Chapter 123: Love Rival? Urgent, Urgent!

Of course… that was impossible!

Madam Zhang snapped, “How could I ever tell her about something like this?” If Jiao-jiao knew she had been disgraced so cruelly, she wouldn’t be able to live with it. Madam Zhang not only couldn’t let her know, but had to hide it carefully so no one would ever find out.

As for Xie Yao… a flash of murderous intent flickered in Madam Zhang’s downcast eyes. Yet her excitement cooled a little, and she pressed her hand to her chest, speaking in grief and indignation. “Jiao-jiao is your own younger sister!”

Xie Yao clicked her tongue and shook her head lightly. “Looks like Madam Zhang has already forgotten all of this palace’s reminders in the past.”

Madam Zhang stiffened, but she knew she couldn’t back down at this moment. Clutching the armrest tightly, she gritted out, “Crown Princess, don’t forget, you’re not spotless either.” Her gaze pointedly swept over Xie Yao’s belly.

Although this whole affair had been orchestrated by Song Wenbo, Madam Zhang now hated Xie Yao even more.

Xie Yao sneered inwardly. Madam Zhang really didn’t learn her lesson. She cut her off directly. “Madam Zhang. Perhaps this palace has been too easygoing, and you’ve misunderstood my intentions.” Her lazy gaze suddenly turned sharp and cold, her voice like ice. “This palace… is warning you to behave yourself.”

“As for my affairs, spread them if you like,” Xie Yao said indifferently. “Let’s see who dies first.”

Madam Zhang’s body stiffened. Such a scandal, she only dared use it to threaten Xie Yao privately, never to spread it around. If she really exposed it, she would be the first to die. Even if it were true, the royal family would never admit it. The honor of the imperial house could not be sullied.

It was just like Prince Xiao Hong, who had been punished only because the scandal in Nanzhou had blown up too widely to ignore.

Xie Yao chuckled softly. “If you don’t dare, then behave. Does Madam Zhang understand?”

Madam Zhang opened her mouth but couldn’t get the words out. Xie Yao was too calculating.

“Hmm?” Xie Yao raised her brows. “Or does Madam Zhang want Second Sister to hear about it herself…”

“No, no!” Madam Zhang snapped back to her senses, shaking her head rapidly. “I understand, I understand, I understand!” She stood abruptly and strode out without waiting for Xie Yao to dismiss her. Her figure was hurried, as though something was chasing her from behind.

“Crown Princess,” Zhuqing murmured, “surely this time Madam Zhang will stay quiet for a while.” Last time she had come shamelessly to threaten her mistress, it had been truly absurd.

Xie Yao replied casually, “If she wants to die, I won’t stop her.”

Zhuqing thought for a moment, then added, “After Madam Zhang tortured those people, she had them hacked to pieces and dumped in the mass grave. But… there were only seven.”

Hmm?

If Madam Zhang wanted to cover up such an ugly matter, she should have disposed of all of them. Why was one missing?

Xie Yao’s brows arched slightly. “Now that’s interesting.”

She still hadn’t figured out how to deliver the robe she had made for Xiao Ji when she received an invitation from the Zhao family.

Back in August, Zhao Hao had sat for the provincial civil examination and passed as a scholar. They had yet to celebrate. Now Zhao Ying had returned from her trading trip, and the family was hosting a private banquet as a belated celebration.

Xie Yao gladly accepted and carried the invitation toward the study.

Xiao Ji wasn’t there so he must have gone out. But everything in the study was just as it had been, part his habits, part her casual rearrangements from recent days. She sat at his desk and idly picked up a book to read.

…

At the Marquis of Zhenbei’s residence.

Although Pei Chen mostly lived with Princess Yongle in her palace, he did have his own household as Marquis of Zhenbei. That day, he had just received good news and entered smiling, only to see Xiao Ji seated at his desk. His smile froze. “Your Highness, this is the Marquis of Zhenbei’s residence.”

He came every day, was this his house or His Highness’s?

Xiao Ji lifted his gaze lazily. “You have a problem with that?”

Pei Chen’s face clearly said he did have a problem, but his mouth obediently replied, “This minister wouldn’t dare.”

“Good.” Xiao Ji nodded. “Then there’s no problem.”

Pei Chen: “…”

He stood there a moment, then suddenly remembered something. From a nearby table, he picked up a jade box that had been lying there. “Might I trouble Your Highness to deliver this to the Crown Princess…”

Before he could finish, Xiao Ji’s brows knit tightly, his eyes sharp with warning. Deliver something to his Crown Princess? And ask him to be the courier? What audacity!

Under that look, Pei Chen coughed awkwardly and explained, “Last time, I troubled the Crown Princess with some questions. This is just a token of thanks.”

But at the mention of that private conversation, Xiao Ji’s lips pressed into a hard line. He opened the box and inside lay a jade hairpin, the stone translucent and fine, clearly expensive.

Xiao Ji’s face darkened instantly. He ground out the words, “A thank-you gift?” To anyone else, it looked more like a proposal!

“Yes,” Pei Chen nodded earnestly, confusion in his eyes. “Why not? I asked my brothers what was suitable for a gift to a lady, and they all said jewelry. I bought it from Zhenyu Pavilion, the shopkeeper personally recommended it…”

“Seems to me Zhenyu Pavilion is looking to close down,” Xiao Ji snapped, slamming the box shut and shoving it back at Pei Chen. “Keep it to give to that Zhao girl you moon over! And about my Crown Princess? You’ve got some nerve!”

“Ah?” Pei Chen flushed. He had gone to war at thirteen and truly didn’t understand such things. Though still confused, he realized it must be inappropriate. His face reddened further, and he stammered, “Your Highness…”

Xiao Ji had no patience to listen. He cut him off brusquely. “Did you catch the ones who used Zhenbei Army arrows last time?”

Pei Chen shook his head, then nodded. “Not yet, but we’ve got some leads…”

“Move faster,” Xiao Ji ordered. “Looks to me that you’ve got too much free time.” He rose to leave, but at the doorway he paused, turning back. “And listen carefully, never give that sort of thing to my Crown Princess.” He emphasized “my Crown Princess” heavily, his declaration of ownership unmistakable.

Only after Pei Chen gave a firm acknowledgment did Xiao Ji finally leave, heading straight for Zhenyu Pavilion.

When he returned to the Crown Prince’s residence, he first went to the main quarters but it was empty. Then he headed for the study.

The golden light of the setting sun streamed through the windows, bathing everything in warmth. Xie Yao was sitting there in that glow. Hearing his footsteps, she looked up with a smile, rose, and ran toward him.

“Your Highness.”

She threw herself into his arms, looping her arms around his waist. In an instant, Xiao Ji felt his heart completely full, all displeasure swept away. It was just a birthday which was nothing. He had never celebrated it before, and no one had cared.

If his Crown Princess forgot, then let it be.

He was still thinking this when he suddenly heard Xie Yao gasp, her moist eyes filling with tears. “Your Highness… it hurts.”