Help! The Villainess Trapped in the Beast World's Drama!

Chapter 193: Chapter 187: It’s Not That I Don’t Love You, But That I Can’t Love You

After the female in his arms fell asleep, the three-hour-long bathing was nearly over.

Unlike Xiao Jin, Shen Li wasn’t as driven by lust; he just missed her.

He wanted to feel her once more and make up for the regret of last time.

Seeing Shen Tang asleep from exhaustion, Shen Li didn’t continue and, after cleaning her up, he carried the female back to bed to sleep together.

Looking at the female in his arms with whom he shared such intimate pleasures, Shen Li’s eyes were filled with unprecedented tenderness and affection.

In public, he always wore a smiling mask that seemed to hide a façade, but now he appeared to have taken off that mask, his eyes like inviting spring water.

Suppressing his heartbeat, he lowered his head to kiss her.

”It’s not that I don’t like you.”

”It’s just... I can’t fall in love with you.”

Imperial City.

Shen Qingli lay on the chaise longue, with several handsome male servants in light clothing kneeling by her feet, serving her wine.

An attendant came in to report, kneeling down, saying that Shen Tang was planning on building a factory.

A mocking look surfaced in Shen Qingli’s eyes as she flicked her nails and said disdainfully, ”That fool is really daydreaming. Doesn’t she know her own limitations, yet she dares to build a factory?”

Shen Qingli was confident that foolish Shen Tang could never beat her in the competition.

Yet, with the lessons of the past, Shen Qingli was admittedly a bit nervous, worried that the wretch would retaliate and she shouldn’t underestimate Shen Tang anymore.

She had already bribed hidden guards and informants to constantly monitor Shen Tang’s every action and report to her.

Hearing that Shen Tang was leading those poor village beastmen to build walls and construct a factory—tasks that drained resources and manpower—without sufficient confidence, it was nothing but the foolish talk of an idiot.

Once the people riot, she might not even need to lift a finger, and that wretch would meet her end!

”That wretch has neither money nor capital, yet she dares to daydream? I am just waiting to see her make a fool of herself.”

Imagining Shen Tang’s downfall soon and the five gorgeous Beast Husbands turning away from her in disappointment to adore Shen Qingli instead, she let out a burst of joyful laughter.

The male servants, hearing her maniacal laughter, had peculiar expressions but did not dare reveal any of it.

The attendant, unsure whether he should speak, timidly said, ”But... the walls and factory in Greenfield City have already started construction. They’ve recruited many strong males from nearby tribes, and wages are paid daily, never being delayed.”

”The benefits there are so good that many beastmen voluntarily signed up, and recently Greenfield City has attracted some promising beastmen, praised by the local inhabitants...”

”Praise? Praise that wretch for what? Just say it!” Shen Qingli’s beautiful eyes glared angrily, her kick overturning the wine glass on the tray.

The wine spilled over the kneeling hidden guard, his face turning pale as he bowed deeply and spoke,

”Praise for Shen Tang, Your Highness, for benefiting the people! Wise and unparalleled! The future wise ruler of the Empire!”

Shen Qingli shook with rage, her nails digging into her palm, unable to believe it.

How could this be?!

Wasn’t that wretch drowning in debt? Where did she get the money?

Moreover, building a factory requires an abundance of resources, where could these be found in that poor village?

This matter not only alarmed the Princess Mansion but also stirred up a storm in the Imperial City.

Various forces were watching the contest between the two princesses.

The actions of Shen Tang quickly spread through the streets and alleys of the Imperial City.

For a moment, the topic of discussion among the people was about this matter.

No one expected that disfavored Princess, considered a waste by everyone, to start off with a bang.

It’s known that grand projects like building walls and factories, which tax the people and drink resources, could easily saddle one with eternal infamy or even cause a rebellion, leading to assassination attempts.

Not to mention the princesses and princes who haven’t even ascended yet; even past monarchs were very cautious with such undertakings.

But she, just stepping into her position, dared to attempt it and performed so well.

Even if the project ends up unfinished, it’s worthy of admiration.

Many beastmen who loathed Shen Tang found their feelings quietly changing.

”That Waster Princess truly is different from before; seeing is believing.”

”Who would have thought, the former Shen Tang was foolish and ugly, like a rat everyone scorned, and anyone who saw her would spit and curse their bad luck for running into her.”

”No wonder that Yun Family young master publicly annulled the engagement and said he would rather die than marry such a worthless female.”

”But now she’s become so beautiful, leading beastmen to develop potions, rising to prominence based on her strength, becoming so dazzling and radiant that even I could fall for her. Wonder if that Yun Family young master will regret not returning.”

”You forget how much Yun Han hated Shen Tang? Back then, he vowed in front of the entire Empire that even if he died, he wouldn’t marry her, calling her a rat in a stinking ditch, sickened and nauseated whenever he saw her.”

”That farce back then was known throughout the Empire and even spread to other empires, disgracing Shen Tang and turning her into a joke, showing how deeply Yun Han hated her.”

”That was then, but now you and I both see the transformation in Princess Shen Tang. If I were Yun Han, I’d regret missing out on such a good match.”

”Not necessarily, Princess Shen Qingli is just as beautiful and intelligent. Compared to Shen Tang, the princess without blood relation, I favor the True Princess more.”

”Moreover, Princess Shen Qingli doesn’t have a Beast Husband beside her. If the young master from the Yun Family were to marry her, he’d be the first, a dream come true for any male!”

”Indeed, Shen Tang already has five Beast Husbands. Yun Han would only be sixth, who would choose to be lower when they could be first?”

”But Shen Tang once swore to the entire Empire that if Yun Han married her, he would be her only true husband, and she would never wed another male.”

”Those other Beast Husbands she married were probably just to spite Yun Han...”

”Although Princess Shen Qingli doesn’t have a Beast Husband yet, she never promised Yun Han would be her only true husband.”

”If Yun Han had accepted Shen Tang’s proposal back then, he’d surely be her one true husband for life, and they would be the perfect couple now. Alas...”

Eldest Prince Shen Xu, hearing the rumors among the townsfolk, was slightly stunned and paused, a complex expression flickering in his eyes.

His sister had become increasingly beautiful and radiant.

In the past, Shen Xu held her in contempt, thinking she was unattractive and slightly clingy and troublesome, finding her annoying.

Later, meeting the more beautiful and gentle Shen Qingli, Shen Xu cast aside Shen Tang, believing that she couldn’t match Shen Qingli and growing even more frustrated with her, wishing she had never appeared.

But now, his gaze inadvertently followed Shen Tang.

Since her departure from the Imperial City, he kept covertly seeking news about her.

Knowing she was leading the people to build a city wall and a factory, he was utterly shocked and began to see her differently.

She was beautiful, intelligent, and extraordinarily bold, garnering a sense of admiration even from him.

Shen Xu now thought Shen Tang would be an excellent successor.

Recalling those malicious rumors of the past, Shen Xu suddenly wondered if he had misunderstood Shen Tang before. Could there have been unspeakable difficulties?

Shen Xu felt a pang of regret, realizing he should have paid more attention and care to Shen Tang in the past, hoping her future character wouldn’t become so obssessive...

Yet now, seeking to make amends, he finds his sister, who once liked to follow him around, looking at him with complete indifference.

There is no longer any place for him by her side.

Shen Xu grasped his chest.

A strange, indescribable ache welled in his heart.

In his gloom, Shen Xu also thought of his childhood friend who had left the city months ago and shook his head.

Aloof and proud as Yun Han was, he likely wouldn’t regret it.

But seeing how much Shen Tang had changed when he returned, who knows how shocked he would be.