Chapter 144: All Men Are No Good

Xiao Ji did not know whether he should stay where he was or quietly leave.

Neither seemed like a good option…

“Your Highness?”

Zhuqing’s surprised voice rang out. Xie Yao and Zhao Ying immediately stopped speaking and turned toward the doorway…

Zhao Ying still had worry in her eyes as she looked at Xie Yao.

What they had just been saying…

Had His Highness overheard?

If he had, would he misunderstand?

Xiao Ji stepped forward, his figure appearing within Xie Yao’s sight. He said, “I came to fetch a book.”

Although it was already the third day of the New Year, he was still tutoring Zhao Hao in his studies. After all, the Spring Imperial Examinations would be held in the second month, and Zhao Hao was set to take part in them.

From the Crown Prince’s expression, Zhao Ying could not tell anything, so it was difficult to speak rashly. She could only glance at Xie Yao.

Xiao Ji did not linger. He picked up the book and left swiftly.

The moment he stepped out of the main hall, he let out a heavy breath.

Back at the villa, he had already noticed that the young Marquis of the Marquis of Changning’s household looked at his Crown Princess in a way that was not right.

Now it seemed… they were not just old acquaintances.

Xiao Ji’s hand tightened around the book, his thin lips pressing together. “Si-nan.”

“Investigate the Marquis of Changning’s household.”

—–

Inside the room.

“Yao-yao…” Zhao Ying furrowed her brows, her eyes filled with worry.

Xie Yao gave her a reassuring look and said: “It’s nothing.” She would explain everything clearly to His Highness later.

Actually, when she had seen Cheng Fengqi last time, she had wanted to say something.

But she had been interrupted by his sudden fall from the horse. In the days that followed, she had time, but things had been too joyful and she had forgotten.

The Zhao family finished their meal at the Crown Prince’s residence.

Zhao Hao and Zhao Ying had to return home, and Pei Chen naturally volunteered to escort them.

After seeing the Zhao family off, Xie Yao chatted briefly with the Old Madam Zhao, who soon grew tired.

Xie Yao then walked along the cleaned corridor, heading toward the study.

Although His Highness had shown no unusual reaction after the incident at noon, Xie Yao still wanted to make things clear.

Cheng Fengqi.

The young Marquis of the Marquis of Changning’s household. Talented, promising.

Certainly someone who could be useful.

But she could not let him become a danger to herself, and even more so, she could not let the Crown Prince misunderstand at such a time.

Xie Yao pushed open the door and at once saw Xiao Ji sitting at the desk.

She closed the door and walked toward him. “Your Highness.”

The moment she reached his side, Xiao Ji reflexively stood up, making space for her to sit.

His posture was slightly stiff, tinged with helplessness.

He had already done such things many times that it had become a habit.

Xie Yao went straight to the point, “Your Highness knows, after my mother passed away, I lived with the Zhao family for a few years.”

“At that time, the young Marquis Cheng and I were neighbors. As children, we often played together…”

“Childhood sweethearts,” Xiao Ji said, his tone odd.

Hearing him speak, Xie Yao immediately understood. Although his words carried a hint of sarcasm, His Highness was not angry.

Or rather…

He trusted her.

She tugged Xiao Ji’s hand, pulling him a little closer.

It did not take much effort.

Xie Yao slipped her arms around his waist, resting her chin against his firm, eight-pack abdomen. Tilting her head back, she looked up at him.

“Yes,” Xie Yao said. “When we were young, the two families even joked about betrothing me to the young Marquis Cheng.”

Xiao Ji: “…”

A storm of violence rose in his heart.

A betrothal?

Cheng Fengqi was worthy of that?

The very thought that Xie Yao might have been married to another made Xiao Ji feel as though he ought to kill the man immediately!

His lips pressed into a hard line, his body stiff, and he tried at once to break free from Xie Yao’s embrace.

But Xie Yao refused to let go.

It was not that he could not free himself, but he was afraid that if he used too much strength, he might hurt her and the child. In the end, he could only allow her to hold him.

“Later, not two years after I returned to the Xie family, the Cheng family never visited again.”

Xie Yao added, “Fortunately, fortunately, they never came back.”

Of course Xiao Ji knew why. During those years, the Marquis of Changning had favored his concubine and cast aside his wife. The Marchioness and Cheng Fengqi were both neglected.

Later, when the old Marquis returned to the capital and took charge for the sake of his eldest grandson, the Marchioness naturally no longer cared for a neglected girl from the Xie family.

The Cheng family truly had no eyes!

Xiao Ji cursed in his heart, but aloud he only asked, “Why?”

“Because I only wanted to marry Your Highness.” Xie Yao’s eyes glowed as she looked at him.

She clearly saw the corners of Xiao Ji’s lips lift slightly, a faint smile rippling in his eyes.

She knew it.

His Highness was easy to coax.

Xie Yao stood, her hand that had been wrapped around his waist now slipping around his neck. Her bright eyes reflected Xiao Ji’s figure clearly.

She bit her lip lightly, her gaze carrying a hint of grievance. “But the one Your Highness wished to marry… was not me.”

Xiao Ji: “…”

He had never wished to marry anyone!

If not for his heart stirring during his time with Xie Yao… he would never have truly touched her.

His throat moved. He gently bit her lips, as if punishing her. “It’s you.”

“Only you.”

To him, the world was all black and white while she alone was vivid and alive.

—–

The party had just arrived in front of the Zhao residence.

From afar, they saw a carriage. Zhao Hao’s eyes lit up. After a moment’s thought, he moved close to Zhao Ying’s carriage and whispered, “Sister, it’s Brother Cheng.”

Zhao Ying lifted the curtain to look.

Dressed in a black fox-fur robe, tall and elegant, his manner warm, though his figure was somewhat thin and frail.

It was indeed Cheng Fengqi.

When the carriage stopped, Zhao Ying went straight to him. She ignored Pei Chen and Zhao Hao behind her, her voice cold, “Let’s talk alone.”

Zhao Ying’s words brooked no refusal. Soon, she and Cheng Fengqi had moved to a place away from the crowd.

Zhao Ying spoke bluntly, “The past is in the past, Young Master Cheng. You and Hao’er are friends, and that is fine. But…”

“Do not write to her again.”

Whether it was asking Zhao Hao to pass a letter last time, or including one with the gift this time such actions would always leave traces.

Without doubt, this kind of behavior would harm Xie Yao.

“I imagine Young Master Cheng has also realized, our ‘chance encounter’ at the villa was no accident. That was why you deliberately fell from your horse.”

At those words, Cheng Fengqi suddenly raised his eyes, his gaze shining. “This… was it she asked you to say this?”

Zhao Ying pressed her lips together. “If you still care for the old ties of childhood, then do not disturb her again. As for your side… clean things up.”

“In the past, when she was in hardship, you did nothing to help her. Now that she is well… at the very least, do not harm her.” Zhao Ying’s tone softened slightly.

Cheng Fengqi’s face turned pale, his eyes dim. “I… I never meant to harm her…”

“I only… only wanted to know if she was living well, and then…” to say sorry.

But Zhao Ying had already turned away, unwilling to hear him out.

Cheng Fengqi stood there, looking lost.

Pei Chen walked up to Zhao Ying, tilting his head toward Cheng Fengqi. “That man doesn’t look like a good person.”

Zhao Ying paused, glanced at him, and answered firmly, “Right.”

“None of you men are any good.”

Pei Chen, bewildered at being scolded, opened his mouth to explain, but Zhao Ying had already strode into the Zhao residence.

Pei Chen: “…”

He cast another glance at Cheng Fengqi, committing to memory this so-called “culprit.”