Did Princess Dongzhu really not know that Ji Xiu already had a wife and children, and that his special trip home was precisely to bring them to the capital?
Of course she knew.
She was simply very confident in herself. She was the emperor’s most beloved daughter. Marrying her meant glory and wealth within easy reach. The reason the Top Scholar did not like her was only because she had previously acted too arrogant and domineering, treating him poorly.
As long as she lowered herself a little and acted more approachable, without even needing to curry favor, the Top Scholar would naturally fall at her feet.
There was no helping it. Having grown up showered with endless indulgence, Princess Dongzhu possessed this kind of confidence.
Over the years, by her imperial father’s side, she had long seen through the methods used by the women of the harem to please him. She knew exactly what men liked.
In the past, she had disdained to use such methods, because there had been no man worthy of her doing so.
Now it was different. She had taken a liking to the Top Scholar, and naturally was willing to make some sacrifices for him.
Princess Dongzhu was impatient to see Ji Xiu. After being slapped, the palace maid no longer dared to advise her. With a face still bearing the imprint of a palm, blood held in her mouth, she trembled as she helped Princess Dongzhu change clothes.
Princess Dongzhu put on a magnificent golden trailing gown. Her hair was full of pearls and jade, her whole person radiant and resplendent, stunning beyond compare. Her pointed chin lifted arrogantly as she led a large group of palace maids and guards outward.
As for that audacious maid who had tried to change her mind…
Before leaving the princess residence, Dongzhu thought of something, glanced at the maid, and issued a cold, disgusted order. “This lowly servant who cannot understand human speech, send her to the teaching quarters and let her properly learn the rules.”
Princess Dongzhu was arrogant by nature and most detested others pointing fingers at her. Making such an order was only because she was about to go see the Top Scholar and was in a good mood, so she was being so lenient.
Under normal circumstances, such a person would only have one fate, death by beating.
Unfortunately, the maid was newly assigned to serve Dongzhu and did not know the rules of the princess residence. She was instantly so frightened that she collapsed to the ground and wet herself.
For servants of the palace, the teaching quarters were a nightmare-like existence.
Dongzhu sneered, a trace of malicious delight flashing in her eyes.
These lowly servants always thought they were being loyal protectors of their master, yet they did not know that she most detested people who took credit for themselves and relied on favor to act arrogantly.
…
Ji Xiu and Xie Rou Niang went out to familiarize themselves with the roads. On the way, they passed a restaurant and felt that if they bought groceries and went home to cook, it would be a bit late, so they might as well spend some money.
Thus, the family of four simply went inside to eat.
It was their first day in the capital, with a hint of celebration, so they deliberately ordered several large dishes.
Ji An Shu was two years old, with a round belly, tender cheeks, and big, round black eyes. He looked adorable. Holding a fragrant marrow bone, he gnawed on it with great relish, making him look even cuter, like a little squirrel crazily chewing on pinecones.
Beside him, four-year-old Ji Yue Sheng was a bit more sensible. She ate very quickly as well, but still took care not to dirty her clean new clothes, her movements gentle and well behaved.
Xie Rou Niang picked up some food for the two of them. After watching them eat, she turned to Ji Xiu with a smiling gaze.
“As expected of the capital. Even a random restaurant’s dishes are this delicious.”
“If you like it, we can come eat once every few days in the future.”
Xie Rou Niang smiled lightly and did not object. “Alright. I will listen to you, husband.”
Ji Xiu picked up food for her. “You should eat more too. Traveling has been hard. You are even more tired than I am. Rest well tonight.”
Xie Rou Niang froze slightly. A blush rose to her cheeks as she softly answered and lowered her head to eat.
The family of four enjoyed their meal quietly. Naturally, Princess Dongzhu rushed straight to the Ji family courtyard and found no one there.
“Where are they!”
Dongzhu had never known what waiting meant. Discovering that the house was empty, she immediately flew into a rage and demanded that her subordinates search for them.
The emperor doted on her and had assigned her a personal guard of one hundred men who followed her orders exclusively. This indulgence had bred her overbearing temperament.
The guards under her command also knew what kind of person she was. Without a word of complaint, they scattered to search everywhere.
A quarter of an hour later, a guard returned to report the restaurant’s location.
Upon hearing that Ji Xiu had taken his wife and children to dine at a restaurant, a complicated look flashed through Princess Dongzhu’s eyes.
She was running around everywhere for his sake, while he was busy pleasing another woman.
However, Dongzhu liked handsome men. Although she was annoyed by Ji Xiu’s actions, before obtaining him, she had no intention of doing anything to him.
What truly angered her was Xie Rou Niang’s existence.
She had originally planned to let that woman live a few more days. Now that was no longer possible.
She never shared what she wanted with others, unless the other party was dead.
“You few, come here and receive orders.”
Princess Dongzhu lifted her chin, murderous intent surging in her eyes, and matter-of-factly issued commands to the six guards before her.
The guards knelt to receive orders, but as they listened, they were shocked.
Even though they had helped Princess Dongzhu do many things that trampled the law, they had never seen anything like this. Just because the princess had taken a liking to the Top Scholar, and the Top Scholar had refused marriage on the grounds of having a virtuous wife, she wanted to go kill someone’s lawful wife.
What kind of insane logic was this?
The six guards looked at one another, unable to immediately voice their acceptance.
Princess Dongzhu’s expression turned cold. “What, this palace cannot command you?”
The guards were startled and hurriedly agreed. After bowing, they quickly withdrew and went to intercept Xie Rou Niang on the road from the restaurant.
Better dead friends than oneself dead. For the sake of their lives, they could only wrong the Top Scholar and his wife.
Dongzhu smiled in satisfaction. She reached out, resting her hand on her personal maid’s arm, and boarded the carriage with dignified poise, planning to rush to the scene to comfort the Top Scholar who would soon lose his beloved wife.
The favored imperial consort who once dominated the harem had done exactly this. Whenever her imperial father encountered something painful, she would rush over to comfort him.
After several years, the emperor had almost established her as empress.
This showed just how easy it was to take advantage when men were vulnerable.
Dongzhu was brimming with confidence, not caring at all about Xie Rou Niang’s life. Her mind was full of anticipation for how she would perform later.
With such a princess who regarded human life as worthless, it was hard to say whether this was the misfortune of the royal family, or the misfortune of the common people.
…
“Four qian and fifty three wen in total. Please come again next time, honored guests. Take care.”
The family of four, full and satisfied, left the restaurant and strolled back home.
Ji Yue Sheng and Ji An Shu held hands and ran ahead, cheering as they looked at the lively scenery of the capital.
Ji Xiu and Xie Rou Niang walked behind them, watching over the children while he gently introduced the geography of the capital to her, so she would not get lost.
Xie Rou Niang was clever and sharp. She could remember the roads after hearing them once. She nodded and replied, “I have all remembered them, husband.”
Ji Xiu chuckled lightly. “It does not matter if you cannot remember everything at once. You have just arrived in the capital. I will definitely accompany you well. Take your time to remember.”
Xie Rou Niang froze. Hearing this, she felt a bit worried. “Will it delay husband’s important matters? Husband has a boundless future ahead. There is really no need to waste time for our sake. We have already arrived in the capital. We can slowly get familiar with it ourselves. As for husband, should you go report in and start attending court earlier?”
Ji Xiu paused and looked at Xie Rou Niang. After thinking for a moment, he decided to tell her about what happened on the day of the palace examination.
Husband and wife were one body. Even if they separated, they would still be implicated with each other.
Now that his offense of the emperor due to refusing to marry the princess had already spread widely among his cohort of successful candidates, future visits from officials would likely touch on it as well. There was no need to hide it from Xie Rou Niang.
On the contrary, this would allow her to have some mental preparation and be more vigilant.
Ji Xiu could never have imagined that Princess Dongzhu would be even more excessive than in the previous life, directly sending people to intercept and kill Xie Rou Niang.
Thus, when he saw six black-clad figures suddenly emerge from the slanted entrance of the alley, the shock in his heart was self-evident.