Chapter 90:- Don’t Be Angry, Your Highness

The two of them ate their evening meal separately.

Xiao Ji could not stomach the smell of meat without feeling nauseated.

Xie Yao wanted to eat vegetarian with him, but Xiao Ji couldn’t bear for her to restrict herself. So while she dined, he went to bathe and change.

Lately, Xie Yao’s appetite had improved a great deal.

When the sun had not yet set, the couple strolled together through the Crown Prince’s residence gardens, treating it as a way to aid digestion.

“Your Highness, what was said in the Yangxing Palace today?” Xie Yao asked first.

Xiao Ji’s expression was cool. “The Li family’s conviction is already certain. But… His Majesty intends to protect Xiao Hong.”

The evidence was solid.

But it made no difference if the Emperor wished to shield him.

He was, after all, his own son.

Xie Yao was not exactly disappointed. The moment she saw Xiao Hong at the pier today, she had already expected this outcome.

“In addition,” Xiao Ji paused for a moment. “Today Pei Chen said that the plague… might be connected to Hu Lianyuan.”

Ever since Hu Lianyuan had turned Xiao Ning’s trap back on him and used it to ensnare him instead, they had known he was no easy opponent.

Xie Yao furrowed her brows, her mind on another matter.

If the plague was indeed tied to Hu Lianyuan, then… what about in her previous life?

She remembered the prescription from the last lifetime and had seen the one from this life. There was hardly any difference.

Which meant it was likely the very same plague…

“Yao-yao?” Not hearing her response, Xiao Ji turned to her, his eyes filled with doubt.

He clearly remembered, when Xiao Ning had plotted against Pei Chen last time, the Crown Princess had asked him an oddly phrased question in advance.

Xie Yao snapped out of her thoughts. “If it truly has to do with him, I wonder who he is working with.”

Suddenly, Xiao Ji stopped walking, looking at her with a dangerous glint in his eyes. “Yao-yao… is there something you should be telling me?”

Hm?

Xie Yao’s heart skipped. She quickly ran through everything in her mind, then slowly shook her head. “No… no, there isn’t.”

Xiao Ji’s lips pressed tightly together, his face showing clear displeasure.

The two gazed at each other.

After a long moment, Xie Yao reached out and tugged gently at his sleeve. “Your Highness…”

She was yielding.

The flicker of anger in Xiao Ji’s heart melted at once. His eyes softened helplessly. “Why did you not tell me that Xiao Hong plotted against you?”

Xie Yao suddenly realized!

He meant when she was targeted by Noble Consort and Xiao Hong in the palace, and she had turned the scheme back on them, making Xiao Hong lose face.

She had completely forgotten to tell him about it.

Seeing her expression, Xiao Ji grew even more upset. Something like this… and she could just forget?

“Your Highness, I wasn’t at a loss, was I?” Xie Yao dove straight into his arms, her hands wrapped tightly around his waist as she spoke in a soft, coaxing tone.

“And with the plague in Nanzhou, I didn’t want Your Highness distracted, so… I forgot. Don’t be angry, all right?”

Xiao Ji’s anger had never truly been directed at her. Hearing her say this now, his heart softened completely.

“I am not angry at you,” he said with helpless tenderness. “Yao-yao, it was I who failed to protect you.”

Xie Yao rose on tiptoe and kissed his chin. “Then I won’t be angry with Your Highness, and Your Highness won’t be angry either.”

She was coaxing him like a child.

Xiao Ji couldn’t help but laugh, pinching her nose. “Was it all for the Longevity Festival?”

“Yes.” Xie Yao nodded. “I…”

She had meant to say it was to ease Noble Consort’s burden, to lessen his worries; something lofty and proper.

But when her eyes met Xiao Ji’s, she inexplicably said instead, “I wanted to do it.”

No other reason. Just because she wanted to.

“Very well.” He did not press further, only asked, “What would you have me do?”

Xie Yao’s smile bloomed, her hands winding around his neck. “Then… please carry me back inside.”

Xiao Ji scooped her up by the waist and strode back indoors.

Xie Yao had napped during the day.

But the two of them played and teased until midnight, and it was she who finally fell asleep first.

Xiao Ji pulled on a robe and stepped out, standing before the main courtyard. “Leak the news that the Imperial Diviner and Noble Consort knew each other in the past to His Majesty’s people.”

Si-nan hesitated. “Your Highness, should we send the evidence along as well?”

“No need.” Xiao Ji looked toward the palace. “He will investigate on his own.”

What one struggled bitterly to uncover was far more convincing than what others delivered lightly into one’s hands.

What he wanted was for the Emperor to harbor suspicion.

The next day.

Xiao Ji escorted Xie Yao into the palace. They encountered Pei Chen on the way, so they walked together.

Xiao Ji’s gaze fell on him. “The Li family; leave none of them alive.”

Pei Chen was taken aback. “What did Xiao Hong do to you?”

Just yesterday his attitude had not been like this.

After all, for Noble Consort’s and the Second Prince’s sake, the Emperor had seemed inclined toward leniency.

Since the Li family was imprisoned, Noble Consort had fainted five times from crying. After all, she had been the Emperor’s pillow companion for many years, and it was plain to see his heart had softened.

Xiao Ji shook his head. “Not to me. To the Crown Princess.”

Pei Chen’s expression hardened instantly. “Then he deserves death!”

Xiao Ji’s lips curved faintly. “Exactly.”

Though Xie Yao had already turned the scheme back on Xiao Hong, forcing him to pay a price and lose face, had been her doing.

His actions were simply what a husband ought to do.

After that brief exchange, the two men quickly went their separate ways. Xiao Ji went to Yanxi Palace to fetch Xie Yao.

She came out of Yanxi Palace smiling, having enjoyed a pleasant conversation with Consort Shu. But at that moment, she suddenly realized why Consort Shu’s features had felt familiar to her.

She saw them every day, of course they were familiar.

Consort Shu’s brows and eyes… bore a striking resemblance to Xiao Ji’s.

She guessed it must be because Consort Shu resembled the late Empress.

“Your Highness.”

Seeing Xiao Ji, Xie Yao set aside her thoughts and hurried forward to take his hand.

Xiao Ji’s eyes saw only her, his lowered gaze filled with a gentle smile. “All done?”

“Yes.” Xie Yao nodded. “Let’s go.”

The two turned and walked off side by side. After a few steps, Xiao Ji suddenly felt someone watching him. He turned back….

But saw nothing.

“Your Highness?”

Xiao Ji turned back. “Nothing. Let’s go.”

Behind them, the gates of Yanxi Palace slowly opened, and a figure emerged, it was Consort Shu.

She turned and slowly walked back inside.

…

In Nanzhou, Pei Chen had arrested a large number of people, and upon returning to the capital he submitted extensive memorials in court.

Headstrong as ever, he sought to utterly destroy the Li family.

There were plenty of officials eager to fan the flames, and with so many adding stones to the well, the Li family truly teetered on collapse.

They had become the target of everyone’s scorn.

After yet another fainting fit, Noble Consort received Xiao Hong in Weiyang Palace. He paced anxiously within the hall. “Mother Consort, what should we do now?”

Noble Consort’s eyes were swollen red, her spirit utterly withered. Her influence had already been stripped, and now the Li family was falling apart…

Her tears were real.

“Perhaps this is an opportunity.” She spoke slowly. “Hong’er, contact the court officials. Have everyone impeach your uncle.”

“No matter the charges, even if nonsense make them outrageous. The more exaggerated, the better… make everyone accuse him.”

“Mother Consort!” Xiao Hong frowned.

If he did that, Father Emperor would surely think of him as cold and heartless…

Noble Consort mistook his reluctance for affection for his uncle, and her eyes showed relief. “To survive by walking through death’s door… perhaps this will give your uncle a chance at life.”

Cultural Notes:

1. Yangxing Palace:- The Emperor’s residence in the Imperial City. Here, it serves as the political heart of court matters.
2. Longevity Festival:- The Emperor’s birthday celebration, often a grand political occasion in historical novels.