Chapter 61: Your Highness, Shall We Bathe Together?

The study fell into silence. The three of them shared, for the first time, a tacit understanding: what a coincidence.

Xiao Ji’s gaze shifted to Pei Chen, his brow arching slightly. “He’s here for you.”

Xiao Hong never came to this palace without reason.

Pei Chen’s expression turned serious. Hearing this, he frowned. “Second Prince has come to wrong person.”

For some matters it was useless to ask him.

“Invite him in,” Xiao Ji instructed. Since Xiao Hong had already arrived, it was impossible to refuse him entry.

Xiao Hong entered quickly.

The moment he stepped inside, his eyes fell on Xie Yao. Just a few days apart and she looked even more beautiful.

Compared to her, the women in his own residence… were nothing of interest.

He entertained many thoughts, yet dared not stare.

The last warning from Xiao Ji still echoed in his ears, and the look Xiao Ji now cast upon him was equally unfriendly.

“Elder Brother, Elder Sister-in-law.” Xiao Hong smiled, then turned to Pei Chen. “Cousin, it’s been a long time.”

Princess Yongle was the emperor’s elder sister. Pei Chen, her adopted son, was thus Xiao Hong’s cousin by name.

Pei Chen returned the salute. “Second Prince.”

The distance between close and distant kin was clear.

The smile on Xiao Hong’s face stiffened, but no one said anything. Xiao Ji and Pei Chen raised their teacups in unison, drinking calmly.

Seeing this, Xiao Hong also lifted his cup, though his hand gripped it so tightly that veins bulged across the back. His lowered eyes brimmed with gloom.

“Your Highness,” Pei Chen said, rising. “I will take my leave.”

Leaving already?

Xiao Hong froze for a moment, then quickly stood as well. “In that case, I won’t disturb Elder Brother either.”

“Cousin, let’s walk together.”

He raised his hand, intending to drape it companionably over Pei Chen’s shoulder.

But Pei Chen was taller and at that moment, he looked at Xiao Hong with a chilling, murderous aura. Xiao Hong’s hand froze midair, then fell back down quietly.

Inside, he was cursing.

Pei Chen was deliberately refusing to give him face.

Before leaving, Xiao Hong turned back once more, only to meet Xiao Ji’s cold gaze.

The Crown Prince’s tall frame blocked Xie Yao completely, leaving only the hem of her skirt visible.

Once they were gone, Xie Yao frowned, her expression full of offended disgust. “So revolting.”

That look just now…

If someone like Xiao Hong were to inherit the throne, then Great Xia would surely be finished.

Xiao Ji’s eyes darkened. He had already instructed Si-nan to find some tasks to keep Xiao Hong busy. Now it seemed… it still wasn’t enough.

“Your Highness,” Xie Yao pulled her thoughts back to the matter at hand. “The Marquis of Zhenbei commands the Northern Army. Will he have time to go south to Nanzhou?”

“Yes.” Xiao Ji nodded. “This time his recall to the capital was by His Majesty’s will.”

Xie Yao suddenly remembered overhearing in her previous life, Xiao Ning and Song Wenbo speaking of some scheme against Pei Chen, one that ultimately ‘came to nothing.’

Her heart tightened. “Does His Majesty intend to gather military power into his own hands?”

Xiao Ji’s eyes revealed appreciation. “The Crown Princess is perceptive.”

She grasped it immediately.

Now she understood why Pei Chen had said earlier that the Second Prince had come to the wrong person.

Xiao Ji continued, “Soon, the Wei family will also return to the capital.”

Xie Yao had noticed lately that His Highness often shared court matters with her, even occasionally seeking her opinions.

“The Wei family?” She widened her eyes in surprise, her voice rising.

Her gaze searched his face.

Xiao Ji nodded, confirming her guess.

The late empress’s surname had been Wei. The Wei family was Xiao Ji’s maternal kin, a great military clan. But after the empress passed away, the women and children of the Wei clan had returned to their ancestral home.

“The Wei family’s second son joined the army early on. He currently serves with the Northern Army,” Xiao Ji explained further.

Xie Yao ventured, “His Majesty intends to promote him?”

The Wei clan was an external kinship family. By reclaiming Pei Chen’s command and transferring it to the Weis, the emperor made his calculation clear, he was certain that Xiao Ji had little time left.

Since Xiao Ji had no future, there was no need to worry about strengthening him, nor about empowering the maternal clan.

By rights, this should have been good for her. With the Wei family’s support, she and her children would be safe even after His Highness was gone.

Yet she felt a heaviness in her heart, unable to rejoice.

“Your Highness.” She reached out, embracing him, her cheek pressed to his chest, listening to his strong and steady heartbeat.

Had she not heard it herself in her past life, she could never have believed that someone so vigorous and formidable had only two years left.

Xiao Ji lowered his gaze.

Xie Yao’s soft body trembled faintly against him, her long lashes betraying her inner unrest.

She clung to him tightly.

Was she feeling injustice on his behalf?

Xiao Ji wrapped his arm around her, and in the heart that had long since grown resigned and numb, a surge of fierce unwillingness suddenly rose…

—-

That night.

Xiao Ji tested Xie Yao’s martial skills.

These past days, she had been diligently learning from her female instructor.

Her body was more supple than any Xiao Ji had ever seen, able to take on any form he wished.

Her recovery was unusually fast.

Thus, her aptitude for martial arts was also exceptional. Compared to his past training in brute force, her teacher’s style of using softness to overcome strength suited her far better.

“Your Highness,” Xie Yao warned playfully, “be careful.”

She launched the first strike. This time, unlike last, Xiao Ji was prepared.

He moved too swiftly; she could hardly get close. No matter how many tricks she tried, he effortlessly dissolved them all.

In the end, she hadn’t even touched him, while she herself was panting and covered in fragrant sweat.

Xiao Ji caught her hand and said seriously, “There are a few areas you need to pay attention to.”

He pointed out her weaknesses directly.

Xie Yao understood at once, quick to adapt and improving rapidly.

The corners of his lips curved faintly, his gaze on her filled with undisguised admiration. “You have talent.”

“It’s all thanks to Your Highness’s teaching.” Her breathing was heavy, her figure rising and falling with each breath, trembling slightly.

Her fair skin had flushed with a tempting pink.

Xiao Ji withdrew, his throat suddenly dry. He lifted a cup of tea from the table and drank.

By now the sky outside had darkened. No lamps were lit in the room; every small movement was magnified in the darkness.

When he made no move, Xie Yao thought of the female physician’s prescribed days…

She reached out, hooking his hand. “I’ve worked up quite a sweat. I need a bath.”

“Your Highness, will you join me?”

And it was hard to refuse.

In the bath chamber, water splashed noisily. Fortunately, the attendants of the main courtyard had already withdrawn early, so no one would overhear.

To Xie Yao, the whole world seemed to sway.

Only one thought echoed in her mind: It had already been several days in a row, so how was His Highness still this formidable?