Chapter 136: The Crown Prince Smells of Another Woman

When a person is pushed past words, sometimes they can only laugh.

At this moment, Xie Yao was laughing out of sheer anger.

“Where is His Highness?” she asked.

Zhuqing replied, “His Highness left the residence early this morning. He probably hasn’t heard of this yet.”

Xie Yao gave a soft “mm,” then said, “Take more people, we’re going to the Xie family.”

—–

The Xie household was in chaos.

When Xie Yao arrived, she found Xie Yujiao leaning against Madam Zhang’s arms, sobbing, while Madam Zhang glared furiously at Lady Qingqing, who sat limp on the floor.

Xie Jing knelt to one side, supporting Lady Qingqing as she wept pitifully.

Master Xie sat at the head seat, his face dark as thunder.

“I really didn’t mean it… it just slipped out… They asked me, so I told them…”

“Ru’er really did go looking for the Marquis of Zhenbei. The Marquis has always liked her so marrying her would only be a blessing, wouldn’t it?”

“So I just said they had a marriage agreement already…”

“Delusional!” Madam Zhang snapped, veins bulging on her forehead, cutting Lady Qingqing off.

Xie Yuru, a concubine-born girl, dreaming of marrying the Marquis of Zhenbei?

With her worthless body weighing less than three taels, how could she be worthy?

“Wuu…”

Rebuked by Madam Zhang, Lady Qingqing wept even harder, shuffling forward on her knees to clutch at Master Xie’s leg.

“My lord, if Ru’er marries well, she could also help our son Jing in the future.”

At the mention of Xie Jing, Master Xie’s eyes softened slightly.

He had only this one son.

He couldn’t stop himself from asking, “The Marquis of Zhenbei… does he truly care for Ru’er?”

“Then the Princess Yongle should already be at your door with a betrothal proposal.”

Xie Yao’s voice shattered his wishful thinking.

She strode in as though no one else existed, walked straight to the vacant main seat, and sat down.

Madam Zhang, still holding Xie Yujiao, lowered her gaze, the hostility around her body not diminishing, as though pondering deeply.

Xie Yujiao sobbed, “I don’t want to live, I don’t want to live…” She cried that Madam Song Li had bullied her mercilessly that day, not caring she was pregnant.

The endless buzzing complaints made Master Xie’s head pound.

Clang!

A crisp sound rang out, plunging the hall into sudden silence.

Master Xie looked toward Xie Yao. “Crown Princess, what is your opinion on this matter?”

His meaning was clear: he wanted to protect Xie Yuru.

He even hoped Xie Yao would clean up the mess, perhaps by personally going to the Eldest Princess’s estate to act as matchmaker between Xie Yuru and Pei Chen.

Xie Yao saw through his intent at once and found it laughable. “This palace thinks… she should be sent to a family temple.”

“You’re right, Sister!” Xie Yujiao immediately jumped in to support, even calling her “sister” to show goodwill.

Holding her pregnant belly, she said, “Father wouldn’t want one girl’s scandal to ruin the reputation of all the Xie daughters, would he?”

“No, no, that won’t do!” Lady Qingqing cried out in panic, her gaze darting around before fixing threateningly on Madam Zhang.

But Madam Zhang merely looked down on her coldly, lips curling. “The Crown Princess speaks wisely.”

“You…” Lady Qingqing stared in disbelief. Had this old woman forgotten the leverage she held?

Master Xie’s eyes locked tightly on Xie Yao.

She let her gaze sweep to him, arching her brow. “Otherwise… just beat her to death?”

A chill spread through Master Xie’s heart.

He believed, Xie Yao would truly do such a thing.

“Xie Yao, are you even human…” Lady Qingqing burst out in a rage.

But before she could finish, her mouth was gagged. “For insulting the Crown Princess, twenty slaps.”

“Don’t touch my mother!” Xie Jing shouted, rushing forward to shield Lady Qingqing. But he was only a boy, no match for the strong momos.

Seeing Xie Yao seated calmly above, he charged straight toward her.

Bang!

Before he could reach her, Lin Xia, fully recovered from her injuries, kicked him away.

Xie Jing spat a mouthful of blood and fainted on the spot.

Lin Xia stepped forward. “To dare attempt harm against the Crown Princess, you are seeking death!”

It had all happened in an instant.

When Master Xie finally came to his senses, he was stunned.

But swiftly, he shielded his only son behind him. “Do as the Crown Princess says, send her to the family temple!”

Between Xie Yuru and Xie Jing, there was no question of his choice.

Master Xie’s eyes held nothing but cold hatred for Xie Yao. She saw it clearly, but cared not.

She left a few women and guards from the Crown Prince’s residence to oversee the matter, and then departed.

—-

“Your Highness,” Zhuqing asked doubtfully, “why did you step up to play the villain first?”

Xie Yao shook her head. “The matter of Xie Yuru is not so simple. There may be schemes behind it.”

That was why she had wanted to cut the knot quickly, settling the matter firmly.

—-

At the Xie household.

After her twenty slaps, Lady Qingqing’s once delicate face was swollen like a pig’s head.

Yet she immediately sought out Madam Zhang.

“You, go and persuade Xie Yao to change her mind!” Lady Qingqing demanded imperiously.

Madam Zhang only lifted her eyes, looking at her as though at a clown.

Lady Qingqing grew anxious. “Don’t forget about Xie Yujiao…”

Smack!

Momo Liu stepped forward and slapped her hard. “You dare to mention Second Young Lady’s name? You shameless, cheap trash who throws herself at men! Get out at once, don’t dirty my lady’s sight.”

Already swollen, Lady Qingqing’s face grew even worse.

The slap drove her to lose all reason. “Slut! Slut! Just you wait!”

She turned and fled.

Madam Zhang watched her back, a cold glint flashing in her eyes. “Is everything in order?”

Momo Liu replied respectfully, “Rest assured, Madam. It’s all taken care of. That traitor has been ground to ashes, and as for Lady Qingqing… everything is within your plans.”

A satisfied hum left Madam Zhang, her mood brightened. “Anyone who dares harm my Jiao’er…”

“Must die.”

—-

Since Xie Yao had left people behind at the Xie residence, word of these events quickly reached her ears.

She could more or less guess what Madam Zhang had done.

But an even bigger piece of news reached her soon after.

The demoted Second Prince, Xiao Hong, currently confined under heavy guard had somehow appeared at the Ministry of Justice, where he fell in love with Xie Yuru at first sight.

He then brought her back to his residence.

Xie Yao was dumbfounded for quite some time, unable to process it.

Xiao Hong was under confinement, watched closely by the city guards. Without help, how could he possibly sneak into the Ministry of Justice?

And to claim “love at first sight” with Xie Yuru…

Utterly laughable!

—-

It was at this time that Xiao Ji, who had left early in the morning, finally returned.

The moment he approached, Xie Yao caught the scent of medicinal herbs on him. Yet beneath it lingered a faint fragrance, one that belonged to rouge, the scent women used.

Xie Yao’s steps faltered. Only then did she notice Xiao Ji seemed freshly bathed, wearing clothes she had never seen before.

She had thought herself unaffected. But her gaze lowered, her steps halted.

Her voice was cool. “Your Highness is back.”

Xiao Ji, thinking she was simply upset about today’s events, did not suspect anything. He moved to embrace her…

But Xie Yao stepped back, covering her lips with her hand. “Your Highness, the scent on you is too strong. It makes me feel ill.”

Xiao Ji raised his sleeve, sniffed, and immediately said, “I’ll go bathe again.”

He turned quickly and left.

Xie Yao watched his back, her lips pressed into a straight line.

The Crown Prince, who had never been close to women was now carrying another woman’s scent.

Cultural Notes:

• Family temple: a temple where women from noble families could be sent for discipline or seclusion, often as punishment to preserve family reputation.