Chapter 48: Unwilling to Let the Crown Princess Sleep Alone

Xiao Ji’s face flared with heat all at once.

Xie Yao… Xie Yao was simply…

And yet, he could not refute her words. The kiss from last time surfaced in his mind at the most inopportune moment.

His expression was still stiff, but his body had already betrayed him with its honest reaction.

His throat bobbed, and his dark eyes involuntarily fell on Xie Yao’s tender, rosy lips.

No one knew better than him… just how sweet they were.

“Stop fooling around.” Xiao Ji’s voice carried no real force.

Just as Xie Yao was about to speak again, hurried footsteps sounded from outside, followed by Yingtao’s voice, “Your Highness, Crown Princess…”

Her figure appeared at the doorway. The moment she took in the scene, she froze for three whole seconds, then quickly backed out.

Her face was burning red.

Xie Yao arched her brows in amusement. This time, she did not stop Xiao Ji from pulling away, and let go of him obediently.

Xiao Ji’s voice sank coldly. “What is it?”

Yingtao’s tone carried a trace of inexplicable shyness as she spoke softly, “Just now, His Majesty issued an edict to bestow Princess He Yi in marriage to the Third Prince Beijiang.”

“Leave.” Xiao Ji’s voice sounded again.

Yingtao’s eyes reddened instantly. She turned quickly and ran off.

Zhuqing and Yuyan, waiting in the courtyard, saw Yingtao’s aggrieved expression as she rushed away and were both puzzled, hurrying after her.

Yuyan frowned. “Yingtao, the Crown Princess clearly told us not to disturb her. How could you just go in while we weren’t around?”

A flash of disdain flickered in Yingtao’s eyes, though her face was all innocence. “Ah? I didn’t know.”

Yuyan’s brows knit tighter. “We serve the Crown Princess. How could you not know her orders? Yingtao, you—”

“Enough.”

Yingtao shook off Yuyan’s hand impatiently. “Yuyan, we’re both first-rank maids. Don’t think that just because your aunt is Momo Xu, you can order me around!”

With that, she spun on her heel and left.

Yuyan’s eyes turned red with anger. She stamped her foot and stormed off as well.

—-

Inside the room.

Xiao Ji listened to the commotion outside, his brows furrowing even deeper. He remembered that girl had originally been just a maid of the Crown Prince’s household, but recently her behavior was becoming more and more unruly.

But household affairs were under Xie Yao’s control. It was not his place to interfere.

He only stepped back half a pace and said, “I still have matters to attend to in the study.”

Then he turned and left.

Xie Yao only remembered after he was gone that she had wanted to thank him for sending essays and books to Zhao Hao.

She had actually forgotten.

Well then, next time.

The news of His Majesty bestowing marriage between Princess He Yi and the Beijiang’s Third Prince spread like wildfire throughout the capital. Of course, for the sake of the royal family’s reputation, the worst details of what had happened in Princess Yongle’s residence were concealed.

But among the households that needed to know, everyone already knew.

And with Xiao Hong implicated as well, the atmosphere in the capital suddenly became unpredictable.

—–

The Song household.

“What? A bestowed marriage?!” Song Wenbo, only just awake, felt as if struck by lightning when he heard the news. His eyes went blank, and he collapsed back on the bed, looking utterly crushed.

That was supposed to be his!

If he hadn’t been knocked unconscious and thrown into the flower bushes… the one caught in bed should have been him and Her Highness!

The title of imperial son-in-law should have been his!

These thoughts rushed through Song Wenbo’s mind, leaving him completely unsettled…

“Damn it, damn it!”

His hand slammed down heavily on the bed, his face twisted with unwillingness.

He had bent over backwards to curry favor with Xiao Ning, all for the day he could soar to success. He had sacrificed so much…

And in the end, Hu Lianyuan had snatched away the prize.

“Husband?”

Xie Yujiao was startled by his reaction, calling softly, “What’s wrong with you?”

“Princess He Yi has been betrothed. From now on no one will spread rumors about you two again… aren’t you happy?”

Smack!

Song Wenbo raised his hand and slapped Xie Yujiao across the face. “You must be delighted, aren’t you?”

Xie Yujiao clutched her cheek, stunned and bewildered. “Husband?”

“It’s all your fault!” His gaze was dark as he stared at her. “If only the one married to me hadn’t been you…” Then surely by now he would have already won His Highness’s favor.

Xie Yao had been the “wife” carefully chosen for His Highness and him together.

Everything had changed all because Xie Yujiao insisted on marrying him!

Song Wenbo’s hand clamped around Xie Yujiao’s throat, his eyes flashing with murderous intent. Xie Yujiao, still replaying his words, was so shocked she forgot to resist.

Xie Yao…

It was Xie Yao again…

Only when she began to suffocate did she finally struggle, her face turning red. “Husband… husband…”

Her sharp nails scratched across the wound on Song Wenbo’s hand from when he had been thrown into the bushes. The pain finally snapped him back to his senses.

He released her. “Get lost!”

Song Wenbo left quickly. Xie Yujiao collapsed on the bed like a dead dog, clutching the sheets tight, her face twisted with unwillingness and hatred.

Xie Yao!

Very soon, Xie Yujiao’s eyes flickered as a new idea came to her.

“Qiucha.”

She called softly. Qiucha came in quickly, startled at her mistress’s appearance, and immediately lowered her head. “Madam.”

“Go buy me some medicine.” Xie Yujiao whispered into her ear.

Qiucha’s expression changed. “Madam, this…”

Xie Yujiao’s eyes hardened. “Go!”

What had happened at Princess Yongle’s residence today had given her inspiration.

The Crown Prince was out of reach.

But as a younger sister, she couldn’t possibly bear to let her good elder sister sleep alone, could she?

…

The next day.

The Crown Prince’s residence.

As Zhuqing combed Xie Yao’s hair, she said, “Crown Princess, last night Yingtao left the residence and met with Second Young Lady. She even received a packet of medicine from her. This morning I had it switched out and sent to a physician for examination.”

Xie Yao hummed in acknowledgment.

Soon after, Zhuxin entered with a dark expression. “Crown Princess, that medicine… it was an aphrodisiac.”

“I’ll go restrain Yingtao at once!” Zhuxin was furious. Yingtao had dealings with Second Young Lady, clearly with ill intentions.

“No rush.”

Xie Yao’s fingers brushed over the medicine packet. “Put it back.”

Perhaps… this was an opportunity.

With Xiao Hong and Xiao Ning stirring restlessly, she had a feeling that time would not last even two years.

She could not wait.

This child, she had to have!

That night, Yingtao arranged a little banquet, saying it was to apologize to Yuyan for her temper yesterday, and invited Zhuqing and Zhuxin as well.

At Xie Yao’s signal, the two of them agreed.

After dinner, Yingtao personally served tea. “Crown Princess, it’s all my fault. Sister Zhuqing drank too much and has passed out.”

Xie Yao motioned for her to set the cup down, her gaze sweeping over it. “You’ve worked hard.”

Yingtao quickly said no, and then turned to leave.

“Yingtao.” Xie Yao suddenly called out. Yingtao stiffened, startled, and forced a smile. “Crown Princess… what else do you require?”

Xie Yao gave her a deep look. “Nothing. Go on.”

Relieved, Yingtao left in a hurry. As soon as she stepped out of the main courtyard, she quickened her pace toward the side gate of the Crown Prince’s residence.

She was going to fetch the Crown Princess’s “adulterer.”

Inside the room.

Xie Yao’s hand caressed the teacup, her eyes full of thought…

Cultural Notes:

•  “Imperial son-in-law”: the title for a man who married a princess.