After Marrying the Heirless Crown Prince, I Gave Birth to Three Children - Chapter 10

Chapter 10: Poisoning the Crown Princess

After sending off the Crown Prince, Xie Yao was still poring over the account books when Zhuqing came in from outside.

Her face was dark, her expression unpleasant. “Crown Princess, I asked someone to examine the medicine. It is colorless and tasteless, able to take a life without anyone noticing.”

“What a vicious heart!”

Naturally, Zhuqing was speaking of Madam Zhang. From the bottom of her heart, she felt indignant for Xie Yao. “Even though the Crown Princess was not born of her, all these years you have always treated her with respect.”

“If Madam were still alive…” How could the Crown Princess be subjected to such humiliation?

Xie Yao lowered her eyes.

The Xie family had humble origins. Her own mother had been from a merchant household. After giving birth to her, her health failed, and before long, she passed away.

Half a year later, Master Xie was betrothed to Zhang Xianyin, a concubine-born daughter of the current Minister of Revenue’s household. A year later, Xie Yujiao was born.

Since childhood, she had grown up under Madam Zhang’s hand. Her maternal family’s business was prosperous, sending the Xie family countless amounts of gold and silver every year. When she was young, she was often taken to stay with her grandmother’s family.

But after only a few years, her grandmother’s business moved to Jiangnan, leaving no time to care for her. She was then sent back to the Xie household.

Madam Zhang had always looked down on her. When she reached her teens and her figure began to mature, Madam Zhang found her even more displeasing to the eye.

And Xie Yujiao had bullied her all the more.

“It doesn’t matter.” Xie Yao never cared about Madam Zhang’s attitude and naturally would not feel hurt.

But in her previous life, when she had been abused by Song Wenbo, Zhuqing had risked her life to rush to the Xie household, begging them to rescue her.

Madam Zhang, however, ordered Zhuqing sent back to the Song household, declaring that since Xie Yao had married Song Wenbo, she was now a Song, and no matter what happened, it was for Song Wenbo to decide.

That incident had infuriated Song Wenbo.

Which was what ultimately led to the tragic fates of Zhuqing and Zhuxin.

This hatred… must be repaid!

“Zhuqing.” Xie Yao picked up a brush and wrote down an address, handing it to her. “Have someone check if a mother and her two children live there.”

“Yes.” Though Zhuqing did not understand how the Crown Princess knew so much, she asked no questions, memorized the address, and quickly left.

Zhuxin then brought in Momo Xu.

“Crown Princess.” Momo Xu bowed respectfully.

“Please sit, Momo.” Xie Yao did not look down on her due to her higher status. “These past days I’ve been reviewing the accounts and have noticed some irregularities…”

Momo Xu grew frightened and hurriedly knelt. “Please forgive this old servant. It is my negligence…”

“Please rise.” Xie Yao personally helped her up. “I naturally trust you. This matter is not your fault.”

“It’s just that this Crown Prince’s household is in need of cleaning up.”

Of course Momo Xu had no objections. “This old servant obeys.”

The Crown Princess was finally going to take charge as the mistress of the household. Momo Xu could only feel happy about it.

“Yuyan, summon the household accountants and the stewards from each department.”

On the second day of her wedding, Xie Yao had already met the stewards of the Crown Prince’s residence. Meeting them again today, they were not strangers.

But today, her aura was entirely different from that day.

After saluting, the stewards stood waiting respectfully in the courtyard, each with their head lowered.

Xie Yao sat in the hall, a stack of account books on the table beside her. Her eyes swept over the gathered men with authority.

“I have now been in the Crown Prince’s household for three days. I am familiar with the rules and procedures. From today onward, all internal affairs will be managed by me.”

“I have only one requirement for you: everything must be done according to proper rules and procedures.”

Her steady voice made the stewards respond in unison. “Yes, Crown Princess.”

“The stewards may go back to their duties. The accountants will stay.”

Once the stewards had departed, Xie Yao questioned the accountants about the practice of withdrawing funds in advance. She made it clear that this was forbidden in the future.

Though the accountants did not quite understand, the Crown Princess had spoken; they dared not disobey. Each one promised compliance.

After giving her instructions, Xie Yao had Zhuxin distribute rewards, and then dismissed them.

—

At the Song household.

The previous night, Xie Yujiao had been summoned by Song Wenbo’s widowed mother, Madam Song Li, to wait on her. She did not return to her room until dawn.

Song Wenbo himself had spent the night in his study again, but Xie Yujiao had no energy to care.

She had gone to bed late, so naturally she rose late.

Just then, a sharp voice rang from outside the courtyard, “What time do you think it is? What kind of new bride lazes about like this? The sun is already high and you’re still sleeping!”

The speaker was none other than Madam Song Li.

She wore a bright red outfit, her whole demeanor brimming with cheer. Years of labor had left her body thin and wiry, so the clothes hung somewhat loosely on her.

Her hair was piled up, stuck full of golden and jade hairpins. Neck and wrists jingled with jewelry.

She looked exactly like a walking jewelry rack.

Her chest puffed out with pride. After all, she had worked hard for years to raise her son. Now he had achieved success, not only becoming a scholar but also marrying the daughter of a powerful household.

All the more, this daughter had abandoned the Crown Prince himself to marry her son!

Wasn’t that the proof that her son was more impressive than the Crown Prince?

Seeing Madam Song Li marching toward Xie Yujiao’s chamber, Momo Zhang, whom Madam Zhang had placed by her daughter’s side, hurried forward to block her.

“Old Madam, the Young Madam only returned after waiting on you until the dawn. She is still resting.”

Madam Song Li gave Momo Zhang a scornful glance, her face full of disdain. “And who do you think you are? Get out of my way!”

Even Momo Zhang was struck speechless.

How had the Second Young Miss married into such a family? This Old Madam may have raised a son to the level of scholar, but her behavior was utterly vulgar and crude!

Completely unpresentable!

“In our village, a lazy wife like this would be beaten! Hurry and get her up to serve me breakfast. Do you want to starve me to death?”

Momo Zhang forced a stiff smile. “Old Madam, there are servants in the household for such tasks.”

“It is a daughter-in-law’s duty to serve her elders! All the village women know that; don’t these pampered young ladies know such basic things?”

Momo Zhang’s face darkened.

In respectable households, even if new brides were tested and disciplined, it was always done discreetly. Who would ever speak so crudely, so shamefully in public?

“Old Madam, our young lady has always been cherished like a pearl in her parents’ hands, raised in utmost comfort…”

“Now that she’s married into the Song family, she must follow the Song family’s rules.” Madam Song Li snorted. “If she doesn’t get up to serve me, then let her return to her parents’ home!”

“My son is destined to become Grand Chancellor! Otherwise, why would someone abandon her marriage to the Crown Prince just to marry into our family?”

“And someone who throws herself at us like that, what good could she be?”

Her voice was loud, and Momo Zhang and the others heard every word clearly. None of them had expected the Old Madam to be so shameless!

Momo Zhang was so angry tears fell down her cheeks. Her young lady had been foolish indeed!

To give up a marriage to the Crown Prince himself, only to come to this filthy household,
And now to be humiliated like this!

Just days ago, the Old Madam had not been like this. But after returning from the family visit yesterday, she had suddenly changed.

The young master was not considerate either. The young lady would surely suffer much more in days to come.

Momo Zhang wiped her tears and instructed a maid, “Quickly return to the Xie household and tell Madam everything that just happened.”