The Obsessive Crown Prince Can't Let Me Go
Chapter 57 - 56: Compensate You Well Tonight

Chapter 57: Chapter 56: Compensate You Well Tonight

Shen Yinning choked back her sobs: "Even if I am in the wrong, does Sister Ruizhu bear no fault? I merely mentioned that you admired the Crown Prince, and you got enraged!"

Ruizhu’s eyes widened, her soul almost frightened out of her body!

Previously, there had been other sisters who confessed their love for the Crown Prince, even going so far as to drug him in an attempt to climb into his bed, but the Crown Prince had swiftly sent them off to perform hard labor, where they exhausted themselves to death within years.

Ruizhu’s face turned ghostly pale, and she decisively kowtowed: "Your Highness, please discern the truth. This servant has been loyal to you wholeheartedly, with absolutely no such thoughts! Shen Yinning first harmed Qing Liu, then she slandered this servant with baseless accusations, disrupting the entire Eastern Palace. I implore Your Highness to punish her harshly!"

The trusted guards who knew Qing Liu immediately knelt down in unison.

They shouted together: "Your Highness, please punish Shen Yinning severely!"

"Your Highness!"

Shen Yinning cried until her cheeks turned damp and flushed, resembling pear blossoms drenched in rain and peonies veiled in smoke as she weakly clung to Lu Ying’s knees: "This humble wife swears that I did not report to Prince Shen, nor did I harm Miss Qing Liu! On that day, after leaving Your Highness’s tent, I returned straight to my own tent to bathe and change clothes—how could I have found time to report anything? If Your Highness does not believe me, you may summon Haitang and Wei Yu to the palace and question them. They are Your Highness’s people and would not dare to lie about such matters of grave importance!"

Seeing Lu Ying remain silent, she tearfully raised four fingers to the heavens: "I swear by the honor of my late father and brothers—if I had reported to Prince Shen and caused the death of Miss Qing Liu, then may my family never find peace in the afterlife!"

Lu Ying toyed with the Moyu Ring on his finger.

Like Ruizhu, he believed Shen Yinning to have been the one who reported the secret.

However, taking such an oath invoking her father and brothers...

Could it truly be that she was innocent?

He lowered his gaze to her: "I will investigate this thoroughly."

Shen Yinning pressed her damp eyes, looking pitiful and forlorn: "Thank you, Your Highness. Surely the truth will soon clear my name."

Despite her anger, Ruizhu had no choice but to leave the study.

She touched her bandaged ear and glared back resentfully, muttering low curses: "What a shameless wretch! Just because she’s pretty, she acts like a temptress to seduce His Highness! Does she think she’s still the esteemed daughter of the Duke Mansion? She’s nothing more than the daughter of a disgraced official, married to a mere minor officer. What does she have to be arrogant about?"

She pursed her lips, her tone sour: "A wanton, low-born thing, even less dignified than me—a worthless plaything, that’s all..."

If only the Crown Princess Consort knew about her existence.

The Crown Princess Consort, such a noble and virtuous person, would never tolerate this shameless wretch seducing His Highness.

Perhaps she should find a way to bring Shen Yinning to the Crown Princess Consort’s attention!

However, Lu Ying acted faster than Shen Yinning expected.

In less than three days, she was summoned to the study, told that the truth behind the report had been uncovered.

"It was Xue Ling who reported it," Lu Ying said, his voice indifferent and inscrutable. "He despises your friendship with Xue Mianmian and deliberately framed you. I have already sent him to the Punishment Room for self-reflection."

Shen Yinning’s tone turned coy: "Who knows if he deliberately framed me or intended to betray Your Highness? Someone with such sinister thoughts, however clever he might be, should never be entrusted with responsibility."

"I know you want to rescue Xue Mianmian from him. But superficial manipulations like these—avoid using them on me in the future."

Shen Yinning didn’t deny it. Instead, she openly helped him grind ink, her voice sweet and playful: "Your Highness is wise, strong, and skilled in reading people’s hearts. You always see through my intentions so effortlessly. This time, my name was cleared—all thanks to Your Highness’s discerning judgment."

"Flatterer."

"I’m merely speaking the truth. How can that be flattery?" Shen Yinning boldly perched herself on his lap. "But, Your Highness, how will you address the matter of wronging me in the past? You forced me to kowtow ninety-nine times to Miss Qing Liu—my forehead still aches terribly..."

Her slender white fingers roved slowly over his chest, eliciting waves of tingling sensations.

Lu Ying grasped her mischievous hand: "Stop messing around. I’m working on official documents."

"How will Your Highness compensate me then?" Shen Yinning clung softly to his neck, refusing to relent.

"Tonight, I will properly compensate you."

Shen Yinning’s cheeks flushed scarlet.

Could he even be serious?!

Talking about compensation at night—would she truly be the one enjoying it?

Clearly, he was the one indulging himself!

She began to fuss in his arms, shaking his arm vigorously: "Your Highness, I refuse, I refuse!"

Lu Ying was writing, but her antics caused his brush to skid, leaving a heavy ink mark on the document.

He set down the brush: "Seems like you’re asking for trouble."

"Your Highness..."

Elsewhere, Shen Yunxi was hurrying to the study with Lianxin and the others in tow.

In recent days, rumors had spread wildly throughout the Eastern Palace—that the Crown Prince had summoned a palace maid to his study for a private affair. She didn’t know who had started the story, but the details seemed quite believable.

She intended to see for herself which audacious palace maid dared engage in such behavior under her nose!

Gui Quan was startled by her sudden arrival and quickly greeted her deferentially: "Your Highness, the Crown Prince is attending to state affairs. Please wait here for a moment while I inform him of your presence!"

"You insolent thing!" Shen Yunxi snapped angrily. "Do you dare block me? Step aside at once!"

Before Gui Quan could respond, several burly female attendants pushed him aside.

Shen Yunxi stepped into the study, only to find Lu Ying properly dressed and seated behind his desk, reviewing documents. There was no palace maid present to indulge him!

Lu Ying glanced up, irritated: "What’s the Crown Princess Consort making a fuss about now?"

Shen Yunxi felt uneasy and quickly curtsied: "This servant-wife... This servant-wife is not making trouble. I merely came to check on Your Highness."

Lu Ying suddenly let out a low "hiss."

Shen Yunxi immediately grew concerned: "Is Your Highness unwell?"

Lu Ying’s eyes darkened.

Shen Yinning was currently hiding beneath the Dragon Desk, secretly pinching him...

After a long pause, he replied calmly: "I’m fine."

Shen Yunxi looked skeptical.

She felt that the Crown Prince appeared rather odd.

But Lu Ying quickly returned to a composed demeanor, flipping documents as he said: "I still have affairs to manage. The Crown Princess Consort may excuse herself."

Shen Yunxi was unwilling to leave.

She stepped forward to help him grind ink: "Your Highness’s study doesn’t even have attendants present. Let me assist Your Highness with the ink."

"Clatter!"

She had barely finished speaking when she accidentally knocked one of the documents to the ground.

As she bent down to pick it up, Lu Ying pulled her firmly into his embrace.

Shen Yunxi blushed: "Your Highness!"

Lu Ying remained silent.

Shen Yinning was still hiding beneath the Dragon Desk; if Shen Yunxi bent down, she would surely spot her. Hence, Lu Ying would not allow her to discover Shen Yinning.

"Your Highness..." Shen Yunxi felt a secret joy and couldn’t help squirming in his arms. "In broad daylight, what does Your Highness mean to do with me?"