Chapter 433: The Crown Prince Heard Everything

Chapter 433: Chapter 433: The Crown Prince Heard Everything

Lu Shaoyuan slowly came back to his senses, murmuring, "I’m willing, but we can’t be so rash, can we? And... since when did you feel this way about me!"

He was three or four years older than Shen Ningning and already had the bearing of a young man. As he spoke, a faint blush spread across his face, though he forced himself to appear calm.

Shen Ningning casually picked up a pastry.

"What’s the big deal? It’s just getting married." ’Isn’t it just a boy and a girl changing into nice clothes, with everyone beating gongs and drums, just like for New Year’s?’

’And you even get to eat a feast!’

Lu Shaoyuan took a deep breath and looked at her earnestly.

"Alright then. Since you’ve said as much, as the man, I certainly won’t back down. I’ll go tell my mother right away and have her begin the formal betrothal arrangements."

"I’ll give you everything to my name: the manors on six streets in the Capital City, eighteen shops, and the ninety-nine gold coins my mother gave me... you know what, I’ll just give you the key to my private treasury!"

"Is there anything else you want? Oh, right, I’ll also arrange for a dozen or so servants for Grandma Qin and assign two doctors to look after her health. No, you should write it down. Waiter, bring a pen!"

A loud CLATTERING and CRASHING came from the room next door, as if something had been smashed to pieces.

Shen Ningning paid it no mind, merely blinking her large, curious eyes. "Do we really need so many things? When I saw Aunt Sanhua marry Uncle Deng, Uncle Deng only gave her some gold jewelry, plus a chicken and a duck."

’Isn’t Lu Shaoyuan giving way too much in comparison?’

’It’s just for one big, festive meal. She’d be too embarrassed to accept so much.’

’More importantly, she’d have to give it all back.’

Lu Shaoyuan’s sharp brows lifted. "This is our wedding we’re talking about. How can we be careless? I actually think it’s not enough."

Just then, the waiter came in with a pen, his forehead beaded with sweat.

Lu Shaoyuan casually asked, "Why is it so noisy next door? Is someone having a drunken tantrum and smashing things?"

The waiter cried out in distress, "Oh, dear! The gentlemen in the next room nearly came to blows for some reason. Our Shopkeeper is trying to calm them down, and I have to go help! Sir, here’s the pen you wanted, and some paper."

Lu Shaoyuan glanced at it. The paper was too small.

Without a second thought, he lifted the hem of his robe—made of cloud brocade worth a hundred taels a bolt, with a red gold lining—tore a piece of the lining clean off, and spread it on the table.

"Write on this. Tell me what else you need. I’ll consult my mother when I return, and we’ll make further preparations."

Shen Ningning fell into deep thought, her pretty face tinged with a lovely shade of pale pink.

’Maybe I should ask Grandma what else we need?’

Lu Shaoyuan couldn’t help but prop his chin on his hand as he watched her, a wide grin revealing his pearly white teeth.

’Shen Ningning is so beautiful.’

’But she’s so young, only ten years old. Can she even get married?’

’If she isn’t old enough, I have no problem waiting a few years for her.’

Lu Shaoyuan’s brows furrowed in serious consideration.

But the thought of them getting married and becoming husband and wife made him look at Shen Ningning in a completely new light.

Meanwhile, the little girl’s head was filled with thoughts of the delicious food at the wedding banquet and the joyful, bustling atmosphere of the celebration.

’It’ll be just like New Year’s! We can even set off firecrackers!’

’When the time comes, I’ll tie Lu Shaoyuan and that stinky Second Brother of mine together and light firecrackers to scare them.’

At this thought, a giggle escaped her lips. She covered her mouth with her small hand, her sparkling eyes crinkling with mirth, making her look exceptionally cute.

Lu Shaoyuan’s face flushed red.

’So she’s this happy too? That’s wonderful.’

Shen Ningning didn’t write anything. She just said, "I have to go home and ask my grandma."

Lu Shaoyuan nodded with great seriousness. "You definitely should. Marriage is a huge deal, after all. I’ll come find you tomorrow morning, and I can meet Grandma Qin then. How does that sound? Afterward, we’ll also have to see Chancellor Xie together."

Shen Ningning was curious. ’Lu Shaoyuan already knows her family. Why would they need to meet again?’

However, the little girl didn’t dwell on it and simply nodded in agreement.

The two of them left the restaurant together.

Little did they know that in the private room next door, Mo Lingwei’s eyes were blazing with fury as he was being pinned to a bamboo daybed by Chen Shaobei and several other noble young men skilled in martial arts. The floor was a mess, littered with broken shards.

Chen Shaobei had been hosting today, having invited Mo Lingwei and a group of other young noblemen to a banquet.

Just moments before, Mo Lingwei had heard Shen Ningning’s voice from the next room. He was about to go over and greet her when he overheard her asking Lu Shaoyuan if he wanted to marry her.

’She dared to ask Lu Shaoyuan and not him!!!’

Mo Lingwei had instantly kicked over a chair and was about to charge into the next room when Chen Shaobei held him back.

"Your Highness, calm down."

Mo Lingwei looked absolutely murderous. If he burst in next door, what would Shen Ningning think? And how would Lu Shaoyuan ever face the aftermath?

Mo Lingwei spun around and launched a vicious palm strike at Chen Shaobei.

"Stay out of my business!" he snarled, his tone frigid.

Chen Shaobei and the other young noblemen moved in to restrain him, but Mo Lingwei struck out at anyone who came close.

They had to defend themselves, but they didn’t dare actually injure Mo Lingwei.

Vases and plates were knocked over and shattered on the floor. Hearing the commotion, the Shopkeeper rushed in, fell to his knees, and begged them to stop.

He knew they were nobles, so the porcelain bowls and dishes he had used to serve them were the finest in the house!

’Break one, and that’s one hundred taels gone. Smash a pair, and there go 300 taels.’

The Shopkeeper’s heart was bleeding.

But Mo Lingwei’s fury only continued to skyrocket with every word he overheard from Shen Ningning and Lu Shaoyuan’s conversation next door.

Hearing their footsteps in the hall, Mo Lingwei almost roared for them to halt.

Fortunately, Chen Shaobei clamped a hand over his mouth just as the sound was leaving his lips.

Only when Shen Ningning and her companion had gone downstairs and their footsteps faded did Chen Shaobei and the others release Mo Lingwei.

The moment they released him, they all dropped to their knees before Mo Lingwei with a collective THUD.

"Crown Prince, please forgive us." The other young noblemen had all been following Chen Shaobei’s lead.

Mo Lingwei was seething, his sharp eyes burning with twin flames of rage.

"Chen Shaobei, are you trying to get yourself killed?!"

Chen Shaobei lowered his head, for once answering with complete seriousness. "I do not, but I saw Your Highness was about to erupt in anger. Miss Shen has never seen you like this. If you frightened her, then once you calmed down, you would have blamed me for the crime of not intervening!"

Mo Lingwei’s dark brows furrowed for a moment.

’Chen Shaobei had a point. It really wouldn’t be good for Shen Ningning to see him enraged.’

His eyes turned grim. "But laying your hands on Us is a grave offense in itself."

Chen Shaobei cupped his hands. "When we return, I will accept a punishment of ten strokes from the military baton."

"Twenty strokes!" Mo Lingwei swept his robes aside, the fabric of his Vermilion Python Robe flaring. He sat back down on the bamboo daybed and drank a cup of cool tea, finally managing to quell his rage.

But his sharp, jet-black eyes remained grim and ice-cold.

He swept his gaze over everyone present, finally waving a dismissive hand, telling the trembling young noblemen to get lost.

He left only Chen Shaobei behind.

Mo Lingwei sat with a commanding presence, one hand resting on his knee. He leaned forward slightly, lifting his cold, dark eyes.

"She’s so young, yet she’s already looking for someone to marry. Could something be wrong with Grandma Qin? Or has someone been whispering things in her ear?"

Chen Shaobei thought for a moment before chiming in, "In any case, it couldn’t possibly be that Miss Shen actually likes Second Young Master Lu."

"Of course not," Mo Lingwei gritted out.

’If she dared to like him, he would...’

’He would pack Lu Shaoyuan up and dump him in the Great Desert.’

"Go and investigate what trouble she has run into. I want the results tonight, before the Si hour."

"Yes, Your Highness."

Chen Shaobei left the restaurant, resigned to his fate.

’Every time something happened between Mo Lingwei and Shen Ningning, he was the one who ended up running his legs off.’