The Obsessive Crown Prince Can't Let Me Go
Chapter 106 - 104: Daring to Flirt with Cui Ji Right in Front of Him

Chapter 106: Chapter 104: Daring to Flirt with Cui Ji Right in Front of Him

Lu Ying looked at Shen Yinning.

This little vixen didn’t ask Zhang Cuichun whether it was her who arranged Bai Shuangshuang to deceive her mother. Instead, she directly questioned her, asking why she wanted to harm her mother’s life.

Zhang Cuichun was completely clueless about the situation. She didn’t know Bai Shuangshuang had gone mad. Perhaps she mistakenly believed Bai had already confessed to the truth of the incident years ago. Faced with Shen Yinning’s sudden return to the capital and everyone’s judgment, it was very likely she would inadvertently reveal a flaw in her panic.

Lu Ying casually fiddled with the Moyu Ring, his cold, narrow eyes filled with wisps of tenderness.

Shen Yinning, this little vixen...

What a cunning and sinister woman she was—to his liking.

Sure enough, Zhang Cuichun froze in place, her aged face turning green, pale, and then red.

She stared at Bai Shuangshuang in disbelief: "Bai Lady-in-Waiting, you—you—"

"Madam Zhang!" Shen Xinghan suddenly interrupted her forcefully, "What exactly happened in the Heavenly Prison back then?! Why did Aunt suddenly hang herself?! Bai Lady-in-Waiting has gone mad and claimed it was you who gave her the Blood Hairpin to deceive Aunt, saying Shen Yinning was already dead. Is this true or false?!"

Zhang Cuichun met Shen Xinghan’s icy gaze, her heart pounding violently.

The young master’s questioning implied the matter was not yet concluded. She still had room to maneuver.

She bowed slightly to Shen Yinning as a greeting, her voice slick: "Your servant pays respects to the lady! Since you’ve returned to the capital, how come you haven’t visited the Duke Mansion to see the Lord and Madam? They cared for you so deeply—it wouldn’t be remiss!"

Shen Yinning raised her eyebrows: "Stick to the point."

Zhang Cuichun had already calmed down entirely.

No matter how Shen Yinning returned to the capital, her entire family had been seized. How could a mere young girl possibly stir up trouble?

After all, with the Crown Princess Consort and Madam sheltering her, how could she fear Shen Yinning, a daughter of a convict?

She thought to herself, smiling amiably: "What kind of question is this? Why did the Madam hang herself in the Heavenly Prison? How could your servant know? I’m merely a servant of the second household and had no dealings with the Madam, so naturally, I have no reason to harm her life. Bai Lady-in-Waiting seems deranged. Can her words truly be considered evidence? The lady has always been bright and shrewd; how could three years away make her dull?"

Shen Yinning smiled faintly, her slightly upturned Danfeng eyes exuding sharpness.

What a good Zhang Cuichun.

Previously, she was always submissive when facing her. But now, she dared to mock her stupidity in public.

Maybe she thought Bai Shuangshuang had gone mad, and since there was no material evidence left from those years, her wrinkled old face lit up like a chrysanthemum in full bloom, brimming with brazen smugness.

As Shen Yinning pondered how to trap her into revealing a flaw, a crisp voice suddenly rang out from the crowd:

"Ministry of Justice matters—make way."

The crowd parted, and the newcomer turned out to be Cui Ji.

He wore an official robe of dark green, followed by over ten minor officials from the Ministry of Justice. Two of them were escorting a trembling prison guard.

Shen Yan frowned deeply.

Today was his birthday. Why on earth would Ministry of Justice officials barge in?

What bad luck!

As the Lord of the Duke Mansion, Shen Yan saw Cui Ji as merely a junior chief official from the Ministry of Justice. Naturally, he wouldn’t lower his status to deal with him personally, instead giving Shen Xinghan a meaningful look.

Shen Xinghan stepped forward: "Lord Cui, today is my father’s fortieth birthday. What brings you here so ostentatiously?"

Cui Ji cupped his hands and bowed slightly: "Apologies for disturbing Lord Shen’s celebration—this is my fault. However, this case is of utmost importance. The Empress Dowager herself has issued direct instructions for its immediate resolution."

Since he mentioned the Empress Dowager Li, Shen Xinghan had no grounds to obstruct further.

Cui Ji swept his gaze around: "Who here is Madam Zhang Cuichun?"

Mrs. Qin and Shen Yunxi visibly flinched.

As the Empress Dowager Li and Cheng Hui’s late mother had been close friends, could her involvement possibly be related to Cheng Hui’s death?

Zhang Cuichun’s composure quickly vanished. Struggling to maintain the dignity of the Chief Palace Maid, she replied: "Lord Cui, your humble servant is indeed Zhang Cuichun."

Cui Ji nodded slightly, his eyes frosty: "Three years ago, Madam Shen committed suicide in the Heavenly Prison. The prison guard from back then has confessed and accused you of being implicated in her death, claiming you deceived her with news that Shen Yinning had perished, forcing her to hang herself. Madam Zhang, please come with us to the Ministry of Justice."

The crowd erupted.

While Bai Shuangshuang’s confession left many skeptical about Zhang Cuichun’s involvement, Cui Ji’s arrival sealed her fate.

Everyone knew Cui Ji was last year’s top scholar and had never made a misstep in his Ministry of Justice cases.

If he dared to arrest the Chief Maid of the Crown Princess Consort in her presence, then the allegations of her connection to Cheng Hui’s murder were likely true.

The prison guard trembled as he looked at Zhang Cuichun: "I remember it clearly. On the night Madam Shen hanged herself, Madam Zhang came to me personally, handing me 500 taels of silver coin to go out and buy wine. She expressly told me not to return to the prison all night. Still uneasy, I secretly hid outside to watch. Madam Zhang soon brought a maid named Bai Shuangshuang into the cell, carrying a Blood Hairpin. She deceived Madam Shen, saying Lady Shen Yinning had already taken her own life. Grief-stricken, Madam Shen ultimately ended her own life with a length of white silk hanging from the beam!"

Zhang Cuichun’s face drained of color.

She glared furiously at the accusing prison guard.

She certainly recognized him—he had been the one in charge of guarding Cheng Hui back then.

Unexpectedly, he dared to accuse her three years later!

The muscles on her face convulsed violently as she shouted: "You’re spouting nonsense! I—I’ve never even met you!"

"The truth will come to light after further interrogation," Cui Ji declared solemnly. "Take her to the Imperial Prison."

Two minor officials immediately stepped forward and seized her without hesitation.

Zhang Cuichun was escorted away, her heart pounding nervously, but not excessively frightened.

After all, she was the nursemaid of the Crown Princess Consort and the Chief Palace Maid of the Eastern Palace, uniquely respected and unharmed. Surely the Ministry of Justice wouldn’t dare act recklessly against her?

She was certain the Crown Princess Consort would rescue her shortly.

Thus, as she was taken away, she loudly implored: "Your highness, you know your servant has been wronged! Your highness must think of a way to save me!"

Shen Yunxi’s face turned ashen, immediately hiding behind Mrs. Qin.

She had assumed Madam Zhang’s actions would remain buried forever, never expecting them to be exposed so swiftly.

That old hag truly had no foresight!

She couldn’t be tied to that old hag; otherwise, a charge of murdering her aunt would be too weighty for her to bear!

Shen Yinning toyed idly with a hand warmer, her gaze briefly connecting with Cui Ji’s.

She knew well that he was lending her a hand.

The prison guard’s trembling appearance suggested he hadn’t voluntarily turned himself in. Cui Ji must have conducted a private investigation, uncovering traces of evidence, and used coercion to extract the truth from the guard. He had likely maneuvered the matter towards the Empress Dowager Li to create today’s spectacle.

She curled her Danfeng eyes into a seductive smile at him.

Cui Ji quickly lowered his gaze, discreetly bowed, and left the scene.

Their interactions did not escape Lu Ying’s notice.

He watched in silence, his fingertip pressing hard enough to turn white.

Shen Yinning...

She dared to flirt openly with Cui Ji right in front of him.

How dare she!

As the once merry banquet descended into turmoil laced with suspicion, Mrs. Qin coughed and quickly tried to change the subject with a smile: "Xi’er’s birthday gift has already been sent. Erlang, what did you prepare for your father?"

Prepare? For his father?

Shen Yinning smirked lightly.

Shen Xinglei prepared for his father a prized grandson!