Chapter 123
"I’m not leaving." Shen Ningyu’s eyes reddened as she glared angrily at Li Jin. "If you don’t explain clearly today, I absolutely will not leave. What exactly is your relationship with this lowborn commoner?"
Li Jin took a deep breath, "Ping'an , go prepare the carriage. Yunting, escort Miss Shen out. And tell them, anyone who lets someone into my courtyard without my permission, don't blame me for being merciless."
"Yes."
Ping'an , hearing Li Jin's words, quickly ran off like a wacker.
"Yes, Your Highness."
Zhou Yunting also responded and then strode purposefully toward Shen Ningyu.
Shen Ningyu shouted furiously, "Get away from me! I’ve made myself perfectly clear—I’m not leaving."
"Apologies."
Zhou Yunting, never one to be tender or show mercy to women, struck the back of Shen Ningyu’s neck with a swift chop, immediately knocking her unconscious.
"Miss…!" The maid named Liu Su, who had come with Shen Ningyu, paled at the sight and rushed forward to support Shen Ningyu as she swayed, about to fall. "Miss, what’s wrong with you? Miss? Miss?"
Zhou Yunting reminded her, "Miss Shen has merely fainted. She will regain consciousness shortly."
"Ah…"
Liu Su was stunned.
Zhou Yunting made a gesture of invitation. "You heard what His Highness said earlier, I presume. Please."
"Yes, yes…"
Seeing Shen Ningyu already knocked unconscious, how could Liu Su dare continue to put on airs? She hastily and carefully supported Shen Ningyu and left the Prince of Dingbei's Mansion.
……
After Shen Ningyu had left, Li Jin then turned to Ying Yuan and said, "My apologies for letting you witness such an undignified scene."
"It’s nothing." Ying Yuan shook his head, not particularly concerned. "However, this Miss Shen truly has considerable courage."
The ‘courage’ Ying Yuan referred to was Shen Ningyu disregarding Li Jin’s wishes, stubbornly spreading rumors about having a connection with him. If not courage, then it could only be described as reckless presumption.
Li Jin shook his head, his tone meaningful, "That’s not even the extent of it. She is capable of things far more ‘courageous.’"
Li Jin would never forget how ruthlessly Shen Ningyu schemed against him in his past life.
"Is that so."
Hearing Li Jin’s words, Ying Yuan instantly lost any desire to continue this topic.
Strange, why does my heart feel somewhat stifled?
"Alright, since it’s rare for you to visit, let’s not talk about her anymore." Li Jin also had no wish to continue discussing topics related to Shen Ningyu. "First, tell me, what’s the occasion for you wearing this attire?"
Ying Yuan said, "No particular occasion. I just wanted to wear them to show you. Actually, these robes was given to me privately by Dongzi before we departed from Zhuzhou. What is your opinion—does it suit me well?"
"Very good."
This comment from Li Jin was not mere perfunctory praise, but an evaluation made after looking.
Although the robes were made of coarse linen cloth, the craftsmanship and the embroidered patterns clearly showed how much care the maker put into them.
Ying Yuan was genuinely pleased by Li Jin's response. "I also think they look very fine. By the way, A-Jin, yesterday while having a meal with Mother Empress, Father Emperor told me that in a few days, an imperial decree will be issued, enfeoffing me as the Prince of Qin, and I am to move to reside outside the palace."
Ying Zhengjing did not frequently visit Gu Rushuang's palace, but on the first and fifteenth days of every lunar month, he would invariably go there to dine.
Upon hearing this, Li Jin's pupils instantly contracted. "A-Yuan, His Majesty's action certainly carries a deeper meaning."
"Mm." Ying Yuan nodded. "Aside from the youngest Ninth Imperial Brother, the others are the same as me; they will be enfeoffed and leave the palace in the coming days."
This was also something Ying Yuan did not understand.
According to precedent, for imperial princes to leave the palace and receive their princedoms, they should at least have reached capping age, and ideally, have married. Yet, Ying Zhengjing was precisely not following convention, directly sending them out of the palace to be enfeoffed.
[弱冠之年 (ruòguàn zhī nián): lit. the age of the weak capping ceremony; fig. around twenty years old, the age at which a man came of age in ancient China and was given a cap in a ceremony.]
Li Jin looked at Ying Yuan. "A-Yuan, I suspect His Majesty is considering appointing a Crown Prince and plans to select one from among you. Otherwise, he would not hastily send all the princes out of the palace to establish their own residences."
Wait, the timing for the princes to establish their mansions outside the palace has been moved up. Could it be... Ying Zhengjing's health has taken a turn for the worse?
Li Jin remembered that there were still two years before the princes were supposed to leave the palace to establish their mansions. Because two years later, Ying Zhengjing's health would deteriorate, forcing him to select a successor as a precaution.
Now, with this sudden advancement in timing, it must undoubtedly be related to Ying Zhengjing's physical condition.
Ying Yuan nodded in agreement. "That is what I think as well."
"A-Yuan, we must begin preparing early."
If Ying Yuan could discern this, the other princes certainly could guess as well, especially Ying Ziqi. He was probably already secretly discussing countermeasures at this very moment.
...
Elsewhere.
"Is everything you've said the truth?"
Li Yanchen sat in the master seat, pensively watching the person who had secretly come to deliver the information.
If Ping'an were present, he would surely recognize the person kneeling before Li Yanchen as someone from Li Jin's courtyard, who usually even had some rapport with Ping'an.
"Replying to the Eldest Young Master, this lowly one heard it with my own ears. I dare to stake my life to guarantee it is absolutely true."
"Good, I know. Go and receive your reward."
"Thank you, Eldest Young Master..."
Upon hearing Li Yanchen was to give him a reward, the servant who had delivered the information was instantly overjoyed. He flattered and fawned over Li Yanchen profusely for a good while before withdrawing.
Watching the servant's figure gradually fade into the distance, Li Yanchen slowly curved the corners of his mouth into a cold sneer. "Truly, it comes without the slightest effort. To think the Heir to the Prince of Dingbei actually favors men. This is truly a major affair indeed. I wonder if, once this matter spreads, Li Jin will still be able to securely maintain his position as heir."
...
Shen Residence.
Slap!
Upon learning from Liu Su that she had been brought back, Shen Ningyu flew into a rage and slapped Liu Su, sending her tumbling to the floor. "Why did you bring me back? Didn't I say I was staying at the Prince of Dingbei's Mansion? Fine, I understand now. You deliberately wanted to see me make a fool of myself."
"Miss, you've misunderstood, this servant didn't intend to... Ah—"
Liu Su wanted to defend herself, but Shen Ningyu gave her no chance, instantly delivering a fierce kick to Liu Su's abdomen.
"You, a mere maid, dare to talk back? Have you grown tired of living?"
Liu Su, now afraid from the beating, trembled and said, "This servant wouldn't dare."
"You wouldn't dare? Is there anything you wouldn't dare? No, if I don't teach you a lesson today, you'll rebel against heaven itself." Enraged by Liu Su's words, Shen Ningyu picked up a wooden rod beside her and began beating Liu Su with it.
Liu Su immediately began weeping and pleading for mercy, "Miss, this servant was wrong, I was wrong! I beg you, be magnanimous and spare me this once! This servant will never dare again!"
"In your dreams!"
Far from having any effect, Liu Su's words only made Shen Ningyu hit her even harder.
"Enough." He Danyan walked in from outside. "Liu Su is, after all, your personal maid. That should be enough. If Liu Su were truly injured, your mother would have no choice but to assign you a new maid. And when that time comes, you are not allowed to complain about being unaccustomed to her."
"This daughter is furious that Liu Su actually helped that lowborn commoner."
Shen Ningyu sullenly uttered one sentence, then stopped.
Just as He Danyan said, Shen Ningyu was used to Liu Su. Therefore, unless absolutely necessary, Shen Ningyu did not wish to replace her, which was why she ceased punishing Liu Su.
"Thank you, Miss... thank you, Miss..."
Covered in wounds from the beating, Liu Su, seeing that Shen Ningyu was finally willing to let her go, immediately kowtowed several times to Shen Ningyu, her head knocking audibly on the floor.
Shen Ningyu snapped, "Enough! Get out of my sight. I don't want to see your face right now."
"Yes, yes... yes..."
Upon hearing this, Liu Su hastily retreated.
He Danyan sighed helplessly. "Ningyu, tell your mother, what exactly happened?"
He Danyan remembered that Shen Ningyu had been out not long ago. For her to return now and fly into such a rage at Liu Su, something must have occurred.
"It's all because..."
Seeing He Danyan ask, Shen Ningyu resentfully recounted the events that had happened at the Prince of Dingbei's Mansion to He Danyan.
Of course, while speaking, Shen Ningyu deliberately omitted the part where Li Jin had said he did not like her.
He Danyan asked doubtfully, "Ningyu, are you certain that person is Heir Li's... Lover?"
He Danyan had heard some rumors that the Dowager Lady of the Prince of Dingbei's Mansion did not care for Li Jin. She had even frequently caused him difficulties during his time at the mansion. Therefore, Li Jin's sudden decision to bring someone back now clearly showed no concern about the Dowager Lady potentially holding him accountable.
"Absolutely certain." Shen Ningyu nodded firmly and emphatically. "Mother, you didn't see the look in that lowborn's eyes. If someone says he has no interest in Heir Li, I'd be the first not to believe it."
Shen Ningyu, having been through it herself, was naturally familiar with the inadvertent affection Ying Yuan had just revealed.
"Then what do you intend to do?"
He Danyan actually wanted to say that it was quite ordinary for a man to have multiple wives and concubines; even Shen Chaoyan had several concubines. But since the one speaking to her now was her own daughter, He Danyan had no choice but to swallow certain words.
Shen Ningyu said through gritted teeth, "Mother, tomorrow this daughter wishes to take the opportunity of entering the palace to visit Noble Consort Chun and bring up the matter of an imperial marriage decree to His Majesty."
"No." Upon hearing this, He Danyan's face immediately darkened. "Even if this matter is to be brought up, it should be done by your father. For you, an unmarried maiden, to mention such a thing—what kind of propriety is that? Wouldn't it invite ridicule for no reason?"
"Mother, it's not that you don't know, Father is not in the capital right now. I cannot wait. If Heir Li's heart is truly stolen away by that lowborn, what will become of me? I not only want to marry him, but I also want his genuine affection."
From a young age, Shen Ningyu possessed a proud and arrogant nature; she would never allow a mere commoner to gain the upper hand over her.
"No. There are other matters your mother can indulge you in, but this one alone is not permissible."
"Mother!"
"I said no, and that means no."
Because she was her daughter, He Danyan had always doted on Shen Ningyu and rarely spoke harshly. Therefore, He Danyan's words now instead provoked a rebellious streak in Shen Ningyu.
"..."
Hearing He Danyan refuse again and again, Shen Ningyu fell silent.
He Danyan thought Shen Ningyu had heeded her persuasion and couldn't help but comfortingly pat Shen Ningyu's shoulder. "Ningyu, listen to your mother. Wait until your father returns before discussing everything."
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