Chapter 148: This Must Be Fake

It was Xie Yujiao!

No one knew when she had come. Her whole body was wrapped up tightly, and in her arms she was holding a swaddled bundle.

Her hoarse voice, like a rusty saw cutting through wood, grated on the ears, yet could not conceal the excitement and sharpness within.

“Heavens! T-this… this must be an ominous sign…”

Xie Yujiao’s voice was still echoing.

Everyone in the room turned their gazes toward the bundle in her arms. Several voices rang out at the same time, “Impossible!”

They had all clearly heard two different cries just now.

Besides, if something had truly gone wrong with the babies, the midwives would never have dared conceal it.

Xie Yujiao shook her head lightly, yet her lips twisted upward in a crazed smile. In her eyes was uncontrollable excitement.

“Maybe it’s Heaven’s punishment? Could it be that Elder Sister… did something guilty, and thus…”

“Shut your mouth! What nonsense are you spouting?”

Old Madam Zhao shot her a vicious glare, her voice cold. “Summon the Imperial Physician!”

Madam Zhang immediately moved to Xie Yujiao’s side, taking up the posture of defending her.

Xie Yujiao felt the unmoving, weightless child in her arms, and in her heart was the thrill of long-awaited vengeance.

She said proudly, “I am not talking nonsense, this really is a stillborn…”

But before her words were finished, the swaddled bundle in her arms was snatched away by Xiao Ji.

“Your Highness.”

A weak voice rang out. Everyone turned toward the source, and all their faces changed drastically. Especially the Zhao family, whose worries could not be concealed.

It was Xie Yao, standing by the doorway of the inner room.

Though there was no wind here, she had just given birth…

Xiao Ji immediately went to her, one arm holding the child, the other supporting his Crown Princess.

Ever since Xie Yao became pregnant, he had secretly practiced countless times how to hold a child.

Now he did it with ease.

“Yao-yao,” Xiao Ji frowned deeply, full of concern. “I am here. You should rest properly…”

Seeing this, Xie Yujiao could not restrain herself from shrieking, “Giving birth to a stillborn is a most inauspicious omen! It may bring disaster to the empire itself!”

“Chief Eunuch Li,” Xiao Ning nodded in full agreement. “This concerns the utmost matters of state. Quickly report it to Father.”

Chief Eunuch Li’s face showed hesitation.

The Third Prince, Xiao An, usually warm and gentle in expression, had a flash of inner struggle on his face. After a moment of hesitation, he too spoke up, “This is no small matter. It must indeed be judged by Father.”

Now that both the Eldest Princess and the Third Prince had spoken, the corners of Xie Yujiao’s mouth curved even higher.

Xie Yao, Xie Yao….

Hurry up and die!

In Xie Yujiao’s eyes flashed a surge of delight. Once Xie Yao was dead, she would definitely “take care” of that child properly…

Seeing Chief Eunuch Li still unmoving, the Third Prince called outward, “Someone—”

“Wait.”

Xiao Ji glanced at the entering palace physician and gave a small nod, signaling him to examine the child.

Xie Yao lowered her gaze.

Looking at the still-covered bundle, she only felt it laughable.

She did not know if Xie Yujiao was too arrogant or too careless, she hadn’t even looked inside once.

Xie Yao lifted the cloth that had been draped over the baby’s head.

Inside was a plump, fair child, sleeping peacefully.

The physician glanced once, startled, and then quickly took the baby’s pulse. His voice was firm and clear, “Your Highness, Crown Princess.”

“The little imperial grandchild is merely asleep.”

“Impossible!” Xie Yujiao’s shrill, piercing scream nearly lifted the roof. “This is obviously a stillborn! You… you are deliberately covering for Xie Yao!”

It was true the physician belonged to the Crown Prince’s household, so there was such a possibility.

But before Xie Yujiao could say more, Princess Yongle, Chief Eunuch Li, and the Zhao family all stepped forward at once.

What could be more reliable than seeing with one’s own eyes?

Earlier, Xiao Ning had been in the inner chamber, and now standing near Xie Yao, she only had to glance sideways to see the baby’s condition.

Her face instantly sank.

Princess Yongle saw the child’s healthy complexion and let out a small sigh of relief.

Chief Eunuch Li was holding the other child in his arms. Tentatively, he reached out and lightly touched the baby’s skin.

With joy he exclaimed, “Warm! The little imperial grandchild is warm!”

“No… no! Impossible!”

Xie Yujiao suddenly rushed forward, and when she clearly saw the state of the baby in Xiao Ji’s arms, her eyes almost split apart in madness.

Her body reacted faster than her brain and she reached out directly to snatch it.

Bang!

But before she could get close, a single kick sent her flying, her body crashing heavily to the floor.

Pfft!

Xie Yujiao spat out a mouthful of blood, her internal organs nearly displaced. Yet she seemed not to feel pain, only staring fixedly at the swaddle in Xiao Ji’s arms.

Where was it?

Where was her big, dead fetus?

Just then, a voice came from outside, it was Si-nan, “Your Highness, Crown Princess, we just picked up a basket outside the courtyard. It was brought by Madam Zhang’s people. Inside… was a stillborn.”

Everyone present was sharp enough to instantly understand.

No wonder Xie Yujiao had spoken with such certainty, without even glancing at the child.

The mastermind of all this was clearly her.

Chief Eunuch Li sneered coldly. “Such audacity.”

“Today’s matter, this servant will report every detail to His Majesty!”

But Xie Yujiao seemed deaf to everyone else’s voices, her eyes only fixed on Xie Yao.

“You… it was you… you plotted against me…”

“That stillborn was Xie Yao’s child! That stillborn must have been Xie Yao’s child!” she began screaming.

She had obviously succeeded in the swap!

Clearly…

“Attempting to murder the imperial grandchildren,” Xiao Ji said coldly. “Take her away.”

At once, men stepped forward to seize Xie Yujiao.

Madam Zhang threw herself onto her daughter, protecting her. “This has nothing to do with Jiao-jiao, she just gave birth! She is your younger sister, Crown Princess…”

“Take all of them away.”

Xiao Ji cut cleanly and decisively, leaving no time for Madam Zhang’s tearful pleas.

Only when the scheme failed did they suddenly remember they were sisters?

How laughable.

“Imperial Brother.” At this moment, Xiao Ning stepped forward. “Since this concerns the Imperial bloodline, it ought to be treated with even greater caution.”

She immediately revealed an Imperial secret, “In Xiao family’s imperial bloodline, there is a birthmark present from birth on the shoulder.”

“Why not verify it, to clear our nephew’s name? That way, if today’s matter spreads, there will be no rumors later.”

Xiao Ji lifted his gaze to meet hers, not answering right away.

Xiao Ning was utterly confident.

Xiao Ji was barren. Xie Yao’s children could not possibly be his. Thus, their bodies could not possibly bear the Imperial family’s birthmark.

Xie Yao truly did not know of this secret, but she felt no fear.

The Third Prince knew of it, but not of Xiao Ji’s sterility. Therefore, he thought nothing strange and nodded.

“That would be best. With Chief Eunuch Li here, he can act as witness.”

Chief Eunuch Li: “…”

He hesitated only briefly. Looking down at the swaddled little princess in his arms, his tense heart instantly relaxed.

Perhaps…

Perhaps miracles really did exist in this world?

How else to explain such a coincidence?

Xiao Ji looked at Xiao Ning deeply.

“Very well.”

The little prince was carried inside. His tiny garments were gently removed, revealing his small shoulder….

And there, a birthmark was plainly visible!

Xiao Ning’s expression drastically changed. Instinctively, she reached out to rub at it…

This must be fake!