The Obsessive Crown Prince Can't Let Me Go
Chapter 47 She Must Always Atone to Him

Chapter 47: Chapter 47 She Must Always Atone to Him

Xue Mianmian’s expression grew even more desolate. "Father and Mother thought I couldn’t handle the truth and ran away from home on a rainy night three years ago. Although they sent people to search for me over the years, they found nothing. They don’t know that I’ve actually been locked up in Xue Ling’s courtyard, separated by only a single wall from them."

"Did you ever try to save yourself?"

"Of course I tried!" Xue Mianmian’s eyes reddened. "But Xue Ling threatened me with my former personal maids. He said if I dared to escape, he’d beat Chun’er and Dong’er to death! He accused me of stealing his life of luxury, saying I was just a servant who lived in wealth in his place for so many years by mistake. He said the rest of my life should be spent serving him as a slave to repay that debt."

"The scheme to swap you was orchestrated by the Xue family’s concubine and your biological mother. If there’s a debt to repay, it’s they who should pay, not you. Besides, even if you were to repay it, it wouldn’t warrant imprisoning you like a dog, would it?" Shen Yinning sneered coldly. "I think Xue Ling is doing this on purpose."

Xue Mianmian thought of the grievances and bitterness of the past three years and couldn’t hold back her tears.

Her biological mother had long since passed away, leaving only the Xue family concubine and herself as targets for Xue Ling’s revenge.

The Xue family concubine was beaten nearly to death by Xue Ling and then thrown to the dogs, her body devoured alive by wild strays.

Xue Mianmian was forced to watch nearby as the blood, innards, and intestines almost splattered onto her face!

She thought she would meet the same fate as the concubine, but Xue Ling neither beat her nor killed her.

He locked her in the secret chamber of his bedroom.

On the night of her coming-of-age ceremony, he took her body, making her his bed servant.

And that servitude lasted three long, sunless years.

During those three years, she learned countless rules for serving others. Her daily food and necessities depended on pleasing Xue Ling. She was no longer the naive and innocent young lady of the Minister’s Mansion who knew nothing of the world.

Xue Ling had all kinds of methods; she was tormented nearly to madness in that secret chamber. She had begged tearfully for Xue Ling to release her, but he told her that unless he tired of her, she would be imprisoned there forever, eternally atoning for her sins to him.

Xue Mianmian felt a little dazed.

Aside from being swapped at birth without her consent, she didn’t know how she could have offended Xue Ling to make him hate her so deeply.

She distinctly remembered that when she was still a young lady, she was kind to everyone in the mansion, even rewarding the servants during holidays.

She wiped her tear-streaked eyes and softly urged, "Zhaozhao, don’t worry about me anymore. At this hour, Xue Ling should be coming back soon. You’d better leave. If he finds out, both of us will be punished."

Shen Yinning lowered her head.

She had only returned to the capital six months ago, her strength still weak, revenge already a difficult task, let alone rescuing Mianmian from a madman like Xue Ling.

She pondered for a moment, then suddenly clasped Xue Mianmian’s hands tightly. "Though I cannot save you now, at least I know you’re still alive and beside Xue Ling. Mianmian, one day, I will find a way to rescue you."

Xue Mianmian hadn’t pinned her hopes on Shen Yinning for salvation.

To her, as long as Shen Yinning could live well and avenge her father and brothers, that was enough.

Thousands of unspoken words turned into tearful eyes as she hugged Shen Yinning reluctantly.

Just as Shen Yinning stepped out of the tent, she bumped into Xue Ling, who had just returned from hunting.

Xue Ling scrutinized her maliciously. "Oh? What’s the Minister’s wife doing here? The Crown Prince is looking for you."

Shen Yinning knew his schemes and understood he was eagerly waiting to see her fall out of favor with the Crown Prince.

What he didn’t know was that she planned to turn the tables on him.

She let out a faint, dismissive smile, brushing past him without a care.

Xue Ling glanced at her retreating figure with interest. That familiar, sinister smirk crept onto his face, as if anticipating the storm that was about to unfold.

He quickly diverted his gaze and entered the tent.

Upon hearing his familiar footsteps, Xue Mianmian began trembling instinctively and hurriedly brewed a cup of hot tea.

She cautiously brought the tea to him, her voice trembling. "Master, please have some tea..."

Xue Ling reclined with ostentatious ease but made no move to take the cup.

For a long while, he sat there until Xue Mianmian’s hands shook so much that tea spilled from the cup. Only then did he lazily ask, "What did Shen Yinning say to you?"

"N-nothing..." Xue Mianmian lowered her gaze, her lashes trembling. "Just some words of sisterly concern..."

Xue Ling slapped the cup out of her hands and grabbed her face, forcing her to look up. "Stay away from her. Do you hear me?"

The scent of blood from his hunting jacket was overwhelming.

Xue Mianmian timidly met his gaze, her teeth chattering. She forced herself to suppress her fear and pleaded softly, "Master, Zhaozhao is a pitiable person. Could you... perhaps speak on her behalf before the Crown Prince?"

Xue Ling’s expression darkened in an instant.

Xue Mianmian reflexively shrank back.

Xue Ling sneered. "What business do you have meddling in a married couple’s affairs? Just focus on serving me."

Xue Mianmian bit her lip in grievance, her luminous tears streaming down her cheeks. "But... but Zhaozhao is truly pitiful..."

Xue Ling clicked his tongue impatiently and yanked her into his arms.

Xue Mianmian’s crying grew even more intense.

She often cried, but today, due to Shen Yinning’s visit, her tears were even more sorrowful than usual.

Xue Ling snapped impatiently, "Cry one more time, and I dare you!"

Xue Mianmian sniffled, holding back her sobs with great effort, but the tears kept pouring out like broken pearls.

Xue Ling’s face turned black as a storm cloud. He abruptly concluded his actions and, with a sour expression, pulled something furry from his coat and stuffed it into Xue Mianmian’s hands.

It was a small rabbit he had hunted.

He thought the rabbit reminded him of Xue Mianmian, so he had brought it back.

He assumed she would like it.

"A rabbit?" Xue Mianmian murmured hoarsely. Seeing the unmoving rabbit, she burst into fresh sobs. "Master, giving me a dead rabbit? Does this mean you plan to kill me too?!"

Xue Ling: "..."

On the way back, he must have smothered the rabbit too tightly.

Perhaps that’s why it died.

Awkward, he seized the moment to threaten her instead. "If you disobey me, you’ll end up like this rabbit."

Xue Mianmian immediately covered her mouth in terror, her crying escalating further.

Xue Ling grew even more irritable.

Outside the tent, night descended, enclosing them in murky darkness.

By the flickering fires, nobles and socialites gathered, celebrating their spoils from the day’s hunt. The aroma of roasting meat wafted far, blending with the sound of laughter and chatter.

Shen Yinning was summoned by Gui Quan to a pavilion halfway up the mountain.

On the tiled floor of the pavilion lay a lifeless body of a woman.

Lu Ying sat at a stone bench, speaking indifferently, "Do you know who she is?"

Shen Yinning shook her head. "I do not, Your Highness."

"She was Lu Zhengliu’s favorite concubine and a secret informant I placed by his side." Lu Ying’s face was hidden in the dimness of the mountain dusk, his slender fingers casually tapping the stone table. "Her real name was Qing Liu. She had served me loyally since the age of six. At fifteen, she became Lu Zhengliu’s concubine. This year, she turned eighteen. However, her cover was blown due to a tip-off, and she was killed by Lu Zhengliu’s arrows."

The autumn night was chilly with the mountain breeze.

Shen Yinning stood gracefully in the wind, her alluring face full of feigned innocence. "Your Highness doesn’t suspect it was I who exposed her, does he?"

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