Chapter 36: Xie Yao, Don’t Make Trouble

Xie Yao’s eyes were soft and pitiful, filled with grievance, yet brimming with stubbornness and sincerity.

Xiao Ji was momentarily stunned by her gaze, even forgetting that the posture of the two of them at that moment was exceedingly ambiguous. Xie Yao’s breath was like orchids, and she rose slightly on tiptoe, pressing closely against him.

“…No.”

It took Xiao Ji quite a while to recover before he responded with denial.

The Crown Princess was very good and it was he who was not.

Xiao Ji raised his hand, pulling down the hand Xie Yao had looped around his neck. “Xie Yao, don’t make trouble.”

His deliberately cold and hard voice carried a warning, and only this way could he keep himself from softening.

Xie Yao’s hands, which had originally not wanted to let go, suddenly weakened, and she withdrew them obediently.

Xie Yao’s compliance made Xiao Ji sigh in relief, yet at the same time he felt an inexplicable sense of loss.

“I have already chosen my books, so I will not disturb Your Highness any further.” Xie Yao stepped back half a pace, lifted the scrolls in her hand slightly, and turned to leave.

Xie Yao was deep in thought.

Of course she could sense that her efforts during this period had borne fruit; the Crown Prince’s attitude toward her had indeed changed. But he always held firm to his bottom line…

No matter how much she tried to seduce him, it was only treating the symptoms, not the root.

It seemed she still needed to strike at the root and discover the reason why Xiao Ji “clung to his bottom line,” only then could she prescribe the right medicine.

Xie Yao was disappointed for a moment, but very quickly her fighting spirit burned once more. She hugged her medical books tightly and walked quickly forward.

Xiao Ji stared at her retreating back, his gaze complicated, both hands clenched tightly into fists beneath his sleeves.

“Your Highness.” After quite some time, Si-nan’s voice sounded with concern. “The Crown Princess, she—”

Before he could finish, Xiao Ji cut him off directly. “Let’s go.”

Xiao Ji turned and walked back into the study, and Si-nan had no choice but to shut his mouth and follow.

…

At the same time, at the Song residence.

Xie Yujiao was hosting a banquet. Although the Song family only had one scholar, today the place was particularly lively.

Smiling, Xie Yujiao welcomed the guests into the courtyard, but inwardly she still felt some dissatisfaction.

There were indeed many visitors today, but… they were all just minor officials’ wives, whom she really looked down upon.

“Second Young Lady Xie.”

Just then, a madam’s gentle voice interrupted Xie Yujiao’s thoughts. “Has Her Highness the Crown Princess arrived yet?”

Instantly, all the guests in the courtyard turned their gaze toward her.

Xie Yujiao’s smile froze on her face. Her eyes swept across the courtyard full of guests…

It was one thing that they were so eager to climb connections, but their vision was also ridiculously shallow! One must know that the one who laughed last was the true winner!

Xie Yao’s current glory was only temporary. She herself, the future wife of the Grand Chancellor, was the one these people would never be able to reach.

“Ladies, please do not worry. Elder Sister must have been delayed by many matters.”

Xie Yujiao soothed them with a smile, but as soon as she entered the hall, her face sank, and she frowned, asking sharply, “Xie Yao still hasn’t arrived?”

Yinxing lowered her head. “Not yet.”

“Hurry and urge her!” Xie Yujiao ordered at once.

Yinxing hesitated, but finally nodded in agreement, then turned to leave.

“Wait.”

Xie Yujiao suddenly thought of something and called Yinxing back. “If she does not come… then deliver a message to her for me.”

—

At the Crown Prince’s residence.

When Yuyan came to deliver news, Xie Yao was in her room reading medical texts.

“Your Highness, the Crown Princess.”

Yuyan said softly, “Second Young Lady’s maid, Yinxing, has come, saying Second Young Lady invites you to attend the banquet at the Song residence.”

“Not going.”

Xie Yao did not even lift her head.

She had no need to give Xie Yujiao any face.

As for how Xie Yujiao explained things to those guests who came specifically for her, that was Xie Yujiao’s own problem.

“Second Young Lady said, if you refuse, then she asked Yinxing to deliver one sentence. Do you not want to know why Second Young Lady abandoned His Highness to choose the scholar Song?”

Xie Yao: “…”

So Xie Yujiao had resorted to threats.

It seemed she was truly anxious.

“Dress me.” But Xie Yao nevertheless put down her book and decided to attend the banquet.

Since her departure had been last-minute, she arrived somewhat late.

But no one voiced objection. The moment she entered, everyone rushed forward to greet her respectfully, “Greetings to Your Highness, the Crown Princess.”

By contrast, Xie Yujiao, the actual hostess, was instead left behind.

She stood at the front of the hall, watching this scene. Her fists clenched unconsciously, unwillingness flashing in her eyes.

She had been reborn for so long, and yet she still had not fully adjusted to the change in her identity. Clearly, in her past life, it had been she whom so many people flattered and adored.

But now…

“You may rise.”

Xie Yao’s gentle voice broke Xie Yujiao’s thoughts.

Xie Yujiao forced a smile and stepped forward with feigned intimacy to take Xie Yao’s arm. “Elder Sister, why are you only just now arriving? Everyone has been waiting so long for you.”

Xie Yao sidestepped her hand, the smile not reaching her eyes. “So, it is my fault then?”

Before Xie Yujiao could answer, the guests all spoke at once. “Not late, not late, we came too early.”

“Yes, yes. Your Highness is busy with countless affairs; it is already our great fortune to see you today.”

“…”

Listening to the overflowing praises, disdain flashed undisguised in Xie Yujiao’s eyes.

These people, she would remember them all!

In the future, once she became the Grand Chancellor’s wife, she would make certain they regretted this day.

Unable to stomach so many people crowding around Xie Yao with flattery, Xie Yujiao soon spoke in a firm voice.

“Thank you all for taking time out of your busy schedules to attend this banquet at the Song residence. Today I also wish to clarify something before everyone.”

“These past few days there have been many baseless rumors about my husband, all slander spread by malicious tongues.”

“My husband is an upright gentleman, honest and proper. Most importantly, his heart and eyes hold only me alone. He has even vowed never to take a concubine in this lifetime.”

Xie Yujiao spoke with pride, as if making a solemn vow, but the expressions of those present grew complicated.

In all their years, this was truly the first time they had seen such a method of clarification.

It was certainly… unique.

“Elder Sister, don’t you agree?” Xie Yujiao suddenly turned her gaze toward Xie Yao, faint traces of threat flickering in her eyes.

As soon as her words fell, all the others turned their eyes toward Xie Yao.

As long as the Crown Princess nodded, then to please her, they would naturally spread the word without restraint.

“This is the Song family’s private matter, how could I possibly know?”

The meaning of Xie Yao’s words to distance herself was crystal clear. The guests present were all shrewd people; from this single sentence they already understood her stance.

Each of them subtly shifted farther away from Xie Yujiao.

It mattered little if they had no connection to the Crown Princess. More importantly, they could not afford to incur her displeasure.

Xie Yujiao’s expression shifted slightly, hatred flashing in her eyes as she looked at Xie Yao.

Just as she was about to speak, Xie Yao continued, “However, I would advise Madam Song to report to the authorities.”

“If those spreading rumors are arrested, would that not restore Scholar Song’s innocence?” Xie Yao spoke with utter sincerity.

At first listen, Xie Yao’s words seemed perfectly reasonable.

But Xie Yujiao instantly thought back to the last time she had gone to the authorities… and the slap Song Wenbo had given her.

And now Xie Yao was suggesting she go again?

There was absolutely something wrong here!

Just as Xie Yao was about to continue, a familiar female voice rang out suddenly from the gates of the Song residence. “Imperial Sister-in-law, could it be that you do not believe in me?”