Chapter 316: Chapter 314: The First to Kill You Alone
By all accounts, Shen Yinning is already a married woman, and Yan Zheming should not be so bold as to summon her to accompany him.
Yet everyone recalled the incident years ago when Shen Xingye killed Yan Zheming’s younger brother on the battlefield, and at once they understood the reason behind his request—
He did not truly wish for Shen Yinning to accompany him; he sought revenge for his brother.
The crowd turned their gazes upon Shen Yinning, their eyes filled with sympathy and pity.
Shen Xinghan tugged at the corners of his lips.
Consumed by hatred, it wasn’t until he left the Imperial Prison that he suddenly remembered the longstanding feud between Yan Zheming and Shen Xingye. Thus, even if Shen Yinning left the Ministry of Justice alive, he felt no regret and merely looked forward to watching the drama unfold.
But—
Shen Xinghan’s gaze fixed once more on Shen Yinning.
If he could think of this, surely Shen Yinning could too. Now that she had fallen into Yan Zheming’s grasp, wasn’t she afraid?
Or was it—
Was there some secret between Yan Zheming and Shen Yinning that he was unaware of?
The palace banquet came to an end amidst mutual suspicions.
Shen Yinning returned to the Gao Family residence at Lotus Lane, where the entire household was already ecstatic at the news of her being granted the title of Commandery Princess.
Gao Zheng exclaimed excitedly, "So this means I’ll be the Prince Consort from now on?!"
By extension, he considered himself practically royalty!
He could strut freely through the Capital!
Gao Zheng’s mother blushed with joy. "My son will be the Prince Consort, and I’ll be the Prince Consort’s mother! Shen, I heard that the Shen Garden belongs to you. Hurry up and order someone to tidy it up so that we can move in today! Now that our Gao Family is no longer what we used to be, this humble residence in Lotus Lane doesn’t befit our status. We ought to live somewhere like the Shen Garden!"
Shen Yinning grew impatient.
Haitang curtsied and said to the crowd, "Madam is feeling very tired and only wishes to return to her room to rest."
Now that she had attained the rank of Commandery Princess, though Gao Zheng and his mother hoped to ride her coattails to higher status, they didn’t dare challenge her mood. Reluctantly, they let her retreat to the side courtyard.
A lone, slender figure hid behind the crescent-moon gate.
Yin Shanshan watched as Shen Yinning’s silhouette disappeared from view, biting her lip involuntarily.
She had been delighted when Shen Yinning was suspected in a murder case a while ago.
She thought at last, that submissive woman was about to die.
Who would have guessed that not only did Shen Yinning survive, but she also dazzled during the palace banquet and was conferred the title of Commandery Princess.
This doesn’t make sense.
Based on her experience, those who shine in palace banquets between two nations ought to be someone like her—a modern-day transmigrator who could perform contemporary dances and recite the poetry of Li Bai, Du Fu, and Li Qingzhao. By all rights, the Commandery Princess title should belong to her. After all, that’s how novels usually unfold.
Her fingernails unconsciously scratched the wall.
She couldn’t understand what had gone wrong.
It felt as if someone had stolen her destined fate.
Suddenly, Yin Shanshan had an epiphany.
Could it be that Shen Yinning was actually a malicious supporting character who, out of envy for her good fortune, secretly hired a monk or Taoist priest to covertly swap their fates, transferring all her shining moments and wealth to herself?
Yin Shanshan recalled how novels about fate-switching often described it.
"How despicable," she hissed through gritted teeth, "Shen Yinning, do you think I’ll just let you push me around? Wait and see—I’m going to find a wandering Taoist to switch our fates back!"
Fueled by fury, she stormed off.
Shen Yinning remained oblivious to Yin Shanshan’s mental machinations.
As soon as she returned to her bedroom, she saw Lu Ying already there waiting.
He rarely visited the Gao Family residence during the day, usually only sending a carriage to fetch her to the Shen Garden at night. Today, however, for some reason, he had come personally.
Since Shen Yinning had stopped communicating with him in private after taking refuge in the Ministry of Justice, it had been more than half a month by now.
Like a hired worker preparing to clock in, she donned an appropriately sweet smile. "What wind blew the Crown Prince here today? This humble wife greets His Highness. May His Highness enjoy peace and health."
Lu Ying sat boldly in the armchair, holding a scroll of poetry she had transcribed, flipping through it.
Hearing her greeting, he closed the scroll and looked down at her.
After a long moment, he said, "Stand."
Shen Yinning slipped into his arms, wrapped her hands around his neck, and kissed his lips lightly. "Your Highness, I’ve missed you..."
The young woman was fiery and passionate.
Lu Ying caught her mischievous hand. "What deal did you make with Yan Zheming?"
Shen Yinning froze momentarily.
She withdrew her hand calmly. "Your Highness, I don’t understand what you mean?"
"Yan Zheming arranged for Gan Tangwei to compete in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting during the palace banquet. Ostensibly, it was to provoke Great Zhou, but in reality, it was to rescue you from the Ministry of Justice. Yan Zheming didn’t hold Shen Xingye’s actions against you. The only explanation I can think of is that you struck some sort of deal with him. Aside from Lu Zhengliu, Lu Jiazhe was also in charge of receiving Yan Zheming. How did you brush aside that fool Lu Jiazhe to deliver a message to Yan Zheming?"
Shen Yinning smoothed back a stray lock of her hair.
As expected, Lu Ying had quickly pieced together her secret.
Seeing her indifferent expression, Lu Ying warned her in a low voice, "The Emperor of Yan Country has twenty-nine sons, of whom only three are still alive. Yan Zheming is the one who triumphed. Guess how his brothers met their ends? Shen Zhaozhao, cooperating with him is no different from courting disaster."
"Your Highness," Shen Yinning’s lips curled faintly, "you wouldn’t help clear my name and wanted to send me to Gan State. For me to remain in the Capital, I had no choice but to leverage Yan Zheming for help. So even if I made some sort of deal with him, it’s entirely your fault for forcing me into it. What right do you have to blame me?"
Lu Ying was momentarily speechless.
This vixen imprisons Shen Xinglei and, after being caught, not only refuses to reflect on her actions but instead shifts the blame for her plight onto him?!
Indeed, Shen Zhaozhao knew only how to accuse others, never herself.
He pinched her delicate face, forcing her to meet his eyes.
Suppressing his temper, he demanded, "You blame everything on me, yet haven’t I treated you well enough?"
Shen Yinning remained silent.
The longer Lu Ying observed her, the more uneasy he felt.
Regardless of whether her father and brothers had truly committed treason, the fact remained that his father, the Emperor, had personally ordered their public execution.
Shen Zhaozhao harbored deep resentment toward her uncle for betraying her family—could she also harbor the same hatred toward his father, the Emperor?
Was she capable of betraying Great Zhou?
Lu Ying, typically composed and self-assured, felt his thoughts become restless.
This notion caused him to furrow his brows involuntarily.
His expression darkened. "I can overlook your harmless tricks, but Shen Zhaozhao, when it comes to matters of the state, I will not allow you to act recklessly. If you dare betray Great Zhou, I will be the first to kill you."
Shen Yinning stared at him.
The young Crown Prince of Great Zhou, handsome and radiant, austere yet dignified.
After their trip to Jiangnan, he had treated her with increasing patience and gentleness.
Yet at this moment, the depth of malice and murderous intent in his slender eyes was unmistakable.
A clear reminder that he was not just Lu Ying; he was also the Crown Prince of this empire.