Chapter 82 – Whose Bastard Child Was It?

By some strange twist of fate, Madam Zhang understood the meaning hidden in Xie Yao’s eyes.

If she wanted to protect Xie Yujiao’s safety… there had to be an exchange.

Thump.

Thump.

Thump.

Madam Zhang felt as though the sound of a heartbeat was pounding in her ears like thunder, nearly shattering her eardrums.

Her palms were slick with sweat.

“Mother…” Xie Yujiao’s pitiful voice pleaded. “I don’t want to; I don’t want to return to the Song household.”

Even if Song Wenbo would one day become Grand Chancellor and grant her a noble title, she still would not go back!

That Song household was nothing but a pit of demons.

And Song Wenbo was no human being.

Madam Zhang’s gaze focused as she instinctively pulled Xie Yujiao into her arms, her heart torn between heaven and man.

But Xie Yao gave her no time to waver. She had already continued, “Scholar Song, if my second younger sister comes back to her natal home to complain again in the future, this palace will show no mercy in punishment.”

She trusted Song Wenbo would understand her meaning.

Keep a close watch on Xie Yujiao; do not let her return home.

Song Wenbo, putting on his gentlemanly airs, immediately bowed. “Yes, Crown Princess.”

With that, he stepped forward to welcome Xie Yujiao. “Wife, the Crown Princess has spoken. You had better obediently return home with your husband. Rest assured, this time… your husband will certainly treat you well.”

His voice was gentle, but in Xie Yujiao’s ears, it was terrifying.

As Song Wenbo drew closer and closer, Xie Yujiao’s vision went black, she fainted outright.

“Congratulations, Master, congratulations Madam, Second Young Lady is with child!”

At these words, Madam Zhang could not bring herself to smile.

She knew well that Song Wenbo had been secretly seeking physicians these past days, looking into his hidden ailment. Likely, it was because that last time, when she had barged in with others… he had been frightened.

In this case, perhaps he would not treat Yujiao so cruelly now.

But the child was there, and Song Wenbo was ruined… surely he would be better to her, wouldn’t he?

Madam Zhang’s expression flickered uncertainly. She completely failed to notice the iron-blue color of Song Wenbo’s face!

He had been the one frightened by Madam Zhang, yet now Xie Yujiao carried another man’s bastard child.

Even though this entire situation had been orchestrated by him, he still could not accept it.

He had clearly laced Xie Yujiao’s food with contraceptive medicine.

At the side, Xie Yao smiled faintly, hiding her merit and fame.

Only… this child had come a little earlier than she had planned. She had thought it would be the perfect moment to make Madam Zhang yield.

Doesn’t matter, the shock was not yet strong enough.

After Xie Yujiao woke and heard she was pregnant, she made no further fuss. In the end, whatever promise Song Wenbo gave her, Xie Yujiao willingly followed him back to the Song household.

Before leaving, her eyes burned with hatred as they locked on Xie Yao once more. Her hand pressed preciously against her lower abdomen, as she swore with conviction, “I will live better than you!”

I certainly will!

Xie Yao smiled. “For the sake of my younger sister being with child, this palace will overlook your lack of manners. I wish you, Sister, to obtain all you desire.”

Did she think the child in her womb was a turning point?

She was destined to be disappointed.

The Xie family dared not provoke Xie Yao, who had the Crown Prince’s guards with her. They could only see her off respectfully.

At the gates of the Xie residence, Master Xie watched the Crown Prince’s carriage, his expression unreadable.

When Xie Yao returned to the Crown Prince’s residence, palace attendants were already waiting. “Crown Princess.”

“In two months it will be His Majesty’s Longevity Festival. The Noble Consort especially invites you into the palace to discuss matters concerning the celebration.”

Xie Yao’s first thought was: this invitation was ill-intentioned.

But it was also not something she could refuse.

Otherwise, she would be accused of being unfilial and disrespectful toward the emperor.

She had no choice but to accept.

That evening, she summoned the physician of the residence to the main courtyard, while secretly instructing Zhuxin to send a message to Princess Yongle’s residence.

Better prepared than not; one could never be too cautious.

The next morning, Xie Yao entered the palace. She first went to the Yangxing Palace to pay respects to the emperor.

Though she did not see His Majesty, she exchanged a few words with Eunuch Li before heading to Weiyang Palace.

Caution would not go amiss.

The Noble Consort did not make things difficult for her. Palace maids politely led her into the main hall.

The Noble Consort was still graceful in bearing, her complexion pale. At the sight of Xie Yao gliding in, a flash of disdain crossed her eyes.

A coquettish enchantress.

“The Crown Princess is here.” Her voice was melodious. After letting Xie Yao sit, she spoke directly: “The reason I summoned you today is for the matter of His Majesty’s Longevity Festival two months from now.”

“In the past, this palace has arranged these matters. This year my health is poor. Fortunately, there is the Crown Princess to share this burden for me.”

With no empress in the harem, now that she was Crown Princess, she was expected to take up such responsibilities.

But would the Noble Consort be so kind?

She did not believe it.

There must be a trap.

Xie Yao’s cheeks flushed slightly as she said shyly, “Noble Consort, I have never done such things before.”

“One must learn eventually.” The Noble Consort replied, “If you have never done it, then study the cases from past years. This palace has prepared them all for you; they are in the side hall.”

“Take the Crown Princess there.”

She gave Xie Yao no chance to refuse, her words perfunctory as she dismissed her.

When Xie Yao arrived at the side hall, she discovered just how many “past cases” there were.

A whole desk piled full of documents.

It seemed even records from the late emperor’s time had been brought out.

“Crown Princess…” Zhuxin looked at her worriedly. She knew Xie Yao’s condition, who was more than a month pregnant. If she sat here all day…

“It is fine.”

Xie Yao calmly sat down, boldly requesting tea, pastries, and fruit from the palace maids of Weiyang Palace.

Though she had studied some things in the Zhao household as a child, in both this life and the last, she had never been skilled at handling grand affairs.

This was a good opportunity for her.

Moreover, since the Noble Consort had placed her in Weiyang Palace, if anything happened to her here, the Noble Consort could not escape responsibility.

She would be safe here.

Xie Yao not only studied diligently, she even summoned eunuchs from the Ministry of Ceremonial to question them.

She worked until evening meal time. When she prepared to leave the palace, the Noble Consort’s people blocked her path.

Only then did she realize that the Noble Consort’s true plan was to keep her in the palace.

At that moment, a man strode forward. “Crown Princess, Princess Yongle came to the palace today to pay respects to His Majesty. She is now leaving the palace. Would you like to accompany her?”

Since this messenger was one of His Majesty’s people, the attendants of Weiyang Palace dared not stop her.

Xie Yao smoothly boarded Princess Yongle’s carriage.

“Thank you, Aunt,” Xie Yao said sweetly, her soft and delicate voice warming the heart.

Princess Yongle’s brows softened. “Have you thought through what to do tomorrow, Crown Princess?”

She could only help once.

Xie Yao nodded. “Rest assured, Aunt. Yao-yao can manage.”

Princess Yongle closed her eyes to rest and spoke no further.

When Xie Yao had just returned to the Crown Prince’s residence, Zhuqing entered with a grim expression. “Crown Princess, this servant has just learned something.”

“Today, the Second Prince also entered the palace. Before you and the Princess left the palace, he had not yet come out.”

Cultural Notes:-

• Longevity Festival  – the emperor’s birthday celebration, one of the grandest events in the court calendar.