Chapter 3: Nine Clans Wiped Out

Couldn’t endure it already? This was only the beginning.

Xie Yao lifted her gaze and gave Xie Yujiao a faint smile. “Second Sister is right.”

She very much looked forward to seeing whether Xie Yujiao would still be able to laugh in the end.

Xie Yujiao’s expression shifted again and again. Even though she kept reminding herself in her heart that Song Wenbo would one day hold the highest office in court, with boundless prospects ahead…

In the end, she still could not endure such humiliation. She flung her sleeve and rose, leaving in anger.

Madam Xie’s icy, warning gaze fell upon Xie Yao. This wretched girl actually dared to upset her precious Jiao-jiao!

Xie Yao raised her eyes to meet Madam Xie’s glare, the corners of her lips curving.

Madam Xie grew even more furious. This slut!

“Mother,” Xie Yao asked, “Has my dowry list been prepared?”

Now she too had someone to rely on. With her marriage imminent and Momo Xu personally watching over matters in the Xie household, she had nothing to fear.

Madam Xie snapped angrily, “Is this what you’ve learned of the rules? Since when does a maiden of the boudoir meddle in matters of her dowry?”

Dowry?

Naturally, she had not the slightest intention of giving her anything!

That slut was not worthy!

Xie Yao turned her gaze directly to Master Xie. “If not, perhaps I won’t marry?”

Master Xie had already been full of anger. Hearing this, he grew even more enraged. “You dare!” The veins on his forehead throbbed violently. “Are you threatening me?”

Xie Yao looked sincerely surprised. “You only just noticed?”

She certainly had more tactful ways of obtaining a generous dowry from this couple, but… why should she?

She wanted to make the Xie family suffer.

Master Xie laughed from sheer fury. “Unfilial creature! Do you think this marriage is already set in stone, with no room for reversal?”

Xie Yao also laughed, her voice not loud, even sounding almost like a suggestion. “If not, then why don’t you kill me? Best kill Momo Xu along with me too, otherwise, the crime would be too great.”

“Oh, and yes, you have plenty of means to send me onto the bridal sedan chair… But on the wedding night, if it turns into the crime of assassinating the Crown Prince, would that be enough to have the Xie family’s nine clans exterminated?”

“If assassinating the Crown Prince isn’t enough… there’s also….”

Master Xie’s head spun, his face stricken with terror. “Shut up! Shut up! You wretched spawn! You monster!”

Not only Master Xie, but Madam Xie also went pale. Neither of them had expected Xie Yao to be so utterly deranged!

Master Xie raised his hand to strike Xie Yao, but she nimbly dodged aside. With a few quick steps, she reached the doorway. “So long as you give me what I want, I still value my life greatly.”

“Oh, right.” Her gaze fell upon Madam Xie’s trusted stewardess Zhang. “Don’t forget the deed contracts of the servants coming with me as dowry, Mother.”

Having said this, she turned and walked out directly.

Behind her came Master Xie’s roar of rage. “Had I known, I should have strangled this bastard at birth!”

“She’s mad….mad! She’s nothing but a lunatic…”

Xie Yao’s eyes brimmed with delight and triumph. She wanted Xie Cheng, her own biological father to spend the rest of his life living in fear and unease.

And all of this, in the end, was thanks to her dear younger sister, who had gifted her, such a powerful backer!

—-

The next morning, Madam Xie’s personal maid respectfully delivered a dowry list and a box, then left as though Jian-jia Pavilion were haunted, not daring to linger a moment longer.

Xie Yao had not yet had time to sort through the items when someone burst in hurriedly, it was none other than Xie Yujiao. Today, however, she wore a ribbon tied around her neck, as though to conceal something.

Xie Yao boldly guessed that it must be a wound.

Xie Yujiao scanned Xie Yao up and down with wary eyes, and then asked abruptly, “So you came back too?”

She had just heard that Xie Yao had gone mad in the flower hall, but her father had issued a strict order, so even she could not find out exactly what had happened.

Still, she thought, it must have been because Xie Yao did not want to marry a short-lived ghost.

Xie Yao lifted her eyes, face blank with confusion. “Second Sister, what are you talking about?”

She didn’t understand?

Xie Yujiao frowned.

She stared at Xie Yao for a moment, and then gave a cold snort. “Whether you came back or not, everything now belongs to me!”

“Xie Yao, you have no chance left.”

With that, she flung her sleeve arrogantly and swept out.

Watching her departing figure, Xie Yao’s lips curved in a smile. To speak so frankly so soon, wasn’t that rather dull?

What a truly considerate younger sister she was.

“Miss.” Zhuxin leaned close to her young mistress, whispering, “It’s said that last night Second Miss really did attempt suicide, there was even blood.”

Xie Yao had already guessed.

Otherwise, how could Madam Xie have delivered the dowry list so quickly?

With Momo Xu standing watch and Xie Yujiao’s death-seeking antics besides, Master Xie and Madam Xie had finally abandoned any other schemes.

They merely instructed everyone in the Xie household not to provoke Xie Yao, hoping only to hurry her out of the family as quickly as possible.

Thus, everything went smoothly.

On the third day, the Xie sisters were married together, and it was, after all, a great joy.

From early morning, the Xie estate was bustling with activity.

At the auspicious hour, Xie Yao and Xie Yujiao departed the family together, dressed in bridal finery, makeup exquisite, each holding a round fan to veil their faces.

Xie Yao had harbored little expectation for this wedding, but when the bridal chamber door opened and she saw the Crown Prince Xiao Ji step inside, she was stunned for a moment.

The man was tall and broad-shouldered, lips pressed into a thin line. Even on his wedding day, there was not the slightest trace of joy about him. His pitch-black eyes fell upon Xie Yao, lifeless within, and his skin was especially pale, no doubt due to his frailty.

But… he was truly handsome!

Xie Yao could not help stealing a few more glances.

Xiao Ji frowned slightly, and Xie Yao immediately withdrew her gaze, raising a flawless smile.

After the groom received the bride, they were to proceed to the main hall to bow before their parents.

The two newlywed couples happened to meet outside the hall. At just one glance, Xie Yujiao’s expression darkened.

Xiao Ji and Xie Yao were both peerless in appearance. Walking side by side, anyone who saw them could only think of two words: a perfect match!

What was more…. Xie Yao’s bridal robe was of Crown Princess Rank, splendid and dazzling, embroidered all over with golden and silver threads. As she moved, the light shimmered, making her look all the more like a divine consort from heaven.

Xie Yujiao, pampered though she was, was marrying only a scholar. No matter how favored, the specifications of her bridal robe were limited, and could not possibly compare to that of a Crown Princess.

All the looks cast in their direction made Xie Yujiao feel as though everyone were whispering behind her back, mocking her!

She wished she could find a hole to crawl into.

She could only comfort herself silently: just a few more years, just wait a few more years, and everyone would envy her…

Naturally, Xie Yao and Xiao Ji walked in front, while Xie Yujiao and Song Wenbo followed behind.

Master Xie and Madam Xie felt no affection for Xie Yao, but with the Crown Prince present, they forced out a few perfunctory words.

To Xie Yujiao, however, their words were full of genuine warmth.

Xiao Ji noticed the difference. Instinctively, he glanced at the woman at his side, only to find Xie Yao’s eyes lowered, her expression unreadable.

So he withdrew his gaze as well.

The wedding of the Crown Prince and Crown Princess was managed by the Ministry of Rites. However, the Crown Prince did not reside in the Eastern Palace, but instead lived at the Crown Prince’s Mansion outside the palace.

After the two of them entered the mansion, there were still many ceremonies awaiting them.

By the time everything was concluded, night had fallen completely. Even Xie Yao was exhausted!

The bridal chamber was a sea of red. After the servants had withdrawn in turn, only the Crown Prince and Xie Yao remained inside.

Dragon-and-phoenix wedding candles burned brightly.

Xie Yao lifted her gaze and collided directly with Xiao Ji’s eyes.

His gaze was steady and heavy, fixed unwaveringly on her. Xie Yao returned the look openly, her eyes full of unhidden admiration.

The Crown Prince was far more pleasing to the eye than that ugly Song Wenbo.

Only after a long while did Xiao Ji finally speak. “This One had no intention of taking a wife…”

Cultural Notes:

• Dragon-and-Phoenix Wedding Candles: Special red candles carved with dragon and phoenix motifs, symbolizing marital harmony.
• Eastern Palace: The official residence of the Crown Prince within the imperial palace. Here, however, Xiao Ji is noted to live in a separate Crown Prince’s Mansion outside the palace.