Chapter 303 - 301: I Want to Take Responsibility for You

Words : 1451 Updated : Oct 20th, 2025

Lu Ying said, "I know you hate Shen Xinglei, but taking a life should be a swift matter. Why go to such extremes?"Shen Yinning lowered her gaze, toying with the leather belt fastened at his waist. "Taking a life swiftly—whether that holds depends on who is being killed. Someone like Shen Xinglei, who not only falsely accused my father and brother of embezzling military funds but also beat his soldiers to death without cause, and worse still, used his position as a general to lead his men in massacring borderland herders, tormenting civilians for his own amusement. The innocent people who have died under his blade likely far outnumber enemy troops. "Such a man, utterly devoid of loyalty, filial piety, humanity, and righteousness—killing him outright would be letting him off too easily. I insist that he lives in misery, that he suffers every indignity, that he dies a wretched death. Lu Ying, do you see that plaque at the Ministry of Justice inscribed with ’Impartial and Clear as a Mirror’? But all I see is officials shielding each other, driven solely by profit. "Yes, I have done cruel things, but I do not regret them, nor do I think I was wrong. Sometimes, justice in this world is not found in court halls but in people’s hearts. Go ask around the teahouses and taverns in the Capital—does anyone actually think I was wrong?" Lu Ying was well aware that the people of the Capital had been talking about this case lately. Storytellers slapped their tables in approval, cursing Shen Xinglei as deserving his fate. Even the Shen Family had been affected. It was said that when the Duke of the Shen Family traveled by carriage, he was cursed for failing to raise proper sons, with rotten eggs discreetly thrown at his carriage. Lu Ying massaged his temples. By principle, he ought to condemn Shen Zhaozhao. After all, she was not the government; she had no right to administer punishment to Shen Xinglei on its behalf. But emotionally... Shen Xinglei’s reckless killing of innocents and disregard for human life—why should he be allowed to live, exiled to the borders, and continue to exploit the shelter provided by the Shen Guogong Mansion to act with impunity? Lu Ying pinched Shen Yinning’s cheeks. "How much more trouble are you planning to cause?" "Ow..." The girl pouted coquettishly, breaking free from his hand and pressing her delicate face against his chest. "Hurry up and figure out a way to get me out of here, won’t you? I don’t want to stay in the Ministry of Justice anymore. I want out, I want out!" Lu Ying was utterly helpless against her. This little fox spirit wreaked chaos wherever she went, stirring up storms in the Capital with reckless abandon, doing exactly as she pleased and leaving countless messes behind for him to clean up. She never turned her frustrations inward; she only ever blamed others. "Why aren’t you saying anything?" Shen Yinning tilted her head up to look at him, then suddenly leaned closer to kiss his thin lips. "I know this case isn’t completely resolved yet, and I’m still a suspect. But as they say, ’when in doubt, presume innocence.’ Lu Ying, why don’t you pull some strings for me? Then I might just get out of here, wouldn’t I? Surely, it’s not a difficult thing for you." Her lips were soft and rosy, carrying the sweet floral scent of her lip balm. Seeing that Lu Ying remained silent, Shen Yinning tried to kiss him again— But he stopped her by pressing her face back. Her alluring phoenix eyes filled with discontent, and her voice became all the more delicate and pleading. "Lu Ying?" Lu Ying spoke calmly, "The envoy from Yan Country is about to arrive in the Capital, and Yan Zheming is among them." Yan Zheming... "The Crown Prince of Yan? He’s personally coming for negotiations?" Shen Yinning appeared surprised, then dismissed it casually. "What does that have to do with me?" "What does it have to do with you?" Lu Ying studied her seriously. "Do you still recall who Shen Xingye killed on the battlefield when he conquered eight northern cities all those years ago?" Shen Yinning remembered. Back then, it was Yan Zhehai, Yan Zheming’s younger brother, who defended those eight cities—her brother had killed him. She lowered her head, fiddling with her nails. "You’re afraid that once he arrives in the Capital, he’ll come looking for trouble with me? But on the battlefield, swords are blind, and casualties are inevitable. There’s nothing to be done about it. Surely, he wouldn’t travel all this way just to settle a grudge from four or five years ago, would he?" Though her words were dismissive, her eyes betrayed a trace of irritation and unease. Her fingertips turned cold. One Shen Xinghan was trouble enough; if Yan Zheming were to seek revenge as well— Lu Ying’s expression turned serious. "I’m arranging for you to go to Gan State." Shen Yinning looked up in disbelief. "I’ve only just returned to the Capital, and now you want to send me away? Lu Ying, what’s that supposed to mean? Can’t you protect me? Are you afraid of Yan Zheming? He’s a Crown Prince, and you’re a Crown Prince. What is there to fear?" Lu Ying was not afraid of Yan Zheming. His father and Lu Zhengliu wanted to negotiate peace with Yan Country, but he did not. In the years since the deaths of Shen Zhi and Shen Xingye, Yan Country’s army had raided Great Zhou’s territory every autumn, plundering their grain, water, livestock, and horses. Great Zhou had continually made concessions, only for Yan Country to worsen their offenses by allying with the Western Regions. Lu Ying knew that should they initiate a peace negotiation, the outcome would be an endless cycle of territorial cessions, reparations, and humiliating submission. He had no intention of bowing to these barbarians. He planned to eliminate Yan Zheming while he was in the Capital, thereby cutting off all hope for negotiations. Faced with Shen Yinning’s sharp, questioning gaze, Lu Ying gently stroked her slender waist, as if soothing a fox that bristled with anger. He patiently explained, "Sending you to Gan State is not solely about avoiding Yan Zheming. You’re a clever girl—you should understand that for the past few months, Lu Zhengliu and I have been at odds in court. The downfall of the Luo Family has only accelerated his plans. Shen Zhaozhao, the Capital in the days ahead may not be peaceful. I don’t want you caught in the crossfire." Shen Yinning studied him. Spring sunlight streamed through the small lattice window. His refined bone structure exuded elegance; his demeanor, honed by his status as Crown Prince, was both cool and noble. His fair complexion and crimson lips fit the poetic description, "As jade among stones, as pines among greenery; his beauty unmatched, unparalleled in the world." After a long pause, she probed, "You’re concerned about me? You’re afraid something might happen to me?" Lu Ying held her slender waist firmly in his hands. Her fragrance was intoxicating, sweeter than the floral scent carried by the spring breeze. She was like a ripe apple hanging on a sunlit branch, tempting him to take a forbidden bite. The sunlight was warm, and the scars left by the poisonous insect on his left arm itched faintly in its glow. His heart itched too. He seemed at a loss as to what to do with the girl in his arms. Restraining his impulses, he answered earnestly, "I want to take responsibility for you." He had taken her innocence. And over the past year, he had often had her share his bed. Although a thorn of resentment still lingered in his heart over how she had treated him with cold indifference in their youth, he was a man. Since he had decided to formally shield her under his protection, he would do what needed to be done. "When all the troubles have been dealt with, when the dust has settled in the Capital," he gazed at Shen Yinning, "I will send someone to Gan State to bring you back. When that time comes, I will welcome you into the palace. I promise you—it will take no longer than a year, at most two." Shen Yinning understood what he meant. He was no longer content with his position as Crown Prince—he was aiming for an even higher place. After a moment of thought, she replied with equal seriousness, "I refuse. Lu Ying, I want to stay in the Capital. I won’t go to Gan State. I won’t go anywhere else."

Chapter 303 - 301: I Want to Take Responsibility for You

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