After becoming pregnant, the cold-hearted nobles all went mad.

Inside the carriage, Shen Lingyi nestled in Pei Heng's arms, her body tensing instantly upon hearing the sound.

We absolutely cannot let Wei Chengrui see this, or we're finished.

Pei Heng seemed to sense her nervousness and tightened his grip on her arm. "Young Master Wei has worked so hard, why don't we invite him in for a seat?"

He stroked her back gently, seemingly to soothe her, but his actions revealed a casualness.

Shen Lingyi was stunned for a moment, then immediately put on a tearful expression.

"I have always been sincere towards Your Majesty. If you do not like me, you can simply leave. Why test me with such words?"

"Your Majesty knows how much Prince Wei hates me. If he sees me disregarding my reputation and riding in the same carriage with Your Majesty, how could he let me off the hook?"

Pei Heng's eyes flickered with thought. He stared at her for a long time before looking away and telling Wei Chengrui to leave.

He then personally gave Shen Lingyi a ride to the Jiang residence.

The plaque of the Jiang residence gleamed with gold, and servants carried things in and out of the gate. As the wealthiest merchant in Liangzhou, the losses brought to Jiang Wenhai by this incident were nothing, which was also the capital for Shen Lingyi to be willful.

"This humble woman takes her leave."

Shen Lingyi jumped off the carriage, her snow-white robes fluttering in the air like a butterfly that could not be caught.

Just as she was about to leave without looking back, Pei Heng's voice came from behind: "Shen Lingyi, I'll give you time to think it over. Sooner or later you'll find that other people's harems are not even one ten-thousandth as good as mine. What they can give, I can give too, and even more."

The young woman stopped and giggled, "Then please be patient, Your Majesty."

The cart wheels rolled quickly away from the mansion gate.

Peony stepped over the stairs and couldn't help but ask, "Miss, are you really not tempted by His Majesty's promise to you?"

Even she was tempted by it. After all, how many people could resist the lure of wealth and glory?

Shen Lingyi scoffed, her red lips parting slightly: "How can a mere concubine be moved? Let alone the emperor's concubine, I would have to think twice even if you offered me the position of empress."

In the original story, Shen Tingjiao did become the Crown Princess as she wished, but was that really a good thing?

She was trapped in her position her whole life, unable to make any progress. It can be said that she was both made and broken by being the Crown Princess.

Shen Lingyi saw it all very clearly from beginning to end.

Men are merely a means to climb the social ladder; her only true backer is herself. What she desires is far more than just the throne; she wants the most honored person in the world to personally present the throne to her, and for them to bow down and submit.

at night.

Shen Lingyi went to bed early. The wind gently tapped against the window, and the sound gradually grew louder and louder.

A figure slipped through the window unnoticed and landed steadily on the ground. This person was none other than Wei Chengrui, who had come to investigate.

The more he thought about it, the more convinced he became that the person in the carriage during the day was Shen Lingyi, so he came when no one was guarding it.

Wei Chengrui gritted his teeth and said, "Whether it is true or not is obvious at a glance."

One of the advantages of growing up together is that you become very familiar with each other's families.

He easily found his way to Shen Lingyi's bedroom. Inside, the burnt incense still emitted a faint, pleasant fragrance.

Wei Chengrui hesitated as he pondered how to confirm this.

"...Really asleep?"

If Shen Lingyi were awake, she would definitely be fighting him to the death. The fact that she hasn't made a sound proves that she is really fast asleep.

Even though he was once a notorious playboy in the capital, Wei Chengrui had never done anything like taking advantage of someone while they were asleep, and for a moment he was caught in a dilemma.

"Wei Chengrui." A pillow suddenly flew out from under the bed curtains.

The boy stumbled from the impact, and Shen Lingyi seized the opportunity to rush out and beat him mercilessly, all the while sneering.

"Where did this audacious thief come from? He's so blind, daring to break into your great-aunt's boudoir."

Caught off guard, Wei Chengrui was actually hit a few times by her, his face turning as black as coal. Suppressing his anger, he said, "Shen Lingyi, look carefully at who it is before you strike!"

"How could it be Prince Wei?"

Shen Lingyi then pretended to stop. "Young Master, you have quite the refined taste. Breaking into a woman's boudoir in the middle of the night instead of sleeping. If you had told me earlier, I wouldn't have thought it was a lecherous thief who attacked you."

Wei Chengrui was furious. "Stop pretending. You clearly recognized me a long time ago and deliberately beat me up."

The bond between childhood sweethearts is something everyone knows.

Sometimes, even if Shen Lingyi just smiles, Wei Chengrui knows what she's thinking. How could he not see through her little scheme?

Shen Lingyi raised an eyebrow, admitting it quite frankly.

"So what if it is? I'm beating you, you rude villain. Even if the young master is His Majesty's favorite, I'm the one in the right."

"Even if I beat you up right now, or even if I hand you over to the authorities, it would be perfectly acceptable."

Wei Chengrui was speechless for a moment, his face turning even more ashen. He angrily said, "Nonsense! How could I, a dignified heir, possibly covet your beauty?"

If it were anyone else, it would be one thing, but he couldn't let it go with Shen Lingyi. He would say he came to assassinate her rather than to be attracted to her beauty.

The boy's angry shout was overheard by Mrs. Jiang, who was passing by and preparing to return to her courtyard.

"Yi'er, is someone in your room?"

Without a second thought, Shen Lingyi covered Wei Chengrui's mouth. Naturally, he was unhappy, so she leaned close to his ear and threatened, "Does Prince Wei really want his reputation as a thief to spread throughout the capital tomorrow?"

To avoid the guards of the Jiang residence, he could only walk on the roof.

...He's a thief, isn't he?

Wei Chengrui obediently listened, and Shen Lingyi then raised her voice and replied, "Daughter accidentally spilled the inkstone while eating, but it has been cleaned up."

Madam Jiang did not doubt this explanation, after all, the guards in the mansion were not just for show.

Wei Chengrui sneered, "Your mother treated you with all her heart, and you still lied to her."

With that, he brushed her away with disgust, as if touching her for even a second longer would leave him with the scent he loathed.

Shen Lingyi's upturned eyes were captivating, and she didn't take his words seriously at all.

"Please make this clear, Your Highness. If I hadn't helped you just now, you would have already been thrown out by my mother with a broom." She said with a hint of disdain.

"Do you know the value of this handkerchief? Using it to gag you is a waste. When we get back, Prince Wei, don't forget to return a good handkerchief to me..."

The handkerchief fluttered to the ground, and the casual way it was discarded made Wei Chengrui's eyes redden. How long ago was it that he too was discarded with just a few words?

"I haven't even looked down on you yet, so what right do you have to look down on me?"

"You're entangled with the Crown Prince, and on the other hand, you're provoking me. Don't think I don't know what you're up to."

"I've truly witnessed the composure of the Crown Prince today," Shen Lingyi sneered.

"If slandering me can give you the thrill of revenge, then please do as you please, Your Highness..."

"Thump!"

Wei Chengrui slammed his fist on the table, his eyes bloodshot as if dripping blood. "If I had any manners to speak of, I would have died a thousand times over in the Northern Frontier. Do you think I'd still be here?"