Chapter 94:- Seeking an Official Post for Song Wenbo?

Xie Yao already had some suspicions.

That madman’s eyes had contained nothing but pure malice and bloodlust, with barely a trace of reason.

For someone so deranged to still be kept in the palace, and at such an age… there was only one possibility.

“It was the fourth one,” Xiao Ji said.

The Fourth Prince, Xiao Ming.

“I had long heard the Fourth Prince had a bad temper. Now it seems…” The rumors had been far too mild.

Xiao Ji understood the meaning behind her words and explained, “In his youth, the fourth was not like this. But as the years passed, his temper grew worse and worse. In the last two years, it has become nearly uncontrollable.”

“The area you were led into today has long been declared a forbidden ground. No one is allowed inside, especially in the middle of the month…”

“That is when the fourth suffers attacks of his poison. He recognizes no kin.”

“For the sake of the royal family’s face, this has never been made public. People are simply told that the Fourth Prince has a fiery disposition.”

Hearing this, Xie Yao felt a lingering chill. Whoever had arranged this had clearly wanted her dead!

The Fourth Prince’s maternal family was also a powerful military clan, with considerable standing in court. If she had truly perished at the Fourth Prince’s hands, the Crown Prince would be forced into enmity with that house as well.

Her gaze flickered as she reasoned, “Could the Fourth Prince also have been plotted against? Just like Your Highness.”

Xiao Ji shook his head. “He refuses treatment.”

“The first time he lost control… he accidentally killed his wet nurse.” Xiao Ji’s voice was low, tinged with a sorrowful kinship, as though mourning one doomed like himself.

With the Fourth’s condition so obvious, how could he not have his own suspicions?

But…

Xie Yao’s heart grew heavier at the thought.

“Can Your Highness uncover the truth?” she asked again.

Xiao Ji shook his head. “The trail was cut too cleanly. But Father Emperor’s attitude is plain enough.”

That he had permitted Xiao Ji to investigate meant he was truly displeased with that mother and son.

—

At the Yangxing Palace.

After sending Consort Shu away, the emperor asked, “And the fourth?”

Chief Eunnuch Li’s expression turned strange. After some hesitation, he finally replied, “The Crown Princess… truly is a heroine among women.”

That single kick of hers had nearly crippled the Fourth Prince.

The emperor gave a short, incredulous laugh.

After a pause, he said, “This palace needs to be cleansed.”

Chief Eunnuch Li’s face grew solemn. “Yes, Your Majesty.”

As the one who had served the emperor the longest, he knew very well the emperor’s stance toward the Crown Prince.

He had no fondness for him, but neither could anything happen to him.

As before the late Empress had passed, she had extracted a promise that the emperor would look after the Crown Prince.

And now… only two years remained.

“That matter… how is the investigation going?” At the emperor’s voice, Chief Eunnuch Li snapped back to attention.

No further explanation was needed. He knew at once; the emperor was referring to whether the Noble Consort and the Imperial Diviner had known each other in the past.

He bowed deeply, answering with utmost care, “The shadow guards have already gone to her old family home. Likely by next month they will return to the capital.”

“…”

—

Xie Yao’s near brush with death had left Xiao Ji shaken. His earlier elation on the way into the palace was all but forgotten.

It was only after returning to the Eastern Palace that he calmed down again, recalling the talk from that group of so-called miracle physicians earlier in the day.

“Yao-yao, you’ve worked hard,” he said softly.

Holding a bowl of calming soup, Xiao Ji fed her himself, one spoonful at a time, his broad hand coming to rest over the slight curve of her belly, the corners of his lips lifting.

It had only been two months. By rights, it should not be obvious yet.

But Xie Yao’s waist was so slender!

That was why the swell showed quickly.

Xie Yao shook her head, smiling brightly. “When I think that this is our child, I don’t feel tired at all.”

Her gaze burned with light. “Does Your Highness prefer a boy or a girl?”

Xiao Ji pondered seriously, and then said, “Either is fine.”

To have a child at all was already Heaven’s mercy. How could he dare ask for more? Besides, he could not bear for Xie Yao to suffer too many times.

After all, his mother…

At the thought, Xiao Ji gripped her hand tightly. “As long as Yao-yao stays well.”

Xie Yao leaned into his embrace, murmuring, “If I said I wanted both, would Your Highness think of me as greedy?”

“No.” Xiao Ji looked at her with utter seriousness.

His Yao-yao deserved the very best this world could offer.

“Your Highness.”

At that moment, Si-nan’s voice sounded from outside. “Subordinate has just learned that Princess He Yi entered the palace today for the sake of Song Wenbo.”

“She seeks an official post for Song Wenbo.”

What?

Xie Yao and Xiao Ji exchanged a look of surprise.

Song Wenbo had once relied solely on his body to climb.

Nowadays, he was still busy seeking remedies, clearly traumatized after being frightened by Madam Zhang that time.

Something he had not gained before, and yet now Princess He Yi wanted to help him obtain?

Princess He Yi was not one to do charity.

For some reason, Xie Yao’s eyelids twitched, and she felt a foreboding.

After Si-nan withdrew, Xie Yao summoned Zhuqing. “Has anything unusual happened at the Song household lately?”

Zhuqing shook her head. “None at all.”

Xie Yao pressed her lips tight, her heart sinking further.

No anomalies; that was the biggest anomaly.

Song Wenbo himself was not frightening. What was frightening was that the Song family had Xie Yujiao.

Fortunately, events had already shifted so far from her past life that what Xie Yujiao knew of the future might no longer come to pass.

“Yao-yao.” Xiao Ji clasped her hand, frowning slightly.

Her hand was ice-cold.

Xie Yao pushed her thoughts aside and smiled up at him. “Your Highness, I’m fine.”

—

The next day.

Xie Yao was busy with Consort Shu, discussing preparations for the emperor’s longevity festival, while Xiao Ji led men to investigate within the palace.

The two culprits had already taken their own lives, but they had had acquaintances in the palace, parents and relatives outside; there were always leads to be found.

And even if there were none…

He would uncover them.

Two days later.

Xiao Ji presented “evidence,” suggesting those two had acted under the orders of Consort Li, who was already under house arrest.

The emperor made no ruling, simply received the “evidence” and dismissed him.

Xiao Ji was not surprised. He set down the “evidence” and left, only to encounter Xiao Ning, who was coming to pay respects, as he exited the Yangxing Palace.

Her heavy scent was suffocating, and Xiao Ji frowned, fighting back another wave of nausea.

Xiao Ning inwardly shook her head, ever more certain that his death was near.

“Elder brother.”

Just as Xiao Ji was about to leave, her voice stopped him. “Might I have a word?”

“It concerns sister-in-law.”

At the mention of Xie Yao, Xiao Ji froze, and then nodded at once.

Seeing this, Xiao Ning grew all the more confident her plan would succeed. She silently praised Xie Yao’s charms.

Truly, she knew how to captivate men.

With such beauty and skill, what man would not fall at her feet?

If one day she could be turned to her own use…

That would be the best use of all!

“What do you wish to say?” Xiao Ji asked bluntly, unwilling to linger near her as her mere proximity made him want to vomit.

Xiao Ning read his impatience and came directly to the point. “Has elder brother considered sister-in-law’s future?”

“With her beauty, unless she finds someone willing and able to protect her, I fear that one day… As a fellow woman, I cannot bear the thought.”

Then her brows arched, her expression brimming with confidence. “Elder brother, I am willing to be the one to protect sister-in-law.”