The Obsessive Crown Prince Can't Let Me Go
Chapter 204 - 202: Wanting Shen Yinning to Serve Him

Chapter 204: Chapter 202: Wanting Shen Yinning to Serve Him

Shen Yinning lowered her gaze, quietly watching the pairs of shoes walk past her.

The cold wind swept through the small courtyard, dislodging the thin layer of snow from the tree branches, which cascaded onto her hair bun and dress.

She seemed immune to the chill, slowly pulling herself upright with the support of the tree trunk.

Her pale, delicate knuckles, etched with a jade-like hue from the cold, stood in stark contrast to the pomegranate-red brocade cuffs of her sleeves.

She lifted her head.

The barren, leafless branches carved a chaotic pattern against the sky, brown intertwined with grayish-white, blending into hues of bleakness. The Capital’s winter was dry and monotonous, and spring felt so far away.

The girl’s eyes were rimmed with red, her tears shimmering faintly, the weight of unbearable hatred swirling within.

Her fingertips clawed deeply into the tree bark.

Painstakingly manicured nails split cleanly in half, scarlet blood seeping forth, slowly soaking into the bark.

Her voice was hoarse and heavy, laden with bitterness: "I want them—all of them—dead."

At dusk.

Shen Yinning had just returned to the Gao Family estate when Gao Mother summoned her to the front hall.

Gao Mother spoke with contempt: "I heard you attended a banquet at the Xue Family today and offended the Crown Princess Consort? And even got punished to kneel?"

Shen Yinning admitted nonchalantly, "Yes."

Shen Yunxi had seized the chance to step all over her, and naturally, such an event would be widely publicized. It was no surprise that Gao Mother and the others found out.

Gao Mother furiously pressed her forehead: "Our Gao Family is truly unlucky—how did we end up with a daughter-in-law like you?! Offending the Crown Princess Consort is as good as offending the Crown Prince. If the Crown Prince retaliates against Zheng in court in the future, what are we to do?! Are you trying to ruin Zheng’s career? How is Zheng supposed to serve as an official in the future?!"

Shen Yinning cast a detached glance at Gao Zheng: "Do you think so too?"

Gao Zheng knew perfectly well that the conflict between Shen Yinning and the Crown Princess Consort would not affect the Crown Prince’s opinion of him.

But after all, the Crown Princess Consort was the cherished Bright Pearl of Duke Shen, whose brother Shen Xinghan had already entered the Cabinet at a young age. Shen Yinning offending her was undeniably unwise.

Thus, he chose to remain silent.

Yin Shanshan, munching on melon seeds, chimed in: "Although elder sister once came from an illustrious background, times have changed. In my opinion, you shouldn’t be attending such aristocratic banquets in the future—it just shows you’re lacking in decorum and offending people of importance. A woman like you, outdated and clueless, is completely oblivious. You think being invited to a banquet is good, but you don’t realize you’re just being humiliated for others’ amusement."

"Shanshan is completely right." Gao Yun smiled and agreed, "Shen Yinning, people clearly don’t want someone like you in their circle. Why bother forcing it? Instead of being mocked at parties, why not just stay home, try to conceive a child for my elder brother, or perhaps demonstrate some proper decorum in front of our mother? This is your lot in life—stop overreaching and embarrassing yourself trying to cling to nobility."

Shen Yinning looked coldly at the two sisters-in-law.

These two had no real ability but excelled at disparaging remarks.

Talking about clinging to nobility—no matter how much she clung, could it be as ridiculous as Gao Yun?

Even mistaking a valet for a princely heir—letting such blunders spread wouldn’t be too shameful?

A derisive smile suddenly tugged at her lips.

Gao Mother snapped angrily: "Shen, you still have the nerve to laugh?! Not only are you unable to assist Zheng in his career, but you also go out of your way to drag him down. If it weren’t for Zheng’s sentimentality—that you’re husband and wife—I’d have personally ensured you were demoted to a concubine so that Shanshan could take your place as the principal wife!"

"Indeed, I’m inferior to Shanshan. She can arrange for her husband to serve in the Capital and even secure her brother-in-law the role of imperial merchant." Shen Yinning’s smile was tinged with mockery. "By the way, speaking of imperial merchants, isn’t your brother-in-law named Zou Dacheng? How did his name change to Qian Duobao?"

Gao Yun was displeased: "What Qian Duobao? What nonsense are you spouting? My husband never changed his name!"

"Never changed his name?" Shen Yinning feigned confusion, "That’s odd. Earlier at the Xue Family’s banquet, I heard that this year’s new tea supplier imperial merchant is called Qian Duobao. I assumed your brother-in-law had changed his name. Wait—did your brother-in-law never have this name? Then who is Qian Duobao?"

The Flower Hall fell into silence.

Who else could Qian Duobao be, if not the newly appointed imperial merchant?

Zou Dacheng was the first to snap out of it, flustered and looking anxiously at Yin Shanshan: "Little sister-in-law! Didn’t you say you could make me the imperial merchant? I’ve already handed half of my savings to my brother-in-law—why hasn’t it worked out? You promised the Crown Prince would arrange it, and now Qian Duobao has taken the position instead!"

Gao Yun was equally baffled: "Shanshan, what’s going on? Thousands of taels of patterned silver—if thrown into the water, we could have at least heard a splash. How is it your brother didn’t deliver on this?!"

Yin Shanshan was also dumbfounded.

Faced with the husband and wife’s relentless barrage of questions, she could only manage a strained reassurance: "There must be some misunderstanding. Tomorrow, I’ll ask my brother myself."

Zou Dacheng and Gao Yun, however, refused to let her off, continuing to demand answers and accountability.

As the Flower Hall descended into a noisy uproar, Shen Yinning withdrew quietly without anyone noticing.

She passed through the corridors, only to have Gao Zheng suddenly catch up from behind.

Having witnessed Gao Yun and Zou Dacheng’s futile schemes, he began to think Yin Yang was entirely unreliable.

Reflecting further, it seemed Yin Yang had never truly helped his family.

In fact, everything he had was provided by Shen Yinning.

Thinking of his own ambitions, he hurriedly chased after Shen Yinning: "Shen, didn’t you say you could help me secure Cui Ji’s vacant position as Minister of the Ministry of Justice? How is that progressing, and what did the Crown Prince say?"

Shen Yinning answered indifferently, "Official appointments don’t happen so quickly."

"If it’s not decided soon, how can I sleep soundly?" Gao Zheng muttered irritably, shaking his sleeves. "I think you haven’t been putting in any effort! Now, while you’re still youthful and beautiful, you should seize the opportunity to curry favor with the Crown Prince—otherwise, when you’re old and ugly, he’ll lose interest. Spend more time with him in bed; wouldn’t that get things sorted?"

Shen Yinning fixed him with a cold stare.

It was barely half a month into the New Year, and this man had grown visibly fatter.

Clearly, he had been indulging in feasting and debauchery with his cronies in recent days.

His greasy face and revolting demeanor made her stomach churn.

The cold wind rippled through the tassels on her hairpiece, casting eerie shadows across her stunningly radiant face.

Suddenly, she blossomed into a soft smile amidst the twilight: "Don’t worry, husband. This matter—I will handle it for you."

The girl’s beauty was breathtaking.

Gao Zheng froze.

By the time he recovered, Shen Yinning had already walked away.

He swallowed hard, unconsciously reaching down to rub his groin.

He couldn’t wait any longer.

Once he was promoted to Minister of the Ministry of Justice, he would make Shen Yinning properly serve him!