After Marrying the Heirless Crown Prince, I Gave Birth to Three Children - Chapter 7

Chapter 7: Your Highness, It Hurts

Madam Zhang felt a little suspicious, but she also knew that by now everything was set in stone and could not be changed. She could only force herself to think of the bright side.

She held Xie Yujiao’s hand and asked softly, “Son-in-law treats you well, doesn’t he?”

Xie Yujiao bit her lip lightly, her expression a mix of shyness and anger. “He… he has not consummated the marriage with me.”

Madam Zhang’s brows knitted tightly. “What does he mean by that?!”

Xie Yujiao quickly explained, “Husband said he hadn’t expected to marry me, that he wasn’t ready yet, and asked me to give him some time… It’s all Xie Yao’s fault! It must be that wretched woman who said something to him in private.”

All her resentment was directed at Xie Yao, but Madam Zhang knew it wasn’t that simple.

She didn’t know Song Wenbo well.

But she knew men.

Xie Yujiao soon began to complain about another matter, “Mother, you don’t know my mother-in-law. Her vision is so shallow, and her manner is coarse and vulgar…”

Madam Zhang sighed. “Of course I know. Back when your grandmother… Forget it. Today is your return visit; I will arrange for two attendants to follow you. As long as your mother is here, don’t be afraid of anything.”

—-

Meanwhile, Master Xie and Song Wenbo were accompanying the Crown Prince in conversation.

Master Xie maintained a flattering posture the entire time. The Crown Prince’s responses were cool and indifferent. Song Wenbo sat awkwardly to one side, hardly able to join in. After quite a while, he finally found an excuse to leave the study.

“Eldest Miss.”

He intercepted Xie Yao in the corridor. Dressed in his scholar’s blue robe, he looked especially refined, but his eyes were dark and gloomy.

“I always thought the one who would spend her life with me was you. I never imagined…”

Out of the corner of her eye, Xie Yao noticed the faint glimpse of a pale pink robe peeking from behind a corner not far behind him.

Her gaze lifted lazily, her eyes filled with open mockery and disdain. “And what exactly are you supposed to be?”

Song Wenbo’s face froze. He raised his eyes in shock, looking at Xie Yao in disbelief.

In his mind, Xie Yao had always been the gentle type, soft in temper, with no backing, and easy to control. But now…

“You don’t even look at yourself. You think you could marry me? If your house doesn’t have a mirror, you may as well use your piss to see your reflection. Even carrying the shoes of this Crown Princess, you’re not worthy.”

When Xie Yujiao, Madam Zhang, Master Xie, and the Crown Prince hurried over, these were the very words they heard.

“Second Sister.”

Xie Yao’s gaze shifted past Song Wenbo and landed on Xie Yujiao. “Control your family’s dog.”

In Song Wenbo’s eyes, a fierce hatred and murderous intent flashed, but he quickly lowered his gaze again.

Xie Yujiao was also angry, but what burned her more was this: why did both the Crown Prince and Song Wenbo, these men seem to favor Xie Yao more?

“Xie Yao! You’ve always been restless. If you hadn’t deliberately seduced my husband, you…”

“Slap her.”

With Xie Yao’s order, Zhuqing immediately stepped forward and delivered a resounding slap across Xie Yujiao’s face.

“Slandering and defaming the Crown Princess of the kingdom, what crime is that?” Xie Yao’s words made Madam Zhang fall silent.

But Xie Yujiao was furious beyond control. “Crown Princess? You think you can keep that title for long…”

“Shut up!”

Madam Zhang’s sharp rebuke cut her off. Her eyes at her daughter carried only warning.

Xie Yujiao clutched her cheek, her face full of unwillingness. She lowered her voice and hissed at Xie Yao, “What are you so smug about? You’re nothing but a Crown Princess in name only. My husband is the one who will have great fortune…”

“In name only?” Xie Yao’s brows drew together. “What do you mean?”

Xie Yujiao’s face lit with smug pride. “The Crown Prince hasn’t touched you, has he? Sister, you can look forward to guarding an empty bed for life, a widow in all but name!”

So the Crown Prince really was incapable?

Xie Yao’s heart sank heavily, though her face gave nothing away. Instead, she said calmly, “Then I’ll wait for Second Sister to bear sons early and fill the house with grandchildren.”

She didn’t believe for a second that Xie Yujiao and Song Wenbo had consummated their marriage.

Xie Yujiao’s expression stiffened, her face suddenly looking very unpleasant.

Meanwhile, Xie Yao turned with an easy grace to the Crown Prince. Smiling sweetly, she said, “Your Highness, let us return to the Palace.”

A return-visit banquet? Sitting with these people, she couldn’t eat a single bite.

The real reason she came back today was to observe Xie Yujiao’s choices and put some pressure on her.

Song Wenbo had calculated correctly, she had no real backing. But Xie Yujiao was different. Xie Yao looked forward to the day when Xie Yujiao finally saw Song Wenbo’s true face.

And yet…

A flash of killing intent passed through Xie Yao’s eyes.

Song Wenbo and that secret lover of his, she would never let them go.

No matter how difficult it was.

—-

The Xie family respectfully escorted the Crown Prince and Xie Yao as they left.

Only then did Xie Yujiao turn to Song Wenbo, her gaze sharp as a blade. “Husband, are you still thinking of that wretch?”

Not only Xie Yujiao, but Master Xie and Madam Zhang’s expressions also carried clear hostility.

Song Wenbo forced down the anger and hatred in his heart. When he raised his head again, his face was full of helplessness. “Father-in-law, Mother-in-law, Jiao-jiao…

“After all, the Crown Princess once exchanged some letters with me. But on my wedding day, when I first saw Jiao-jiao, I felt true joy and admiration… Today, when I sought out the Crown Princess, I only wished to bid her a proper farewell. I never thought she would misunderstand.”

“This was my poor judgment. I beg Father-in-law, Mother-in-law, and Jiao-jiao to forgive me. I swear that I will always treat Jiao-jiao well!”

“Hmph.”

Master Xie snorted coldly, his tone heavy with warning. “You’d better. Jiao-jiao is the apple of my eye. If she suffers any grievance…”

He did not finish the sentence, but the threat was unmistakable.

Madam Zhang quickly smoothed things over with a smile. “Wenbo, your father-in-law means nothing else; he only dotes too much on Jiao-jiao. Don’t overthink it.”

Song Wenbo pressed down the bitterness in his heart. When he raised his head, his expression was warm again. “Your son-in-law understands.”

But in front of the Crown Prince, this old man Xie had behaved nothing like this!

The entire Xie family, whether old man Xie or Xie Yao, none of them respected him!

Xie Yujiao, however, saw her husband’s seemingly sincere attitude and finally felt some relief.

Xie Yao must have only been trying to frighten her. That was all.

—

Inside the carriage on the way back to the Crown Prince’s Palace, Xiao Ji sat as far away from Xie Yao as possible. The moment he sat down, he closed his eyes in thought.

“Your Highness.”

Xie Yao’s voice was soft and gentle. “Thank you for standing up for me today.”

The carriage was spacious, yet Xiao Ji felt as though her voice was sounding right beside his ear.

He opened his eyes abruptly, only to crash directly into Xie Yao’s gaze, her eyes curved with a hint of a smile.

He frowned slightly and said coldly, “You did perfectly well on your own.”

Xie Yao replied quickly, “If I hadn’t known the Crown Prince was there, I wouldn’t have dared.”

Is that so?

Xiao Ji did not comment. In truth, he thought… Xie Yao was far bolder than she let on.

The warm noon sunlight of spring filled the carriage. Resting with closed eyes, Xiao Ji caught a whiff of a familiar fragrance drifting into his nose.

It was the scent on Xie Yao’s body.

A fragrance that stirred the heart.

It grew closer and closer…

Xiao Ji’s eyes snapped open, only to find that at some point, Xie Yao had leaned right up close in front of him.

His brows drew tight. He instinctively raised a hand to push her away..

And his palm landed on something soft.

“Ah!”

Xie Yao was pushed backward, her whole body slamming into the carriage wall. Pain shot through her lower back, and her delicate brows pinched together as beads of sweat broke out on her fair little face.

It hurt!

Xiao Ji looked on with cold eyes, not moved in the least.

If she hadn’t suddenly leaned in, this wouldn’t have happened.

Xie Yao quickly caught her breath and explained, “Your Highness misunderstood.”

Enduring the pain, she stretched out her hand and pointed in front of him. “My sachet fell.”

She had only been trying to retrieve it.

Xiao Ji lowered his gaze and indeed saw an orchid-embroidered sachet lying there, the very one she had worn today.

So just now…

He suddenly felt that the hand which had touched Xie Yao’s body was oddly hot. He quickly said, “Forgive me. Are you all right?”

Xie Yao lifted her gaze, her eyes shimmering with tears. “Your Highness… it hurts.”