The Obsessive Crown Prince Can't Let Me Go
Chapter 70 - 69: When Has the Consort Ever Been Unruly?

Chapter 70: Chapter 69: When Has the Consort Ever Been Unruly?

Shen Yinning: "Thrown away?"

"Hmph," Yin Shanshan snapped impatiently, "Sister, do you take us all for fools?! That was Old Master Yu, a renowned Great Scholar of his generation. I asked around—many officials in the court were once his disciples, and his influence is unparalleled! A grand figure like him—could a mere woman from the rural Gan State like you possibly associate with him? I know you’re jealous that my elder brother is a favored man beside the Crown Prince, and that I am always able to accomplish great things for my husband. But just to win his affection, you pretend to know Old Master Yu? Isn’t that going too far?"

Gao Zheng nodded in agreement, his expression serious.

At first, when he received the recommendation letter, he was overjoyed, thinking that Gao Hong and Gao Hui would have a bright future ahead of them.

But it was Yin Shanshan’s words that reminded him.

How could Shen Yinning possibly know Old Master Yu?

Even if she was once the treasured "Bright Pearl" of the Shen Guogong Mansion, she was still just a woman. So many noble sons of eminent families had failed to gain Old Master Yu’s recognition—how could she, a mere woman, have been accepted as his disciple?

Later, upon reflecting carefully, he began to suspect that Shen Yinning had fabricated this connection to curry favor with him and his two sons.

After all, she couldn’t remain the Crown Prince’s "Forbidden Fruit" forever. Eventually, she would have to return to the Gao family, so currying favor in advance was only to be expected.

He spoke earnestly: "Madam Shen, you say you’re Old Master Yu’s disciple, but I privately investigated and found out that Old Master Yu has never taken a female disciple. Even if you wanted to compete with Shanshan, you shouldn’t resort to lies and deceit!"

Shen Yinning chuckled in anger.

She wasn’t lying—she truly was Old Master Yu’s most cherished young disciple.

However, she had been rebellious as a child, often causing trouble. The old master had been so exasperated that he forbade her from mentioning their relationship to others. Therefore, the number of people in the Capital who actually knew about her connection with Old Master Yu could be counted on one hand.

She had no patience to argue with Gao Zheng and Yin Shanshan.

After all, the ones who would suffer weren’t her, but their twin sons.

Madam Gao rolled her eyes at Shen Yinning’s silence: "What, nothing to say now?! Good thing Zheng didn’t use your recommendation letter to meet Old Master Yu. Otherwise, if he refused to acknowledge it and left Zheng outside the door, it would’ve disgraced the entire Gao family!"

Gao Hong and Gao Hui stuck out their tongues at Shen Yinning:

"Nyeh! Shameless! Liar!"

"Dad doesn’t love you! Dad only loves Mom, so you’re just jealous of our mom!"

Shen Yinning’s expression turned cold.

Children as young as three wouldn’t naturally say such things—it was clear Yin Shanshan had coached them.

Moreover, even in ordinary families, everyone understood the distinctions between legitimate and illegitimate children. Although her marriage to Gao Zheng was a sham, she formally held the position of the main wife. According to propriety, the two boys should address Yin Shanshan as "Aunt," yet they brazenly called her "Mom."

Madam Gao and Gao Zheng, on the other hand, acted as if this were perfectly normal.

This family constantly prided themselves on decorum, yet their actions flagrantly disregarded every proper rule!

Shen Yinning mocked, "It seems, after all, the fault lies with me. Since my dear sister is so capable, and you’ve reviewed so many learned gentlemen today, surely you already have a suitable mentor in mind. In that case, I’ll refrain from meddling in your affairs."

With that, she took Haitang and left.

As she stepped over the threshold, Yin Shanshan and Gao Zheng’s voices chased after her:

"Husband, Sister is really going to such lengths, lying just to compete for your attention! These past years, you haven’t visited her room—it’s all because you love me so deeply and promised me a lifetime of loyalty. She may hold the title of main wife, but the one who isn’t loved is the true intruder. Does she even understand the depth of our love?"

"It’s only because I’ve been too gentle with her that she dared to vie for favor. But Shanshan, rest assured—you’re the only one in my heart and eyes!"

"..."

Rounding the corridor, Haitang fumed, "Lord Gao and Aunt Yin have gone too far! Madam was only trying to help them, yet they doubted and blamed her instead! Such ungrateful fools—Madam’s recommendation letter is something countless noble heirs in the Capital could only dream of obtaining!"

Just as she finished speaking, they spotted a middle-aged woman clutching a sickly child, weeping in secret near a rock garden. The child, about three or four years old, had an unnaturally flushed face, clearly unwell.

Haitang softly pointed out: "Madam, that’s Wang Mama from the kitchen."

Shen Yinning said, "Go ask her why she’s crying."

After a moment, Haitang returned to report, "Her son is gravely ill, and she has no money for treatment. She approached Aunt Yin to borrow a year’s worth of wages in advance, but Aunt Yin not only refused but also cursed her son as a ’doomed brat,’ saying he should die outside and not bring bad luck to the Gao family’s feng shui. Desperate, she came here to grieve alone."

Haitang hesitated, glancing at the child again: "This boy—I’ve seen him a few times. He’s such a sweet and obedient little thing. He even picked wildflowers to give to Madam a few times. But because he’s of low birth, he’s often bullied by young masters Gao Hong and Gao Hui."

"Low birth? So what? In ancient times, how many kings and generals came from humble origins? Anyone with the determination to rise can achieve greatness," Shen Yinning’s eyes glinted. "Take a pouch of silver coins to Wang Mama and tell her it’s a gift from me. Also, ask her if her son, after recovering, would like to study."

Haitang immediately understood her intention.

Lord Gao and Aunt Yin looked down on her and dismissed her recommendation letter as fake.

But Madam wasn’t one to accept defeat.

She was going to support the servant’s child and make a point of embarrassing them!

Haitang smiled knowingly: "I’ll handle it right away!"

That night, autumn rain fell steadily.

Shen Yinning was seated by the light, practicing calligraphy, when Lu Ying unexpectedly arrived.

She rose gracefully and gently took his drenched outer robe: "Night rains make the roads messy and treacherous, Your Highness. Why did you personally come here? If you missed me, you could have sent someone to bring me to Shen Garden. Why go through all this trouble?"

Lu Ying took a seat, pulled her into his arms, and glanced at the words on her page: "You’ve become rather docile lately."

"Oh, Your Highness, when have I ever not been docile?"

Lu Ying paused for a moment before saying, "Rui Zhu is dead."

Rui Zhu had entered the Eastern Palace just a day ago.

And now, she was dead.

They said she crossed Shen Yunxi, and Shen Yunxi had her beaten to death with rods.

Shen Yinning leaned limply into his arms, like a boneless willow: "My younger sister loves Your Highness too deeply. She can’t bear the thought of anyone else by your side."

She wanted to damage Shen Yunxi’s reputation.

But Lu Ying adored Shen Yunxi, and anything she said would only backfire, making him despise her.

Better to play along, then wait for her moment to sow discord.

She twined her arms around his neck, kissed his thin lips, and said coyly: "I, too, have great affection for Your Highness. But what matters most to me is your happiness. So, no matter how many beautiful women surround you, I will never mind, nor will I compete with them."

If she couldn’t sabotage his relationship with Shen Yunxi for now, she might as well score points for herself.

If this despicable man saw how magnanimous she was, he’d surely find her thoughtful and considerate.

Yet in the next moment, the warmth of Lu Ying’s embrace turned to a chill.

In the world of love, how could anyone not mind such things?

Shen Yinning’s words made it painfully clear that she didn’t take him to heart.