After Marrying the Heirless Crown Prince, I Gave Birth to Three Children - Chapter 11

Chapter 11: Driven Back to Her Parents Home in Anger

She turned and went inside to wake Xie Yujiao.

Back in the day, the Xie family’s Old Madam also came from a humble background, but she was nothing like this difficult old shrew of the Song family. At the very least, Old Madam Zhang cared about saving face.

Madam Song Li, however, was nothing but a shrew!

“Madam, Madam, it’s time to get up.”

Momo Zhang and the personal maid Qiucha hurried inside, softly calling their sleeping mistress.
“It’s time to go pay respects to the Old Madam.”

Slap!

Awakened by the noise, Xie Yujiao swung her hand back and landed a slap across Qiucha’s face.
“Shut up!”

“Pay respects? Pay respects for what?” Her irritation was unbearable. When she was still in her natal family, she had never once paid such respects. And now she had to do so in this shabby Song household?

That old hag, what kind of thing was she?

Did she even deserve it?

Qiucha bit her lip lightly, swallowing her grievance without daring to show it. In a low voice, she said, “The Old Madam came in person to urge you…”

“Tell her to get lost!” Xie Yujiao was so irritable she could barely control herself.

But of course, such words could never be repeated aloud. Qiucha’s knees gave way as she knelt on the ground, eyes brimming red with grievance as she looked toward Momo Zhang for help.

Momo Zhang took a deep breath, sat by the bedside, and said in a low voice, “My good young lady, you mustn’t speak such things.”

“No matter what, the Old Madam is still the young master’s mother and your elder.”
If such words were to spread, not only would her young lady’s reputation be ruined, all the daughters of the Xie family would be implicated.

Even her mistress, the Madam of the house, would be condemned as having failed to raise her daughters properly.

“Momo,” Xie Yujiao’s tone softened considerably toward Momo Zhang. “I only lay down at around 3–5 a.m. I’m truly too exhausted.”

Why?

Why was it that Xie Yao, after marrying into the Song family, enjoyed harmony with her husband, while she herself had to endure such torment?

Momo Zhang drew her into an embrace, sighing, “This useless old servant has let you suffer grievance.”

Just then, another maid’s voice came from outside, “Madam, the Old Madam is urging again.”

“Where is my husband?” Xie Yujiao asked.

Last night, she had resolved to consummate her marriage with Song Wenbo, but was summoned by Madam Song Li and only returned around 3–5 a.m., leaving her no chance.

“The young master went out early this morning,” Qiucha answered softly.

Yesterday, Song Wenbo had promised before his parents that he would treat her well. But now?

And yet, thinking of the honorific title of Grand Chancellor Rank, and recalling Song Wenbo’s vow of “one lifetime, one pair only,” Xie Yujiao forced herself to take a deep breath. “Let’s go!”

That night, Xie Yujiao was once again detained by Madam Song Li. She did not even see Song Wenbo’s face.

After three such days, Xie Yujiao could no longer endure the humiliation. With Momo Zhang and her entourage in tow, she stormed back to her parents’ home!

—-

Inside the Crown Prince’s Residence.

News that Xie Yujiao had returned to her natal home reached Xie Yao almost immediately.

The Song family had never been a great household to begin with. Their current residence was even one gifted by Song Wenbo’s mistress, which was small and unimpressive.

With both Xie Yujiao and Madam Song Li managing things there, it was very easy to obtain information from within the Song household.

Zhuxin relayed the events of the past three days with an almost joking tone, as if telling a funny story.

Xie Yao lounged lazily against her chair, lips curved in a faint smile.

Madam Song Li was still that same snobbish woman who judged people based on their status. Though a rural woman, she was the type to bully the weak and fear the strong.

In her previous life, when she herself married in, Madam Song Li had treated her well for a while. But when she realized that Xie Yao’s ties with the Xie family were not especially close and coupled with Song Wenbo’s abuse, Madam Song Li began to target her.

But toward Xie Yujiao…..Madam Song Li turned hostile even faster.

Just as Madam Song Li had said herself, “Xie Yujiao had been the one to insist on marrying into the Song family.” Naturally, Madam Song Li would not respect her.

After Zhuxin finished recounting, her face was full of relief. “Your Highness the Crown Princess, it’s fortunate that Second Young Miss snatched away the Song family’s marriage. Otherwise, stepping into that household would be like walking into a pit of fire.”

If Second Young Miss was bullied by Madam Song Li, at least she still had her natal family to return to. But if it had been their mistress…

She could only have endured it.

“Indeed.” Xie Yao’s voice was soft and distant, her gaze flickering for an instant. “But it’s all in the past now…”

It was all already something from her previous life.

When Xiao Ji entered, this was the scene he saw.

She was dressed in a hibiscus-red gown, reclining gracefully on the soft couch by the window. The fresh green vitality of early spring framed her figure, making her entire being glow with unmatched beauty.

As she lay on her side, her curves were even more accentuated… Xiao Ji frowned.

“Your Highness, the Crown Prince.”

The maid at the door gave her greeting. Startled, Xie Yao quickly rose to her feet and bowed. “Your Highness.”

“Mm.”

Xiao Ji sat down across from her, glanced at Zhuxin and the others, and said, “You may leave.”

The maids instinctively looked to Xie Yao. Seeing her slight nod, they withdrew.

“Loyal indeed,” Xiao Ji commented casually.

Xie Yao pressed her lips into a smile. “Please do not blame them, Your Highness.”

Xiao Ji: “…”

That was not what he had meant.

He considered for a moment before saying, “I came today because there is something I wish to tell you.”

“You were right last time. That Steward Ding truly had problems. Not only did he frequent gambling dens, he even used the Crown Prince’s Residence as a front to lend extreme loans.”

The law strictly forbade such practices, yet that man, a steward of the Crown Prince’s household, had dared to knowingly break it.

Xiao Ji had already investigated everyone in his residence. He had not expected such a fish to slip through the net.

His eyes flashed with killing intent, his peripheral vision carefully watching Xie Yao’s reaction.

“What?” Xie Yao’s face was full of shock and outrage. “How could such a thing be? That man is truly vile! Does he wish to ruin Your Highness?”

“In the past, I heard my uncle speak of such matters. Many poor families, after borrowing such extreme loans and failing to repay, were forced to the point of suicide! If it reached that stage, then…”

Then even as Crown Prince, he would not be free from blame.

“Mm.” Xiao Ji nodded. “That man Ding is far from clean.”

Xie Yao nodded repeatedly. “To eat from within and betray his master, he is truly despicable!”

Xiao Ji looked at her, his dark eyes tinged with probing curiosity. Was this matter truly just coincidence?

It did not seem so.

Although Xie Yao’s display of shock and anger was very convincing, he still sensed something was off.

Being stared at like this, Xie Yao’s cheeks flushed slightly, as if embarrassed. Even her tone softened.
“Then, how does Your Highness plan to deal with this man?”

‘Yao-yao admires Your Highness greatly…’

That line flickered through Xiao Ji’s mind. He raised his fist to his lips, coughed lightly, and said, “I’ll deal with him according to the law.”

Every act left traces. No matter how cleanly he erased it, it would remain a hidden danger in the future.

Better to resolve it now, while the matter had not yet blown up; punish the man according to the law, and then soothe the commoners who had been trapped by the usury.

At worst, he would bear the charge of negligence.

But that was acceptable.

Xie Yao nodded. “Your Highness is wise.”

“The credit belongs to you.” The Crown Prince looked at her. “Do you want any reward?”

Xie Yao’s eyes lit up. “Your Highness truly wishes to reward me?”

“Mm.” The Crown Prince nodded. “As long as it is within my power, the Crown Princess only needs to ask.”

“Then I want Your Highness to share meals with me every day!” Xie Yao blurted out. If she did not see him, how could they build affection?

How could she conceive a child?

Xiao Ji fell silent.

Xie Yao glanced at his expression, and then slowly lowered her head. “I have made things difficult for Your Highness…”