Chapter 119: Husband, Do You Love Me?

Xie Yao’s eyes were still hazy, not yet fully awake, but her instincts told her it was Xiao Ji.

“Mm,” Xiao Ji murmured, pulling his fingers back and leaning down to kiss her softly. “Sleep.”

He lay down beside her. Xie Yao nestled into his arms, finding a comfortable spot, and mumbled drowsily, “Your Highness, the baby kicked me…”

Xiao Ji drew her close, his heart filling with a peace he had never known. In a low voice, his palm soothingly patting her back as though coaxing her, he said, “When they’re born, I’ll discipline them.”

…The two slept soundly through the night.

By the next morning, Si-nan brought news, “Your Highness, we’ve checked everyone. They’re all clean, nothing suspicious.”

No problems? Xiao Ji didn’t believe it. Yesterday’s words were not something Xiao Hong could have come up with on his own.

Unless… he had been lying.

But with Xiao Hong in such dire straits, surely Xiao Ning had played a major role. And yet Xiao Hong had never mentioned her, clearly because he dismissed her as merely a woman.

Moreover, in his eyes, Xiao Ning was already married to the hostage prince from Beijiang. He probably had no inkling of her true ambition.

“Keep watching,” Xiao Ji ordered. “Especially Xiao Hong.”

During the Nanzhou plague, there were people who had cooperated with Xiao Hong. They hadn’t surfaced yet. But Xiao Ji hadn’t forgotten, there had also been someone else who went to see Xiao Hong.

Earlier, the Ministry of Justice had presented evidence that Xiao Ning had plotted against her own younger brother, Xiao Hong. Naturally, the officials had also assumed that the attack on the Crown Princess was her doing.

Of course, Xiao Ning denied everything.

Then, after Xiao Hong’s failed attempt to kill Xiao Ning accidentally injured Hu Lianyuan, the matter was conveniently set aside.

In this silence, many began to sense it, the Emperor seemed inclined to shield the Eldest Princess.

Three days later, once the imperial physicians confirmed Hu Lianyuan was out of danger, Xiao Hong was escorted back to his princely residence under house arrest.

Hearing this, Xie Yao couldn’t help but sigh. When the Emperor wants to protect someone, he always has a way.

And then, thinking of her own husband… a pang of inexplicable ache and sorrow welled up in her heart.

She pushed the emotions aside as Zhuqing reported, “Your Highness, someone has been keeping watch on the Song family.”

Xie Yao’s brows knitted. “How?”

The Song family wasn’t large, and she had arranged her people within long ago. Even Xiao Ning likely had no idea that Xie Yujiao had been spinning lies about Song Wenbo. Who could be watching them now?

“Do we know who it is?” she asked.

Zhuqing shook her head. “Our people tried to pass a message out two days ago, but they noticed they were being followed, so they turned back. Only today were they able to slip out a few words.”

“Send word back,” Xie Yao instructed. “Tell them to put safety above all else. If messages can’t get out, then don’t force it.”

“Yes, Crown Princess.”

But Xie Yao was unsettled. Who could it be? The Second Prince? No, he wasn’t smart enough. Xiao Ning? Unlikely …. Song Wenbo was her pawn.

Still, Xie Yao couldn’t be sure whether Song Wenbo had fully confessed to Xiao Ning about Xie Yujiao’s so-called ability to “see the future.”

In her past life, she remembered Song Wenbo had never fully trusted Xiao Ning.

And yet, within only a few days, Song Wenbo had risen from Deputy Minister of the Astronomical Bureau to its Minister, a meteoric rise fueled by imperial favor. Being watched was, perhaps, not strange.

After a pause, she added, “Have our people clean up thoroughly. This must not leak.”

She wasn’t trying to protect Xie Yujiao but only to ensure the matter didn’t implicate her. Who knew what Xie Yujiao might blurt out if cornered?

…

In the Song household, Xie Yujiao was indeed growing anxious.

She had already revealed too much. The scraps of memory she retained had been scattered among countless fabrications until nothing of substance remained.

If she spoke any further, she’d have nothing left but the truth.

Yet if she stayed silent, her husband would be displeased.

She had gone from elation at first, to now harboring faint resentment. Resentment toward Xie Yao.

Why should Xie Yao win her husband’s devotion effortlessly, while she had to struggle and scheme?

Perhaps it was the pregnancy, her emotions fluctuated wildly, sleep eluded her at night, and she only dozed in fits during the day.

At least Madam Song had been keeping her distance, leaving her undisturbed. Today, Xie Yujiao had finally drifted off.

The windows were shut, warm incense burning in the air. Yet her peaceful brow slowly furrowed, sweat beading on her pale forehead.

“Die… die…”

Her lips moved, her teeth grinding with seething hatred.

“Xie Yao, die!”

With a start, Xie Yujiao’s eyes flew open. She tried to sit up, but her swollen belly prevented it. She fell back, breathing hard, drenched in sweat, her eyes still shadowed with malice and lingering fear.

Creak—

The door opened. She jerked toward the sound, like a startled bird.

Seeing who it was, she exhaled in relief but unease still lingered. Had her husband heard her words just now?

“Darling?” Her voice was tentative. One hand rested protectively on her belly, her back arching slightly as if to remind him, I carry your child.

Song Wenbo lowered his gaze. When his eyes fell upon her stomach, a flash of murderous intent lit them. Bastard. This thing deserves to die.

But when he lifted his head again, his expression was gentle. He sat by the bed and asked softly, “A nightmare?”

“Mm.” Xie Yujiao buried herself in his embrace, murmuring, “Husband, I dreamed something so terrible.”

His jaw rested on her head. His eyes were cold, filled with loathing, but his voice was tender. “Don’t be afraid. I’m here.”

Patting her back lightly, he added, with subtle probing, “Just now, I thought I heard you say the Crown Princess’s name?”

Xie Yujiao’s body stiffened, then she hugged him tighter. “Husband, do you love me?”

For a moment, Song Wenbo nearly lost his composure.

“What silly words,” he chuckled, pinching her nose. “Don’t you know my heart by now?”

Her face flushed, and she rubbed against his chest coquettishly. “Husband~”

He laughed low, squeezing her softness, struggling to restrain the urge to strangle her.

With her face buried against him, she murmured, “As long as I know your heart belongs to me, I fear nothing. Oh, but husband, what did His Majesty say about Xie Yao’s attempt to confuse the royal bloodline?” Her eyes glimmered with anticipation.

Such a disgrace! Surely the Emperor must loathe her.

“The Emperor has his own plans,” Song Wenbo said, holding her close. His lowered eyes, however, were contemplative.

He had sensed her unease. Was it because of Xie Yao?

Threads of half-formed suspicions in his mind suddenly wove together, piercing the fog.

Xie Yujiao was certain the Crown Prince was impotent, that Xie Yao’s child was illegitimate.

Xie Yujiao’s marriage had nearly been swapped just days before the wedding.

Xie Yujiao claimed to “dream the future.”

So, in those dreams of hers… the bride who was meant to marry him, was it supposed to be her?