The Obsessive Crown Prince Can't Let Me Go
Chapter 63 - 62: Do I Have to Persuade You Myself?

Chapter 63: Chapter 62: Do I Have to Persuade You Myself?

Shen Yinning gracefully sat down on the round chair where Lu Ying had previously been seated. "Sister Ruizhu, I’m feeling a bit thirsty. I’d like to have some almond nectar from the Shen Garden’s small kitchen."

Ruizhu sneered disdainfully but had no choice other than ordering someone to fetch the almond nectar for her.

Meanwhile, at the Minister’s Mansion—

Xue Ling was in a good mood today, adding a few extra dishes to the evening meal.

As Xue Mianmian poured wine for him, she cautiously asked, "What has brought you such happiness, my lord?"

"Of course, it’s because Shen Yinning is being punished!" Xue Ling sneered coldly. "Last time at the hunting grounds, she informed on me, causing the Crown Prince to chastise me. This time, it’s finally her turn to be disciplined!"

Xue Mianmian’s heart clenched tightly. "What did Zhaozhao do to deserve this punishment?"

"She attempted to ensure that Shen Yunxi could never bear children! Ruthless, isn’t she?" Xue Ling drank a sip of wine with great interest. "But the Crown Prince is even more ruthless. He handed her directly over to Ruizhu for disciplining. Ruizhu has a personal grudge against her. Falling into Ruizhu’s hands—there won’t be any good outcomes for her!"

Xue Mianmian’s face turned pale like fine paper.

Xue Ling leaned closer to her, their noses nearly touching. His tone was both playful and dangerous. "What’s this? Are you feeling sorry for her?"

Xue Mianmian’s eyes filled with tears as she grasped his arm desperately. "My lord, Zhaozhao has a delicate body and has never endured such suffering! Please, I beg you to say a kind word on her behalf to the Crown Prince. Have her released from the dungeon and spare her from further punishment!"

Xue Ling lowered his gaze to look at her.

The young girl’s eyes would always turn red at the slightest provocation, resembling nothing less than a trembling rabbit.

She never showed him the slightest bit of concern, but now she was distressed over someone else.

He snorted coldly. "And if I refuse?"

Xue Mianmian bit her lip, her face ashen and bloodless.

After a moment of silence, she suddenly dropped to her knees, choking on her sobs. "As long as my lord is willing to save her, this servant... this servant is willing to do anything for you!"

Xue Ling smirked playfully. "Anything? Even *that*?"

Xue Mianmian froze, her face growing even paler.

A flicker of humiliation flashed through her pretty almond-shaped eyes as she gripped her handkerchief tightly. "Of course... of course, I would include that..."

Fifteen minutes later—

Xue Ling studied Xue Mianmian with amusement. "Tasty, isn’t it?"

The young girl’s breaths were short and hurried. Her cheeks were flushed crimson, tears brimmed in her eyes, and her puffed-up cheeks struggled to form words. "Disgusting..."

"What’s so disgusting about it?"

Xue Mianmian found herself unable to speak. She could only let tears stream uncontrollably down her face.

Xue Ling chuckled softly. "What a pitiful sight."

Xue Mianmian whimpered, her voice thick with sobs. "This servant can’t eat anymore..."

"Oh? Is it not delicious?"

"It’s not that it’s not delicious..."

"Then keep eating. Swallow it."

"Sob... sob... this servant can’t swallow anymore..." Xue Mianmian looked up at Xue Ling with pitiable, tear-streaked eyes. "My lord, I really don’t want to eat any more spicy tripe and duck intestines. It’s filthy..."

On the Eight Immortals table, a steaming hot pot filled with spicy red broth bubbled noisily. Plates of tripe, tongue, duck intestines, duck blood, and other offal lined the table—foods that Xue Mianmian had always avoided, deeming them unclean.

She wanted to punch Xue Ling so badly.

This bastard knew full well that she never touched organ meats or spicy hot pot, yet he insisted on dragging her along to eat it with him!

Casually sitting in his bold, commanding posture, Xue Ling leisurely picked up a piece of tripe with his chopsticks. "When we were kids, weren’t you always forcing me to eat sugar cakes, red bean rolls, and candied jujubes? I hated sweets, but you used to shove them right into my mouth. And now, when it’s your turn, all you do is cry? Let me tell you, Xue Mianmian, the debts you owe me are far too many to settle in one lifetime!"

With her tongue sticking out from the spiciness, beads of sweat drenched Xue Mianmian’s pale little face.

Those were times when she’d been an ignorant child of five or six. Who would’ve thought Xue Ling could hold such a grudge!

Surprisingly, the food didn’t taste as bad as she had imagined...

Xue Ling tapped the rim of his bowl with his chopsticks. "Hurry up and eat!"

"Sob sob..."

Xue Mianmian flinched in fear, hurriedly burying her head as she ate another piece of tripe.

Xue Ling watched her closely.

All this time, he had wanted Xue Mianmian to join him for a meal of hot pot with tripe, but the young girl always refused, citing the food as dirty and unclean.

Who would’ve thought she’d go to such lengths for Shen Yinning?

It seemed that keeping Shen Yinning alive was more useful than letting her die. She had become yet another way to manipulate Xue Mianmian.

The next day, back at the Shen Garden—

Shen Yinning was brimming with excitement, cheerfully ordering the prison guards to play a game of pitch-pot with her, when Gui Quan suddenly hurried over to report that the Crown Prince had requested her presence at the Mountain Moon Residence to speak with him.

Gui Quan held a horsetail whisk and wore an ingratiating smile. "From the looks of it, it was little Lord Xue who interceded on Madam Shen’s behalf in front of His Highness. That’s why he’s willing to release you now."

Shen Yinning sneered faintly.

Would Xue Ling really be so kind as to plead for her?

It was likely the result of Mianmian whispering sweet words into his ear.

She thought this through and then sprawled lazily onto the bed frame in the dungeon, idly toying with a handkerchief. With a haughty air, she remarked, "They lock me up when they want, let me go when they please—what does that make me? I’m not one of Lu Ying’s gilded caged birds!"

Gui Quan’s scalp tingled.

There wasn’t another woman alive who dared to address His Highness by name—only Shen Yinning.

Shen Yinning shot him a sidelong glance. "Do me the favor, Gui Gonggong, of relaying this message to the Crown Prince: I, his subject’s wife, know my own shortcomings in virtue and am unfit to meet with him. I plan to remain in the dungeons for the rest of my days, devoting myself to chanting prayers for my sister."

"This..."

Gui Quan hesitated, uneasy, but seeing her unyielding demeanor, he had no choice but to return to Lu Ying and present the report.

In the southwest corner of the Shen Garden stood the Mountain Moon Residence. Lu Ying sat by the window, contemplating an unfinished game of chess before him.

His mind, however, kept returning to the suggestion made by Xue Ling that morning—

Since the Crown Princess Consort could no longer bear children, why not have Shen Yinning take on the task in her stead? After all, the Crown Princess Consort was dull-witted, while Shen Yinning’s offspring would undoubtedly surpass hers in intelligence. When the time came, the child could simply be raised under the Crown Princess Consort’s name—it would make no difference. As for Shen Yinning’s fate after giving birth, she could be arranged to serve in the palace as a wet nurse or kept outside the palace as a forbidden fruit—it was all up to His Highness’s preferences.

As these thoughts swirled, Gui Quan came in to report that Shen Yinning refused to leave.

With a loud "clack," Lu Ying slammed a chess piece onto the board. "If she won’t come out, can’t you think of a way? Or must I personally go and coax her?"