Chapter 47: Wanting to Be Close to His Highness

Xie Yao paused, then said, “That Marquis of Zhenbei was rather pitiful too.”

She gave Zhuqing a glance. Zhuqing immediately launched into a lively account of what had happened that day, though she naturally left out the hidden details.

Zhao Ying frowned deeply as she listened. “Even if they truly could not restrain themselves, to do such a thing at someone else’s birthday banquet…” It was utterly brainless.

All of a sudden, Zhao Ying’s expression stiffened. She lifted her gaze toward Xie Yao.

Xie Yao’s eyes curved in a smiling arc. Zhao Ying instantly understood much more, and in a low voice murmured, “The mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind?”

Had it been any ordinary young woman, she might not have grasped the deeper meaning behind the matter. But Zhao Ying was different.

Though she was a daughter, she had accompanied Old Master Zhao on trade caravans since her early teens, even to Beijiang. Though she had a younger brother, she had been trained as the heir to the Zhao family.

By now the two had entered the inner chamber of the main residence.

The worry in Zhao Ying’s eyes deepened as she looked at Xie Yao. Princess He Yi and the Second Prince were born of the Noble Consort. There had long been rumors that Princess He Yi admired the Marquis of Zhenbei, but only today had it been revealed that she could stoop to such vile schemes.

And given her usual wanton conduct, she hardly seemed like a woman devoted to any single man.

Clearly, her intentions were far more sinister.

“Yao-yao, are we… dragging you down?”

“What are you saying, Sister?” Xie Yao clasped her cousin’s cold hand and softly comforted her, “Sister Ying do not need to worry too much.”

After her mother’s death years ago, the Zhao family had resolved to put Zhao Hao on the path of the civil examinations.

“Oh, that reminds me.”

Zhao Ying said, “My younger brother Hao wrote to thank you and His Highness. Those exam questions and policy essays you shared were of immense help to him. You both went to such trouble to think of him…”

As she spoke, she noticed surprise flicker across Xie Yao’s face, and her own voice slowed. “Yao-yao… you didn’t know?”

So it had been His Highness who had sent them?

Xie Yao couldn’t name the feeling in her heart. She hadn’t expected… that His Highness would think of her family as well.

—

The day’s events spread like wildfire. Immediately upon leaving Princess Yongle’s residence, Hu Lianyuan, the Third Prince of Beijiang, had gone straight into the palace to request a marriage edict from the Emperor.

When Princess He Yi heard the news, she and the Second Prince rushed into the palace as well.

Inside the Yangxing Palace.

Princess He Yi knelt on the ground, her face pitiful and tearful. “Father Emperor, your daughter does not wish to marry!”

How could she not know?

Today’s incident had been Hu Lianyuan’s ploy.

He was nothing more than a hostage prince and he wanted to use her.

To marry such a man?

Never!

Hu Lianyuan also knelt on the floor. Yet he did not hasten to speak, only adopting the attitude of one who admitted his error and was willing to take responsibility for what had occurred.

“Father Emperor…”

Her voice grew soft and coaxing. Father Emperor doted on her most of all, surely he would not disregard her wishes.

Dressed in his dragon robe, the Emperor was past forty, his bearing vigorous and stern.

“Silence.” He lowered his gaze, flipping through the booklet in his hands.

Princess He Yi and Xiao Hong could both guess what it was, and their faces darkened instantly.

Just then, a young eunuch hurried inside, raising his voice: “Your Majesty, the Crown Prince requests an audience.”

The words dropped like a stone into still water, plunging the already silent hall into utter stillness.

After a long pause, the Emperor said, “Summon him.”

Xiao Ji strode inside, his expression cool and aloof as he bent to offer a formal bow. “This subject greets Your Majesty.”

“Rise.”

Their manner was so distant one would hardly take them for father and son. Xiao Ji, notably, did not call himself “your son.”

He straightened his posture.

The Emperor’s gaze lingered on his face for a fleeting moment, as though startled.

“Father Emperor,” Princess He Yi quickly interjected again. “Your daughter truly was schemed against today, and so…”

“Enough.”

The Emperor cut her off with weary impatience, turning instead toward Hu Lianyuan. “Third Prince, are you willing to become my Xia Kingdom’s imperial son-in-law?”

Not getting married, but becoming a prince consort.

Hu Lianyuan’s face froze briefly, but he immediately kowtowed. “What was done, I shall bear. Though today’s matter was unintended, I am willing to take full responsibility.”

Raised in Xia from childhood, his speech and mannerisms were no different from a native-born subject, though his stature remained taller and more imposing as befit a prince of Beijiang.

“Father Emperor…”

Princess He Yi tried to protest again, but the Emperor’s unyielding gaze fell upon her, and she was instantly struck silent.

“I will grant you both a marriage. The date shall be chosen, and until the wedding you will remain quietly in the Princess’s manor.”

With this, the Emperor’s eyes turned on Xiao Hong. “Second son, He Yi is your elder sister. You will oversee her wedding arrangements with the Ministry of Rites. Until then the matters of the Ministry of Revenue may wait.”

At that, both Princess He Yi and Xiao Hong blanched.

One placed under house confinement.

The other stripped of his official authority.

They knew perfectly well, the Emperor was dissatisfied with their conduct and was warning them both.

Neither dared harbor illusions any longer. They immediately agreed.

The Emperor dismissed them all with a wave of his hand.

Silence fell over the hall.

Only after some time did he sigh quietly. “Too impatient.”

Grand Eunuch Li Fulai, who had served him for years, stood respectfully at the side. He thought he grasped a part of the meaning, but dared not presume. He merely stepped forward with a cup of tea, kept at just the right warmth.

Then another young eunuch rushed in. “Your Majesty, the Noble Consort begs an audience.”

The Emperor did not even lift his head. “Not seeing her.”

Rising to his feet, he ordered Li Fulai, “Draft an edict.”

And with that, he moved toward the rear hall of the compound. Li Fulai assented quickly, remaining where he was, not daring to follow.

The rear hall of the Yangxing Palace had long been sealed. No one was allowed entry. Even after years of service, Li Fulai had never learned what it concealed.

All he knew was that on the late Empress’s death anniversary each year, His Majesty would suspend court and remain there the entire day.

Li Fulai stifled his thoughts and went to pass word to the Secretariat to draft the imperial edict for the marriage.

—-

At the Crown Prince’s Mansion.

Xiao Ji had only just returned when he saw Yuyan waiting by the gate. “Your Highness, the Crown Princess asks that you come to her once you’ve returned.”

He nodded and entered the main residence.

“Your Highness!”

The moment he stepped inside, Xie Yao flew into his arms like a fledgling sparrow diving into its nest.

Xiao Ji instinctively caught her, as though by reflex, only afterward remembering to set her back upright.

But she clung stubbornly, refusing to let go. “Your Highness, there’s no one here. We can be as affectionate as we like.”

“…”

He wanted to hold her firmly, but he knew her skin bruised far too easily. Even the slightest pressure could leave marks.

So he fixed his gaze straight ahead, mind clear, posture stiff as if he were but a wooden post.

But then, she rose on tiptoe and brushed a kiss against his cheek. “Your Highness, you’re so good.”

Heat flared unbidden in his ears, his heart beating faster. He kept his face stern as he scolded, “Crown Princess, this… is improper conduct!”

Xie Yao bit her lip gently, her eyes shimmering as she tilted her chin against his chest to gaze up at him. “But Your Highness, last time you kissed me… you didn’t say that.”