After Marrying the Heirless Crown Prince, I Gave Birth to Three Children - Chapter 13

Chapter 13: The Mistress of the Scumbag Father

“What… what?” Xie Yao suddenly pulled her gaze back and realized something was wrong. The towel in her hand kept wiping lower, and by now it had already dampened a section of her undergarment. Her face flushed crimson. “I… I…” She didn’t know how to explain herself and silently moved the towel back up, carefully wiping away the blood around the wound.

The whip marks were crisscrossed, clearly visible. As she gently applied the medicine, she couldn’t help but ask, “Your Highness, does it hurt?”

For a moment, Xiao Ji was dazed. It had been a long time since anyone had asked him such a question. Did it hurt? No. He had long since grown used to it. Yet her words made his long-silent heart stir slightly. “It doesn’t hurt,” he answered.

“You’re lying,” Xie Yao muttered. How could it not hurt? She herself had been struck by a whip before and it hurt terribly.

Once she finished applying the ointment, she realized belatedly that she had just looked at a man’s body… even if it was only his upper half. His physique was far stronger than she had imagined with broad shoulders and waist narrow. Her face instantly heated again.

Seeing her finally react, Xiao Ji found it somewhat amusing and said, “Bring paper and brush.”

“What?” she blinked.

“The recommendation letter,” He hadn’t written it before entering the palace, so now he could only write it here. Xie Yao immediately fetched paper and brush obediently. “Thank you, Your Highness.”

…

Following Xie Yao’s instructions, Hongdou left the palace and, after making a brief stop at a shop as cover, she hurried straight to the Xie residence.

In the Xie family’s main courtyard, Xie Yujiao, who had stormed back to her parents’ home in anger was sobbing miserably in Madam Zhang’s lap, tears streaming like rain. “Mother, how could she? How dare she speak to me like that? I am a young lady of a noble house, and what is she but a lowborn nobody? And yet Song Wenbo still tells me to endure it? How could he ask me to endure?”

He refused to consummate their marriage, yet still wanted her to serve that old hag! Xie Yujiao’s eyes were red from crying.

Madam Zhang was equally furious. Her daughter, pampered and raised with such care, had been married off to the Song family only to suffer such humiliation. Hugging her, she said with deep pain, “Jiao-jiao, I told you before not to marry him, but you refused to listen. You’d rather die than not marry him…”

“Mother!” Xie Yujiao cut her off petulantly. “What’s the use of saying that now? I need you to come up with a plan for me! No matter what, you must make my husband come and beg me back. Best of all, he should cast off that old hag!”

Becoming the Grand Chancellor’s wife, was something she was determined to achieve.

Already angered, Madam Zhang grew even more furious at her words. “I truly don’t understand. What’s so great about that Song Wenbo? He’s nothing but a penniless scholar, he..”

“Mother!” When Madam Zhang spoke ill of Madam Song Li, Xie Yujiao naturally agreed, but when it came to Song Wenbo, she was displeased. “You don’t know. My husband will soon be accepted as Master Qingshan’s disciple. When he sits the provincial exam in two years, he will surely rank first! His future will be limitless.”

She bit her lip, her voice sharp with indignation. “It must be Xie Yao and that old hag who whispered lies to him, making him misunderstand me. Mother, you have to help me!”

Madam Zhang frowned in doubt. “Master Qingshan would take him as a disciple?”

Xie Yujiao suddenly thought of something, her face paling slightly. She bit down on her lip. “In any case, he will take my husband!” She had heard that Master Qingshan later accepted a so-called prodigy as a final disciple, but she had no idea who that prodigy was.

Madam Zhang looked unsettled but thoughtful. If Song Wenbo truly became Master Qingshan’s student, then achieving first place in the imperial exams would not be impossible. After a pause, she said, “I will discuss this matter with your father and have him speak with Song Wenbo directly.”

“Jiao-jiao, you are our only daughter. All your father and I wish for is your happiness.”

Hearing this, Xie Yujiao immediately brightened and nestled happily into her mother’s arms. “Mother, trust me, my husband and I will be just like you and father; loving and happy.”

For so many years, her mother had borne only one daughter, yet her parents’ marriage remained harmonious. Her father had never taken a concubine, only keeping two bed-servants who had never borne children.

Madam Zhang’s face softened into a smile of contentment. She tapped her daughter’s nose playfully. “If that truly comes to pass, that would be best.”

“Madam.” At that moment, her attendant momo came in and whispered something into her ear.

“Let her wait,” Madam Zhang said before turning to her daughter. “My Jiao-jiao’s eyes are swollen from crying. Go wash your face and get some rest. Don’t worry about Song Wenbo, leave everything to Mother.”

Jiao-jiao hugged her, cooing, “Mother, you’re the best.” Then she left.

As soon as she was gone, Madam Zhang’s expression darkened. “Bring her in.”

Soon after, Hongdou entered behind the momo and bowed. “Greetings, Madam.”

Madam Zhang didn’t tell her to rise. She sipped her tea leisurely before asking, “You claim to have news about the Master?”

“Yes,” Hongdou replied.

Madam Zhang’s eyes narrowed. “Do you know the consequences of deceiving me?”

“I would never dare deceive Madam,” Hongdou said respectfully.

“Speak, then.” Madam Zhang didn’t think much of it as what secrets could her husband possibly have? Over the years, their marriage had been harmonious, and among her circle of friends, many envied her.

Hongdou lowered her head. “The young lady said… that some of the servants have seen the Master often visiting a residence in Sweetwater Alley.”

“In that residence live a woman and two children.” Her voice grew softer, but the words were still clear.

Madam Zhang’s once-relaxed expression changed instantly. She was caught off guard, her hand shaking so violently that the teacup slipped and shattered on the floor. “Are you certain?”

“I dare not hide anything from Madam. This matter is grave, so I found an excuse to slip out and inform you right away. The young lady is still waiting for me to return with some purchases.”

Madam Zhang drew in a sharp breath, suppressing the murderous intent that surged within her. True or not, for a moment she truly wanted to kill this girl.

“Very good.” Grinding her teeth, she forced herself calm. “Reward her.”

Hongdou left with a generous reward in hand.

“Madam…” The momo stepped forward nervously, seeing her mistress’s grim expression. “Perhaps that girl misheard. You know better than anyone how the Master has treated you all these years….”

“Investigate!” Madam Zhang’s hands pressed so hard against the table that her knuckles turned white. Her eyes gleamed coldly. “Go at once!”

The momo was about to leave when Madam Zhang added lightly, “Oh, and that maid just now… she cannot be allowed to remain.” Her tone was calm now, almost airy. “Find a time to take care of her. I remember she still has family?”

“Dispose of them all and make it clean.”