The Obsessive Crown Prince Can't Let Me Go
Chapter 59 - 58 Shen Yinning Does Not Deserve His Affection

Chapter 59: Chapter 58 Shen Yinning Does Not Deserve His Affection

The candlelight burned halfway through the night.

Lu Ying returned, satisfied, from bathing in the adjacent room, only to see Shen Yinning sprawled on the floor like a discarded rag. Her slender arms, pale as lotus roots, draped over her eyes, as if she had completely collapsed into unconsciousness.

He lifted the brocade blanket and sat down on the bed: "Was it worth it?"

Drugging Shen Yunxi and taking her place in the bedchamber, losing all dignity and face—was it truly worth it?

Shen Yinning kept her arm over her eyes.

Her cherry-shaped lips curled faintly, and she chuckled weakly.

Lu Ying looked at her: "Shen Yinning."

Shen Yinning paused for a moment, then struggled to sit upright.

Meeting Lu Ying’s gaze, she softly said, "Your Highness, I belong only to you."

The young woman’s phoenix-like eyes were hazy and moist, seemingly glimmering with tears.

Lu Ying’s heart ached faintly.

He turned his face away, recalling Shen Yinning’s betrayal years ago, suppressing the pain with all his might, refusing to look at her again.

The next day at dusk.

Shen Yinning was summoned to the study once more.

Faced with Lu Ying, her legs trembled uncontrollably.

She lowered her head and curtsied, her voice still raspy, "This humble wife greets Your Highness."

Lu Ying did not look at her, continuing to review documents as he said, "Since it wasn’t you who caused Qing Liu’s death, you don’t need to stay in the palace for punishment anymore. Go pack your things; I will have someone send you back to the Gao Family."

Shen Yinning silently calculated the time.

At the autumn hunting grounds, she had washed Shen Yunxi’s clothes for three days.

And during her time in the Eastern Palace, she’d spent more than half a month washing her clothes.

But the infertility drug would take at least a month to fully take effect.

Thinking of this, she softened her voice: "Since this humble wife promised Your Highness to wash my sister’s clothes for a month, how can I abandon the task halfway? Besides, this humble wife also wishes to show through this act of service that I harbor no jealousy toward my sister whatsoever. Though I know my status is lowly, and that Your Highness and my sister share deep affection and harmony as husband and wife, this humble wife only hopes to serve Your Highness when my sister is unavailable. That alone would satisfy me."

The young girl humbled herself.

Her alluring, delicate face was full of admiration and deep affection for Lu Ying.

Yet the more she behaved thus, the more suspicious Lu Ying became of her motives.

For someone as proud as Shen Yinning, could she truly be willing to lower herself to serve Shen Yunxi as a mere maid?

His voice was firm and unyielding: "Exit the palace immediately."

Shen Yinning pressed her lips together and had no choice but to bow and withdraw.

Back in her room, she packed her belongings and glanced at the box of leftover scented powder. Suddenly, an idea came to her.

She called for Lian Ye and gently instructed, "Sister Lian Ye, I unintentionally offended His Highness today and have been sent to work in the Cold Palace. I fear I won’t be able to continue washing clothes for Her Highness. Her Highness has always been fond of this scented powder; please ensure the palace maids taking my place continue to use it as they wash Her Highness’s garments."

Only after Lian Ye agreed did Shen Yinning leave the palace at ease.

Lu Jiazhe, upon hearing she was to depart the palace, had already stationed himself at the end of Lotus Lane early in the morning.

Entering the Gao Family through the side door, Lu Jiazhe handed a few packets of pastries he carried to Haitang, lamenting, "My cousin is too cruel-hearted—wrongfully accusing you of betrayal and even detaining you in the Eastern Palace as a lowly servant!"

Shen Yinning washed away the human-skin mask in the basin.

Compared to ensuring Shen Yunxi lost her ability to bear children, her half-month of servitude in the Eastern Palace was trivial.

For now, Lu Ying remained unaware of her secret actions. But when Shen Yunxi’s physical condition started showing abnormalities half a month later, he would undoubtedly figure it out.

By then, considering Lu Ying’s love for Shen Yunxi, she feared her fate would be dire.

She would need to find another benefactor.

As Shen Yinning wiped her face with a towel, she asked, "Is the Empress Dowager still at Xiao Kan Temple?"

"Last winter, the Princess caught an illness and passed away. Grandmother has since spent most of the year at Xiao Kan Temple, praying for her soul," Lu Jiazhe responded. "Sister Shen, are you planning to see Grandmother? She adores me; I could arrange an introduction for you."

Shen Yinning nodded slightly, then added thoughtfully, "Send someone to Jiangnan to find a jade master named Wang Fengyu. By any means necessary, ensure he delays the progress of carving the statue for Shen Yunxi."

Although Lu Jiazhe didn’t understand her intent, he nodded earnestly.

Two days later, Shen Yinning set out for Xiao Kan Temple, bringing along Buddhist scriptures she had personally copied.

Xiao Kan Temple was located fifty miles outside the Capital, atop Canglong Mountain.

Lu Jiazhe first entered the Zen room and exchanged pleasantries with the Empress Dowager before introducing Shen Yinning.

With her eyes lightly closed, the Empress Dowager rotated her Buddha beads and asked, "Zhaozhao has returned to the Capital from Gan State?"

"Grandmother, Sister Shen married a county magistrate in Gan State three years ago. When that magistrate was reassigned to the Capital, she accompanied him here. I happened to bump into her on the street, and during our conversation, I mentioned the recent events in the Capital. Upon learning of the Princess’s passing, she personally copied several volumes of Buddhist scriptures to present to the temple, praying for the Princess. She is waiting outside now; would you like to see her?"

The Zen room fell silent.

After a moment, the Empress Dowager finally spoke: "Let her in."

Shen Yinning was quickly led in by the servants.

She prostrated herself: "The sinner’s daughter Shen Yinning pays respects to Her Majesty the Empress Dowager. I wish Your Majesty eternal health and peace."

"Three years in Gan State, and yet you’ve not forgotten the etiquette of paying respects," the Empress Dowager remarked, instructing the servants to help her up. "You were always the most proper and graceful young lady in the Capital, and given that I was a close friend of your grandmother, had your father and brothers not committed those sins, you would have been my granddaughter-in-law today."

"It is this humble wife who was unworthy," Shen Yinning replied, her eyes tinged with red. "Fortunately, my sister married His Highness in my stead. My sister is meticulous and thoughtful, and when it comes to serving both Your Majesty and His Highness, she is likely just as capable as I would have been. His Highness has privately summoned me several times and often praises my sister’s virtue."

The Empress Dowager said nothing, though her lips subtly tightened downward.

Shen Yinning observed this and instantly knew the Empress Dowager disliked Shen Yunxi, giving her more confidence in her efforts to gain favor.

Rotating her Buddha beads, the Empress Dowager asked, "I hear from Jiazhe that you are now married to a minor official named Gao Zheng?"

"Yes."

The Empress Dowager paused briefly before continuing, "You were raised in my presence. Though you are now married, you should visit the palace frequently when you’re free. There’s no need to be estranged from His Highness; you may regard him as a brother and interact accordingly. By the way, when the Shen Family was raided, your mother wasn’t included in the indictment. Her dowry has been kept in my palace all these years. I do not know if Gao Zheng is worthy of your lifelong trust, but I fear he may set his sights on your dowry. For now, it will stay here with me, and I will arrange for its return at an appropriate time."

Lowering her gaze, Shen Yinning understood the Empress Dowager was implicitly encouraging her to grow closer to Lu Ying.

She respectfully offered the Buddhist scriptures forward: "In my grief over the late Princess’s passing, I copied several volumes of Buddhist scriptures for Her Highness. I humbly ask the Empress Dowager to review them. If deemed appropriate, I wish to dedicate them in the temple as prayers for Her Highness."

The Empress Dowager opened the scriptures, her expression growing heavy as she saw their contents: "Zhaozhao, this is..."