Chapter 386: Chapter 384: If You Dare Marry Him, I Will Destroy Him
Shen Garden.
Shen Yinning was studying the designs of wedding gowns when Haitang rushed in with a pale face to report: "Commandery Princess, the Crown Prince has arrived!"
Shen Yinning’s expression remained calm.
Lu Ying coming personally was a clear sign of his dissatisfaction with the contents of her letter.
She had long known that marrying Cui Ji wouldn’t be a smooth affair, but thankfully, she had already prepared for such a scenario.
She lowered her voice: "What about the elixir pills?"
"Commandery Princess, are you really going to use them?" Haitang cautiously retrieved one pill.
Shen Yinning swallowed it with water: "I, Shen Zhaozhao, have strived and fought my whole life, only to lose to Lu Ying. But I refuse to accept defeat. If he dares to make her his Empress, then I dare to marry someone else. It’s not as if no one wants me. Why should I humbly beg him? Besides, Cui Ji is the epitome of excellence, and he truly cares for me. Marrying him is me climbing higher, not stooping lower."
Haitang poured her half a cup of tea: "Miss Wen said this elixir would take effect immediately, and even the finest Imperial Physician wouldn’t detect anything except the pulse of someone one month pregnant. But Commandery Princess, you must think carefully—once you marry Master Cui, there’s no turning back."
"My uncle is dead, leaving only Shen Xinghan and Shen Yunxi." Shen Yinning secretly clenched her fists. "If Huo Mingyan becomes Empress, then at most Shen Yunxi will secure a concubine title, posing little threat to me. I no longer need to rely on Lu Ying; I can handle those siblings on my own. Lu Ying, to me, is no longer as important as he once was."
As she spoke, Lu Ying had already reached the door of her boudoir.
He stepped across the threshold without hesitation.
Broad-shouldered, narrow-waisted, tall, his presence carried a chilling pressure like frost and snow. As he entered, it was as though the room itself shrank in size.
Haitang quietly withdrew, carefully shutting the door behind them.
Lu Ying’s gaze landed on the sketches filled with wedding gown designs and floral patterns.
They were so dazzling, so unbearably offensive to his eyes.
His hand, resting against his back, slowly turned the Jade Ring on his finger. His eyes were dark, his voice cold: "Planning to marry Cui Ji? Have you even asked *me* for my opinion?"
Shen Yinning locked the sketches away in her vanity box: "It seems you didn’t read a single word of the letter I sent you."
Lu Ying said nothing.
Shen Yinning picked up her teacup, sipping slowly.
Tasting the bitterness between her lips and teeth, she fixed her gaze on the radiant but oppressive figure before her: "I admit I can’t outmaneuver you in the court. You’re about to ascend as Emperor; that, Lu Jingwei, is your accomplishment. I understand the responsibilities of an Emperor include ensuring the continuation of royal offspring and expanding the dynasty’s lineage, so making an Empress and taking concubines is what the people expect—no one can oppose this. But Lu Ying, why is it that you’re allowed three palaces and six courtyards, yet I can’t marry? You have countless beauties in your harem, and I’m not even allowed one confidant? How is that fair?"
Lu Ying looked at her coldly.
She was disturbingly composed.
It was as if, during those sleepless nights when she trapped him in Shen Garden and whispered all those words of love and possessiveness, it had been nothing but an illusion.
Indeed, how much of what Shen Zhaozhao said could ever really be true?
Perhaps, those sweet, enchanting words had been spoken to any number of men before him.
The bitter scent of tea lingered in the room.
From the bitterness, Lu Ying caught the unique, delicate fragrance of Shen Yinning’s presence—a scent that seemed to bind his mind and soul, forcing him to think of her, to approach her.
His pale complexion glowed faintly red with a sickly hue, and, with his hands behind his back, he advanced toward her step by step: "Making Huo Mingyan Empress is a move to balance the power of noble families both within the Central Plains and outside the border. She is considerate, pragmatic, and understands the significance of political marriage. She knows I feel nothing for her romantically, nor does she mind my involvement with you."
So, could she not marry Cui Ji?
Could they not keep their relationship as it was before?
Shen Yinning raised her chin and gazed up at him: "You’ve had two wives, and you treated both with respect. Even the concubines in the Eastern Palace could feel how kind and benevolent you are. But Lu Ying, when it comes to me, your treatment is overly cruel and stingy..."
When her family was charged and stripped of its rank, he made her kneel and beg.
When she returned to the capital from Gan State, he forced her to humbly bow and scrape.
He broke her pride, demanding she follow him and serve him without name or status.
Even now, as he ascends as Emperor, he refuses to grant her any title, yet still insists she remain unmarried.
Love is the breeding ground of hate.
Shen Yinning’s affection for Lu Ying had transformed into a resentment—a hatred born from his refusal to give her recognition and his decision to make another woman Empress.
They were unequal.
It seemed that only by marrying others could she find a shred of dignity within the disparity of their circumstances.
Shadows fell.
Lu Ying towered above her, his long fingers gripping her chin tightly, forcing her to raise her head.
His narrow eyes brimmed with madness, dark and vivid: "If you dare marry him, I’ll destroy him."
Shen Yinning curved her crimson lips, her phoenix-like eyes with a sinister smile: "Forgot to tell you—I’m already carrying Cui Ji’s child."
The boudoir fell into silence, as if the air around them was crystallizing into sheets of ice.
A storm seemed to swirl in Lu Ying’s eyes.
No one knew how long passed before he suddenly tightened his grip on her chin: "You’re lying!"
Shen Yinning winced in pain, shoving his hand away: "If you don’t believe me, have Doctor Xiao Chen check!"
Doctor Xiao Chen was hurriedly brought in by Bai Ling, and upon seeing the tense scene in the room, his head felt like it would split open.
Whenever these two fought, it was always the ministers who suffered.
After carefully taking Shen Yinning’s pulse, he froze for a moment before smiling and rising to bow: "Congratulations, Crown Prince! Congratulations, Commandery Princess Zhaoning! The Commandery Princess is indeed pregnant—about a month along, and the pulse is healthy. With the Crown Prince about to be crowned Emperor, and now blessed with the first child, this is doubly joyous news!"
But after offering his congratulations, neither person in the room said a word.
The Crown Prince’s expression visibly darkened, almost as if storm clouds were gathering on his face.
Doctor Xiao Chen looked helplessly for Haitang’s assistance as she entered with tea.
Haitang didn’t even dare breathe loudly; after setting down the tea, she simply lowered her head and shrank to the side.
The tea cooled halfway before Lu Ying finally spoke, his voice grinding out each word: "One month ago..."
One month ago was the time he had been demoted to a commoner and punished in the Cold Palace.
During that period, he hadn’t touched Shen Yinning.
The teacup in his hand shattered audibly with a "bang."
Both Haitang and Doctor Xiao Chen immediately knelt to the ground.
Ignoring the shards of porcelain slicing into his palm, blood trickling down, Lu Ying’s reddened eyes locked onto Shen Yinning: "You truly... exceeded my expectations."
Shen Yinning lowered her lashes: "Thank you, Your Highness, for the compliment. Now, can I marry Cui Ji?"
Lu Ying said nothing, staring at her deeply before abruptly turning and leaving with a swish of his sleeve.
By the afternoon, the Imperial Decree of marriage had arrived at Shen Garden.
Wei Yu listened to Gui Quan’s reading, shocked: "A concubine?! The Crown Prince decrees that our Commandery Princess should only be a concubine to Master Cui?! And let Shangguan Min enter the household as his wife on the same day?! Gui Gonggong, you must be mistaken!"
Gui Quan sighed heavily: "How could something like this be a mistake? His Highness said that the Commandery Princess was ultimately responsible for Duke Shen’s death. Although the Red Book Iron Certificate spares her from execution, she can escape death but not punishment. So, not only has she been demoted to concubine, Master Cui must also build a Buddhist hall in his residence, where the Commandery Princess is to spend her days in prayer and reflection!"