Chapter 66 - 65: Others Have Learned Their Lesson

Words : 1250 Updated : Sep 12th, 2025

Chapter 66: Chapter 65: Others Have Learned Their LessonLu Ying: "Once you’re pregnant, I’ll naturally take you out." The pastries crafted by palace chefs were supposed to be exquisite and aromatic, yet Shen Yinning found them completely tasteless. Though she wasn’t sure how many days she’d been confined, it had to have been quite some time. Surely Empress Dowager Li would step in to save her by now? "I can’t eat anymore..." She pushed away Lu Ying’s hand that was offering food, leaning delicately against his chest. "Brother Lu Ying, it’s so lonely staying in this place all by myself, day after day. Can’t you tell me something interesting about what’s been happening in the Capital recently? I heard the Empress Dowager went to Xiaokan Temple to worship Buddha—has she returned to the Capital?" The young woman’s voice was muffled, lacking the crisp, ethereal charm it once had. She seemed like a drooping, withered flower. Lu Ying responded indifferently, "Why inquire about the Empress Dowager?" "I’m just idle with nothing to do." Shen Yinning playfully shook his arm in a coquettish manner. "Why don’t you bring me a few books to stave off boredom the next time you visit? I promise I’ve learned my lesson and won’t act recklessly anymore." "Learned your lesson? How well have you learned it?" "The incident with the scented powder was my fault toward my sister. Since Brother Lu Ying wants me to bear a child in her place, then I’ll do it. From now on, whatever Brother Lu Ying says will be like law to me. Even if you want me to serve my sister as a maid, I’ll do it willingly—as long as you don’t abandon me. In the past, I was foolish, but I’ve come to understand now; I’ve long loved Brother Lu Ying to the bone. Brother Lu Ying..." She spread her lotus-white tender arms, passionately wrapping them around Lu Ying’s broad shoulders. She was indeed acting unnaturally obedient. The next day. Shen Yinning was still deep in slumber when soft hands suddenly pushed her awake: "Zhaozhao, Zhaozhao!" "Mianmian?" Shen Yinning rubbed her sleepy eyes. Upon recognizing the young girl before her, her drowsiness vanished instantly, and she hurriedly sat upright. "Why are you here?" "I pleaded for the gentleman’s favor so I could come to Shen Garden to visit you." Xue Mianmian’s heart was full of worry. "I heard the gentleman say you suffered greatly at the hands of Ruizhu. I begged him to save you. Now it seems that while he did get you out from Ruizhu’s clutches, you’re still enduring hardship under the Crown Prince’s care. Didn’t the Crown Prince once adore you? How did things end up like this?" Shen Yinning mocked herself: "Adore me? Whether in the past or now, he’s never adored me." The one Lu Ying adored had always been Shen Yunxi. Even though Shen Yunxi was unbearably foolish, unfit for the position of Crown Princess Consort, he still elevated her to that seat. Shen Yunxi is truly blessed. A needle-like pain expanded in her heart. She quickly changed the subject: "Mianmian, so it was you who helped me escape Ruizhu’s grasp. I thought it was Empress Dowager Li. Xue Ling wouldn’t help me without ulterior motives—did you agree to some unreasonable demand of his?" Xue Mianmian looked sheepish. Eating beef tripe hotpot hardly counted as something outrageous. Not wanting Shen Yinning to worry about her, she forced a smile. "The gentleman is quite fond of me; you don’t need to worry about me." "Xue Ling is cunning and ruthless, how could I not worry about you? Besides, he’s bound to marry and have children one day. What will you do when that time comes?" At the mention of this, Xue Mianmian’s eyes lit up: "I’ve made an agreement with him—after he marries and has children, he’ll send me to live on an estate as a servant, and I won’t have to appear before him anymore. I heard—actually, I heard from Madam Chief of Staff—that she’s already looking for suitable matches for him. Zhaozhao, perhaps he’ll marry and have children soon! Then I’ll finally be free!" Her sweet and delicate appearance made her seem even younger than she actually was. As Shen Yinning looked at her innocent face, she didn’t know what to say. Someone like Xue Ling, a wicked demon, how could he possibly let her go? Only Xue Ling’s death would truly free her. She couldn’t bear to shatter Xue Mianmian’s hope, so she asked instead, "Has Empress Dowager Li returned to the Capital?" "She has." Xue Mianmian nodded her little head. "She returned yesterday—you should’ve seen the procession on the streets, it was quite the spectacle!" Shen Yinning breathed a sigh of relief: "It’s good she has returned..." As long as Empress Dowager Li was back in the Capital, there was hope for her escape. She indeed contemplated having a child to bind Lu Ying. But this child absolutely couldn’t grow up by Shen Yunxi’s side. For now, it wasn’t the right time for her to conceive. While she and Xue Mianmian were talking, meanwhile in the palace... The Empress Dowager had returned to Cining Palace today. Princes, princesses, and concubines flocked to pay their respects. When Lu Ying and Shen Yunxi arrived, the Empress Dowager was admiring the Buddhist Scripture hand-copied by Shen Yinning. She said warmly, "Jingwei, take a look at this script—what do you think?" "Jingwei" was Lu Ying’s literary name, and only the Empress Dowager addressed him this way. Before Lu Ying could respond, Shen Yunxi smiled sweetly and remarked, "Is this perhaps the renowned script of Lady Shen? Though I reside in the Eastern Palace, I’ve heard Qianqian speak highly of her. While the handwriting is exquisite, Lady Shen’s disposition appears to be quite arrogant. Even as the rightful Crown Princess Consort, I sent people to inquire about her residence, yet they couldn’t find her! In my humble opinion, it’s due to scholars and literary elites being overly elevated by figures like the esteemed Imperial Grandmother, which has led them to develop conceited attitudes, even disregarding members of the Imperial Family!" The hall fell into awkward silence. It was widely accepted that calligraphy and literature reflected a dynasty’s cultural sophistication, hence rulers throughout history greatly valued scholars and poets. Shen Yunxi’s remarks were utterly misguided! Lu Ying lowered his eyelids. "The Crown Princess Consort is naive and uninformed. I ask for your forgiveness, Imperial Grandmother." Sёarch* The Nôvel(F)ire.ηet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The Empress Dowager retorted coldly, "Indeed, that was a ’humble opinion.’ Shen Yunxi, leave now—I still have matters to discuss with Jingwei." Shen Yunxi blushed with embarrassment. The Empress Dowager had always disliked her; she had only been trying to win her favor but had somehow provoked her displeasure again. Not daring to make a fuss, Shen Yunxi withdrew timidly. The Empress Dowager handed the Buddhist Scripture to Lu Ying. "Take a closer look at this script—what do you think?" Lu Ying examined it meticulously before commenting, "The strokes are like iron tracing silver and penetrating deeply into the wood. The entire piece blends resoluteness and compassion equally, akin to flowers with two faces, half-Buddha, half-demon. Such remarkable calligraphy deserves to be preserved for generations. Imperial Grandmother, this Lady Shen is truly an extraordinary calligrapher." "Excellent insight." The Empress Dowager chuckled. "Take a guess—who do you think she is?"

Chapter 66 - 65: Others Have Learned Their Lesson

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