The Obsessive Crown Prince Can't Let Me Go
Chapter 77 - 76 What have you done to Zhaozhao?

Chapter 77: Chapter 76 What have you done to Zhaozhao?

Nanny Zhang held her hand reassuringly, "Your Highness, don’t worry. With so many guests here today, it might not even involve His Highness."

Yin Shanshan, standing closest to them, overheard their conversation and couldn’t resist chiming in with flattery, "Your Highness, rest assured! This time, it absolutely isn’t the Crown Prince! If my eyes didn’t deceive me, the one caught in an affair seems to be Old Master Yu!"

Shen Yunxi gasped in shock and covered her mouth, "No way?! He’s supposed to be a model among scholars!"

"Why would I lie to you?"

"True," Shen Yunxi clutched her handkerchief, practically glowing with gossip, "I’ve long said that these scholars are hypocrites—preaching one thing and doing another. All of them act so virtuous, but who knows what they do behind closed doors? That Madam Shen, who became famous for her calligraphy, is like this, and now Old Master Yu, too! Even the Crown Prince and the court officials are fooled by their façade, unable to see their true colors!"

They hadn’t bothered to lower their voices.

Consequently, most of the women around them heard every word of their conversation.

And so, the rumor of Old Master Yu having an affair during the birthday banquet spread like wildfire, quickly morphing into countless versions among the guests.

"Did you hear? Old Master Yu is hiding a mistress in a secret chamber. He’s in his sixties, and he’s still pulling moves like ’an old tree leaning on a young flower’!"

"Nonsense! That’s not what I heard. My source says Old Master Yu is having an affair with that Madam Shen, the female calligrapher praised by the Empress Dowager. They even have a three-year-old child together!"

"Ha! Who would’ve thought the revered teacher would be such a romantic! At his age, he’s still a force to be reckoned with in love!"

"..."

When the rumors finally reached Yu Qingheng, he was meditating in his study with Bai Heming.

Upon hearing the gossip, he was so furious that his veins bulged with rage, "I had no idea I’ve been turned into a daytime adulterer! The Crown Princess Consort and the Gao Family’s madam are truly masters of slander! If I don’t confront them directly today, my reputation will be irreparably destroyed!"

Without hesitation, he stormed toward the library.

At this moment, Yin Shanshan, along with Shen Yunxi and others, had already reached the door to the library.

Yin Shanshan took the lead, kicking the door open: "You adulterous couple, come out now!"

The crowd craned their necks with curiosity.

Inside, the room was eerily silent, with only rows of bookshelves and cabinets—no sign of any illicit affair.

Shen Yunxi frowned, "Yin Shanshan, didn’t you say someone was caught in an affair here? Where are they?"

"This..." Yin Shanshan was equally baffled, "I wasn’t lying! I really did see someone having an affair in here! Perhaps... perhaps Old Master Yu’s age made him quicker, that’s all! Yes, yes, that must be it; he was simply quicker than expected!"

The guests’ expressions shifted dramatically.

This Gao Family madam—spreading baseless rumors about Old Master Yu having an affair was bad enough, but to publicly insinuate that he was quick? What man could tolerate that insult?!

Lu Ying, standing at the edge of the crowd with his hands behind his back, darkened visibly upon hearing this.

Was Yin Shanshan implying *he* was quick?

Quick where?!

He couldn’t fathom where Gao Zheng had found such a wife. What kind of woman would openly discuss a man’s speed in front of so many guests? Utterly absurd!

Gao Zheng was already sweating profusely.

Initially, he had hoped to use Yin Shanshan to expose the relationship between Shen Yinning and the Crown Prince. But instead, not only had his plan failed, but they had also become the laughingstock of the event!

He urgently tugged at Yin Shanshan, "Stop spouting nonsense! Come back with me now! Or do you want us to lose even more face?!"

"Husband!" Yin Shanshan shook him off, "I’m not lying! I swear, I heard the sounds of passion coming from this room just now! Just you wait—I’ll find evidence to prove I wasn’t making this up!"

She scanned the library with determination and began rummaging through the book cabinets that could potentially conceal someone.

Lu Ying narrowed his sharp eyes.

As Yin Shanshan’s hand reached the cabinet where Shen Yinning was hidden, his voice turned ice-cold: "Have you caused enough trouble?"

"Has His Highness the Crown Prince arrived?"

The guests hurriedly bowed in greeting.

Upon seeing Lu Ying dressed impeccably, with no signs of impropriety, the cloud of suspicion hanging over Shen Yunxi’s heart finally dissipated.

She affectionately took his arm, "Where did you go, Your Highness? I didn’t see you at the banquet just now."

Lu Ying’s gaze locked onto Yin Shanshan, "You fabricated rumors about the teacher’s affair, tarnishing his reputation. Yin Shanshan, if today weren’t the teacher’s birthday banquet, I’d have you flogged to death on the spot."

He was the Crown Prince.

A figure of unmatched authority, commanding such a formidable presence that the room fell deathly silent. None of the guests dared to meet his gaze directly.

Yin Shanshan’s scalp tingled with fear, and she collapsed to her knees, trembling, "Your Highness, I-I didn’t intend to slander Old Master Yu—"

"Didn’t intend?!"

A hoarse, aged voice interjected sharply.

All eyes turned. Old Master Yu, leaning on his cane and supported by Bai Heming, approached with shaking fury: "In my decades of teaching, I’ve lived honorably under the heavens and without shame before the earth, nurturing countless talents for our Great Zhou. Yet, on my own birthday, I’m to be humiliated with such slander from you and the Crown Princess Consort?!"

Shen Yunxi’s body trembled in fright, and she fell to her knees in panic, clutching Lu Ying’s robe, "Your Highness, I had no part in the rumors! The claims about Old Master Yu’s affair all came from that wretched Yin Shanshan—it has nothing to do with me!"

Old Master Yu let out a cold laugh, "Is that so? Then I must have wronged you, Your Highness! You’re the Crown Princess Consort, cherished by the Crown Prince himself. How could I dare to oppose you? But alas, we clearly do not walk the same path. Please, I beg you and that madam to leave my residence at once. My humble abode is too small to accommodate such esteemed figures as yourselves!"

Lu Ying slowly rotated the Moyu Ring on his finger.

At this point, the matter was beyond reconciliation.

Letting it slide now would surely discourage scholars across the realm.

He cast a frosty glance at Shen Yunxi, "Loose words deserve punishment. Return to the Eastern Palace and copy ten volumes of Buddhist Scriptures."

Shen Yunxi’s voice broke as she pleaded, "Your Highness!"

Gao Zheng, feeling restless, hastily pulled Yin Shanshan to her feet. If even the Crown Princess Consort was being punished, how could he not discipline Yin Shanshan as well?

He bowed to Old Master Yu in apology, "This was my failure to discipline her that led to Shanshan’s foolish words. Rest assured, once we return home, I’ll make her kneel in the ancestral hall as punishment. I beg your understanding, Old Master Yu, and hope you don’t hold a grudge against us for this..."

Old Master Yu merely snorted coldly and ignored him.

Having witnessed this farcical commotion, the guests gossiped animatedly about the embarrassment of Shen Yunxi and Yin Shanshan as they dispersed in high spirits.

Old Master Yu glared at Lu Ying, "Jingwei, you stay behind."

Lu Ying’s expression remained unmoved, "Does Teacher have instructions for me?"

Old Master Yu’s tone grew piercing, "What have you done to Zhaozhao?"

"You’ve found out?"

Old Master Yu shot him a seething glare, "I’d already sensed something was amiss in the study earlier. When Yin Shanshan mentioned an affair in the library, it confirmed my suspicions. Jingwei, you once studied archery under Shen Zhi for two years in your youth—he was your mentor. Yet, years ago, you stood idly by while Shen Zhi and his son perished. And now, you dare to torment their only treasure, their Bright Pearl? What grudge do you hold against the Shen family?!"