Chapter 114: Just a Bastard, and She Dares?

The envoys from the palace arrived with an air of superiority, even bringing a carriage, as if making it clear that Xie Yao had no choice but to enter the palace.

Her first instinct was to glance at Xiao Ji. Could it be that what he had done last night had been exposed, and Consort Li was here for revenge? No… that didn’t seem right. For Consort Li to appear so forcefully, there must be another reason. Someone was backing her.

The Emperor.

Xie Yao lowered her gaze slightly. Her suspicion from the night of the attack was now confirmed; the ambush on her had likely carried the Emperor’s tacit approval. And now… he suspected her?

Truly, a man who sat upon the throne was never without sharp instincts.

“Very well,” she replied softly. “Allow me to change.”

“Yao-yao.” Xiao Ji immediately followed at her side. “I’ll go with you into the palace.”

She didn’t refuse.

Inside the main chamber, she changed clothes, then carefully applied powder to conceal the faint scars on her injured fingers. Better to be cautious than sorry.

Xiao Ji never left her side, his voice low and steady. “Yao-yao, don’t be afraid. Nothing will happen to you.”

They entered the palace together. But as soon as they arrived, Xiao Ji was summoned to the Emperor, while Xie Yao was led to Weiyang Palace.

Consort Li, still worn from her bitter crying over Xiao Hong’s plight, had tidied herself carefully to receive Xie Yao. Even so, her haggardness showed through. In truth, she did not know the Emperor’s exact intentions in asking her to meet the Crown Princess. She was merely following orders.

Her words were perfunctory. “I heard you were attacked, Crown Princess. You must have been terribly frightened. Is the child safe?”

“Thank you for your concern, Your Ladyship,” Xie Yao replied gently. “All is well.”

“That’s good.”

They exchanged a few pleasantries before the hall grew quiet again. Then Consort Li gestured. “Since you carry royal blood and the attack was a grave matter, now that you are in the palace, it is only proper to have the imperial physicians examine you.”

Her words were immediately followed by attendants ushering in physicians who were clearly prepared in advance.

Xie Yao could not refuse. Soon the physician reported respectfully, “The Crown Princess is somewhat unsettled in spirit due to the fright, but the fetus remains stable. A few days of calming medicine will suffice.”

Medicine. The word alone made Xie Yao wary. Though she was confident in her body’s unique constitution, she had no desire to let others manipulate her so easily.

Consort Li nodded, then asked, “Aside from this, do you have any other injuries? You must not conceal them.”

Lowering her eyes, Xie Yao answered mildly, “Thanks to my maids’ protection, I was unharmed.”

Consort Li even had female physicians check her one by one before finally feeling satisfied. Yet she still didn’t understand why the Emperor had been so insistent on this matter.

Then it struck her. She bit her lip.

The Emperor was showing concern for Xie Yao and her child. But surely he knew that Xiao Ji was infertile. The child in her belly could not be his. Why care for a bastard?

Unless…

For that woman’s sake, the Emperor was willing to indulge Xiao Ji, to acknowledge the child in Xie Yao’s womb as legitimate?

At the very thought, rage flared within Consort Li. A bastard. That’s all it is. How dare it be recognized?

That wretched woman had been dead twenty years, yet her shadow still lingered!

Xie Yao lifted her eyes at that moment, catching the look Consort Li was giving her belly. Her expression twisted with hatred and murder.

…

Meanwhile, Xiao Ji was summoned to the Yangxing Palace. The Emperor’s face was stern as he asked, “I heard the Crown Princess was attacked. How is she now?”

Xiao Ji answered carefully, hiding his vigilance.

The Emperor nodded. Soon, Chief Eunuch Li entered, whispered something in his ear, and departed. For the briefest instant, the Emperor’s gaze toward Xiao Ji softened.

He suspects me, Xiao Ji thought, lowering his eyes as though he had noticed nothing.

When only father and son remained, the Emperor said, “Have you thought over what I told you last time?”

He was referring to his decree: royal bloodlines must remain pure. If Xiao Ji insisted, he could keep his wife despite her “unfaithfulness” but the child could never be allowed to live.

Xiao Ji pressed his lips together. He had never told the Emperor about Xie Yao’s special constitution. The reason was simple, he did not trust him. But both Xie Yao and the child, he intended to protect.

He lifted his eyes, steady and unyielding. “I can live another two years.”

The Emperor froze. In those eyes he glimpsed the same unwavering determination as in someone long gone. How long had it been since he’d seen such fire? From childhood, Xiao Ji’s gaze had always been lifeless, calm as dead water. Now, because of Xie Yao, he burned with resolve.

The Emperor could not say what he felt, only that it was tangled and complex. For the first time, he wavered.

Soon after, Xiao Ji and Xie Yao left the palace. Though he knew she was unharmed, he still inspected her thoroughly once more.

Xie Yao spun lightly before him, smiling softly. “See, Your Highness? I’m fine.”

Just then, a carriage approached.

“That’s… Song Wenbo’s carriage?” Xie Yao asked.

Xiao Ji nodded. “His Majesty summoned him.”

They had barely returned to their residence when Si-nan, hurried to meet them with grave news.

“Your Highness, we have a lead. One of the Second Prince’s hidden guards left his residence today and visited a fur shop in the eastern quarter. Though he was discreet, we tracked him. We now have men watching the shop.”

Xie Yao asked, “Does this tie back to those who visited the Second Prince during the Nanzhou epidemic affair?”

Xiao Ji nodded. “If Xiao Hong wasn’t truly behind it, this man may be connected.”

Both their expressions grew solemn. Whoever could remain hidden this long was dangerous indeed.

At that moment, a servant’s voice rang out from outside.

“Your Highness, Crown Princess, the Zhao Matriarch, Madam Zhao, and Young Lady Zhao have arrived.”

Xie Yao rose, only to hear another announcement.

“Madam Xie, Second Young Lady Xie, and Third Young Lady Xie have also come.”

Relatives from both sides, arriving together.

She could not favor one side over the other. Still, her voice was cool. “Let them in.”

Though related, the Zhao and Xie families entered clearly divided.

At once, the elderly Zhao Matriarch, supported by Zhao Ying, hurried to Xie Yao’s side, clutching her hands and scanning her anxiously. “You’re unharmed? Good, good.”

Knowing the attack had happened on Xie Yao’s way back from their estate, the Zhao family had nearly been frightened to death. Only when the word came from the Crown Prince’s Residence that she was safe, had they been able to breathe again. Still, the matriarch had to see her with her own eyes to be assured.

Xie Yao helped her grandmother to a seat. “You needn’t worry, Grandmother. Both I and the child are safe.”

The old lady exhaled in relief.

Meanwhile, Xie Yujiao sat with her own pregnant belly, eyes glinting with mockery as she looked at her cousin. “It was such a huge commotion that night, yet your child remained unharmed… Truly, Heaven must favor you, Sister.”

If only that bastard in her belly had perished, it would have been far too merciful. Better to let her grow joyous and complacent, believing herself untouchable, and then shatter her world later. That would be the sweetest revenge.