The Obsessive Crown Prince Can't Let Me Go
Chapter 109 - 107: I Won’t Marry!

Chapter 109: Chapter 107: I Won’t Marry!

"You child, you’re so petty." Mrs. Qin chided Shen Yunxi as she lovingly embraced Xue Qingqing. "Qingqing is such a delight to me. The first time I saw her, I liked her immensely and have already thought of her as my daughter. She’s refined and beautiful, completely unlike you and the other girls in our family—always monkeying around! If you could be half as clever and charming as Qingqing, I would be chanting Buddha’s name in gratitude!"

Her words elicited laughter from the well-to-do women present, and the atmosphere in the hall became cheerful and lively.

"Mother!"

Shen Yunxi stomped her embroidered shoe with feigned shyness, but her reserved expression couldn’t hide the pride gleaming in her brows and eyes.

She sneaked a glance at Shen Yinning.

In the past, during important occasions, it was always Shen Yinning and her elder brother Shen Xingye who stole the spotlight.

Now, the tables had turned, and her family was finally the center of attention.

Shen Yinning was no longer the darling of the crowd, no longer the subject of endless compliments and praises.

Shen Yinning smirked faintly, acting as though she hadn’t seen Shen Yunxi’s gaze.

Her uncle’s family was hoping to secure a marriage alliance with Minister Xue. Whether it could actually happen was still up in the air.

What exactly was Shen Yunxi so proud about?

With elegance, she plucked an almond candy and placed it into her mouth.

Shen Xinglei, looking simple and honest, said, "Miss Qingqing, you don’t know this, but ever since our engagement was settled, my mother has been praising you every day at home. She says you’re gentle and poised, the best girl in heaven and earth. She also scolds me for being uneducated and not knowing anything, saying I’m not worthy of you, and forces me to read and write daily. Miss Qingqing, my mother truly likes you. Once you marry into our family, you’ll know. She’ll definitely treat you as her own daughter and cherish you."

Being held by Mrs. Qin, Xue Qingqing felt completely uncomfortable.

She feared Shen Xinglei. She feared the Shen Family.

She couldn’t understand—Shen Xinglei clearly had a mistress and an illegitimate child outside. He knew she was aware of his secrets, yet he could still put on this act of pure innocence?

She cast a covert glance at Shen Xinghan.

As Shen Xinglei’s biological elder brother, Shen Xinghan was well aware of Sun Miaoniang’s existence. Yet, at this very moment, he was laughing along with the others, his elegant and refined face alight with gratification and anticipation, as if he truly liked her as his soon-to-be sister-in-law.

The Shen brothers were so adept at deception. Then what about Mrs. Qin?

What about the entire Shen Family?

Could it be that the whole family knew about Sun Miaoniang’s existence?

Could it be that the entire family was a nest of hypocrites?!

Their motivation for her marrying into the family stemmed solely from her father’s role as Chief of Staff, with considerable influence among the civil servants. They valued not her as a person, but the benefits her father could bring them.

Hence, they went to such lengths to have her as a daughter-in-law.

As for what happened after the marriage—her life or death, her ability to bear children, her happiness or sorrow—it mattered not to them.

Such thoughts sent chills down Xue Qingqing’s spine.

She clutched her handkerchief tightly, feeling that Mrs. Qin’s and Shen Xinglei’s smiles looked particularly twisted and sinister. She desperately wanted to shake off the hand Mrs. Qin had placed on her shoulder, to leave this wretched place immediately.

"Oh, by the way..." Mrs. Qin suddenly laughed. "I was thinking, since it’s my husband’s birthday today, why not arrange for the two children to exchange their engagement tokens and set a wedding date? It’d be a double celebration! Lady Xue, what do you think?"

Lady Xue beamed with joy. "Both children are of age to marry. Your family is sincere in seeking this match, and our family is genuinely willing as well. It’s all for the sake of the children’s future. If we can finalize the engagement and marriage soon, that would be wonderful. With everyone here, they can serve as witnesses for the engagement."

Mrs. Qin was overjoyed and immediately instructed the maids to bring out the engagement tokens.

Many of the ladies gathered around to enjoy the lively scene, eager to share in the festive mood.

Xue Qingqing stood there alone, at a loss as to what to do. Shen Xinglei suddenly turned and looked at her with a smile.

Though his lips were thick and he had the appearance of a simple, honest man, his eyes in that moment harbored insidious malice.

He curved his lips and, in a voice only Xue Qingqing could hear, softly said, "Miaoniang asked me to pass along her regards to you. Oh, and so did Fan’er. Even before the wedding, you already have a son. Aren’t you happy, Xue Qingqing?"

Xue Qingqing’s body grew stiff, her face turning ashen.

She couldn’t fathom what kind of sick amusement Shen Xinglei derived from this.

They bore no deep grievances—why did he want to humiliate her like this?!

Shen Xinglei took pleasure in observing her helplessness and dread. It reminded him of his time at the border, secretly slaughtering villages with his trusted guards. The anguish and despair of the infants and elders he killed before their families’ eyes had given him the same surge of exhilaration.

The thrill of tormenting the weak made his blood race, filling him with unparalleled excitement.

His smile grew wider and more unrestrained as he leaned closer to provoke her further. "Oh, by the way, Miss Qingqing might not know? The tea you drank today—I spiked it with something. I noticed you seem reluctant to marry me. Why don’t you go tell your parents about the drug in your tea?"

Xue Qingqing clenched her fists tightly, her eyes reddening as she stared at Shen Xinglei.

She couldn’t be sure if his words were true or false.

After a long silence, she bit her lip. "You’re lying to me again!"

If she made another scene about her tea being spiked, but the doctor couldn’t find any proof, then everyone would think she was being unreasonable and dramatic. From then on, no one would believe her even if she spoke ill of Shen Xinglei.

Shen Xinglei squinted with a smirk and said, "Miss Qingqing really is smart."

Xue Qingqing trembled all over, a deep sense of helplessness welling up in her heart.

She wanted to tear apart this man’s false facade, but she had no idea where to start.

She didn’t know what to do...

Not far away,

Lu Jiazhe watched Shen Xinglei and Xue Qingqing converse, unable to stop himself from cursing, "If I didn’t know Shen Xinglei’s true nature, I’d probably think like the others, that this beast is some kind of paragon of virtue!"

Shen Yinning, observing Shen Xinglei’s moving lips, swiftly deduced what he was saying.

Her gaze fell on the half-finished cup of tea before Xue Qingqing.

Unlike Xue Qingqing, she firmly believed that Shen Xinglei had indeed spiked the tea today.

He was confident that Xue Qingqing wouldn’t dare cause another commotion, so he brazenly poisoned her in public, trampling on Xue Qingqing’s dignity and mocking the prestige of the Xue Minister’s Mansion.

"How amusing," she sneered softly, her gaze sweeping meaningfully past Xue Ling nearby. "Is there really no one in the Xue Minister’s Mansion who can discern right from wrong? What a pity Mianmian isn’t here. If she were, she’d surely stand up for Second Miss Xue."

Xue Ling was also present at the banquet.

He seemed not to hear Shen Yinning’s words, leisurely peeling sunflower seeds, the ancient silver bell bracelet on his wrist faintly jingling.

While Shen Yinning conversed with Lu Jiazhe, the engagement tokens had already been exchanged.

Mrs. Qin was beaming with joy, warmly holding Xue Qingqing’s delicate hand. "I’m looking forward to Qingqing joining our family soon. I’m eager to hold a grandson, so after discussing with your mother, we’ve decided that next spring will be your and Xinglei’s wedding. Qingqing, I truly and sincerely cherish you as my daughter-in-law. Our entire family adores you! I’ll order renovations for the house immediately!"

Shen Xinglei smiled bashfully, trying to appear modest. "Mother, my courtyard hasn’t been refurbished for years. Now that’s changing—Qingqing hasn’t even married in yet, and you’re already redecorating. People might think she’s your daughter, and I’m the son-in-law marrying in."

Mrs. Qin hugged Xue Qingqing tighter. "You silly monkey! Of course you’re no match for our Qingqing!"

Her palms were thick and greasy.

To Xue Qingqing, it felt like a slithering venomous snake crawling across her skin, utterly repulsive.

The thought of marrying into this hypocritical family, the thought of Shen Xinglei’s shamelessness and depravity, made her, despite her timid and introverted nature, tremble with a powerful urge to resist.

She shook off Mrs. Qin and declared loudly, "I won’t marry!"