The Obsessive Crown Prince Can't Let Me Go
Chapter 44 Brother Lu Ying, please spare me this time

Chapter 44: Chapter 44 Brother Lu Ying, please spare me this time

Lu Ying’s gaze was deep and unfathomable.

The woman before him had long lost the fragility and innocence of her girlhood.

His hatred for her deepened further. He said, "Meeting Cui Ji in secret, lying to me—Shen Yinning, tell me, how should I punish you?"

Shen Yinning lowered her lashes in grievance.

The autumn night was cold; she wrapped her slender arms around herself, shedding tears relentlessly.

Lu Ying no longer looked at her and ordered De Sun, "Summon Cui Ji."

The night had grown late.

When Cui Ji arrived, he saw Shen Yinning, disheveled, kneeling before the desk.

On the other hand, Lu Ying sat with composure in the seat of honor, flipping through a book.

Cui Ji steadied his emotions, kept his gaze fixed, and bowed formally to Lu Ying: "This humble servant greets the Crown Prince."

Lu Ying lifted his eyelids.

The candlelight illuminated Cui Ji’s refined features—remarkably similar to Shen Yinning’s former lover from three years ago. It seemed to match the type she favored.

Closing the book, he remarked, "Last time, during the case involving pamphlets, Master Cui fearlessly upheld the law by taking the Crown Princess Consort from the Eastern Palace. Indeed, you embody upright integrity. It’s no wonder my father holds you in such high regard."

Cui Ji bowed, "Your Highness, forgive me. This humble servant acted not out of personal intent against the Crown Princess Consort but merely in accordance with the law."

Lu Ying called out, "Gui Quan."

Gui Quan quickly brought forward a Ruyi scepter, his voice sharp with deference: "The Crown Prince greatly admires Master Cui’s incorruptible virtue. This White Jade Peony Ruyi, a cherished object often handled by His Highness, is bestowed upon Master Cui tonight."

Cui Ji did not accept it. Casting a sidelong glance at Shen Yinning, he asked, "May I ask what fault Lady Shen has committed?"

Lu Ying replied with deliberate calm, "First, she secretly met with a man outside the palace; then she deliberately deceived me. Master Cui, tell me, should she not be punished?"

At his words, Cui Ji instantly understood why the Crown Prince had summoned him tonight—it was about the incident on the Qixi Festival, when he and Lady Shen admired lanterns on a pleasure boat.

The Crown Prince was testing him.

Without changing his expression, Cui Ji bowed again: "The matter of Lady Shen concerns Your Highness’s internal affairs. As an outsider, this humble servant does not dare to comment. As for this White Jade Peony Ruyi—since Your Highness treasures it and often handles it, this humble servant cannot take what Your Highness cherishes."

Lu Ying rubbed his jade ring thoughtfully.

His face remained cool and indifferent, revealing neither satisfaction nor dissatisfaction with Cui Ji’s response.

After a long pause, he said faintly, "Since Master Cui dares not accept this Ruyi, then I shall bestow upon you some gold and silver instead."

Cui Ji bowed his head: "This humble servant thanks Your Highness for the reward!"

He accepted the bestowed items and slowly exited the tent.

Only when the tent flap fell shut did the respectful look on his face gradually fade.

Standing outside,

his hand gripping the tray had long since tightened to the point where his knuckles turned white.

So this was the kind of life Lady Shen endured at the Crown Prince’s side.

The moonlight, cold as frost, draped over his robes.

His eyes held a chill deeper than the moon’s glow, while a faint, persistent ache—a piercing pain—quietly stirred in the depths of his heart.

Inside the tent,

Lu Ying carried Shen Yinning onto the bed.

He analyzed, "On Qixi night, you didn’t know I would visit the Gao Family’s estate, so you arranged to meet Cui Ji under the lanterns on the boat. If I’m not mistaken, someone tipped you off about my whereabouts, and learning that I was already at the Gao estate, you deliberately bought a flower lantern and wrote a wish tag to please me. Shen Yinning, did you dare bribe someone close to me to gather my movements?"

Shen Yinning curled up in his embrace.

She hadn’t expected this man to be so meticulous, deducing even the matter of her bribing Yin Yang.

Her original intention had been to control Lu Ying.

But after three years apart, she hadn’t anticipated the man’s scheming to grow so unfathomable!

The cedar fragrance of his garments was sharp and cold,

even colder than the autumn night. It felt like invisible chains, tightly binding her.

Tears fell like a scattered string of pearls. She sobbed, clinging to Lu Ying’s neck, her voice soft and pleading, "Lu Ying, you’ve punished me and scolded me already. I promise I won’t do it again... Lu Ying, I swear on my family’s honor that nothing improper happened between Cui Ji and me! Lu Ying, please forgive me just this once!"

Her tears seeped into Lu Ying’s collar,

warm, almost hot.

Lu Ying tilted her face up.

Her alluring phoenix eyes were swollen and red with supplication, trembling with abasement.

Did she truly feel remorse?

Lu Ying couldn’t tell.

Nor did he care to guess.

He undid her gown and moved over her.

"Lu Ying..."

The next morning,

Lu Ying was already up, adjusting his cuff by a bronze mirror.

De Sun came in, carrying a horsetail whisk, to report: "Your Highness, the Crown Princess Consort has arrived!"

Lu Ying responded indifferently, "Wasn’t she claiming illness and refusing to come?"

"This servant doesn’t know, but the guards at the front of the mountain reported seeing the Consort’s sedan chair heading this way. Perhaps the Consort unexpectedly recovered from her illness?" De Sun sneaked a glance at Shen Yinning still in bed. "Since the Consort has come to greet Your Highness, shall we have Lady Shen leave for now? Any further delay, and the Consort might run into her."

Lu Ying made a noncommittal noise.

Shen Yinning had no choice but to sit up with effort.

Her whole body felt as though her bones had been crushed and reassembled.

She glanced at Lu Ying’s back and then at her gown scattered on the ground.

The gown was torn beyond repair and could no longer be worn.

De Sun, ever perceptive, quickly brought over a set of palace maid attire: "Lady Shen, please wear this set for now. Later, mingle with the palace maids, and it will be easier to leave unnoticed."

Keeping her head down, Shen Yinning silently put on the palace maid attire.

Gui Quan came rushing in to report: "The Consort is nearly here! That old wet nurse Zhang looks furious. It seems she’s here to catch someone in the act! So it’s probably directed at Lady Shen!"

At that moment, it was too late for Shen Yinning to step outside.

Lu Ying ordered, "Summon all the palace maids outside to come in."

Thus, when Shen Yunxi entered, she did not see the imagined harlot. What she saw instead was a dozen palace maids in blue uniforms kneeling with their heads lowered.

Lu Ying sat by the meal table, eating his breakfast: "The Crown Princess Consort has recovered from her illness?"