Chapter 456: Chapter 454: You Rely on My Fondness for You
Lu Ying remained silent, his gaze fixed intently on him.
His eyes were so chillingly gloomy that Huo Mingxu couldn’t help but shudder. "You... why are you glaring at me like that? After all, you’re my brother-in-law. The harem is filled with beauties. Surely, you wouldn’t still be thinking about your younger brother’s wife, would you? The Commandery Princess is Cui Ji’s woman. She even bore him a child!"
The more he spoke, the colder and more penetrating Lu Ying’s eyes became.
Huo Mingxu cleared his throat awkwardly. "Of course, I’ll wait until a full year after Cui Ji’s death before formally proposing to the Commandery Princess. There’s still some fate between us, after all. Take today’s archery competition, for example. She didn’t bet on anyone else but chose me to win. Or consider how my lantern perfectly matches hers. Such signs prove that rushing our union would be unwise..."
The young man prattled on and on.
A fledgling boy of only fifteen or sixteen, even younger than Shen Yinning.
Yet when it came to discussing marriage, he brimmed with enthusiasm, truly seeming to harbor genuine affection for Shen Yinning.
Lu Ying’s gaze dropped to the lantern in his hands.
If love could endure, did it matter how many mornings and evenings were shared...
He and Shen Zhaozhao had shared countless mornings and evenings, yet the love between them seemed thoroughly severed.
She no longer cared to invest any feelings in him.
Once Cui Ji’s mourning period was over, everyone in the Capital would be free to court her, except for him.
Their love, it seemed, was destined to remain forever hidden, buried in shameful darkness.
Suddenly, Lu Ying reached out and took the lantern from Huo Mingxu’s hands.
Huo Mingxu froze and protested, "Cousin?!"
Lu Ying distractedly examined the poem on the lantern. "Your sister just suffered humiliation on your behalf today. If you don’t stop pestering her, she’ll surely take it out on her again."
Huo Mingxu scratched his head. "You make a good point..."
"You’re still young and don’t understand what true affection means," Lu Ying remarked, his lashes half-lowered, his tone indifferent. "Tonight, I’ll teach you a lesson. True affection is about fulfillment, about protection. If you truly care for Princess Zhaoning, you should plan for the long-term instead of seeking fleeting pleasures that bring her trouble. Go back for now. Another day, I’ll help you persuade your sister."
It was Huo Mingxu’s first visit to the Capital, and he was unaware that "another day" was merely an excuse often used by people in the Central Plains.
He looked both surprised and delighted. "Truly?! Brother-in-law, are you really willing to help me?!"
The Huo Family resided long outside the border and, influenced by foreign customs, placed less emphasis on women’s chastity. It wasn’t uncommon to see widows remarrying their husband’s brother.
As such, even though Huo Mingxu knew of Shen Yinning and Lu Ying’s past, he was still willing to formally marry her.
Lu Ying replied coolly, "When have I ever lied to you?"
Huo Mingxu could barely contain his joy. He glanced bashfully at Shen Yinning before scratching his head with a grin. "Then I’ll go bid farewell to her before leaving. Don’t worry, Brother-in-law; from now on, I’ll be more cautious and won’t let my sister see me with the Commandery Princess until you’ve convinced her."
Lu Ying watched him leave with cold eyes.
Then his gaze returned to Shen Yinning, the oppressive darkness in his eyes lightening just slightly.
He lifted the lantern and walked up to Shen Yinning. "I’ll accompany you to explore the Stone Palace."
Shen Yinning glanced at the lantern he had taken from Huo Mingxu.
After a long moment, she tilted her head with a faint, teasing smile. "Is Your Majesty jealous?"
Lu Ying met her eyes. "Can’t I be?"
Shen Yinning said nothing, but a soft laugh escaped her lips.
The sound carried hints of amusement, mockery, and indifference.
Lu Ying tightened his grip.
Despite being much taller and possessing power, wealth, and an empire,
Lu Ying couldn’t help but feel an uncontrollable sense of defeat whenever he faced this cunning vixen.
It was as if everything about him was at her mercy and control, as if he had sold his soul to this devilish enchantress.
In the past, Shen Zhaozhao had written a phrase on his arm—
"Shen Zhaozhao’s dog."
Lu Ying suppressed the tumultuous feelings in his chest, thinking to himself how it had been prophetic. For her, he truly was willing to be a dog.
Shen Yinning couldn’t care less about what he thought and turned toward the direction of the Stone Palace.
Her calm voice drifted through the night. "I heard that the one who collects the most treasures tonight can ask Your Majesty for a favor?"
Lu Ying followed behind her, watching the golden hairpin swaying by her temple. "What do you want?"
"I haven’t decided yet."
Shen Yinning knew well enough that Lu Ying would never grant her freedom or allow her to leave the palace.
"Tell me when you’ve decided."
Shen Yinning responded with a soft "mm."
The Stone Palace was grand, constructed of countless strange rocks.
The halls were adorned with various lanterns, but young nobles, weary of these familiar sights during annual celebrations, now preferred the underground river where they could board boats to view stalactites.
Lu Ying asked, "Zhaozhao, would you like to take a boat to the underground river? I’ll go with you."
Shen Yinning leaned lazily against the stone wall. "I do, but not with you."
Lu Ying fell silent.
Shen Yinning tilted her head up, smiling as her gaze landed on a luminous pearl hanging from the cave ceiling. She pointed at it and said, "Fetch it for me."
The pearl wasn’t hung very high.
She could have easily retrieved it by standing on her tiptoes.
Yet, accustomed to being pampered, she would never lift a finger where she could command others.
Without a word, Lu Ying plucked the luminous pearl and placed it in a basket he held. "You take advantage of my affection, bossing me around at will. Aren’t you afraid I’ll stop caring one day?"
"Oh, so even Your Majesty knows that it’s you who cares for me, not the other way around?" Shen Yinning raised an eyebrow, twisting a strand of hair around her finger. "If you like me, what’s the harm in doing more for me? Besides, since I no longer care about you, why should it matter whether or not I lose your affection?"
Lu Ying choked on his words.
Though he was normally reserved, he could hardly be called inarticulate.
Yet whenever he faced Shen Yinning, she always left him speechless.
After a long pause, he bit out his words one by one. "I refuse to believe you’ll never need something from me."
By now, night had deepened.
Though the Stone Palace was cold, Shen Yinning could clearly feel a heat rising within her.
A tingling warmth coursed through her, spreading to her limbs and bones, igniting a fiery need in her very core.
She knew this sensation all too well.
Lu Ying watched her with a cold gaze. "Now, it’s your turn to beg me."
"You’re such a scoundrel!" Shen Yinning cursed hoarsely.
Lu Ying chuckled faintly. "Since you and I are already entangled in a mess of debts, with me once humiliating you in a hundred ways and you publicly flogging me in return, Zhaozhao, you must know that our fates are intertwined. What’s one more toxin added to this chaos?"
He stood there, tall and imposing like a jade mountain, his robe embroidered with golden dragons flowing like clouds. The faint fragrance of snow-covered pines clung to him, the very scent Shen Yinning adored.
Her eyes reddened as bitterness swelled within her. Despite her reluctance, she stumbled forward and gripped his robes tightly.
Standing on tiptoe, just before their lips met, she couldn’t resist scolding him. "You bastard!"
Lu Ying encircled her slender waist, his thin lips brushing hers as he chuckled lowly. "Yes, I’m a bastard."