After Marrying the Heirless Crown Prince, I Gave Birth to Three Children - Chapter 8

Chapter 8: Your Highness, Be Gentle

The carriage stopped in front of the Crown Prince’s residence.

A guard placed down a small stool, and the carriage door was opened…

Everyone saw His Highness the Crown Prince carrying the Crown Princess in his arms, step by step, as he descended from the carriage!

The servants quickly lowered their heads, not daring to look more than a glance.

Xiao Ji hadn’t expected Xie Yao to be so light. He could lift her without the slightest effort. Her body was unbelievably soft, as though she had no bones at all.

The feeling was like holding a cloud.

Xie Yao’s waist hurt terribly. Her small face had gone pale; her lips were bitten tight, her eyes shimmering with unshed tears. Sweat, born from the pain, quickly soaked through her thin spring garment.

Catching sight of this, Xiao Ji instinctively quickened his steps.

But moving too fast made her body jostle in his arms…

He suddenly halted, his hands tightening slightly. Then he resumed walking faster, but within the most stable pace he could manage.

“Summon the Imperial Physician.”

“…A female physician.” Even in her pain, Xie Yao reminded him.

Xiao Ji heard her clearly and instructed his close aide, Si-nan, “Quickly, go!”

He strode swiftly into the main chambers, carrying Xie Yao. Because of her injured waist, she could only lie face-down on the bed. She didn’t cry out, but the sweat on her face and her rough, urgent breathing told the whole story.

Xiao Ji sat at her side, his gaze lowered.

Soon, the female physician arrived. Zhuqing and Zhuxin stayed behind to serve, while Xiao Ji quickly stepped into the outer room.

Zhuqing and Zhuxin helped Xie Yao remove her garments. When the physician glimpsed her fair skin and slender figure, her own cheeks reddened slightly.

But the moment her eyes landed on the ugly bluish bruising at Xie Yao’s delicate waist, her brows furrowed. “This was from an impact, wasn’t it? And not a light one either.”

“The blood has clotted. It must be massaged out with medicated wine, using strong pressure.”

Zhuqing immediately said, “We must trouble you, Physician.”

Very soon, the physician began the treatment. But the pain was far worse than before and Xie Yao could not help but let out a cry.

The sudden sound startled Xiao Ji. He leapt to his feet and glanced toward the inner room…

Through the sheer moon-colored drapery, he caught sight of a scene that made his blood surge. He quickly averted his eyes, the tips of his ears turning red.

For the first time, he thought having too sharp eyesight was not such a blessing.

Even though he had looked away, Xie Yao’s soft cries still reached his ears, and her image, lying on the bed, forced itself into his mind.

He sat back down. What felt like a long time passed before the female physician finally emerged from the inner room.

Massage was laborious work; her forehead was already beaded with a thin layer of sweat. She repeated what she had just told Xie Yao, this time to the Crown Prince.

Lastly, she said, “Your Highness, this humble woman’s strength is limited. I could not fully disperse the clotting. The Crown Princess’s skin is tender, such that too rough and forceful hand would do more harm than good. It would be best if someone who can finely control their strength continues the massage.”

Someone who could control their strength?

Xiao Ji said quietly, “…I understand.”

Since it had happened because of him, he ought to take responsibility.

He rose and hesitated for a moment before saying, “I am coming in.”

When he entered, Zhuqing had already pulled the quilt up over Xie Yao. The room was filled with a warm fragrance; her fragrance.

The air inside fell into silence.

Xie Yao turned her gaze toward him, her lashes trembling lightly. “This was all my own carelessness. It is not His Highness’s fault…”

“This was my fault.” Xiao Ji understood she was trying to absolve him. He glanced at her, gave a small cough, and said, “If you are willing to trust me… I will do the massage for you.”

Xie Yao bit her lip and lowered her eyes, her cheeks glowing red. “I must trouble Your Highness, then.”

Zhuqing and Zhuxin exchanged a look and wisely withdrew.

Xie Yao lay face-down on the bed, the quilt arching over her back like a gift waiting to be unwrapped.

Time passed without him moving. At last, Xie Yao reminded him softly, “Your Highness, the medicated wine is on the cabinet.”

On the bedside cabinet sat a small, delicate porcelain bottle.

“…Mm.”

Xiao Ji responded, walked forward, and picked it up.

He gently lifted the quilt. The sight of her snow-white skin dazzled his eyes. Only two slender red straps crossed her back.

Her waist was mottled with bruises, and his brows drew tight.

The physician had not exaggerated.

“This will hurt a little,” Xiao Ji said, not realizing how stiff his voice sounded. “I will be gentle.”

“…Mm.”

Xie Yao bit her lip, clearly bracing herself. Yet the moment his hand pressed down, her body shivered in pain.

Xiao Ji hadn’t expected this…

Her skin was so smooth it was almost impossible to keep his hold. Steeling himself, he carefully controlled his strength and began the massage.

He paid close attention; too much pressure would leave marks, too little would not disperse the bruising.

By the time it was finally finished, the sun was already sinking in the west.

When Xiao Ji stepped out of the inner room, his forehead too was damp with a light sweat. Without a word of lingering, he quickly left the main quarters.

—

The Song household.

Bang!

Xie Yujiao slammed her palm on the table, her face twisted, her voice filled with disbelief. “You’re saying, the Crown Prince carried Xie Yao off the carriage in front of everyone today?!”

The maid lowered her head, her voice trembling. “…Yes. Many people saw.”

“Why?!”

Xie Yujiao screamed in fury, her voice shrill.

What was Xie Yao, that she could win the Crown Prince’s favor? He not only accompanied her on the return visit but even carried her down from the carriage himself…

“That bitch! On what grounds does that bitch deserve it?”

She cursed between clenched teeth.

Even though it had been her own choice to discard the Crown Prince, she was still consumed by unwillingness and rage.

After venting her anger, she asked, “And where is my husband?”

“The young master drank too much at the Xie residence today, Madam. He has not yet woken.”

Xie Yujiao drew in a deep breath. Her mind flashed with Xie Yao’s words earlier that Song Wenbo would never touch her for the rest of her life?

No… She would never allow that!

She stood up. “Prepare a sobering soup. I will go to the study to see my husband.”

But as soon as she stepped outside, a maid rushed over. “Madam, the Old Madam asks you to come at once.”

—-

Back at the Crown Prince’s residence.

Though the bruising on Xie Yao’s waist had been dispersed and the pain greatly eased, she was still lying face-down on the bed, a medical book in her hands.

Before long, Zhuxin returned from outside, her face flushed red. She shut the doors and windows, glanced around carefully, then leaned close to Xie Yao and whispered, “Crown Princess, this servant has asked.”

“The physician said… impotence can be divided into congenital eunuch-like and acquired cases. Some are short and small, some are unable to perform… One must see it directly to know for certain.”

It wasn’t just Zhuxin’s face that turned red, but Xie Yao’s too flushed crimson.

See?

See the Crown Prince’s… that part?