Chapter 108: Twins! Xiao Hong’s Gift

Zhuqing followed Crown Princess Xie Yao’s gaze and asked softly, “Your Highness, what kind of lively scene are you expecting?”

Xie Yao only smiled and said, “Let’s go.”

But Xiao Ji seemed to sense something and instinctively held Xie Yao closer, protecting her more tightly.

Today, besides Princess Yongle, Consort Li was also present. Consort Li had regained the emperor’s favor, and she appeared magnificently dressed, sitting high in the seat of honor. When her eyes fell on Xie Yao and Xiao Ji, a flash of hatred appeared before she covered it with an even brighter smile.

“The Crown Prince and Crown Princess are here, please sit.”

Xie Yao and Xiao Ji greeted Consort Li and Princess Yongle with the proper courtesies before sitting opposite Princess Yongle. Many people’s gazes shifted to Xie Yao’s belly.

Consort Li’s look carried mockery, while Princess Yongle’s expression was unreadable. Consort Li said in an exaggerated tone, “By the look of the Crown Princess’s belly, she must be five or six months along already?”

Of course, Xie Yao’s belly was not that big. But most importantly, the Crown Prince’s wedding had only been five months ago. These words were meant to cast suspicion. Princess Yongle frowned slightly. She had always thought the Crown Prince and his wife were clever, but now… she wasn’t so sure.

Xie Yao answered with a calm smile, “Consort Li must be mistaken, it’s only been four months. But the palace physician said I am carrying twins, so my belly looks larger than usual.”

Her face glowed with happiness as she spoke, and her words instantly stunned everyone present. Excluding Consort Li and Princess Yongle, the noble ladies and officials’ wives began congratulating her one after another. The hall quickly filled with joy and laughter.

This day was supposed to celebrate Xiao Ning’s wedding, yet all the attention had shifted to Xie Yao. Consort Li was infuriated.

Her eyes swept across Xie Yao’s belly with cold malice. These bastards cannot be allowed to live! She had gone through so much to remove the first one, and now two more had appeared? Even if they weren’t truly the Crown Prince’s, as long as they bore that title, they were a threat and had to die! But with Xie Yao and Xiao Ji being so cautious and rarely leaving their residence since the emperor’s birthday festival, how could she strike?

For now, she could only watch as others showered Xie Yao with praise. Consort Li’s fury only grew. Xie Yao, damn her!

Naturally, Xie Yao noticed the murderous intent in Consort Li’s gaze, but she ignored it. After all, Consort Li wasn’t the only one who wanted her dead. Consort Li would just have to wait in line as Xie Yujiao wanted her gone even more.

Not long after, the wedding ceremony began. Xiao Ning wasn’t marrying into another family; instead, Hu Lianyuan would move into the Princess’s Mansion. As the bride and groom were about to bow in the ceremony, a voice rang out from outside, “How could I, as a younger brother, not attend my elder sister’s wedding?”

The crowd turned their heads, parting to form a path. Striding in was none other than the deposed Second Prince, Xiao Hong.

It had only been a month, but Xiao Hong had changed drastically. Once healthy and well-proportioned, he now looked thin and frail. His features were sharper, his temperament darker. He carried a brocade box in his hands, his gaze sinister as it locked onto the splendidly dressed Xiao Ning.

The hall fell silent. Xiao Ning’s heart sank with dread, but in front of so many guests, she couldn’t drive him away directly. Internally, she cursed, how had Xiao Hong gotten out?

Consort Li leapt to her feet, eyes red with tears. She staggered forward a few steps, crying, “Hong’er! How did you come out? Does your father know?” Leaving the residence without permission was a grave crime and doing it openly, before so many people, was even worse.

“Mother Consort,” Xiao Hong called softly, though his eyes never left Xiao Ning. “I came to deliver a wedding gift to my sister. Once I give it, I’ll leave.”

He approached with the box, holding it out to Xiao Ning. “Sister, won’t you open it?”

Their eyes met. Xiao Hong’s lips moved soundlessly, forming two words: account book.

Realization dawned on Xiao Ning. She finally understood why she had been stripped of her title. Reaching out, she opened the box.

Bang!

Screams erupted all around. Guests shrieked as something rolled out of the box. Xie Yao’s vision went black but only because Xiao Ji immediately raised his hand to shield her eyes. Though touched by his protectiveness, she still glimpsed the grisly “gift.”

It was a severed head. The head of Xiao Hong’s former confidant, the one who had accused him of spreading plague.

Chaos engulfed the Princess’s Mansion. Guests scrambled to leave. Amid the disorder, Xiao Hong laughed hysterically, nearly doubled over. “Sister, do you like my gift?”

Xiao Ning’s eyes turned icy, fury burning beneath them. Xiao Hong had such audacity!

The Imperial Guard quickly arrived to drag Xiao Hong away. He had clearly escaped confinement, and his public appearance was enough to wreck the wedding completely.

Back in the carriage, Xie Yao whispered, “It seems he didn’t find any evidence. How useless.” If he had, he would have overturned his case today instead of resorting to this spectacle. Xiao Ji, pleased with her sharp judgment, peeled an iced grape and fed it to her. “He’s a man with nothing left to lose. Aside from his life, he has nothing. And since this isn’t enough for the emperor to execute him, he isn’t afraid.”

Xie Yao nodded. “And you, my lord, have you found anything on the plague?”

Xiao Ji answered, “Pei Chen said that when I was in Nanzhou, a man in black was seen near the Second Prince’s residence. He was tall, but otherwise impossible to identify.”

“Tall?” Xie Yao frowned slightly.

Xiao Ji nodded. “We’re following that lead, but such disguises are easy. Open your mouth.”

Just as they returned to the Crown Prince’s residence, the steward hurried forward. “Your Highnesses, the Xie family has sent an invitation. They request you both return home for the Mid-Autumn Festival.”

As was tradition, married daughters returned to their families during the three major festivals. Normally, if the emperor held a palace banquet, Xie Yao would attend instead. But ever since the death of the late empress, the emperor had stopped hosting Mid-Autumn feasts. Now that her family had formally invited her, refusing could attract criticism.

If she were carefree and indifferent to others’ opinions, she could have ignored it. But she had goals to pursue. Resting her hand gently on her belly, she looked to Xiao Ji. “Your Highness?”

He understood at once, though his tone was only warm and reassuring. “If you wish to go, then go. I’ll accompany you.”

Xie Yao smiled, “Then let’s stop at my family house for a bit, and afterwards we can dine at the Zhao family’s. Would that be alright?”

“All according to you,” Xiao Ji replied softly.

Meanwhile, back at the Princess’s Mansion, the wrecked wedding banquet had left Xiao Ning furious. Yet once she returned to her study, her face calmed. Still in her scarlet bridal gown, she stepped directly into a hidden passageway…