Chapter 70: Xie Yujiao Reaps What She Sowed, Pei Chen and Zhao Ying Go Missing

That night.

Zhuxin entered the room, her tone carrying a strange note. “Crown Princess, as you predicted, Princess He Yi went to the Song residence today. And moreover…”

“She went without attendants.”

In past days, whenever Princess He Yi met with Song Wenbo, she always brought people with her. But not today.

Xie Yao understood clearly; this time, they were making a move against Xie Yujiao.

She rose and pushed open the window, gazing into the distance.

Xie Yujiao… you’ll have to fend for yourself now.

At the same time, in the Song residence.

Song Wenbo dismissed everyone in the courtyard, then under cover of night slipped into Xie Yujiao’s room.

Xie Yujiao had been caned forty strokes for insolent speech, though naturally Xie Yao had ordered them to go easy; enough to punish, not cripple.

After a period of convalescence, she had recovered somewhat.

“Husband?”

Seeing Song Wenbo, who had not stepped into her chamber for half a month, enter leaning on his crutch, Xie Yujiao could not have been happier.

During her recovery, she had also been seeking ointments to remove scars.

She bit her lip lightly and whispered, “Husband, I… I haven’t fully healed yet…”

“Doesn’t matter.” Song Wenbo halted before her, bent down, and lifted her up. “Injured is just fine.”

That way, she couldn’t run.

W-what?

Xie Yujiao’s face instantly flushed crimson. She looked up at him with hesitation. Could it be that her husband, who appeared so refined, actually liked her best when she was wounded?

How utterly… shameful!

She nuzzled against his chest, her voice turning coy to the extreme. “Husband, please be gentle with me.”

In the past, every time he was like he wanted to kill her.

Looking at the bashful woman in his arms, Song Wenbo’s eyes flashed with ridicule and disgust.

A woman who could not keep her virtue!

Even if he had to, he would never truly want her.

“Don’t worry.”

Still holding her, he suddenly, under Xie Yujiao’s startled gaze, set her down on the floor.

Her face grew even redder, but she was already used to it.

Her husband liked the floor….every time it was…

Then Song Wenbo drew a few silk ribbons from his sleeve and bound her hands behind her back, tied her ankles firmly, and secured her whole body beneath the eaves, just like tethering a dog.

“H-husband?” A sense of wrongness finally crept over Xie Yujiao. H-how could this be…

But Song Wenbo ignored her. He shoved a rag into her mouth, and in her shocked and panicked eyes, picked up an oil lamp.

He set it steadily above her head.

As noblewomen, they had once trained in deportment by balancing oil lamps on their heads; easy enough.

“Don’t move.”

Song Wenbo smiled faintly. “If you do, the oil will spill and burn you.”

At that moment, a hidden door opened and a richly adorned figure stepped slowly out.

Xie Yujiao watched in horror as the same Song Wenbo who had just treated her so cruelly now went forward like a dog to greet this person.

His voice turned fawning. “Your Highness, allow me to serve you well tonight.”

…

At the Crown Prince’s residence.

Xie Yao had been preparing to sleep. Perhaps due to her pregnancy, she had been more drowsy than usual.

But glancing at the hour, she noticed Xiao Ji still had not returned.

Her heart tightened, and she rose to go toward the study.

If Xiao Ji harbored suspicions, she should explain clearly. But something like the “Blessed Constitution for Auspicious Conception”…

How could she explain that?

Inside the study was an unsettling silence. As soon as she entered, she saw Xiao Ji sitting at the desk, brows knitted.

Her heart sank. “Your Highness…”

Whatever he had been thinking, he looked startled at her voice.

He immediately stood and grasped her hand. “It’s so dark outside, why did you come here, Yao-yao?”

His demeanor did not look like one of suspicion.

Xie Yao quietly breathed out, answering softly, “Without you there, I was afraid.”

Xiao Ji’s eyes softened, his voice low. “It was my fault.”

“Has something serious happened?” Xie Yao asked with genuine concern.

“Yao-yao, do you recall that after the flooding in the southern prefecture, His Majesty sent the Assistant Minister of Justice to investigate?”

“I remember.” She nodded.

“Yesterday, while conducting inquiries, he crossed a bridge. But the bridge suddenly collapsed, and he fell into the river, perishing.” Xiao Ji paused, his eyes settling on her.

Xie Yao’s heart gave a lurch. She felt he wasn’t finished.

“And also…” Xiao Ji deliberately slowed his words. “Pei Chen and Young Lady Zhao were also on the bridge at the time. But they have not yet been found, their life or death is unknown.”

Xie Yao’s face changed drastically. Her grip on his hand tightened. “Why was Sister Ying there?”

No matter how one saw it, Zhao Ying was only a merchant, she should not have been present at such matters.

“Yao-yao.” Xiao Ji held her back, trying to give her reassurance.

Her eyes reddened instantly, tears welling. “Your Highness, please… please send people to find Sister Ying.”

Seeing her like this, his heart twisted painfully.

The little unease and doubt he had harbored were swept away. No matter how the child in her belly had come about, from this moment forward it was his child.

If he truly had only two years left…

At least Yao-yao would still have hope.

“Yao-yao, I’ve already dispatched people. I promised you I would keep Zhao Ying safe. I have failed this time.”

Since her rebirth, everything had gone smoothly for Xie Yao.

This was the first true blow. Just the thought of Sister Ying’s fate being uncertain in the south made her restless and anxious.

Especially since only days ago she had just seen her maternal family…

“Your Highness, can we conceal this from the Zhao family for now? My grandmother’s health is frail…”

“Of course.” Xiao Ji nodded immediately, gently patting her back. “Right now, what matters most is your own body.”

Though his own heart worried, he coaxed Xie Yao into drinking calming soup and finally lying down to rest.

…

Back at the Song residence.

Xie Yujiao was still bound, an oil lamp balanced above her head, forced to watch as her husband bedded another. Even if she had lost her mind, she would never dare to move and risk burning herself.

After torment came despair, and then only tears.

When everything ended, she remained on the cold ground, serving as a lamp-bearer for their pleasure.

Dawn broke.

Song Wenbo respectfully escorted Princess He Yi away. The lingering scent of passion still clung to the room.

Xie Yujiao’s tears had run dry, replaced by bitter hatred.

Madman!

Song Wenbo was a madman!

Step by step, he walked back to her. With a mockery of kindness, he lifted the lamp from her head. “Don’t look at me like that.”

Her mouth gagged, she could only glare viciously.

Just you wait!

She would tell her parents everything. Song Wenbo was finished!

Smack!

A sharp slap cracked across her face, snapping her head to the side. Blood seeped into the rag in her mouth.

Song Wenbo seized her chin, forcing her to meet his gaze. “Xie Yujiao, it was you who insisted on marrying me.”

“That was a princess. To serve both me and Her Highness, is your fortune.”

“If you are wise, you’ll know what to do. Anger Her Highness, and not even the Xie family can save you.”

He sneered, and then added, “And my good father-in-law has just adopted a son and dotes on him like a jewel, already seeking fine tutors for him.”

“Her Highness has promised to find the boy a great teacher.” Song Wenbo smiled broadly. “Tell me, do you think your father will still care about you?”

Impossible!

Xie Yujiao glared at him, refusing to believe.

Her father had always doted on her. How could he abandon her?

Seeing her disbelief, Song Wenbo only shook his head. “Since you remain stubborn, then stay here and reflect. We’ll talk when you’ve thought it through.”

Cultural Notes:

• • Blessed Constitution for Auspicious Conception: A fictionalized concept suggesting Xie Yao’s special body constitution allowed her to conceive even with a supposedly infertile husband.