Chapter 339: Chapter 337: She Developed Feelings for Lu Ying
When Lu Ying was about to leave, Shen Yunxi suddenly remembered that he was Shen Yinning’s fiancé.
Why was it that all the good things in the world belonged to Shen Yinning?
Uneasy at heart and reluctant for Lu Ying to leave so soon, she feigned the demeanor of an innocent and lively young girl, sweetly calling out, "Brother-in-law, won’t you stay for a meal and wait for my sister while you’re at it? Perhaps she’ll return soon."
Lu Ying’s departing silhouette paused.
Though he was someone usually cold and composed, something in her words seemed to strike a nerve, and he unexpectedly decided to stay for the meal.
Shen Yunxi hovered around him, chattering endlessly, "Brother-in-law, what kind of tree did you bring into the estate just now?"
"An apple tree."
"Is it for my sister?"
"Yes."
Amidst the fresh green leaves were clusters of pale pink blossoms.
Shen Yunxi wasn’t particularly fond of these small flowers; she preferred the luxuriant splendor of dahlias and peonies. But the thought that Lu Ying had brought this for Shen Yinning stirred her to intercept it halfway.
In a crisp tone, she said, "But Brother-in-law, my sister really likes exotic and vibrant flowers. If you gift her an apple tree, she might be unhappy. Why don’t you give it to me instead? I really like these simple and modest flowers!"
At that time, Lu Ying had only recently ascended the position of Crown Prince, still a teenager with a hint of immaturity in his ways, far from the composed and dignified manner he displayed now. Believing her words, he thought gifting the apple tree to Shen Yinning might indeed upset her, so he agreed to give the tree to Shen Yunxi instead.
That was the first time Shen Yunxi managed to take something away from Shen Yinning.
And her feelings for Lu Ying began to blossom.
She invited a gardener to care for the apple tree, but after its blooms faded, it withered, never bearing a single apple.
At dusk, she crouched beneath the wilting apple tree, crying for a long time.
As she cried, she resolved that she would take the Crown Prince from Shen Yinning at any cost.
No matter the means — even if it meant ruining Shen Yinning’s household, even if it led to the death of her doting uncle, aunt, and cousins — she would destroy their whole family to claim this engagement for herself.
Memories of youth drifted like fleeting shadows.
Shen Yunxi bit her lower lip, gazing at Lu Ying with eyes full of deep affection.
Suddenly, she declared solemnly to Lian Ye, "I cannot bear for anything to happen to the Crown Prince."
Without waiting for Lian Ye to respond, she abruptly lifted her skirts and jumped down from the carriage, rushing toward Lu Ying with reckless abandon.
"Your Highness!"
She called out loudly in the darkness, her hairpin falling to the ground as she ran. The chiffon shawl draped over her arm fluttered and swayed in the wind. She shed her heavy, ornate golden outer garments as she ran, not caring even when her embroidered shoes fell off.
She thought to herself, she would personally shield the Crown Prince from any arrows.
She wanted the Crown Prince to know just how deeply she loved him!
In her imagination, she saw herself with her white dress and wide sleeves billowing in the wind, her black hair cascading like a waterfall, her eyes slightly red and brimming with emotion under the moonlit scenery. The juxtaposition of her delicate beauty with the chaos of battle would leave an indelible impression, making her look as poignant and captivating as a fallen princess of a vanquished kingdom.
When the Crown Prince saw her rushing to save him with no regard for her own life, he would undoubtedly be moved beyond words!
He would undoubtedly be struck by her great beauty!
However—
Lu Ying, who had been handling Yan Zheming’s guards with ease, paid no attention to the archers in the shadows.
He could have retreated safely, but alas, Shen Yunxi appeared out of nowhere.
Disheveled, her hair in a mess like a bird’s nest, she looked like a wild ghost from the deep mountains, frantically scurrying about in a white dress with black hair trailing behind.
He froze for a moment, and in that fleeting distraction, an arrow grazed his arm, leaving a shallow cut.
He caught the arrow with ease and flung it back at the archer. The feathered arrow whistled through the air before impaling the guard’s heart!
Someone recognized Shen Yunxi and shouted to use her to threaten Lu Ying. He had no choice but to divert his attention to protect her.
Shen Yunxi was deeply moved. "Your Highness, you don’t need to worry about me. I came here to save you!"
Lu Ying furrowed his brows tightly, utterly uninterested in this burdensome fool.
"Ah! Your Highness, watch out!"
An arrow suddenly came towards them. Although Lu Ying could have easily cut it down with his sword, Shen Yunxi rushed forward of her own volition, spreading her arms wide in self-sacrifice to block it. The arrow lodged deeply into her shoulder.
Lu Ying: "..."
He regretted marrying Shen Yunxi solely to spite Shen Yinning back then. Truly, what had he been thinking?
Sometimes he wondered if Mrs. Qin had lost her actual child during childbirth and mistakenly raised the placenta instead.
Nonetheless, Shen Yunxi was still his Crown Princess Consort, and she had risked her life to protect him. As much as he found her both foolish and malicious, he had nothing to say at this moment. He silently finished off the remaining guards.
The ground at Yan Ziji was strewn with corpses.
Lu Ying gestured for Lian Ye and the other palace maids to carry Shen Yunxi back into the carriage. "Take her back to the palace."
Shen Yunxi had fainted either from fear or pain and lay unconscious, allowing them to carry her into the carriage without resistance.
Not far away.
Shen Yinning, hidden behind a window, witnessed the entire scene.
Her cousin, though both foolish and vile, genuinely loved Lu Ying.
If ever faced with a dire moment of life and death, Shen Yunxi would undoubtedly risk everything for him.
But as for herself...
Shen Yinning didn’t think she could lay down her life for Lu Ying.
As she lowered her gaze in contemplation, Xue Ling had already brought people to Yan Ziji. Seeing Lu Ying covered in blood, they hurriedly presented a set of clean clothing they had prepared in advance.
Lu Ying ordered them to light a fire on the spot and then carried the clothing to find Shen Yinning.
The building she was in had partially collapsed. Moonlight streamed through the broken roof, illuminating the young woman kneeling by the window frame, her soaked garments clinging to her graceful figure. Her long black hair cascaded like a dark shadow on the ground. Her translucent, snow-white skin and crimson lips stood out even more as her phoenix eyes met his gaze, making her look like a mischievous fox spirit of the wild woods.
Lu Ying handed her the clothes. "These are too large for you, but they’ll have to do for now."
Shen Yinning took the clothing.
As their fingers briefly touched, the warmth of his skin, alive with a faint iron tang of blood, seeped through.
Hugging the clean, warm clothes to her chest, she noted how Lu Ying treated her better than he treated Shen Yunxi.
Yet, if one considered heartfelt devotion, Shen Yunxi had undoubtedly given more than she had.
She wanted to ask Lu Ying what he truly thought of her and Shen Yunxi.
But she couldn’t bring herself to utter the question.
With her current status, what right did she have to ask?
Even though she had once been Lu Ying’s betrothed, being replaced was being replaced. She could never again become the Crown Princess Consort.
Quietly, she said, "I need to change clothes. Turn around."
Lu Ying silently exited the damaged building, stopping to stand with his back to the window, obstructing Xue Ling and the others from seeing inside.
Shen Yinning removed her soaked shoes, socks, and garments, even untying the silk sash of her inner wrap.
She wrung out her clothes at random to wipe the moisture from her body. Just as she was about to put on Lu Ying’s large attire, she suddenly heard the creak of cracking beams overhead—
Crash!
The aged, unstable building collapsed entirely!