Chapter 284 - 282: The Emperor’s Brother and Shen Yinning... How is This Possible

Words : 1477 Updated : Oct 1st, 2025

The young girl appeared delicate and fragile, yet her strength was remarkable. Lu Qianqian’s raised hand froze mid-air, unable to land. Frustrated, Lu Qianqian withdrew her hand and rubbed her wrist with grievance. "Who’s cursed to bring misfortune to their husbands? Who?! They died on their own; what does that have to do with me, this Princess? If you dare spout more nonsense, I’ll tear your mouth apart! Besides, even if I’ve married three times, I still remain superior to you. Now you’re nothing more than the wife of a lowly official, not even qualified to carry my shoes. What are you so arrogant about?!" Shen Yinning’s lips curled into a faint smile as she gently brushed away her wind-tousled hair. For a long time in the past, she had regarded Lu Qianqian as a dear younger sister. Even when aware of her tendency to fawn on the powerful and trample the weak, she dismissed it as nothing more than the spoiled whims of a little girl. But the sisterly bond she believed in turned out to be worth less in Lu Qianqian’s heart than a single set of ruby jewelry. She had merely refused her once, and ever since, Lu Qianqian harbored boundless resentment and lavished her with boundless humiliation. She even concluded that Shen Yunxi was a better match for Lu Ying and more suited to be her imperial sister-in-law. "The wife of a lowly official..." Shen Yinning savored the title, leaning forward to whisper in Lu Qianqian’s ear, "I committed such a grave offense in Jiangnan—can you guess who saved me? Has the Princess ever heard this saying: ’A wife is no match for a concubine, and a concubine is no match for an affair’? The Crown Prince may hold the nation in his heart, but in the end, he’s still just a man. And men, well, they’re always prone to making mistakes. The Crown Prince is no exception." Her words were laden with implication. Lu Qianqian’s pale face was taut, her voice sharp. "Shen Yinning, are you insane?! My royal brother is upright, honorable, as bright and pure as the moon and sky! The court ministers all speak of him as a virtuous gentleman. Someone like you, married and debased, could entice him no matter how much you try! He might save you out of consideration for your former engagement, but he’d never do something so disgraceful with you! You’ve been exiled to Gan State for three years; who knows how many men you’ve slept with? You’re filthy, so don’t tarnish my royal brother anymore!" Shen Yinning sneered lightly. Her gaze drifted past Lu Qianqian’s shoulder to the flower-latticed window on the second floor of the boat. Lu Ying, having likely just finished a conversation with Xue Ling, stood by the window, hands behind his back, observing her. She lifted her skirts gracefully and ascended the stairs to the second floor. Lu Ying, tall and statuesque with an air of elegance, towered almost a head above Shen Yinning. With delicate hands, she clutched his lapel, forcing him to lower his head. Standing on her toes, she boldly pressed her lips against his. By the ship’s railing, Lu Qianqian’s eyes widened in disbelief. Shen Yinning wrapped her arms around Lu Ying’s neck. His lips were warm and slightly cool, their breaths mingling with a faint scent of cedar. Fresh, slightly bitter. She did not mind; in fact, she found herself rather liking it. Lu Ying, of course, knew the vixen’s intentions, but at this moment, he indulged her. With a large hand, he held onto her slender waist, pinning her near the window as he seized control, invading her tastefully painted lips, deepening their hue to a richer crimson. Xue Ling clicked his tongue. "These two—they don’t even see me as a person." "This can’t be real," Lu Qianqian involuntarily murmured. "My royal brother and Shen Yinning... How is this possible?!" In her memory, her royal brother was taciturn, cold, and proud—the sort who wouldn’t possibly succumb to feminine charm. How could he... How could he do something so intimate with Shen Yinning?! Could what Shen Yinning said earlier... all be true? A spark flared in Lu Qianqian’s chest, igniting an unbearable suffocating heat. She had thought Shen Yinning would spend the rest of her life as the wife of a small-town official, incapable of ever rising above her to flaunt her strength. Yet, unexpectedly, she still managed to work wonders! Could the vixen Shen Yunxi had been searching for over the past year really be Shen Yinning? Was Shen Yinning’s return to the Capital not a coincidence? Slowly, Lu Qianqian’s spine chilled with realization. If these speculations were true, just how long had Shen Yinning been scheming against her royal brother?! Did she return to the Capital merely to seduce her royal brother? Or... Or was it for revenge? Lu Qianqian dared not think further. Her breathing came in quick, shallow gasps, her face pallid. Resolutely, she told herself she would not let Shen Yinning’s brazen behavior continue unchecked. Once she returned to the Capital, she must inform Shen Yunxi and have her deal with this vile woman! While she plotted, she suddenly felt a cold, ghostly gaze fall upon her. It was her royal brother. She opened her mouth to say something but immediately caught sight of the unmistakable warning in Lu Ying’s eyes. As if he were threatening her—if she dared reveal anything about him and Shen Yinning, she would meet a fate worse than death. Lu Qianqian’s heart quaked with fear. She knew she held no weight in her royal brother’s eyes, so how could she dare utter another word? Instead, she bowed humbly, her face pale, and fled swiftly. On the upper deck, Lu Ying finally ended their deep kiss. He released Shen Yinning. "She’s gone." With a glance at the now-empty deck below, Shen Yinning’s eyes still carried a trace of seductive allure. She lightly pressed her lips with her fingertip. "What a fragile little thing." Lu Ying’s gaze darkened as he adjusted her crooked hairpin. "Aren’t you afraid she’ll spread the word?" "Afraid of this, scared of that—if I were so timid, why would I return to the Capital at all?" Shen Yinning toyed with a handkerchief wrapped around her fingers, her phoenix-shaped eyes twinkling with the slyness of a fox. "During your trip to Jiangnan, you’ve toppled the Luo Family, seizing all their wealth, military power, and support in the region. If those in the palace find out, they’ll be seething with anger, itching for your downfall. If news of us spreads, it’s not me who should be worried; it’s you." Lu Ying maintained his stoic expression. Long ago, he had known Shen Yinning represented both his weakness and his leverage. But that didn’t concern him. The road to the throne was cold, treacherous, and exceedingly lonely. Having this vixen stir up storms and overturn the heavens made it far more interesting. Sweeping his robes aside, he took a seat. "Very few people know the truth about your time in Jiangnan. I’ve already pinned all the blame on ’Lv Zhu.’ When you return to the Capital, simply claim you’ve been residing at Xiaokan Zen Temple, praying and reflecting." Shen Yinning made no objection. With Lu Ying backing her, Lu Qianqian dared not trouble Shen Yinning for the remainder of their journey. Though she still harbored resentment, her fear restrained her. Each time she glimpsed Shen Yinning, she merely rolled her eyes and fled faster than a startled rabbit. Over half a month later, the grand ship finally arrived at the Capital. Shen Yinning could not enter the city alongside Lu Ying. She was escorted to Xiaokan Zen Temple under the watchful eyes of black-clad guards. Haitang and Wei Yu, who had been guarding Kong Chan Courtyard, constantly lived in fear someone might discover Shen Yinning wasn’t actually in the Capital. Seeing her return so suddenly, they finally felt their heavy burdens lifted. Overjoyed, they greeted her with respectful bows and pleasantries, eagerly recounting the most recent happenings in the Capital. There were only three matters of note involving Shen Yinning: Shen Yunxi was now three months pregnant, Gao Zheng had been promoted to Minister of the Ministry of Justice, and Yin Shanshan had recently returned from Jiangnan. She claimed to have assisted the Crown Prince in solving a crime and was rewarded with an entire ship’s worth of silk. She had since opened a dress shop in the Capital. Wei Yu chirped, "The Gao family’s matriarch is ecstatic. She’s been praising Aunt Yin for her cleverness and brilliance, even suggesting she be made an equal wife. She’s been slandering you, Madam, saying you’re utterly useless and should stay at Xiaokan Zen Temple for the rest of your life, never returning to the Gao household!"

Chapter 284 - 282: The Emperor’s Brother and Shen Yinning... How is This Possible

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