Chapter 46: Coaxing His Highness

Hu Lianyuan spoke with utmost seriousness, but the entire room remained silent.

What was this supposed to be?

Some kind of karmic cycle?

Xie Yao nearly laughed aloud. Just moments ago, Xiao Ning had declared she was willing to marry Pei Chen yet now Hu Lianyuan was proclaiming he was willing to marry Xiao Ning.

Xiao Ning’s expression shifted again and again, finally settling on reluctant resentment as she turned to Pei Chen. “Brother Pei Chen …”

Princess Yongle cut her off and said to Hu Lianyuan, “The Third Prince must petition His Majesty if he wishes to marry.”

Then she turned to Xiao Ning. “You have suffered a fright today. Best return early and rest.” It wasn’t a suggestion, it was an expulsion order.

Though no culprit had been uncovered, everyone already had their suspicions.

Xiao Ning and Xiao Hong, helpless, could only slink away in humiliation. Hu Lianyuan, after a brief silence, also took his leave, clearly intent on entering the palace to petition for marriage.

As Xie Yao watched, she suddenly felt a gaze land upon her.

She looked back and met Pei Chen’s eyes. She gave him a faint smile and a slight nod.

Pei Chen paused, then withdrew his gaze. The reason he had not entered this courtyard earlier was because someone had warned him.

That very maid… was now standing beside the Crown Princess.

He had been skeptical, but altered his path to seek out the Crown Prince and unexpectedly avoided disaster.

Did the Crown Princess know from the start?

When the hour grew late, Xie Yao and Xiao Ji also did not linger. After bidding farewell to Princess Yongle, the two quickly departed.

—-

“Chen’er.”

Once alone, Princess Yongle’s voice carried a touch of fatigue. “What do you make of today’s matter?”

Pei Chen immediately lowered his eyes, answering without hesitation, “Xiao Ning and the Second Prince are by no means innocent!”

“Your son has heard that the scholar found unconscious in the flower bushes was closely connected to Xiao Ning.”

“Indeed.” Princess Yongle nodded. “I have long heard of her shameless conduct. What she does is her own affair, but to set her sights on you…”

Her tone dropped to a frigid edge. “Did she truly think everyone else is fool?”

Pei Chen stiffened, guilt stirring in his chest.

He had a nagging feeling that had the Crown Princess not warned him, he would certainly have fallen prey tonight.

It wasn’t that he lacked vigilance; he had ridden without rest for three days to return to the capital in time. Exhaustion had left his body utterly depleted.

Once back in Princess Yongle’s estate, he had relaxed completely, never imagining there was still danger lurking.

Dropping to one knee, he said with shame: “It was my negligence. To disturb Mother’s birthday banquet, this is my fault.”

This entire ordeal had stemmed from him…

Princess Yongle rose and personally lifted him up. “What nonsense are you saying? If anything, this fiasco is good, it means she can no longer keep clinging to you.”

“But…” She hesitated. “Since you’ve finally returned to the capital, it is time to consider your lifelong marriage.”

A flicker of resistance welled up in Pei Chen, though he dared not oppose his mother. His eyes turned slightly, and with deliberate stiffness, he changed the subject, “Mother, today I only escaped calamity and it’s thanks to the Crown Princess.”

—-

Xie Yao walked beside Xiao Ji, sneaking glances at him from time to time.

His face was set, his silence heavy. She couldn’t shake the feeling, His Highness was angry.

A pang of guilt stirred in her. She reached out to tug his sleeve.

But just as her fingers neared, Xiao Ji shifted his arm as if he had anticipated her move, leaving her to grasp at empty air.

Oh dear.

He really was angry.

“Your Highness.”

Her voice softened, coaxing. “Slow down, won’t you? I’m getting tired, I can hardly keep up.”

Xiao Ji cast her a glance, said nothing, and kept walking forward.

But his pace slowed.

The corners of Xie Yao’s lips lifted ever so slightly. He could be coaxed after all.

Once aboard the carriage, Xie Yao ignored his resistance and sat tightly pressed against him, her tone syrupy sweet. “Your Highness.”

Xiao Ji tried to shift away, but then felt an arm tighten around his waist.

Xie Yao had wrapped herself around him like a koala, holding fast.

The closeness left him stiff, his arms pinned awkwardly so that any attempt to move would seem indecent. His voice was laced with helplessness. “Xie… Yao.”

She tipped her face up. “Is Your Highness angry with me?”

“Today’s matter truly was connected to me. It was I who told Zhuqing to warn the Marquis of Zhenbei. I even asked Your Highness beforehand, and you said it was a pity…”

She spoke with such righteous conviction that Xiao Ji actually let out a laugh of disbelief.

That counted as asking him?

She hadn’t even said what she was planning before charging ahead!

“Do you know that had anything gone wrong today, you would have…” His words caught. Especially when his eyes met her smiling gaze, he could no longer continue.

Xie Yao gently shook his arm. “But everything turned out fine, didn’t it?”

“And it was better for me to step forward than for Your Highness.”

The Second Prince’s faction watched Xiao Ji closely. They would not have suspected her.

“In this way, we ruined their scheme and also preserved the Marquis of Zhenbei’s reputation, a double victory.”

And more than that….

Xiao Ji thought to himself: now that Princess Yongle and Pei Chen were alert, even if they did not side with him, they would certainly not aid Xiao Hong.

Today’s affair was far from simple.

Xiao Ning and Xiao Hong’s attempt to frame Pei Chen was a perilous gambit; succeed, or perish. If they learned Xie Yao had intervened, they would never let the matter drop.

Xie Yao continued softly, “I know Your Highness worries for me. From now on, I’ll listen to you in everything, alright?”

Sweet words.

He wasn’t convinced.

But seeing her smile deepen as she tightened her embrace, Xiao Ji felt his anger slowly unwind.

“You really are wonderful, Your Highness.”

“…”

He cleared his throat. “Sit properly.”

The moment she realized he was no longer angry, she obediently sat upright.

He smothered the fleeting pang of disappointment in his chest and said quietly, “If anything like this happens again, you must not act on your own.”

“I’ll listen to Your Highness in everything.” She agreed so fast he doubted her sincerity.

“Your Highness.”

Her voice came again. He looked over to find his Crown Princess gazing up at him, her eyes luminous.

Her fair cheeks flushed pink as she whispered, “May I hold you?”

He froze, momentarily unable to process it.

She usually clung to him uninvited. Since when did she ever ask?

He had grown accustomed to her ways yet suddenly, she asked with such earnestness, such solemnity…

He didn’t know why, but after a brief silence, he leaned toward her and wrapped his arms around her himself.

His answer was action: yes.

Her lips curved in delight as she nestled against him. “I’ve wanted to hug Your Highness ever since earlier today, when you shielded me from Xiao Hong.”

“Your Highness.” Her voice dropped to a murmur in his embrace. “Even if I did nothing at all, they would never spare me.”

Xiao Ji recalled Xiao Hong’s eyes from earlier, a shard of cold light flashing in his own.

He would never give Xiao Hong that chance.

—

By the time the carriage reached the Crown Prince’s manor, Xiao Ji still did not alight.

“The Crown Princess may return first. I will enter the palace.”

“Your Highness…”

Xie Yao clutched his hand, unwilling to let go. “Shall I go with you?”

“There’s no need.” He shook his head.

As she stepped through the gates, Zhao Ying hurried up to her. “Yao-yao!”

She looked her cousin over anxiously. “I heard something happened at Princess Yongle’s estate and rushed back. You’re alright?”

Linking arms, the two women entered together. “Don’t worry, Sister Ying. I’m fine.”

Then Xie Yao asked, “But how did you hear about what happened at the princess’s estate?”

The banquet had been attended only by the most powerful families, and it touched the reputation of the royal clan. No one would dare spread it lightly. Yet in so short a time, Sister Ying already knew?

Zhao Ying answered immediately, “I heard that Princess He Yi and the Third Prince of Beijiang could not restrain themselves, and were caught in their illicit affair, is it true?”

“I had always heard Princess He Yi was to be bestowed to the Marquis of Zhenbei.”

————————————–
Translator’s Note: I know its still early but I am shipping Zhao Ying with Pei Chen..