The Obsessive Crown Prince Can't Let Me Go
Chapter 98 - 97: Brother Lu Ying, I didn’t have any

Chapter 98: Chapter 97: Brother Lu Ying, I didn’t have any

"They’re heading to the restaurant, let’s follow and take a look."

Shen Yinning said as she instructed the coachman to follow.

Upon arriving at the restaurant, Shen Yinning reserved a private room adjacent to the one where the Xue Chief of Staff and his party were seated.

Xue Mianmian, anxious beyond reason, couldn’t resist pressing her ear against the wall to eavesdrop.

In the neighboring room, Xue Qingqing stared at the cup of wine in front of her.

This wine had been poured for her by Shen Xinglei. She had seen with her own eyes as he secretly flicked some powder from his fingernail into the wine—a substance she suspected was meant to cause her infertility.

She spoke urgently, "Father, Mother, Second Master Shen is trying to poison your daughter!"

The Xue Chief of Staff furrowed his brows tightly. "What nonsense are you spouting? Xinglei is your betrothed—why on earth would he poison you?!"

"I saw it with my own eyes!" Xue Qingqing insisted. "It must be that type of medicine that prevents women from conceiving! He even admitted to me that because of his illegitimate child, he will not allow me to get pregnant and expects me to raise that child for him! Father, I swear I’m not lying!"

"Silence!" The Xue Chief of Staff roared, "What foolishness! This tale is outright absurd. Even if what you claim were true, how stupid would Xinglei have to be to confess it to you?! You unruly girl, do you take us for complete fools?!"

Xue Madame collapsed, holding her forehead in despair. "Mianmian’s gone, now Qingqing’s lost her mind. What terrible sin have I committed?!"

Shen Xinglei seemed greatly wounded. The tall man’s eyes reddened, and he spoke with heartbreaking sincerity, "Miss Qingqing, what exactly have I done to displease you?! Why fabricate such lies to tarnish my name?! Creating fictional tales of an illegitimate mistress and a child was bad enough, but now you even accuse me of poisoning! If these rumors spread, how am I supposed to live in the Capital?! I have been nothing but deeply devoted to Miss Qingqing, yet she seeks to ruin my reputation time and again!"

He looked utterly righteous.

Almost as if the one in the wrong was truly Xue Qingqing.

Xue Qingqing’s face flushed deep red as she asserted determinedly, "If Father and Mother don’t believe me, then call for a doctor. A doctor will surely find evidence of tampering in this wine!"

"You insolent child!" The Xue Chief of Staff pointed harshly at Xue Qingqing’s face, "Is shaming our family publicly not enough? Now you want outsiders involved as well?!"

Shen Xinglei interjected, "Uncle Xue, since Miss Qingqing insists, then call for a doctor by all means. Let this also serve to clear my name."

Xue Qingqing looked at him in disbelief.

She caught the ridicule hidden in his gaze and realized belatedly that she’d fallen into another of Shen Xinglei’s traps.

This cup of wine likely contained no poison at all!

As expected, the doctor soon confirmed her suspicions—the wine held no trace of any harmful substances.

Though the private room was warm, Xue Qingqing felt chilled to her core.

She stared at Shen Xinglei as if looking directly at a wolf cloaked in human skin.

This man...

This man—how could he treat her like this?

How could he be so cruel?

Shen Xinglei met her gaze and briefly trembled, as though momentarily daunted.

Then, as if summoning his courage, he spoke with steady sincerity, "I don’t know how I could have caused Miss Qingqing to misunderstand me so deeply, to the point of accusing me of poisoning her wine. Today, in front of Uncle Xue and Madam Xue, I want to make my feelings clear. Miss Qingqing, I truly care for you, and I genuinely wish to marry you. Even if you detest me and try all ways to slander me, my feelings remain unchanged. In my heart, you are the most suitable candidate to be my wife. Apart from you, I would never marry another woman."

His words were heartfelt and moving.

Not only did they impress the doctor present in the room, but they also touched the restaurant patrons who had secretly gathered outside to snoop on the drama.

Whispers of praise erupted for Shen Xinglei’s unyielding devotion.

By comparison, Xue Qingqing seemed insufferable.

Disdain for someone might justify breaking off an engagement, but making false accusations to do so was deeply malicious!

Such behavior could only be described as petty and mean-spirited!

Thank goodness for Shen Xinglei’s forgiving and deeply affectionate demeanor. Were it any other man, the two families might have become irrevocable enemies by now!

Men like Shen Xinglei were one in a million, and yet Xue Qingqing still found fault with him!

The Xue Chief of Staff’s face burned with embarrassment as he chastised her, "Just look at Xinglei—his actions are forthright and honorable, a true gentleman, a real man among men! I am not favoring him over you as your father, but your behavior today is utterly unacceptable! This engagement will not be altered—now go and apologize to Xinglei immediately!"

Xue Qingqing’s tears brimmed in her eyes.

No one believed her.

Not even her family—they all assumed she was lying, that she was being unreasonable.

If only her elder sister was still home, her sister would have believed her...

She wiped away her falling tears, refusing to apologize to Shen Xinglei, and stormed out of the private room in frustration.

The Xue Chief of Staff sighed and had no choice but to personally apologize to Shen Xinglei, "This child has been spoiled by us. Please don’t hold her behavior against her, Xinglei. From now on, we entrust her to you."

"Uncle Xue, you’re too kind!" Shen Xinglei scratched the back of his head with an awkward yet honest smile, "I love Qingqing, even if she’s immature and unreasonable, I still love her. She’s still young, so such behavior is to be expected. Once she’s married next year and steps into her roles as a wife and mother, she’ll naturally grow more mature."

Such polished and sweet words further warmed the Xue Chief of Staff’s feelings toward him. He now looked upon Shen Xinglei as fondly as he would look upon a son.

In the adjoining private room.

Xue Mianmian clenched her fists in anger, "Infuriating! I used to think your cousin was insufferable enough, but to think all three of them are equally vile! Zhaozhao, Father and Mother refuse to believe Qingqing’s words—what am I supposed to do now? We can’t possibly let Qingqing marry Shen Xinglei!"

Shen Yinning said nothing and poured herself a cup of wine.

Originally, Xue Qingqing had the upper hand in this matter, but the problem lay in her naivete as a sheltered young lady unaccustomed to the dangers of human scheming. When Shen Xinglei discovered her plans and movements, it caused everything to fall apart, even ruining her reputation in the process.

Those two sisters raised by the Xue couple were both exceedingly timid, and Shen Yinning didn’t hold high hopes for them coming up with any solutions.

She took a sip of wine and a plan began to form in her mind, "Leave this matter to me."

Shen Yan’s birthday was imminent.

This was his first major celebration since inheriting the Duke title, and the Shen Family had decided to host it extravagantly. Shen Yunxi, as the legitimate daughter of the family and the current Crown Princess Consort, had taken full charge of organizing the banquet.

Lu Ying had been occupied with court affairs in recent days, and his visits to Shen Garden were few and far between.

Only two days remained before Shen Yan’s birthday celebration, and Shen Yinning was readying herself to return to Lotus Blossom Lane for preparations.

This was the last night she would spend in Shen Garden.

The room was filled with lingering warmth and fragrance.

Within the brocade bedding, Shen Yinning was nestled in Lu Ying’s arms, her slender back pressed against his strong chest. Her delicate hands stroked his arm resting across her chest as she whispered softly, "Uncle’s birthday is coming up—Brother Lu Ying will have to accompany Sister to the banquet soon, which means you won’t have time for me..."

Lu Ying: "Stay properly at the Gao Family’s residence. Don’t get any ideas about disrupting the banquet."

"Brother Lu Ying, I wouldn’t..."