Chapter 103: The Crown Princess’s Little Dog

“Idiot!”

The moment Xie Yuru finished speaking, the other young ladies quietly edged away from her, as though afraid her stupidity might be contagious.

Xie Yao’s eyes, half-smiling yet sharp, swept over Xie Yuru before shifting to the others beside her.

Wei Chan, dressed in neat, practical riding attire, her face bare of makeup, cupped her hands and saluted with open frankness. “Greetings to the Crown Prince, Crown Princess.”

Another girl wore pale green robes, her whole being carrying a scholarly air. This was Xuan Yue, the Crown Prince’s fellow disciple and the youngest legitimate daughter of the Crown Prince’s tutor.

A third girl, dressed in goose-yellow, had a sweet, innocent face and bright, lively eyes. She was Lin Panpan, the pampered granddaughter of Duke Dingguo.

The remaining two ladies also curtsied in turn.

Wei Chan and Xuan Yue kept their gazes firmly ahead, not sparing the Crown Prince even a glance. Lin Panpan’s eyes brimmed with curiosity. Only Xie Yuru’s gaze was filled with naked ambition.

Xie Yao gave a slight nod, then instructed the Crown Prince’s steward to prepare rooms for the four young ladies.

Even as Xie Yuru was led away, she kept turning her head back toward the Crown Prince, but not once did she receive so much as a flicker of his attention. His eyes stayed fixed on Xie Yao alone.

She bit her lip in unwillingness.

Xie Yao smiled, though the smile never reached her eyes. “Your Highness truly has good fortune.”

The excuse of “accompanying the Crown Princess” was paper-thin. Each girl here, whether by her own wish or by imperial arrangement, had come for the Crown Prince.

Each one was of a different style. Clearly, the Emperor had not chosen them at random.

Xiao Ji’s heart gave a violent thump, sudden unease rushing through him. He instinctively seized Xie Yao’s hand. “Yao-yao, this matter—”

Otherwise, he would have rejected the idea outright before they ever set foot in the Crown Prince’s Palace. But to refuse in private and to openly defy the Emperor were two entirely different things.

“Your Highness needn’t worry,” Xie Yao said evenly. “I will see the young ladies are settled. But if Your Highness does take a liking to someone, please tell me beforehand…”

At least then, she could preserve some dignity for herself. Better that than to be the last to know.

Xiao Ji’s expression darkened. He cut her off sharply. “What are you saying?” His gaze blazed at her, filled with disbelief.

Xie Yao lowered her lashes, refusing to meet his eyes.

He was furious. A bitter laugh escaped him, his expression shifting from cold to wounded to helpless. In the end, he said nothing harsh.

How could he? She was carrying his child.

“What I want is for you to wait in the residence,” Xiao Ji said curtly, turning on his heel.

“Your Highness is going to the Emperor, isn’t he?” Xie Yao caught the hem of his robe, her head still bowed. “If you go now, His Majesty will think it is because of my jealousy and that I cannot tolerate others…”

Xiao Ji stopped dead and turned back, staring hard at her as though to see through her soul. “And you feel no jealousy?”

“I do not wish anyone else by Your Highness’s side, of course,” she answered carefully. “But… Your Highness is the Crown Prince.”

“Xie Yao.” He pressed his lips into a tight line. “I will not have anyone else.”

She looked up at him then, her smile sweet and obedient.

But he caught the meaning in her eyes. “You… don’t believe me.”

Her smile froze. For once, the sharp-tongued, quick-witted woman was silent. She didn’t know what to say. “I…”

His expression softened only slightly. At last, he said, “The Crown Princess is pregnant. Go back and rest.” Then he walked away.

“Your Highness…”

Zhuxin and Zhuqing, her two close maids, exchanged worried looks. “Since you conceived, His Highness has never once spoken of taking other women. How could you…? The Crown Prince must be truly angry this time.”

He had always faced her with a smile. Never before had his expression been so dark, so frightening.

Xie Yao’s lips curved coldly. “This was the Emperor’s warning to me.”

She paused, then added, “How can a Crown Prince ever have only one woman?”

That was something she had understood the moment she married into this position.

She might say she admired him, but deep down she clutched her own heart tightly. She wanted power. She wanted survival.

Xiao Ji treated her extraordinarily well, and lately, she had sometimes felt herself faltering. But today’s events were a slap to wake her from her daze.

Fortunately, no one but her could bear the Crown Prince’s child. That was her bottom line, her bargaining chip.

And for now, she could not afford to offend the Emperor over a few women.

She had to live.

The maids exchanged another glance, worry in their eyes, but they knew she was right. There had never been a Crown Prince with only one consort.

But still…

Xiao Ji was furious.

At first, his anger burned at Xie Yao’s lack of trust. But quickly, it shifted to fury at the Emperor, and then at himself.

By evening, he entered the palace.

When he saw the Emperor, his first words were, “I might as well be dead.”

…….

Back in the main courtyard, Xie Yao instinctively reached for her books. They were lessons Xiao Ji had assigned, and under his stern guidance she had already read a good number of texts and improved greatly.

But tonight, she couldn’t concentrate.

At dinner, Xiao Ji still didn’t return. Ever since he had promised to share her evening meals, they had dined together every day except during their time in Nanzhou.

Without him, she felt unsettled.

The sky had long since gone dark. She forced herself to eat a few bites, then put down her chopsticks.

“Crown Princess.”

Zhuqing trying to distract her mistress, whispered, “Third Young Lady went to the guest courtyard earlier. She had the maids inquire about His Highness’s preferences…”

Before she could finish, Zhuxin nudged her sharply with an elbow.

Really? Bringing that up now?

Zhuqing clapped a hand over her mouth, guilt plain on her face. She scrambled to add, “She also went to find Young Master Zhan.”

Xie Yao’s brows knit at once. “Why was she looking for Ah-zhan?”

Zhuqing hesitated. “She asked him about the Crown Prince’s preferences. And also… she warned him.”

“Watch her closely,” Xie Yao ordered coldly. “She must not disturb Ah-zhan.”

She had brought Xie Zhan into the Crown Prince’s Palace to nurture him carefully. The boy was gifted.

Whether it was Xie Zhan or Ye Ping’an, both would someday stand behind her and her child.

She would not allow their growth to be disrupted.

Outside the door, Xiao Ji had just arrived when he overheard her words. His steps faltered, and he drew back the foot he had lifted.

So… even Xie Zhan was more important to her than he was?

The thought fanned his anger. The more he brooded, the hotter his fury grew. He spun on his heel and stalked off.

Si-nan, his attendant, dared a glance at his expression and asked cautiously, “Your Highness, where are we going?”

Xiao Ji ground his teeth, spitting out each word, “To check on my brother-in-law’s studies.”

Xie Yao, of course, had no idea her words had been overheard. As night deepened, drowsiness overtook her, and she finally lay down to rest.

Later, Xiao Ji returned to the main courtyard. When he saw the lamps already extinguished, his anger surged once more. He vaulted in through the window, moving quietly to her bedside.

Bathed in moonlight, he saw her sleeping face.

Her brows were faintly drawn, her rest uneasy.

His lips pressed tight. He stared at her until he heard her murmur in her sleep: “Your Highness…”

In that instant, his heart softened completely.

He slipped off his outer robe and lay beside her, drawing her into his arms. The moment he did, her expression eased, her frown smoothing away.

All his anger drained away, replaced by a swell of indescribable contentment.

His Crown Princess was truly the most sensible woman in the world.