Chapter 372: Chapter 370 She blew a breath at Lu Ying’s cheek
Shen Yinning said nonchalantly, "Oh, he made a mistake, and I’m punishing him."
Lu Jiazhe took quite a while to digest this sentence.
He cast a cautious glance at Lu Ying. This elder cousin of his was truly a formidable figure—seeing him being punished by kneeling?
It was as if the sun had risen in the west!
Fearing that Lu Ying might vent his anger on him, Lu Jiazhe quickly withdrew his gaze, pretending not to see his cousin’s miserable humiliation.
Eagerly, he presented a bamboo basket. "Fresh lychees! Just delivered from Lingnan. There’s only a handful of them in the entire Capital. I remembered that Sister Shen loves eating them, so I brought a bundle for you."
The freshly chilled lychees were vibrant red, their leaves still a verdant green, exuding an intoxicating fragrance.
Though summer had just begun, lychees at this time of year were still incredibly rare.
Shen Yinning’s phoenix eyes lit up. "I’ll have someone prepare a small banquet and invite a few more people to share them. Aze, you should stay, too."
Lu Jiazhe coughed lightly and shot a furtive glance at Lu Ying. "Perhaps we should invite Cousin to join us?"
Shen Yinning glanced at Lu Ying as well.
The young man was undeniably striking, though the faint nail marks—reddish and ambiguous—on his neck betrayed an untold story. Some of them likely came from Shen Xinya’s hand.
Her dissipated anger surged back, and she scoffed contemptuously, "Does he deserve it?"
The proud young woman turned and walked away.
The golden embroidery of sparrows and flowers on her emerald cloak shimmered luxuriously in the sunset, its brilliance landing unbidden in the shadowy depths of Lu Ying’s dark eyes.
Lu Ying raised a hand to touch the marks on his neck.
Last night, he and Shen Xinya hadn’t done anything. Yet this woman had jumped to conclusions.
It seemed, even in passing, her gaze just now had misinterpreted the origin of these marks.
Not only was he unmotivated to explain himself, but deep within his unperturbed heart, a faint thread of secret mockery intertwined with bitter satisfaction quietly stirred.
He wasn’t sure whether Shen Yinning truly harbored feelings for him.
But if she did, then she ought to experience the anguish of jealousy, just as he had.
The relentless ache of yearning, bitter and unfulfilled—he had endured it for many long years.
As twilight fell, the guests Shen Yinning had invited gradually arrived.
Xue Mianmian and Xue Qingqing came bearing a box of flower cakes and a jar of Osmanthus Brew. Led by a maid through the courtyard, they glimpsed Lu Ying kneeling there. Frightened, the pair shuddered visibly, pretended they hadn’t seen him, and hastened toward the pavilion.
Wen Liluo arrived at Shen Garden later than the sisters. Spotting Lu Ying being punished, she clutched her horsetail whisk tightly and chanted "Amitabha" three times in fear, feeling an urge to abandon Seven Treasures Pavilion, pack up her things immediately, and flee—lest she be implicated by Shen Yinning!
Cui Ji was among the invited as well.
Fresh from court, he hadn’t had time to change from his official robes.
As he passed Lu Ying, he lowered his eyes to look at him. By the lantern’s glow, he noticed the suggestive red marks on Lu Ying’s neck, clearly illuminated.
Cui Ji clenched his fists tightly, shadowed by a heavy gloom he couldn’t suppress.
He understood that, even as punishment, Shen Yinning treated Lu Ying differently.
She and Lu Ying could tear into each other at any time, hurling spiteful words at will. Yet when dealing with him, it always felt as though there was an invisible wall between them, unspoken and impenetrable. They remained cordial—forever unable to reach the same reckless intimacy she shared with Lu Ying.
Her eyes contained Lu Ying alone.
How long would it take for her to move her gaze toward him?
Cui Ji withdrew his gaze and entered the pavilion in silence.
Lu Ying licked his cracked lips.
He watched Cui Ji’s retreating figure, unaware of the traces of crimson flickering in his deep, dark eyes—like two moons bathed in blood.
He remembered that Shen Yinning had told him just the other day that Cui Ji would no longer be allowed to step foot into Shen Garden.
Yet, here she was, inviting Cui Ji again.
Of course—how could Shen Yinning’s words ever be trusted?
She was the world’s most skilled liar.
As the lychee banquet commenced, laughter echoed from the pavilion above.
Lu Ying tilted his head upward.
Behind the lattice window, under the glow of candlelight, the young lady sat in the center—radiant and dazzling, like a peony in full bloom. Her beauty was fiery, blinding in its intensity, every smile a burning splendor.
Cui Ji showed not a trace of the authority of a Vice Minister of the Ministry of Justice as he sat beside her. His eyes practically devoured her as he personally poured wine and served dishes for her.
Lu Ying had no doubt—if Shen Yinning’s embroidered shoe were to fall to the floor, Cui Ji wouldn’t hesitate to kneel before her and gently place it back on her foot.
A crescent moon hung at the tip of the curved eaves, casting pale silver light in the courtyard where shadows danced among the trees.
The cheer from the high pavilion only accentuated the courtyard’s emptiness.
"Your Highness..."
A soft, timid voice suddenly interrupted.
Shen Xinya approached cautiously, cradling a plate of pastries. "I took these from the small kitchen for you. You must be hungry by now. Oh, I also brought a jug of warm water..."
Lu Ying didn’t take the pastries but accepted the jug.
After hours without water, he quickly drank it dry.
Returning the jug to Shen Xinya, he said, "Thank you."
Shen Xinya held the empty jug, glanced up at the pavilion, and frowned. "Cousin was truly too much today. It isn’t anything for me to be sent to the kitchen as a servant, but it’s heartbreaking to see Your Highness endure such humiliation... I heard Cui Ji came to Shen Garden again tonight. Cousin herself has improper relations with men, so how does she have the nerve to blame Your Highness? Throughout history, it’s normal for men to have multiple wives and concubines, but women should be virtuous and pure. Cousin spends her nights drinking with men—it’s utterly disgraceful."
Lu Ying knew she was trying to fan the flames.
But between him and Shen Yinning, wasn’t the relationship already severed beyond repair? Was there still anything to stir?
Shen Xinya wiped off a smudge of soot on her cheek and said gently, "If I stay here, Cousin will get angry the moment she sees me. I should leave for now. Your Highness, I’ll come again tomorrow."
She bowed respectfully and disappeared swiftly into the night.
It was nearing two in the morning when the banquet above finally came to an end.
Lu Ying was escorted by maids to treat his wounds, bathe, and change into fresh clothes before being taken to Shen Yinning’s bedroom.
The young lady had also bathed, now dressed in a light moon-white gown, her raven-black hair cascading freely down her waist.
Having drunk wine earlier that evening, her snow-white skin glowed delicately with the blush of her cheeks and the corners of her eyes, her phoenix eyes bright and sparkling. She held a small gilt-edged sandalwood fan, mimicking the operatic gestures of a leading lady on stage, singing on the circular rug before her canopy bed.
"Clouds veil the moon, winds sway the iron—these two things move hearts to sorrow..."
The night breeze slipped through the window, snuffing out the table’s candles.
In the dim light of the moon, the young lady, hands twisted into orchid fingers, barefoot and intoxicated, staggered unsteadily—
Landing, trembling, in Lu Ying’s arms.
Shen Yinning raised her soft, glossy, and drunken phoenix eyes, using her small gilt fan to lift Lu Ying’s chin, and continued to hum, "Silver lamp cut, wanting to write one’s thoughts, a sigh snuffs it with a breath..."
Her ruby lips parted slightly, blowing a soft, light breath against Lu Ying’s cheek.