The Obsessive Crown Prince Can't Let Me Go-Chapter 478 - 476: Always Loves to Play the Lover Whether Busy or Not

Chapter 478: Chapter 476: Always Loves to Play the Lover Whether Busy or Not

Shen Yinning lightly shook her round fan: "Do you think that just because Mianmian’s parents are away, you can bully her as you please?"

"Princess Zhaoning." Guan Shu gracefully stepped forward and curtsied, "My mother was merely setting rules for my sister-in-law. You must know that all mothers-in-law and daughters-in-law under heaven are the same. Using the word ’bully’—isn’t that far too strong?"

"Setting rules?" Shen Yinning smirked lightly, "Who are you trying to fool?"

Her voice was cool and crisp, as if carrying a shard of ice on this summer night.

Seeing her unwillingness to back down, the expression on the old lady of the Guan family grew increasingly grim: "Say what you will, this is still a Guan family affair! I am Xue Mianmian’s mother-in-law, half her parent! How I treat her—is that for Princess Zhaoning to comment on? And you, a mere widow—"

"Wei Yu!"

Shen Yinning cut her off abruptly.

Wei Yu nodded knowingly, stepped forward, and delivered a harsh slap across the old lady’s face.

The Guan family matriarch was stunned, clutching her now reddened and swollen cheek in disbelief: "You... what are you doing?!"

The maids and old attendants gathered around, shielding both the matriarch and Guan Shu.

Shen Yinning spoke firmly: "My husband was Prince Cheng, who died for the nation, leaving behind a widow and orphan in this capital, only for you to humiliate me with remarks like ’widow’ at every turn! If I were to bring this before Your Majesty—what would he make of the Guan family then?!"

The Guan family matriarch trembled with rage.

Yet the woman before her stood on unshakable moral high ground. Her lips quivered for a long moment, but no retort came forth.

Shen Yinning said coolly: "This slap is but a warning. If I hear that you’ve been tormenting Mianmian again, the matter won’t be so simple next time."

With that, she rose and left together with Wei Yu.

The matriarch stared dazedly after her, only regaining her senses when Shen Yinning’s figure had completely vanished, at which point she erupted in furious, hoarse shrieks: "That wretched woman has gone mad! She struck me! I’ve lived over half my life, and never has anyone dared to show me such disrespect!"

Guan Shu murmured softly: "I think... she came solely to stand up for my sister-in-law. I had heard that my sister-in-law and her were close—but I hadn’t realized it was to this extent..."

The matriarch gnashed her teeth and rubbed her face vehemently: "That Xue Mianmian, that shameless woman... Sooner or later, I’ll have Yuan dismiss her!" 𝑓𝘳𝑒𝑒𝓌𝘦𝘣𝘯ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝑚

...

Shen Yinning returned to the carriage, where Xue Mianmian was already seated inside.

The young woman had her arms wrapped around herself, having seemingly cried endlessly by the dim glow of the lanterns.

Shen Yinning cast her a glance and scolded: "Useless thing."

Xue Mianmian lifted her tear-streaked face: "Waaaah, Zhaozhao, even you scold me..."

Shen Yinning pulled out a medicine kit, raising the hem of her skirt and silk trousers.

The young woman’s snow-white knees revealed a cluster of bruises, purple-blue and stark.

Shen Yinning carefully applied medicine to Xue Mianmian’s injuries: "Is this the outcome you sought when you insisted on marrying Guan Songyuan against my advice?"

Her movements were gentle.

Yet Xue Mianmian still winced, sucking in sharp breaths with the pain.

She wiped her tears and whispered: "What else could I do? Xue Ling may not care about reputation, but I cannot. The only way I could think of to leave him was to marry. At the time, you were pregnant, and I dared not trouble you, so I decided on my own... Zhaozhao, you once said the most important thing in life is to hold steadfastly onto the right to choose your own fate. I chose this path, and I don’t regret it."

"Idiot!" Shen Yinning raised her head and lightly knocked her forehead with a flicking finger, "If you’ve walked into a dead end, you should turn back. Does choosing a path mean you have to blindly follow it to its bitter end?!"

Xue Mianmian hesitated: "Are you suggesting... I divorce my husband?"

Shen Yinning, hearing her refer to Guan Songyuan as "husband," grew angry and ignored her, focusing solely on applying her medicine.

Xue Mianmian pursed her lips.

Truthfully, except for the Guan family matriarch and Guan Shu, she quite liked life in the Guan household.

Because Guan Songyuan utterly avoided her, never visiting her courtyard.

She was content, planting countless flowers in her yard and raising a small black-and-white kitten.

It was only because of that incident in the Imperial Garden with Xue Ling that she’d been subjected to torment day and night.

Xue Mianmian sighed deeply, speaking from the heart: "Men are such a nuisance."

Shen Yinning finished wrapping her injury.

Tidying up the medicine kit, she mocked lightly: "Coming from you, that sentiment is rare."

Xue Mianmian leaned closely against her and asked with concern: "Zhaozhao... is His Majesty good to you? He seems quite infatuated."

"That type of man, deprived of love since childhood, loves playing the romantic fool, constantly moved by his own theatrics," Shen Yinning remarked, "You’re not wrong—men really are such a nuisance. The sages said, ’Only women and petty men are difficult to rear; approach them, and they are disrespectful; distance them, and they complain.’ Yet I feel these words are far more fitting to describe men."

Xue Mianmian was amused by her.

She clung tightly to Shen Yinning and declared: "Zhaozhao, I don’t want to return to the Guan household tonight—I want to stay with you."

Shen Yinning: "..."

Impossible.

Thanks to Lu Ying, she’d been afflicted with poison; she still needed Lu Ying to cure her!

The long street shimmered with lanterns.

Lu Ying, dressed in casual attire, ventured out of the palace personally and spotted Shen Yinning and Xue Mianmian standing together on an arched bridge.

Amid the bustling crowds, the two held lanterns, gazing at the moon reflected in the water.

A painted boat glided by, its oars shattering the moonlight into rippling waves.

Lu Ying stared at Shen Yinning’s face for a long moment, his gaze eventually falling on her and Xue Mianmian’s tightly clasped hands.

Xue Ling appeared seemingly out of nowhere, drawling lazily: "That’s just how young ladies are—they love holding hands for no reason. Once, when Xue Qingqing was still in the manor, she and Mianmian would even hold hands on their way to the west chamber just to relieve themselves."

Lu Ying chuckled lightly.

Xue Ling raised a brow.

He was well aware that since ascending the throne, Lu Ying rarely ever laughed.

Shen Yinning...

She truly was his cherished treasure.

Lu Ying, hands clasped behind his back, stepped onto the arched bridge: "Shen Zhaozhao."

Shen Yinning turned and sighed openly: "Ugh, the annoying one is here."

Xue Mianmian also noticed Xue Ling following behind Lu Ying, squeezing her good friend’s hand tightly.

Xue Ling sneered irritably: "Am I a ghost? You see me and tremble like this!"

Xue Mianmian bit her lip, wanting to nod—but his overwhelming aura caused her to shake her head vigorously instead.

Xue Ling scoffed, saying moodily: "I’m a ghost, and your good friend is the ghost-catching Zhong Kui, isn’t she?"

Xue Mianmian glanced at Shen Yinning.

Her round almond eyes gleamed with reverence.

Her dear friend was not quite Zhong Kui, but she could protect her from any manner of wicked spirits.

Clinging tightly to Shen Yinning, she firmly declared in a small voice: "Zhaozhao is the most amazing person in the world! I want to stay with Zhaozhao forever!"

A flash of jealousy flickered through Lu Ying’s narrowed eyes.

He pulled Shen Yinning to his side: "It’s getting late. Let’s return to the palace."

"But—"

Xue Mianmian tried to say something, only for Xue Ling to stop her.

Faced with the youthful man’s stunning yet wicked demeanor, she stammered nervously: "You..."

Xue Ling leaned closer, his gaze level with hers.

He spoke seriously for once: "Relax. I won’t harm you. As your elder brother, I think you should return to the Xue family, especially if the Guan family mistreats you. Isn’t that right? So come back to the Xue manor to stay tonight, will you?"

The young man, intent on reconciliation, adopted a gentle demeanor—a carefully woven trap.

Inside the carriage.

Shen Yinning and Lu Ying were entangled in a heated embrace and kiss.

Passing through Imperial Street, the lantern flames in the carriage suddenly extinguished.

In the dim light, a bead of sweat rolled down Lu Ying’s sharp, handsome nose.

His voice was low and hoarse: "You smashed Guan’s gates and even slapped the old matriarch... Shen Zhaozhao, your daring grows by the day. Aren’t you afraid that Guan, the Assistant Minister, might file a complaint against you tomorrow?"