The Obsessive Crown Prince Can't Let Me Go
Chapter 55 - 54: After Pulling Up One’s Pants, Forgetting What’s Owed

Chapter 55: Chapter 54: After Pulling Up One’s Pants, Forgetting What’s Owed

Lu Ying adjusted her appearance, tossed out the words, "Figure it out yourself," then walked outside the screen to handle official documents.

Shen Yinning was furious.

That damn man really had some nerve—taking advantage of her but refusing to help solve her problem!

He was the kind to pull up his pants and pretend not to know her afterward!

Unable to plead further with Lu Ying, Shen Yinning was soon escorted by Gui Quan and De Sun back to the small courtyard where the laundry was done, since Lu Ying typically forbade her from staying overnight in the study.

The study retained traces of Shen Yinning’s unique fragrance.

After reviewing a few memorials, Lu Ying’s mind kept replaying scenes of Shen Yinning tearfully pleading for mercy—how she allowed him to take whatever he wanted, her delicate face bearing vivid red palm prints pitifully, and still choking out words meant to please him.

If someone had said so three years ago, no one would have believed that the cherished and respected Bright Pearl of the Shen Duke Mansion would fall to such a lowly position as a criminal slave, slapped around by any one of his guards at will.

He rubbed his brow and instructed a palace attendant, "Go to the Imperial Weaving Bureau and order the seamstresses to secretly rush a silk robe identical to the Crown Princess Consort’s set."

As he again took hold of his vermillion pen, he thought to himself he didn’t feel pity for Shen Yinning.

It was merely to avoid unnecessary trouble.

For now, it was not the right time to reveal Shen Yinning’s identity.

Shen Yinning was unaware of Lu Ying’s arrangement.

Back in the small courtyard, she stomped on the silk robe a few times before entering the side chamber with a darkened expression.

Lu Ying, that damn dog, refused to help her? Fine, she’d figure it out herself!

The next morning.

Shen Yinning carried two pairs of freshly washed and dried shoes and socks to Shen Yunxi’s sleeping quarters.

The quarters were filled with an alluring scent—it was her handiwork.

With lowered eyes, she bowed and presented a tray, "Mistress, your shoes and socks."

Shen Yunxi was seated at the dressing table, letting Lianxin place a Phoenix Hairpin into her coiffure, ignoring her completely while admonishing Granny Zhang relentlessly, "Granny Zhang, you are absolutely useless! You claimed that tramp would die in the cave, yet when I sent people to collect her body today, they didn’t find anything! How do you explain this?! Even with strict guards posted, you managed to let that lowly wench escape—what use are you!"

Granny Zhang’s aged face burned red, and she gently stammered, "This old servant had no idea the hot spring led directly to the woods outside the creek; it was an oversight on my part!"

"Hah!" Shen Yunxi scowled in annoyance, "Just get out of here; stop being an eyesore!"

After berating Granny Zhang, she pointed a delicate finger toward Shen Yinning: "You, help me change shoes!"

She had just risen and wasn’t wearing socks, only slipping into soft shoes.

Shen Yinning lowered her head and kneeled before her, lifting the silk socks to fit them onto her feet.

The freshly laundered white silk socks exuded a strong fragrance that could be smelled from far away.

Shen Yunxi closed her eyes to savor the scent, "Are you a new palace maid who just entered the palace? You’ve got a real knack for laundering clothes. From now on, stay in the Eastern Palace and specialize in washing garments for me. If you do a good job, I’ll reward you handsomely!"

Before Shen Yinning could reply, Granny Zhang frowned slightly, cautioning, "This fragrance seems overly potent, not like ordinary spices. Mistress, I’ve heard of some toxic perfumes being used for nefarious purposes. For safety’s sake, it might be better to summon the Imperial Physician to examine it."

Shen Yunxi paused in surprise.

She had been too engrossed in the scent to consider that possibility.

Just as she was about to instruct Lianxin to call the Imperial Physician, Shen Yinning spoke softly, "This servant used to launder clothes exclusively for the Crown Prince. His Highness praised my laundry skills and complimented this fragrance, saying it was pleasing but not suitable for men, which is why he purposely transferred me to care for you. His Highness is devoted to you, Mistress—Granny Zhang questioning these matters, could it be she doubts His Highness’s sincerity?"

"What?!" Shen Yunxi exclaimed joyfully, "You were sent here by the Crown Prince to serve me?!"

Shen Yinning maintained a composed expression, "Indeed. These aromatics originated from my home village—our women there have used them for centuries without any issues. If there were truly a problem, His Highness would never have instructed me to attend to you."

The half-truths thrilled Shen Yunxi to no end.

She immediately rebuked Granny Zhang, "Granny Zhang, you’re getting senile—questioning His Highness’s sincerity! Are you truly committed to aiding me? Keep being so useless, and I’ll send you back to the Duke Mansion!"

Granny Zhang clutched her clothing tightly, her wrinkled face flushed with humiliation, "Mistress, such words are cruel. Haven’t I proven my loyalty? When you and my own daughter were both sick years ago, I cared for you devotedly without rest, resulting in my daughter dying of her illness, and my husband angry to death! Mistress, I’ve always had your best interests at heart!"

The mention of this old wound stirred some emotion in Shen Yunxi.

Shen Yinning slipped the Shu brocade-embroidered shoes onto Shen Yunxi and said softly, "Granny Zhang bore no resentment for her daughter’s and husband’s deaths, and didn’t plot vengeance against you. Truly an example of pure loyalty. I should aspire to learn from Granny Zhang."

Shen Yunxi froze momentarily.

Plot vengeance? Covert scheming?

Why had she never considered this before?

Could that explain why she couldn’t capture the tramp outside the palace—the one Granny Zhang let slip?

For instance, during the autumn hunt, they had cornered that tramp in the cave, yet somehow she still escaped—wasn’t this intentional negligence?

Shen Yunxi’s expression turned grim, "From now on, Granny Zhang shall no longer serve me closely. Matters in the sleeping quarters shall be arranged by Lianxin and Lian Ye with their attendants."

"Mistress!" Granny Zhang was beside herself, "I’m innocent! I’m devoted to you; how could you let this vile maid sow doubt between us?!"

"Enough!" Shen Yunxi snapped impatiently, "I’m going to pay respects to Noble Consort; you may take your leave!"

With that, she left the sleeping quarters with Lianxin and Lian Ye in tow.

Shen Yinning hummed contentedly as she returned to the small courtyard, but Granny Zhang promptly stormed in after her.

Granny Zhang’s tone was venomous, "Are you truly the servant sent by the Crown Prince to serve the Mistress?!"

Shen Yinning raised a brow, "Authentic beyond question."

Granny Zhang’s face darkened as she stepped forward menacingly, "You vile maid, deliberately sowing discord between me and the Mistress—what is your goal?!"

"Granny Zhang, you accuse me unjustly. I merely called you loyal; how could that possibly be sowing discord?" Shen Yinning looked innocent, "For someone your age, it’s a shame you can’t discern kind words. No wonder the Mistress has grown displeased with you."

Granny Zhang’s chest heaved with anger as she raised a hand to slap Shen Yinning, "I’ll beat you, wretched wench!"

Before her hand landed, Shen Yinning cried out, collapsing theatrically to the ground.

Knocking over the laundry rack in the courtyard, the silk robe hanging on it was immediately torn by sharp bamboo rods, effectively concealing the sabotage done by Ruizhu.

Before Granny Zhang could react, Shen Yinning seized the silk robe and dashed out, tearfully shouting, "Mistress, Granny Zhang shoved me! Granny Zhang ruined your robe!"

She ran and shouted as she went, ensuring the entire Eastern Palace quickly learned that Granny Zhang had damaged the Crown Princess Consort’s robe.

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