Chapter 341: Chapter 339: It Turns Out that the Crown Princess Consort’s Pregnancy was Fake
Gan Tangwei wiped away her tears, turned to Shen Yinning, and solemnly knelt before her.
Shen Yinning realized something was amiss and had just taken a step forward when Gan Tangwei drew a dagger and decisively slit her own throat.
Blood instantly drenched her dress, resembling the most passionate dahlia of Yan Country.
A maiden’s fiery resolve, unto death.
Everyone present was stunned.
Gan Tangwei clung to Yan Zheming’s chest, her fingers lightly brushing the corner of his lips and his jaw, as her breath gradually faded away.
The night deepened.
On the carriage ride back, Shen Yinning huddled against the wide outer robe, sitting quietly in the carriage and gazing absentmindedly out the window.
Lu Ying sat by her side: "Still thinking about Gan Tangwei?"
Shen Yinning remained silent.
She had read in books, "Love arises unknowingly, deep and unwavering. The living can die for love, the dead can revive for love. Those who cannot be alive with death, nor dead with life, do not truly know love."
She had never believed that anyone could be so deeply passionate, yet witnessing tonight Gan Tangwei’s tragic sacrifice and Shen Yunxi’s selfless protection had felt like something struck her heart. She lowered her gaze to her chest, as though something had been torn from where her heart should be—
She couldn’t fathom being so deeply in love with any man.
Even with Lu Ying, during the height of her feelings, all she had ever truly wanted was to follow him faithfully.
Her nights and days were consumed with revenge; to her, all men existed as tools for her to use.
Lu Ying looked at her cold, aloof profile, assuming she was grieving for Gan Tangwei.
He took her hand: "People of great passion and devotion – they are indeed moving. But you will never become Gan Tangwei."
Shen Yinning regarded him with a faint, mocking smile: "Is the Crown Prince saying that I am naturally venomous and selfish, incapable of such romantic sacrifice?"
"Not at all." Lu Ying locked his eyes on hers. "I am saying that I am not Yan Zheming. I will not become another’s defeated pawn. Though the heavens hold stronger beings, and men are born superior to one another, I will always be the strongest. As long as I live, what love could you possibly sacrifice yourself for?"
Moonlight seeped through the window.
The man in his dark robes and golden hairpin, fine as jade, with his superior bone structure casting flawless shadows on his face, even his lashes were remarkably fine and long. His entire demeanor exuded a cold, noble restraint that should have left room for none; yet within his narrow, proud gaze, Shen Yinning’s image appeared.
She occupied his entire pupil.
Like she had taken hold of his entire heart.
Shen Yinning stared at him in a daze.
The sound of distant horseshoes faded at her ears.
The intermittent groaning of the carriage wheels faded away.
The distant bird calls from the forest faded away.
All sounds vanished, utter silence.
And yet, in Shen Yinning’s ears, another sound arose—
Thump.
Thump.
Thump!
Was it Lu Ying’s heartbeat?
No...
Shen Yinning suddenly realized—it was her own heartbeat!
Since childhood, she had admired strength.
She had fallen for Lu Ying.
Her gaze landed on his thin lips, and she grabbed the man’s face, suddenly and fiercely kissing him.
Lu Ying, caught off guard, was toppled by her.
The maiden, like a spirit fox consuming vitality, straddled his waist and acted as she pleased, her brazen yet bright stance a declaration of her possession and dominion over Lu Ying.
As she grew wilder, the wide robe draped upon her silently slid off, revealing rounded, creamy shoulders and neck. Her long hair spilled onto the soft carpet, setting off her skin’s tender, snowy white, and the carriage filled with an enchanting haze, the air rich with hidden fragrance.
Lu Ying tangled with her passionately.
Breathless, Shen Yinning looked down at him, his fitted martial attire shaping his muscular, perfect physique. Even with a layer of cloth between them, she could feel his firm and resilient abdominal muscles.
Casually tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear: "Lu Ying, can you divorce Shen Yunxi?"
Her voice was spoiled and willful, steeped in unrelenting entitlement.
As though whatever she desired should naturally belong to her.
Lu Ying reached out to stroke her cheek, running his fingers repeatedly over her tender lips.
Suddenly, he flipped her under him.
The abrupt weight made the maiden softly whimper, her feverishly weak fingers barely grasping his shoulders.
Lu Ying looked down at her.
The maiden’s rosy lips parted slightly as she panted, her lotus-pink face flushed, phoenix eyes shimmering and glazed, like peonies in mist and rain.
He spoke earnestly: "Everything except the seat of Crown Princess Consort—I can give you."
Shen Yinning lifted her curled lashes, her eyes glistening with rage and embarrassment.
Her voice hoarse: "The Shen Family has lost their military power; there’s nothing left for you to use! That you won’t divorce Shen Yunxi—could it be you’ve fallen for her? Or is it because her sacrifice tonight made you feel indebted to her? Or is it that ridiculous sense of duty you call morality?!"
Lu Ying’s brow furrowed: "I do not consider duty to be a ridiculous thing."
Though Shen Yunxi was foolish and wicked, her affection toward him was genuine.
The fight tonight—she didn’t know his movements were effortless and precise. She had risked her life without hesitation to save him.
He couldn’t simply divorce Shen Yunxi.
A thin mist gathered in Shen Yinning’s eyes, and suddenly, she bit down hard on his shoulder.
"You dog!"
Lu Ying heard her curse him softly, her words barely discernible through tears.
Lu Ying closed his eyes.
He barely felt the sting in his shoulder. What he did feel was the fervent roar of his blood rushing through his veins.
Opening his eyes again, he lowered his head and kissed the beautiful, fair maiden beneath him.
Before Shen Yinning could react, a storm of passion engulfed her.
Unable to endure, Shen Yinning cried out.
With guards stationed ahead and behind the carriage, Lu Ying reached out to cover her mouth, yet his movements showed no restraint.
A month without touching her—how could the man possibly be satisfied tonight? And so, when the carriage entered the city, he personally carried Shen Yinning into Shen Garden’s pavilion.
Haitang, Wei Yu, and the other maids greeted them with bows and blessings.
Wei Yu sneaked a glance, catching sight of her lady wrapped tightly in robes, with a delicate, pale foot trembling faintly in the Crown Prince’s arms.
Shen Garden was restless the entire night.
Shen Yinning slept deeply until dusk, waking only to find her body aching as though crushed under the wheels of a cart, entirely devoid of strength.
Haitang used a golden hook to lift the drooping curtain and smiled softly: "My lady has awoken?"
Shen Yinning managed to sit up with difficulty, rage from the previous night surging anew. She grabbed pillows and cushions, hurling them across the room.
The brocade quilt slid off, revealing soft white skin marked with faint red kiss marks, resembling blossoming peach flowers on calligraphy paper.
Her beauty was dazzling, her thick hair disheveled, her drowsy eyes tinged with charm, a vision resembling the Immortal Concubine—a goddess of spring slumber.
Even Haitang blushed deeply, struggling to calm herself as she hurriedly lowered her gaze: "The hot water is ready—would my lady like to bathe?"
Shen Yinning asked coldly, "Where’s Lu Ying?"
"His Highness returned to the Eastern Palace early this morning to attend to matters concerning the Crown Princess Consort."
"What about Shen Yunxi?"
"The Crown Princess Consort was gravely injured saving His Highness last night. The Empress Dowager and Noble Consort Zhang were deeply concerned, each sending several Imperial Physicians to treat her. But to everyone’s shock, it was discovered that the Crown Princess Consort was feigning pregnancy."