The Obsessive Crown Prince Can't Let Me Go
Chapter 92 - 91: Love, Hate, Anger, Foolishness, Greed, Wickedness, Desire, She’s Got Them All

Chapter 92: Chapter 91: Love, Hate, Anger, Foolishness, Greed, Wickedness, Desire, She’s Got Them All

Xue Ling pinched her throat, mimicking Madam Zhang’s voice: "So, how is it? Any flaws?"

Shen Yinning exclaimed in fascination: "Master Xue has portrayed it to perfection; even I couldn’t spot a single flaw."

Xue Mianmian, too, looked utterly overwhelmed.

Xue Ling glanced at Xue Mianmian, satisfied with her expression of shocked admiration, let out a soft snort, and went off to find Bai Shuangshuang.

Bai Shuangshuang was admiring the snow in a pavilion.

Shen Yinning and Xue Mianmian hid at the corner of the corridor, watching Xue Ling step into the pavilion: "Select Beauty Bai."

"Oh my, what a rare guest!" Bai Shuangshuang stood up in astonishment. "What wind brings Madam Zhang here? Please, have a seat! Ling’er, quickly serve tea to Madam!"

"I’ve come to seek you out under orders of the Crown Princess Consort." Xue Ling, with an airy gesture, leisurely picked up the hot tea. "You’ve been in Shen Garden for several days now; Her Highness wants to know if you’ve identified the vixen who has seduced the Crown Prince."

Bai Shuangshuang’s eyes shifted. "This... That vixen hides herself exceedingly well; I have yet to see her true face for now. But please tell Madam to inform Her Highness that I will uncover the vixen’s identity as soon as possible and find a way to bear an heir!"

"Hmph!" Xue Ling slammed the tea cup heavily. "Bai Shuangshuang, don’t you forget what you did to the Shen Family back in the day! If you continue to dawdle and fail Her Highness, don’t blame me for turning ruthless and exposing what you did!"

Bai Shuangshuang spoke with a complex tone: "Madam, didn’t we agree never to bring up that matter again in this lifetime? Why are you—"

"There are no outsiders here. What harm is there in mentioning it?"

Bai Shuangshuang bit her lip. "Madam, back then, you were clearly the mastermind. It was you who forced me to go to the Imperial Prison to tell Madam that the eldest young mistress was repeatedly violated by the prison guards, driven to unbearable humiliation, and ultimately slit her throat with a golden hairpin. Madam couldn’t endure the shock, which led to her hanging herself. Though the Shen Guogong Mansion was confiscated, Madam’s natal family is still around, and even the Empress Dowager held great affection for her. If this matter is leaked, it won’t just doom me; even you will face consequences. Since we agreed to let this matter rot in our stomachs, no matter the time or place, you shouldn’t use it to coerce or threaten me!"

At the corner of the corridor.

Shen Yinning’s fingernails dug deeply into her palm, nearly drawing blood.

She had only known that her mother was killed by Madam Zhang, but she hadn’t realized Madam Zhang arranged for Bai Shuangshuang to provide false testimony to make her mother believe her death was real!

Indeed, Bai Shuangshuang had served as her personal maid for ten years; if Bai Shuangshuang spoke, how could her mother not believe her?

Bai Shuangshuang, sold into the mansion as a servant when she was young, had shown promise and was stationed by her mother’s side. Shen Yinning prided herself that she had never wronged her in any way since childhood. Even when studying, she had insisted Bai Shuangshuang join her. Bai Shuangshuang had been unwilling to learn, and Shen Yinning had patiently persuaded her. Though Bai Shuangshuang never mastered poetry, she could eventually write and do calculations, surpassing even the efficiency of the mansion’s steward.

Her mother had treated Bai Shuangshuang as half a daughter, giving her privileges far above other maids. For anyone passing her on the streets, Bai Shuangshuang might as well have been mistaken for a young lady raised in a noble household.

How could Bai Shuangshuang have the heart to betray her mother? How could she have the heart to watch as her mother hanged herself before her very eyes?

"Bai Shuangshuang..."

Shen Yinning glared fiercely at the lavishly dressed and exquisitely made-up woman in the pavilion, wishing nothing more than to tear her mouth apart.

The two returned to the chamber. Xue Mianmian asked with concern: "Zhaozhao, what do you plan to do next?"

Shen Yinning’s face turned cold and grim: "Right now, I am weak and alone; going up against Second Uncle’s family is like shaking a tree as an ant. But dealing with Bai Shuangshuang alone is no challenge."

Xue Mianmian nodded earnestly. "If you need my help with anything, just let me know. Don’t hold back."

Shen Yinning knew she was genuinely concerned for her.

Her heart softened slightly. "You still need to help Miss Xue discern Shen Xinglei’s true nature—that’s also an urgent task. As for Bai Shuangshuang, I’ll handle her on my own."

After seeing off Xue Mianmian and Xue Ling, Shen Yinning started plotting her revenge.

Three consecutive days of light snow fell.

Lu Ying, busy with court affairs, hadn’t come to Shen Garden. Shen Yinning walked barefoot at night across the cold floor, her seaweed-like black hair draped down. She stared at the candle flame, unable to sleep, even when Wei Yu came in multiple times to urge her to retire for the night.

Wei Yu worried aloud: "The night is deep; staying up like this will harm your health."

Shen Yinning picked up scissors, leisurely trimming a section of the candle wick. "When I think about how Bai Shuangshuang murdered my mother, sleep eludes me. When I think about Uncle’s family enjoying wealth and power, it’s impossible to eat or rest in peace."

The candlelight cast haunting shadows across her beautiful face. Her phoenix-shaped eyes revealed a maddening blend of divinity and malevolence—stunning yet terrifying.

Wei Yu lamented with affection: "Lady, a delicate woman like you should be pampered in someone’s palm. Fighting and scheming—it’s not meant for someone like you."

Shen Yinning sneered lightly.

When her father, brother, and mother were alive, they had shielded her well, thinking she was an innocent child.

But she understood everything.

Love. Hate. Fury. Greed. Evil. Desire. She possessed them all.

Even plotting the lives of others—so what?

She only cared about avenging her family. What mattered if the world drowned in floods thereafter?

The next day.

Haitang anxiously arrived: "Lady, Yin Yang had Cuicui deliver news—he wants to borrow twenty thousand taels of patterned silver from you."

"Is he gambling and losing money again?"

"Not this time. The maid overheard Yin Madam asking him for the money. Yin Madam’s Western-style restaurant hasn’t been faring well; it made a profit on opening day but suffered heavy losses after that. Funds are tight, and she desperately needs an infusion to keep it running. According to Yin Madam, if she can survive these ten days, hosting Duke Shen’s birthday banquet will boost the restaurant’s reputation, reversing its fortune for a big profit."

Shen Yinning scoffed lightly.

Yin Shanshan’s so-called Western-style restaurant was unimpressive in taste, to say the least, and outrageously priced, inaccessible to ordinary patrons—it was a wonder it hadn’t closed down.

Only Shen Yunxi, that vain fool, found it worth frequenting.

Hosting Shen Yan’s fortieth birthday banquet at that restaurant seemed a laughable choice. She doubted Shen Yunxi’s intelligence entirely, picturing the esteemed and rule-abiding court aristocrats eating half-cooked steak alongside mingling men and women—it was utterly absurd.

She said, "Tell Yin Yang the money can be lent, but interest must be paid."

Haitang hesitated. "Aren’t you afraid Yin Madam might botch Duke Shen’s birthday banquet and default on repayment?"

"No matter."

Shen Yinning dismissed her concern.

After all, it was Lu Ying’s money.

And if things got botched, even better.

Haitang acknowledged and rushed to organize it.

Yin Yang reciprocated by sending Cuicui in the afternoon, informing Shen Yinning that Lu Ying intended to visit Shen Garden today.

Shen Yinning dressed up gracefully in advance and went to meet him, all charming and radiant: "This humble wife greets Your Highness."

Bai Shuangshuang, delayed by last-minute primping, arrived hurriedly only to witness Lu Ying personally help Shen Yinning up. Though she was married, Shen Yinning’s hibiscus-like beauty, set against the snowy scenery of the garden, was still dazzling, transcending perfection. Her every smile seemed out of this world.

Bai Shuangshuang touched her hastily arranged hair. Although proud of her looks, she felt self-conscious facing Shen Yinning’s flawless, peerless beauty.

"Sister Bai?" Shen Yinning seemed to notice her just then, her expression innocent and naïve. "I prepared warm wine to invite His Highness for a round of drinking games. Would you like to join us? Oh, I nearly forgot—Sister Bai used to loathe studying, lacking much knowledge. How could you possibly manage a drinking game? During the times Sister Bai accompanied me to study, you were always preoccupied swooning over my elder brother—"

She quickly raised her hand, covering her mouth elegantly. "Ah, this humble wife has misspoken."

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