Chapter 129: Abortion Medicine? Your Highness, Don’t Leave Tonight

Instead of feeling comforted, Song Wenbo only grew more stifled, as though a ball of air was lodged in his chest, stuck halfway and choking him.

Even his wound seemed to hurt worse!

Xie Yao said calmly, “It’s best if Master Song can take things lightly. To still have your life is already a blessing.”

Song Wenbo cursed silently in his heart.

Keep his life? He had lost his dignity as a man… he might as well be dead!

Xie Yao had only come today to watch the spectacle, distracting Song Wenbo and Xie Yujiao so Zhuqing could make her contact.

She said a few perfunctory words, then stopped; better not to anger the patient into a relapse. The lingering stench of blood and medicine in the room was unpleasant anyway. She quickly stepped outside.

Xie Yujiao followed closely, her gaze fixed on Xie Yao.

That dress embroidered with gold and silver threads shimmered as she walked, and jealousy flickered in Xie Yujiao’s eyes.

Something was wrong.

In her last life… Song Wenbo had never suffered such a calamity.

So what if Xie Yao was dazzling for the moment? In two years, she would fall into misery!

No… perhaps Xie Yao wouldn’t even last that long.

Hmph!

Xie Yao, sensitive as ever, noticed the weight of that resentful gaze but didn’t care. Madam Zhang, after hearing what Xie Yujiao had said, would surely come “threaten” her sooner or later.

Since Madam Zhang had already been rebuffed once at the Crown Prince’s residence, she would likely warn Xie Yujiao not to provoke her again.

Xie Yao glanced at Zhuqing, who gave a small nod despite her troubled expression.

Xie Yao paused in her steps and, loud enough for Song Wenbo inside to hear, addressed her sister, “This palace feels Second Sister doesn’t look well. You’re carrying a child now. Even if you worry for Master Song, you must still take care of yourself first.”

Xie Yujiao froze, and then her eyes filled with suspicion.

Her gaze swept down to Xie Yao’s abdomen, a trace of smugness flashing in her eyes. She deliberately raised her voice, “This is my child with my husband. Of course I’ll care for it well. Elder Sister need not trouble herself.”

She emphasized the words my husband.

Xie Yao could just imagine Song Wenbo coughing up blood upon hearing it. With a small smile, she turned and left unhurriedly.

As soon as she boarded the carriage, she turned to Xiao Ji. “Your Highness, didn’t Second Sister look too pale to you?”

Xiao Ji lifted his eyes, expression innocent, almost aggrieved. “Crown Princess, I never looked at her.”

He already had his Crown Princess so why would he stare at another man’s wife?

Xie Yao: “…”

Right. She had overlooked the obvious.

Her husband was a gentleman. Of course he wouldn’t ogle other women.

But…

Right now, Xiao Ji’s gaze roamed openly over her. “All I know is that the Crown Princess looks wonderfully radiant.”

Xie Yao shot him a glare. “Your Highness!”

Xiao Ji caught her hand, kneading her palm gently, and then moved on to massage her shoulders and waist.

Though he wasn’t used to such service, his ability to learn was frighteningly fast. Xie Yao felt so comfortable that she soon dozed off.

When she awoke, she was already back in the Crown Prince’s main quarters but he wasn’t there.

She summoned her maids. Zhuxin and Zhuqing entered, helping her wash while reporting the latest news.

“Your Grace’s eye is as sharp as ever,” Zhuqing said. “Master Song secretly tampered with Second Young Lady’s fetal-protection medicine.”

“One of our people happened to witness it. We couldn’t confront him directly, but we stole some dregs from the discarded herbs.”

“I just took them to the household physician. He confirmed that if taken over time, they cause miscarriage. Even for a woman not pregnant, long-term use could… drive her mad.”

Zhuqing shuddered even as she explained.

Thankfully …thankfully… the Crown Princess hadn’t been the one married off to Song Wenbo.

That man wasn’t fit to be called human!

Even calling him a beast would insult beasts.

Xie Yao gave a quiet “Mm.” “Find an opportunity to send a doctor to Second Sister.”

Not out of pity but she simply didn’t want Song Wenbo’s scheme to succeed so easily.

“Yes,” Zhuqing agreed. Then, hesitating, she lowered her voice. “There’s… one more thing.”

Xie Yao raised her eyes. “Speak.”

Biting her lip, Zhuqing said, “When our people were cleaning Master Song’s study, they found crumpled papers in the wastebasket, all with the same character written over and over. We smuggled one out.”

She drew a wrinkled sheet of rice paper from her sleeve and handed it over.

Xie Yao unfolded it….

And froze.

Scrawled across it was her own name.

The handwriting was Song Wenbo’s. She recognized it instantly.

With a shudder of revulsion, she flung the paper away, her skin crawling as if something vile had brushed against her. Her chest tightened, breath quickened, and her back went cold.

Disgusting.

Absolutely revolting.

Her lips pressed into a tight line, fingertips curling as her heartbeat sped up.

Xie Yujiao, if she had even a shred of sense, should never have told Song Wenbo who had married him in her previous life.

But…

Even setting her sister’s stupidity aside, Song Wenbo wasn’t a fool.

“He means to scheme against me.” Xie Yao pushed down the sick feeling in her chest and ordered firmly, “Keep a close watch on him.”

She rose to her feet, heading toward the study.

Right now, she wanted to see her husband.

Inside, Pei Chen was still with Xiao Ji, the two discussing the assassination attempts. Seeing Xie Yao enter, they didn’t stop.

“…I started investigating through the Bureau of Military Arms,” Pei Chen was saying, “and traced the attack on the Crown Princess. It may be connected to the Duke of Dingguo’s household.”

The Duke Dingguo from Lin family?

Xie Yao’s first thought went to Lin Panpan, one of the four young ladies bestowed by the Emperor last time.

Miss Lin was lively and straightforward, and she had openly disdained Xie Yuru’s shameless pursuit of Xiao Ji.

Xie Yao hadn’t interacted much with her, but her impression had been favorable.

Xiao Ji explained, “In the Xia Kingdom, there are two dukedoms: the Lin family, Duke of Dingguo, and the Wei family, Duke of Zhenguo. Both earned their titles by fighting alongside the founding emperor.”

Xie Yao nodded. Such dukedoms were hereditary, passed down forever, making the Lin and Wei clans among the most illustrious nobles.

But the Wei family…

Xiao Ji didn’t dwell on them, continuing about the Lins. “Years ago, the Lin family garrisoned the southwest. But after the heir of the Duke of Dingguo’s household died in battle more than a decade ago, the army has had no direct Lin-line commanders.”

In short, the Lin family was in decline.

After briefing her fully, Xiao Ji turned back to Pei Chen. “Continue investigating.”

Whoever dared target his Crown Princess… would pay.

Pei Chen gave his assent and soon departed.

Only then did Xie Yao recall something. She turned to Xiao Ji. “Your Highness, the Marquis just said the assassination against me was tied to the Lin family.”

“But the attack on Master Song last night, it was the same group, wasn’t it?”

Xiao Ji coughed lightly into his fist, lowering his eyes to avoid hers.

He didn’t want to lie to her, but…

“Pei Chen’s memory isn’t great. He must’ve misspoken,” he said smoothly, without a flicker of guilt.

Xie Yao’s brows arched. Then she asked suddenly, “After I fell asleep last night… did Your Highness leave the residence?”

Xiao Ji: “…”

He was just about to respond when she stepped forward, wrapping her arms around him, her eyes glimmering with laughter. “Then tonight, don’t leave.”

“When you’re not here, I can’t sleep.”

Xiao Ji pulled her tightly into his embrace, his voice uncharacteristically gentle. “Alright. I won’t leave.”