Chapter 137: Angry?

“Yao-yao.”

Xiao Ji suddenly turned back, catching sight of Xie Yao’s expression.

He quickened his steps toward her, but recalling her words just now, he restrained himself, stopping short, he didn’t want his scent to choke her.

“Your Highness?” she asked.

“I’ll be quick,” Xiao Ji replied.

After bathing and changing, all lingering traces of other scents were gone, leaving only the familiar fragrance of the bath beans Xie Yao herself used.

It was just about dinnertime.

Xie Yao held her jade chopsticks. “Your Highness today…”

She started to speak, then shut her mouth again.

“Yao-yao?”

Xiao Ji turned his gaze to her, clear eyes filled with concern.

Xie Yao forced a smile and shook her head lightly. “Nothing…”

Xiao Ji rested the back of his hand against her forehead, then touched her wrist and palm to confirm. “Do you feel unwell? Are the children troubling you?”

She was six months pregnant, and twins were notoriously restless.

Xie Yao was about to shake her head again, but after a moment’s thought, said, “They’re not troubling me. I just feel a little uncomfortable.”

“Maybe a short rest will help.”

It wasn’t anything serious, just a stifling weight in her chest.

She had little appetite for dinner either.

Xiao Ji didn’t press her, merely summoned the court physician to check. Once assured that there was no danger, he finally relaxed.

“Go take care of your work, Your Highness,” Xie Yao said, leaning against the headboard. “I’ll be fine.”

Xiao Ji was about to say he wasn’t busy, but then Si-nan arrived outside with a report: Pei Chen had come.

“I’ll be quick.” Xiao Ji tucked the quilt around her, pressed a kiss to her temple, and strode away.

—-

In the study.

Pei Chen’s face was dark. “Your Highness, when I entered the palace today, someone directly took away Third Lady Xie.”

“She was delivered to the Second Prince’s residence.”

Xiao Ji had already heard from Si-nan on the way home. “Who?”

“Concubine Li’s people,” Pei Chen answered.

“Could the Xie family be involved…” Pei Chen trailed off, hesitant. After all, the Xie family was the Crown Princess’s maternal clan.

Xiao Ji shook his head lightly. “In being taken this time, Third Lady Xie actually spared quite a few others.”

She had startled the very traitors about to be captured, breaking the trail of clues.

And then, her ruined reputation ended with her carried off to the Second Prince’s residence, all in the span of a single day.

Pei Chen quickly grasped it. “Your Highness means… Third Lady Xie may be a pawn?”

Xiao Ji shook his head. “Its only a speculation.”

“Last time, didn’t we trace this matter back to the Duke of Dingguo’s household? Keep watching them.”

“Yes!” Pei Chen bowed.

Once he was dismissed, Xiao Ji returned to the main chamber.

—-

Night was thick. Lanterns beneath the eaves cast faint light, while Xiao Ji lit a candle in the distance.

His movements gentle, he sat down at the bedside.

He didn’t get into bed right away, instead sitting sideways, busy with something in his hands.

The only sound in the room was the faint crackle of burning wax. From time to time, Xiao Ji lifted his gaze to the sleeping Xie Yao, lips curving upward.

Xie Yao hadn’t slept long.

When she stirred and turned, Xiao Ji instantly shoved whatever he’d been holding into the cabinet by the bed, and then swiftly rose to steady her.

After dressing, Xie Yao felt clearer, though her just-awakened voice was husky. “Your Highness, done with your work?”

“Mm.” Xiao Ji nodded. “I’ve ordered chicken soup to simmer on the stove. Would Yao-yao like some chicken noodle soup?”

Truthfully, she was hungry.

The maid soon brought in a steaming bowl. Xie Yao ate a portion with Xiao Ji keeping her company, warmth spreading inside and out.

“Today’s matters, I already know,” Xiao Ji said, his tone tinged with pride.

Even without him, Xie Yao had handled it perfectly.

That way… He could rest easy.

Xie Yao, following his lead, asked, “Where did Your Highness go today?”

In truth, he had gone to consult a doctor.

But the results…

Xiao Ji didn’t want her, in her condition, to worry over his health. So he only said, “It was about Pei Chen’s affairs…”

Xie Yao lowered her eyes, making a quiet sound of acknowledgment, then turned her back to him and lay down.

“Your Highness, it’s late. Rest early.”

Xiao Ji could keenly sense her mood wasn’t right…

“Yao-yao.”

He called softly, but she gave no response, pretending to be asleep.

After a pause, Xiao Ji retrieved the item he had hidden in the cabinet and resumed working.

A dagger.

And a branch of peach wood.

But this time, perhaps distracted by watching her, he slipped and the sharp blade nicked his fingertip.

It didn’t hurt.

But…

Xiao Ji’s eyes narrowed, a frown furrowing his brow, and he gave a short exhale.

Xie Yao turned toward him.

She saw him gripping his left finger with his right hand. At the tip of his finger trembled a round bead of blood, ready to fall.

“Your Highness!”

Her brows drew tight as she hurried up, fumbling out her silk handkerchief to press against the wound.

Seeing this, Xiao Ji relaxed his grip slightly.

He was a trained fighter, such a slip could only cause a tiny cut. Only by squeezing it had he made it look so alarming.

“Someone come!”

Xie Yao cradled his hand, carefully wiping the blood as she called out.

Zhuqing and the others rushed in. At her order, they fetched medicinal powder, and then left again at Xiao Ji’s signal.

The wound was small.

After wiping a few times, the bleeding stopped. Xie Yao carefully sprinkled the wound with powder.

Xiao Ji sat still and obedient, his gaze fixed on her the entire time.

She knelt at the bedside, black hair falling loose around her shoulders.

By candlelight, her porcelain face glowed faintly. Her eyes lowered to his wound, lashes trembling delicately.

Her soft lips were pressed tight, her little face tense.

She was worried about him.

Xiao Ji’s lips curved upward.

When Xie Yao lifted her gaze and caught him smiling, she immediately glared. “Your Highness!”

Xiao Ji raised his right hand, tucking something into her hair.

Her silky strands let it slide down, landing softly on the brocade quilt.

Xie Yao glanced sideways and froze.

It was a hairpin, carved from peach wood.

The pin was shaped into blooming peach blossoms, the carving vivid and lifelike. The style wasn’t especially novel, but it was exquisitely thoughtful.

One could tell at once how much care had gone into it.

“Your Highness?”

Her voice lifted in surprise, beautiful eyes widening as she held the pin. “This…”

Could it be handmade by him?

Xiao Ji lowered his eyes, the tips of his ears tinged red. “It’s my first time making one. Not very good… Yao-yao, you—”

“I love it,” Xie Yao cut him off, her earlier gloom entirely swept away. Her smile shone bright and brilliant.

Then, looking at him again, her gaze softened with heartache. “I feel your sincerity, but I don’t want Your Highness getting hurt.”

Under her gaze, Xiao Ji felt heat rising in his head. He said quickly, “It’s just a small cut, it doesn’t hurt.”

And then… The two stared at each other.

Xiao Ji coughed and added, “It doesn’t hurt now.”

Xie Yao saw through him, but chose not to expose it, her lips curving in a quiet smile.