Chapter 224: Lovable in Every Way

Chapter 224: Chapter 224: Lovable in Every Way

Too many things had happened at the morning court session today.

The Empress’s numerous crimes, Xie Jinbai’s true identity—all were secrets of the Royal Family.

As soon as the court session ended, the news spread through the Capital City at lightning speed.

Consort Lian was posthumously named Empress.

Xie Jinbai was named Crown Prince. He would not hold the Empress accountable for her repeated attempts to murder his wife; he merely severed their mother-son ties.

As for Prince Ping...

Out of consideration for their direct blood ties, the Emperor showed mercy and spared his life. He was merely demoted to a commoner, and his entire family was exiled to Lingnan. Daughters who had married out of the family were not to be implicated.

Hearing those last few words, Cui Lingyao’s heart settled, and she let out a long sigh of relief.

No matter what, she felt a strong sense of kinship with her sister-in-law, Xie Anning.

She didn’t want her to be implicated by association.

She only hoped that she and her brother could live a happy and peaceful life together.

The only issue was having children...

...

At the Cui Mansion, they were overwhelmed with a mix of shock and joy.

Meanwhile, after the morning court session ended, Xie Jinbai declined several invitations to banquets and headed straight back to his Prince Mansion.

Normally, the Crown Prince was supposed to reside in the Eastern Palace.

But he had maintained his own residence outside the palace for many years, had grown accustomed to it, and was unwilling to move in.

Especially since the Empress hadn’t been deposed yet. The Phoenix Seal was still in her hands, the Inner Court was under her command, and the palace was essentially her territory.

A starved camel is still bigger than a horse. As much as Xie Jinbai disregarded her, he was unwilling to take even the slightest risk.

He couldn’t afford to.

That gut-wrenching feeling was too much to bear.

He didn’t want to experience it a third time.

Having not seen her all night, Xie Jinbai was overflowing with longing and rushed back to his mansion, his heart burning with impatience.

As soon as he entered, he heard the news that Cui Lingyao was not in the mansion and had returned to her family home.

He immediately turned his horse around to go pick up his wife.

His desire to see her was so intense that he completely forgot about his deliberate avoidance of her these past few days.

When he arrived, it was just in time for lunch. Cui Lingyao was eating with her parents when she heard someone announce that the Crown Prince had arrived. She froze for a moment before it registered.

’The Crown Prince... that’s Xie Jinbai.’

The Changping Marquis hastily rose to his feet, taking his wife and daughter with him to greet the guest.

Xie Jinbai had not ridden his horse into the Cui Mansion; he was properly on foot.

While her family came from the rear courtyard to greet him, he walked from the main gate toward it.

The four of them met on a long, covered walkway.

The moment they saw each other, the Changping Marquis immediately pulled his wife down to kowtow on the ground.

Before Xie Jinbai could even stop him, he had received a full, formal bow from his father-in-law.

He raised an eyebrow slightly, looking at his wife.

’You can’t blame me for this,’ his eyes seemed to say.

Cui Lingyao pressed her lips together, speechless.

The couple exchanged a look. Xie Jinbai walked forward, helped his father-in-law and mother-in-law up, and said, "In the future, there’s no need for such ceremony among family."

The Changping Marquis readily agreed.

Lady Zheng smiled kindly. "At this hour, has Your Highness eaten yet?"

She gazed at her son-in-law. He was powerful and influential, a man whose word was law and whose aura intimidated the outside world. Yet, in front of her daughter, his temper could only be described as gentle and kind. The more she looked at him, the more satisfied she became.

After all, she had just tallied it up in her head: among all the great aristocratic families in the Capital City, there wasn’t a third man who had been married for six years without taking a concubine.

And what’s more, for three of those six years, her own daughter had been in a coma.

Three years.

From age twenty-one to twenty-four, three years in the prime of his virility, her good son-in-law had waited for her single-mindedly, not even deigning to glance at another woman.

As for the concubine, Li Wanrong?

Hadn’t it been said in the morning court session? It was all because the Empress had forced him.

Lady Zheng could completely understand.

Xie Jinbai could clearly see the satisfaction in his mother-in-law’s eyes.

He paused for a moment, then said, "Court just ended. I came straight from the palace and haven’t eaten yet."

With that said, it was only natural that they would all go to eat together.

The Changping Marquis ordered the servants to prepare the meal, then added, "Go inform the Princely Heir that His Highness has arrived and tell him to come have a few drinks. Also, invite the Second and Third Masters to join us."

When a noble son-in-law pays a visit, he must be entertained properly.

And what kind of hospitality would it be without wine?

Cui Lingyao’s two uncles arrived quickly, bringing their eldest legitimate sons with them.

Only Cui Mingrui arrived last.

By the time he got there, three rounds of drinks had already been served.

As soon as he sat down, he drank three cups as a penalty.

The atmosphere at the table was lively, and everyone was chatting and laughing cheerfully. No one spoiled the mood by bringing up the matter of the Prince Ping Mansion.

Everyone knew that for a crime as great as the one Prince Ping had committed, sparing Xie Anning from implication was already a true act of mercy.

This body of Cui Lingyao’s could not handle alcohol.

But in her modern life, she had tasted the pleasant buzz of being tipsy, and watching them drink with such gusto now, she couldn’t help but feel a craving.

Her gaze was truly wistful, filled with longing.

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. To Xie Jinbai, every part of her was utterly endearing.

Having abstained for many days, his body felt a little uncomfortable, and he found his mouth was dry.

If there weren’t so many people around, he would have scooped her into his arms to hold and coax her.

He held back his urges. Just then, Cui Lingyao’s second uncle proposed a toast, and he immediately raised his wine bowl and drained it in one go.

The cool liquor slid down his throat.

Xie Jinbai smiled. "Good wine."

Given his status, he wouldn’t drink a toast from just anyone, let alone drain the cup so cleanly.

Cui Lingyao appreciated the gesture, picked up the wine pot, and personally refilled his cup.

Xie Jinbai took her hand and said in a low voice, "Just focus on your own food. You don’t need to serve me."

’Just pouring a cup of wine, and he calls it serving him.’

Cui Lingyao felt a wave of complicated emotions and ignored him.

Xie Jinbai wanted to say something more, but someone else came to offer a toast.

This time, it was Cui Lingyao’s second cousin.

Xie Jinbai didn’t refuse this time either, raising his bowl and draining it again.

For the past three years, his relationship with the Cui Family had been awkward. The last time at the martial arts field, they hadn’t had a chance for many pleasantries, so this was a good opportunity to ease the tension.

He accepted every toast from the Cui family, showing them a level of respect he had never offered before.

One pot of wine was emptied after another. By the time lunch was over, it was already late in the afternoon.

The warm sun gradually shifted west across the sky.

Xie Jinbai had also become slightly tipsy.

Both guests and hosts were thoroughly pleased, and the banquet concluded.

Cui Mingrui personally escorted them to the mansion’s entrance.

Cui Lingyao had already boarded the carriage.

Just as Xie Jinbai was about to follow, he saw his brother-in-law beside him bow deeply.

"Thank you, Your Highness, for your mercy."

It was, of course, about Xie Anning.

Xie Jinbai said, "I wouldn’t harm someone Yaoyao was willing to risk her own life to save."

As long as Xie Anning hadn’t colluded with Prince Ping to frame Cui Lingyao, she would be allowed to live.

That was Xie Jinbai’s only bottom line.

With that, he waved his hand and boarded the carriage.

The carriage curtain was lifted.

Cui Lingyao, who was just pouring herself a cup of warm tea, looked over.

Seeing him get in, she handed him the teacup. "Here, drink this. It’ll help with the alcohol."

Xie Jinbai took it, raised his arm, and with a bob of his Adam’s apple, drained it in one gulp.

A trickle of tea slid down from the corner of his lips, and he casually wiped it away.

He was clearly a pampered, noble Prince and had a handsome, sharp face that tolerated no offense, yet his every move carried a hint of roguishness.

Very rugged.

Very rough.

Especially since he had drunk a lot today, a faint smell of alcohol hung about him.

The carriage was small and the air wasn’t circulating well, so it quickly filled with the smell of wine.

Mixed with his own scent, it snaked its way into Cui Lingyao’s nostrils, wisp by wisp.

Surprisingly, she didn’t find it unpleasant.

In fact...

She frowned and asked, "Are you drunk?"