TNIBFT -Chapter 336 The Harem Is Uneasy

“Yingxue, rest assured, I, Shen Jie, will never betray you in this life!”

Shen Jie’s face was full of sincerity. He placed both hands on Zhu Yingxue’s shoulders, his gaze brimming with tenderness and devotion. The young girl nodded shyly, her cheeks flushed crimson—just one look at him and her heart felt as if it would melt from this overwhelming emotion.

The two of them nestled close together.

Listening to the heartbeat of her beloved, Zhu Yingxue felt a surge of happiness, her large, bright eyes sparkling as she said, “I’ve already recommended you to my father!”

“My father wrote that you’re no ordinary person and is very favorable toward our marriage. Lord Shen, from now on, we will share one life and one bed, never to be apart!”

Zhu Yingxue clutched Shen Jie’s clothes with her small hands, shyly hiding in his embrace.

Shen Jie’s eyes gleamed. His large hands gently stroked Zhu Yingxue’s back.

The Chancellor of the Great Zhou!

If he could climb such a tree, forget Princess Leyang—even the Emperor of Daliang himself would have to yield to him.

At that moment, what in this world could Shen Jie not have?

He smiled faintly, suppressing his inner joy, and spoke gently: “Yingxue, I… I have nothing to my name, no background. I fear your father, knowing my humble origins, might think I’m unworthy of you.”

“I’ve never cared about your status. I’ve never had any illusions. For you, Yingxue, I will achieve success and fame, making you the happiest woman in the world!”

Tears welled in Zhu Yingxue’s eyes, and she buried her face in Shen Jie’s chest, nodding repeatedly.

She knew, of course, that Shen Jie didn’t care for her status or wealth.

But she loved him and wanted to give him everything a man could desire.

She wanted him to stand openly by her side, proudly.

“By the way, what about your father’s situation? How do we handle it?” Shen Jie asked.

Zhu Yingxue lifted her head, her delicate brows furrowing slightly: “The Empress has ignored state affairs all these years. Since her awakening, she’s like a different person—her abilities gone, paranoid. She first killed the Right Chancellor and then set her sights on my father.”

Her face full of worry, Zhu Yingxue paced the tent.

In truth, she and Qin Fengyi were almost the same age. They had even met as children. But now that her father and Qin Fengyi stood on opposing sides, she abandoned that childhood bond without hesitation, choosing her own father.

“The Empress is incompetent; no wonder your father…” Shen Jie comforted her.

Zhu Yingxue continued: “There’s nothing to worry about. My father has controlled the court these years, commanding most of the Great Zhou army. Moreover, he has bribed the Empress’s close aide, Shangguan Ning, so everything is secure.”

“All I ask is that, in the end, my father can spare her life!”

‘Her’—who she meant—was clear enough.

Shen Jie’s lips curved slightly. He pulled Zhu Yingxue close and said, “You are still so kind. Don’t worry, Yingxue, aside from the Left Chancellor, I will protect you completely in this life!”

“By the way!”

Thinking of Shangguan Ning, Shen Jie felt the name vaguely familiar, though he couldn’t recall immediately. He asked, “When will Master Shangguan arrive?”

“I can prepare ahead of time, so that he’ll see me in a new light!”

Zhu Yingxue nodded.

Her relationship with Shangguan Ning was decent. If he knew she had found her ideal husband, he would probably be envious of her too.

Inside the tent, the couple lingered in affectionate intimacy. The shadows of this handsome man and beautiful woman intertwined on the walls.

Outside the tent, snow swirled violently in the bitter midwinter.

Princess Leyang, wearing a thick cloak, strode toward them.

Behind her, someone hurriedly followed, shouting anxiously, “Princess! Princess!”

“Shen Gongzi and Miss Zhu are discussing something; no one may disturb them, Princess—”

“Princess, if you do this, Shen Gongzi will be angry!”

Princess Leyang suddenly stopped.

Her golden hairpin swayed in the snow, and flakes dusted her hair and eyelashes. She looked at the shadows in the tent, a mocking smile curling her lips. She, a princess of a great state, had killed her fiancé and personally supervised the army in this bitter land—all for Shen Jie. She had done everything to ensure he would rise above all in the capital.

And now, the man she had pledged herself to held another woman in his arms and told her he was busy?

Princess Leyang reached out, gently touching her lower abdomen, and dashed forward without regard.

A servant behind her, quick and alert, grabbed her: “Princess, if you do this, you are only making things difficult for me. Shen Gongzi instructed—”

“Smack!”

Before he could finish, Princess Leyang slapped the servant, sending him sprawling: “You dare threaten me?”

“I am Princess Leyang! You dare ignore me, you dog? Do you believe I’ll kill you right now?”

Her fury poured entirely onto the servant.

He covered his face, too afraid to look up.

Hearing the commotion, Shen Jie lifted the tent flap. Seeing him, Princess Leyang immediately changed her expression, rushing to cling to his arm: “Lord Shen, I warmed the plum wine you like. Will you have a cup with me?”

“Didn’t you say this wine was sweet and fragrant, something you knew I liked? I specially had it brought from the capital…”

She wore a face of full flattery.

Shen Jie’s gaze was cool. He gently withdrew the arm she held and said calmly, “I’m afraid I don’t drink. I wouldn’t want to disappoint the Princess’s kindness.”

Princess Leyang widened her eyes, stunned by Shen Jie’s refusal. She didn’t know what to say.

“Lord Shen, are there guests outside?”

A clear, pleasant female voice came from inside the tent.

Shen Jie’s tone softened: “No. I just gave a few instructions to the servants. It’s cold outside, and you’re not well—stay in and keep warm.”

Princess Leyang pressed her hand to her abdomen, her smile bitter, but still flattered Shen Jie with her eyes: “Are you angry with me?”

“I failed to kill the Xiao siblings, but it’s because of Ye Tian. Ye Tian colluded with Lin Xianzhong. You know the strength of Great Zhou. Lord Shen, give me one more chance.” She tried to reach for Shen Jie’s hand, but he pushed it away.

She wanted to tell him he couldn’t treat her this way—she might be pregnant.

But Shen Jie didn’t give her a chance. He turned to the fallen servant: “Escort the Princess back!”

“I’ll come see you tonight if there’s time!”

“Mm!” Princess Leyang nodded repeatedly. As long as Shen Jie had her in his heart, everything would be fine. After all, with a child, Shen Jie was her husband-to-be. Surely he would be pleased by the news.

With Princess Leyang sent away, Shen Jie exhaled in relief.

At this stage, the Left Chancellor of Great Zhou was plotting rebellion. The Empress had been subdued, the army was under the Left Chancellor’s control—the Great Zhou throne belonged to the Zhu family.

And Zhu Yingxue was the Left Chancellor’s only daughter. Everything was within their grasp.

A minor Daliang princess—how could she compare?

Shen Jie lifted the tent flap. Zhu Yingxue sat at the desk, back to him, sipping tea: “What I want is a lifetime together, just the two of us. If you cannot give me that, Lord Shen, then we part here, and I will not make things difficult for you.”

Her slender back and decisive words left no room for doubt.

Shen Jie’s heart immediately panicked. He strode forward, half-kneeling beside Zhu Yingxue: “Yingxue, my heart for you is witnessed by heaven and earth!”

“I am with you because of my feelings. Do you think, in your eyes, that I am a fickle person?”

Shen Jie’s expression was one of disappointment. His gaze fell sadly to the side. “Princess Leyang is sincere toward me, and I truly do not wish to hurt her. When I was alone and helpless in the capital, it was she who saved me. Yingxue, I am not an ungrateful man. Between Princess Leyang and me, everything is perfectly pure.”

After saying this, Shen Jie rose, disappointed, and did not look at Zhu Yingxue again.

Zhu Yingxue’s eyes flickered. After some thought, she stood and reached out to take Shen Jie’s hand. “My father already knows about us, so he sent Shangguan to bring us back to Dazhou.”

“What Shangguan Ning represents, you may not realize,” she continued, turning her gaze elsewhere. “Shangguan Ning is a close attendant of the Empress, serving her personally. Now my father has sent her to escort us back to the capital and stay by my side. Do you understand what this means?”

Shen Jie’s expression changed drastically. Zhu Yingxue pressed on: “I am my father’s only child. If Qin Fengyi can become Empress, why can’t I?”

“If I were Crown Princess, then one day, not just Dazhou, perhaps the entire realm could belong to us!”

Shen Jie’s eyes burned with urgency as he looked at Zhu Yingxue, feeling that heaven had finally acknowledged him.

Suppressing his agitation, he grasped both of Zhu Yingxue’s hands: “It’s my fault. I made you worry at a critical moment!”

“Don’t worry. I’ll take care of my affairs completely. You will not suffer because of me.”

Zhu Yingxue’s lips curved into a smile as she nestled against Shen Jie’s chest.

A princess of Daliang, and she dares to compete for my man?

…

The cold night stretched endlessly.

Princess Leyang had deliberately changed into exquisite clothing, dressed herself carefully, and personally prepared warm food and wine, waiting eagerly for Shen Jie inside her tent.

The attendants nearby dared not breathe, fearful of displeasing the princess.

One close aide frowned and shook his head. Princess Leyang lowering herself in this way had practically shamed the entire royal family, yet at this moment, no one dared to speak.

“Why hasn’t he arrived yet?”

The princess paced anxiously, one hand on her abdomen.

Before too long, the food and wine had cooled repeatedly, and finally, someone outside the tent called: “Young Master Shen, the princess is still waiting for you!”

“Please, Young Master Shen…”

“He’s here!”

The shadow of gloom vanished from Princess Leyang’s face. She ran to the tent’s entrance, then decided it was improper, and returned to sit properly at the wine table. Turning to her aides and attendants, she said: “I have something to discuss with Young Master Shen. You may leave now.”

“Yes!”

They all nodded, preparing to exit, when Shen Jie lifted the tent flap.

Now, only Princess Leyang and Shen Jie remained inside. Shen Jie’s expression was unreadable.

Princess Leyang’s face lit with joy as she affectionately linked arms with him. “Lord Shen, sit. I have much to tell you. Once we return to the capital, we will marry. Then…”

Before she could finish, Shen Jie lowered his head and smiled faintly. “There’s no rush for that.”

“Princess, I know you’ve been running about for me recently. I feel guilty. This is a tonic soup I ordered for you. Take it to replenish your health first.”

Princess Leyang’s eyes brightened; she had not expected Shen Jie to remember her.

Seeing the servant bring the soup, Shen Jie picked up the spoon, gently blew on it, his expression tender. Princess Leyang watched, dazed, thinking: If life could always be like this, full of mutual love, that alone would be enough!

When Shen Jie fed her the soup, she drank without hesitation.

One spoonful.

Two spoonfuls.

“Princess, your sixty thousand Daliang troops have been reduced to almost nothing. Most of the soldiers in the camp now are Dazhou’s!”

“I, Shen Jie, have never been one to wipe out entirely. Once I achieve my goals, I will gloriously come to marry you!”

Princess Leyang frowned.

Suddenly, a sharp pain struck her abdomen. The excruciating pain made her tremble. With a loud thud, she fell from her chair to the ground, pale, one hand on her belly, the other clutching Shen Jie’s shoe. “Lord Shen… my belly… our child… save our child…”

Shen Jie remained unmoved, his gaze cold as he looked at Princess Leyang.

At that moment, the princess realized: It’s the soup!

“What did you give me to drink?”

“Why? Why? You knew I had a child all along, and that’s why you did this?”

Sweat poured from her forehead, her mind reeling, hatred surging. Shen Jie not only wanted to kill her, but he also knowingly aimed to destroy everything, even with her child.

“Save the child!”

“That is our child! I beg you!” People often say that even a tiger will not eat its own cub. Princess Leyang could feel life slipping away. The only person she could beg at this moment was Shen Jie.

Shen Jie remained indifferent. Casting a last glance at the bloodied princess, he turned and left the tent.

…

Inside Sifang City:

“Zhu Minshan has already seized control of the court. He thinks that now he can manipulate the emperor to command the princes.”

Nanfeng followed Qin Fengyi closely, reporting softly.

He sneered: “He thinks the emperor is under his control? How foolish!”

Qin Fengyi said: “Zhu Minshan is cunning. We must not take him lightly.”

Nanfengyi bowed.

Looking around and seeing no one nearby, he continued: “Boss, when do we return to the capital? If this continues, won’t it just let that old man act unchecked?”

“The few who are friendly with him have already led their troops back to the capital, claiming to quell bandits in the mountains. In reality, it’s to pacify Zhu Minshan. I estimate about 120,000 soldiers. Shangguan has sent a letter—Zhu Minshan dispatched Shangguan Ning into Daliang territory to retrieve his daughter, Zhu Yingxue.”

“They will arrive at Sifang City in the next two days. I suspect, with such a large force, that old man will certainly make a major move!”

Qin Fengyi nodded slightly.

At this moment, besides the Black Armored Army, she still commanded the Imperial Guards in the capital, plus armies from more than a dozen northern cities. Add Ye Tian’s forces, and they could rival Zhu Minshan.

As long as she raised her hand and called upon her authority, taking down Zhu Minshan would be no problem.

The question is: how to return to Dazhou openly and aboveboard?

And still reveal her child and Ye Tian’s identity to the world!

“Mother?”

“Mother, father is calling you to the front hall!” At the back gate, Ye Yunting’s small figure stood, waving to Qin Fengyi. She gave Nanfeng a look; he bowed and withdrew.

Qin Fengyi smiled: “I’m coming!”

“By the way, eldest son, where is Xiao Jiang? I haven’t seen him all morning.”

“Perhaps he went to see the teacher!” Ye Yunting respectfully followed Qin Fengyi, mother and son moving one after the other to the hot pot restaurant hall.

Before entering the hall, they overheard someone say: “The Dazhou forces are passing through Sifang City. Dazhou people are crafty; who knows what schemes they might have?”

“In my opinion, it’s better to strike first and not hesitate…”