The Obsessive Crown Prince Can't Let Me Go
Chapter 138 - 136: Seeing Your Highness warms my heart

Chapter 138: Chapter 136: Seeing Your Highness warms my heart

Before Shen Yinning could speak, Yin Shanshan preemptively said, "The Crown Prince already has a Crown Princess Consort. Someone as upright and dignified as him would never get entangled with an already married woman like you. Even if you dream of climbing higher branches, you’d better take a good look in the mirror first and see what your current status is! You returned to the Capital thanks to your husband, yet instead of being grateful and contributing to his future, you go about scheming to seduce other men. Are all ancient women like you, devoid of dignity and integrity?!"

The two of them acted like a well-rehearsed duo, standing righteously atop the moral high ground.

Shen Yinning gently caressed the tea cup, not even bothering to lift her eyelids. "If the two of you have time to come to my courtyard and say these words, why not put that energy into thinking about how to pay back your debts? I’ve heard that sister’s restaurant has been running at a loss for quite some time and likely incurred heavy damages recently, hasn’t it? You were probably hoping to revive it during Second Uncle’s birthday banquet, but it ended up a laughable failure, overshadowed by the closure order on your escort agency issued by the Crown Princess Consort. I wonder, in these few days, just how much money you’ve borrowed?"

Yin Shanshan’s neck shrank.

How did Shen Yinning find out about her loans?

She stiffened herself and snapped, "You backward, ignorant feudal woman, who gave you the right to meddle in my business?! So what if I borrowed some money? I’ll definitely have the means to pay it back in the future! Unlike you, I have countless ways to make money. All I need is a single desire to act, and I can earn it with ease!"

"Enough, stop talking about money!" Gao Zheng impatiently waved his hand.

After spending a year in the Capital, he noticed the nobles and scholars cared little about money matters.

As a result, he didn’t want to chatter endlessly about silver coins either, lest he appear crass and lacking the refinement of a learned man.

He straightened his face. "Shen Clan, I didn’t come here today to argue with you."

Shen Yinning propped her chin in her hand. "Do tell."

"We’ve received a family letter from Yun," Yin Shanshan interjected ahead of him, "She and her husband will arrive in the Capital in three days. Yun mentioned in her letter that a family should live together whenever possible, and they won’t be leaving once they arrive this time."

Shen Yinning curled her lips upward.

Gao Yun...

Gao Yun was Gao Zheng’s younger sister, who had long since married Zou Dacheng, a businessman in Gan State.

Zou Dacheng had built his wealth on the tea trade, amassing a considerable fortune and becoming quite renowned in Gan State.

The couple lived in luxury and often looked down on others.

Back when she was in Gan State, Gao Yun had found her to be a lowly orphan unworthy of marrying her brother Gao Zheng, causing no small amount of trouble for her.

This time, the couple’s venture to the Capital was likely motivated by their belief that Gao Zheng had made his mark in the city and that they could take advantage by seeking refuge with him.

Shen Yinning didn’t care much about the affairs of the Gao family.

She nonchalantly replied, "If they want to come, let them."

"Shanshan and I have discussed this," Gao Zheng said in all seriousness. "We plan to host a banquet at the restaurant in three days—not only to welcome my sister and her husband but also to treat my brother-in-law. Since arriving in the Capital, my brother-in-law has helped us greatly, and we must show our gratitude."

Shen Yinning smirked faintly.

The so-called "help" was clearly provided by her, yet in Gao Zheng and Yin Shanshan’s accounts, it had somehow transformed into Yin Yang’s deeds.

Yin Yang, a mere sedan bearer—what could he possibly have done to help?

Shen Yinning asked, "You’ve said so much; are you implying that you want me to attend the banquet too?"

"You are the Young Madam of the Gao family. It’s only natural for you to attend such an important family banquet," Gao Zheng said in a tone that brooked no argument. "Moreover, use the next two days to convey to the Crown Prince a request to appoint Zou Dacheng as the exclusive royal tea merchant."

Shen Yinning: "...?"

What? Gao Zheng’s audacity was truly astonishing.

Where on earth did he find the gall to demand the Crown Prince secure a backdoor arrangement for Zou Dacheng to become a royal merchant?!

Yin Shanshan snorted lightly, "Originally, I planned to ask my brother for help, but after reconsidering, I realized that over the past year, I’ve been the one handling everything—earning silver, managing the household, and even teaching the children, while you, as the principal wife, have done absolutely nothing to assist Zheng Lang. Weren’t you once a Duke Mansion noble daughter? Then put your connections to use and arrange for my brother-in-law to become a royal tea merchant. That way, we can surprise Yun and her husband during the reception banquet. You will finally have contributed something to this family!"

Gao Zheng nodded in agreement.

The two of them left after laying out their demands, as if assigning her a task.

Haitang clicked her tongue in amazement. "I’ve encountered many oddballs during all my years in the palace, but none as bizarre as Lord Gao and Aunt Yin!"

Wei Yu was both amused and exasperated. "Those two shameless people! I really don’t know where they get the nerve to ask Madam to plead with the Crown Prince for Zou Dacheng to become a royal merchant!"

Shen Yinning set down her tea cup, not taking Gao Zheng and Yin Shanshan’s words to heart at all.

She stretched lazily. Just as she was considering whether to visit the Hot Spring Villa on the outskirts of the city for two nights and perhaps bring Xue Mianmian along for a soak, Gui Quan suddenly came over discreetly to inform her that the Crown Prince’s carriage would arrive tonight to take her to the Shen Garden.

The wind and snow had picked up that evening.

Shen Yinning left through the side door and had barely stepped into the carriage when Lu Ying pulled her into his arms.

He removed her hood and cloak, cradling her delicate hands. "Are you cold?"

"Why did Your Highness personally come to fetch me?" Shen Yinning leaned happily into his embrace. "Seeing Your Highness warms my heart; how could I feel cold?"

The little fox always knew how to charm her way through.

Though Lu Ying was well aware of Shen Yinning’s nature, he still faintly curled his thin lips.

The carriage steadily rolled out of Lotus Flower Alley, heading toward Shen Garden amidst the heavy snowfall.

After traveling a short distance, De Sun, the coachman, lowered his voice to report, "Your Highness, the ox cart ahead appears to belong to Minister Cui."

Lu Ying lifted the curtain of the carriage door.

By the roadside stood an ox cart, seemingly stalled due to an issue with the shaft. The driver was repairing it.

Cui Ji stood nearby, holding a lantern against the wind. In the freezing cold, his posture was far from elegant.

Lu Ying motioned for the carriage to stop. "Minister Cui, is your cart broken?"

Cui Ji turned and immediately saw Lu Ying, along with the young woman in his arms.

The night was deep, and the wind and snow seemed to pierce even more bitterly, cutting to the bone.

He lowered his gaze and bowed. "Your Highness, Crown Prince. Madam Shen."

Lu Ying smirked lightly. "The winter nights in the Capital’s snowstorms are particularly unforgiving. If Minister Cui waits out here for too long, you might catch a cold. Why not ride with us back to the mansion?"

Cui Ji remained silent.

No one here was a child.

The Crown Prince’s words seemed considerate on the surface, but were clearly intended to mock his poverty and misfortune in front of Madam Shen.

He replied, "Thank you, Your Highness. My cart should be repaired soon."

"A civil servant like Minister Cui, without a guard by your side, lingering on the streets on a windy, snowy night—you might encounter thieves or robbers." Lu Ying, fully aware Cui Ji understood his intention, began to idly stroke Shen Yinning’s form. "I happen to have no urgent matters to attend to; I might as well stay here and keep you company for a while."

The calloused, rough hand clasped tightly onto Shen Yinning’s fingers, while the other traced her nape, brushing against it with deliberate leisure.

Unwilling to meet Cui Ji face-to-face in such a position, Shen Yinning turned her head away and, in a soft, pleading tone, whispered, "Your Highness, shall we leave?"