The Obsessive Crown Prince Can't Let Me Go
Chapter 88 - 87: Revealing Her Fake Marriage with Gao Zheng

Chapter 88: Chapter 87: Revealing Her Fake Marriage with Gao Zheng

Xue Mianmian lowered her voice: "My young master is skilled in mimicry. If he disguises himself as Nanny Zhang and imitates her voice, wouldn’t that deceive Bai Shuangshuang into trusting him? Then, we can think of a way to pry some information out of her. Surely uncovering the truth from back then wouldn’t be too difficult."

Shen Yinning asked curiously: "Xue Ling can mimic voices?"

"His name only consists of the single character ’Ling,’ which was chosen by his foster father during his childhood. Before his foster father started working at the Minister’s Mansion, he made his living as an itinerant performer, proficient in a variety of skills, including mimicry, which he taught Xue Ling."

Shen Yinning grew even more curious: "How do you know this?"

Xue Mianmian clenched her small handkerchief.

When she was younger, she was spoiled and mischievous. Whenever she cried, no one could pacify her. Her mother, left with no choice, had Xue Ling perform tricks in the backyard to cheer her up.

At that time, Xue Ling was silent and reserved, but his mimicry skills were exceptional. He could imitate anyone’s voice and even mimic animal sounds with uncanny accuracy.

Knowing she enjoyed watching his performances, her mother would often have Xue Ling entertain her in the backyard.

But now that Xue Ling’s status was elevated, there was no chance he’d use mimicry to humor her anymore.

Seeing her look troubled, Shen Yinning didn’t press further and merely said, "Xue Ling loathes me, much like I loathe him. Getting him to help me might prove difficult..."

But not entirely impossible.

Shen Yinning’s gaze settled on Xue Mianmian, as though she were a plump little lamb waiting to be slaughtered.

Xue Mianmian shivered: "Zhaozhao, what kind of expression is that? It’s terrifying."

Shen Yinning gave a slight smile: "I’ll go find Xue Ling."

"Wait!" Xue Mianmian stopped her, "At this hour, I fear he and the Crown Prince have already left Shen Garden. I heard a restaurant recently opened on Eighteen Silk Street called ’Cupid’s Arrival Western Restaurant.’ The name sounds rather intriguing. The Crown Princess Consort reserved a table there and invited many people to a banquet. He and the Crown Prince likely went too."

Western restaurant?

Shen Yinning had heard this term mentioned by Yin Shanshan.

She hadn’t expected Yin Shanshan to actually open up the restaurant.

She asked again: "Today isn’t a special occasion. Why would Shen Yunxi decide to host a banquet at the restaurant?"

"You don’t know? Shen Xinglei returned from the border."

Shen Yinning froze abruptly.

Shen Xinglei was Shen Yunxi’s legitimate elder brother, making him her second cousin.

Since childhood, Shen Xinglei had trained in martial arts with their father. It could be said that all his skills originated from his father’s teachings. Even his early experiences on the battlefield were under the guidance of their father and elder brother. For Shen Xinglei’s sake, his elder brother willingly shouldered military blunders and even surrendered his own military achievements to him.

Yet this same person had been ungrateful enough to collude with Shen Yan in framing her father and elder brother, falsely accusing them of embezzling rations, abusing soldiers, and conspiring with the enemy!

Xue Mianmian added: "I heard from my young master that your aunt arranged for Shen Xinglei to meet my second sister, and both families are pleased. Shen Yunxi organized today’s restaurant banquet intending to create opportunities for Shen Xinglei and my second sister to spend time together, nurture their feelings, and hasten their marriage."

Shen Yinning had already planned to seek out Xue Ling, but hearing of Shen Xinglei and Xue Qingqing’s match made her even more keen.

She said: "In that case, I must go."

’Cupid’s Arrival Western Restaurant’ stood along the riverside stretch of Eighteen Silk Street in the Capital.

Yin Shanshan had spared no expense in its renovation. The storefront was exquisite and chic, its walls pieced together from countless transparent glass panels, which glittered under the glow of candlelight. Inside, winding paths led through a vast array of flowers and plants, and small palm-sized lanterns adorned lush green pines, creating a dazzling spectacle of lights. According to the waiters, these decorated trees were known as Christmas trees, specifically used for winter decor.

"I heard they don’t call the serving staff here waiters but ’attendants.’" Xue Mianmian spoke through her veil, "Look at their clothes—aren’t they peculiar? They call these shirts, suits, and dress pants."

Shen Yinning peered over. The attendants weaving back and forth, balancing trays, were uniformly dressed in black-and-white outfits, leather shoes, and strange knotted accessories at their collars.

The paintings on the walls were just as bizarre—giant, distorted images painted in bold and bright colors. Even though Shen Yinning excelled in calligraphy and painting, she couldn’t decipher what the artwork depicted.

A waiter beamed as he introduced: "These paintings are personally created by our owner. They reportedly reflect a postmodern abstract style. She says that ordinary people lacking an artistic sensibility can’t possibly interpret their meaning; only true artistic geniuses can understand her expression."

Xue Mianmian sighed: "Zhaozhao, I don’t understand a word of that. This owner must truly be an eccentric."

Shen Yinning was equally curious.

These terms could only come from Yin Shanshan, though it was unclear where she learned them.

The two reserved a riverside table and had just sat down when Yin Shanshan suddenly appeared, with Gao Zheng following closely behind.

Yin Shanshan smirked proudly: "Sister, are you here to steal techniques?"

Shen Yinning: "...?"

Yin Shanshan brandished a guest register triumphantly: "You probably don’t know this, but while I’m the owner of this restaurant, I personally oversee everything. Every guest list passes through my review. The moment it opened today, you rushed to reserve a seat here—if not to steal my techniques, then what? You must be worried that my clever ideas may completely win over your husband’s affections, so you’ve decided to learn from me. I’ve hit the nail on the head, haven’t I?"

Shen Yinning: "..."

She truly couldn’t comprehend Yin Shanshan’s thoughts every day.

Yin Shanshan curled her lips into a smug smile: "Unfortunately, I know far too much. You can steal my techniques, but you cannot steal my talent or life experiences. Someone as conservative and traditional as you will never rise to my level within this lifetime."

Shen Yinning found herself speechless.

She had wanted to treat Xue Mianmian to a rare outing, but now she had run straight into this insufferable fool Yin Shanshan. How humiliating.

She responded: "Oh."

"What kind of attitude is that?" Yin Shanshan pouted in dissatisfaction, tugging at Gao Zheng’s sleeve: "Zheng-lang, look at her—"

Gao Zheng kept a stern face, but inwardly he was giddy.

Shen Yinning disliking Yin Shanshan so openly—didn’t that prove she had feelings for him?

After all, he was still her husband. Even though she served the Crown Prince now, she’d eventually return to the Gao Family once the Crown Prince lost interest in her. How could she possibly not care for her legitimate husband deep down?

Although Gao Zheng enjoyed seeing Shen Yinning express jealousy on his behalf, he didn’t want her relationship with Yin Shanshan to remain strained.

After all, only a stable household could allow him to fully focus on his political career.

He reprimanded her bluntly: "Lady Shen, Shanshan has strained herself tirelessly for the sake of our family. How can you not show her even the slightest courtesy? I know you’re envious of Shanshan for being quirky and talented, able to come up with lucrative ideas, but as the principal wife, you ought to have the magnanimity to accommodate others!"

Shen Yinning was utterly baffled.

How had she failed to tolerate Yin Shanshan?

She didn’t even want the authority to manage the household, hardly mingled with the Gao Family, and while Yin Shanshan might be a concubine, her position was more akin to that of the head mistress. Yet this still counted as her being intolerant of Yin Shanshan?

She felt a growing aversion to both Yin Shanshan and Gao Zheng, and now that both were present, she decided to reveal the truth behind her sham marriage to Gao Zheng.