Starting with Intercepting and Marrying the Eldest Princess - Chapter 17

Chapter 17: “My Princess’s Imperial Son-in-Law, of Course I Know…”

The banquet began.

The sound of the pipa rose, the axis turning and the strings plucked a few times. Each note was like a murmured story. The delicate timbre seemed to flow out of the air, and everyone was immersed in the melodious music.

Then the sound of clear wind instruments joined in, filling the entire palace. Accompanied by the music, dancing girls twirled gracefully, their movements light and beautiful.

The Emperor stared intently at Xie Ning, seated next to the Grand Princess. He truly is a born rebel!

He sat there naturally, without the slightest hint of discomfort or apprehension. His eyes occasionally met the Emperor’s gaze, very open and showing no sign of guilt.

If it weren’t for his actions, the Emperor might actually believe he was a loyal subject!

He then looked at his Imperial Sister. Well, this one is even tougher, forcefully keeping the Empress by her side.

What?

Did I marry this Empress for you?

The Emperor sneered internally. Xie Jing, this ungrateful dog, will betray you for a bone someday too!

He then looked at the Empress. This one was even more weighty, showing no discomfort sitting among the ministers.

You are the Empress, you are the Empress!

You should take the initiative to sit next to me!

Must I invite you?

Oh, right, there’s also the North-Pacifying Marquis. The North-Pacifying Marquis hadn’t come at all. He had nowhere to look even if he wanted to.

“My Lords, are there any interesting anecdotes in the capital these days? Why not share them with us?” the Emperor initiated the conversation.

The eyes of the officials all subtly glanced at Xie Ning, sitting there calmly.

Do you even need to ask?

It’s all the things your brother-in-law has done!

Now, who would dare to say it in front of his sister? Perhaps this was just romantic fun between the young couple.

Pei Shujing cleared her throat and smiled at the Empress beside her: “I haven’t heard of any interesting anecdotes in the capital, but a joke of a monkey wearing a hat has occurred in the inner palace.”

This was an obvious jab at Wang Wan.

The Emperor thought: Concubine Wan, eavesdropping in the back, must have turned pale upon hearing that.

“Oh? Your Highness is mistaken. This old man has actually heard a fascinating piece of gossip. This gossip is even more fitting for what Your Highness mentioned.”

The officials present brightened up. Gossip is being served!

Wang Yan, this old rascal, wouldn’t bring up something unless it was confirmed.

The Emperor’s expression also became more animated, but he didn’t speak, just looked at Wang Yan with implied expectation.

He suddenly realized a very “vicious” thing: it’s better to let Wang Wan be bullied. That way, the Wang family would naturally deal with the Grand Princess to protect Wang Wan.

And he, the Emperor, wouldn’t need to do anything or pay anything.

Thinking of this, the Emperor could no longer resist speaking up: “Oh? Lord Wang, why don’t you share it so I can have a laugh too.”

Wang Yan’s eyes swept over Xie Ning and the Xie family with a smile: “Then this old man will speak at random, and His Majesty and my colleagues can listen at random.”

Xie Ning suddenly had a bad premonition.

“Reporting to Your Majesty, this old man has heard rumors in the marketplace that the Grand Princess’s Imperial Son-in-Law is not the son of Xie Mao of the Xie family, but someone the Xie family specifically found as a fake to appease the late Emperor’s decree.”

As soon as this was said, the officials burst into an uproar.

They had wondered why they had never heard of the Xie family having an extra legitimate son. They never expected it to be a pretense.

In fact, some people had already guessed, but no one dared to speak up.

After all, this concerned not only the Grand Princess’s reputation but also the late Emperor and the Xie family.

Unexpectedly, Wang Yan, this old scoundrel, was truly ruthless. This time, the Xie family would lose a layer of skin even if they didn’t die.

The Emperor was also stunned on the spot.

He wanted Wang Yan to create a conflict with the Grand Princess, but not through this method! This dragged the loyal Xie family into the mess, leaving him in a dilemma.

Xie Mao’s hands trembled as he looked at the Emperor in disbelief.

The Emperor frowned. I didn’t expose this matter, why are you looking at me?

Wait!

The Emperor looked at Concubine Wan beside him, and then at Wang Yan. This old scoundrel couldn’t possibly think I arranged this, could he?

He then remembered his vocal cooperation just now. Dammit, now I can’t clear my name even if I jump into the Yellow River.

Sure enough, Xie Mao had already cursed the Emperor countless times in his heart. His expression showed a hint of despair. There was nothing he could do. The Emperor, as an accomplice in the matter, had now stabbed him in the back. He knew that this matter was beyond his control.

The Emperor was fidgeting. Don’t look at me with that desperate gaze! Refute it!

I really didn’t instruct this!

Unfortunately, a huge rift had already formed between Xie Mao and the Emperor in his heart. He slowly and tremblingly stood up, walked to the center aisle, and then knelt down, trembling.

“I beg Your Majesty’s forgiveness!”

“Woah!”

This caused a real sensation. No one expected Xie Mao to admit it without any argument.

Wang Yan smiled at the Grand Princess: “Does Your Highness know about this matter?”

The Grand Princess lowered her eyes and did not speak.

Xie Ning took a deep breath. What must come will always come.

She just hadn’t expected it to come so quickly.

Just as she was about to get up and kneel with Xie Mao, that familiar voice reached her ear.

“This Princess knows.”

Xie Ning’s eyes widened. She turned to look at the Grand Princess, who gave her a meaningful glance in return.

Pei Shujing then looked at Wang Yan, her expression indifferent: “My Imperial Son-in-Law—how could this Princess not know?”

“On the contrary, Grand Secretary, you handle countless state affairs every day, yet you still have the energy to care about this Princess’s private family matters. You truly are full of vigor.”

Wang Yan’s smile froze. He slowly shook his head: “This is not merely Your Highness’s private family matter. This concerns the late Emperor’s final decree. The Xie family’s actions, showing disregard for the sovereign and the father, ought to be punished with the extermination of the nine generations.”

“Your Highness should know that the late Emperor always favored you the most. Even for the sake of the late Emperor, you should not harbor intentions of concealing such a villain.”

As Wang Yan slowly narrated, Xie Mao’s heart gradually sank to the bottom.

Wang Yan was trying to kill his Xie family in one fell swoop!

Pity his Xie family, who had been fiercely loyal to the Emperor, yet ended up in this situation.

Serving the sovereign is truly like accompanying a tiger.

Now, he could only sacrifice himself to preserve the Xie family. He hoped the Emperor still had a shred of conscience.

Xie Mao gave a mournful smile. Just as he was about to take all the blame upon himself, the Grand Princess slowly shook her head.

“Grand Secretary Wang truly speaks at random.”

“In fact, Xie Jing is indeed a descendant of the Xie family, but just not Xie Mao’s son.”

As soon as this was said, Xie Mao looked at the Grand Princess in shock.

The Grand Princess didn’t even give Xie Mao a glance, continuing to narrate: “Does everyone still remember that Xie Mao had an elder brother named Xie Fan back then?”

“At that time, Xie Fan took a liking to a butcher’s daughter. The Xie family disagreed, but Xie Fan ran away with her for the sake of this woman. Do you still remember?”

After the Grand Princess’s mention, some officials remembered that this indeed happened in the Xie family twenty years ago.

It caused quite a stir at the time.

They remembered that Xie Fan ultimately didn’t manage to run far before being caught back by the Xie family, and he died of depression soon after.

If not for that, the position of Xie family head wouldn’t have fallen to Xie Mao.

The Grand Princess wouldn’t bring this up for no reason. Could it be?

Pei Shujing slowly nodded: “That’s right. The Imperial Son-in-Law is the son of Xie Fan and that butcher’s daughter.”

Xie Ning stood frozen in place. Could Xie Jing’s background truly be like this?

No, that’s not right. Where did the original body come from then?

Xie Mao was also stunned. How could he not know if his elder brother had a son? His elder brother did indeed have a child with that woman back then, but it was a girl.

But Xie Mao wasn’t stupid. When on the brink of despair, how could he not seize a sudden lifeline?

Xie Mao burst into tears: “Her Highness is right. The identity of this nephew of mine concerns the face of my Xie family and could not be told to outsiders. But my elder brother treated me extremely well back then. How could I abandon my elder brother’s bloodline? I could only wrong this nephew of mine and have him recognize me, this unworthy uncle, as his father.”

After speaking, Xie Mao, the old fox, actively knelt before the Grand Princess and wailed: “Your Highness, this old man failed you and failed the late Emperor!”

Pei Shujing smiled and shook her head: “Minister Xie, there is no need for this. I still remember when I was young, Father embraced me and told me this story. Father lamented in my ear that Xie Fan’s action was truly an act of deep affection.”

“I never expected fate to be so miraculous. Now, Xie Fan’s son has become my Imperial Son-in-Law. I am very satisfied. I imagine Father in heaven would not overly blame Minister Xie.”

Xie Mao wept sorrowfully, not entirely fake, as he was both moved by the Grand Princess’s proactive rescue and grateful for the Xie family’s narrow escape from death.

Wang Yan coughed twice, interrupting Xie Mao and the Grand Princess. If he allowed these two to continue, the matter would simply pass without incident.

He asked, unwilling to give up: “The Grand Princess’s words are only a single perspective. What evidence do you have to prove it?”

Pei Shujing nodded: “Grand Secretary Wang is truly experienced and steady. This Princess actually has evidence.”

The Emperor now had a bad feeling surging in his heart.

He suddenly wished Wang Yan would crush the Xie family. After all, if Pei Shujing rescued the Xie family, wouldn’t the Xie family become Pei Shujing’s claw against him?!

Pei Shujing clapped her hands. Suddenly, a noise erupted outside the hall.

“My son, is that really my son?”

Xie Ning turned around. An old woman in blue robes stumbled into the hall from outside, already wailing loudly before she reached her.

She walked up to Xie Ning and slowly stroked Xie Ning’s face with a trembling hand.

“My son! Mother finally sees you again! Mother finally sees you again!”

Pei Shujing smiled and said: “After Xie Fan died, that woman bravely gave birth to the child, but she never expected the child to be taken away by the Xie family as soon as he was born. The woman didn’t dare to stop them, nor could she.”

Xie Ning bit her lip, looking utterly incredulous: “…Mother, is it really Mother?”

Xie Mao also scrambled over to the old woman: “Sister-in-law, I failed you and failed my elder brother!”

The Emperor saw that the situation was not right and was about to speak up and reprimand them, but he saw Pei Shujing slowly look at him and smile: “Tonight’s banquet is about family affairs. Bloodline is a serious matter. The Emperor shouldn’t blame us, should he?”

Even in person, Pei Shujing still addressed him as “Emperor” directly, without using “Your Majesty.” This was truly a disrespectful act, yet it left the Emperor helpless.

The Emperor’s face flushed. At this moment, a palace servant suddenly emerged from the back.

“Your Majesty, Concubine Wan suddenly feels unwell…”

The Emperor breathed a sigh of relief. Unwell is good, unwell is good!

He coughed twice: “Concubine Wan is unwell. I will go and accompany her to rest. Continue with the banquet.”

With that, he flicked his sleeve and left.

But no one noticed the hands he was tightly clenching within his sleeves, hands that were hurting so much he wanted to go mad.

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