Chapter 128: Helping a Scumbag Gain Fame

Meeting Xiao Ji’s earnest gaze, Xie Yao hadn’t truly been angry in the first place. Now she only felt helpless. “Your Highness, I’m hungry.”

That much exertion had burned through a lot of energy.

Not to mention, every time Xiao Ji was always so…

Xiao Ji bent down and kissed her cheek before finally releasing her. “Breakfast is already prepared. Yao-yao, you should eat first, don’t wait for me.”

Xie Yao didn’t stand on ceremony.

After all, Xiao Ji had helped her change clothes, but he hadn’t dressed himself yet.

The morning meal was lavish, freshly laid out on the table. Xie Yao was halfway through when Xiao Ji emerged from the inner chamber.

He was still wearing the set of clothes she had made him.

Xie Yao gave him a look. “Your Highness, isn’t that the outfit you wore just yesterday?”

Xiao Ji gave a low “Mm.” “It’s been washed.”

Xie Yao: “…”

Once Xie Yao had finished eating, Zhuqing could no longer hold back her excitement and blurted out the news about Song Wenbo. The little maid’s eyes danced with glee, her face full of happiness.

Xie Yao froze. “Truly?”

“As true as it can be.” Zhuqing nodded vigorously. “By now, most families in the capital have surely heard.”

“I investigated. It was the Zhang family that spread the story first. So I made sure to fan the flames, helping Master Song’s get famous.”

Xie Yao burst into laughter.

What a way to “make him famous.”

Her brows arched gracefully, and she praised, “Well done. You’ll be rewarded.”

While Zhuqing and Xie Yao discussed the matter, Xiao Ji sat quietly to the side, eating his breakfast in silence, hiding his contribution and his merit.

The speed at which the Zhang family had spread the story hadn’t been that fast on its own but he had naturally helped it along. He had hidden it well, though, and Zhuqing hadn’t noticed.

Still…

The Crown Princess’s own network was well-concealed too. He had only known there was another force besides the Zhang family working behind the scenes, never realizing it was her.

Just then, Si-nan’s voice called from outside, “Your Highness, Your Grace, the Marquis of Zhenbei has arrived.”

“Let him in.”

The Marquis was no outsider to the two of them. As soon as he entered, his eyes locked longingly on the breakfast table. “Your Highness, this minister hasn’t eaten yet…”

Xie Yao immediately ordered more breakfast to be brought.

Xiao Ji cast Pei Chen a sidelong glance.

Pei Chen suddenly felt a chill down his back. Glancing left and right, he told himself it must have been the autumn wind sneaking in through the back doors.

Xie Yao asked, “I heard the Marquis went to the Song family early this morning?”

Pei Chen nodded. “Your Grace, be at ease. The injured one was Master Song. Second Young Lady Xie was unharmed.”

Xie Yao: She hadn’t been worried at all.

But some questions weren’t convenient for her to ask. Instead, she reached out and tugged lightly on Xiao Ji’s sleeve.

Xiao Ji spoke at once. “What’s the situation?”

“Last night’s attackers should have been two men. The weapons were the same as those used by the ones who tried to assassinate Your Grace before with the special issue arrows from the Zhenbei Army.”

“Master Song’s injuries were serious, but not life-threatening. Only, from now on…”

Pei Chen hesitated, unwilling to speak ill of someone, especially with the Crown Princess present. It felt crude.

But Xie Yao understood perfectly.

With Pei Chen’s confirmation, Song Wenbo was truly finished.

A smile tugged at her lips, relief bubbling up inside her chest.

Soon breakfast was brought in, and Pei Chen bent his head to eat heartily.

Afterward, he mentioned he had other matters and left with Xiao Ji for the study. Once no one else was around, he brought up the incident from that morning involving Xie Yuru.

“Your Highness, it’s difficult for me to speak of this. I ask that you and the Crown Princess to address it.”

After all, both their surnames were Xie and the Crown Princess was still of the Xie clan.

If Xie Yuru’s reputation were to sour, no one would dare criticize the Crown Princess openly, but inevitably, some of the stain might touch her too.

A glint of icy cold flashed in Xiao Ji’s eyes.

That Xie Yuru had once set her sights on him. Now she had shifted her gaze to Pei Chen…

Truly, she wasn’t picky.

…..

Meanwhile, Xie Yao instructed Zhuqing to select a few gifts from the storeroom. “Since Master Song is injured, it’s only proper for me to show concern.”

“Since there’s nothing urgent, I’ll go to the Song residence myself.”

Though it was indeed lowering herself to go, and though Song Wenbo certainly didn’t deserve such an honor, when it came to watching a spectacle and laughing at someone’s misfortune…

She really wanted to see it with her own eyes.

Besides, the Song family had been keeping quiet these days, with no news leaking out. By visiting in person, she could create a chance for Zhuqing and her network to exchange information.

If Xie Yao was going, Xiao Ji would naturally accompany her.

The Crown Prince’s carriage reached the Song residence shortly after midday.

Everyone in the household came out to greet them, except the bedridden Song Wenbo.

All bowed deeply, except for Xie Yujiao, who leaned on her not-so-large pregnant belly and stood unmoving. “Elder Sister, my health is poor. It isn’t convenient for me to bow. Surely you won’t hold it against me?”

Barely five months along, yet she postured as though she were about to give birth any moment.

She was deliberately refusing to salute.

Xie Yao swept a glance at her and noticed that her complexion truly was pale, and she seemed thinner than before. Her condition did look poor.

“Doesn’t matter. Your health comes first,” Xie Yao said with a gentle smile, choosing not to take offense. “His Highness and I heard that Master Song was injured, so we’ve come to visit.”

“And where is Master Song?”

Xie Yujiao’s fists clenched so tightly her nails dug into her palms. Inside, she seethed at Xie Yao.

She is doing this purpose!

Xie Yao had definitely come just to mock her!

She straightened her belly. At such a time, she could not afford to lose. With forced composure, she said, “Elder Sister, please.”

Since Song Wenbo was an outside man, a screen had been set up at his bedside. Xie Yao and Xiao Ji sat on the other side.

“Master Song’s injury isn’t serious, I hope?”

From behind the screen, Song Wenbo gritted his teeth and ground out, “Many thanks for the Crown Princess’s concern. It… is… not… serious.”

Inside, he cursed furiously.

Let’s see how the Crown Prince would feel if he lost his manhood!

Suddenly, a thought struck Song Wenbo that Xie Yujiao had once told him that the Crown Prince himself was impotent…