Chapter 401: Chapter 399: I’ve Never Taken Offense to Your Matter with Cui Ji
But Lu Ying appeared to show no expression.
Shen Yinning had already been led in by a palace maid: "The two younger sisters invited me into the palace to keep them company, yet here you are having dinner alone while leaving me in the corner?"
The sound of the beaded curtain being lifted was as crisp as jade.
Shen Yunxi and Shen Xinya looked over. The young woman’s delicate brows furrowed slightly, her lips red, and her teeth white. A smoky purple gauze gown draped over her figure lent her a regal elegance. Her skin, luminescent and fair, seemed to glow. Standing within the palace chamber, she was like a radiant pearl casting light. Even though they were long familiar with her beauty, they couldn’t help but feel momentarily breathless at the sight.
Shen Xinya reacted quickly and was the first to regain her composure, glancing stealthily at Lu Ying.
Although Lu Ying didn’t look at her directly, his peripheral gaze indeed swept over her abdomen.
Shen Xinya clenched her hands tightly in secret.
She already knew. What His Majesty cared about most was the child in Shen Yinning’s womb.
She had always considered Shen Yinning a clever woman, but she hadn’t expected her to make such a foolish mistake.
She turned away from His Majesty and ended up becoming pregnant with Cui Ji’s child.
If she had secretly removed the child, His Majesty might never have known, and it would have been over. Yet she blew it up into such a big scandal that it could no longer be contained, ultimately banished to become Cui Ji’s concubine by His Majesty’s ruthless decree.
A concubine of the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Justice!
Even as an illegitimate daughter, Shen Xinya couldn’t help but sneer. She couldn’t imagine under what circumstances Shen Yinning had chosen this path.
What she knew, however, was that as long as this child existed, there would never be a day when Shen Yinning and His Majesty could reconcile.
The child would forever be a thorn between them!
At this thought, Shen Xinya found her assurance, rising with a smile: "I was just about to send someone to invite my elder sister to dine with us, but I didn’t expect you to come over yourself! Sister, please, have a seat!"
Shen Yinning glanced in Lu Ying’s direction.
The man remained seated, not even lifting his gaze to look at her.
She withdrew her eyes and smiled, curtseying gracefully: "I didn’t realize His Majesty was here; forgive me for my intrusion."
"Forgive me"...
Lu Ying stared at the sumptuous wine and delicacies on the table, the phrase replaying harshly in his mind as a roaring filled his ears.
Yes, she should indeed refer to herself as such.
After all, she was Cui Ji’s concubine. In his presence, how could she not call herself that?
She was even carrying Cui Ji’s child!
How long? Three months!
Only today, she wore something loose-fitting, so it didn’t reveal much.
Oh, but soon enough, it would. Sooner or later, it would show. Sooner or later, she would give birth, delivering Cui Ji’s offspring.
Oh, and that illegitimate brat of hers—it would even call him "uncle"!
The man remained expressionless and continued eating in silence.
Shen Yinning hadn’t expected him to engage with her. She sat down lightly as the palace maids brought out another set of dishes and chopsticks for her.
She spoke as if casually, "The two younger sisters missed their elder cousin so warmly that they kindly invited me to the palace for companionship. Yet on seeing Furong Palace, it was overgrown with weeds and covered in cobwebs, surely because the palace maids and eunuchs grew lazy and did not bother to clean. However, to outsiders, those who know will assume it’s the palace attendants’ negligence, but those who don’t might think my dear sisters did so on purpose to intimidate me."
Shen Yunxi and Shen Xinya froze.
They hadn’t been aware of this situation. Shen Yinning’s entry into the palace had been approved by His Majesty, as was the arrangement for her residence.
These remarks were clearly meant for His Majesty’s ears.
Lu Ying still didn’t lift his head. "So, the Commandery Princess finds the palace I arranged for you unsatisfactory."
"Oh, was it arranged by Your Majesty?" Shen Yinning appeared as though she had just learned this, her phoenix eyes widening in astonishment. "Could it be that Your Majesty still harbors resentment over matters between me and my husband and is using this as a way to retaliate? That can’t be right—Your Majesty is wise and just, not the type of person to stoop to such pettiness. I think it must be the negligence of the palace attendants! They should be arrested and each given ten lashes!"
Lu Ying choked on her words.
How was he meant to respond to that?
He heavily set his chopsticks down, glaring coldly at the woman opposite him.
It was the first time he had looked directly at her since she had entered.
Perhaps it was the pregnancy, but she shone with an unbearable beauty.
Cui Ji had clearly taken good care of her—her once sharp chin had grown softer, and her complexion gleamed with radiant clarity. She resembled a luxuriant peony, vibrant and regal, swaying delicately on its stem. Her phoenix eyes gleamed moist and seductive, like droplets of dew poised to fall, silently coaxing him to reach out and touch them.
Lu Ying clenched his fists tightly, suppressing the chaos in his thoughts, and spoke one word at a time: "I hold no grudge against the matter of you and Cui Ji."
Shen Yinning nodded. "Your servant-wife understands."
Her expression so demurely compliant that it was like meeting a soft, unyielding barrier.
With his face darkened, he said, "I will send someone to clean Furong Palace."
Shen Yinning’s smile deepened, "Many thanks to Your Majesty; Your Majesty is truly kind."
Shen Xinya, witnessing the subtle back-and-forth between the two, felt a storm of jealousy and resentment. She couldn’t help but adopt the haughty air of a concubine, reprimanding, "Elder cousin, don’t speak of Cui Ji anymore! As a Shen Family daughter, how could becoming someone’s concubine ever be a source of pride?"
"Not a source of pride?" Shen Yinning turned to her with a half-smile. "Yet from what I’ve seen, you and Yunxi have been eagerly vying to become consorts in the harem. I thought it must be a great honor."
Shen Xinya was speechless, fury and shame intertwining on her face. She retorted indignantly, "Elder cousin, you’re being absurd! Becoming a harem consort is completely different from being an ordinary concubine!"
"And how is it any different? Can either of you have your names written into the Imperial Family Tree like the Empress?"
Shen Xinya bit her lip, her face alternating between pale and flushed, unable to muster a response for a long time.
Shen Yunxi, observing the verbal sparring between the two, quietly touched her maimed finger.
She had learned her lesson by now. Shen Yinning was utterly unreasonable—a madwoman. No matter how much she hated her, she would never confront her head-on again.
Watching someone else clash with Shen Yinning was far more entertaining!
Feeling pleased by her restraint, Shen Yinning’s gaze landed abruptly on her: "By the way, Yunxi, has your hand recovered? It was my momentary lapse in judgment back then—truly my fault. But since we are all family, and you invited me into the palace, I assume you must not hold a grudge anymore. Thank you for forgiving me."
Shen Yunxi: She had never forgiven her!
She hated her to the core!
But at Shen Yinning’s gaze, she cowered and lowered her head in silence.
Lu Ying closed his eyes briefly.
These three women—they couldn’t hold their own against Shen Yinning even if they joined forces.
He never should have tried to trip her up. All he accomplished in the end was humiliating himself!
Exiting Chunxi Palace, Lu Ying walked toward his quarters under the cover of darkness.
Twisting the Moyu Ring on his finger, he asked coldly, "Earlier, did I lose my composure?"
Gui Quan and De Sun followed closely behind, exchanging a covert glance.
What counted as losing composure?
All they saw was their master, avoiding eye contact with Princess Zhaoning.
For an entire quarter of an hour, he only met her gaze once, and even then, it was he who first looked away.
Since he didn’t even dare to look, could that truly count as losing composure?
Gui Quan cleared his throat and raised a thumb. "Your Majesty appeared exceptionally cold and indifferent!"
De Sun followed suit, raising his thumb as well. "Your Majesty was utterly detached and ruthless, striking fear into all who saw you!"
Lu Ying exhaled slowly.
So, at least he hadn’t appeared to be at a disadvantage before her.