Chapter 306 He Gets Jealous When She Praises Other Men
Late at night, Xiao Xuance heard a peculiar cry coming from outside. He quietly got out of bed and pushed open the door.
Two dark figures stood outside the courtyard.
The two clasped their hands in greeting, "Your Highness..."
Xiao Xuance waved his hand, pointing behind the bushes to signal them to talk over there.
Zhuiying and Zhufeng stepped forward: "Your subordinates pay their respects to Your Highness!"
"Did you pick them up?"
"I have failed the prince's trust. I was ambushed in Cangwu County and more than a dozen of my brothers died. They were assassins from the Jianghu."
"My subordinate captured a prisoner and interrogated him. He said he was sent by the Second Prince."
Xiao Xuance asked, "More than a dozen? How could so many have died? How many people have already arrived in Lingnan?"
"Including their family members, there were a total of 120 people."
Another group followed the army to Jiangnan to quell the rebellion. The Second Prince, having used them, turned on them and wanted to kill them so that his men could take complete control of the Xiao family army.
They were prepared and thus escaped the pursuit.
A few days ago, we received news that they had disguised themselves as shop assistants from the Pei family's shop and traveled south by boat.
More than a hundred others disguised themselves as merchants and traveled south from Jiangnan, arriving five days later.
“Give the families of the fallen brothers a generous pension, without revealing who gave it to them.”
"yes!"
"Send more men to guard the thatched hut, and send another man to look for Master Liao. He was assassinated and wounded on his way back to the capital, jumped into the river to escape, and his whereabouts are unknown. If we find him, we should rescue him and make sure he is settled. If we can't find him, then... never mind."
They didn't have much of a relationship with Lao Liao, and sending someone to look for him was already more than enough.
"Yes! I'll take care of it right away."
"Zhuiying, settle the brothers down here as soon as possible. I'll be out in the fields during the day, and Xue'er and Xian'er need someone to protect them."
"Your subordinate obeys!"
When the officials of Panyu County received a report from the people that a murder had occurred outside the city, they went to the scene and found the body of the escort.
The people who had the most contact with Lao Liao were exiled criminals.
That day, Lu Zheng, a judicial officer, came to the Xiao family to question them while the Xiao family was having dinner.
"I've heard you have a close relationship with the escorts. Do you know what enemies they have that would send assassins to kill you?"
"How did Lord Lu know they were assassins?"
A constable who admired Lu Zheng said, "Our lord led us to find someone, and we happened to run into that group of people in the woods and had a fight with them. Lord Lu has solved countless cases, and he recognized them as assassins at a glance!"
"Lord Lu has discerning eyes; I admire him greatly." Xiao Xuance bowed to Lu Zheng, secretly sizing him up. He hadn't expected such a talent to exist in this small Panyu County.
Lu Zheng also bowed to him, "I dare not, Prince Xiao is too modest. Who in the entire Great Zhou can deserve your admiration? I am even less talented!"
The constable said, "Young Master Xiao...? Sir, he's the heir of the Prince of Zhenbei's mansion, but he doesn't look like him."
The man was dressed like a farmer, but was handsome, unlike the tall, burly, and rugged general he had imagined.
Xiao Xuanwu said irritably, "My third brother doesn't look like him, but do you?"
No one can question his third brother.
Xiao Xuance said, "Xiao Wu, don't be rude."
The constable hurriedly waved his hand and explained, "No, no, no, that's not what I meant. I meant that Prince Xiao is handsome. I've heard that most powerful military generals are over nine feet tall, with a robust physique and a fierce, rugged appearance. They can terrify their enemies and make them tremble with fear..."
Lu Zheng glanced at the yamen runner and immediately shut up.
“We found that they withdrew a thousand taels of silver from the Pei family shop’s account before leaving the city. The Pei family shop had been transferred to the name of the Third Young Master Xiao two months ago. I suspect that their assassination was related to the Pei family’s money.”
We want to know why the Pei family withdrew one thousand taels of silver from them. Did they owe them money, or was there some kind of transaction involved?
When Yun Zhaoxue heard that it was related to her, she stepped forward and said, "Because I am pregnant and my body is heavy, Young Master Pei and I have some friendship. In order to make my journey easier, when the escort team was robbed by bandits while crossing the river and had no money, he lent a helping hand on the condition that they give him a thousand taels for travel expenses and another thousand taels when the escort team returned."
"Lord Lu, the Pei family would never send people to kill them for a mere thousand taels of silver."
Lu Zheng knew the Pei family's wealth and knew they wouldn't care about a thousand taels. "What's your relationship with the Pei family?"
The Pei family spent a thousand taels of silver on her and even transferred several shops in Panyu County to her name.
“This is my private matter and has nothing to do with this case, but I can guarantee that the Pei family will absolutely not take action against them.”
"Therefore, the assassination of Master Liao has nothing to do with us. We urge Lord Lu to find Master Liao as soon as possible and clear the name of Pei Family Shop."
"We will. Everything you said today will be recorded. If necessary, I will summon you for questioning. Farewell!"
Lu Zheng cupped his hands to them, then turned around, stepped onto his saddle, leaped onto his horse, tightened the reins, and clenched his flanks. The constables behind him also mounted their horses and followed.
The horse stands upright, the rider leans slightly forward, and as the horse's body rises and falls, the sound of hooves gradually fades into the distance.
Yun Zhaoxue sighed, "This Military Advisor Lu is very dedicated and responsible. He is far better than those lazy and incompetent parasites. He is a remarkable person."
It is a blessing for the people of Panyu County to have such a soldier.
"How does Xue'er think I compare to him?"
Yun Zhaoxue withdrew her gaze, glanced at him sideways, and seemed to find it difficult to answer.
Xiao Xuance was so jealous that he said sourly, "Why are you so troubled? Do you think he's better than me? Just tell me the truth, and I won't overthink it."
"Really not?"
She didn't believe it.
"real!"
She thinks others are good because they are not good enough and need to work harder.
Yun Zhaoxue leaned close to the man, covered her mouth and whispered, "No matter how good others are, in my heart, they can't compare to my jealous husband."
Xiao Xuance's brows relaxed, his lips curled up, then he lowered them again, and he said in a serious tone, "I'm not jealous. I am your rightful husband and the father of your child."
The father is as valuable as the son.
He has confidence in himself.
Xiao Xuanwu couldn't help but interject, "Third sister-in-law, Third brother is just saying one thing but meaning another. He says he doesn't mind, but he really does."
“He even keeps his own family at arm’s length, preventing me, Jun’er, and Ming’er from getting close to you.”
The children were curious about the pregnant woman's belly, and Jun'er and Ming'er wanted to greet their future younger siblings.
Xiao Xuance wouldn't let them touch it, saying they'd talk about it after the child was born.
The eldest and second sisters-in-law were trying not to laugh, while the third brother and his wife were truly loving.
If only their husbands were still alive.
It doesn't matter if life is simple and there's no great wealth or status, as long as the family is together, that's enough.
Madam Yang placed a piece of meat on her youngest son's plate, saying, "Xiao Wu, what do you know, you're just a child? Focus on eating."
"Oh~"
...
Yun Jiaoyue was furious when she heard the guards report that the person had not yet been found.
"Useless! It's been three days, and we've sent so many people to search, but we still can't find it. Do they think they can fly to the heavens or dive to the earth?"
"They don't have the ability. It must be because you didn't do your best to find them. Don't think that just because His Highness isn't here, you can just do things perfunctorily when I, the Princess Consort, ask you to do something."
I'm telling you, I'm carrying a young prince! I am your master too, and if you dare not serve me faithfully, you'll be sorry!
"Your Highness, please forgive me. I dare not. I will do everything in my power to find the person."
"Please forgive me, we wouldn't dare. You've said it so many times, my ears are tired of hearing it. If we still can't find you, we'll twist your heads off."
Yun Jiaoyue is increasingly unable to control her temper. She gets angry easily, likes to smash things, and can't even handle a lowly escort. How can she expect them to kill Yun Zhaoxue?
Enraged, he smashed the teacup over their heads.
The assassin dared not dodge and was hit squarely, "Bang!"
The teacup fell to the ground and shattered, the porcelain fragments flying to Yun Jiaoyue's feet, a few drops of scalding tea bouncing off and splashing onto the back of her hand.
"Hiss..." She subconsciously stood up, but accidentally stepped on a shard of metal on the ground. Her foot slipped, and she fell backward, bumping into a table and chairs next to her.
Finally, it rolled onto the ground.
She clutched her stomach and cried out, "Ah! My child, my child..."
"Help! Someone, save me..."
The assassin wanted to help the person up, but remembering the taboo against men and women touching, he froze, his hands hanging in mid-air.
Yun Jiaoyue's face contorted in pain as she gritted her teeth and cursed, "Idiot! What are you standing there for? Hurry up and help me up so we can get a doctor!"
"Quickly, go and bring His Highness back..."
"Wait a minute, you're not allowed to go. He's a man who's going to do important things. No one is allowed to disturb His Highness, understand?"
"Understood, Your Majesty." The guard helped her to lie down on the bed.
Yun Jiaoyue felt a warm current flowing out from below her. When she looked down, she saw it was blood. Her vision went black, and she almost fainted.
She's bleeding, her baby...
"No, I was born with the destiny of a phoenix, the future empress. My son is protected by the heavens, he will be alright..."
"Doctor, hurry! The baby is in danger; if we're late, the baby could die."
Doctor Li, carrying his medicine chest, ran after the guards, falling far behind. He was panting heavily and covered in sweat. "Don't rush me, don't rush me, I'm already fast enough."
He worked in the fields for several days and got sunburned. He was carried back and lay there for several hours before being lifted up by the guards and brought over to treat Yun Jiaoyue.
He's feeling dizzy right now, I don't know if he'll be able to treat anyone.
Yun Jiaoyue was bleeding continuously from her lower body. Her maid wiped her wounds and brought out a basin of bloody water.
Upon reaching the door and seeing the blood, Dr. Li knew something was wrong. The baby was only a little over a month old and was bleeding so much; it was most likely he wouldn't survive.
If the condition is serious, even an adult's life could be in danger.
Although exiled, they are still of royal blood.
Dr. Li regretted it; after he fainted and woke up, he stayed home and did nothing.
If I had gotten up and started working as soon as I woke up, I wouldn't have gotten involved in this mess.
Yun Jiaoyue lay on the bed, her face pale. Doctor Li took her pulse, and his expression changed slightly.
I checked her pulse before and the pregnancy was unstable. Now she's fallen and the baby is going to die.
Yun Jiaoyue sent the others away before letting him answer.
"Dr. Li, how is my child?"
"The princess's pulse is weak and hesitant, which is a sign of spleen damage from excessive thinking and palpitations that may affect the fetus. Just now, she lost her balance and fell backward, her lower back hitting the corner of the sandalwood chair, which shocked her uterus, causing continuous bleeding. I have already administered acupuncture to stabilize her vital energy, but the fetal breathing is gradually weakening... She needs to prepare herbal medicine and rest as soon as possible."
"No! Dr. Li, you must help me save my child, no matter the cost."
Doctor Li withdrew his acupuncture hand, sighed deeply, and finally shook his head: "It is my incompetence. The Princess and His Highness are still young. As long as they take good care of their health, they will have more in the future..."
The room was eerily quiet.
Yun Jiaoyue stared blankly at the top of the bed curtains, closed her eyes, and two lines of clear tears slid down from the corners of her eyes, soaking into her hair.
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