CHAPTER 361: CHAPTER 359: ATTEMPTING TO TAME LU YING INTO OBEDIENCE

Under the corridor.

Shen Yinning struggled free from Cui Ji, her chest heaving violently: "Cui Ji, if you dare behave so rudely again, never step into Shen Garden ever again!"

Cui Ji was equally out of breath.

He fixed his gaze on the young woman in front of him, his dark eyes suffused with the misty drizzle of spring, barely restraining the overwhelming desire and impulse to devour her whole.

After a long silence, he reached out and gently smoothed a stray strand of hair at her temple: "Cui Ji could not help himself; I beg the Commandery Princess for forgiveness."

"Don’t touch me!" Shen Yinning coldly slapped his hand away.

Cui Ji lowered his gaze, staring at the pearl-adorned tip of her embroidered shoe: "Cui Ji begs the Commandery Princess not to get close to the deposed Crown Prince."

"What does it have to do with you?"

"The deposed Crown Prince has cultivated his influence in the court for many years; his power runs deep. Do you truly believe that after you and Lu Zhengliu’s machinations, he would so easily lose his title as Crown Prince? I’ve heard that Yan Country has already learned of Yan Zheming’s death in the Capital. Emperor Yan is furious, rallying the surrounding nations to march south for revenge. Now, Great Zhou has allocated all its military forces to the Northwest, creating turbulent times and unease among the people. A man like the deposed Crown Prince... who has always prioritized the nation and its people—would he truly abandon his title at such a critical juncture, leaving the empire in the hands of the Emperor and Lu Zhengliu, those two useless fools?"

Cui Ji’s voice lowered, each word a warning.

Shen Yinning stared at the curtain of rain beyond the corridor.

The night wind whisked rain threads through the air; cold raindrops splashed against her face, finally clearing some of her foggy thoughts.

Cui Ji looked at her: "Cui Ji has said all that needs to be said. I urge the Commandery Princess to think carefully regarding the matter of the deposed Crown Prince."

He clasped his hands in farewell before departing.

Shen Yinning bit her lip, heavy-hearted, and returned to her chamber.

Inside, the candlelight flickered brightly. Lu Ying was lying on the bed, flipping through a book of poetry.

She reached out and snatched the poetry book away: "Back then, it wasn’t easy for you to fight for the throne. Now, I’ve caused you to lose the title of Crown Prince; aren’t you angry?"

Lu Ying sat with his knees bent: "So you do know it wasn’t easy for me back then to fight for the throne."

The Capital was home to countless aristocratic families.

Which of the Emperor’s concubines didn’t hail from noble origins? Which of them wasn’t plotting for their son?

Among the grown Princes, which one didn’t covet that position?

Although he held the status of legitimate heir, his father had always despised him, his mother passed away early, and his maternal relatives were far away outside the border. Within the Capital, apart from a few old conservative officials, he hardly had any support.

That fight for the throne led to the deaths of numerous Princes, implicating and wiping out more than half the aristocratic families within the Capital. The remaining great families withdrew and dared not act recklessly.

As the sole victor, the hardships he endured were unimaginable.

Lu Ying reached out and pinched Shen Yinning’s chin: "Sometimes, I wonder what wrong I have done to you that made you strike at me so ruthlessly, without even a shred of hesitation, as if you and I were destined enemies. But no matter how much I think about it, I can’t seem to find any fault on my part. Shen Yinning, could it be I owe you in my past life?"

Shen Yinning tilted her head: "I’ve told you before, if you were willing to give up Shen Yunxi and abandon your uncle’s family, I would stay by your side obediently and never betray you. But you refused. Brother Lu Ying, since you’ve hindered my path, naturally I have to deal with you. Is it really so hard to understand?"

This was not hard to understand.

Lu Ying had known the reason for her betrayal from the beginning.

It was just hard for him to accept that her betrayal was so thorough, so resolute.

Shen Yinning kicked off her embroidered shoes and straddled his waist: "While we’re on this topic, there’s something that still confuses me."

She recounted the suspicions Cui Ji had voiced.

Her half-lidded Dan Feng eyes seemed seductive and emotional, yet they hid a glint of clarity: "Brother Lu Ying, you take responsibility even for Shen Yunxi. So why would you willingly abandon the empire’s affairs? Or are you entering the Commandery Princess Mansion as a forbidden fruit merely to placate me and Lu Zhengliu, while secretly keeping a backup plan?"

Lu Ying’s face remained expressionless.

Shen Yinning went out once and came back able to say so much.

It was clear that these weren’t her thoughts, but rather Cui Ji’s reasons for advising her to stay away from him.

Cui Ji...

His father had produced his share of useless sons, but Cui Ji was one of the rare intelligent ones.

Lu Ying reached out, playing with Shen Yinning’s earlobe; the rough pad of his finger quickly rubbed her soft, fair earlobe into a blush-like pink.

Amid Shen Yinning’s annoyed whimpers, he flipped her over and pressed her down onto the bed.

As the sound of chains clinking echoed, he looped the chain around Shen Yinning’s wrists, raising them above her head.

Bound in such a manner, Shen Yinning grew furious: "Lu Ying, do you remember your current status?!"

Using his knee, Lu Ying pinned down her flailing slim legs, his voice hoarse and restrained: "Did Cui Ji tell you that I lost my title as Crown Prince too easily, suggesting there might be a conspiracy? But Shen Yinning, being betrayed repeatedly by the one I adore—does that not bring sadness to my heart? I couldn’t care less about what Lu Zhengliu has done to me, but you joining hands with him, using our private affection as a blade to strike at me—it truly..."

His voice caught, as if the grief was too much for him to continue.

Shen Yinning froze: "Someone you adore?"

Lu Ying didn’t answer her.

With taut arms braced by her side, his chilled yet soft lips moved toward hers.

Shen Yinning gasped softly, her eyes still holding a trace of clarity.

She pressed her hand against his chest, locking eyes with him: "After Yan Zheming’s death, Yan Country united the Western Regions to oppose Great Zhou. The Northwest border has been rife with battles, and troops nationwide are heading north. Military presence defending the Capital is now less than half of its normal strength. If an army were to suddenly march south at this moment..."

Her delicate face appeared luscious and youthful, yet it exuded the sharpness and insight of a seasoned politician: "Lu Ying, your uncle commands 300,000 troops outside the border and has been dreaded by the Emperor for decades."

Lu Ying’s narrow eyes were abyssal, but his thin lips curled slightly in the dim room, forming an almost imperceptible smile.

Shen Yinning wrapped her arms around Lu Ying’s neck, her body trembling slightly and face blushing with shyness: "Lu Ying..."

"Has the Commandery Princess forgotten? Besides Yan Country in the north, the Wei Kingdom is also a formidable enemy. In terms of brutality, the Wei Kingdom surpasses Yan Country. My maternal family has guarded outside the border for decades, vigilantly defending against the Wei Kingdom. Do you believe they can simply march south at will?"

Lu Ying spoke with casual indifference as his movements grew increasingly aggressive.

"Lu Ying!"

Shen Yinning found herself unable to endure, both angered and embarrassed by the situation spiraling out of her control, and began clawing at the iron chain around his neck as if attempting to subdue him.

Yet her feeble resistance only seemed like a playful tease to Lu Ying.

Easily pinning her wrists again, he flipped her over, placing a soft cushion beneath her stomach.