The Obsessive Crown Prince Can't Let Me Go
Chapter 187 - 185: She Won’t Ask for Things Willy-Nilly

Chapter 187: Chapter 185: She Won’t Ask for Things Willy-Nilly

The attendant pushed the wheelchair in.

Lu Shiyan sat on the wheelchair, his gaze briefly passing over Lu Ying and Shen Yinning before sweeping toward the dumplings on the small Buddha table. In a gentle tone, he asked, "What’s this? Did Fourth Brother not eat enough at the palace banquet?"

Lu Ying set down his chopsticks. "On a whim, I wanted to feed the Shen lady some dumplings. Has Royal Brother ever fed the Shen lady before?"

Lu Shiyan remained silent.

In his youth, he’d been deeply infatuated with Zhaozhao, but his feelings never crossed the bounds of propriety. Aside from the evening before he departed for Jiangnan, when he embraced and kissed Zhaozhao in the Shen Garden gazebo, he had never done anything untoward to her.

Such an intimate act as feeding her food had certainly never happened.

He maintained his gentle smile, responding with a question of his own: "Why is it that I see this plate of dumplings untouched? What’s the matter? Does Zhaozhao refuse to eat what you feed her?"

Shen Yinning spoke crisply, "I told His Highness the Crown Prince that I didn’t want to eat dumplings, but he insisted on feeding me anyway."

Lu Ying furrowed his brows.

Was Shen Zhaozhao complaining?!

He glared at Shen Yinning, but she simply turned her head away, refusing to look at him.

Lu Shiyan frowned. "If Zhaozhao doesn’t want to eat, then don’t force her."

Shen Yinning added, "More than dumplings, I’d rather have red bean spring rolls."

Lu Shiyan immediately said, "Fourth Brother, instruct the kitchen to fry some red bean spring rolls for Zhaozhao."

Lu Ying’s temples throbbed visibly.

This older brother of his had always been like this—indulging Shen Zhaozhao in everything, from childhood to now!

Shen Zhaozhao’s willful and spoiled nature was entirely his elder brother’s doing!

He said coldly, "She wants fried spring rolls, and you’ll just give her fried spring rolls. What if she asks for the throne? Will you give her that too?"

"Zhaozhao knows her boundaries. She wouldn’t ask for something unreasonable."

Lu Shiyan gazed softly at Shen Yinning, but his eyes caught the sight of a red mark circling her pale wrist.

Shen Yinning calmly tucked her hands into her voluminous sleeves. "Indeed, I’ve always known my boundaries."

Lu Ying’s face darkened like storm clouds.

Her boundaries?

What boundaries could she possibly have?!

If everything were done according to her whims, she’d surely turn the entire Capital upside down!

Lu Ying ordered Shen Yinning, "Leave."

Shen Yinning didn’t want to leave.

Noticing Lu Ying’s discontented mood, she had no choice but to bow respectfully to the two men. Just as she was about to depart, Lu Ying added another command: "Take the dumplings with you and eat them."

Reluctantly, Shen Yinning picked up the plate of dumplings and dawdled as she left.

Now, only Lu Ying and Lu Shiyan remained in the room.

Lu Shiyan questioned sternly, "Why must you always force her?!"

"Force her?" Lu Ying looked at Lu Shiyan’s clearly pained expression. "If not for me intervening, she would still be suffering in the frigid wastelands of Gan State. Since Royal Brother cares so deeply for her, why didn’t you find a way to bring her back to the Capital? Instead, you leave me to play the villain. What is it, Royal Brother? Is your so-called care for her nothing but empty words?"

Lu Shiyan was silent for a moment before replying, "The forces in Jiangnan are deeply entrenched, no less so than those in the Capital. During her years in Gan State, I was barely managing to secure my footing in Jiangnan. By the time I had the means to bring her back, you had already brought her to the Capital."

His hands resting on his lap clenched into fists.

All these years, Zhaozhao had dominated his thoughts day and night.

He worried that Zhaozhao might go hungry or cold in the desolate lands of Gan State. He feared the local people might bully her.

He hadn’t wanted to marry Luo Wanzhao.

But in order to quickly establish a firm foundation in Jiangnan and hasten Zhaozhao’s return, he’d had no choice but to wed.

His gaze drifted around the room.

He knew this was the chamber where Lu Ying kept Zhaozhao as his favored companion.

Fortunately, it seemed Lu Ying hadn’t mistreated Zhaozhao. The rouge and powders on the dressing table were luxurious and expensive, all the types Zhaozhao had been accustomed to using in the past.

He looked toward the canopy bed.

The bed curtains were drawn up, and a few silk ribbons dangled from the bedpost.

The silk ribbons...

Suddenly, Lu Shiyan recalled the red marks on Shen Yinning’s wrists.

As a man, how could he not understand the games that were played in the bedchamber?

But such games were meant for lowly concubines or serving maids of base origins!

His chest tightened in pain as he stared at Lu Ying in disbelief, momentarily at a loss for words. "Lu Ying, what have you turned Zhaozhao into?! How dare you?!"

"Why wouldn’t I dare?"

"She is the cherished Bright Pearl of Duke Shen!"

"She used to be."

"You—"

Lu Shiyan was utterly speechless.

He could hardly imagine the kind of life Zhaozhao had been living at Lu Ying’s side this past year.

He shouted angrily, "Five Ghosts!"

Five dark, shadowy figures appeared behind him like wisps of smoke, exuding an aura of oppressive danger and death.

Lu Ying’s expression remained indifferent as he played with his teacup.

A pair of Hidden Guards, concealed until now, suddenly revealed themselves behind him.

With the sleeping quarters too confined for combat, the two groups moved into the courtyard. These were all top-tier martial artists, almost supernatural in skill, handpicked and cultivated by imperial royalty. Their movements were too swift for ordinary eyes to follow; the only visible signs of the deadly exchange were the falling petals of the plum blossom tree in the corner, scattering like a violent storm, and the sharp whistles of cutting wind.

From the veranda, Lu Ying and Lu Shiyan observed the fight.

They both understood clearly: this confrontation was not a full display of either side’s capabilities or trump cards. It was simply a venting of long-held frustrations, a tentative probe of each other’s strength.

Meanwhile—

Having eaten a few dumplings, Shen Yinning lifted the hem of her skirt and tiptoed back to the sleeping quarters.

She pushed open the door to the secret chamber, leaving only a narrow crack.

A sliver of light illuminated the chamber.

Shen Xinglei was tied to a chair, his face sickly yellow and haggard. He looked like an eggplant left too long in the frost—wilted and spiritless. Years of malnutrition, coupled with his disabled limbs, had visibly shrunken his once-imposing frame.

When their eyes met, Shen Xinglei’s eyes widened with sudden fury as he thrashed violently against his bindings.

He tried to curse Shen Yinning, but all that came from his throat were faint, rasping sounds—"Hah... hah..."

Shen Yinning’s expression turned mischievous and cunning. "Second Cousin, look at me. Even in my fallen state, both the Crown Prince and Prince Wu refuse to abandon me. Tell me, why am I so endlessly adored? If Lu Ying ascends to the throne, I’m destined to enter the harem. Competing with Shen Yunxi for the Empress’s position—wouldn’t that be fun? But if Lu Zhengliu becomes the Emperor, Shiyan will certainly wipe out your entire family to avenge me. Ah, I can’t decide whose side to take. How troublesome."

Shen Xinglei panted heavily.

He had, of course, overheard Lu Ying and Lu Shiyan’s conversation.

Never in his wildest dreams had he imagined there could be princes hopelessly in love.

And that they would both fall for a wretched creature like Shen Yinning!

He glared fiercely at Shen Yinning’s face. Her beauty was unmatched, but within the phoenix-like glint of her eyes lay a deadly, cutting sharpness.

He had learned firsthand of this vile woman’s schemes.

She was cruel and ruthless, nothing like the virtuous and honest family he knew his uncle to have raised...

"Second Cousin," Shen Yinning said with an innocent and naive expression, her keen eyes clearly reading Shen Xinglei’s thoughts. "What kind of expression is that? Are you afraid of me?"

Shen Xinglei shivered in fear.

More than ever, he prayed for Shen Xinghan to come and rescue him.

He gasped desperately, and suddenly, a stream of warmth seeped beneath him.

He’d wet himself.