Wine-scented Beauty

Chapter 344: Lu Yu Becomes an idiot

Chapter 344: Lu Yu Becomes an Idiot

Shen Bin stood frozen, reflecting on his actions. He didn't even know when it had started, but he had slowly become more calculating, as if sinking deeper and deeper would make him even more terrifying than Princess Xiangping. Thinking of Ning'er still in the thatched hut in the palace, he wondered what she would think if she knew he had become like this. He hoped she would still love him and wouldn't cry and say he wasn't the same person he used to be. The thought filled him with a growing sense of fear.

Princess Xiangping saw Shen Bin standing there, stunned, and wondered what he was thinking. She walked over and placed her hand in front of his face, trying to bring him to his senses. Shen Bin pulled himself back to reality, saw Princess Xiangping in front of him, frowned slightly, then pretended to be nonchalant and walked past her alone.

As Shen Bin walked, he saw Lu Yu approaching. His eyes lit up, and before he could say anything, Lu Yu threw himself into his arms, saying, "Big brother, you left without saying goodbye so early in the morning, leaving me searching everywhere." As he spoke, he pretended to cry. Princess Xiangping, who was following behind, caught up and looked at Lu Yu with some wariness.

"Brother, who is this pretty sister?" Lu Yu asked Shen Bin in a coquettish manner. Shen Bin knew that Lu Yu was just acting, so he said slowly, "Little brother, this is your future sister-in-law." Lu Yu then pretended to be silly and tilted his head, saying, "Sister-in-law, she's so pretty." As he spoke, he drooled over Princess Xiangping.

Xiangping stood aside watching Lu Yu. Hearing their conversation, he knew they were brothers. He could only hide his disdain and gave Lu Yu a friendly smile. Lu Yu's eyes lit up, but then he frowned, wiggled his butt, and said, "Oh dear, brother, I need to pee."

Shen Bin frowned as he looked at Lu Yu, then stepped forward and hugged him, uttering two words: "Cold Palace." He then released Lu Yu and turned to Princess Xiangping, saying, "We can't miss the auspicious time." He then turned back and said, "Brother, go find the outhouse. Your sister-in-law and I have some urgent business." Seeing Shen Bin's words, Lu Yu pretended to be aggrieved and looked at him. Seeing that Shen Bin stood still, he had no choice but to turn around and walk away.

Shen Bin looked at Lu Yu's departing figure with a hint of heartache, but his heart was filled with anxiety, wondering if Lu Yu could rescue Zhao Ning'er. "I'm sorry, my younger brother had an accident when he was young and became somewhat mentally challenged. Please don't mind him." Shen Bin looked at Princess Xiangping with a slightly apologetic expression, but the latter returned his gaze with a gentle smile.

After walking for an unknown amount of time, Shen Bin headed towards Xiangping Palace, only to be grabbed by Princess Xiangping from behind. Before he could speak, Princess Xiangping said before he could, "Let's go to Father Emperor's palace." Shen Bin did not object and was led by Princess Xiangping in the opposite direction from Xiangping Palace.

"Qingyi Palace" was the Emperor's bedroom. Princess Xiangping walked to the entrance of the palace, looking at the plaque. Her hand, hidden in her sleeve, clenched tightly. Releasing Shen Bin's hand, she slowly approached Qingyi Palace, only to hear sounds of lovemaking coming from inside. Standing outside the door, Princess Xiangping was about to politely knock when her hand froze in mid-air. She had an urge to kick the door open, but Shen Bin was standing not far away. To maintain her image, she could only stand there dumbfounded in front of Qingyi Palace.

The eunuch Feng opened the door and, upon seeing Princess Xiangping, immediately knelt on the ground, shouting, "Greetings, Princess Xiangping! Long live the Princess!" His voice was much louder than usual. Princess Xiangping inwardly sneered at the kneeling servant. Eunuch Feng kept his head down, not daring to look at the expression on Princess Xiangping's face.

Others might not know Princess Xiangping's temperament, but he knew it very well. He had watched her grow up. On the surface, she was gentle and generous, but inside she was surprisingly ruthless. However, Eunuch Feng didn't know what had happened to Princess Xiangping's birth mother that caused Princess Xiangping to become so terrifying from the age of five, possessing a level of cunning and temper that shouldn't exist at her age.

Not long after, a man emerged from the room. Princess Xiangping glanced coldly at her father, the Emperor, her face devoid of any emotion. "Xiangping, you've come," the Emperor said gently, his voice soft and tender. Princess Xiangping, however, looked at him with disgust, feeling a wave of nausea wash over her.

"Eunuch Feng, please rise. Xiangping, what is it you wish to say?" The Emperor found a seat and ordered Eunuch Feng, who was kneeling on the ground, to sit down. Eunuch Feng quickly rose, not daring to look at Princess Xiangping, and with his head bowed, went to the Emperor's side and slowly poured him a cup of tea. The Emperor raised his hand, picked up the teacup, and was about to bring it to his lips when he heard what Princess Xiangping said next, and stopped in his tracks.

"Father, today I wish to marry Young Master Shen." The Emperor stopped what he was doing, placing the teacup back untouched. A multitude of questions raced through his mind. He knew Princess Xiangping admired Shen Bin and had even expressed her desire to marry him. The Emperor also trusted Princess Xiangping's methods; from childhood, she would stop at nothing to get what she wanted. But he never expected it to happen so quickly, and that Shen Bin would agree to marry Xiangping. What had happened these past few days? Shen Bin clearly loved Zhao Ning'er so much, yet now he had turned around and agreed to marry Princess Xiangping.

What was Shen Bin really thinking? And where had Zhao Ning'er gone? The Emperor realized he was overthinking things and his head was starting to ache. He rubbed his temples and, feeling a little better, looked at Princess Xiangping and said, "Xiangping, have you thought this through?" The Emperor was never wrong in judging people, and Shen Bin clearly didn't like Xiangping.

He wanted to know if Princess Xiangping had truly made up her mind. Princess Xiangping replied decisively, "It's my own life's most important matter. Since I've made a decision, I've definitely thought it through." Princess Xiangping answered the Emperor's question without hesitation, her eyes brimming with undisguised pride.

"Eunuch Feng, give the order: the princess's wedding is tonight, and there must be no negligence." She showed no anger at Princess Xiangping's defiance, speaking calmly to Eunuch Feng beside her. Eunuch Feng nodded and withdrew. Just as Eunuch Feng left, Shen Bin entered, bowed to Xiangping and the Emperor.

"Your Majesty, I wish to keep my marriage to the princess low-key this time," Shen Bin said, kneeling on the ground, without raising his head or looking at the Emperor's expression. In truth, the Emperor felt the same way. He had a premonition that Shen Bin and Xiangping's marriage wouldn't go smoothly; he sensed something was about to happen.