The Obsessive Crown Prince Can't Let Me Go Chapter 451 - 449: Will Zhaozhao Follow You Nameless and Unr

Huo Mingyan choked back her words.

She raised her eyes in embarrassnt, unable to believe Lu Ying would humiliate her so publicly for Shen Yinning.

The pride ingrained in her bones prevented her from bending her back. Tears welled up in her eyes but stubbornly refused to fall.

Her nails dug into her palms, and her voice was hoarse as she said, "I co from outside the border. I admit I do not understand the twists and turns of won’s intrigues. This is my nature—what fault lies in that? Is being straightforward, like a man, also a mistake?"

Lu Ying slowly toyed with the Moyu ring.

Though he was a man, he did not believe that n were inherently better than won.

Many n were disgusting in their actions and cruel in their hearts. Huo Mingyan had no need to place herself on the sa level as them.

Yet Huo Mingyan misunderstood his intentions and resented him instead.

"Your Majesty!" Guan Songyuan suddenly stepped forward. "There were misunderstandings earlier. Her Highness is straightforward and lovable, pure in nature, while Princess Zhaoning is reserved and proud, reluctant to engage in verbal disputes. This caused the misunderstanding between the two. I plead with Your Majesty to grant rcy and let this matter rest!"

Lu Ying cast him a glance.

Xue Mianmian’s husband—the spring’s top scholar...

The man was far too ddleso, even daring to interfere in his private affairs.

The Moyu ring turned slowly on his finger as his gaze returned to Huo Mingyan: "Let today’s matter end here."

His tone carried a warning.

Only after the crowd dispersed did Huo Mingyan’s legs give way, barely managing to stay upright by clutching Han Sang’s arm.

Her eyes were rimd with red as she stared intently at Lu Ying’s retreating figure. "Cousin, for Shen Yinning, he humiliated like this... But Han Sang, am I not his wife?"

Han Sang joined in her resentnt: "It’s all because of that wretched Shen Yinning, deceiving His Majesty! Your Highness cos from outside the border, pure as ice and jade, proud in temperant—how could you ever stoop to serve others like her? Who knows what kind of upbringing Duke Shen and his wife gave her to raise such a harlot!"

Her words were harsh.

Although Huo Mingyan shared the sentint, she reprimanded, "Do not speak nonsense!"

"This servant rely feels wronged for you!"

Suddenly, a soft cough ca from nearby.

Huo Mingyan looked over cautiously—it was Guan Songyuan.

Strained displeasure crossed her face for a mont. "Guan Gongzi?"

Guan Songyuan rested one hand behind his back and spoke soothingly, "Your Highness need not worry. Princess Zhaoning is infamous in the Capital for her fickleness and wanton behavior; Han Sang did not exaggerate."

Huo Mingyan arched a brow.

Guan Songyuan chuckled sheepishly, "This humble servant knows that my wife is a close confidant of Princess Zhaoning, which makes Your Highness doubt . However, I have always sided with reason over relationships—Your Highness need not concern yourself with this."

Truthfully, he had sought favors from Shen Yinning nurous tis.

But alas, he couldn’t even secure a eting with her.

He sent lavish gifts by proxy, but Shen Yinning refused to accept them all, returning them as they ca.

Seeing those items rejected, he knew that Shen Yinning looked down on him entirely.

Later, he tried persuading Xue Mianmian to approach Shen Yinning and speak well of him to the Emperor, yet Xue Mianmian adamantly refused.

Unable to accomplish even this small task, he couldn’t help but question why he’d married such a worthless woman as Xue Mianmian.

In the end, he still had to seek his own connections!

With this thought, he smiled again and said, "Compared to an enchanting fox spirit, I much admire Your Highness’s uprightness, candor, resilience, and bravery. I believe that one day, His Majesty will surely see these qualities in Your Highness! By then, it will be the mont he turns his heart back to you!"

Huo Mingyan narrowed her eyes. "Although you are sowhat ingratiating and calculating, what you said is true."

"How am I ingratiating or calculating? I rely speak from the heart!" Guan Songyuan’s smile beca even more bright and seemingly sincere. "I have heard that Your Highness excels in equestrian archery—could I have the honor of competing with you in these skills?"

Huo Mingyan held no regard for him, but she did not dislike competing in archery with n.

While outside the border, she grew up surrounded by n who admired and praised her endlessly.

Only with Guan Songyuan did she find the feeling of being the center of adoration once again.

She agreed cheerfully, "Co, then."

Elsewhere.

The young eunuchs had already reported Huo Mingyan and Guan Songyuan’s activities to Lu Ying.

Lu Ying was indifferent.

Their marriage was a political arrangent to begin with—he had never been faithful to her, so she naturally had every right to seek her own happiness.

Walking down a path shaded by lush flora, he arrived at the end where there stood an elegant annex.

De Sun pushed open the flower-carved door.

Inside the annex sat a woman, her hair styled in a falling horse-tail bun favored by young matrons. She wore a narrow-sleeved gown of soft, rain-bathed sky blue, and a pale yellow pearl shawl added a touch of grace and dignity to her appearance.

Lu Ying looked at her and spoke in a low voice, "Elder Cousin."

Lu Minmin set down her tea cup and rose to salute him. "This humble servant pays respects to Your Majesty."

Lu Ying motioned her to rise, though his gaze did not leave her.

It had been several years since he last saw Lu Minmin.

She now appeared thin and tranquil, her forr radiance from the ti spent with Shen Xingye gone.

He took a seat and began directly, "I invited you here today, Cousin, to ask whether Shen Xingye ever entrusted sothing to your care."

"All say Your Majesty is wise and astute—today I see that it is true," Lu Minmin t his gaze. "Indeed, Xingye did leave sothing with . However, he had repeatedly instructed to personally deliver it to Zhaozhao. If Your Majesty hopes to obtain it from , I am afraid I cannot comply."

The annex was secluded and tranquil; faintly, distant lodies of musical instrunts could be heard.

Lu Ying remained impassive. "If that is so, then why have you hesitated all this ti since entering the palace, Cousin, to seek out Zhaozhao and give her the item? What have you been worrying about?"

Her hesitation exposed, Lu Minmin pressed her lips tightly together.

After the new Emperor ascended the throne, the governnt disclosed nurous long-closed cases, including the Shen family’s rebellion.

She had intended to deliver the item to Zhaozhao promptly, but the details of the case made her hesitate.

"Hasn’t Cousin already guessed these days?" Lu Ying skimd the foam on his tea. "Why did Shen Xingye suddenly charge the city gates with the Commander’s Seal that night? What exactly did he leave for Zhaozhao? Was it truly sothing good? Or might it lead Zhaozhao to commit the sa, if not worse, defiant acts he did? Zhaozhao is even more headstrong—if she learns of certain secrets, she might take an even more extre path, one she cannot turn back from."

The annex fell into a silence that seed to echo.

After an indeterminate period, Lu Minmin finally replied softly amidst the diffuse scent of tea, "Your Majesty is indeed ticulous. It’s no surprise that both Lu Shiyan and Lu Zhengliu lost to you."

"Zhaozhao is now alone and unsupported in the Capital." Lu Ying leisurely sipped his tea. "You should understand, Cousin, I am the only one who can protect her."

Lu Minmin looked at him. "All the people of the Capital say that His Majesty is upright and virtuous, not only forgiving Zhaozhao’s past misdeeds but also treating her with restraint and propriety, providing for her as though she were his younger sister-in-law. Now it seems not a word of those claims is to be trusted."

Lu Ying gave no defense.

Lu Minmin continued, "From what I see, Your Majesty seems to want to take responsibility for Zhaozhao. So, I ask Your Majesty—will Zhaozhao remain by your side her entire life, without title or status?"

Shen Xingye was gone.

Though she hadn’t been able to marry him, she still regarded Shen Yinning as her dear younger sister.

Thus, she could not restrain herself from raising this bold question.