Shen Youying didn't realize at first how things had gotten to this point, but when she noticed everyone looking at her face with ambiguous smiles, she suddenly remembered that she had applied lip rouge while doing her makeup.
However, the lipstick Danzhu carried with her was not the same one she had used for makeup that morning, and the color was naturally different as well. She hadn't thought much of it at the time, but now she suddenly realized that this could easily cause a misunderstanding.
Judging from the expressions of everyone present, it was clearly a misunderstanding.
But since no one had explicitly stated it, she couldn't very well explain anything. She could only pretend not to understand, suppress the flush on her face, and smile as she went into the pleasure boat.
Shen Youying chatted and played with the women for a while, then grew a little tired.
Knowing that she was pregnant and prone to fatigue, the women stopped bothering her when they saw her looking tired, and wisely dispersed to have their own fun.
Xie Qinglan was her closest friend and didn't leave immediately. Once everyone outside had left, she looked at Shen Youying suspiciously: "Are you really tired, or are you just making up an excuse out of embarrassment?"
Shen Youying rolled her eyes at her: "How come you're thinking such nonsense too?"
Xie Qinglan looked innocent: "What nonsense am I thinking?"
Shen Youying pretended to hit her, but she smiled and changed her words: "Weren't you having a romantic time with the Prince of Qin? What have you been doing all this time?"
Shen Youying didn't hide anything from her, but omitted the details about Xiao Xueying.
Xie Qinglan's mouth dropped open: "This really is..."
She didn't know how to describe it, so she just shook her head and said, "I didn't expect that even someone as fierce as the King of Qin would have women throwing themselves at him."
Shen Youying pinched her cheek: "What, judging from your tone, Vice Envoy Cui also has it?"
Xie Qinglan snorted twice: "Not only are there, but there's more than one."
Shen Youying didn't believe it. If Cui Zichen really had something going on, Xie Qinglan wouldn't have spoken like that when she was in a bad mood. But she deliberately said, "Vice Envoy Cui is handsome, and unlike my prince, he doesn't have a cold and intimidating face. No wonder he has so many suitors. When do you plan to get married? Only after you're married can you properly discipline your husband."
Xie Qinglan blushed at her teasing and muttered, "I'm too lazy to discipline him." She then said, "The wedding date is set soon. My parents want to get married in the second half of the year."
Shen Youying said, "Then when you get married, I will definitely give you a big gift."
Xie Qinglan chuckled, "Then I'll be making a killing! You'll only get married once, but I'll get married twice and receive a gift. If I get married several more times, won't I be able to empty the Qin Prince's mansion?"
Shen Youying gently patted her hand: "What unlucky things are you saying? Spit them out!"
*
While the two sisters were laughing and playing, Xue Shen went to the Red Mansion.
There was a torture chamber in the Red Mansion, which was used to deal with traitors. Xiao Xueying was taken to the torture chamber.
Originally, Xue Shen did not want to come here in person, but Xiao Xueying's actions today completely crossed his bottom line. In particular, the resentment and madness in Xiao Xueying's eyes made Xue Shen feel uneasy if he had not seen her die with his own eyes.
Xiao Xueying had just been locked in the torture chamber when Xue Shen arrived.
With a grim face, he said, "Call the others to witness the execution."
When Xiao Xueying saw him appear, she struggled to get up again, a hint of joy even appearing in her eyes. But after hearing his first words, that joy turned to despair.
Having served Xue Shen for so many years and having frequent interactions with the Red Mansion, she had naturally heard of the traitor who had emerged from within the mansion, and how Xue Shen, in order to serve as a warning to others, had ordered everyone in the mansion to witness his execution.
Only then did she realize that Xue Shen had no affection for her whatsoever, and she felt a pang of regret and fear.
She struggled to spit out the cloth stuffed in her mouth and beg Xue Shen for forgiveness.
She was only temporarily blinded by resentment; she didn't want to die.
But Xue Shen didn't give her a chance to speak.
Once everyone had arrived, Xue Shen sat in the main seat, his fierce eyes coldly sweeping over Xiao Xueying, and said, "Execute her."
The guards in charge of the execution did not torture her; they simply and cleanly ended Xiao Xueying's life with a single, swift stroke.
Xiao Xueying opened her eyes wide in resentment, her pupils gradually dilating.
After confirming that the person had died, Xue Shen stood up and said, "Let's find a place to bury him."
*
When the banquet ended and Shen Youying returned to Tingmei Pavilion, she saw Xue Shen just coming out of the bath.
He hadn't completely dried off; his white undershirt was soaked and clung to his body, revealing his strong, bulging muscles. Shen Youying glanced at him once, then looked away, too embarrassed to look any longer.
Few would have guessed that the King of Qin, who had been in a wheelchair for five years, possessed a physique no less impressive than that of a military general, and the strength to lift her up with one hand.
Shen Youying blushed and lowered her eyes, seemingly lost in thought, and asked, "Why is Your Highness taking a bath at this time?"
Xue Shen casually replied, "I was bumped into on the road and someone spilled my tea on me."
He approached Shen Youying, looking down at her reddened ears, his lingering anger transforming into a different kind of clamoring desire.
Xue Shen touched her reddened ears and called her in a hoarse voice, "Zhao Zhao."
Shen Youying gave a soft "hmm." She knew Xue Shen very well; she didn't even need to look at him to know he had feelings for her. Although they had been pregnant for three months, they had restrained themselves for the sake of caution. But today... Xue Shen didn't seem to intend to restrain himself.
Feeling a little flustered, she hastily started a conversation: "Have you had dinner? I'll go ask the kitchen to get you some—"
Before she could finish speaking, Xue Shen swept her up in his arms.
Xue Shen replied to her, "If you haven't eaten yet, it's not too late to eat now."
Shen Youying blushed as white as snow, and clutched his arm, saying weakly, "I haven't taken a bath yet."
Xue Shen paused, then carried her to the bathroom, his voice low and husky: "I'll help Zhao Zhao wash."
Shen Youying struggled in vain, and could only bury her face in his suspicion, letting him carry her into the bathroom.
Knowing that Shen Youying was clean, Xue Shen indeed washed her thoroughly.
When Shen Youying finally emerged from the bathhouse, her skin was flushed and she looked as if she were burning up. Xue Shen placed her on the couch, bent down, and continued to kiss her, his kisses lingering from her trembling eyelashes to her raised neck, and finally moving down to her lower abdomen.
She was more than three months pregnant, but her belly wasn't showing yet. However, whether it was because she was too thin or because she had been taking supplements and gained weight, her lower abdomen was starting to bulge slightly.
Whenever Xue Shen thought of the place where his and Zhao Zhao's child was being conceived, his heart softened beyond measure, and his emotions became increasingly uncontrollable.
He kissed her gently and slowly until Shen Youying could no longer bear it and cried out. Only then did he stop torturing her so tenderly, gently holding her lips and pressing them together tightly.
Shen Youying trembled as she hugged him tightly, her fingers digging hard into his flesh.
Xue Shen was satisfied with her reaction and called her by her nickname over and over again, imprinting his scent and mark on her body.
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