Ying tossed aside the jade box, silently lowering his sleeve. To him, Shen Zhaozhao was far more potent than any poisonous insect from Miaojiang. She was the most formidable of all. ... When Shen Yinning first arrived in Lin’an City, the pear blossoms from Jiangnan had only just begun to bloom. Now that she was leaving, the city was awash with snow-like blooms, with spring winds scattering petals like soft rain, forming a thin layer on the river’s surface. The tower ship gradually sailed away from Jiangnan. Shen Yinning stood by the rail, taking one last glance at the vibrant ancient city hidden in the mist. Hearing faint temple bells carried by the breeze, she reached into her sleeve and retrieved a red coral bracelet. At the mercy of her hand, the cherished coral was cast away, exchanged for an Upper Yang flower. At this hour, Lu Shiyan must be shaving his head and entering the monkhood. She stroked the red coral bracelet briefly before tossing it into the river without hesitation. "Shen Yinning?!" Lu Qianqian, who had stepped out to enjoy the breeze, caught sight of her at once. Lu Qianqian was stunned: "You’re still alive?!" Shen Yinning smiled faintly: "Disappointed, Princess?" "Did my imperial brother save you?! Have you... have you seduced him?!" "Guess." "You—" Lu Qianqian flew into a rage, charging forward to slap her. "You wretched woman! You’ve left me in disgrace, forced to marry again—I will never forgive you!" Shen Yinning caught her wrist, reminding her softly: "Marry again? You’ve already wed Shen Xinglei and Luo Xibai, but it’s a pity both passed away young. If you wed another, it would be your third marriage. My, Princess—you wouldn’t happen to be cursed to bring misfortune to your husbands, would you?"

Chapter 283 - 281: Call a Few More Times, I Love to Hear It

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