The Obsessive Crown Prince Can't Let Me Go
Chapter 207 - 205: She’s Picky

Chapter 207: Chapter 205: She’s Picky

The Lantern Festival in the Capital has always been lively.

Under the veil of night, the city is ablaze with dazzling lanterns, bustling with performers and crowds. In addition to the common folk enjoying the festivities, even the ladies of the noble families step out in their finest attire.

Towering in the northern part of the city, the grand Lamp Sea Bodhisattva statue stands out the most. It rises a hundred feet high, eclipsing the skies with its magnificence—a hand clasped in a mudra, another holding a flower, gazing down at the Capital with compassionate solemnity.

Lu Ying entered the Glittering Hall alone, without any attendants following him.

Inside Glittering Hall, festive decorations were lavishly displayed. Gigantic palace lanterns hung from the dome, surrounded by colorful oil-paper lantern strings and silk ribbons, creating a holiday atmosphere. However, it was strangely quiet—the entire restaurant was devoid of maids and servants.

Lu Ying’s thin lips curved into a slight smile.

That little vixen was always full of schemes. Who knows what she’s plotting now.

Following the instructions on the letter, he made his way to the elegant private room on the fourth floor.

Inside, the room was already set with a banquet table, though curiously, no one was there to serve.

He had come early, and the little vixen had not arrived yet.

Sitting by the window, he looked down at the bustling streets filled with lanterns and crowds.

On the roadside, there were vendors selling lanterns and painted masks. Young girls were peddling freshly picked wintersweet flowers, while the busiest stalls belonged to those selling glutinous rice dumplings. Girls loved sweet treats, and groups of elegant ladies flocked together to purchase dumplings.

Lu Ying raised his goblet, ready to drink, but paused, suddenly wondering if he should buy some dumplings for Shen Yinning.

Glutinous rice dumplings symbolized reunion and harmony.

If tonight the little vixen sincerely intended to reconcile with him, then sharing a bowl of dumplings would be perfectly fitting.

But she was picky—likely not fond of the cheap dumplings sold on the roadside.

Thinking of Shen Yinning’s refined and fastidious demeanor, his thin lips curled into an even deeper smile, which he quickly suppressed, his expression tinged with restrained self-possession.

Just as he was about to resume drinking, a commotion arose outside.

Through the carved pattern in the door, he saw the arrival of Gao Zheng, Yin Shanshan, and their family.

The group was meticulously dressed, chatting and laughing as they headed to the private room next door.

Lu Ying clenched the glass goblet in his hand.

Wasn’t Shen Zhaozhao the one who had reserved the entire restaurant?

Why had she invited Gao Zheng’s family as well as him?

As he pondered, more voices sounded outside—this time it was Lu Shiyan, Luo Wanzhao, and Luo Wanxiang.

Shortly after the three entered their private room, Shen Yan, Mrs. Qin, Shen Xinghan, and Shen Yunxi appeared.

The family of four whispered among themselves, their expressions hurried as they slipped into the private room at the end of the corridor.

Lu Ying had completely lost his mood for drinking.

He took out the letter from his pocket.

The letter clearly stated that she was hosting a banquet at Glittering Hall and inviting only him.

So, what were all these other people doing here?

How had they ended up at Glittering Hall?

From the looks of it, they appeared to have been invited as well.

He glanced at the dripping clock; it was already three-quarters past the hour of Xu, the appointed time.

Yet Shen Zhaozhao had still not shown up.

He waited two more quarters, but Shen Yinning still didn’t arrive.

Not even a single maid was present.

As the elegant room at the end of the corridor grew increasingly restless, Shen Yunxi finally couldn’t resist stepping outside.

Standing by the railing, she anxiously scanned her surroundings, her temper flaring: "Who is playing tricks?! Why are you impersonating my second brother to lure us here?! What’s wrong? You’ve invited us but now you don’t dare to show up?!"

Her outburst startled the occupants of the other private rooms.

Luo Wanzhao pushed open the pearwood door of her room, surprised: "Crown Princess Consort? You’ve arrived? If you’re already here, why haven’t you come to find us?!"

Shen Yunxi looked bewildered: "Why would I come to find you?"

Luo Wanzhao was equally perplexed: "Didn’t you invite me and the Prince here for a drink?"

"You’re mistaken! I never invited you!" Shen Yunxi declared.

"How could that be?" Luo Wanzhao handed the note to her. "Isn’t this the invitation you wrote personally?"

Shen Yunxi stared at the handwriting on the note, her disbelief plain: "Though the handwriting matches, I definitely did not write this! I have no idea why you’ve received such an invitation!"

Luo Wanzhao and Lu Shiyan exchanged baffled glances.

Lu Shiyan tapped the armrest of his wheelchair lightly before questioning in a deep voice: "Since the Crown Princess Consort is not here to attend an invitation, then why have you come here?"

"I received a letter from my second brother. He said he was alive but unable to reveal himself due to certain circumstances and asked me, my father, mother, and elder brother to discreetly meet him here," Shen Yunxi explained, brandishing the letter. "Attached to the letter was my second brother’s personal jade pendant. Our doubts led us to come and investigate."

As she spoke, Gao Zheng, Yin Shanshan, and the others emerged, drawn by the noise.

Spotting the distinguished guests, Gao Zheng immediately bowed obsequiously: "Are all of you waiting for His Highness the Crown Prince as well?"

"His Highness the Crown Prince?" Shen Xinghan narrowed his eyes. "It seems you were invited here by the Crown Prince?"

"Indeed!" Gao Zheng exclaimed excitedly. "Aren’t you here for the same reason?"

Lu Ying chose this moment to push open his door.

Seeing him, Gao Zheng lit up with delight: "Your humble servant greets His Highness the Crown Prince. May Your Highness be blessed with eternal prosperity! Forgive the mistake, Your humble servant chose the wrong room without realizing Your Highness was in this one!"

Gao Yun and the rest crowded close to their elderly matron, whispering eagerly: "Mother, that’s His Highness the Crown Prince..."

The old woman wept with joy: "Amitabha... For your humble servant to see His Highness the Crown Prince in my lifetime..."

Yin Shanshan, brimming with pride, remarked: "His Highness invited our entire family to this banquet—undoubtedly thanks to my elder brother’s influence. Gao Yun, though your husband did not become the royal merchant, the Crown Prince surely intends to compensate our family on behalf of my elder brother. No doubt Gao Zheng will be promoted soon."

Gao Yun immediately softened her attitude towards Yin Shanshan: "Sister Shanshan, I’ve clearly misunderstood you and our elder brother before!"

"..."

The noisy chatter of the family radiated smug joy, as though Gao Zheng were about to be promoted to Prime Minister by tomorrow. All of them seemed ready to kneel and thank Lu Ying for his grace.

Lu Ying’s expression turned icy: "I never invited you."

The commotion froze into an awkward silence.

Gao Zheng’s smile stiffened: "Wh-what? Your Highness, you... you didn’t invite your humble servant?"

Lu Ying tightened his grip on Shen Yinning’s letter, lost in thought, ignoring him completely.

"But..." Gao Zheng stammered, swallowing heavily and producing his invitation, "Your humble servant clearly received a note from Your Highness. See, it even bears Your seal!"

Shen Yunxi snatched the note and studied it closely, doubt creeping into her voice: "Your Highness, this is indeed your handwriting and seal—"

Before she could finish, a door slammed open.

Luo Wanxiang burst out angrily, scanning the room: "Xue Ling?! Xue Ling! You invited me here and then refused to show yourself? You really enjoy tormenting me, don’t you? A boy bullying a girl so intentionally—I hate you, I hate you!"

Her words prompted the opening of another door.

Xue Ling emerged, fanning himself impatiently: "Don’t flatter yourself. I never invited you!"

Luo Wanxiang pressed: "You didn’t invite me, then what are you doing here?!"

Xue Ling’s face darkened: "Naturally, someone invited me."

He had come because Xue Mianmian personally wrote him a note. He had even taken care to dress well, only to discover that it was nothing more than an absurd farce!

The crowd exchanged puzzled looks.

Lu Shiyan spoke gravely: "So, it seems that everyone here was brought together because of a forged invitation?"

Shen Yunxi ground her teeth: "To lure us here and refuse to show themselves—who is so bored?"

"Who else could it be?" Xue Ling sneered. "In the Capital, there’s only one person connected to all of us here."