Chapter Fifty-Five: Xue Jiaoyue's Intrusion

"Alright!" Though he didn’t truly want to, Xiao Yi would never refuse a suggestion from the woman he loved—how else could he get closer to her?

“It’s settled, then!” Xiao Yi continued, “I’ve already sent people to inquire about the Crown Prince’s condition. You were right. In fact, the reason I came to see you so late tonight was to discuss this matter. Since you know the Crown Prince is ill, do you also know how long he has left?”

Just about a month more, and then the emperor’s sons would begin their struggle for the throne, setting upon each other like wolves.

But Xuanzhi could not divulge the exact date to Xiao Yi. No matter how miraculous Li Daguan’s medical skills, he could not divine the precise hour of another’s death—he was a doctor, not the King of the Underworld. So she could not speak of it.

Xuan Zhi shook her head slightly. “That I do not know. But from what I heard from the physician, it won’t be long. Your Highness should make preparations soon.”

Since the conversation had reached this point, there was little left to say. Xiao Yi was content just to have seen this little one today—it was time for him to go.

Suddenly, Xuanzhi thought of something. “If I have any intelligence to share, or if Your Highness wishes to speak with me, how should we contact each other? Surely you don’t intend to keep climbing over the wall every time!”

Xiao Yi, who had just been about to leave, paused mid-step. What, not allowed to scale the wall anymore? He had never planned to change that method of meeting her.

But he couldn’t very well tell her that outright.

“Hmm…” Xiao Yi turned back to her. “Just say you’re looking for Brother Jingren. If I come to your house, there will surely be a commotion. At that time, just go to your elder brother. If you have a message to send, I’ll deliver your brother a gift—just look for it, and you won’t go wrong.”

Xuanzhi nodded, pleased with the idea. Her brother was close to her and, being a man, it would be much more convenient.

Now Xiao Yi truly prepared to depart. Xuanzhi rose to see him out. The two had barely taken a step when a clamor sounded at the door: “Out of my way! I want to see my sister. Since when do you lowly maids think you can stop me?”

It was Xue Jiaoyue’s voice.

Xuanzhi’s expression changed, and she looked at Xiao Yi in panic.

Without hesitation, Xiao Yi leapt onto the bed he had long coveted—Xuanzhi’s bed—and beckoned to her, “Come, shield me!”

Xuanzhi: “….”

Why did his voice hold not a trace of anxiety, but instead a hint of excitement?

Though propriety would frown upon it, Jiaoyue was so difficult to deal with that Xuanzhi could hardly throw Xiao Yi out. Gritting her teeth, she climbed onto the bed and drew the curtains.

Still uneasy, she glanced back at Xiao Yi. He had pressed his head against her waist, stretched out beneath the covers. Fortunately, though tall, he was lean, and with darkness falling outside and only dim lamps within, no one peering through the bed curtains would see anything amiss.

Xuanzhi allowed herself to relax and settled down.

At that moment, Jiaoyue burst into the room, with Hongxiao and Honglian hot on her heels—anxious, but not daring to lay hands on her.

Xuanzhi saw her making straight for the bed, so she sat up to shield Xiao Yi, parting the curtains. “What are you doing?”

Jiaoyue’s face was cold as frost, her large eyes glowering. She hesitated, then asked, “Is there someone in your room?”

This was exactly what Xuanzhi feared. If Jiaoyue discovered Xiao Yi, Xuanzhi would have no way to explain herself.

It would not only ruin her reputation, but with Xue Yang’s character, he’d likely find an excuse to kill her—or, at best, bundle her off to Xiao Yi through the back gate, and then her new life would be even worse than her previous one.

She absolutely could not let Jiaoyue ruin her.

“What are you talking about?” Xuanzhi kept her composure, her tone icy.

Jiaoyue’s gaze fell upon the long table in the center of the room, her eyes lighting up. “Still denying it? Two bowls of noodle soup, and you claim there’s no one else? I heard you come back and make noodles myself!”

Xuanzhi’s heart eased. She’d been afraid the wretch had overheard something from upstairs, but thankfully, it was only the noodle soup.

Her expression remained cold and silent.

But Hongxiao was prepared. She immediately sat at the long table. Seeing this, Honglian did the same. Before them sat two bowls of half-eaten noodle soup.

Only then did Xuanzhi speak. “Any other questions?”

So it was only maids eating noodles!

Xue Ba was a fool—friendly and warm to all. She’d certainly make noodles for the maids.

Jiaoyue, having failed to catch Xuanzhi out, looked thunderstruck, her face flushing with anger and humiliation. Suddenly, she spat, “You dare make noodles for your maids? That’s outrageous—I’ll tell Father to punish you!”

In these times, class distinctions were paramount. The Xue family, though in decline, still boasted a noble lineage. They must remain above others.

Maids were worth little—five of them could be traded for a single horse. Marriage between classes was forbidden. Even if Xuanzhi would never marry a maid, letting them sit at her table was a crime.

But Xuanzhi knew full well that Xue Yang was too busy nursing his wounds to bother with such petty matters. Jiaoyue was simply making trouble for the sake of it.

Xuanzhi pointed at the door. “Go on, get out!”

Jiaoyue regretted her words after saying them. In truth, she didn’t want to fall out with Xuanzhi—she still needed to make use of her in many ways, and constantly butting heads would only sour things further. Even a clay figurine would have a temper eventually.

But every time she saw this half-sister, she couldn’t help but bristle. Once, this little fool would do anything she said; now, she wouldn’t listen to a word. Wasn’t it infuriating?

“Fine, I’ll go!” Jiaoyue huffed, “Soon it will be our coming-of-age ceremony. Father has said mine will be a grand celebration, with many guests invited. Since you treat me thus, I won’t bother to remind you of anything—just wait to make a fool of yourself. Don’t come begging me then, hmph!”

With that, she flounced out, sleeves flying.

Xuanzhi frowned. Ridiculous. Who would beg you over such a trivial matter?

She didn’t know that, in her bitterness, Jiaoyue was just leaving herself a retreat.

Of course, Xuanzhi had no need to understand her. She had every intention of never making peace with Jiaoyue.

Once Jiaoyue had left, Honglian hurried after her to watch until she returned upstairs before closing the door and coming back in.

As soon as she was inside, Honglian rushed to Xuanzhi’s side. “That scared me to death!”

Glancing around to make sure they were alone, she whispered, “Mistress, where is the Ninth Prince? Has he really left?”

A voice sounded from behind Xuanzhi. “You think I’m a spirit?!”

And then, that graceful, radiant young man, not the least bit flustered, as if he were strolling through his own garden, calmly leapt down from the bed.

Honglian and Hongxiao were both left gaping.

Honglian pointed at the bed. “You—you… that’s the bed! Mistress’s bed!”

Xiao Yi thought to himself, “The mistress is a fool, and her maids are fools—don’t they know what a bed is?”

Seeing the prince so utterly at ease, Honglian scowled. “Men and women shouldn’t be so familiar, Your Highness. If you treat my mistress like this, will you take responsibility?”

Xiao Yi replied, full of righteous confidence, “Of course I will!” After all, it wasn’t as if your mistress didn’t want this herself!

Honglian was left speechless, completely at a loss for words.