Chapter Seventeen: For the Sake of a Woman

It was rare to hear him call her Jiaojiao in a proper setting, but she hadn’t expected it to be so terrifying. Yin Jiaojiao swallowed hard and forced a smile. “Your Highness, the meeting between His Highness and me was purely coincidental, just a chance encounter.”

Xiao Yuanchi heard this and his eyes darkened. He grabbed her slender wrist without much courtesy and pulled her close.

“In such a vast Eastern Capital, you claim it was a coincidence that you met? How convenient.”

Xiao Yuanxi brushed his sleeve and replied, “The world is full of coincidences. Seeing my sister-in-law troubled, I sought a suitable place to comfort her with a few words. Little did I expect to run into you and Third Prince.”

Behind Xiao Yuanchi, the Prince of Lu peeked out and, hearing this, stepped forward.

“Big Brother is right, really quite the coincidence,” he chuckled twice, but no one responded or paid attention, leaving him awkward and silent.

Not far off, a round table made of rosewood was laden with dishes—all sweet, soft, and rich delicacies, clearly chosen with great care to suit Yin Jiaojiao’s tastes.

Xiao Yuanchi offered a lukewarm comment, “My princess, Big Brother is quite attentive.”

“After all, we’re family. Since she calls me brother, if it were her cousin, she could call me brother-in-law. Seventh Brother is attentive even to unrelated younger sisters, so as the eldest brother, at least I care for my true family,” Xiao Yuanxi said with a calm demeanor, his hands clasped behind his back. His words were gentle yet refreshingly straightforward.

The Prince of Lu also looked surprised. Just a wall away, the previous conversation had likely been overheard by the Crown Prince. But unlike Xiao Yuanchi, Xiao Yuanxi was of noble birth, raised with ease and grace, always elegant and reserved in dealings with others. Given the current tense situation and his ambitious younger brother, he ought to have been more cautious with his words. Yet every sentence was laced with sharp intent.

Xiao Yuanchi’s smirk deepened.

“Sounds like, Big Brother thinks that General Gu’s orphan should be given to a frivolous wastrel, and that I shouldn’t stand in the way.”

General Gu had died heroically on the battlefield, reclaiming the northern three prefectures for the nation. Naturally, his orphan deserved exceptional care. The emperor personally intervened in her marriage to ensure a good match. Meanwhile, the Prince of Lu, even before his wedding, was a notorious rake in the Eastern Capital, and after the wedding, his scandalous affairs outside and inside the mansion had never ceased. Clearly, not a fitting match.

Xiao Yuanchi calmly pinned this label on him, leaving Xiao Yuanxi momentarily at a loss for words.

“Seventh Brother, who exactly are you calling a frivolous wastrel?” the Prince of Lu shouted unhappily. “Who do you think you are? Eating from your own bowl while still eyeing the pot! If you ask me, you’re no less a rake!”

Xiao Yuanchi frowned. “Too much chatter.”

“How can you talk to your brother like that?”

“Enough!” Xiao Yuanxi rubbed his forehead. “Such a small matter blown out of proportion. Third Brother, with General Sun’s situation as precedent, Father will only be more cautious about the county lady’s marriage. You can forget about peace in your household.”

“Big Brother!” The Prince of Lu grumbled but knew that once Xiao Yuanxi spoke, it was likely hopeless.

Xiao Yuanxi’s gaze shifted back to Xiao Yuanchi.

“Seventh Brother, I truly believe you shouldn’t interfere. The future of County Lady Ningyuan is not for either of us to decide. I understand, and you should too. Besides, what sort of place is Tianhe Tower? People come and go, countless eyes and tongues. Over a woman, you recklessly fought your Third Brother. As a prince of Dayong, what happened to your dignity?”

“If word leaks out,” Xiao Yuanxi lowered his voice, “how will Miss Yin conduct herself? Have you thought about that?”

Yin Jiaojiao was stunned.

Since she began chasing after Xiao Yuanchi, she had heard mostly cold remarks and biting sarcasm. After the wedding, even more vicious rumors circulated. In those fabricated stories, she was a loathsome shrew, a cunning, malicious woman. Spectators only laughed at her. After her grandmother’s death, there was no one left to comfort her.

She had thought herself numb to it all, but hearing Xiao Yuanxi’s words so suddenly brought tears to her eyes. Unexpectedly, the only person willing to speak a fair word for her was a stranger who had once been her enemy in a past life.

Xiao Yuanchi felt the wrist in his hand tremble, faint inhalations reaching his ears. His eyes darkened as he suddenly pulled her into his embrace.

“My princess, I will take care of you myself. No need for Big Brother’s concern.” He tightened his hold on her fiercely. “Tianhe Tower is crowded and rife with gossip, hardly a place for a casual chat. Big Brother, forgetfully bringing my princess here, if word spreads, she’ll have an even harder time.”

Xiao Yuanxi’s expression changed, clearly angered by Xiao Yuanchi’s sophistry.

Yin Jiaojiao was equally furious, overhearing him equate his jealousy with their ordinary interactions was utterly shameless.

Uncomfortable, her body instinctively resisted, causing Xiao Yuanchi to grip her shoulder harder, painfully so.

She couldn’t help but cry out, “Your Highness!”

Just then, Xiao Yuanxi also spoke.

“Seventh Brother!”

Their voices rang out in unison, so perfectly timed even the Prince of Lu puckered his lips in amusement.

Xiao Yuanchi’s face darkened further, eyes cold as ice. Yin Jiaojiao swallowed the second half of her sentence.

He ground his teeth, “Jiaojiao, you’ve played and eaten enough. Isn’t it time to return home?”

Yin Jiaojiao nodded repeatedly.

“Yes, yes!”

Xiao Yuanchi then gave Xiao Yuanxi a slight nod. “Big Brother’s words are reasonable. Yuanchi is ashamed and will reflect with my wife back at the manor.”

With that, before Xiao Yuanxi could reply, he grabbed Yin Jiaojiao and turned to leave.

Although Xiao Yuanchi often acted arrogantly towards her, to outsiders he was usually calm and experienced, especially in the last two years with the delicate relationship between the Prince of Qin and the Crown Prince. He was always cautious, never giving cause for complaint.

Today was different.

Yin Jiaojiao didn’t know where his sudden anger came from. Despite Xiao Yuanxi’s confirmation that the Prince of Lu could not marry Gu Xuezhi—a piece of good news—he seemed only more upset, giving Xiao Yuanxi no face at all.

Nervously, Yin Jiaojiao turned her head. Xiao Yuanxi stood by the table laden with food, lips pressed thin, looking awkward and helpless. She couldn’t bear it and, unable to speak, sent him an apologetic glance. Xiao Yuanxi was startled at first but then smiled faintly, seemingly accepting it.

Then Yin Jiaojiao was pulled out the door.

Su Zhengqing had already cleared the third floor at some unknown time. The ten or so elegant chambers were quiet enough to hear a pin drop. To ensure safety, Xiao Yuanchi did not leave through the main entrance but slipped out through the concealed back door of Tianhe Tower.

The back door opened onto a dark alley, deserted except for a single horse carriage of unidentifiable origin.

No wonder he dared discuss Gu Xuezhi at Tianhe Tower with the Prince of Lu—he had clearly prepared. Even if he didn’t care about public opinion, he had to consider Gu Xuezhi’s reputation and keep this matter secret.

Yin Jiaojiao was agitated and struggled.

“Your Highness, let go. I can get in myself.”

The coachman had already drawn the curtain, but Xiao Yuanchi ignored her and lifted her horizontally into the carriage with a toss.

A muffled thud followed.

The carriage floor was thickly carpeted, so it didn’t hurt, but caught off guard, she rolled twice and nearly crashed into the rosewood bench, frightening her so much that her hairs stood on end.

Unable to bear it any longer, Yin Jiaojiao angrily shouted, “Xiao Yuanchi!”