CHAPTER 252: CHAPTER 250: YOUR HIGHNESS, HOW COULD YOU BEAR TO GIVE ME AWAY?

Here’s the translated text:

Lu Ying’s fingertips paused slightly, then he took the cup of wine with an indifferent expression: "If new tea is found in the Luo Family’s residence, it can prove their collusion with bandits. That would be enough reason to thoroughly investigate the Luo Family. You should stay far from Luo Xibai. Otherwise, when the Luo Family falls in the future, you may not come out unscathed."

"Your Highness, have you forgotten? I’m someone who has experienced the confiscation of my family’s assets. A family living in luxury and splendor, after its downfall, ends up destitute, humiliated, and mocked. No one understands this better than I do—naturally, it’s possible that Your Highness has forgotten, especially since when my family was confiscated, Your Highness was busy distancing yourself from me. I still remember the day I went to the Eastern Palace to beg you. The rain was much heavier than today; you ignored me as I knelt on the palace gates and instead spent your time in secret rendezvous, whispering sweet nothings with Shen Yunxi."

The young woman’s voice was gentle and alluring, free of resentment yet filled with biting sarcasm.

The Daughter’s Red wine slid down her throat, sweet and mellow, its lingering effect strong.

Lu Ying’s eyes remained cold, saying nothing about the past as he put down his wine cup, remarking, "Advising you to stay away from Luo Xibai is my last act of kindness. Whether you heed it or not is up to you."

"Those who understand will know that Your Highness is reminding me out of the goodwill of past relations." Shen Yinning served him a crab roe soup dumpling. "But those who don’t might think that Your Highness is just jealous of Luo Xibai."

"Jealousy is something I do not feel. Since I can toss you away like a trinket, on what basis do you assume I would feel jealousy? Shen Yinning, I am the Crown Prince. My ambition lies in conquering nations, not in indulging in romantic affairs."

Shen Yinning laughed delicately: "Goodness, Your Highness, it was just an offhanded remark. Why the strong reaction?"

Lu Ying’s expression turned dark.

This woman was always like this.

Easily rousing his emotions, only to trivialize it later as if he was overreacting.

Unwilling to reveal anger or any other emotion in her presence, he lowered his gaze coldly and picked up the crab roe soup dumpling to eat.

As soon as he bit into it, his brows furrowed involuntarily.

Hot.

Unbearably hot!

The dumpling looked even more delicate than a xiaolongbao. Who would have thought that instead of filling, it was filled with broth inside!

And the broth was scalding!

Instinctively, he wanted to spit it out, but unwilling to behave disgracefully in front of Shen Yinning, he forced himself to endure the burning pain and swallowed it down as if nothing had happened.

Shen Yinning rested her chin on her hand, watching him.

This dog of a man probably thought his act was perfectly concealed.

In truth, she clearly saw that his lips had been burned; he was enduring the pain with difficulty, his thin eyelids even reddened.

Knowing this dog of a man valued his dignity above all else, she suppressed her laughter and explained, "This is called a crab roe soup dumpling, a specialty from Jiangnan. It’s different from the dumplings of our Capital; the filling is crab roe broth. You must eat it like this—"

She picked up a crab roe soup dumpling with her chopsticks, blew softly on it, and took a cautious small bite.

The fragrant broth trickled down onto the plate through her chopsticks. She blew on the dumpling again, ensured it wouldn’t burn her, and then elegantly placed it into her mouth.

Lu Ying watched her.

The girl was a daughter of an aristocratic family, meticulously trained to meet the standards of a Crown Princess Consort. Sitting there, her posture was perfectly upright as if measured by a ruler. When she slightly parted her lips, her crimson mouth revealed shining white teeth. Her chewing was soundless, her face gently puffed like pale jade, and her phoenix eyes sparkled with lively mischief, casting a triumphant sidelong glance at him.

It was as if she were silently saying, "See? You can’t even eat a crab roe soup dumpling properly. You’re not that impressive, are you?"

Lu Ying picked up another dumpling again.

He mimicked Shen Yinning’s approach, blowing on the dumpling before biting into it—

And then crab roe broth splashed entirely onto Shen Yinning’s chest-wrap.

Shen Yinning: "..."

Lu Ying: "..."

The precious pear-blossom-patterned white silk chest-wrap was now marred with broth stains, the darker hues spreading along the fabric. It was no longer wearable.

The pleasure boat descended into an awkward silence.

The rain grew heavier.

With no spare clothing available inside the boat, Shen Yinning could only say, "I’ll go to the inner room to wash up."

After she entered, a long time passed before she called out anxiously, "Can you come in and help me?"

Lu Ying set down his chopsticks.

This vixen couldn’t even clean her clothes properly?

She was overly delicate.

With that thought, he stood and walked into the inner room, only to immediately be embraced upon entering.

The girl’s sheer silk gown slid down to her elbows, teasingly revealing a snow-white stretch of delicate shoulders and neckline as she stood on tiptoe to kiss Lu Ying’s thin lips.

The sudden rush of fragrance and soft warmth made Lu Ying’s entire body tense, like a bowstring pulled taut.

Shen Yinning pressed against his lips, her enchanting phoenix eyes full of sensuality as she spoke in a soft, ambiguous voice tinged with womanly accusation, "How could Your Highness bear to give me away?"

Inhaling, Lu Ying was surrounded by the faint, intoxicating aroma of makeup and perfume lingering on the young woman.

She was so close, clinging to him like spring pollen and willow fluff sneaking under one’s clothes—impossible to brush off entirely, a hidden itch spreading under the skin, untraceably elusive even when the sleeves are lifted.

Suppressing the itch and heat simmering within, Lu Ying reached out, attempting to push her away: "Shen Yinning!"

"I miss you... so much." Shen Yinning clung tightly to his waist. "Since I’ve been in Jiangnan, I haven’t gotten close to Lu Shiyan or Luo Xibai even once. My heart is only for you... Lu Ying Brother, you are my sky, my Buddha—I only want you!"

Her sugary words poured out as she tilted her head, pressing kisses to Lu Ying’s neck and lips.

A tingling warmth spread across Lu Ying’s body, igniting even his blood, which had once been chilled by poisonous insects.

The veins in his hand bulged, his restraint reaching its breaking point: "You’ve charmed Luo Xibai so much that he’s practically entranced, yet you dare to claim your heart is only for me?!"

"I flirt insincerely with other men; only with Lu Ying Brother am I earnest in my affections..." Shen Yinning wrapped her arms around his neck, her radiant face filled with grievance and a plea for favor. "Besides, I’m entirely innocent with Luo Xibai. He’s my adopted elder brother..."

Adopted elder brother...

Lu Ying mulled over the term internally.

So that’s what he is.

If that were true, on the day of the wedding procession, Shen Yinning wiping Luo Xibai’s sweat would have been out of sibling affection?

Skepticism lingered in his heart as Shen Yinning pulled him toward the bed.

One garment after another fell to the floor.

Shen Yinning straddled his waist and began untying his inner robe.

The man’s physique was tall and robust, his muscles sculpted flawlessly along his arms.

Stealing a glance at his left arm, Shen Yinning remembered what Xue Ling had said: Lu Ying’s left arm had been fed with many poisonous insects and was his greatest vulnerability.

Her seductive gestures toward Lu Ying weren’t merely an act of affection but a ploy to study his left arm at close range—

Yet, despite removing his inner robe, his arm was still wrapped in white gauze, leaving her unable to discern anything!

"You look disappointed not to have seen the wound on my left arm."

Lu Ying’s cold, low voice suddenly interrupted.

Before Shen Yinning could react, Lu Ying flipped her over and pinned her firmly beneath him.

His palm gently cupped her face as though handling fragile porcelain.

His long lashes drooped, casting dangerous shadows over his angular features. His voice, chilling like penetrating frost, asked, "Were those words earlier just deceit for me?"