Chapter 294 - 292: In two days, it will be the birthday of the minister’s wife

Words : 1502 Updated : Oct 16th, 2025

Shen Yunxi secretly clenched her hands, her gaze flitting back and forth between Lu Ying and Shen Yinning, like a tigress surveying its territory.She had every reason to suspect that this was the Crown Prince’s deliberate attempt to cover up his scandalous affair with Shen Yinning. Who in the Capital didn’t know that Shen Garden was the Crown Prince’s private estate? How could it suddenly be transferred to Shen Yinning overnight? Besides, Shen Yinning, the daughter of a disgraced official, where would she find the money to purchase such an exquisitely crafted garden? She accused, "Your Highness treats me like a child to be fooled?! "I have long mended my ways and am no longer a jealous woman. I can accept other sisters serving Your Highness, but it must not be Shen Yinning. She is already married! For you to consort with her is a violation of human decency. Do you care nothing for your own reputation?!" "I have kept my dignity as your wife, sparing you shame by claiming it was this wretch who seduced you, without exposing the sordid truth between the two of you. But you’ve gone so far as to conspire with her to deceive me! Did your sudden appearance here today not have one purpose—to meet her in secret?!" "Your Highness, do I and the little royal grandchild in my womb mean nothing to you?!" Shen Yunxi clutched her stomach in anguish, "I can already feel the emotions of our child. He’s crying—crying because his father openly defends another woman..." She acted as if her grief were wholly genuine. As though there truly was a child in her belly. Shen Yinning almost burst out laughing on the spot. She hastily covered her face with her wide sleeves, barely maintaining the image of teary-eyed delicacy. Lu Ying raised a hand to rub his temples. One Shen Yinning was headache enough, but his Crown Princess Consort was no less of a handful. He emphasized with a stern voice, "Shen Garden was indeed sold to Madam Shen. If the Crown Princess does not believe it, you may verify the property deed records at the Government Office." "There’s no need to go to such trouble." Shen Yinning leaned on Haitang’s hand as she stood up daintily. "I have the sales contract and deed right here in my dowry chest..." She retrieved the documents and presented them for all to see. Shen Yunxi glanced at them and her face turned pale. The black-and-white text was crystal clear; Shen Garden truly had been sold to Shen Yinning by the Crown Prince! "Five hundred thousand taels of snow-patterned silver..." Shen Yunxi seized upon the suspicious detail, "Where did you get that kind of money?!" Lu Qianqian’s expression turned dark. Where else could it have come from? It had to be from Luo Xibai! The Luo family was rich enough to rival the nation’s coffers. Luo Xibai, as the head of the Luo family, could casually spare a fortune from the gaps of his fingers! The case involving the Luo family was investigated by her imperial elder brother. With one eye open and the other closed, Shen Yinning surely squeezed out plenty of profits! Although she knew Shen Yinning’s origins well, she dared not voice it and could only fret anxiously by the sidelines. Shen Yinning spoke sweetly, "The money was given to me by Aze. Aze and I are as close as siblings. He pitied my lonely and helpless state and, knowing that Shen Garden was originally built by my father, begged the Crown Prince to sell it to me." "Nonsense!" Shen Yunxi’s face twisted in fury, her voice shrill. "You’ve been back in the Capital for so long. If he wanted to buy it for you earlier or later, why would he choose this exact moment? Shen Yinning, do you still think you can fool me?!" Shen Yinning looked frightened, instantly choking on her sobs and taking half a step back in fear. In the eyes of the crowd, she appeared a fragile, pitiable figure, making a stark contrast to the ferocity and distorted rage of the Crown Princess Consort. Shen Yunxi’s right eye twitched violently again. She couldn’t understand why Shen Yinning was so adept at this performance! Exasperated, she snapped, "With so many eyes watching, I didn’t even touch you—why are you crying?!" Shen Yinning lifted her tear-streaked lashes, timidly clutching her silk handkerchief, "Does Your Highness truly not know?" "Rubbish. If I knew, would I ask you?!" "Because... because in two days, it will be my birthday. This Shen Garden is Aze’s early gift to me. It’s been so many years since I’ve properly celebrated my birthday. Is Your Highness planning to deny me even this?" The young woman’s voice was fragile and helpless, her tears falling in soft, relentless streams. The surroundings fell silent. Everyone’s gaze shifted toward Shen Yunxi. Despite her esteemed status as the Crown Princess Consort, their eyes held thinly veiled disdain. She couldn’t even remember her own cousin’s birthday and had acted so aggressively, accusing her cousin of illicit conduct with the Crown Prince. It was utterly unreasonable behavior. Lu Ying’s expression was indifferent. Shen Zhaozhao’s explanation was flawless. Lu Jiazhe was undoubtedly aligned with her, and the Prince Mansion was indeed immensely wealthy, leaving Shen Yunxi with no avenue to verify the claims. Shen Yunxi trembled uncontrollably. Clenching her teeth futilely, she had no choice but to abandon her interrogation of Shen Yinning and instead fix her gaze upon Lu Ying. "Then why has Your Highness come to Shen Garden today?" "There are still some matters regarding the estate transfer that require settling," Shen Yinning interjected softly, her tender eyes glancing past Shen Yunxi’s shoulder toward Lu Ying, "and the Shen Garden peonies are in bloom. His Highness proposed taking a few fine specimens back to the Eastern Palace to gift to Your Highness. To see the harmony and affection between Your Highness and the Crown Prince warms my heart." Shen Yunxi nearly spat blood on the spot. Never in her wildest dreams did she expect the Crown Prince to intend to gift her peonies! In the years since their marriage, the Crown Prince had never given her flowers! Had she known sooner, she wouldn’t have caused such a scene! Overcome with emotion, she clasped her hands tightly and gazed at Lu Ying with unrestrained adoration. "Your Highness, I didn’t know you wanted to give me peonies. I misunderstood you just now..." Lu Ying’s expression remained blank. "Is the child in your belly still crying?" "Not anymore!" Shen Yunxi beamed, rubbing her belly. "I can hear him laughing now!" Lu Ying knew full well her womb was empty, without any offspring. He said nothing, only giving a cold instruction: "Return to the Eastern Palace first." Even though Shen Yunxi had been humiliated, the thought of the Crown Prince gifting her peonies swept away all her jealousy and gloom. She cast a triumphant glance at Shen Yinning before departing happily. Shen Yinning performed a graceful curtsey. "Farewell, Your Highness." As she turned, her gaze flickered toward the secret chamber, the corner of her lips curving into a malicious smirk. Surely Shen Xinglei in the chamber had heard Shen Yunxi’s voice. Though separated by just a wall, there was nothing he could do—no pleas, no cries for help, no reunion possible. How agonizing it must be for him. As expected, within the chamber, Shen Xinglei struggled desperately. But he was tightly bound, and no matter how he strained, he could not budge the chair beneath him. He wanted to shout, to scream, to call out for Shen Yunxi to save him, to warn her not to be fooled by this sinister demoness Shen Yinning—she was nothing but a shameless adulteress with the Crown Prince! But he could do nothing! Beads of cold sweat rolled down his forehead. Shen Xinglei, once a man of great influence, who had played with countless lives, had never imagined that one day, he would find himself toyed with in turn! And by a woman he had utterly looked down upon! Labored "hah hah" breaths rasped from his throat. Yet the walls of the chamber were immensely thick, and these faint sounds could never escape. He could only helplessly listen as Shen Yunxi left with her maidservants and nannies, watching as hope slipped further and further away. Meanwhile— To the north of the Capital— Amidst the lush bloom of early spring— A young servant hurried to the carriage’s side and spoke softly, "Young Master, that old woodcutter just confirmed he saw it with his own eyes. On a winter’s night last year, a group of people quietly appeared near the inn where the Second Young Master was staying. Shortly after they left, the inn caught fire. The old man also saw them carrying someone away—it could very well have been the Second Young Master." The carriage curtain lifted. Shen Xinghan’s brows furrowed coldly. The Second Brother was alive after all.

Chapter 294 - 292: In two days, it will be the birthday of the minister’s wife

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