Chapter 29: He Fled, She Chased, He Could Not Escape Even With Wings

In the Crown Prince’s residence.

Even after stepping down from the carriage and entering the Crown Prince’s manor, Xie Yao still said nothing. She simply followed quietly behind Xiao Ji.

All the way, she trailed him until they reached the study.

She was mulling over how to begin.

Xiao Ji did not understand what was going on, while Si-nan was nearly burning with anxiety. But since the Crown Princess was right there, he could hardly say anything directly.

The Crown Prince stepped into the study first.

Xie Yao followed close behind, and on her way in she conveniently shut the door.

“Your Highness, today Xiao Ning told me a certain rumor.” Xie Yao got straight to the point and repeated Xiao Ning’s words word for word. Her eyes were locked onto Xiao Ji’s face, which had already changed drastically. At last she asked, “I don’t believe Xiao Ning would speak without reason. What does Your Highness think of this matter?”

Xiao Ji lowered his eyes. In his mind flashed the image of Xie Yao’s slightly red-rimmed eyes when he saw her earlier, but the thought vanished just as quickly.

In a cold voice, he said, “It is nothing but a rumor. Such things cannot be trusted.”

So, he had no intention of telling her the truth.

Xie Yao lowered her head a little in disappointment. She could, in fact, openly say that she knew Xiao Ning was talking about him.

But Xiao Ji was still alive and well at this moment. How could she possibly explain that she knew such hidden palace secrets? Or how could she prove that Xiao Ji’s body carried an ailment?

She had no way to explain it.

So she hoped Xiao Ji would confess to her himself.

But he chose concealment.

“Your Highness is right.” The smile on Xie Yao’s face faded a little.

The room grew quiet.

After a long while, Xie Yao spoke again, “However, as for Xiao Ning saying something about a fate that curses father, mother, wife, and children, I do not believe such things. It is all nothing more than human scheming, born of interest and profit.”

Xiao Ji suddenly raised his eyes and saw the seriousness in hers.

Had she already guessed something?

Before he could think it through, Xie Yao had already said, “Your Highness, I shall take my leave.”

As soon as she left, Si-nan quickly slipped into the study and repeated every detail of the day’s events to Xiao Ji.

In the end he asked, “Your Highness, do you think Her Highness, Princess He Yi spoke nonsense to the Crown Princess?”

Otherwise, why would the Crown Princess’s expression look so grim?

“She spoke,” Xiao Ji said dully.

“What?!” Si-nan was stunned. He quickly asked, “Then what did you tell the Crown Princess? Did you explain clearly to her?”

Xiao Ji fell silent for a moment before asking, “Explain what? What Xiao Ning said… is true.”

He had no way to explain.

Si-nan hesitated, then said, “Your servant believes, with the Crown Princess’s intelligence, she must already suspect. Why not use this opportunity to—”

“Too much talk.” Xiao Ji’s voice was cold as he cut him off.

Si-nan was often scolded, and usually by now he would shut up. But this time, he couldn’t help himself. “Your Highness, the Crown Princess, she—”

“Get out.”

Xiao Ji directly kicked him out of the room.

Si-nan: “…”

He stared at the tightly shut door of the study and let out a sigh.

His Highness was always like this.

So many years, facing everything all on his own!

…

Xie Yao was a little angry.

She could not say exactly why. She only knew that when Xiao Ji denied it, a sudden flame of anger rose in her heart.

But once she stepped out of the study, the spring breeze brushed her face, and the fire mostly dispersed.

Everyone had their own secrets and sorrows. She had never told the Crown Prince about her rebirth, so how could she demand complete honesty from him?

Back in the main courtyard, she distractedly read medical texts for a long while, and then sat waiting.

Waiting to see whether Xiao Ji would still return to the main courtyard for dinner.

The answer was yes.

As for Zhao Ying, she had sent word that she was engaged in social obligations outside and would not return for the meal.

At the dinner table, only Xie Yao and Xiao Ji remained. The atmosphere turned a little awkward.

Xiao Ji looked at the table spread as always with plentiful, well-balanced dishes, all of which also had the effect of nourishing yin and tonifying the kidneys. At last, he was certain of one thing: all of this had been arranged by Crown Princess Xie Yao.

And then he thought of how last time she had asked him whether he liked children.

It seemed… Xie Yao truly did like children.

As for himself…

Xiao Ji carefully avoided most of the medicinal dishes. After the meal, he lifted his gaze to Xie Yao, as though he wanted to say something, but in the end no words came out.

“Tonight, I…” He coughed lightly.

Xie Yao looked up at him. “Is Your Highness tired of me already?”

How could that be?

In his heart, Xiao Ji immediately denied it.

He only wished to lessen his closeness with her, so that in the future, when she found another husband, it would be easier for her.

Men were all petty. He was a man so he knew.

“No.” He still gave her one explanation.

Xie Yao said directly, “If Your Highness does not come, then I will move into the study.”

Xiao Ji: “???”

He froze. Xie Yao, however, looked perfectly serious. She was not joking.

In the end Xiao Ji said, “I never said I wouldn’t come.”

Only then did Xie Yao smile. “Then I’ll wait for Your Highness.”

That night, Xiao Ji arrived especially late. Not until the moon hung high in the sky did he finally step outside the main residence.

The lights inside were still lit, and through the window he could clearly see Xie Yao’s silhouette.

She truly kept her promise, and she was still waiting for him.

Xiao Ji took a deep breath before stepping inside. He did not know what was wrong with him… but somehow, he found himself unable to refuse her.

“Your Highness.”

The moment Xie Yao heard footsteps, she rose to welcome him. Instinctively, she wanted to throw herself into his arms, but Xiao Ji reacted swiftly and dodged.

At the same time, he grabbed her wrist to stop her from falling.

Xiao Ji frowned, took a deep breath, and was just about to repeat the words he had said to her on their wedding night.

But Xie Yao spoke first. “Your Highness, I have something to ask of you.”

His words stuck in his throat. “Speak.”

“Your Highness’s martial skills are extraordinary. I wish to ask if you would teach me a few moves,” Xie Yao said with expectant eyes. “So that if I encounter danger, I won’t just sit and wait for death.”

“Fine,” Xiao Ji agreed without hesitation. “I will arrange…”

Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Xie Yao standing tall and graceful before him, and he smoothly changed his words: “I will find a female instructor for you.”

“The sooner the better. What Xiao Ning said today really frightened me. And there was also that time with the Second Prince…” Xie Yao looked at him pitifully. “Before we find a female instructor, could Your Highness teach me yourself?”

This was killing two birds with one stone!

Xiao Ji: “…Fine.”

He felt a strange itch in his throat.

Xie Yao was already smiling brightly. “Many thanks, Your Highness.”

She suddenly hugged him, the corners of her lips arching high where he could not see.

Victory!

True to her word, Xie Yao rose early the next morning and swiftly changed clothes. Since she needed to practice basics, she shed her ornate palace gown and put on a more practical, nimble short training outfit.

Her hair was tied up high, and the snug fabric wrapped closely around her slender figure, perfectly outlining her form.

Bathed in the faint morning light of spring, Xiao Ji only glanced once before quickly looking away.

Perhaps it was the sunlight, but the tips of his ears were flushed red.

All the servants in the main courtyard were dismissed.

Xiao Ji instructed her on the horse stance. Since Xie Yao had never trained before, her posture was not standard. But with just a word of correction from Xiao Ji, she grasped it quickly.

She practiced with great seriousness.

Xiao Ji’s expression gradually grew serious as well. He loosened up, and his eyes looking at her carried increasing admiration.

When he first saw her outfit, he had thought…

But clearly, he had been shallow.

With his hands clasped behind his back, Xiao Ji stood to the side and watched her hold the stance. Her focused appearance made one forget that her physique was not suited for martial training.

He saw only the fine beads of sweat forming on her fair cheeks, her lips pressed tight for the sake of perseverance, and her trembling legs.

“That is enough,” he said in a low voice. “One cannot rush martial practice. We will continue tomorrow.”

Xie Yao looked up with a smile. After she slowly stood, her body suddenly lost all strength, and she collapsed forward….