The Obsessive Crown Prince Can't Let Me Go-Chapter 184 - 182: Anxious to Prove Shen Yinning Belongs to Him

Chapter 184: Chapter 182: Anxious to Prove Shen Yinning Belongs to Him

Shen Yinning lifted her head.

Not far away, the man stood with an air of noble dignity, shrewd and calculating, his power spanning the entire court.

He had clawed his way to the position of Crown Prince, snatching it from among the many adult princes like a tiger seizing its prey. Step by step, he had climbed to where he was now, his determination and capability evident to all.

In truth, she did not think highly of Lu Zhengliu.

If she were forced to place her bets, she would still prefer to back Lu Ying.

Thinking of this, a sly smile curled her lips as she said sweetly, "This humble wife had no idea that Prince Wu was also at the Residence of Prince Su. Meeting him tonight was purely coincidental. As for what this humble wife said in the Warm Pavilion, it was mere flattery to deceive him. This humble wife’s heart is devoted to Your Highness alone. I would surrender even my life to Your Highness—how could I bear to use you?"

The young lady’s honeyed words spilled effortlessly from her lips, her voice as saccharine as though it had been dipped in sugar.

Paired with her pitifully delicate expression, she could easily leave a less resolute man utterly disoriented.

Lu Ying scrutinized her.

He didn’t believe a single word of her explanation.

An icy frost gleamed in his eyes as he said, "We haven’t seen each other for years, and yet you’ve grown so distant from him. Back then, you couldn’t stop calling him ’Shiyuan Brother,’ sounding as if you were the closest of companions. Now, why has your address for him turned into ’Prince Wu’?"

Shen Yinning toyed idly with the Cloud Pattern Gold Lock Pendant resting on her chest.

She had merely exchanged a glance with Lu Shiyan; it wasn’t as if anything had happened. Did this narrow-minded man really need to interrogate her as if she were a suspect?

She wasn’t some criminal!

"Shen Yinning."

Seeing her remain silent, Lu Ying’s tone grew heavier.

Shen Yinning was left with no choice but to reply softly, "I was naive as a child. Prince Wu was kind and gentle back then, like a brother from next door, so I was naturally closer to him. Now that he has married his Princess, I obviously should keep my distance."

Kind and gentle?

Lu Ying thought back. Among the many princes, Lu Shiyan could indeed be described as kind and gentle.

As for himself, having lost his mother early and being raised in Concubine Liu’s quarters, he had long nurtured a solitary disposition. He rarely mingled with noble sons and daughters of officialdom or even attended any of the banquets they hosted.

In those years of growing up under someone else’s roof, Shen Yinning never once spared him a second glance...

A restless emotion surged in his chest, gnawing at him. He said, "I, too, have married the Crown Princess Consort. Why don’t I see you keeping your distance from me?"

Shen Yinning rose gracefully and walked toward Lu Ying, her every step imbued with elegance. "How could you compare yourself to Prince Wu? You—"

"Kneel properly."

Shen Yinning secretly curled her lips in frustration but knelt again as instructed. "The struggle for the heirship back in the day was perilous beyond measure—one could barely call it a life-and-death battle. Though Prince Wu thrived and schemed magnificently, he ultimately fell at your hands, even losing the use of his legs. This humble wife has always admired the strong. As the victor, you are, of course, the most powerful man in my heart. Just being by your side is enough for me, even if I must remain in a lowly position, or merely serve as a maid warming your bed. I would submit willingly."

Lu Ying sneered at her.

This little fox spirit had a way with words, always weaving her stories deftly.

Even going so far as to praise him as the "most powerful man."

The agitation swelling in his chest dissipated substantially. He said, "Come here."

Shen Yinning knew she had nearly succeeded in pacifying him, and at such a critical moment, going against him would be unwise.

She drew a deep breath, approached his side, and was promptly pulled into his embrace.

Lu Ying reached out, tilting her chin upward.

Their gazes met. At some point, mist gathered in the girl’s Dan Feng eyes, making them shimmer with tearful sorrow.

Lu Ying said, "Does this grievance pain you?"

Shen Yinning whispered hoarsely, "This humble wife dares not feel aggrieved."

Lu Ying carried her to the couch.

Tonight was New Year’s Eve.

He had intended to accompany Shen Yinning through the night vigil—it wasn’t supposed to be like this.

But Lu Shiyan’s sudden arrival had been like a key unlocking long-buried memories. Those stifling, oppressive years of darkness surged back relentlessly, circling in his mind and plunging him into unease. He desperately needed something to anchor himself, to prove that Shen Yinning was his and his alone.

Lu Ying leaned down and pressed a kiss to her cheek. "I don’t like Lu Shiyan."

He had never liked him, not even as a child.

Clearly, his mother, the Empress, was the rightful wife of the Emperor, and yet the Emperor had favored Noble Consort Zhang instead.

After the passing of his mother, that favoritism only grew more shamelessly ostentatious. The Emperor even entertained the notion of bypassing his legitimate eldest son in favor of making Lu Shiyan the Crown Prince.

As a child, he hadn’t understood the intricacies of court struggles.

He revered his father and, one New Year’s Eve, brought him a portrait he had painstakingly painted himself.

But at the Noble Consort’s palace, he found his father spending the night vigil with Noble Consort Zhang, Lu Shiyan, and Lu Zhengliu.

They looked like an ordinary family, warm and carefree. His father even joined the two brothers in a game of riddles, where the loser had to stick paper strips to their face. His imposing, dignified father ended up with half his face covered in strips, looking utterly ridiculous, yet he wasn’t angry at all and instead laughed heartily.

Noble Consort Zhang, while cutting paper for New Year’s window decorations, playfully scolded the Emperor for spoiling the children too much.

He stood at the door with the portrait in his hands, completely out of place in that cheerful atmosphere.

It was the Noble Consort who first noticed him and smiled, saying, "Why is Fourth Prince here?"

The moment the words left her mouth, the lively laughter in the room abruptly ceased.

He stood there unsure, looking at his father with wide eyes. "Imperial Father... I’ve come to offer my respects. I brought you this portrait I painted of you."

Nervously, he presented the artwork.

It was the result of half a month’s effort, and he thought he had captured his father’s youth and handsomeness perfectly.

But his father didn’t as much as glance at it before tossing it aside. "Didn’t I already say that everyone should remain in their own palaces tonight for the vigil? There’s no need to come offer your respects."

The five-year-old Lu Ying remained silent.

He hadn’t dared to tell his father that Concubine Liu was too preoccupied caring for Lu Qianqian to even prepare a New Year’s feast for him.

His chambers were so cold, so lonely.

He had nothing.

The Noble Consort, on the other hand, was warm and welcoming. "I had the smaller kitchen prepare dumplings, and they should be ready by now. Would the Fourth Prince like to stay and have some?"

"I—"

Before he could answer, his father interrupted, "He won’t be eating here. These things are for Concubine Liu to arrange; you don’t need to trouble yourself over him."

He didn’t remember how he left that palace.

All he remembered was that as soon as he stepped out, he heard Lu Shiyan’s voice behind him teasing his portrait. "Imperial Father, Fourth Brother made you look so ugly."

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