CHAPTER 131: CHAPTER 129: HE CAN’T BEAT LU YING

Upon Shen Yinning’s questioning, Lu Qianqian nervously tugged at her handkerchief.

Years ago, she took an interest in Cheng Hui’s jewelry. After the Shen Family was confiscated, she begged her mother, the Crown Princess Consort, to ask the Emperor for Cheng Hui’s wedding dowry, including all her jewelry. However, the Empress Dowager interfered and brought Cheng Hui’s dowry to Cining Palace, leaving even the Emperor unwilling to say much.

She was particularly fond of the Pomegranate Red Eight Treasure Gold Head Ornament, so while paying respects to the Empress Dowager, she discreetly took it from Cining Palace’s storeroom.

After all, Cheng Hui’s jewelry collection was so vast that losing one set would not be noticeable.

Later, she wore Cheng Hui’s jewelry around town in high fashion. Seeing that no one paid much attention, she became bolder. Over the past three years, she had quietly taken several sets of rare, priceless ornaments from Cining Palace’s storeroom. Since Cheng Hui was low-key and had never worn these pieces publicly, and given the Cheng Family’s distant location in the Northwest, there was no one who could recognize her jewelry was from Cheng Hui’s dowry.

Today, she had pinned the theft of the golden hairpin on Shen Yinning solely because she had come to consider the hairpin as her own.

But she had forgotten that the jewelry originally belonged to Shen Yinning...

"Why does the Princess remain silent?" Shen Yinning asked softly, "Could it be that she feels guilty like a thief?"

"What nonsense are you talking about?!" Lu Qianqian shouted like a provoked cat, "This golden hairpin was clearly bestowed upon me by the Empress Dowager; I did not steal it!"

"Since the Princess insists, then perhaps we should both enter the palace and present this matter openly before the Empress Dowager for confrontation."

"You—" Lu Qianqian raised her hand, pointing at Shen Yinning, her chest heaving furiously, "Shen Yinning, do not act so triumphant!"

"Is it really that I am acting triumphant, or is it the Princess who has deliberately framed and slandered me? The truth is evident to all with clear minds." Shen Yinning raised her delicate snow-white chin. "At this point, is the Princess still going to insist that I stole the golden hairpin?!"

Lu Qianqian’s eyes reddened with fury.

The Empress Dowager disliked her mother, the Crown Princess Consort, and consequently treated her coldly as well.

If the matter were brought before the Empress Dowager, she would undoubtedly side with Shen Yinning.

In such a case, not only would she fail to prove Shen Yinning was the thief, but she herself might be accused of theft.

This incident could not escalate!

Biting her teeth reluctantly, she threw away the fur-lined robe she had been holding: "This golden hairpin isn’t the one I lost; I must have misidentified it in a moment of error. Shen Yinning, leave now; this Princess won’t bicker with you today."

The expensive pure-white fox fur robe landed on the stone floors, smeared with snow water and specks of dirt.

Shen Yinning no longer wanted it.

She chuckled lightly: "Leave? Could the Princess have forgotten the wager we just agreed upon?"

"You—" Lu Qianqian’s face turned crimson, and she pointed at Shen Yinning’s nose. "Don’t push too far!"

"It’s not that I push too far, but rather that as nobility, the Princess should honor her commitments. Otherwise, wouldn’t it tarnish the royal family’s grace?" Shen Yinning held her ground firmly. "Since the Princess personally promised that if she lost, she’d shout three times ’Shen Yinning, I’m sorry’ in the middle of the long street, I ask the Princess to fulfill her word now."

Lu Qianqian bit her lip, standing rooted in place as if her feet had grown into the ground and refusing to budge.

She was a Princess; why would she need to apologize to Shen Yinning on the bustling street?

Wouldn’t she completely lose her dignity?!

Shen Xinglei noticed her reluctance and played the hero, shielding her. He coldly warned: "Shen Yinning, the matter ends here. Persisting will do no one any good."

"Second Cousin, your words are absurd. Am I the one who’s been persistent? Clearly, it was you all who first accused me of theft. Had I been the loser today, I doubt you’d have let me go easily. Second Cousin, if you’re so protective of the Princess, why not go apologize on her behalf? I’d be willing to accept that."

Shen Xinglei erupted with rage: "Wretch! You’ve been given face but refuse it. Do you think you’re still the esteemed daughter of the Duke Mansion? You’ve provoked me time and again; are you courting death?"

As his words fell, he raised his iron fist to strike Shen Yinning!

"Sister Shen!"

Lu Jiazhe tried to push Shen Yinning aside, but a gust of wind swept past, forcing him to stagger back several steps.

Upon focusing, he saw a tall figure dressed in black and gold standing solidly in the garden path.

It was Lu Ying.

Lu Ying shielded Shen Yinning, effortlessly blocking Shen Xinglei’s iron fist with his hand. His elegant yet cold features remained aloof and noble.

Lu Jiazhe sighed in relief, feeling, for the first time, pride in his cousin’s valor.

Shen Xinglei’s twisted face grew fierce.

For years, he had trained extensively, pursuing raw strength and consuming secret elixirs. His muscles had become intimidatingly bulky, his physique resembling a towering fortress, his hands even larger than some common fans. He looked less like a traditional Central Plains gentleman than a leader of wild barbarian tribes.

Though Lu Ying’s tall and statuesque frame was impressive, in front of Shen Xinglei’s brutish build, he seemed insufficient.

Yet this less imposing man had effortlessly blocked his iron fist.

And the rebound had left Shen Xinglei’s knuckles searing with pain!

Shen Xinglei realized he could not defeat Lu Ying.

Grasping this, he withdrew his fist: "Why has the Crown Prince graced us with his presence?"

Lu Ying’s gaze went past him to settle on Lu Qianqian: "Honor the wager; keep your word. Lu Qianqian, do not let me down."

"Royal Brother!"

Lu Qianqian said in disbelief, only to be met with Lu Ying’s frosty expression.

Helpless, she stomped and shot Shen Yinning a deadly glare: "An apology it is then! We’ll have plenty of time for our games, Shen Yinning, don’t you forget it!"

As she was about to step onto the long street for her apology, Shen Yinning suddenly called out: "Wait."

Lu Qianqian smirked triumphantly: "Oh? Are you scared to have this Princess apologize to you in public?"

Shen Yinning ignored her, turning instead to bow to Lu Ying. "The Third Princess stole the dowry of my late mother. Such matters, when spoken of, dishonor both sides. To preserve the Imperial Family’s dignity, I am unwilling to make this a spectacle. However, my late mother’s belongings hold great sentimental value to me. I implore the Crown Prince to intervene and request the Third Princess return all stolen items."

Lu Qianqian’s eyes widened in shock: "Shen Yinning!"

Lu Ying lowered his gaze to meet Shen Yinning’s.

The clever little fox always exhibited detachment in most matters, yet when it involved her parents, she became solemn and obstinate.

After a moment, he replied: "Agreed."

Lu Qianqian felt like her world was collapsing!

Those pieces of jewelry had been acquired through her own "skills"; why should she return them?!

She opened her mouth to protest, but Shen Yinning spoke with a cryptic smile: "Why should the Third Princess fixate over belongings so insignificant? If you desire something, you need only ask the Crown Princess Consort. Surely, given your close relationship, she wouldn’t be reluctant to give you whatever you wanted, would she?"

Lu Qianqian felt as if a lump of cotton had jammed her chest, unable to utter a single word.

Shen Yunxi was notoriously stingy; obtaining anything worthwhile from her would be a miracle!

Moreover, Shen Yunxi’s upbringing in a modest household could never compare with Cheng Hui’s treasure-laden past!

Lu Qianqian shot a venomous glance at Shen Yinning and stormed off in frustration.

Shen Xinglei cast a threatening glare at Shen Yinning before chasing after Lu Qianqian.

A smile still lingered on Shen Yinning’s lips.

Clearly, Lu Qianqian understood that Shen Yunxi wouldn’t be generous toward her.

And yet, despite this, she continued to side with Shen Yunxi.

It proved that sometimes humans were less rational than dogs, for at least dogs knew to wag their tails. Lu Qianqian was simply insatiably greedy and utterly ungrateful!

The cold wind rustled through the treetops.

Shen Yinning hugged herself as a chill set in. Suddenly, a warm cloak draped over her shoulders.

At first, she assumed it was Lu Ying. But upon looking up, she saw the one placing the cloak was Cui Ji.

Cui Ji had appeared silently, and his unexpected gesture startled everyone.

Lu Ying stood with his hands behind his back, his gaze sweeping over Cui Ji and the cloak covering Shen Yinning’s shoulders. On his pale and elegant face, there flashed the faintest trace of murderous intent.