Chapter 149: Who Is the Adulterer

Xiao Ning’s hand had not yet touched the little imperial grandson when someone stopped her directly.

Xiao Ji blocked her hand, wrapping the baby’s clothes securely again.

Her nails were dangerously long, what if they scratched the infant’s tender skin?

“Any other objections?” Xiao Ji asked.

At that moment, Xiao Ning’s mind went blank.

She was thinking… who?

Who was Xie Yao’s adulterer?

The Imperial bloodline in the capital was limited to just a few men. Xiao Ji was impotent. The rest were Second Prince Xiao Hong, Third Prince Xiao An, Fourth Prince Xiao Ming, and the Fifth Prince, who was only three years old.

Xie Yao’s child… Which one of them did he belong to?

Xiao Ji could more or less guess her train of thought. He was greatly displeased, but could not be bothered to answer.

He turned toward Xie Yao. “Yao-yao, let me help you lie down.”

Having just given birth and then enduring all this fuss, his heart ached terribly for her.

Xie Yao was helped onto the bed, and Xiao Ji placed the baby beside her. Only then did he go to take the other child from Chief Eunuch Li’s arms.

Chief Eunuch Li was reluctant to let go.

He looked deeply at the baby in his arms and said to Xiao Ji, “Your Highness, the little princess is truly beautiful.”

Xiao Ji lowered his eyes, placed both children safely, and then leaned down to kiss Xie Yao’s forehead. “Rest well.”

At this moment, Xie Yao really did feel tired.

She glanced at the two little ones at her side, confirmed that they were completely safe, and finally let her eyes drift closed.

Now that the children had been safely delivered, guests naturally could not linger and disturb her further. After all, Xie Yao had just given birth and needed rest.

Princess Yongle and Chief Eunuch Li thus took their people and left the Crown Prince’s residence.

Inside the carriage, Princess Yongle’s mind circled around only one thought: Were the children truly the Crown Prince’s?

Back at the palace, Chief Eunuch Li went straight to the Yangxing Palace to see the emperor.

Before he even finished his bow, the emperor asked, “Well?”

Chief Eunuch Li smiled. “Congratulations, Your Majesty. The Crown Princess has safely given birth to a pair of dragon-phoenix twins. The little prince bears the Imperial birthmark upon his shoulder, while the little princess…”

He hesitated.

The emperor frowned. “What is it?”

Chief Eunuch Li lowered his head. “She resembles the late Empress when she was young…”

The emperor was struck dumb on the spot. He knew that Chief Eunuch Li had once seen the Empress in her youth.

For him to say resembles, this could only mean it was not an ordinary similarity.

Just earlier, he had been wondering…

Whose children had the Crown Princess really borne? But hearing this, he was no longer certain.

Besides Xiao Ji, no one else could be both of the Xiao bloodline and the late Empress’s bloodline.

His lips trembled, and at last he murmured, “He… he has been cured?”

That was the only explanation he could think of.

Chief Eunuch Li kept his head bowed, silent. This was not something he could comment on.

—-

Madam Zhang and Xie Yujiao were imprisoned under the charge of attempting to murder the imperial heirs. Of course, this news could not be concealed from the people of the capital.

When Xie Yao awoke, she saw a tall figure seated at her bedside.

“You’re awake?”

At the faintest stir from her, Xiao Ji looked over immediately, leaning down to help her sit up. His voice was gentle. “Are you hungry?”

Xie Yao nodded. As she sat up, she saw the two little ones placed near her pillow, sleeping sweetly.

It was already dusk. As soon as she awoke, the room was quickly lit with lamps.

Xiao Ji ordered food to be brought.

By the candlelight, Xie Yao turned her gaze to the children.

They were not large, but both were soft and fair, their complexions rosy. At just one glance, her heart melted.

These were her children, born of her ten months of pregnancy.

In her past life, she had not even gotten the chance to see them once after birth. They had become nothing more than tools for Song Wenbo and Xiao Ning to control her.

But in this life, she would protect her children herself.

Xiao Ji leaned close, watching the children together with her. His own heart softened as well.

He had thought, all his life, that he would remain alone until the very end.

Never had he imagined that one day he would live such a blessed life with beloved wife by his side, and a son and daughter both.

“Yao-yao.”

He wrapped his arm around her shoulders, his voice impossibly soft in her ear. “Thank you.”

For giving him a home.

So warm, and so worthy of cherishing.

Because they were twins, the ties on their swaddles were made different to distinguish them.

The little princess’s was pink, the little prince’s blue.

The little prince was the elder brother, yet the little princess was visibly plumper. Since Xie Yao was still weak, Xiao Ji did not let her carry them.

After watching them for only a short while, Zhuqing and the others brought in a rich, nourishing meal.

The wet nurse also entered, saying the babies needed feeding before sleep, and took the two little ones into the next room.

Xiao Ji sat with Xie Yao as she ate.

He had spent the whole day by her side, barely eating himself. Now that she was awake, at last he felt some appetite.

They had only just finished their meal when the steward of the Crown Prince’s residence called from outside, “Your Highness, Master Xie has arrived.”

Xie Cheng.

Xie Yao looked at Xiao Ji.

“Master Xie has already come three times today,” Xiao Ji said in a low voice.

“Song Wenbo is still kneeling in front of the Yangxing Palace.”

Xie Yao raised an eyebrow. “Song Wenbo hasn’t chosen to divorce Xie Yujiao?”

Earlier that day, she had simply turned Xie Yujiao’s plot against her. Upon learning of the scheme, she had arranged a secret switch.

Of course, Si-nan had been watching Xie Yujiao in the shadows. If she had truly tried to harm the babies, he would have acted immediately.

Xiao Ji shook his head. “No.”

That meant, in Song Wenbo’s heart, Xie Yujiao still held value.

Xiao Ji added, “But Master Xie has already sent a divorce letter to the Zhang family.”

Xie Yao gave a soft laugh, playing idly with Xiao Ji’s fingers. “Your Highness, I don’t want to see him.”

—–

At the Eldest Princess’s residence.

The moment Xiao Ning left the Crown Prince’s estate, her eyes fell on Xiao An.

She suspected everyone equally.

Except Xiao Ji.

Since childhood she had known that the poison in the late Empress and Xiao Ji was from her own mother-consort’s hand. If not for the Empress’s pregnancy back then, she would have died early.

And when it came time for childbirth, the Empress had chosen to sacrifice herself.

But Xiao Ji could not live past twenty-five years, and it was impossible for him to leave heirs.

“Investigate.”

“Immediately, investigate.”

Xiao Ning said coldly, “For this palace not to have known, someone is hiding even deeper than me.”

Her identity as a woman was both the greatest obstacle in her path to power, and the greatest cover.

No one would suspect that a princess could harbor ambitions to seize the throne.

She had always used that well.

But she had not expected that someone else had done so much, all while escaping her notice.

No wonder she sometimes thought Xie Yao was foolish, and other times thought her deeply scheming. But it turns out there was someone behind her…

Perhaps.

That person had even reached some agreement with Xiao Ji.

Otherwise, how could he acknowledge her children?

Xiao Hong?

No, not him.

Xiao An?

She had tested him today… he didn’t seem likely either.

Xiao Ming?

Her eyes flickered uncertainly. At last, she looked toward the deep night sky. Perhaps… perhaps she should not limit her gaze to only the capital.

A flash of cold light passed through Xiao Ning’s eyes.

Whoever it was, she would find out.

They want to play the mantis stalking the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind?

We shall see if they have the life for it!

Cultural Notes:

1.  “The mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind,”–  meaning someone secretly waits to take advantage of others’ struggle.