Chapter 80: Kill Xie Yao First

The physician let out a long breath of relief and quickly bowed. “Your Highness is truly perceptive!”

Xiao Ji waved him off, dismissing him.

He had read through all the medical texts in his residence, of course he knew.

“Your Highness…”

Si-nan’s expression twisted, his gaze falling involuntarily to Xiao Ji’s abdomen. “You, you’re… pregnant… oww!”

Before he could finish, Xiao Ji hurled a cup at him.

Si-nan hastily caught it, forcing a sheepish smile before setting it carefully on the table.

“Out!”

At Xiao Ji’s sharp order, Si-nan bolted outside, closing the door behind him.

Xiao Ji turned his eyes to the surging river. He thought of Xie Yao far away in the capital, wondering what she was doing at this moment. But still…

If he was the one suffering from morning sickness… then Yao-yao wouldn’t have to, right?

That was fine.

As the thought crossed his mind, a whiff of fish stench drifted in, and Xiao Ji nearly vomited again.

“Your Highness.”

Si-nan’s voice came from outside. “Shall I remove the fish?”

Si-nan swiftly took the dish away, then added, “By midnight tonight we’ll arrive in Nanzhou. A letter from Nanzhou reports that there is still no trace of Lady Zhao or the Marquis of Zhenbei.”

Xiao Ji asked, “Has news of my coming to Nanzhou been widely spread?”

“All exactly as Your Highness commanded, the word has been broadcast.”

Xiao Ji nodded. “Then wait.”

He reached out and shut the window.

Even the river air carried a foul, nauseating tang.

…

Over the next few days, Xie Yao obediently stayed in the Zhao residence.

Though she bore the famed Blessed Fertility Constitution, which made her pregnancies especially stable, caution never hurt. She had no desire to flaunt herself and attract resentment.

Though she stayed home, information continued to reach her.

Zhuxin whispered her report, “Crown Princess, the Second Prince truly has been visiting the Wei household often. Everyone in the capital is saying…

“…that he intends to take Third Young Lady as his consort.”

“Song Wenbo has secretly been seeking out physicians. From what I hear, he really does have… an obstacle.”

“Madam Zhang hasn’t made a scene. She’s been with the Second Young Lady constantly, but the poor girl does nothing but cry all day. She’s grown gaunt.”

Zhuxin relayed everything in detail.

Xie Yao listened without much expression.

When the report ended, she took up her brush and began writing a letter, recording her quiet days at home.

She meant to send it to His Highness.

“Crown Princess.” Zhuxing entered with a smile, holding a thick envelope. “A letter from His Highness!”

At first, his letters had been much thinner. But ever since receiving hers, he had begun to learn; writing more and more each time.

Though separated by a thousand miles, their thick bundles of letters made them feel as though they were side by side.

Seeing the letter, Xie Yao suddenly sat up straight, her face alight with joy.

She immediately rose and hurried outside. Zhuxin and Zhuxing rushed to follow, only to see her heading straight for Old Madam Zhao’s Songhe Courtyard.

At her grandmother’s bedside, she exclaimed excitedly, “Grandmother, His Highness has written; Sister Ying has been found!”

“Sister Ying is safe and sound!”

Her voice trembled with excitement. Old Madam Zhao’s whole body shook. She clutched her granddaughter’s hand. “Truly? Is it true?”

“It’s true.” Xie Yao nodded again and again, passing over the page of the letter that mentioned it.

When the old lady read the words clearly, her eyes filled with tears. “Good, good, good!”

She quickly ordered the old nursemaid, “Hurry, inform your master, the young master, and the mistress at once!”

Soon, all of the Zhao family gathered in the Songhe Courtyard. One by one, they read the letter, each moved to tears.

After the crying subsided, Xie Yao said, “His Highness writes that Nanzhou’s matter will soon be settled. Once that is done, they will return to the capital together.”

The Zhao family had no objections.

They were long used to Zhao Ying’s journeys away from home. As long as she was safe, all else could be accepted.

Meanwhile.

At the Second Prince’s mansion, another tantrum raged.

Nothing had gone smoothly for him these days. Every party he sent to Nanzhou had failed.

Worse still, Xiao Ji had even tracked down Pei Chen.

Pei Chen had been in Nanzhou so long, who knew what evidence he now held?

“Come out!”

The Second Prince turned toward one side. “Is this the help you spoke of?”

At his words, a tall figure slowly emerged from the shadows outside the hall. The man was dressed in black robes and a matching veil hat.

His voice was hoarse. “Why the rush, Your Highness?

“The show has only just begun.”

“Hmph!” The Second Prince gave a cold laugh. “It had better be. If you dare deceive me…”

“Second Prince,” the man cut him off, “there’s no need for threats.

“Helping you is helping me, I know that well.”

With that, the black-robed man turned and vanished swiftly from the Second Prince’s residence.

Crash!

Another teacup shattered in Xiao Hong’s grip. He strode out angrily. “Into the palace!”

Because of the floods in Nanzhou, Princess He Yi’s marriage to the hostage prince Hu Lianyuan had been delayed.

The Emperor had not permitted Xiao Hong to return to his post at the Ministry of Revenue either.

Idled, with nothing to do, he found every endeavor thwarted. Even his advances toward Wei Chan had met with cold rejection. Nothing was going his way.

He would go beg his mother to speak to the Emperor on his behalf.

—-

Weiyang Palace.

The Noble Consort’s previously unexplained illness had now lifted.

As she listened to her son’s endless complaints, her eyes flickered faintly. “In the past… Xiao Ji was never like this.”

“It was after his marriage!” Xiao Hong realized suddenly. “Could it be… that what Master Wufa said was true? That Xie Yao truly is a woman of great fortune?”

His eyes gleamed hotly. If he could seize Xie Yao for himself, then…

The Noble Consort did not notice the shift in her son’s expression. Her voice hardened. “If that is the case, then she must be dealt with first…”

Xiao Hong hesitated, choosing his words carefully. “Mother Consort… If she truly is blessed with such fortune, would striking at her directly not risk backfiring?”

“In my opinion, it would be safer to draw her to our side. Then, whatever luck she carries would belong to us.”

The Noble Consort thought of the recent affair with the Imperial Diviner and was forced to admit his reasoning was sound.

After a pause, she asked, “And how would you draw her over?”

Xiao Hong spoke with certainty. “A woman desires nothing more than security.”

“Xiao Ji is doomed, unable to sire heirs. Following him is like floating on waterweed, rootless and adrift. All I must do is show her who can truly provide for her all her life. She will understand.”

He looked to his mother. “But I will need your help.”

The Crown Princess was guarded by the Crown Prince’s own household guards. She rarely left the residence. To lay hands on her would not be easy.

Except… there was one place.

The household guards of the Crown Prince had no right to enter the imperial palace.

The Noble Consort understood his meaning. She frowned slightly at her son. “You’ve thought it through?”

Determination glinted in Xiao Hong’s eyes. “Mother Consort. If Xiao Ji trusts her, then she can also serve as our point of breakthrough.

“One move, many gains.”

When he finished, he added with feigned solemnity, “I am willing to take Wei Chan as my consort.”