Chapter 55: His Highness Was Jealous, Xie Yao Confessed

In that instant, the Xie family’s courtyard fell so silent that even a pin drop could be heard.

Xiao Ji stopped in his tracks, his gaze fixed on Xie Yujiao, cold to the point of terror. His expression was outwardly calm, but beneath his eyes surged a murderous intent.

Frightened by the Crown Prince’s gaze, Xie Yujiao felt as if a blade hung above her head, ready to fall mercilessly at any moment.

Her throat tightened.

Her legs weakened, trembling, with nothing to support her.

“Your Highness, forgive her!”

Madam Zhang’s heart nearly split apart, but she reacted swiftly, hurrying forward to kneel. “Your Highness, my daughter spoke nonsense. Her words are not to be taken seriously! I beg Your Highness, for the sake of her youth and ignorance, to spare her this once!”

Master Xie likewise dropped to his knees, though inwardly he cursed.

Mad. Xie Yujiao had gone mad… utterly mad!

The servants of the courtyard collapsed in unison to their knees as well, until the only ones left standing were Xiao Ji, Xie Yao, and Xie Yujiao.

“Xie Yujiao, kneel!” Madam Zhang nearly fainted, but still managed to bark the command.

Xie Yujiao’s legs gave out, and she fell to her knees.

“To slander the Crown Princess in public, to scorn the dignity of the royal house.” Xiao Ji’s voice was frigid, as merciless as winter frost. His eyes regarded Xie Yujiao as though she were already dead. “It seems being slapped was not enough for the young lady to learn her lesson.”

“Spare her, Your Highness, spare her life!” Master Xie and Madam Zhang cried in unison, kowtowing desperately.

Xie Yujiao, however, clenched her teeth, her body stiff as she knelt. Her cheeks, swollen and burning from the earlier slaps, flushed crimson.

Her reddened eyes glared at Xiao Ji with bitter resentment, as though she were staring at a faithless man who had betrayed her.

Why?

In the previous life, Xiao Ji had held her at a distance of a thousand miles, never once giving her a kind look.

Yet facing the shameless Xie Yao, he was endlessly gentle and tender.

“You are pleading with the wrong person.” Xiao Ji’s tone revealed his displeasure at the Xie family’s reaction.

Madam Zhang and Master Xie immediately understood, exchanging a glance. After a moment’s hesitation, they said together, “We beg the Crown Princess for mercy!”

Madam Zhang even tugged harshly at her daughter’s sleeve, whispering sharply, “Do you want to die?!”

Was the Crown Princess someone to slander at will?

And that too in front of both her and the Crown Prince himself.

Watching this, Xie Yujiao found it absurd, her teeth biting so hard into her lip that it nearly bled. Still, she refused to beg.

“Father, what are you doing?” Xie Yao gave a light laugh. “Younger Sister is already married into the Song family. Even if His Highness and I wish to punish her, it has nothing to do with Father.”

At the mention of the “Song family,” Xie Yujiao’s pupils contracted sharply. At last, her stiff spine bent. “It was my slip of the tongue. I beg the Crown Princess for forgiveness.”

She still needed to wait until her husband became Grand Chancellor.

Xie Yao… she would have her revenge then.

Master Xie and Madam Zhang, though relieved, also felt a pang of sorrow. They had knelt half a day, yet one light mention of “the Song family” outweighed all their pleas.

“Younger Sister’s words insulted royal dignity. Forty slaps.” Xie Yao said coolly. “I will have my own momo instruct her in proper manners, lest her mouth bring further trouble in the future.”

“Crown Princess…” Madam Zhang started to protest.

But Xiao Ji cut in, his voice like a blade. “If word of such slander were to reach outside these walls…”

Master Xie quickly seized the hint, bowing low. “Your Highness may rest assured, I will not allow today’s words to spread beyond this house.”

Leaving attendants behind to oversee the punishment of Xie Yujiao, Xiao Ji and Xie Yao departed together.

Inside the carriage.

Xie Yao was just about to speak when she noticed Xiao Ji had withdrawn his hand from hers. He now sat upright, his brows cool, his demeanor distant.

He was angry?

The thought struck her heart like a blow, and she trembled. Could it be… the Crown Prince had truly believed Xie Yujiao’s accusations?

Was that why he was angry?

“Your Highness…”

Her voice came timidly, her eyes quickly welling with crystal tears. In the dim carriage, her fragility made her look pitiful beyond measure.

Xiao Ji closed his eyes, refusing even to glance at her.

“Your Highness.” Xie Yao shifted closer, tugging gently at his sleeve. “Your Highness… do you suspect me?”

Her voice grew softer and softer. In her heart, she had already guessed the source of his discontent.

Though she had bled on their wedding night, before that she had deliberately enticed him, acting with a familiarity that might have seemed far too skilled.

Perhaps that was the seed of doubt.

Xie Yao bit her lip lightly, and then lifted his hand to press it against her chest. “Do you hear it, Your Highness?”

The instant Xiao Ji felt the soft warmth beneath his palm, his eyes snapped open. He tried to withdraw, but she clutched tightly and would not let go.

“Hear what?” he asked helplessly.

Xie Yao’s luminous eyes gazed into his. “The sound of my heart beating for Your Highness.”

Xiao Ji’s entire body froze, utterly unprepared for such words.

Then again, from the beginning, his Crown Princess had always been forthright and ardent.

“I have never doubted you.” His voice softened, and he forced patience into his explanation.

Xie Yao believed him at once. His eyes shone with sincerity. She only bit her lip, whispering in grievance, “Then why did Your Highness…”

Why had he suddenly ignored her, so clearly angry?

“Has the Crown Princess nothing to explain to me?” Xiao Ji’s gaze locked on hers, burning.

Her heart jolted.

What had she hidden from him?

Far too many things.

She could hardly confess them all.

After a moment’s thought, she blinked innocently and shook her head. “I beg Your Highness to speak plainly.”

His lips moved, but he did not say what weighed on his mind. In the end, he said only, “Then the Crown Princess had best think it through carefully.”

He truly was angry?

Xie Yao saw him close his eyes once more, his posture forbidding as though strangers were not to approach. She held her tongue, only pondering what she had done to anger him.

Still, it likely was not too grave. After all, even when angry, he had stood firmly at her side in front of the Xie family.

When they alighted from the carriage, Xiao Ji went straight to his study, while Xie Yao turned to seek out Zhao Ying.

“Sister Ying.”

When Xie Yao entered her courtyard, the maids were packing belongings. “Elder Sister, what are you doing? Are you moving away?”

Zhao Ying took her hand, smiling gently. “I’ve written to my grandparents and parents. We will come to the capital next month instead of waiting until next year.”

“When that time comes, it will no longer be convenient for me to live in the Crown Prince’s residence.” She squeezed Xie Yao’s hand. “Thanks to your reminder.”

It was just as Xie Yao had expected, but she still asked, “Why must Elder Sister move out now, then?”

“I must make a trip south.” Zhao Ying explained, “There are many things that need to be purchased. The time is short, so I must go personally.”

Xie Yao pressed her lips together. “It will be hard on you, Elder Sister. When will you leave?”

“Tomorrow morning.” Zhao Ying’s answer was firm. “The merchant fleet has a ship heading south at dawn. I will depart with it.”

“Do not worry for me. I have traded for many years. Everything is arranged.” She embraced Xie Yao lightly.

Knowing the importance, Xie Yao nodded. “Then tomorrow, I shall see you off.”

That night.

When Xiao Ji returned to the main courtyard under the cover of darkness, the lamps inside the chamber were all unlit.

Could it be… Yao-yao was still upset with him?

He frowned, took a deep breath, and stepped inside, only to find the room empty.

“Where is the Crown Princess?