The Obsessive Crown Prince Can't Let Me Go
Chapter 154 - 152: Does Xue Ling Want to Propose a Marriage Alliance?

Chapter 154: Chapter 152: Does Xue Ling Want to Propose a Marriage Alliance?

The steward moved quickly and closed the mansion gate immediately.

The blade struck the sturdy vermilion door, dragging out a sharp, grating sound.

The door cut off Shen Xinglei’s vulgar curses, which were nothing short of slurs like "whore" and "bitch."

Shen Yinning let out a breath of relief.

Fortunately, she ran fast, or else she would have been killed by Shen Xinglei.

"Sister Shen."

A soft feminine voice suddenly broke through—it was Xue Qingqing.

"Sister Shen..." Xue Qingqing hesitated, "May I have a moment of your time to speak privately?"

The two walked side by side through the corridor, Xue Qingqing clutching her handkerchief as she spoke softly, "I never thought I’d run into you again at home, Sister Shen. Ever since my elder sister went missing and you went to Gan State, I thought I’d never see you again in this lifetime."

Years ago, Shen Yinning and Xue Mianmian were close friends, so she often visited the Xue Family, treating Xue Qingqing like her own younger sister.

Later, after the Shen Family was raided, Shen Yinning had her own troubles to deal with and never returned to the Xue Family.

"Sister Shen..." Xue Qingqing suddenly stopped walking and looked deeply into Shen Yinning’s eyes, "Do you know where my sister is?"

Shen Yinning froze.

Xue Qingqing had always been soft-spoken and dull, certainly not someone one would consider perceptive or shrewd.

Unexpectedly, she managed to figure that out.

Shen Yinning maintained her composure. "Why would you think that?"

"The reason I discovered Shen Xinglei was keeping a mistress and an illegitimate child was because a mute maid secretly slipped me a note. The note clearly spelled out this information." Xue Qingqing’s eyes reddened. "You may not believe me, but on that maid and even on the note itself, I could sense my elder sister’s presence. Even though the handwriting was deliberately altered, I felt it was my sister’s writing. Unfortunately, the maid disappeared shortly afterward, and I never had the chance to question her carefully about my sister’s whereabouts."

Shen Yinning smiled faintly.

Although Xue Mianmian and Xue Qingqing weren’t connected by blood, they had lived together for over a decade, and their bond was deeper than many blood-related sisters—a kind of unspoken connection.

She glanced toward the pavilion and towers of the Xue Mansion.

It was unfortunate. Xue Qingqing would probably never guess that the sister she longed for day and night had always been inside this very mansion.

Yet they couldn’t reunite.

She wanted to tell Xue Qingqing that Mianmian had been imprisoned by Xue Ling.

But Xue Ling was a madman, and saying something rashly could have uncontrollable consequences.

In a gentle tone, she said, "I don’t know where your sister is. But don’t worry, if I hear any news in the future, I’ll definitely tell you."

Xue Qingqing seemed deeply hurt and whispered, "Do you have some hardship you can’t speak of, Sister Shen? It’s okay, I understand, and I can wait. If you do see my sister, please tell her that I miss her deeply. The plum blossoms we planted together in the backyard have bloomed four times now, and I brewed plum blossom wine—it’s buried under that tree. I want to wait for her to come back so we can drink it together."

Shen Yinning was touched and softly replied, "Alright."

She bid farewell to Xue Qingqing and headed straight for the courtyard where Xue Ling lived.

Xue Ling wasn’t there.

The steward said awkwardly, "After returning from the north side of the city last night, the young master quarreled with Miss Mianmian all night. He grew restless and has only just fallen asleep. Miss Mianmian, however, is still being punished in the Warm Pavilion. I hear she won’t be allowed to leave until the punishment is complete."

Shen Yinning’s heart trembled.

That lunatic Xue Ling—what horrible things could he be doing to Mianmian?

Unfathomable images flashed through her mind. She said, "Please lead the way, Steward."

Since it was the Xue Mansion, the steward naturally wasn’t worried Shen Yinning could take Xue Mianmian away, so he led her openly to the Warm Pavilion.

Stepping into the inner room, Shen Yinning had expected to see grotesque or bloody scenes of brutality.

Instead, Xue Mianmian was seated properly on the floor, dressed neatly in a pale green ruqun, with her hair styled into an ingot bun, sorting a bowl of beans.

Other than her listless demeanor, she didn’t appear injured or heavily punished.

She called out, "Mianmian."

Xue Mianmian quickly raised her head. "Why are you here?!"

"I was worried Xue Ling might bully you, so I came to check on you." Shen Yinning stepped swiftly to her side. "Are you alright?"

Xue Mianmian shook her head. "I’m fine. Last night, I acted recklessly. Seeing so many people at the night market, I suddenly thought of escaping in the chaos, but he caught me red-handed..."

"I heard from the steward that the lunatic punished you."

Xue Mianmian’s ears turned red.

Last night, after Xue Ling dragged her back, he pinned her to the bed and tormented her relentlessly.

She cried and begged for forgiveness, but he wouldn’t let her go. In the enclosed bed canopy, he tried everything—what he’d tried before, what he hadn’t yet dared to try—it seemed like he did it all. Her delicate arms and legs were no match for him; she had no choice but to bear it obediently.

He raged like a madman, asking over and over again if she still dared to escape.

While she vowed silently that she would try again if driven to the edge, she could only shake her head and sob, repeatedly answering that she would never dare anymore.

This went on until dawn, and only then did she fall into a dazed sleep.

When she woke up, she had already been locked inside the Warm Pavilion.

Xue Mianmian’s beautiful eyes brimmed with tears. She couldn’t bring herself to mention the events of the previous night, so she merely complained, "He’s punishing me by forcing me to sort red beans from green beans."

Shen Yinning glanced at the bowl of beans and raised a curious brow. "That’s not a heavy punishment, though. It’s just half an hour’s work."

"What?!" Xue Mianmian cried out, her tone trembling. "Look over there!"

Shen Yinning followed her gesture and saw a large jar in the corner of the Warm Pavilion—filled to the brim with red and green beans!

Shen Yinning: "..."

Xue Ling truly was...

A master of torment!

Xue Mianmian slumped onto the floor, her shoulders jerking as she sobbed. "He said I have to sort all the beans before I can be allowed out again. Zhaozhao, how long is this going to take me?! I probably won’t finish sorting even by next year... Boohoohoo, my life is so miserable..."

Shen Yinning didn’t know how to console her, so she simply handed her a handkerchief.

When Xue Mianmian’s sobbing quieted down, Shen Yinning changed the subject, saying, "By the way, I met Qingqing earlier. She asked me to tell you that she misses you dearly. She said the plum blossom wine she brewed herself is buried under the tree you planted together. She’s waiting for you to come back so you can drink it together."

Xue Mianmian clutched the handkerchief and sniffled softly. "Boohoohoo, I miss Qingqing so much too..."

Shen Yinning poured her a cup of hot tea and handed it over.

Xue Mianmian took the tea and suddenly lifted her clear, shimmering deer-like eyes, speaking conspiratorially: "Zhaozhao, I might be released soon to see Qingqing. I heard the maids in the courtyard gossiping—Mother, Madame Xue, is arranging for the young master to find a match. She plans to settle his marriage quickly during the New Year and early spring festival. Once he has a fiancée, he probably won’t pay much attention to me anymore, and I won’t need to be confined by his side."

"Xue Ling is getting engaged?"

Shen Yinning was taken aback.

That lunatic Xue Ling—who would dare get engaged to him?

Don’t they value their lives?!