Chapter 400: Chapter 398 She Has No Interest in Which Woman Lu Ying Slept With
In the palace, nearly everyone knew that mentioning Shen Yinning in Lu Ying’s presence was an absolute taboo.
Gui Quan, serving nearby, watched in shock as Shen Xinya casually blurted the name out, breaking into a cold sweat.
He cautiously glanced at Lu Ying.
The young emperor was reviewing memorials, his profile cold and unreadable, showing no trace of emotional fluctuation.
It seemed he wasn’t angry?
Shen Xinya also lifted her gaze, daring to look at him. "Your Majesty?"
Seeing Lu Ying remain silent, Shen Xinya knelt to the ground, bowing her head: "Ever since my uncle was executed for his crimes, the Shen Family has fallen into ruins. My father and brother have exhausted every effort just to barely hold the family together. Yet, my cousin remains estranged from us due to misunderstandings and refuses to return home. My elder sister and I deliberated all night and decided that while my cousin is with child, we must bring her to the palace to foster familial bonds. This will prevent the Shen Family from fracturing further and ensure my uncle’s bloodline isn’t left to wither. I beseech Your Majesty to grant this request!"
Gui Quan nearly burst out laughing at her words.
This Shen Xinya—Shen Beauty—must think everyone else is a fool, and she alone is clever.
"Fostering familial bonds," she claimed. Considering her father and brother had accused Shen Zhi of treason, how did she even have the face to utter such nonsense!
But still...
Gui Quan shot another glance at Lu Ying.
But His Majesty’s mind was as unfathomable as the deep sea, and it wasn’t entirely impossible for him to want to see Princess Zhaoning again.
As expected, Lu Ying’s voice carried a detached indifference: "Granted."
Shen Xinya was overjoyed and was about to express her gratitude when Lu Ying added, "After all, she’s the wife of a courtier. She cannot reside long in Chunxi Palace lest it provoke gossip. Arrange for her to stay in Furong Palace."
Furong Palace was located in the most remote corner of the harem.
It was traditionally reserved for concubines who had fallen out of favor.
Gui Quan lowered his gaze in deference, suspecting that His Majesty’s arrangement was purely to vex Princess Zhaoning.
Shen Xinya unconsciously bit her lip.
Their original plan had been to settle Shen Yinning into Chunxi Palace, where she could be humiliated and mocked at will, while also being prompted to collide with the Empress. But now, Lu Ying had placed her so far away...
Clenching her hands tightly, Shen Xinya didn’t dare haggle with Lu Ying further. She had no choice but to express her gratitude and leave the Imperial Study.
After she departed, Lu Ying closed the memorial. "Gui Quan, do you think permitting her entry to the palace will give her the wrong idea? That she might misunderstand I still have feelings for her?"
Gui Quan donned a sycophantic smile. "Everyone knows Furong Palace is in shambles. By sending Princess Zhaoning there, Your Majesty is clearly showing disdain."
"Good. Make sure not to have the palace attendants clean or refurbish it. She’s now Cui Ji’s concubine, isn’t she? All her furnishings, servants, and provisions should be provided by the Cui Family. In this game between her and me, I am the one who will emerge victorious."
Gui Quan laughed awkwardly.
How had affectionate feelings turned into a game?
Why was he unaware that His Majesty and Princess Zhaoning were even in such a game?
And honestly, what was the point of winning this kind of meaningless game?
...
Because Shangguan Min had taken Shen Yinning back to the Prime Minister’s Mansion, De Sun made a wasted trip to the Cui Family and had no choice but to rush to the Prime Minister’s Mansion instead.
Shangguan Min’s face was dark with anger. "Princess Zhaoning belongs to the Cui Family. And if she belongs to the Cui Family, then she belongs to us, the Prime Minister’s Mansion. Why do Consort Rong and Shen Beauty insist on bringing Princess Zhaoning into the palace to rest during her pregnancy? Can she not rest at the Prime Minister’s Mansion?!"
De Sun discreetly wiped the cold sweat off his brow and, assuming the air of the Vice Director, scolded, "This is an imperial decree! Madam Shangguan, are you planning to defy the decree?! Besides, Consort Rong and Princess Zhaoning are cousins. What’s so unusual about inviting her into the palace to keep her company?!"
Shangguan Min furrowed her brows tightly, intending to enter the palace herself to confront Lu Ying and find out what he was thinking. But Shen Yinning held her back.
"Elder sister," Shen Yinning curved her almond-shaped eyes into a smile, "I’m willing to enter the palace."
The palace was all too lively now.
The Shen sisters, Huo Mingyan, Empress Dowager Li, Li Zhu, Wen Kuixiang...
Of course, she wanted to join in the commotion!
Shangguan Min saw the glint in Shen Yinning’s eyes and could tell she was planning something within the palace. "With my husband absent, I fear—"
"Madam Shangguan, there’s no need to worry!" De Sun beamed, "The emperor and empress are benevolent and would never let the princess suffer any indignity!"
Shangguan Min said nothing.
Was she worried about Shen Yinning?
No, she was worried about the other women in the palace!
She couldn’t shake the feeling that her Shen Yinning was like a man-eating shark...
After De Sun left, Shangguan Min looked at Shen Yinning with concern and warned her, "You are soon to be a mother. For the sake of the child in your womb, you should cultivate kindness and accumulate virtue. Don’t act recklessly or harm others thoughtlessly."
Shen Yinning smiled sweetly. "I’ll keep that in mind, sister."
Shangguan Min continued, "Do you need me to prepare anything for you to bring into the palace? I’ll help you pack."
"No need to trouble you, sister." Shen Yinning cast a meaningful glance in the direction of the Imperial Palace with a faint smile. "I only need to bring one thing."
In the afternoon, Shen Yinning entered the palace, accompanied by Haitang and Wei Yu.
A soft sedan chair carried her through the winding palace alleys toward the remote Furong Palace.
The grounds outside were neglected and overgrown with weeds, and the interior was coated in dust and cobwebs, clearly having been unoccupied for a long time.
Wei Yu sneezed as she stepped out. "This won’t do. It’s too filthy to stay in! Princess, we need to tidy this place up."
Haitang volunteered, "I’ll fetch water."
Shen Yinning stopped her and instructed Wei Yu instead, "Go and ask Yin Yang if he’s still willing to work for me. If he is, have him investigate the young emperor’s whereabouts tonight. I want to know which concubine’s palace he’ll dine at this evening."
She had money.
Lots and lots of money.
The only thing she brought into the palace was silver notes.
Yin Yang, fearing the Gao Family’s downfall might implicate him, eagerly agreed to work for her. To secure as much wealth as possible before leaving the Capital someday, he promptly acquired the information from a eunuch friend regarding Lu Ying’s plans for the evening.
"Chunxi Palace?"
Sitting on the stone steps outside the hall, Shen Yinning raised an eyebrow as she listened to Wei Yu’s report.
Chunxi Palace was the residence of Shen Yunxi and Shen Xinya.
Wei Yu added, "Yin Yang also said that over the past few days, His Majesty hasn’t stayed in any of the concubines’ chambers. Sometimes he only has a meal with them before departing. Especially Consort Rong and Shen Beauty—since His Majesty ascended the throne, he has never stayed the night with Consort Rong, and Shen Beauty has only served him once. However, the emperor occasionally dines with Consort Rong out of pity for her maimed fingers."
Shen Yinning was entirely uninterested in which woman shared Lu Ying’s bed.
She only cared about whether she could spend the night in Furong Palace undisturbed.
She twirled the spokes of her fan and smiled at Haitang. "Tonight, we’ll also join the excitement at Chunxi Palace."
That evening.
A banquet was laid out in Chunxi Palace, with fine wine and delicacies in abundance.
Lu Ying was dining with the Shen sisters when De Sun came in to report: "Your Majesty, Princess Zhaoning has arrived!"
Shen Yunxi’s hand trembled violently, causing her chopsticks to falter.
Ever since Shen Yinning severed three of her fingers, a deep-seated fear of her had taken root within her.
She couldn’t help but glance at Lu Ying.