Chapter 288 - 286: Lu Ying, You’ve Liked Me Since You Were Young

Words : 1499 Updated : Oct 1st, 2025

"The Crown Prince understands well that the love of a king is a love for all. A king must prioritize the nation, placing state affairs above all else. Even within the harem, affection should be evenly shared like rain upon every flower. Therefore, the share of affection you can offer Madam Shen is pitifully small." Cui Ji’s tone was calm. "But Madam Shen has lost her family and is highly sensitive and delicate. What she needs is partiality, a love that disregards right or wrong, an exclusive devotion akin to fetching a single ladle of water from a boundless stream. Such partiality and devotion, Your Highness cannot provide. However, I can." Cui Ji’s indigo silk robe swayed faintly in the night breeze, while the jade pendant at his waist glimmered hazily. He continued, "I live in this world because of Madam Shen. I can wholly and entirely belong to her. Your Highness cannot." Lu Ying twirled the Moyu Ring on his finger. Had it been two months ago, hearing such words from Cui Ji would have certainly incensed him. But now, he remained calm and composed. Cui Ji’s attempt to win Shen Zhaozhao was laughable—little did he know that the vixen loved no one more than herself. She had no lingering attachment even for her childhood sweetheart, Lu Shiyan—let alone Cui Ji? Hence, he remarked, "You are both daring and patient." Cui Ji neither confirmed nor denied, clasping his hands in a gesture of respect before departing from the corridor. Shen Yinning was wholly unaware of the argument between the two men. Unable to sleep, she quietly wandered through the corridor and slipped into Lu Ying’s sleeping quarters. Lu Ying must undoubtedly be feeling guilty for sending her to Lu Shiyan during this period. She intended to use that guilt to demand some tangible benefits. While both she and Cui Ji resided in guest rooms, this particular sleeping chamber belonged to the very room Lu Ying often occupied during his youth in the Yu residence. Shen Yinning vaguely remembered that during his studies, he rarely returned to the palace, often staying here with his mentor for months on end. It wasn’t until he reached the age of fifteen or sixteen that he moved back to the Imperial Palace. She hadn’t expected his mentor to preserve this room all these years. The furnishings and decor within the room were all crafted from bamboo, and a subtle fragrance of bamboo lingered in the air. The lattice windows were open, revealing a moonlit expanse outside, where clusters of hibiscus bloomed splendidly under the moonlight. Shen Yinning held up a candleholder, lighting each lamp in the room one by one. By the window was a spacious writing desk, adorned with brushes, inkstones, paper, and ink. Scattered across it were fallen hibiscus petals. Beside the desk rested a well-used bamboo chaise lounge, its surface polished to a luster like honeyed jade from years of use. Shen Yinning reclined on the lounge chair, letting out a soft sigh of comfort. Her gaze drifted to the bookshelf beside her, and she casually pulled out an old book. It was the "Analects." She used to have a copy too, given to them personally by their mentor during childhood. But hers had long since been lost without a trace. Lu Ying’s copy, however, was remarkably well-preserved. The pages bore no stains or creases, and the margins were filled with densely written class notes and personal insights, meticulous and thorough. She could almost imagine young Lu Ying diligently studying and taking notes during their mentor’s lessons. He was always meticulous and serious in his actions. As this thought crossed Shen Yinning’s mind, she flipped a few pages deeper, her brow arching instantly. Tucked between the pages were a few sheets of rice paper, and sketched upon them were images of a little girl—her, no doubt! One depicted her dozing off in class. That scoundrel Lu Ying had even drawn her with drool and a snot bubble! Another showed her practicing dance in the Yu residence’s backyard, losing her balance and falling to the ground, clutching her ankle and wailing. Yet another captured her sneaking into the kitchen after skipping class, holding a chicken leg with soot-streaked cheeks and a guilty look. Not a single dignified one among them. Shen Yinning bit her lip in shame and fury, but her face soon took on a trace of suspicion. Lu Ying had been paying attention to her even as a child. He had known all about her kitchen escapades with the chicken leg... "What are you doing in my room?" Lu Ying’s cool voice came from behind her. Shen Yinning turned around lazily. "I want Shen Garden." Beyond the window, the night appeared dark and murky. Moonlight brushed against her hair and skirt, rendering her bright eyes and white teeth even more dazzling than the hibiscus blossoms that adorned the evening. Her hair parted slightly at the forehead, revealing a smooth, pale brow. Mischief and calculation danced at the corners of her eyes. Narrowing her almond-shaped eyes as she smiled, she looked sly and cunning. And just like that, she made an outrageous demand for Shen Garden. Lu Ying scanned the room, his gaze finally settling on the "Analects" in her hand. "You took two million taels of snow-patterned silver from Luo Xibai, and that’s not enough for you?" "Your Highness, that accusation is truly unjust. I’ve said countless times, I know nothing about what happened to Luo Xibai’s money." Shen Yinning’s reply was flawless. She then waved the "Analects" in her hand. "If Your Highness refuses to comply with my wishes, I’ll have someone announce to everyone tomorrow that you liked me as a child. I have no fear of losing face, but Your Highness, as the Crown Prince, surely must care about your reputation. You’ve acquired wealth from Jiangnan in abundance, so trading Shen Garden for your reputation is an excellent deal, isn’t it?" Lu Ying’s eyes rested on the "Analects." This was a book from his childhood, untouched for many years. Looking at the familiar cover now, he recalled— He had stuffed many sketches of Shen Zhaozhao inside. The usually cold and imperious young Crown Prince, who rarely betrayed emotion, couldn’t help but furrow his brows at this moment. Was Shen Zhaozhao a bloodhound? How had she managed to sniff out things he had hidden for years? Shen Yinning caught the fleeting changes in his expression and declared with certainty, "Lu Ying, you liked me when we were young, didn’t you?" Lu Ying’s face resumed its inscrutable calm. "No." "Then why did you secretly draw me? And so many times at that!" "I hated you back then. I wanted our mentor to see the ugliest sides of you." Shen Yinning ground her teeth silently. This scoundrel was incapable of uttering a kind word! What, admitting that he once liked her—was that akin to divine retribution? Would it kill him? Lu Ying acted as though he hadn’t noticed the murderous glint in her eyes, reinstating his aloof demeanor with an air of impenetrable distance. He summoned Gui Quan and De Sun to prepare hot water and strode behind the screen, loosening his belt as he ordered her departure. "I’m about to bathe and change—though if you wish to stay the night, I won’t object." Soon, the sound of water came from behind the screen. Shen Yinning tossed the "Analects" onto the desk, still feeling somewhat indignant. As she rummaged through the room, she groused, "You owed me compensation when you handed me over to Lu Shiyan. Giving me Shen Garden as a reparation is perfectly reasonable, isn’t it?" Lu Ying’s voice came from behind the screen. "It’s not reasonable. I covered up the trouble you caused in Jiangnan, and I didn’t even hold you accountable for embezzling two million taels of snow-patterned silver. Now you’re asking for Shen Garden? It’s far too greedy." From the deepest drawer of the desk, Shen Yinning unearthed an old, round brocade box. Though it bore the marks of time, its intricately carved patterns were still discernible. She fiddled with the box, trying to open it, while muttering, "Lu Ying, you are the stingiest man alive." "I’m not stingy. I’m merely reasoning with you." "But I don’t want to hear your reasoning..." Shen Yinning found the box’s hidden latch on the side. She twisted it open and saw inside a collection of trinkets fit for a young girl. Broken hairpins, ribbons, faded pearl bracelets, enamel gemstone rings, a finely crafted ivory comb... They were all items she had carelessly lost during her time studying in the Yu residence. As a boy, Lu Ying had meticulously gathered every single piece and stored them in the most secretive of places. At that moment, Shen Yinning suddenly thought to herself: She didn’t want to hear Lu Ying talk about reason. She wanted to hear the Lu Ying from their youth, say just once—he liked her.

Chapter 288 - 286: Lu Ying, You’ve Liked Me Since You Were Young

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