Chapter 187 It Was Never a Game of Playing Hard to Get
He already knew she had a fiancé.
He had always been bothered by the fact that Shen Qingnian was already engaged, and he always wanted to know who that person was.
Now it seems that Ling'er might have known.
When Ling'er saw Xie Yanzhi enter, there was a moment of surprise in her eyes.
She answered softly, "Because the master is unaware that the young lady is engaged."
"Only the madam knows about this."
"Who is that person?" Xie Yanzhi frowned slightly, a hint of urgency in his voice.
Was Shen Qingnian's escape from home for this fiancé?
She kept avoiding him; was it because she was afraid he would misunderstand?
Ling'er bit her lip; originally, her mistress had forbidden her from uttering a single word.
But now that the young lady is gone, she speaks out the grievances that have been weighing on her heart.
Ling'er knelt on the ground and said, "Young Master! You shouldn't have taken Miss as a concubine!"
Yuan Qing was shocked and quickly poked Ling'er with his hand, afraid that she had offended his master and would be punished again.
"Why?" Xie Yanzhi's voice turned cold.
Ling'er took a deep breath, tears falling to the ground: "Because...because the person you're engaged to is you!"
"This young lady should have been your legal wife!"
Yuan Qing was shocked and didn't realize for a long time what he had just heard from Ling'er.
Xie Yanzhi clenched the jade pendant in his hand.
It turns out that when they first met at the Marquis of Jingnan's residence, Shen Qingnian already knew that he was her fiancé!
The person he minded every day was actually himself!
He was engaged to her, why didn't he know? Why didn't she tell him?
As if sensing Xie Yanzhi's doubts, Ling'er said, "Your marriage was arranged by Madam and her friend, Madam Yang."
"Shen Qingnian knew from the very beginning?"
"No, it was the night Madam arranged for us to escape that she told Miss."
Therefore, when they saw him at the Jingnan Marquis's residence, Shen Qingnian knew that he was the one she was betrothed to!
He is the fiancé he himself mentioned!
"Then why has she never mentioned this marriage to me?"
"Miss said that you are a high and mighty prince, while she is of lowly status and not a good match for you. It would be better to call off this marriage."
Forget it!
Who gave her permission to give up?
Anger and bitterness surged in Xie Yanzhi's chest.
It turns out that her avoidance of him was never a ploy to play hard to get.
Rather, from the very beginning, she had no intention of marrying him.
That's why she never told him, "Stop playing hard to get with those tricks."
"Being my concubine is a blessing for you."
"If the Crown Prince had a fiancée of such low status, would you abide by the marriage agreement, acknowledge the marriage, and marry her?"
Shen Qingnian looked at him with a cold gaze and asked the question in a flat tone.
“I will not marry her!” he said with a disdainful look.
A person of lowly status cannot become his crown prince's wife.
Images from the past suddenly flooded my mind.
Her fearful, hurt, and angry expressions kept replaying in my mind.
Xie Yanzhi felt a strange ache in his heart.
What did he say to her?
She was never a woman who clung to power! He was wrong from the start.
He even used his status and position to seduce her and used his power to coerce her! That's probably why she wanted to escape.
Xie Yanzhi appeared calm on the surface, but his brows were furrowed, and his heart was in turmoil, with a bitter taste rising in his throat.
He sat in the chair, not saying a word for a long time.
Shen Qingnian, Shen Qingnian, how could you be so foolish!
Xie Yanzhi tightened his fingers slightly and instantly crushed the teacup in his hand.
"Master!" Yuan Qing was anxious as he watched blood flow from Xie Yan's hand.
Ling'er quickly took out a handkerchief and asked Yuan Qing to wrap Xie Yanzhi's hand.
"Tell me everything that's wrong with her that I don't know."
Xie Yanzhi looked at Ling'er with icy eyes.
At this moment, in the next room.
Shen Changyin paced back and forth in the room, looking very uneasy.
He deeply regretted coming here today!
But there were guards outside the gate, and it was too late to return to the mansion.
Just as he was feeling anxious, the door opened.
Xie Yanzhi strode in with a dark expression, sat down in a chair, and rubbed the sandalwood box in his hand with his fingertips, his eyes as cold as ice.
"Your Highness, you may take my wife with you if you wish."
"We hope that Your Highness will spare us for Nian'er's sake."
Shen Changyin took the initiative to speak, hoping that Xie Yanzhi would let him off the hook for the sake of Shen Qingnian.
You are not worthy to mention her!
Xie Yanzhi spoke coldly, then turned his gaze to Madam Wang: "Did you do this to Madam Shen?"
Wang was so frightened that she shook her head repeatedly, feeling guilty and not daring to look at Xie Yanzhi.
"Was that woman in the courtyard just now your daughter?"
When Xie Yanzhi brought up Shen Qingrui again, Wang Shi didn't understand his meaning.
She thought for a moment and replied, "Yes, she is also Qingnian's younger sister."
Upon hearing this, Xie Yanzhi frowned. It seemed that everyone in the Shen family was cold-hearted.
How difficult Shen Qingnian's life must have been in the Shen family.
According to Ling'er, Shen Changyin forced himself to marry Madam Shen, and later took eight concubines.
He even forced his daughter to curry favor with the powerful and wealthy people he spoke of!
How can someone like that be fit to be a father!
Xie Yanzhi suddenly curled his lips, but his tone was not warm at all: "I think your daughter and Young Master Jiang are a good match. Why don't we choose a day to let them get married?"
Upon hearing this, Wang's expression changed drastically.
She had originally intended for Shen Qingrui to marry into the Jiang family.
But today, seeing Magistrate Jiang and Jiang Funian imprisoned, her Ruier marrying them now would undoubtedly be jumping into a fire pit.
"Your Highness..." Wang was about to plead for mercy, but was frightened away by Xie Yanzhi's gaze.
When Shen Changyin saw Xie Yanzhi looking at him, the meaning in his eyes was self-evident.
Now it's his turn.
Shen Changyin quickly asked, "Your Highness, may I ask where my daughter Nian'er is now? Please have her come out so we can have a word."
He had to find Shen Qingnian quickly and save her life.
Xie Yanzhi pointed to the box beside him: "She's here."
Shen Changyin stared at the box, his eyes filled with shock.
It turned out to be an urn containing ashes!
Shen Qingnian is dead?
Shen Changyin wasn't sad at all. After all, he had several daughters, but none of them were as beautiful as Shen Qingnian.
No one else had managed to climb up to the position of the heir apparent in the capital like she had.
If she were still alive, the future of the Shen family would be much brighter.
But she just died like that!
He felt both regret and anger.
Worse still, because of her, the prince has no intention of letting go of the Shen family or his father.
Shen Changyin's expression was rather unpleasant.
"Mr. Shen, are you feeling very disappointed that even your daughter can't save you?"
Upon hearing this, Shen Changyin wiped the sweat from his forehead.
"No, no."
"Didn't Master Shen just say he wanted to speak with Nian'er?"
Upon hearing this, Shen Changyin's heart leaped into his throat, and his hands and feet began to tremble.
"I'll have someone take you there right away," Xie Yanzhi's voice rang out again.
Shen Changyin collapsed to the ground, his eyes filled with terror.
Seeing this, Madam Wang quickly went over to support him, her voice trembling as she said, "Master?!"
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