Chapter 116: Yao-yao, Be Good, One More Time, Alright?

“Hmm?”

Xie Yao lifted her gaze, a flicker of surprise in her eyes.

Was it… because of Elder Sister Ying’s matter?

“Alright.”

“No.”

Two voices rang out at the same time. Xie Yao turned her head toward Xiao Ji, while Pei Chen looked at the two of them, his brows arched ever so slightly.

A moment later….

Xiao Ji and Si-nan left the study together.

Xie Yao looked at Pei Chen. “Marquis, do you want to ask me about Elder Sister Ying?” From what she knew, after Mid-Autumn Festival, Elder Sister Ying had once again left the capital.

She had gone south for business.

Elder Sister Ying had said that in the south, there were great ships that could sail overseas, something she was very interested in.

Pei Chen pressed his lips together, the tips of his ears faintly red.

Clearly a rough-and-ready man, yet at this moment he seemed rather embarrassed. “Mn.”

“…What does the marquis wish to ask?”

“But first, I’ll say this, I won’t tell you everything.”

Although the Marquis of Zhenbei did look quite good; handsome, well-built, skilled in martial arts, with military merit to his name, from a simple family background, and appearing even a bit pure—

Still… compared to her Elder Sister Ying, he fell a little short.

Pei Chen asked very seriously, “What kind of men does she like?”

…

Outside the study.

Si-nan was reporting in a low voice, “Your Highness, people from the palace reported that these days, Song Wenbo has been entering the palace every single day.”

“Each time, he would have long private discussions with His Majesty, with even Chief Eunuch Li not present.”

In just a few short days, Song Wenbo had clearly become the emperor’s new favorite.

Even Chief Eunuch Li had to yield before him.

“According to your orders, I inquired at the Song household…” Si-nan’s expression turned awkward and strange. “At night, Madam Song always speaks of… matters of the future.”

He truly had no wish to overhear things like that.

But—

Every time, Madam Song would only bring it up in the height of pleasure.

One had to admit, he rather admired Song Wenbo.

Though the man himself was no longer capable, he still had quite a few tricks.

Shaking off those distracting thoughts, Si-nan added, “Madam Song also said she had dreams of them.”

Dream?

Matters of the future?

Xiao Ji almost instantly connected this with the flood disaster in Nanzhou.

It concerned his own crown princess…

His fingertips curled slightly. “This must not be leaked. Wipe away every trace!”

He could not allow anyone to connect the crown princess with the Nanzhou flood.

“Yes.”

Si-nan answered at once, turned, and went to arrange the matter.

Only then did Xiao Ji turn toward the study again, brows furrowing. Why hadn’t she come out yet?

Finally, the study door opened.

Pei Chen pulled it open, his face twisted, and as if suddenly realizing something, his expression turned bizarre.

He didn’t stop as he passed by Xiao Ji, looking utterly dazed.

Xiao Ji raised his brows slightly at the sight.

Did he lose his mind?

Not bothering with him, Xiao Ji strode quickly into the study. The crown princess was already bent over the account books again.

“Yao-yao…”

Xiao Ji had only just opened his mouth when Xie Yao blinked lightly, her voice soft and sweet, “Your Highness.”

Fine.

He would not ask.

Xiao Ji stood before the desk, leaning down over her account book, blocking her line of sight.

Forcing Xie Yao to raise her eyes to him.

The tips of Xiao Ji’s ears flushed faint red, but he still said, “I’m jealous.”

Xie Yao’s brows arched into a smile, her bright eyes full of laughter.

Xiao Ji’s face reddened even more under that smile. He raised a hand to cover her eyes, his broad palm nearly covering half her face.

Only her pointed chin and soft red lips peeked out.

Xiao Ji’s body moved faster than his mind. He lowered his head and captured her lips, swallowing her smile.

She was forced to tilt her head back to receive his kiss.

His palm still covered her eyes. She couldn’t see him, but she could clearly feel Xiao Ji drawing closer.

Her hands fumbled upward, hooking around his lips, responding to the kiss with fervor.

Half a year into their marriage, still her attraction to him only grew stronger by the day.

Between breaths, Xie Yao whispered, “The… the door isn’t closed…”

Xiao Ji produced a sash from somewhere and tied it over her eyes. “It’s closed.”

Xie Yao: “……” Some closed door that is.

In the end, the door truly was closed. She was carried into his arms, swaying with his movements…

The study was left a mess.

Xie Yao sat with her face covered, wrapped in a soft cloak, watching as Xiao Ji personally cleaned up the “battlefield.” She couldn’t help but say, “How disgraceful.”

“…That’s not what Yao-yao was saying just now.”

Xie Yao’s pretty face flushed red, curling herself into a small ball.

Her snow-pale skin glowed under the dark cloak, her fair face breathtakingly beautiful, and her neck covered in his marks.

Xiao Ji’s eyes darkened.

He immediately dropped what he was doing, picked up the sash that had fallen into her hair, and tied it over his own eyes instead.

“Yao-yao, be good. One more time, alright?”

His robes were already loosely draped over him. His skin was pale, chest and abs faintly visible, so close at hand.

With the sash covering his eyes, it was as though he were leaving himself completely at her mercy…

Beauty is a dangerous thing.

Before drifting off to sleep, this was the only thought left in Xie Yao’s mind.

The next morning, Xie Yao awoke in the main chamber.

Opening her eyes, she saw Xiao Ji sitting by the window, reading. Autumn sunlight streamed through the thin mist, spilling over him.

Even his hair seemed to glow.

Xie Yao’s lips curved unconsciously, but soon she clutched at her chest…

That uncontrollable feeling was back again.

“Yao-yao?!”

In a flash, Xiao Ji was at her side, brows knitted, steadying her. “Where are you unwell? I’ll summon the physician immediately….”

“I’m fine.” Xie Yao cut him off, her voice gentle. “Your Highness, I’m fine.”

It was only her heartbeat… running a little fast, that was all.

Xie Yao’s tone was earnest, but Xiao Ji was still uneasy. He summoned the household physician to take her pulse. Only after confirming there was no problem did he finally relax.

Xie Yao also requested the physician to check on Xiao Ji.

The physician placed his hand on Xiao Ji’s wrist, sighing softly in his heart.

He had treated His Highness for many years. If not for the reminder from Si-nan and His Highness earlier, he would never have known that His Highness was afflicted with a witchcraft curse.

These past days, he had been combing through medical texts, desperately seeking a way to save him.

But… progress was almost nonexistent.

The physician’s expression grew grim.

Xie Yao nervously clutched at Xiao Ji’s sleeve, her heart sinking.

She truly couldn’t bear for anything to happen to him…

Yet Xiao Ji remained calm. He lightly patted her back, withdrew his hand, and said, “You may withdraw.”

The physician’s eyes reddened the joy from earlier swept away entirely.

With heavy emotions, he bowed and departed.

The crown princess was pregnant; His Highness would have an heir. This should have been a tremendous blessing.

But… when the physician thought of His Highness’s lifespan, bitterness welled in his heart.

Only two years left. He would not even live to see his children grow up…

The road ahead was long, but for His Highness, there was so little time.

Xiao Ji’s gaze fell on Xie Yao, his lips brushing her forehead with tender affection. “Yao-yao, don’t force yourself.”

For Yao-yao to appear in his life at all was already Heaven’s greatest kindness to him.