CHAPTER 124: CHAPTER 122: HE WON’T BE JEALOUS OF A PLAYTHING

The words fell, and the entire hall was shocked.

Everyone looked at Shen Yinning incredulously.

Some couldn’t believe she would engage in adultery, while others whispered among themselves, speculating about who the man involved might be.

Shen Yinning subtly glanced at Lu Ying.

He, however, remained calm and composed, as if he didn’t care about Zhang Nanny’s accusations at all.

Of course, if the man Zhang Nanny accused had been Lu Ying, with Shen Yunxi’s infamous temper, she would have erupted long ago—why wait until now?

Neither of them seemed flustered, but the noblewomen, led by Shangguan Yu, instinctively cast their gazes upon the two of them.

They were all aware of the past childhood ties between Shen Yinning and the Crown Prince. Could it be that the man she was accused of being involved with...was the Crown Prince?

No wonder, earlier, when Shen Xinglei deliberately humiliated Shen Yinning, the Crown Prince stepped in to help.

When Shen Yunxi noticed their gazes darting back and forth between Lu Ying and Shen Yinning, she immediately became so angry that her face distorted with fury.

These little fools without brains! Did they not think it through? The Crown Prince, a noble dragon among men, how could he possibly be interested in someone like Shen Yinning—a second-hand woman who’s already been married!

She barely managed to maintain her dignified and graceful demeanor as the Crown Princess Consort, ordering sternly, "Nanny, tell us all—who is the adulterer?"

Zhang Nanny declared loudly, "Your Highness, the adulterer is none other than Cui Ji, the Minister of the Ministry of Justice!"

Shen Yinning almost burst out laughing.

So Zhang Cuichun had pointed the finger at Cui Ji? She didn’t see that one coming.

Did Cui Ji even know he’d been accused of entanglement with her?

These words sent a ripple of shock through the crowd.

Who didn’t know that Cui Ji was a scholar selected by the emperor himself, a talented and promising young officer just beginning to make a name for himself at court—his future limitless!

Numerous officials in the court had tried to betroth their daughters to him, but he’d refused them all. How could someone like him possibly engage in an illicit affair with Shen Yinning, a married woman?

Shen Yunxi pressed on gravely, "This is no trivial matter. Nanny, you’d better explain the details clearly!"

"Your Highness, last night, this servant witnessed with my own eyes in the Imperial Prison: Young Mistress Yinning, disguised in plain clothes, sneaked into the prison to engage in indecency with Lord Cui! Good heavens—it was Yinning herself who initiated it! Shameless as she is, she placed her hand on Lord Cui’s lips and coaxed him to kiss her. The embracing and fondling that followed—I daren’t even describe it, lest the noble maidens here sully their ears!" Zhang Nanny’s exaggerated expression and embellished retelling were both theatrical and scandalous. "And then," she continued dramatically, "even though this servant was badly beaten and barely conscious, I vaguely heard mentions of ’secrets in the dark,’ and—", lowering her voice conspiratorially, "’being treated as someone’s Forbidden Fruit.’ If this servant had to guess, Young Mistress Yinning must have grown discontented with Gao Zheng for holding a low rank. She must have perceived Cui Ji as young, handsome, and bound for greatness, and so deliberately seduced him to become his Forbidden Fruit!"

The vivid depiction almost made her words believable.

By now, half the people present were convinced.

Lu Ying slowly rotated the Moyu Ring on his finger.

Shen Yinning had once solemnly promised him that she would never meet Cui Ji in private again.

But unexpectedly, she had gone to the Ministry of Justice last night behind his back.

How dare she!

She didn’t look in Lu Ying’s direction but could still feel the scorching intensity of his gaze.

Lu Ying’s fury seemed to materialize into a heavy, oppressive storm cloud, suffocating her.

That possessive bastard!

Now that he had found out she visited Cui Ji last night, who knew how angry he’d be?

Provoking others was one thing, but if she upset this man, she’d be the one to suffer.

Her eyes instantly reddened, and she complained pitifully, "Crown Prince, Your Highness; Your Grace, please observe the facts—this humble lady and Cui Ji are completely innocent. When have we ever behaved improperly? Zhang Nanny’s accusations are pure slander! Could she be retaliating against me for what happened yesterday?"

"Whether you’ve been wronged or not will become apparent when Cui Ji arrives," Shen Yunxi said proudly, her chin lifting slightly. "Bring him here! And fetch Gao Zheng and Yin Shanshan, too! This Princess will interrogate them thoroughly—let’s see if they know about your relationship with Cui Ji! Shen Yinning, if you truly dared to commit adultery within marriage, don’t blame me for disregarding any sense of sisterly solidarity! Even the Empress Dowager herself won’t be able to protect you then!"

Shen Yinning pressed a handkerchief to the corners of her eyes, dabbing away nonexistent tears.

Of course Cui Ji wouldn’t admit to this nonsensical affair.

As for Gao Zheng and Yin Shanshan, they had no idea where she went most days. Besides, Lu Ying had a significant presence suppressing them—how could they dare to serve as witnesses for Zhang Cuichun?

The most pressing issue now was to pacify Lu Ying.

She bowed delicately and weakly said, "If Your Grace allows, may this humble lady excuse herself briefly to change her attire."

She left the Warm Pavilion, making her way along the corridor to the western room used for cleaning.

After washing her hands, a tall and imposing figure cast its shadow behind her.

Without turning around, Shen Yinning curved her lips slightly, and when she finally did face him, her lotus-like features carried a perfectly measured blend of grievance and innocence. "Brother Lu Ying," she murmured, "Sister Zhang Cuichun has set me up! I feel so miserable inside!"

Nearby stood a delicately carved lattice window.

It was the heart of winter; outside, the slender branches of verdant Xiangfei bamboo carried light layers of snow. Some of the frost had been blown in through the window, melting on the girl’s brows and lashes into crystalline droplets, adding a faint trace of mournful beauty to her visage.

Lu Ying stared at her without expression.

He couldn’t discern whether she was acting or genuinely lamenting.

Finally, he asked, "Last night, you went to the Ministry of Justice to see Cui Ji?"

Shen Yinning knew it would be impossible to hide this from him.

When Lu Ying wanted to investigate, he always got to the bottom of things.

Rather than wait until she was cornered, it was better to admit it proactively now.

She sniffled and lightly tugged on his sleeve. "Zhang Cuichun caused my mother’s death. I went to question her, which is why I snuck into the Ministry of Justice. Cui Ji and I merely crossed paths briefly—there was no ill intent, let alone seduction as Zhang Cuichun claims. Brother Lu Ying, don’t you already know who truly has my heart?"

The young girl’s dainty hand was delicate, her translucent snow-white fingers resting lightly on his black-and-gold sleeve, appearing all the more slender and exquisite—like freshly sprouting green onions.

Seeing that he remained silent, she quietly hooked two of his fingers and began gently swaying them like a spoiled child. "Brother Lu Ying, you’re so clever and astute. Of course, you know that seeing is believing, and hearing can be deceiving. Nothing happened between me and Cui Ji—it’s all a fabrication by that vicious old hag, Zhang Cuichun, to frame me. My feelings for Brother Lu Ying are steadfast, and during my three years in Gan State, my longing for you grew deeper by the day. Brother Lu Ying, you are a dragon among men, unparalleled in every way. How could Cui Ji possibly compare?"

Lu Ying lowered his gaze to her.

This little fox’s words were as sweet as honey.

Noticing his attention on her, she flashed a winning smile—those almond-shaped phoenix eyes of hers curving in innocent charm, her expression as radiant as if it concealed a jar brimming with sugary nectar.

Somehow, the nameless anger in his chest vanished as quietly as it had risen.

Shen Zhaozhao’s mother had indeed been killed by Zhang Cuichun. Her late-night visit to question that poisonous old woman might well have been justified.

If it had been him, he might not have even waited for nightfall to confront Zhang Cuichun.

Cui Ji, being stationed at the Ministry of Justice, was bound to cross paths with her eventually. A fleeting encounter wouldn’t be out of the question.

After considering this, his tone softened. "So... it seems I have wrongly accused you?"

"Brother Lu Ying only became upset because you care so deeply. I can understand that," she whispered.

"I would never be jealous over a mere plaything," he countered coldly.

Shen Yinning acted as though she hadn’t heard his dismissive remark, cheerfully rolling back part of his sleeve. "Let me help erase the writing from Brother Lu Ying’s arm. After all, our intimate moments shouldn’t be seen by others—it wouldn’t be proper."