Chapter 88:- Your Highness, How Do You Wish to Punish Me?

Xiao Ji shifted the topic, saying, “Crown Princess, I heard that someone risked his life to save you today. Where is he?”

“In the carriage behind,” Xie Yao replied. “This person said his surname was Qian and that his father was an official in Nanzhou, and he wanted to clear his father’s name. He also said he had an account book.”

Xiao Ji raised his brows.

Xie Yao recounted in detail what had happened with the white-robed youth that day.

After pondering for a moment, Xiao Ji said, “There indeed was an official surnamed Qian in Nanzhou. But all his sons and nephews had already been restrained. I didn’t know he had another son. Where is this account book?”

“He said it was in his head.”

“Have him write it down first. I will have Si-nan look into him…”

Xie Yao listened earnestly, then replied obediently, “I’ll follow Your Highness’s lead.”

The couple returned to their residence, and they arranged for the young master Qian who had saved Xie Yao to stay in the neighboring courtyard, instructing others to keep a close watch on him.

“Your Highness, Crown Princess.”

Si-nan came to report news: “The assassins caught today all died from poison right after capture. Not a single one was left alive. From the looks of it… it seems they had already taken poison before the assassination.”

Xie Yao and Xiao Ji exchanged a glance. If that were so… what was the point of all this?

Surely, it should have been easy enough to guess that she would be secretly guarded.

Si-nan continued, “The young man who saved the Crown Princess today, Qian Jin, truly is Lord Qian’s son. His mother came from the same village as Lord Qian. Since childhood, he grew up dependent only on her.”

Xie Yao frowned. “With such a major matter, would the Marquis of Zhenbei have overlooked it?”

Xiao Ji shook his head. “Absolutely not.”

The two instantly realized the implication.

Before Xiao Ji arrived in Nanzhou, all matters of corruption and embezzlement had been thoroughly investigated by Pei Chen. Naturally, many twists and nuances were only clear to Pei Chen himself.

But now…

Pei Chen was still unconscious.

Xie Yao said, “Tomorrow I’ll try probing him again.”

Xiao Ji grasped her hand. “I’ll go…”

“Your Highness.” Xie Yao held onto his arm. “Since you won’t let me near the patients’ ward, at least give me something to do.”

“Don’t worry, Your Highness. I’ll be cautious in everything and discuss all matters with you.”

Xiao Ji had no choice but to agree. Still, he instructed Si-nan to keep careful watch over the witnesses who could confirm Qian Jin was indeed Lord Qian’s son.

After sharing a fully vegetarian dinner with Xiao Ji, the couple retired to their chamber.

“Yao-yao.” Xiao Ji’s eyes were full of heartache. “You’ve been wronged…”

At this height, Xie Yao’s gaze landed squarely on Xiao Ji’s Adam’s apple. She found it amusing.

On impulse, she leaned forward, pressed her lips against it, lightly teased it with her tongue, then gave it a gentle bite.

Xiao Ji froze completely, then sharply inhaled.

“Yao-yao…”

His voice turned hoarse in an instant, his eyes burning with heavy desire as he looked at her in his arms. “You’ve learned to be bad.”

“I have not.”

Xie Yao refused to admit it. “Your Highness, I was always bad.”

Xiao Ji recalled her earlier flirtations and believed her.

“Yao-yao, doing bad deeds deserves punishment.”

Xie Yao wrapped her arms around his neck, her eyes shimmering like ripples on water, making the fire in Xiao Ji’s heart flare hotter and wilder.

Unable to hold back, he lowered his head and gently bit her neck, murmuring her name, “Yao-yao.”

He pressed her onto the bed, leaning his whole body over her.

Xie Yao had long been cured of the trauma caused by Song Wenbo’s force in her previous life.

Xiao Ji’s kisses fell carefully, tenderly along her body.

Xie Yao hooked her arms around his neck, her breathing unsteady. “Your Highness, how do you want to punish me?”

Xiao Ji was far too busy to answer.

But gradually, Xie Yao understood…

She suddenly flipped them over, pressing Xiao Ji beneath her. “Your Highness may want to punish me. But I, instead, wish to reward Your Highness.”

—-

The next day.

Xie Yao went to the courtyard where Qian Jin was staying. The white-robed youth sat on the bed. Though his right arm was injured, he was painstakingly using his left hand to copy something.

When Xie Yao leaned closer to look…

It was an account book.

She narrowed her eyes after just one glance.

“Crown Princess, you’ve come.” Qian Jin bowed respectfully.

Xie Yao eyed the account book meaningfully. “Young Master Qian… are you sure there are no mistakes in what you’ve copied?”

Qian Jin pressed his lips together, his tone firm. “Please rest assured, Crown Princess. There is no mistake.”

“Previously, the one in charge of investigating this matter, the Marquis of Zhenbei, has already shown signs of recovery. I trust he will soon awaken. By then, if your father is truly innocent, his name will surely be cleared.”

Xie Yao spoke casually, but from the corner of her eyes, she carefully observed Qian Jin’s expression.

The youth lowered his head, making it difficult to see his face. Only the hand holding the brush paused, leaving a blot of ink on the page. “That would be wonderful.”

After a pause, he added, “Crown Princess, I trust only you. You personally distributed the relief grain to the people and required that only women and children could collect it… You must be a good person.”

Qian Jin’s eyes were reddened, stubborn and earnest, as if seeing her as his only salvation and light.

Two days later.

Thanks to his strong constitution, Pei Chen recovered completely, no different from before his infection.

Meanwhile, Qian Jin finished copying the account book.

When Xie Yao, Xiao Ji, and Pei Chen looked over the copied book, they all furrowed their brows.

Because in this account book…

The bribes sent to the capital were recorded under the name of Qian Jin’s “father,” Lord Qian.

And the recipient of the most gifts was Princess He Yi’s residence.

Pei Chen examined the book carefully, and then nodded toward Xiao Ji and Xie Yao.

This account book… looked genuine.

Back when he first rushed to Nanzhou, although last year’s false dam construction had already exposed corruption, the local officials had long been prepared. He really hadn’t found any tangible evidence such as account books.

Originally, the judgment passed only condemned a portion of officials for embezzlement, while more were guilty of dereliction of duty.

But now, with this book, ninety percent of Nanzhou’s officials were implicated in corruption, a major crime.

“Why?” Xiao Ji stared sharply at Qian Jin, his tone interrogating.

They had already verified Qian Jin was indeed Lord Qian’s biological son.

Qian Jin said nothing, but drew another account book from his sleeve. “This is the one they told me to hand to the Crown Princess.”

Xie Yao received it, and her expression shifted; this book was completely different from the previous one.

In this version, Lord Qian was portrayed as clean and innocent, with no connection to Princess He Yi’s residence.

As for the gifts sent to the capital…

Instead of going to Princess He Yi’s residence, they were sent to the Second Prince’s mansion.

The three exchanged glances.

Well, this was very interesting.

“Why didn’t you follow their instructions?” Xie Yao asked.

Qian Jin lowered his eyes. “Because the Crown Princess is a good person…”

With Qian Jin’s account books, handling the officials in Nanzhou became straightforward.

When the matter came to light, Xiao Ning received the news too late.

It was already impossible to intervene. She had originally intended to rescue Lord Qian, but unexpectedly… Qian Jin had turned against her.

Fortunately, the account book he submitted had erased her name.

It seemed Qian Jin’s resentment was not toward her, but toward Lord Qian.

Even so, Qian Jin… could not be left alive.

What Xiao Ning didn’t know was that the account book clearing the name of “Princess He Yi” had already been sent to the Second Prince’s mansion.

Whether or not he had received bribes, the Second Prince himself would know best.

On the ship back to the capital, Xie Yao sat with Xiao Ji, drinking tea and playing chess. “It seems the Second Prince and Princess He Yi, though they are brother and sister, they are not truly of one mind.”

All the tangled threads of suspicion in Xie Yao’s mind regarding Princess He Yi finally wove into a clear line.

“Xiao Ning has ambition.”