The Obsessive Crown Prince Can't Let Me Go
Chapter 199 - 197: Both Sweet and Aggrieved

Chapter 199: Chapter 197: Both Sweet and Aggrieved

The carriage was dimly lit.

Shen Yinning’s voice was cold and clear: "The Princely Heir of the Prince Mansion? Lu Jiazhe?"

"That’s right, it’s him!" Gao Yun toyed with her handkerchief, the corners of her mouth tilting upward uncontrollably. "He and I had a wonderful conversation spanning heaven and earth, even discussing some lofty ideals of life—"

Suddenly recalling that she was a married woman, she reluctantly restrained the amorous expression on her face. "Of course, my interactions with him were mainly to inquire whether the court was planning to appoint our family as imperial merchants. While our chat grew increasingly congenial, we maintained a proper distance, never crossing the boundaries of decorum between men and women. We are, more accurately, rare soulmates one might only encounter once in a lifetime."

Shen Yinning remained expressionless.

Aze had been playing kickball with those young gentlemen all day.

The one Gao Yun had been talking to was, evidently, Wei Jiu, the servant by Aze’s side.

Gao Yun’s attempt to hook a golden bachelor was unlikely to pan out. free\NovelFire.c o(m)

She didn’t like Gao Yun and had no intention of giving her advice. Instead, she smiled faintly and offered a backhanded compliment, "I never expected Sister Yun to become soulmates with the Princely Heir. That is truly a rare honor. Sister Yun must seize this opportunity. Once you’re successful, don’t forget to lend me a helping hand."

"Hmph, it’s all thanks to my skill," Gao Yun boasted. She then disdainfully scrutinized Shen Yinning from head to toe. "The Gao Family is now a respectable household. My soulmate is the Princely Heir of the Prince Mansion. Shanshan’s elder brother is the Crown Prince’s confidant. My brother holds an official post in the Ministry of Justice and is destined for the position of Prime Minister. My husband is about to become an imperial merchant and might even become the richest man in the world someday. Right now, the most useless person in the family is you! And you used to be the Duke Mansion’s esteemed young lady—how did you end up so worthless?!"

Shen Yinning was already in a bad mood.

Upon hearing this, she nearly burst into laughter.

Gao Yun had cheated on her husband, and her so-called soulmate was merely a servant from the Prince Mansion.

As for Yin Shanshan’s elder brother, he was nothing more than a gambling-addicted palanquin bearer in the Eastern Palace.

As for Gao Zheng, he clearly knew how he’d obtained his position.

As for Zou Dacheng, let alone becoming the richest man in the world, even his future as an imperial merchant was far from assured.

An entire family of good-for-nothings, yet they had the audacity to call themselves respectable. Where did they find the nerve?

She smiled faintly, "Yes, yes, in the days ahead, I will surely need to rely on all of you."

"Good, glad you’re sensible."

"It’s just—" Shen Yinning tilted her head. "Brother-in-law’s imperial merchant status, why hasn’t it been approved yet? You know, after the New Year comes spring, and after spring comes the rainy season. Sister Yun and Brother-in-law deal in tea leaves, so they must know that tea harvested before the rains is the best. Missing this season will mean an entire year of poor harvests. How will you make a profit this year?"

Gao Yun froze.

Shen Yinning’s voice took on a hint of seduction, "Three thousand taels of silver have been poured into this effort; surely there’s been some noise about it? Yet, a month has passed without any reply from Yin Yang’s end. Doesn’t that make you uneasy, Sister Yun? What if the matter doesn’t get resolved—"

"Impossible!" Gao Yun snapped, "My brother-in-law is the Crown Prince’s favorite! If not for him, my brother would still be serving as a County Magistrate in Gan State! If he’s personally overseeing this, such a trivial matter will definitely succeed! Shen Yinning, what you’re saying is sheer jealousy of Shanshan, who has connections in the Crown Prince’s circle! Shut your mouth right now!"

Shen Yinning leaned back in the carriage and laughed.

She had successfully planted the seed of doubt in Gao Yun’s heart.

All she needed to do was wait for Gao Yun to discover Yin Yang’s true nature and fall out with Yin Shanshan.

...

After two days’ rest, Shen Yinning’s sprained ankle had healed with no pain or swelling.

On the fifth day of the New Year, she took Bai Heming along to pay New Year’s respects to Yu Qingheng. Both of them—one big and one small—received red envelopes from Yu Qingheng. Bai Heming, receiving such a large red envelope for the first time, was so delighted that his face turned bright red.

On the sixth day of the New Year, Shen Yinning went to the Xue Family to pay New Year’s respects.

The Chief of Staff Xue and his wife weren’t the type to flatter the powerful or disregard the lesser. In years past, they’d had some ties with Shen Zhi and Cheng Hui’s family, so they warmly welcomed Shen Yinning’s visit. They even urged her to visit often and maintain the longstanding relationship between the two families.

Madam Xue spoke kindly, "Today, we have quite a few guests in the mansion. The young gentlemen and ladies are all gathering in the East Garden. If dear Zhaozhao would like, she is welcome to join them. Qingqing is there; she’ll look after you."

The East Garden turned out to be lively and bustling.

Among the guests were the Xue siblings, some Capital’s young noblemen and ladies, Luo Wanzhao and his sister Luo Wanxiang, and even Lu Ying and Shen Yunxi.

Although Xue Ling wasn’t known for his temper, as the host today, he took it upon himself to entertain the noble gentlemen.

On the ladies’ side, Luo Wanxiang was the most active: "Just sitting here is so boring. Why don’t we choose someone to perform a talent show?"

The ladies unanimously agreed on Shangguan Yu performing the zither, saying her playing was the finest.

Luo Wanxiang was displeased.

The women clearly didn’t understand her meaning and seemed oblivious to her desire to showcase her own talent.

Glancing at Xue Ling, she grew eager to stand out. Without warning, she stood and declared, "You ladies spend all day with your zithers and paintings—how utterly dull! Miss Shangguan, spare us those old songs. Let me perform a sword dance instead!"

Shangguan Yu was visibly awkward but had no choice but to stop her zither playing.

Luo Wanxiang’s peripheral vision noticed the young noblemen turning their gaze toward her, boosting her confidence. She boldly lifted a wine goblet and drained its contents in one gulp.

Pretending to be drunk, she smashed the goblet and drew her sword.

She began reciting poetry while executing her "sword dance":

"Behold, the Yellow River water flows from heaven and rushes into the seas, never to return!

"Behold...on the proud halls a mirror laments white hair—it begins black as morning silk, only to turn snow-white by dusk!"

"..."

Her skills were nothing more than weak posturing.

The sword movements lacked power and rhythm, and clumsy spins left the audience both embarrassed and stifling laughter.

Luo Wanxiang, however, thought the performance was magnificent.

In her mind, she was gliding on air, agile and resplendent, surpassing even the legendary heroines in popular storybooks!

Unable to suppress her smugness, she smiled to herself.

Everyone was watching her.

The noble young gentlemen must think she was extraordinary, unlike any other woman they’d met!

Xue Ling was bound to be enchanted by her?

She sneaked a glance at Xue Ling.

What she saw was surprising—Xue Ling had his back to her, engaged in a conversation with another man!

Surely this was intentional?

He knew she was performing with all her effort, yet he deliberately ignored her to make her anxious!

Why was he always provoking her? Could it be his way of secretly courting her attention?

Luo Wanxiang’s heart felt both tender and wronged.

Suddenly inspired, she danced her way toward Xue Ling, loudly reciting: "...Venerable Cen and Master Dan, bring on the wine and don’t let the cups stop. Sing a song for me—lend me your ear and listen!"

When the poetry ended, she "accidentally" arrived in front of Xue Ling. Striking a flamboyant pose with her sword, she picked up a wine jug from the nearby table and dramatically tipped her head back to drink straight from it.

Halfway through, she smashed the jug in a grand gesture and howled at the sky, "What fine wine, what fine wine! You mundane ladies only know of music, painting, and serving your husbands—how could you ever understand the joy and liberation of drinking and sword dancing, like a man! Hahaha! Hahahahahaha!"

The crowd: "..."

Secondhand embarrassment had reached its peak.

Luo Wanzhao subtly turned his face away, pretending not to notice his sister’s humiliating display.