The Obsessive Crown Prince Can't Let Me Go
Chapter 137 - 135 The Death of Nanny Zhang

Chapter 137: Chapter 135 The Death of Nanny Zhang

Today, the skies cleared, and the courtyard was piled with last night’s fallen snow, crunching loudly underfoot.

Shen Yinning entered the side room. The room was unheated, cold as an ice cave.

Madam Zhang lay alone on the bed, countless blood-stained cloth strips scattered on the ground. It was obvious Shen Yunxi had not sent for a doctor to stop her bleeding.

Shen Yinning stood by the bed.

The snowlight streaming through the window reflected on her cheeks, casting a jade-like luster.

She smiled gently. "Madam Zhang."

Madam Zhang barely managed to open a sliver of her eye, muttering something from her throat, yet unable to produce any clear sound.

"Madam Zhang has had her tongue cut out; better save your strength and not speak." Shen Yinning cradled a warm hand warmer. "Madam Zhang has been cautious, clever, and perceptive, but unfortunately, you pledged loyalty to the wrong master. Back in the Eastern Palace, I once brought up the matter of your own daughter’s untimely death, using the same excuse as today—’harboring resentment, lurking for revenge’—to have the Crown Princess Consort punish you with the rod. Madam Zhang, do you still remember?"

Madam Zhang’s eyes widened instantly.

After the autumn hunt, was that laundry maid who suddenly appeared in the Eastern Palace actually Shen Yinning in disguise?!

Shen Yinning chuckled faintly. "At that time, I was fooling around with His Highness the Crown Prince. Feeling bored outside the palace, I had him procure a human-skin mask for me to play within the Eastern Palace. Oh, by the way, the woman His Highness has been doting on in secret this past year outside the palace—it’s me. I thought it was awkward for two ’sisters’ to share a husband, so I didn’t dare tell the Crown Princess Consort. Though, strictly speaking, it’s not exactly two sisters sharing a husband, is it? After all, His Highness hasn’t touched the Crown Princess Consort this entire year, hasn’t he?"

Madam Zhang’s face was overwhelmed with shock; her brows were furrowed upright.

She trembled as she pointed at Shen Yinning, attempting to say something but could only produce rough, hoarse "huh-huh-huh" sounds, like choking on a lump of old phlegm.

"Look how agitated Madam Zhang is." Shen Yinning’s voice was warm and soft. "The Crown Princess Consort treated you like this, yet you still remain devoted to her. Truly a loyal servant, aren’t you? Madam Zhang has always been preoccupied with plotting for the Crown Princess Consort, hoping she might soon produce an heir. But Madam Zhang probably doesn’t know, does she? The Crown Princess Consort lost the ability to bear children a long time ago. In fact, you were right about that day—it was indeed the laundry fragrance that caused the problem. That fragrance? I sourced it from Gan State. If inhaled by a woman over time, it results in lifelong infertility."

Shen Yinning’s eyebrows curved, her smile dazzlingly bright and naive. She seemed every bit like a mischievously playful young noblewoman not yet rid of her childish airs.

As if what she did wasn’t severing someone’s lineage and offspring, but simply dropping a few lumps of sugar into someone else’s teapot out of boredom.

Madam Zhang’s eyes were red, her entire body trembling.

Unable to speak, she could only struggle to rise, aiming to slap Shen Yinning.

Shen Yinning stepped aside.

Madam Zhang tumbled pitifully to the ground, knocking over a table of teapots and cups.

The porcelain crashed down on her head with a series of clangs. She lay face down in the puddle of blood, her throat weakly rasping like an old crow. From the murky shadow at the base of the dirty, dim wall, her bloodshot, cloudy eyes rose and glared fiercely at Shen Yinning.

That gaze held rage and shock, but more than anything, fear.

As if she couldn’t understand how a delicate, noble-born girl could commit such cruel and venomous acts in secret!

Shen Yinning gazed at her from above.

She stood enveloped in the serene and holy glow of snowlight. In this fleeting moment, her face devoid of sadness or joy resembled Guanyin judging sinners.

She spoke softly. "Madam Zhang, you see, you’re already on the verge of death, yet Shen Yunxi still hasn’t sent for a doctor to attend to you. You treated Shen Yunxi like your own daughter, loving her dearly, yet in her eyes, you are nothing but a contemptible slave with a life as worthless as hay. For someone like Shen Yunxi, Madam Zhang rushed forward tirelessly, committing all manner of wicked deeds. In the end, not only could you not protect your own daughter and husband, but you even sacrificed your dignity and life. Was it worth it?"

Madam Zhang’s hands, dry and wrinkled like bark, clenched tightly.

Her throat bobbed as it moved, unclear whether she was hating Shen Yinning or Shen Yunxi, or regretting neglecting her own daughter back then, or lamenting having killed Cheng Hui. Her aged, deformed face streamed with silent tears, her mouth bloodied and wide open, unable to stop her guttural murmurs.

Shen Yinning’s gaze grew cold, as though she had lost interest in playing with her.

She murmured faintly, "When you reach the Yellow Springs, Madam Zhang, remember to kneel before my mother and beg for forgiveness."

She spared not another glance at Madam Zhang before tilting her chin slightly upward and turning to leave the side room.

Her back was as straight as if holding an invisible ruler, her posture imbued with innate elegance, much like the noble daughter of the Duke Mansion who once tread clouds above all others.

Madam Zhang lay bloodied on the ground, staring with bloodshot eyes as Shen Yinning steadily walked away, before finally losing her breath.

Shen Yinning took her carriage back to Lotus Blossom Alley. Wei Yu promptly brought her hot ginger tea and snowflake cakes, asking with concern, "This servant heard Madam was troubled by the Crown Princess Consort yesterday. Were you hurt at all?"

"It’s nothing." Shen Yinning sipped her tea. "Prepare hot water. I need a bath and to change."

The bloody stench in Madam Zhang’s room was too repulsive; she found it revolting.

Before the hot water was ready, Gao Zheng and Yin Shanshan came knocking.

Yin Shanshan seethed. "Sister, not only did you hide your true origins, you also had an affair with His Highness the Crown Prince! With such disgrace upon you, and the grudge the Crown Princess Consort’s family holds against you, how dare you marry Brother Zheng?! Aren’t you afraid of ruining his career?!"

Gao Zheng said nothing, but his face was also filled with displeasure.

He had never seen a wife behave like Shen Yinning.

At the Crown Princess Consort’s banquet, she had stirred up trouble, sowed discord, and caused havoc as if she feared peace across the world!

She never considered how her actions might affect his career!

He couldn’t resist reprimanding her. "Shen, no matter your former status, that’s all in the past. Now, you’re only the daughter of a convict. When attending others’ banquets, you should behave properly and obediently. The Duke Mansion is an illustrious and noble house. If Duke Shen gets upset in court, even my position as an Evaluator for the Ministry of Justice will be at risk! As your husband, I expect you to be mindful of my years of hard study and, even if you can’t help me advance my career, at least not drag me down, right?"

Shen Yinning’s gaze grew icy.

She dragged Gao Zheng down?

Without her, this man would still be stuck in Gan State, that impoverished backwater, working as a County Magistrate.

Forget about being a Capital Official—given his talent and background, he wouldn’t have had any chance of promotion in his lifetime!

She sneered coldly. "Gao Zheng, if you’re so afraid I’ll ruin you, then why don’t we just divorce right now?"

Gao Zheng froze.

Divorce?

He had never considered divorcing Shen Yinning!

Although this woman was promiscuous, flirted with others, and even became His Highness’s Forbidden Fruit, the benefits she brought to him were undeniable.

Not to mention major matters like his reassignment as a Capital Official, even their residence and servants were all paid for with Shen Yinning’s money.

His face flushed, overwhelmed with anger and embarrassment.

This woman knew his financial struggles yet deliberately said such things to humiliate him.

Moreover...

Moreover, she was so beautiful, and as her husband, he hadn’t even touched a single strand of her hair.

If they divorced now, how could he be reconciled?

He clenched his hands, his face pale as he barked. "You’re a mere woman, yet instead of thinking about living peacefully, you keep talking about divorce. Is it the Crown Prince who’s emboldening you? Is that why you want to divorce me—to throw yourself at the Crown Prince?"