CHAPTER 134: CHAPTER 132 BEING SO SPOILED AND WILLFUL, SHE’S JUST RELYING ON HIS DOTING ON HER.

She placed Lu Ying’s hand on her chest.

Lu Ying tightened his grip on her hand: "Shen Zhaozhao, if you dare to betray me with another man in the future, I will cut out your heart and feed it to the dogs."

The man’s cold voice carried undertones of obsession and desire, like a wildfire smoldering beneath the earth.

If it lost control even a little, it would ignite into an unstoppable blaze.

Shen Yinning laughed delicately: "Your Highness is truly wicked, only knowing how to threaten but never to entice. Following you, I haven’t gained a single benefit."

Lu Ying pinched her cheek.

This little vixen still had the nerve to claim she hadn’t gained anything.

If not for him, she’d still be stuck in that backwater place in Gan State.

The heartless little thing.

As the pair indulged in their closeness, Gui Quan suddenly knocked on the door from outside and respectfully announced, "Your Highness, De Sun has caught a sneaky little thief. He was trying to climb through the window to find Lady Shen! Would you like to guess who it is? It turns out to be Young Master Qin Lunan from the Qin Family! This servant isn’t sure how to handle the matter and has come to consult Your Highness."

Before Lu Ying could respond, Shen Yinning had already sat up with a swish.

He raised an eyebrow.

This little vixen seemed to be brimming with energy again.

Shen Yinning spoke crisply, "Bring him in."

Seeing that Lu Ying did not object, Gui Quan pushed open the door and allowed De Sun to drag Qin Lunan inside.

Shen Yinning adjusted her inner robe, lifted the bed curtain with her hand, and smiled, "I hear Cousin Qin climbed through my window? It’s so late, Cousin, why not use the front door? Sneaking through windows like this—if someone sees, they might think there’s something improper between us."

Qin Lunan trembled all over.

Shen Yunxi had instructed him to come find Shen Yinning tonight, to force a situation where they would have to marry.

He was no stranger to such things; over the years, emboldened by his cousin’s status as Crown Princess Consort, he had bullied many powerless women. What’s more, Shen Yinning was so devastatingly beautiful that he had coveted her for three years. So, he eagerly agreed to Shen Yunxi’s plan.

Taking advantage of the night, he tried to climb through the window, only to find himself ambushed by the Crown Prince’s Chief Eunuch!

But why were the Crown Prince’s men stationed near Shen Yinning’s room?

He swallowed nervously, glancing toward the bed curtains for answers.

As if to confirm his suspicions, Lu Ying pulled a robe over his shoulders and calmly wrapped an arm around Shen Yinning: "What are you looking at?"

Qin Lunan’s pupils shrank sharply, and he almost shouted, "The Crown Prince?!"

Lu Ying’s face remained unreadable.

He had no interest in Qin Lunan, but when he noticed that Shen Yinning’s inner robe was slightly open, a hint of displeasure crossed his eyes. Without batting an eye, he drew her closer, pressing her into his chest.

This possessive gesture left Qin Lunan even more stunned.

During the day, he had only heard rumors that the Crown Prince and Shen Yinning had consummated their union as husband and wife.

But he never imagined that, three years later, their relationship would still be so entangled and ambiguous!

He had assumed that Shen Yinning, now in a fallen state, was ripe for the taking, and that even Gao Zheng wouldn’t dare intervene. Who could’ve known she was secretly the Crown Prince’s Forbidden Fruit!

Surely his cousin knew nothing of this!

He swallowed hard, forcing a smile: "This humble one was merely here to visit my cousin Yinning. I didn’t expect the Crown Prince to be present; it was disrespectful of me! I won’t dare disturb Your Highness’s pleasure any longer—I’ll take my leave!"

He tried to retreat, but De Sun firmly pressed down on his shoulders, forcing him to kneel on the spot.

Shen Yinning disliked being held in Lu Ying’s arms.

She wriggled free and sat on the edge of the bed, lazily swinging her feet: "Since when does a respectable visit to one’s cousin involve climbing through a window in the middle of the night? Cousin, you must have had other intentions. What, you think I’m just a lowly official’s wife now, and you can humiliate me as you please?"

"Cousin, you misunderstand," Qin Lunan stammered, too terrified to meet her gaze. "How could I dare?!"

If he had known the Crown Prince was here, not even ten lifetimes’ worth of courage would lead him to act so brazenly!

Shen Yinning smirked seductively: "’If one must die under a peony flower, one would still do so with grace.’ For someone so timid, Cousin, how did you ever muster the courage to try picking flowers?"

Qin Lunan trembled uncontrollably.

The partially open screen allowed a cold wind to filter in, chilling him to the bone.

His thoughts ran wild.

He had accidentally uncovered the Crown Prince’s scandal with Shen Yinning tonight—would he live to leave this place?

The Crown Prince had a reputation in the Capital for righteousness and decorum; who would have thought he’d secretly commit such a disgraceful act of coveting a courtier’s wife?

Lowering his head, Qin Lunan’s gaze unintentionally fell on Shen Yinning’s feet.

They were exquisitely beautiful—elegant, slender, with subtly prominent bones at the ankles. The golden bell anklet set off her skin’s jade-like fairness, while her round, tender toes appeared like small, blushing pearls, their nails polished to a delicate sheen. It was clear she took excellent care of herself.

He didn’t have any specific fetish for feet, but the sight of hers stirred something in him. He longed to hold them in his hands, to trace their perfection slowly...

Catching him staring vacantly at her feet, Lu Ying’s sharp brow furrowed.

He said coldly, "Qin Lunan."

Startled back to reality, Qin Lunan immediately prostrated himself: "Your Highness, spare me!"

"Lu Ying!" Shen Yinning pouted, tugging at his arm with mock indignation. "A young lady’s body is fragile and precious—how could I ever face the world again after my feet have been ogled by a man? I don’t want to live anymore!"

Lu Ying found her antics both exasperating and entertaining.

For someone ordinarily so devious and brazen, there was no way she’d genuinely be willing to die over something as trivial as this.

Her feigned helplessness was clearly just her way of leveraging his indulgence.

With a sigh, he asked patiently, "Then what would you suggest?"

While theatrically dabbing at imaginary tears with her sleeve, Shen Yinning cast a fleeting glance at Qin Lunan, her lips curving slightly upward: "A young lady’s reputation is everything. Perhaps Cousin Lunan should offer his life as an apology."

"Shen Yinning!" Qin Lunan uttered in despair, "All I did was glance at your feet, and now you’re trying to sweet-talk the Crown Prince into taking my life?! I know—you’re just afraid I’ll tell the Crown Princess Consort about you and the Crown Prince, inviting her retaliation. Rest assured, tonight’s events will never pass my lips!"

His palms were slick with sweat as he turned to Lu Ying in desperation: "Your Highness, you are wise and just; surely, you would never kill an innocent man over a mere woman! Spare me, Your Highness!"

Shen Yinning leaned into Lu Ying again, tugging at his arm like a spoiled child: "Lu Ying..."

Lu Ying relented helplessly: "Whatever you wish."

Qin Lunan looked up in disbelief: "Your Highness?!"

Shen Yinning’s sweet voice rang out: "De Sun, would you kindly tie him up and hang him from the beam? I was so inspired watching Lu Ying and my second cousin practice archery today that I thought I’d ask him to teach me. Dead targets are so dull—why not let Cousin Lunan serve as a live one?"

Qin Lunan’s face contorted in fury. She was throwing his own words from earlier back at him!

He bellowed in a last-ditch threat: "Shen Yinning, how dare you! My cousin is the Crown Princess Consort!"

Shen Yinning pouted pitifully at Lu Ying: "Lu Ying, did you hear him?"

Lu Ying remained expressionless: "Gag him and tie him up."

Qin Lunan’s eyes widened in horror, but before he could curse further, De Sun swiftly stuffed a rag into his mouth!

His hands were bound, and soon he was strung up high on the beam. His face turned beet red as the pressure built, veins bulging as though his eyes might pop out of their sockets.

Shen Yinning nestled against Lu Ying’s chest, drawing the bow with a lighthearted air.

Though skilled in archery, the young woman pretended to be frail and inept, acting as if the bowstring was too much for her: "Lu Ying, this bow is so heavy—it’s no wonder only strong men like you can handle it."

Lu Ying enveloped her from behind, his large hands covering her delicate ones as he guided her in raising the arrow, its sharp tip gleaming coldly.

Meeting Qin Lunan’s terrified gaze, Shen Yinning’s laughter rang like wind chimes: "Lu Ying, what if I accidentally miss?"