CHAPTER 263: CHAPTER 261: SHEN YINNING IS NOT NORMAL AT ALL

Lu Qianqian had originally planned to wait for Luo Xibai to yield.

After all, she was marrying far from home. Although she was a princess of high rank, this was ultimately foreign territory. The only people she could trust were the few palace maids and nannies she had brought with her. If she could tread on Shen Yinning tonight to establish her authority, she wouldn’t have to fear being bullied in the future.

But Luo Xibai remained relaxed and indifferent, simply sitting there motionless.

As time slowly passed, a sense of unease began rising in her heart.

Could it be that Luo Xibai...

Was not as eager to marry her as she had imagined?

Now the wedding was stuck in a deadlock. She couldn’t leave, nor could she stay; she was utterly humiliated. What was she to do?

She had no choice but to cast a pleading glance toward Lu Ying.

Lu Ying kept his eyes fixed on his nose and his nose on his heart, as if sending her to Jiangnan had already fulfilled his mission and he had no intention of intervening.

Luo Xibai lightly shook his folding fan, reversing the roles: "I’ll count to three. If the princess still refuses to come forward and bow to become my wife, then this marriage shall be annulled."

Lu Qianqian’s eyes widened abruptly, her hands hidden in her wide sleeves nearly digging bloody marks into her palms!

She hadn’t expected Luo Xibai to mimic her!

"One."

Lu Qianqian’s breathing quickened, completely unable to fathom how things had come to this.

"Two."

Lu Qianqian gritted her teeth.

She had intended to assert her dominance but unexpectedly fell into a trap instead!

Yet as a princess, no matter how much she wanted to marry, she could not lower her head just like this.

Where would her dignity go?

"Three."

Lu Qianqian wavered between dignity and submission, unable to decide which to choose.

As Luo Xibai finished counting to three, her legs went weak, and she fell against a palace maid for support.

In the spring night, her palms were already slick with a fine layer of sweat.

She bit her lip, still harboring a shred of hope in her heart.

This union between her and Luo Xibai was proposed by the Luo family and decreed by the Emperor.

No matter how unwilling Luo Xibai was to spare her dignity, he couldn’t truly defy the Emperor’s edict, could he?

He had to marry her.

In the next moment, she saw Luo Xibai open his fan and cheerfully address the guests: "Ladies and gentlemen, you’ve witnessed with your own eyes—tonight, it is the princess who refuses to marry me, not me who is unwilling to marry her. This marriage is hereby annulled. I deeply regret the trouble caused to everyone who made the trip. I will host a banquet on another day to make amends. Tonight, please return to your homes."

The officials and merchants of Jiangnan exchanged bewildered glances.

Shen Yinning softly said, "Someone, escort the guests out."

The crowd, though filled with curiosity, had no choice but to depart.

Luo Wanxiang was completely stunned.

She had been counting on using Lu Qianqian to fiercely chastise Shen Yinning. And now her eldest brother wouldn’t marry Lu Qianqian?!

She cried out in shock: "Brother?!"

Lu Qianqian hadn’t expected Luo Xibai to be so decisive either!

She collapsed onto the ground, realizing the situation was beyond salvage.

The thought of returning to the Capital empty-handed and facing the Emperor’s wrath made her temples throb with pain as if needles were stabbing them.

After the guests had dispersed, Luo Wanxiang finally lost her patience and stomped her feet: "Brother, if you don’t marry the princess, that’s defying the Imperial edict! How dare you oppose the Capital?! Are you trying to get yourself killed?! If you hurry and coax the princess now, there might still be a chance to smooth things over and continue with the wedding—"

"Bring them in." Shen Yinning suddenly interrupted her. "Capture everyone from the Capital and confine them in Ciyin Temple."

Under the exquisite glow of palace lanterns, her delicate voice was gentle yet unyielding.

Luo Wanxiang looked thunderstruck, doubting her own ears: "What did you say? Who do you intend to capture?"

Shen Yinning ignored her.

Private soldiers, hidden in the shadows of the night, responded without hesitation, surging towards Lu Ying, Lu Qianqian, and the others.

Luo Wanxiang screamed sharply, "Shen Yinning, are you insane?! You plan to capture the Crown Prince and Princess?! Are you rebelling against the Court?! That’s a crime that will destroy nine generations of your family!"

Shen Yinning remained unmoved, turning her gaze instead to Lu Ying.

The man wore a formal raven-blue brocade robe embroidered with golden lotus, his hair bound by a golden crown. His features were strikingly handsome.

Faced with the onrushing private soldiers, he tried to resist but his limbs failed him, forcing him to kneel on one knee, his sword as support.

The Crown Prince, radiant as the moon and pristine as snow on lofty peaks, was now a rare sight of disarray.

Xue Ling wasn’t faring much better either.

Surrounded by private soldiers, he couldn’t summon his inner strength or martial skills. Not only him, but all the Imperial Guards from the Capital found themselves in the same state. Even with swords drawn, their limbs trembled uncontrollably.

Xue Ling was incredulous: "I didn’t poison us—Shen Yinning, you set me up?!"

"It’s long been clear that Lord Xue wouldn’t truly betray the Crown Prince. I feigned trust in you and instructed you to administer the drugs merely to lower your guard. In truth, the chef had already spiked the Daughter’s Red on your banquet table ahead of time." Shen Yinning tilted her head. "Now, all of you are my captives."

Lu Qianqian and her palace maids were also seized.

Lu Qianqian broke down: "Shen Yinning, you shameless wretch, do you know what you’re doing?! Have you gone mad?! My brother is the Crown Prince!"

Shen Yinning paid her no heed.

With a gesture of her hand, the private soldiers promptly escorted the entire wedding entourage to Ciyin Temple.

Lu Ying was monitored most strictly, surrounded on all sides by armed private soldiers.

As he passed by Shen Yinning, he cast her an indifferent glance.

Shen Yinning met his gaze.

Her phoenix-shaped eyes curved upward as she asked the question she had posed at the outset: "Does Your Highness believe I deserve death?"

Lu Ying’s thin lips parted lightly: "Attempting to assassinate the Crown Prince multiple times, inciting court officials to loot merchant caravans, abducting the Princess, plotting rebellion... every offense is punishable by death. How could the upright Duke Shen and his wife give birth to a daughter as audacious and cunning as Shen Zhaozhao?"

"Upright? Didn’t they too get branded with charges of treason and rebellion?" Shen Yinning sneered faintly. "Might as well prove the accusations true."

Lu Ying withdrew his gaze and walked toward Ciyin Temple, his expression cold.

"Brother!" Luo Wanxiang was as desperate as an ant on a hot pot. "Shen Yinning has lost her mind—are you going to follow her madness? I’ve completely figured it out now; she’s not normal at all! If you stick with her, you’ll get yourself killed! Let’s release the Crown Prince and Lord Xue immediately and perhaps we can still win their forgiveness. Don’t be foolish!"

"Xiang’er, you’re still too young to understand the power struggles of the court." Luo Xibai shook his head.

Shen Yinning cast a mocking glance at Luo Wanxiang. "You think that without tonight’s play, Jiangnan and the Crown Prince could coexist peacefully? The Court knows full well what the Luo family has done over these years. It’s only been suppressed by the Emperor for now. When Lu Ying ascends to the throne, he’ll settle accounts with you. So, it’s better for us to strike first."

Luo Wanxiang was dumbfounded.

She had always believed Shen Yinning was nothing more than a pretty vase whose antics were confined to causing trouble in the inner chambers.

But she had never imagined that Shen Yinning would orchestrate rebellion with her own hands!

Rebellion—that was rebellion!

Even someone like her, long accustomed to mingling in circles of power and more daring than most women, would never dare touch such matters!

She trembled all over: "I think you two have both gone mad..."

"Relax," Shen Yinning replied nonchalantly. "All the guests think the marriage has been called off and the Crown Prince’s envoy has already departed for the Capital. No one will know they’ve been imprisoned in Ciyin Temple. Luo Wanxiang, for the sake of the Luo family, you’d better keep your mouth shut."

Luo Wanxiang wanted to die.

The thought that her brother and Shen Yinning had imprisoned the Crown Prince, with plans she couldn’t even fathom for him, left her so terrified she could barely walk. How could she possibly keep quiet?!

That was a crime punishable by the execution of nine generations!