Chapter 100:- Just Wanting to Join This Family

Xiao Ji led Xie Yao away in full stride.

Behind them, Xie Yuru’s eyes reddened, brimming with tears. Ever since she had witnessed Xiao Ji’s care and tenderness toward Xie Yao, she had longed desperately to gain the same.

“Father…”

Her voice was choked. “Did Sister say something to His Highness? But I wasn’t trying to snatch His Highness away from her…”

It must have been Xie Yao speaking ill of her in front of him!

Otherwise, why would His Highness despise her?

Minister Xie gave her a glance. His younger daughter was crying like pear blossoms in the rain, pitiful to behold.

His heart softened at once. “It doesn’t matters. The days ahead are long. His Highness will surely come to see your worth.”

Compared with that sharp-tongued, unfilial girl Xie Yao, the gentle and obedient Xie Yuru was exactly the sort of woman men adored.

He was a man, he understood.

In the carriage, Xiao Ji wrapped Xie Yao tightly in his arms without restraint. “Yao-yao, how did I perform just now?”

Xie Yao leaned in and rewarded him with a light kiss. “A reward for Your Highness.”

Xiao Ji’s hand clasped her waist. “Not enough.”

He reversed their roles, deepening the kiss until Xie Yao was breathless.

Her hands weakly pressed him away, her eyes shimmering like rippling waves. One glance was enough to make Xiao Ji long to devour this enchantress on the spot.

But they were in the carriage.

Drawing in a deep breath, he shifted the subject. “Next… Yao-yao, are you prepared?”

Although many suspected the child in her belly was not truly of royal blood, no one wished for the child to be safely born. It was the Crown Prince’s first child.

If a boy, it would be the First Imperial Grandson.

No one would gamble with such odds. To erase the child entirely was the simplest solution.

Xie Yao clasped Xiao Ji’s hand, her brows full of confidence. “With Your Highness here, I fear nothing.”

He returned the grasp, his other arm circling her waist, his palm resting over her belly.

Three months along, her flat stomach was already beginning to round. Through the fabric, Xiao Ji’s hand caressed gently. “With Yao-yao, I too fear nothing.”

The couple returned to the Crown Prince’s residence.

Their first stop was the study.

After washing his hands, Xiao Ji solemnly unrolled the painting he had taken from the Yangxing Palace.

It had been well preserved. The figure in the portrait was about nineteen, her smile radiant, her eyes overflowing with affection that seemed to spill from the paper.

Xiao Ji’s features bore some resemblance to the late Empress.

But looking at the portrait, Xie Yao was reminded more of another woman, Consort Shu.

Xiao Ji hung the painting carefully, then set an incense burner before it. Together, they knelt and offered incense to the late Empress.

He remembered clearly the words of the shaman: only one of them could live, and his mother had chosen him.

Thus, he must live well.

“Mother Empress,” Xie Yao said earnestly, her sweet voice firm, “please rest assured. As your daughter-in-law, I will take good care of His Highness and always remain by his side. With me here, he will never be lonely again.”

…

Xiao Hong had been deeply shaken by the day’s events. Originally, he had planned to ask his father to grant him and Wei Chan a marriage, but Xiao Ji had ruined everything.

Still, he was unwilling to concede.

So he sought out Consort Li, and mother and son went together to the Yangxing Palace.

Chief Eunuch Li stood outside, his expression stern and cold. “Consort Li, Second Prince, His Majesty has commanded that he will see no one.”

For Chief Eunuch Li to personally guard the doors and deliver such words could only mean the Emperor’s whereabouts were clear.

Consort Li’s face darkened instantly.

After all these years… the Emperor still could not forget that wretched woman!

He had even favored Consort Shu in recent years, simply because she resembled her slightly.

“Consort Li,” Chief Eunuch Li continued, “His Majesty has also commanded: since you are still under confinement, you should return at once to Weiyang Palace.”

Consort Li’s expression changed drastically. Incredulous, she asked, “That is His Majesty’s will?”

Chief Eunuch Li smiled faintly. “How could this servant dare to misreport the imperial decree?”

“Come. Escort Consort Li back to her palace.”

Consort Li departed unwillingly, her heart full of unease.

She had been with the Emperor for so many years. Only the year that wretched woman died had she been neglected for a time. Since then, had she ever endured such humiliation?

Their first meeting had been when her kite had landed before him.

And now… he would confine her?

Where had things gone wrong?

No matter how she racked her brains, she could not find the answer.

For after she was returned to Weiyang Palace, not only was she forbidden to leave, but even the Second Prince and Princess He Yi could no longer visit her.

Meanwhile, after the longevity banquet, a rumor spread swiftly through the capital:

The Crown Princess’s child was not the Crown Prince’s.

The gossip was detailed and vivid. Even Xie Yujiao’s shocked words of “impossible” upon hearing the pregnancy had been twisted into supposed proof.

“Crown Princess…” Zhuxin’s face was ugly. “I’ve investigated. Aside from the Second Prince and Princess He Yi, the rumors also came from Second Young Lady and Third Young Lady.”

Those stupid, brainless brats!

Did they not realize that by slandering the Crown Princess, they themselves as Xie daughters would be dragged down as well?

“Mm.”

Xie Yao was not surprised. “Send what you found directly to Minister Xie.”

Someone was in more of a hurry than she was.

“Yes,” Zhuxin nodded, and then asked, “What about the Second Prince and Princess He Yi? Should we just leave them be?”

Before Xie Yao could answer, Zhuqing entered from outside. “Crown Princess, your cousin has arrived.”

That cousin, naturally, was Zhao Ying.

Xie Yao’s lips curved, her reply serving as answer to Zhuxin. “Let her in.”

Zhao Ying was ushered inside. No sooner had she sat down than she handed Xie Yao a stack of documents. “Yao-yao, this is what you asked for.”

Xie Yao accepted without hesitation. “Thank you, Sister Ying.”

Zhao Ying lifted the teacup and took a sip. “Following your lead, I investigated the epidemic in the southern province.”

“It was indeed the Second Prince.” A chill flashed in Zhao Ying’s eyes. “With such a heart, if he truly gains power, the people of the realm would suffer endlessly!”

A prince, yet he treated the lives of the common folk as mere weeds.

Utterly shameful!

Xie Yao studied the materials carefully. The evidence Zhao Ying provided was crystal clear. She picked out one page and smiled. “Sister Ying, well done.”

Such information could not have been obtained by merchants alone.

Zhao Ying’s gaze flickered with unease. She coughed lightly. “After all, we once shared life and death. So a favor is still owed.”

“So, Marquis Zhenbei also knows of this?” Xie Yao did not probe Zhao Ying’s relationship with him.

At once, Zhao Ying’s expression steadied. She nodded. “I discovered it while investigating.”

Xie Yao inclined her head.

If Marquis Zhenbei knew, then His Highness did as well.

She thought a moment, deciding to consult him on the matter. But before she could, Zhuqing entered again with a smile.

“Crown Princess, a letter from His Highness.”

Hm?

Which Highness?

Xie Yao looked at the envelope. Upon it were the words: “To the Crown Princess, personally.” It was clearly Xiao Ji’s handwriting.

She slowly opened it, finding only a single bold line: Follow your heart. As long as Yao-yao is happy, it is enough.

Xie Yao could not stop her lips from curving upward.

The Crown Prince…

He must have known Sister Ying was here. As a man, it was inconvenient for him to come himself, so he had written a letter instead.

She rose and went to the desk, taking up her brush to write a reply to Xiao Ji.

On the envelope, she penned: “To the Crown Prince, personally.” Then she handed it to Zhuqing.

Catching Zhao Ying’s teasing smile, Xie Yao showed no embarrassment. Her eyes gleamed sharply. “This kind of matter is something the world must know.”

“Strike when he’s weak, and take his life!”

“Since we have the chance, let’s bring down Xiao Hong first.”