The Obsessive Crown Prince Can't Let Me Go
Chapter 68 - 67: The Crown Princess Consort Has Already Discovered Their Relationship

Chapter 68: Chapter 67: The Crown Princess Consort Has Already Discovered Their Relationship

It was night at Shen Garden.

Shen Yinning was dining with Lu Ying, but halfway through, Haitang rushed in and whispered a few words by her ear.

Shen Yinning gracefully wiped her hands. "Your Highness, allow your humble wife to step out and change her attire."

The mistress and maid arrived at the corner of the corridor, where Rui Zhu was already waiting.

Shen Yinning smiled faintly. "Sister Rui Zhu."

Rui Zhu rolled her eyes. "Who are you calling sister?! I don’t want a cheap woman like you as a sibling! A seductive fox like you, not only surviving His Highness’s hand but even earning the favor of the Empress Dowager! Shen Yinning, what kind of beguiling potion have you fed them?!"

Shen Yinning maintained her smile. "Tonight’s invitation, Rui Zhu, was not for quarreling. Haven’t I told you before in the dungeon that I’d help you win His Highness’s favor? Tonight, I’m here to fulfill that promise."

"Fulfill it for me?"

"I’m willing to turn hostility into harmony with you, Rui Zhu, and serve the Crown Prince together. His Highness has been made half-drunk by me tonight, Rui Zhu, would you dare go inside to attend to him and turn this opportunity into reality?"

Rui Zhu froze. "You... you’re truly this kind-hearted?"

"Not out of kindness, no. I’m a pragmatic person who dislikes making too many enemies. Helping you tonight is really helping myself as well. The path has been paved; it’s up to you, Rui Zhu, whether you dare walk it or not. If you win His Highness’s affection, I hope you’d speak well of me before him in the future."

Rui Zhu hesitated.

The night breeze swept over her high ponytail as she slowly stroked the hilt of her sword, seemingly weighing the feasibility of this plan.

Lu Ying’s dignified and elegant figure flashed in her mind, prompting her to quickly make a decision. "Since you’ve paved the way for me, of course, I’ll accept your good favor. If even a lowly woman like you can gain His Highness’s affection, why can’t I, a clean and decent woman of good standing? Rest assured, if I become a favored concubine in the Eastern Palace someday, I’ll certainly lift you up!"

The lantern light flickered erratically, and Shen Yinning’s smile carried deeper meaning. "You’ve got spirit, Rui Zhu! However, your outfit tonight is far too plain. Let me help you redo your adornment."

Fifteen minutes later, Rui Zhu appeared at the Hanging Flower Hall.

She bashfully glanced at Lu Ying and walked over delicately. "Your Highness..."

Lu Ying was drinking. "Where is Shen Yinning?"

"Madam Shen couldn’t hold her liquor and went to the neighboring chamber to rest. She specifically instructed me to take good care of Your Highness."

The excessively contrived tone made Lu Ying feel extremely uneasy.

He looked up, noticing Rui Zhu’s heavy makeup, the low neckline of her gauzy skirt, and the large crimson peony pinned to her hair.

Utterly vulgar—it was nothing like an Eastern Palace Guard.

He frowned. "Who told you to dress like this?"

Rui Zhu’s heart raced wildly.

For the years she had served beside His Highness, he had never commented on her attire.

To think that just one grooming from Shen Yinning could make him notice her.

Did His Highness finally realize she was a woman?

Imitating Shen Yinning’s usual coquettish mannerisms, she coyly and tenderly asked, "Your Highness, do you like it?"

Lu Ying glanced at the garish blush on her cheeks. "Excessively gaudy. You’re a guard; such attire does not suit you."

Rui Zhu: ...!

Was her makeup truly so garish?

She had even thought Shen Yinning hadn’t made it striking enough and specifically requested more layers of blush and rouge.

Grasping her handkerchief nervously, her face flushed red. "Your Highness, I merely wanted to make myself look better and lift your spirits... It’s all Madam Shen’s fault; she deliberately made me look this dreadful..."

Lu Ying’s mood for drinking instantly vanished. "Leave."

"Your Highness," Rui Zhu refused to let this opportunity slip, "Madam Shen won’t be returning anytime soon. Why don’t I serve you instead? You are the Crown Prince; it wouldn’t be proper to have no one attending to you!"

As soon as she finished speaking, the tightly shut decorative doors were abruptly pushed open.

Shen Yunxi stormed through the threshold with a troop of palace maids in tow. "Ha! You shameless maidservant! Dare to seduce the Crown Prince behind my back? This time, I’ve got you right where I want you! Guards, seize her!"

Rui Zhu was so frightened her knees buckled under her.

As Shen Yunxi’s slap landed on her face, she finally realized the truth.

So much for turning hostility into harmony; tonight’s banquet was clearly a trap set by Shen Yinning herself—a banquet of treachery!

She had never intended to introduce her to the Crown Prince. Instead, she had plotted to use the Crown Princess Consort to exact revenge!

Shen Yinning’s schemes ran deeper than she’d imagined!

Struggling and sobbing, Rui Zhu pleaded, "Your Highness, spare me! Tonight, it wasn’t my intention to seduce His Highness, it was—"

She was just about to reveal Shen Yinning’s involvement when she suddenly felt a cold, chilling gaze fall upon her.

Instinctively, she looked up and saw Lu Ying’s icy, detached stare—his narrowed eyes radiating unmistakable threat.

It was as if her mentioning Shen Yinning’s name would cost her life immediately.

Between the Crown Prince and the Crown Princess Consort, Shen Yunxi could clearly discern who held the higher weight.

With a shiver, Rui Zhu chose silence and bowed her head.

"Shameless maidservant!" Furious, Shen Yunxi struck her with two more slaps. "Dressed so lewdly at this hour to seduce His Highness, what—have you never seen a man before?! I wondered who’d been pestering His Highness; turns out it’s you, this brazen creature!"

Her long nails intentionally scraped Rui Zhu’s cheeks, leaving several visible blood marks.

As an Eastern Palace Guard, Rui Zhu had always been proud and disdainful of the harem’s women vying for favor.

She had never endured such humiliation!

Upon hearing these words, she began sobbing uncontrollably.

Lu Ying pinched the bridge of his nose.

He easily deduced that tonight’s farce was another of Shen Yinning’s handiworks.

Qing Liu had just passed away, and Rui Zhu, being her sole sister, was someone he had granted a certain degree of leniency toward.

He clarified, "Crown Princess Consort, mind your words. She only came to serve dishes and pour wine, not to seduce me."

"Your Highness!" Shen Yunxi stomped her embroidered shoes in frustration. "How could you defend this shameless fox?! Have you forgotten how she provoked your consort in the past? I wouldn’t begrudge it if you truly favor her; I’d willingly arrange for her to join the Eastern Palace as your concubine. But from now on, no more of this sneaking around in secrecy!"

As she spoke, a malicious gleam flashed across her eyes.

The Eastern Palace was her domain.

Letting Rui Zhu stay as a concubine would make it much easier for her to deal with her later on.

Lu Ying saw through her intentions immediately and was about to refuse, but Rui Zhu suddenly knelt.

She pleaded, "Your Highness, since Her Highness has already discovered the relationship between us, why hide it anymore? I’m willing to be your concubine, and I vow to serve both Your Highness and the Crown Princess Consort for life!"

Her heart was pounding like a drum.

Since things had escalated to this point, she might as well seize the moment to elevate herself. By admitting she was the one having an affair with the Crown Prince, she could secure her position in the Eastern Palace.

Once she became a concubine, she would be the Crown Prince’s legitimate woman and would have plenty of opportunities to gain his favor in the future.

She gambled that the Crown Prince, to protect Shen Yinning’s secrecy, would not expose her lie tonight.

Lu Ying lowered his gaze, silently staring at Rui Zhu’s tear-streaked face.

The tranquil, unfathomable look in his eyes made Rui Zhu feel inexplicably uneasy.

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