CHAPTER 250: CHAPTER 248: FROM NOW ON, I AM THE WIFE, AND YOU ARE THE CONCUBINE

Lu Shiyan sneered coldly, "If it weren’t for your meddling, would this prince have been forced to use such despicable methods?!"

"You call that meddling? You abducted a respectable woman from a good family, and you think you’re justified?!"

"Who abducted a respectable woman from a good family?!"

Seeing the two about to argue, Shen Yinning sobbed, "The aphrodisiac is one thing, but poison is another... I just want to ask Sister Xiang’er—why would you poison me? How have I offended you?"

"Poison?!" Lu Shiyan was utterly shocked. "Xiang’er, did you poison Zhaozhao?!"

Wu Wanzhao froze as well. "Xiang’er?!"

Luo Wanxiang gritted her teeth and said, "I... I simply can’t stand this fox spirit, flirting with Brother-in-law one moment and with Big Brother the next! Haven’t you all noticed? Ever since she arrived at Liang Garden, our household has been in constant unrest. Clearly, this fox spirit is a scourge! I’m simply ridding us of a pest—is that so wrong?!"

"Utter nonsense!" Luo Xibai sharply reprimanded her. "Sister Shen has never once tried to seduce me!"

Lu Shiyan furrowed his brows as well. "This prince took Zhaozhao as a concubine purely out of my own free will."

Wu Wanzhao urged, "Xiang’er, tonight you nearly caused a great catastrophe! Hurry and apologize to Sister Shen!"

Luo Wanxiang was breathing heavily.

These people, supposedly the ones closest to her, were forcing her to apologize to the person she despised the most!

But she had done nothing wrong!

She was the cherished daughter of Jiangnan’s magistrate—the dignified younger sister of Prince Wu’s wife. And yet, she merely wanted to poison a low-born daughter of a disgraced official, someone without background or allies. If she killed her... so be it. Why should she lower herself to apologize?!

Tears welled up in her eyes from sheer indignation as she shouted, "For years, Big Brother and Brother-in-law have plundered countless caravans, leaving countless deaths in their wake, and none of you care about human lives. Why should I care?! This vile woman disgusts me—killing her would be nothing! And anyway, she’s alive, isn’t she? Yet here you are, yelling at me in the dead of night, forcing me to apologize for such a trivial matter. Do you think she’s more important than me?! If you love her so much, then live with her! I never want to see you all again!"

With that, she stomped her embroidered shoes and ran out in tears.

Shen Yinning wiped her tears and kindly said, "Sister Xiang’er is still young. It’s natural for her to act impulsively. Brother Luo, since I’m unharmed tonight, perhaps you should go comfort her."

Luo Xibai was deeply moved. "You truly are understanding."

After he left, Wu Wanzhao gazed at Shen Yinning with a complicated expression.

While she condemned Luo Wanxiang’s poisoning, Wanxiang remained her own full-blooded sister.

Seeing Wanxiang’s tears, her heart inevitably ached.

Unable to help herself, she reproached, "Sister Shen, I’ll be honest—tonight’s events are partly your fault. Since you didn’t drink the tea, you shouldn’t have alarmed my older brother, causing such a commotion. Xiang’er has always been spirited; before your arrival, she was the beloved darling of our entire household. The loss of my brother’s affection is not something she can accept easily—you must understand this. As the prince’s concubine, you are, in essence, also her elder sister. You ought to be generous enough to sweep this poisoning incident under the rug."

Shen Yinning twirled a lock of hair around her fingers.

She once thought Wu Wanzhao was pitiable.

But now, she only felt pity and contempt can be two sides of the same coin.

Her tone became cool. "First, I am not Prince Wu’s concubine. Second, I have no obligation to cover up the crimes of someone who has harmed me."

Wu Wanzhao grew flustered. "You’ve already come to Jiangnan; how are you not the prince’s concubine?! Don’t think you can just leave with the Crown Prince when he heads back to the capital—I’m telling you, if you’ve arrived in Liang Garden, then you’re destined to spend the rest of your life serving the prince, bearing him children! The prince adores you, which is why he has refrained from punishing you. But if you continue to act so stubbornly, I cannot promise that you won’t be disciplined with our family rules in the future!"

Shen Yinning turned her gaze toward Lu Shiyan. "Is this what you think as well?"

Lu Shiyan’s brow remained furrowed. "Zhaozhao, my feelings for you have never wavered. But your temper indeed needs to be reined in. Your father and brothers are gone—you cannot afford to be so headstrong anymore. The princess offers heartfelt advice for your good."

Headstrong...

Heartfelt advice...

Shen Yinning studied Lu Shiyan.

When she was exiled to Gan State, she used to receive gifts from Lu Shiyan every year, sent from Jiangnan.

At the time, she felt grateful.

She thought Lu Shiyan truly liked her.

But now, it seemed his affection was lukewarm at best.

Her lips curved into a mocking smile.

Lu Shiyan couldn’t tolerate her smile—it made him feel as though he had committed some unforgivable crime.

He avoided Shen Yinning’s gaze as he turned the wheels of his chair and moved outside. "Zhaozhao, think it over carefully. Everything we do is for your own good—even if the princess speaks harshly, it’s only to set boundaries. Without rules, there can be no propriety. I trust that, in time, you’ll understand our intentions."

Wu Wanzhao fixed her gaze upon Shen Yinning and spoke solemnly. "Sister Shen, tonight’s incident must not repeat itself. You must remember: I am the wife; you are the concubine. While we may share sisterly bonds, there is always a distinction between greater and lesser. You are still obliged to heed my words. Tomorrow, apologize to Xiang’er, and this matter will be resolved."

Shen Yinning watched as the couple left.

Apologize to Luo Wanxiang?!

Was Wu Wanzhao mad, or had she herself gone insane?

Utterly preposterous.

...

The next day.

With only two days remaining before Luo Xibai and Lu Qianqian’s grand wedding, Liang Garden had already been festively adorned with lanterns and decorations.

Luo Xibai arranged for Lu Ying and others to tour the garden, with Lu Shiyan and Wu Wanzhao personally accompanying them. A grand procession of maids, attendants, guards, and servants followed behind, making for a spectacle of considerable scale. After visiting two or three scenic spots, Luo Xibai, citing fatigue, instructed everyone to explore the estate freely.

Shen Yinning found Xue Ling alone by a rockery. "Master Xue, have you given last night’s matter any thought?"

Xue Ling toyed with a copper coin, his gaze slanted toward her. "I recall Madam Shen used to despise me and disapproved of my keeping Mianmian by my side. If I ally myself with you and things come to fruition, what guarantee do I have that you won’t cast me aside soon after?"

"I still despise you now," Shen Yinning said candidly, without the slightest attempt to conceal her feelings. "But my personal sentiments won’t interfere with our cooperation. Moreover, given Master Xue’s capabilities, what danger could I—a mere weak woman—pose to you?"

Xue Ling smirked faintly.

If Shen Yinning qualified as a "weak woman," then no such women existed.

His tone was lazy. "The Crown Prince’s left arm is wounded, and the injury is quite serious. It seems to be linked to feeding poisonous insects into the flesh repeatedly. As for which specific insect it is, I don’t know—I’ve only heard that Qian Duobao provided it."

Shen Yinning scrutinized his expression, noting no signs of deceit. Only then did her face light up with a smile. "Thank you. From this point forward, Master Xue shall be an esteemed guest in Jiangnan. Whatever you might request, Jiangnan shall do its utmost to fulfill."

After Xue Ling left, Luo Xibai emerged from behind the rockery.

He fanned himself with a folding fan, puzzled. "Sister, Lu Ying holds a lofty position. What would compel him to implant a poisonous insect into his own body? I’ve heard those things are native to Miaojiang—sinister creatures indeed. Ordinary people wouldn’t dare subject themselves to such torment."