Chapter 60: All Because His Highness Was Too Fierce

Did His Highness not already know these things?

Si-nan grumbled inwardly, but still replied, “Reporting to Your Highness, indeed so. Just a few days ago, Madam Song Li went to the Xie family to fetch the Second Young Lady, and even said such words in public.”

Xiao Ji’s eyes turned cold. “Such audacity.”

The filthy deeds of that filthy man Song Wenbo… of course he knew them.

Before, he had only felt disdain.

But now that he realized those schemes had once targeted his Crown Princess, an unprovoked violence and rage surged in his heart.

He wanted nothing more than to burn the entire Song family to ashes.

“For speaking so insolently, give them some punishment,” Xiao Ji ordered lightly.

Si-nan immediately turned to leave, inwardly delighted. Wonderful; ever since His Highness married the Crown Princess, he had become more and more like a living man of flesh and blood.

Long live the Crown Princess!

Xie Yao woke up the next day. As soon as she opened her eyes, she saw the familiar great bed and behind her, a warm chest, burning hot.

Even through their underclothes, she could clearly feel His Highness’s heat.

A little too hot.

As soon as she tried to shift, his arm tightened around her waist, pulling her firmly back against him.

“Your Highness.” Her voice was husky, her throat dry. “I want water.”

Before she could rise, Xiao Ji had already sat up, turned over, and poured her a cup of warm tea.

“Thank you, Your Highness.” She smiled faintly, accepting the cup and sipping it slowly until it was gone.

Xiao Ji waited patiently and only asked when she finished, “Is that enough?”

Xie Yao nodded.

With one long stride, he returned to the bed. The wide mattress instantly felt cramped with him back on it.

“Your Highness?” She blinked in surprise. In the past, whenever she woke, Xiao Ji had already been gone.

But today…

“Time to assess your recent progress in martial practice,” Xiao Ji said with a straight face. “Come.”

Xie Yao: “…”

Even with her Blessed body of fertility and excellent recovery, she still needed time!

After last night’s tossing about for half the night, even she felt her waist and legs still soft. And he had exerted himself more than she, so how was he this energetic?

“Your Highness, I have no strength.” She buried herself in the bed, refusing to rise. Her bare shoulder and neck exposed above the quilt were dotted with ambiguous marks that invited all kinds of thoughts.

Xiao Ji frowned.

She glared at him playfully. “It’s all Your Highness’s fault!”

Xiao Ji: “…Then tomorrow we’ll try again.”

He did feel a bit embarrassed. Last night, she had begged him to stop, but at such a moment, how could he have stopped?

Xie Yao immediately said, “Tonight then.”

And then, naturally…

Although the female physician had advised moderation, she thought, once these few days had passed, she would definitely show restraint.

Xiao Ji gave her a look but said nothing more. He rose, dressed, and left the room.

After lunch, Xie Yao began going through account books.

As Crown Princess, she not only had to manage the ledgers of the Crown Prince’s household but also the many shops and estates that had come with her dowry.

“Crown Princess.”

Zhuxin hurried in, lowering her voice. “Last night, Scholar Song did not return home at all. This morning, they found his legs broken.”

“What?” Xie Yao looked up.

“And Madam Song Li, for some reason, perhaps from eating the wrong thing could not speak this morning. The physician said she will not be able to utter a word for at least half a month.”

Had the Song family run into evil spirits?

“Was this Madam Zhang’s doing?” That was her first suspicion. After all, when Song Wenbo and Song Li-shi came to the Xie residence that day, they had nearly driven Madam Zhang to fury.

For Madam Zhang to retaliate would not have been surprising.

Zhuxin shook her head. “This servant does not think so. The Zhangs have been busy seeking a master instead. This very morning, Old Master Zhang delivered gifts to the Imperial diviner’s residence.”

“Strangely enough, at first the steward of the Imperial diviner’s residence refused to accept them. But later, for some reason, he did.”

At the words “Imperial diviner’s residence,” Xie Yao’s eyes flickered. “Keep watch on Madam Zhang and the Zhang family.”

After a moment’s thought, she rose and headed to the study.

Perhaps because of her experiences in her previous life, she had sharp instincts about certain things. Regarding the Zhangs and the Imperial diviner’s residence…

Her intuition told her something was wrong.

“Your Highness.”

She stepped directly into the study, only to find that Xiao Ji was not alone. The man beside him was someone she had seen before….

The Marquis of Zhenbei, Pei Chen.

Her steps faltered, her smile restrained into a more proper expression. “Marquis.”

Pei Chen rose and saluted. “Crown Princess.”

“That day, thank you for your reminder.” He bowed deeply, his steady voice carrying sincerity.

“No need to be so polite, Marquis.” Xie Yao smiled faintly, her gaze shifting to Xiao Ji.

He gave her a reassuring look. “If the Crown Princess has something to say, you may speak freely.”

Xie Yao looked at Pei Chen in surprise, only to find him equally surprised at her.

Their eyes met with the same unspoken thought: His Highness trusted the other completely?

But since Xiao Ji had said so, she did not hesitate. She repeated all that Zhuxin had reported and concluded, “I fear there may be a problem.”

When she finished, Xiao Ji’s eyes grew pensive, while Pei Chen’s gaze held admiration. “The Crown Princess is keen.”

“I heard from my mother that the Imperial diviner has long been reclusive. Even she might not gain an audience, let alone the Zhang family. There must be something amiss.”

The Zhang father and son might hold official ranks, but their talents were limited. The elder Zhang was still only a fourth-rank official.

Could such a family truly sway the Imperial diviner?

Xiao Ji nodded. “Si-nan has also reported this. I have already ordered him to investigate.”

She had her eye on the Zhangs, while he watched the Imperial diviner’s residence. Together, they would surely uncover the truth.

Her heart finally eased a little.

Then Pei Chen spoke: “Your Highness is wise. I had men consult experts in astronomy and water systems. It seems the south will see over a month more of rain.”

“If that is the case… flooding will be unavoidable. Especially in Nanzhou, where the land is flat and the lower streams narrow, prone to water accumulation and poor drainage. Precautions must be taken early.” His voice carried a heavy note.

“Fortunately, last year the embankments in Nanzhou were reinforced,” he added.

Xie Yao quietly reminded, “Your Highness, I seem to recall my father once mentioning that the reinforcement project was supervised by Minister Li?”

Minister Li was none other than the Noble Consort’s elder brother, the maternal uncle of the Second Prince Xiao Hong and Princess He Yi, Xiao Ning.

Xiao Ji and Pei Chen exchanged a look, both of their eyes twitching.

“Something like this…”

“Must be investigated immediately,” Xiao Ji said. “If there truly are flaws, the people of Nanzhou will all need to be evacuated!”

Now that flood season had begun and rain was falling without pause, repairing embankments would be far too late.

He paused, then added, “And beware of them killing to silence witnesses and destroying evidence.”

The matter was grave. Someone had to personally inspect Nanzhou to get to know the true situation.

The envoy needed to be not only reliable, but also intelligent, and strong enough to protect himself…

“Your Highness, allow me to go.” Pei Chen did not hesitate.

Xiao Ji was silent for a moment, then nodded. “Be careful.”

Pei Chen inclined his head. “Rest assured, Your Highness.”

The matter settled, Pei Chen was just about to leave when a servant’s voice came from outside. “Your Highness, the Second Prince has arrived.”

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