Chapter 301 - 299: Fear of Her Runs Deep in My Bones

Words : 1414 Updated : Oct 19th, 2025

That night.Shen Yinning picked at the dinner sent by the prison guard, eating only a few bites. Suddenly, Cui Ji came to visit. "I wanted to come during the day, but I was afraid of drawing attention and causing you trouble, so I waited until now." He took out a lotus leaf-wrapped pastry from his sleeve. "Don’t worry, the Crown Prince won’t learn about tonight’s meeting. While you were away from the Capital for those two months, I made connections with many people here. Now, some are willing to work for me." Shen Yinning understood all too well; he was afraid that if Lu Ying found out about their private meeting, she would get angry and punish her later. She glanced at the strand of gray hair at Cui Ji’s temple and took a bite of the pastry he brought. "Shen Xinglei isn’t dead yet, is he?" Cui Ji nodded. "Not yet. Are you worried that him being alive might pose a threat to you?" The freshly baked pastry crumbled at each bite, the air fragrant with the rich scent of sesame. Shen Yinning licked a sesame seed off the corner of her mouth and said seriously, "Go to the Seven Treasures Pavilion in the northern part of the city and withdraw some money from the shopkeeper—take as much as you see fit. Then, use the money to bribe the maid serving Sun Miaoniang—" "Lady Shen." Cui Ji abruptly lifted a finger and pressed it against Shen Yinning’s lips. He whispered, "Plotting so openly is quite reckless. What if the walls have ears?" Shen Yinning froze momentarily, then chuckled softly. Ever since returning from Jiangnan, her courage had grown significantly, bordering on brazenness. She set down the pastry and went to wash her hands and face. Cui Ji lowered his hands, his thumb gently brushing against his index finger. That finger, just seconds ago, had touched her lips. His gaze lingered on Shen Yinning’s lips, thinking to himself that the phrase "like vermilion upon jade" could scarcely do them justice. After drying the water droplets on her palms with a cloth, Shen Yinning lowered her voice and said, "Bribe the maid and tell her to persuade Sun Miaoniang to get rid of Shen Xinglei. You can tell her that if Shen Xinglei lives, Mrs. Qin will eventually secure him a wife and children, which would threaten the status of Sun Miaoniang’s son in the future. Or, tell her that keeping Shen Xinglei alive is a burden; she’ll have to personally tend to him herself. Additionally, having a father with such a tarnished reputation will make it hard for her son to have a respectable future within the court." Sun Miaoniang is fiercely protective of her son. For her child’s sake, she would no doubt take action against Shen Xinglei. "Understood." Cui Ji nodded, though he couldn’t hide his surprise. "I’ve heard people in the Capital talk about the Seven Treasures Pavilion, saying it’s a newly established money shop that also deals in grain trading. So, it turns out the Pavilion belongs to you?" "More or less." Shen Yinning sat before her dressing mirror. "If you’re ever short on money, you can withdraw from the accounts too." Cui Ji watched as she adjusted her reflection in the bronze mirror and then applied a touch of crimson lipstick to her lips. She was the kind of woman who cherished her appearance and paid attention to her demeanor. Even though she was locked up in prison, she still made an effort to look her best. Her attire, food, and daily habits—all were of the highest quality. Cui Ji suspected that those two months she had disappeared to Jiangnan were pivotal, though he didn’t know what had transpired there. However, her return to the Capital, immediately establishing ownership of a money shop, was enough to show she had achieved significant success. His fists clenched in silence. He was too weak. He had never been able to stand shoulder to shoulder with her, nor even summon the courage to ask about her time in Jiangnan. He should have reached a higher position by now. So that when she stood against the overwhelming force of the Shen Guogong Mansion, she wouldn’t have to face loneliness and helplessness. Three days later. Today was the day of Shen Yinning’s trial. She styled her hair meticulously in front of the bronze mirror, crafting an elegant bun. Her softly curled bangs framed her smooth, fair forehead. Her eyebrows arched like distant mountains, her eyes shimmered like autumn waters, and her porcelain-like complexion harmonized beautifully with her lotus green jacket. Escorted by prison guards to the Ministry of Justice, she glanced around the hall. There were quite a few people present today. Apart from the officials presiding over the trial, many members of the Shen Family had also arrived. Shen Xinglei reclined against a soft chair, with Sun Miaoniang serving him food and drinks attentively by his side. Whatever nourishment they had given him over the past few days, it seemed to have revitalized him. His once pallid face now glowed with a rosy hue, almost as if he had been brought back from the brink of death. The moment he saw her, his expression filled with hatred and venom. He opened his mouth to speak, but all that came out were incoherent grunts. Shen Yinning tilted her head curiously. Had the maid Cui Ji bribed failed to accomplish her task? As she pondered this, Shen Xinghan’s gaze sharpened and became as menacing as a venomous serpent. "To the one standing below, why haven’t you knelt yet?" Shen Yinning smirked slightly. "Dear cousin, we are related by blood, and you and my second cousin are brothers. In matters of this case, you should recuse yourself to avoid bias. Why the show of authority here?" Shen Xinghan was momentarily speechless. Zhang Keyuan cleared his throat and struck the gavel. "Order in the court!" He cast a furtive glance behind the screen. With the Crown Prince watching in person, he didn’t dare to demand Shen Yinning kneel, opting instead to speak sternly: "Shen Yinning, the Shen Family accuses you of abducting Shen Xinglei, unlawfully imprisoning him, using excessive punishment, cruelly cutting out his tongue, shattering his knees and elbows, and rendering his limbs disabled. How do you plead?" "Your Honor, I know nothing of these accusations. I’m just a weak woman, so frail that I faint at the sight of blood. How could I commit such horrifying acts?" As Shen Yinning spoke, her expression shifted, filled with sympathy as she looked at Shen Xinglei, her eyes perfectly reddened with emotion. "How pitiful. Who could have done such a thing? What grudge, what enmity could warrant this? Second Brother, does it hurt?" With an air of concern, she approached Shen Xinglei and even reached out as if to touch his face. As she got closer, Shen Xinglei trembled violently, like a mouse encountering a cat, his body wracked with convulsions. His grunts of resistance turned into sharp, guttural noises. Clearly, he was terrified of her, down to his very bones. Shen Xinghan’s expression darkened. Though he had regarded his second brother as a pawn to sacrifice, the sight of Shen Xinglei’s abject fear hinted at the torment he had endured at Shen Yinning’s hands. "Oh," Shen Yinning said, covering her mouth in mock regret, "I nearly forgot. Second Brother’s tongue has been cut; he can no longer speak... Cousin claims it was my doing, but my second cousin is in such a state—unable to speak or write. How exactly did he identify me as the perpetrator? Did he visit you in a dream?" The surrounding officials chuckled quietly. Noticing Shen Xinghan’s sour look, they quickly lowered their heads and stifled their laughter. Shen Xinghan caught the flash of provocation in Shen Yinning’s eyes and said coldly, "It seems Cousin will only admit fault when faced with irrefutable evidence. Men." At his command, over a dozen servants entered the courtroom, carefully carrying large sheets of paper inscribed with countless characters, resembling an enlarged dictionary. Shen Xinghan turned to Shen Xinglei and said, "Though my second brother can neither speak nor write, he can nod to identify the culprit. Someone fetch a brush. The officials will point to each character on these papers one by one. When my second brother sees the words he wishes to say, he will nod." The faint smile on Shen Yinning’s lips faltered.

Chapter 301 - 299: Fear of Her Runs Deep in My Bones

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