The Obsessive Crown Prince Can't Let Me Go-Chapter 163 - 161: What Kind of Relative Does She Count As?

Chapter 163: Chapter 161: What Kind of Relative Does She Count As?

After Gao Zheng left, Haitang’s expression grew grim. "Madam, the Crown Princess Consort summons you to the palace at a time like this—it’s likely related to the incident at the night market inn two days ago. I’m afraid she intends no good."

"I’ve even been to the Heavenly Prison; what is there to fear about the Eastern Palace? If I don’t go, I’d be giving them reason to belittle me." Shen Yinning adjusted her hairpin and said, "Bring me a change of clothes. We’re entering the palace."

The Eastern Palace’s scenery remained the same as it had been years ago.

The only difference was that Lu Ying’s pavilions and halls now housed more delicate wives and concubines.

Shen Yinning stepped into the grand hall and greeted respectfully, "This humble woman pays respects to the Crown Princess Consort."

Shen Yunxi rolled her eyes.

She had already heard about the night market affair. She suspected it was Shen Yinning, that vile woman, who had orchestrated the entire thing—ruining Lu Qianqian’s reputation and binding Lu Qianqian and her second brother together irreversibly.

In the past, she had very much wanted Lu Qianqian to marry her second brother.

But now that Lu Qianqian’s reputation was thoroughly tarnished, how could she possibly be worthy of her second brother?

Although she resided in the palace, she knew full well the commoners in the Capital were gossiping about how Lu Qianqian was licentious, shameless, and wanton. It was pitiful that her second brother, born into such a noble family with such a bright future, now had to wed such a woman!

It was all Shen Yinning’s fault!

She was determined to teach Shen Yinning a lesson. Fixing her expression into one of stern authority, she purposely found fault and said, "Cousin, have you forgotten proper decorum in the presence of this palace?! You are now merely the wife of a low-ranking official. By protocol, you should perform a full kneeling salute to this palace, yet you only curtsied. Clearly, you hold no regard for this palace! Lian Ye, strike her for me!"

Lian Ye raised her arm, preparing to slap Shen Yinning, but Shen Yinning smiled and said calmly, "This humble woman was in the wrong. Having been exiled to the countryside for so many years, I momentarily forgot the rules. Many thanks to Your Highness for the reminder. Later, when I pay my respects to the Empress Dowager at Cining Palace, I will be sure to perform the full ceremony."

Shen Yunxi’s willow-leaf eyebrows shot up. "You still think you’ll go offer greetings to the Grand Empress Dowager? Do you really believe you’ll be leaving the Eastern Palace unscathed today?"

"This humble woman has already sent a maid to inform the Empress Dowager that the Buddhist scriptures for the memorial rites of Princess Xiaoxian have been fully transcribed. I intend to personally deliver them to Cining Palace after my purification and fasting today," Shen Yinning said softly. "Tomorrow is the day for the memorial lighting ceremony at the Dharma Hall. I trust the Empress Dowager would not wish to see this humble woman miss such an important occasion. If I were to appear before the Empress Dowager with a swollen face, it would be difficult for this palace to explain."

Shen Yunxi clenched her hands tightly within her wide sleeves, glaring at Shen Yinning with seething frustration.

This vile woman was always full of schemes. She had even prepared a backup plan!

She couldn’t openly act against her now!

Despite this being her domain, she couldn’t act as she pleased. Shen Yinning had managed to thoroughly control the situation!

The more Shen Yunxi thought about it, the angrier she became, but before she could vent her frustration, a sharp, irate voice suddenly echoed from outside the hall:

"Shen Yinning! You wretched woman, how dare you step foot in the palace?!"

Lu Qianqian burst into the hall, brandishing a sword.

Shen Yinning sidestepped the thrust effortlessly.

The young girl had no real sword training; her movements were feeble. Shen Yinning easily disarmed her.

Shen Yinning smiled lightly. "Your Highness, you’re about to be wed. Why are you so agitated?"

"How dare you mention it?! If it weren’t for you switching the wine cups that night—" Lu Qianqian stopped herself mid-sentence, unable to bring up the humiliating affair where her own plans backfired. Furious, she shouted, "You ruined my reputation, made me the target of everyone’s scorn, and now even Father and the Grand Empress Dowager don’t want to see me! I’m confined in the palace and forced into a rushed marriage in ten days, with only a few paltry chests of dowry to my name! Shen Yinning, I’ll only be satisfied after I kill you!"

She reached for the sword again, but Shen Yinning stepped aside once more.

Shen Yinning feigned a look of innocence. "What is Your Highness talking about? I don’t understand. What reputation ruined, what scorned woman? You are of the imperial family, an esteemed princess—who would dare gossip about you? Would they not fear losing their heads?"

Lu Qianqian froze.

She suddenly realized that although the palace maids and eunuchs had given her strange looks of late, none had dared to speak ill of her openly.

On the contrary, it was she who, in her tirades, had publicized words like "scorned woman" herself.

Indeed, the best way to handle such matters would have been to act as if nothing had happened. Over time, others would naturally forget.

She bit her lip in frustration and gave Shen Yinning a complicated look.

This wench was absolutely detestable, but also undeniably clever...

"This humble concubine pays respects to the Crown Princess Consort!"

Amid the commotion in the hall, a soft voice suddenly interrupted.

The newcomer turned out to be Sun Miaoniang.

Sun Miaoniang was dressed in a plain white gown with wide sleeves, exuding a pitiable air as she knelt to the ground. "This humble concubine was summoned into the palace by Princess Qianqian for instruction today. After scolding me for hours, I had not yet had the chance to greet Your Highness. Please forgive this humble one!"

Lu Qianqian frowned in disgust.

Thinking she was about to become Shen Xinglei’s principal wife, she had called Sun Miaoniang into the palace.

Her pretense of "instruction" had really been a session of torment.

She had wanted to subjugate and humiliate the concubine to ensure she knew her place, lest she become troublesome in the household later.

Things had been going smoothly until she heard a palace maid report that Shen Yinning had entered the palace. Only then did she rush to the Eastern Palace to settle accounts, not expecting this wench to follow along. Sun Miaoniang’s words, though cloaked as a formal greeting, were clearly an attempt to report her to Shen Yunxi.

Lu Qianqian pouted. "Sister-in-law, I was only trying to teach her rules, seeing as she just arrived from the countryside."

Shen Yunxi’s expression soured. "She is, after all, Second Brother’s concubine. You should know your limits and not go too far."

Shen Yinning helped Sun Miaoniang up personally. "The Crown Princess Consort speaks wisely. Little Sister-in-law is not only Second Cousin’s concubine but also Fan’er’s mother. If the Princess is too harsh, it might disrupt the harmony of the family."

Sun Miaoniang gave Shen Yinning an appreciative glance.

She finally understood—this lady, Shen Yinning, was the only one in the Capital who treated her well. Not only had she helped her enter the Shen Guogong Mansion, but she also spoke up for her in front of the princess, even handling the Crown Princess Consort better than anyone else.

With tears streaming, she whispered, "It’s all my fault for upsetting Princess Qianqian. This humble one deeply apologizes to the Princess."

Lu Qianqian refused to back down. "Such theatrics! I’ve seen plenty of women like you in the palace. Stay away from Shen Lang and me in the future, or do you not mind inviting calamities?"

Sun Miaoniang seemed utterly heartbroken. Choking back sobs, she said, "As this humble one wishes..."

"How pitiful," Shen Yinning said with feigned sympathy. "We’re all women. Why must the Princess make things so difficult for her sister-in-law?"

Lu Qianqian bristled in fury. "Shen Yinning, what business do you have here?!"

"It’s all my fault; I beg the Princess not to reprimand my cousin," Sun Miaoniang said, her voice trembling pitifully. "My cousin is, after all, family. If the Princess is angry, direct it at this humble one. Disrespecting kinserves no good. Even Shen Lang may not approve if he hears of it."

Lu Qianqian felt her chest tighten with rage.

What nonsense! Shen Yinning—what kind of family connection was this?!

She stood in one furious motion and slapped Sun Miaoniang to the floor. "Wretched thing! You dare threaten me using Shen Xinglei?! Speak more nonsense, and I’ll have you beaten to death!"

Sun Miaoniang clutched her swollen cheek, her eyes catching sight of a tall, rugged figure urgently approaching.

It was none other than Shen Xinglei!

He must have come to the palace out of concern for her prolonged absence.

Sun Miaoniang immediately broke into sobs, kneeling at Lu Qianqian’s feet and gripping her skirt tightly. "This humble one meant no disrespect to the princess! This humble one knows her mistake! Spare me!"

This 𝓬ontent is taken from fre𝒆webnove(l).𝐜𝐨𝗺