Chapter 297 - 295 Shen Yinning That Bitch Actually Made Such a Ruthless Move

Words : 1461 Updated : Oct 16th, 2025

The spring breeze was warm and gentle.Shen Yinning’s eyes flickered slightly, as if lost in thought about something. Her fingers, holding the folding fan, gradually relaxed, revealing the jade-like luster of her skin. Supporting Wei Yu’s hand, she stepped down from the carriage and spoke softly, "I can’t understand what Lord Zhang and my cousin are talking about. Second Cousin died last winter at the northern inn outside the city. How could I have robbed him, secretly imprisoned him, and abused him with unlawful punishment? Could it be that Second Cousin isn’t dead?" Shen Xinghan clasped his hands behind his back. "Stop playing dumb. I know this is your usual trick, Cousin. But this matter was personally identified by Second Brother himself—how could it be false? Shen Yinning, after what you’ve done to Second Brother, do you really believe you’ll walk away unscathed this time?" "I said, I don’t understand what Cousin is saying at all." Zhang Keyuan swept his sleeve and spoke sternly, "We found Shen Xinglei, who had been imprisoned for months, in the secret chamber of Shen Garden. His body shows traces of severe punishment, and he has already been sent back to the Shen Guogong Mansion for treatment. Shen Yinning, we suspect you to be the mastermind behind this. Come with me to the Ministry of Justice!" As his words landed, guards moved forward to apprehend her. Shen Yinning took a step back. Shen Xinghan had bypassed the Ministry of Justice and brought in the Ministry of Justice officers on purpose. Clearly, he knew of Cui Ji’s relationship with her and feared Cui Ji would protect her. Facing Zhang Keyuan’s aggressive stance, she maintained her soft tone, "So you found him in the secret chamber at Shen Garden... May I ask, Lord Zhang, how long had he been imprisoned in Shen Garden?" Shen Xinghan sensed a trap hidden in her words and was about to interject, but Zhang Keyuan had already spoken impulsively, "When we discovered him, he had already been imprisoned there! Based on the condition of the secret chamber, it’s estimated he had been locked up for about four to five months! Shen Yinning, how could you, a woman, harbor such a vicious heart?!" "Four to five months?" Shen Yinning unfolded her fan. "But this Shen Garden was only sold to me by the Crown Prince two days ago. Four to five months ago, it was still under the Crown Prince’s name. So, should I conclude that the person who unlawfully imprisoned Shen Xinglei must be the Crown Prince himself? Amitabha... Who knows what kind of enmity the Crown Prince has with Second Cousin to treat him so cruelly? I spent so much money to purchase Shen Garden, only to be unjustly accused. I, too, am a victim. Lord Zhang, what are you standing there for? Shouldn’t you be rushing to arrest the Crown Prince instead?" The scene fell into sudden silence. Zhang Keyuan was dumbfounded. He turned helplessly to Shen Xinghan for assistance. Shen Xinghan’s expression grew stiff. He knew Shen Yinning was quick-witted, but he hadn’t anticipated she could argue so skillfully. He said coldly, "Everyone in the Capital knows Shen Garden was personally designed and built by your father. Even if the Crown Prince had owned it, he wouldn’t have known about the secret chamber hidden within it. It’s entirely possible you sneaked behind his back to imprison Second Brother inside! What’s more, Second Brother himself, as the victim, has personally named you as the perpetrator. What else is there for you to refute? Lord Zhang, what are you waiting for? Arrest her!" Shen Yinning’s expression turned icy. The Ministry of Justice had brought quite a number of government officers. Even if Wei Yu could force a way out, this case still had to be resolved. Sooner or later, she would have to step into that government office. She folded her fan and, without letting Wei Yu or the government officers escalate matters, casually remarked, "No need for force. I am curious about who the mastermind truly is, and I am willing to go to the Ministry of Justice to assist in the investigation." The maids and caretakers of Shen Garden were also taken to the Ministry of Justice. From the corner of her eye, Shen Yinning noticed Haitang hiding at the edge of an alley. Without drawing attention to herself, she gave a subtle nod. Thus, while Shen Yinning entered the Ministry of Justice, Haitang, guided by her silent signal, cleverly sought refuge at Cining Palace. Kneeling, Haitang kowtowed fervently: "Madam may have been courageous, but she would never have the audacity to unlawfully imprison Second Young Master Shen! Besides, Madam is kind-hearted and benevolent like a Bodhisattva. She wouldn’t even step on an ant, let alone use unlawful punishment on Second Young Master Shen! There must be a deeper truth behind this matter. I implore the Empress Dowager to save Madam!" Empress Dowager Li leaned against the sapphire floral brocade cushion. Her feelings towards Shen Yinning were a mix of love and hate. Love stemmed from the fact that this young girl was the legitimate granddaughter of her closest friend, a bond she could not ignore. She felt compelled to offer her favor and protection for the sake of past loyalties. The love was genuine, and so was the hate. It arose from this willful girl refusing to follow her orders to conceive a child, mysteriously disappearing for two months, and upon her return to the Capital, ignoring all the Empress Dowager’s attempts to probe where she had been. Shen Yinning... Was akin to a pet whose claws were too sharp and whose mind was too independent to be fully controlled. Resolving to teach this pet a painful lesson to ensure obedience in the future, the Empress Dowager toyed absently with the Bixi Buddha beads in her hand, keeping her eyes closed and silent. Haitang gritted her teeth and then vehemently knocked her head against the floor: "Madam serves the Empress Dowager with filial piety. I beg the Empress Dowager to save her!" A young woman in a goose-yellow jacket, while dutifully massaging the Empress Dowager’s shoulders, replied softly and smiled, "Sister Haitang, it isn’t that Imperial Grandmother doesn’t wish to save Madam. It’s just that what she has done is so shocking that it is beyond salvation. If it were an ordinary case, perhaps intervention would be possible. But Second Young Master Shen happens to be the legitimate second son of Duke Shen and the Crown Princess Consort’s elder brother. This matter is practically a scandal of unparalleled proportions. Not even Imperial Grandmother’s intervention can save her." Haitang straightened her body, forcing a flattering smile: "It’s my ignorance—this matter is indeed difficult to involve the Empress Dowager. However, one more matter should be conveyed. Madam asked me to deliver a message to the Empress Dowager. "Yesterday, the Crown Princess Consort blatantly defied the Empress Dowager’s order of confinement to the Eastern Palace and secretly went to Shen Garden, completely disregarding your dignity. My Madam, who has always held filial respect dear, couldn’t bear to see such disrespect, so she sent someone to the Eastern Palace last night, intending to advise her. However, by some coincidence, they discovered that she is not pregnant at all. Likely, during that day at the Buddhist Temple, fearing punishment for disrespecting the Eldest Princess, she pretended to be pregnant to escape blame." The words landed like a thunderclap. The Empress Dowager opened her eyes, her murky gaze now sharp and penetrating: "You’re saying the Crown Princess Consort is faking her pregnancy?!" "My Madam works meticulously; she wouldn’t lie!" The Empress Dowager tightened her grip on the Bixi Buddha beads. A harem woman faking pregnancy—this is an offense of deceiving the Emperor! Shen Yunxi’s audacity was boundless! Her lips curled into a faint smile, and she spoke warmly, "Zhaozhao handles affairs for me with utmost filial regard. Zhu’er, go personally to the Ministry of Justice and tell Zhang Keyuan that if he dares to harm a single hair on Zhaozhao’s head, he will have me to answer to!" Li Zhu smiled, bowed, and agreed. Meanwhile. The incident of Shen Xinglei being imprisoned in Shen Garden spread rapidly across the Capital. Though his plight was undeniably pitiful, his notorious deeds left the commoners in teahouses and taverns wholly unsympathetic; instead, they celebrated his misfortune with joy. The Eastern Palace was now in chaos. Shen Yunxi clutched her abdomen, standing outside the study, sobbing, "He’s my own brother! That vile woman Shen Yinning dared to lay such a cruel hand on him—word has it she even cut off his tongue! I beg Your Highness to deliver justice for me, for my brother! Execute Shen Yinning!"

Chapter 297 - 295 Shen Yinning That Bitch Actually Made Such a Ruthless Move

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