The Double-Chapter 470 - 149 Appearance_5

Speaking of which, Hai Tang was so resolute because she desperately wanted to exonerate Xue Fangfei, reveal the true face of Yongning to the world, and vindicate herself and those around her who suffered displacement and insanity due to Yongning. As the root cause of such calamity, Yongning was unforgivable.

She must be punished.

At this moment, the Princess’s Mansion was engulfed in a bustle of lights.

In the winter, the Princess’s Mansion still felt as warm as spring. The fruits on the table included those not in season. Only in the Princess’s Mansion could one afford such lavishness. Even the burning agarwood on the table was a luxury.

Princess Yongning leaned lazily on the couch, wearing a brocade long dress that shimmered under the glow of lamps. This beauty was unique to her, yet mysteriously, a "Wave Pattern" fabric had spread through Yanjing City. It wasn’t as costly as her brocade, and even ordinary wealthy households could afford it, yet it dazzled more brilliantly than her own dresses, leaving everyone astonished.

She always preferred to enjoy her favorites alone, unwilling to share them with the commoners and merchants of Yanjing City who wore the inferior Wave Pattern. But her beloved brocade dresses no longer turned heads as before, causing a trace of gloom in her heart.

Only Mr. Shen could slightly lift her spirits.

"Mr. Shen," she called out, leaning her head gently against Shen Yurong’s shoulder in a completely girlish manner. Those who were familiar with her would be shocked to see Princess Yongning in such a tender and soft posture.

Shen Yurong caressed her long hair, gazing at the flickering candlelight, lost in thought.

But Princess Yongning grew increasingly unhappy. Ever since Xue Huaiyuan’s case was brought to Yanjing City, Jiang Li, that contemptible woman, dared to implicate her during the court deliberations. Although later proven false, the rumor-mongers had had their say, and she dared not interact with Shen Yurong too closely anymore.

To be precise, it was Shen Yurong who personally told her to maintain a distance for the time being, to avoid giving others a handle against them as before.

Princess Yongning felt both angry and wronged. Shen Yurong had already promised to become her Prince Consort, even Empress Dowager Liu had given her consent. If not for the Tongxiang case, they would have already been engaged, perhaps even married by now.

Why must they now hide and sneak around as if their love was something shameful!

The more Princess Yongning thought about it, the more dissatisfaction she felt. She lay against Shen Yurong and asked, "Mr. Shen, when will you marry me?"

Shen Yurong paused in stroking her hair and then spoke in a gentle voice, "Haven’t we agreed? These days, it simply cannot be done. It hasn’t been long since the Tongxiang case, and your involvement makes you an easy target for accusations."

"But it’s already been proven false! Besides, no one dares to gossip about me behind my back!" Princess Yongning protested impatiently.

Her patience was running thin. Every time they were close to success, something would happen to disrupt their plans. Even the best of patience was wearing thin.

Shen Yurong just looked at her, saying nothing.

Princess Yongning, under his indifferent gaze, felt inexplicably guilty. Although Jiang Li had made claims during the court deliberations that Feng Yutang was backed by Princess Yongning—claims that were completely unfounded—Princess Yongning knew she had done those things. Tormenting Xue Huaiyuan, killing Xue Zhao, framing Xue Fangfei, she had done it all. Shen Yurong knew too, so she couldn’t put on a righteous façade.

Yet she couldn’t accept this.

The Tongxiang case had implicated Xue Huaiyuan, then Xue Fangfei, and finally her. If she and Shen Yurong were to be together, people would inevitably recall these events, think of Xue Fangfei’s death, Xue Huaiyuan’s imprisonment, and see the connection to her, easily deducing her motives.

This was an unavoidable reality. As long as she married Shen Yurong, they would face this scrutiny. But she could not simply not marry Shen Yurong.

To Princess Yongning, the talk of others did not matter. If necessary, she could secretly wipe out those who gossiped behind her back, or tear out their tongues, so they could never speak again. She had always been this way; no one could stop her from doing what she wanted. If anyone dared to stand in her way, they would be eliminated.

But that would not do for Shen Yurong. He could not tolerate the scrutiny and speculation from others, the doubts cast upon him. His career had to be impeccable, without a single flaw, let alone potential crimes.

This was the contradiction between her and Shen Yurong. To resolve it, one of them had to compromise. Princess Yongning was unwilling to give in to Shen Yurong because she didn’t want to wait forever. But Shen Yurong was equally stubborn; he could not compromise just now.

In the end, Princess Yongning averted her gaze, wrapped her arms around Shen Yurong’s neck, and spoke sweetly, "Alright, I understand. You need not look at me with such a worried frown. Let’s take it slow; I’ll wait for you. But you must not break your promise."

"Of course."

Shen Yurong gently teased her nose with a smile, seemingly very doting, but a hint of impatience flickered in his eyes.

Thus, he naturally did not notice that the woman nestled in his arms, whose laughter did not ring completely true, was harboring another set of thoughts that were taking root and sprouting.

Both of them had their own ulterior motives, it seemed.