After marrying the heirless prince, I gave birth to three children

Xiao Ji: "..."

He never expected this answer.

His heart felt a lump in his throat, and he felt neither up nor down, which made him feel quite uncomfortable.

Xiao Ji stood there for a moment, then turned around and went back to the study.

Xie Yao was sleeping with Zhao Ying at the moment. She was the only one lying on the bed, having trouble falling asleep.

just like……

It was as if she had overlooked something.

"Yaoyao." Zhao Ying turned to look at her. "Are you not used to it? Why don't you go back to sleep? I'll be back in Beijing in a few months anyway, and we'll see each other again then."

Xie Yao hugged Zhao Ying tightly and said, "I'm not used to it. When I was a kid, Sister Ying always slept with me every day."

When they mentioned this, both of them laughed.

"At that time, your aunt had just passed away, and you were very young, always crying at night." Zhao Ying raised her hand and touched Xie Yao's head. "Besides, you were so soft when you were little, it was so warm to hold you while you slept."

Xie Yao leaned closer to Zhao Ying again, "Sister Ying, you are so kind."

There was silence in the room for a moment.

Zhao Ying said, "Yaoyao, I heard that you want to adopt a child from the Xie family and register it under your aunt's name?"

Xie Yao had never told her about this, but she had heard a little about it.

Xie Yao nodded, "Well, Sister Ying knows about this? I haven't informed my grandfather and the others yet..."

"Yaoyao, there is something I have been hesitating whether to tell you." Zhao Ying's voice was full of hesitation, but Xie Yao's heart skipped a beat.

"No matter what it is, please don't hide it from me, sister."

Zhao Ying simply sat up and said, "Last August, people from the trading company encountered a servant who had served in the Xie family in his early years in the south."

"That person said...there might be something else going on with my aunt's incident."

Xie Yao's expression changed drastically, and she subconsciously increased the strength of her grip on Zhao Ying's hand.

Zhao Ying didn't get angry either. She whispered, "The year you were born, Master Xie also passed away. However, my aunt's health deteriorated day by day. In just six months, she passed away. And within six months of her passing, Master Xie married another woman."

"But my grandmother said that my aunt has been learning the art of strengthening her body from Master Wu since she was young, and she has always been in good health."

"When my aunt fell ill, the Zhao family sought out many doctors, but none of them could save her. But the servant I met last August said...that during my aunt's critical illness, Lord Xie personally prepared all the medicines."

"He is not that kind of person." When Xie Yao mentioned his father, a hint of contempt flashed in his eyes.

Father Xie is selfish and cold-hearted. If he really had a deep affection for his first wife, how could he have neglected and bullied her for so many years?

Zhao Ying nodded. "Grandmother has always had suspicions, but she has no evidence."

"It wasn't until last August that we finally discovered the clues. That's why my grandparents decided to shift the focus of the business back to the capital."

"Originally, I was thinking of taking it slow, but since you became the Crown Princess, the company has a backer, so I sped things up."

Xie Yao keenly noticed something was wrong, "Sister Ying, so is there a hidden story behind the Zhao family's departure from Beijing?"

She never knew.

"It's the Zhang family." At this point, Zhao Ying had nothing to hide from Xie Yao. "Back then, the Zhao family was suppressed and had to leave the capital."

Zhao Ying held Xie Yao's hand and said, "Over the years, my grandparents have always felt guilty..."

Zhang family!

Zhang's father and brother were both officials, so it would be easy for them to make things difficult for a merchant.

"It's my fault that the Zhao family has been implicated." Xie Yao pursed her lips, hatred flashing in her eyes, of course towards the Zhang family.

My grandparents only have one daughter, my mother. They still remember the hatred towards my mother for so many years. If they were not completely helpless, how could they leave her alone in the Xie family, a den of tigers and wolves?

Among all these years, the years when she lived in the Zhao family as a child were the happiest time for her.

"How can you be blamed for this?" Zhao Ying said, "My grandparents only blame themselves. They couldn't protect you."

Xie Yao shook her head, tears welling in her eyes.

"Sister Ying, I will get to the bottom of this matter."

This revenge must be avenged!

The next day.

Xie Yao and Zhao Ying were both feeling a little groggy when they stood up. When they looked at each other clearly, they couldn't help but laugh out loud.

Both of their eyes were swollen.

"I'll take Sister Ying to the dock." Xie Yao said without any objection.

Zhao Ying did not refuse.

As soon as there was any movement here, the news was sent to the study.

When Xiao Ji came over for breakfast, he saw her big red eyes that couldn't be completely concealed even with makeup.

She... cried last night?

Xiao Ji couldn't describe how he felt. He just felt that the meal was bland and tasteless.

"Your Highness." Xie Yao's voice was a little hoarse. "Sister Ying is heading south with the company today. I'm going to the dock to see her off."

Xiao Ji nodded and had no objection.

Xie Yao was still thinking about the news she had just learned yesterday, and was also thinking about sending Zhao Ying off, so she didn't pay much attention to Xiao Ji's expression.

It has been raining in the capital for several days in a row, and it is still drizzling today.

"Don't worry, Yaoyao. The Zhao family has placed that person in an absolutely safe place. They will also come with us to the capital this time. You can meet him in person then."

Xie Yao nodded and reluctantly saw Zhao Ying off to the boat.

After sending the person away, Xie Yao did not return to the Prince's Mansion immediately, but stood on the river bank holding an oil-paper umbrella.

She looked at the surging river surface. After several days of rain, the river level had risen a lot.

"Princess."

After a while, Zhu Xin stepped forward and said, "It's very stormy today. Crown Princess should return home first."

It would be bad if you caught a cold.

"Okay." Xie Yao turned around and heard the sound of horse hooves.

Xie Yao looked closely——

Through the continuous rain, Xie Yao saw that the person in the lead was Xiao Ji, who was dressed in brocade clothes.

Prince?

Xie Yao frowned, her heart trembling unexpectedly.

The horse was running very fast and stopped not far from her. Xiao Ji dismounted and walked quickly forward while keeping a sufficient distance from Xie Yao.

He was soaked by the rain and looked a little disheveled.

He looked Xie Yao up and down, and only breathed a sigh of relief after making sure that she was safe and sound.

"Your Highness!"

Xie Yao was about to step forward, but Xiao Ji took a step back and said in a slightly cold voice, "I'm wet, don't get you wet."

"Go get your clothes quickly." Xie Yao immediately instructed Si Nan and others who followed, and she took Xiao Ji to a nearby teahouse.

A cup of warm ginger tea dispelled the cold.

Xie Yao looked at Xiao Ji, who was soaked all over. "Your Highness, what's wrong..."

Xiao Ji coughed lightly, his ears turned slightly red, but he did not explain.

"Your Highness, are you cold?" Xie Yao was shocked when she heard the cough. She stepped forward and personally took off Xiao Ji's clothes.

"Your Highness, please take off your wet clothes quickly..."

"Yaoyao." Xiao Ji held her hand, his body slightly cold, but his eyes were burning, "You can't do this."

"Your Highness, please don't be shy now." Xie Yao's voice unconsciously lowered a few degrees. "Is there anything about you that I haven't seen?"

The room was quiet for a moment, and the atmosphere became ambiguous.

Xiao Ji couldn't persuade Xie Yao, so he had to go along with her. But at this time, Xie Yao didn't dare to look at him anymore.

I have seen it before, but the feeling in the dim night is completely different from that in broad daylight.

And she didn't expect that just stripping His Highness of his clothes would...

"hehe."

Xie Yao only heard a mischievous chuckle behind her, "Yaoyao, you've seen it all, why are you still embarrassed?"