CHAPTER 360: CHAPTER 358: CUI JI IS WILLING TO BECOME THE COMMANDERY PRINCESS’S CHIEF ATTENDANT

When Cui Ji was ushered in, he saw the room illuminated by candlelight. A young woman sat at the edge of the bed, her fragrant shoulders partially exposed, while behind her Lu Ying sat leaning back with disheveled attire.

He frowned slightly, his tone tinged with dissatisfaction: "Commandery Princess."

"Speak directly. I’m busy."

"Busy indulging the fallen Crown Prince?" Cui Ji suppressed his anger. "Commandery Princess knows full well how dangerous this man is, yet insists on keeping him by her side. Are you not afraid this will one day bring disaster upon yourself? Or has your liking for him already outweighed your sense of danger? Just toppling Lu Ying—is that all? Have you forgotten that your true enemy is still comfortably holding his Lordship as Duke?"

Shen Yinning smirked faintly. "Your tone almost makes me sound like a tyrant indulging in debauchery, and him, the bewitcher who seduced me."

Cui Ji said nothing, yet his expression betrayed that he indeed agreed.

Shen Yinning brushed her dense, fluffy hair and sighed. "I’m merely a powerless woman. After toiling for four years, keeping a young and handsome man in my mansion to reward myself isn’t such an unforgivable crime, is it? Why must Lord Cui be so angry?"

Cui Ji coldly reminded, "Has Commandery Princess forgotten how he treated you in the past? Cut weeds must have their roots removed. Keeping him by your side—isn’t that inviting calamity?"

"Enough." Shen Yinning idly swung her pale, delicate feet. "Speak. What’s so urgent that you’d come here in the dead of night?"

Cui Ji glanced at Lu Ying but didn’t directly respond to Shen Yinning’s question.

He knelt on one knee and, in Lu Ying’s presence, personally put socks and embroidered shoes on Shen Yinning.

The young woman’s feet were exquisitely delicate, and when he held them in his palm, he noticed their soft warmth, making it somewhat difficult to release them.

Once the shoes and socks were in place, he said, "I ask Commandery Princess to move to the study next door for a discussion."

Shen Yinning understood he intended to eliminate Lu Ying’s involvement, so she didn’t say much and followed him to the study.

Lu Ying remained alone in the canopy bed.

In his mind, the scene of Cui Ji putting shoes on Shen Yinning replayed vividly, pressing heavily on his brow.

He had almost forgotten that the man who accompanied Shen Yinning for three years in Gan State was Cui Ji.

Two people who had endured hardship together naturally shared a closeness others couldn’t match.

He tugged at his thin lips, his narrow eyes brimming with cold indifference.

Next door, in the study.

"Speak," Shen Yinning leaned against the window, "What matter is it?"

Cui Ji said, "Previously, you had Wen Liluo from Seven Treasures Pavilion gather former Shen Mansion guards on your behalf. I’ve heard she compiled thirteen of them."

"Yes. They’ve all entered Shen Garden now, working under me."

"Are they trustworthy?"

"Utterly loyal, to the point I can entrust my life to them."

Cui Ji finally nodded. "I’ve received news. Due to the ceremony for the new Crown Prince’s enthronement, the palace will host three consecutive nights of feasts. Shen Yan is among those invited. From the Imperial Palace back to Shen Guogong Mansion, Lan De Street is the mandatory route."

Shen Yinning instantly grasped his intent. "Lan De Street specializes in selling writing supplies, and it’s under curfew by night. Are you suggesting that, taking advantage of the curfew and the emptiness, we deploy the Shen Garden guards to..."

"Yes." Cui Ji’s expression remained icy, his eyes faintly surging with murderous intent. "Lan De Street is very close to Imperial Street, right under the Emperor’s nose. No one would expect assassins to be lurking there. Additionally, it’s convenient that tomorrow night, the patrol for that area falls under the Ministry of Justice. Tampering with it is laughably easy."

Shen Yinning played with a strand of her hair and laughed softly.

After she finished laughing, she said, "Thank you."

Cui Ji pressed his thin lips together without replying.

Shen Yinning tilted her head. "What is it?"

"Can Cui Ji ask a favor of Commandery Princess?"

Shen Yinning already guessed what he wanted to say and turned her face away. "Cui Ji, that’s my personal matter."

"He is now merely a fallen Crown Prince. He has nothing to offer you."

"It’s not his status that I like about him."

"Commandery Princess has always excelled at seeking benefit and avoiding harm. How could you engage in a losing transaction? If you wish to keep a male companion, why choose one who can offer you nothing? Cui Ji is willing to serve as your male companion. Even without status, Cui Ji would serve you wholeheartedly."

The study remained unlit.

Moonlight spilled quietly through the window, casting over Cui Ji.

He, the youngest scholar to place third in Great Zhou’s imperial examination since its founding, wore a deep green round-collared official robe. His features were distant and self-possessed, his figure upright like pine or bamboo, surrounded by an aura of natural melancholy and chill.

The young ladies in the Capital’s chambers adored his cold aloofness, oblivious to his willingness in private to abase himself like a dog begging its master for favor.

Shen Yinning said bluntly, "Cui Ji, I do not like you behaving like this."

She uttered those words before storming out with evident displeasure.

Cui Ji followed closely behind her. "Cui Ji has visited Spring Fragrance House several times, spending a fortune to hire the women there to teach room skills. Whatever they can do, Cui Ji has learned. Whatever they cannot do, Cui Ji has mastered. Why does Commandery Princess refuse to even look back at Cui Ji?"

Spring Fragrance House—women—room skills?!

Shen Yinning halted in shock and turned abruptly.

Cui Ji almost collided with her.

He stopped quickly, gazed intently at Shen Yinning’s eyes, and continued speaking: "Previously, Cui Ji had a humble status. If not for Commandery Princess’s favor and grace, he wouldn’t have climbed to the position of Vice Minister of the Ministry of Justice. Perhaps now, he isn’t qualified to be Commandery Princess’s husband. But Cui Ji believes, as your male companion, he is more than qualified."

Shen Yinning rubbed her forehead.

Headache.

Cui Ji’s background, said aloud, could terrify anyone. Even without her assistance, he could’ve ascended to this position.

Yet he, the youngest scholar in Great Zhou to achieve third place and become Vice Minister of the Ministry of Justice, with features as elegant as jade, and a future bright with promise, didn’t aspire to marry a beautiful wife and live in bliss but instead yearned to be her male companion.

"Cui Ji..." Shen Yinning reached out, covering the lock of white hair at his forehead, reprimanding him sternly. "Have you read so much that you’ve gone stupid? Where’s your arrogance and principles? Your etiquette and decorum? A perfectly good scholar, not pursuing career ambitions or national service, yet fixated solely on becoming a woman’s male companion?"

The maiden’s palm was soft and tender.

Placed against Cui Ji’s forehead, it fell like a light veil of warmth.

Cui Ji inhaled deeply, catching the faint scent of gardenia emanating from her skin.

He gripped Shen Yinning’s hand firmly and declared, "Cui Ji wants both."

Be it career ambitions, national service, or the Shen family’s eldest daughter who stood before him—he wanted it all.

"Such audacity—"

Before she could finish, Cui Ji suddenly pressed her against the railing and kissed her forcefully.

"Cui—"

Shen Yinning attempted to struggle, but the seemingly frail scholar was, in fact, full of strength. He subdued her hands with a single grip, leaving her utterly unable to resist or shout, forcing her to bear his fierce invasion of lips and teeth.

Through the narrow gap of a half-closed window, Lu Ying distinctly saw the two intertwined in a passionate kiss.

His chest surged with turbulent blood.

"Shen Yinning..."

The name lingered in his throat.

A name he had cherished profoundly—why, on this dreary rainy night, did it suddenly feel unfamiliar, harsh, and obscure?

He thought, perhaps this Shen Yinning, who had returned from Gan State, was no longer the Shen Zhaozhao he had once fallen for.