Heroic Wife Reborn Chapter 21

Chapter 21: Costing 20 Years of Big Sister's Life

When Yu Xiaoxiao left the palace, she shot a nasty glare towards the Zhao father and mother before getting on the Gu Clan's carriage. 

"Princess has returned from the palace?" w.a.n.g momo asked from inside, hastening to help her up. 

Yu Xiaoxiao shook her head and sat across from her. "You didn't go in?"

At this moment, the carriage lurched as it began to move. w.a.n.g momo opened the curtains and looked outside to make sure they were accompanied by members of the Gu Clan before s.h.i.+fting to sit besides Yu Xiaoxiao. "This servant did enter the palace," she said in a low voice, "While the officials were meeting with His Majsty, this servant followed Wei momo (魏嬷嬷) to the Clear Rainbow Palace."

Yu Xiaoxiao had no idea who Wei momo was, but she had a deep impression of White Rainbow Palace as the residence of His Seventh Highness Yu Ziyi (玉子易). "You went to see Yu Ziyi?" she asked.

w.a.n.g momo gave a start. "Princess, you already knew His Majesty gave His Seventh Highness a name?"

Yu Xiaoxiao only harrumphed a few times. His Seventh Highness had the same parents as the cruel female emperor and was raised by her since birth. In the end, he was the one who led troops to the palace and set the fire that burned the female emperor to ashes. Although the female emperor was rather villainous by then, Yu Ziyi was a boy who cost his big sister 20 years of her life!

w.a.n.g momo didn't understand why her princess was harrumphing to herself and muttered, "Wei momo said they've been waiting on His Seventh Highness without a wink of sleep for the past few days. Your Royal Highness, ah, there must be a way to take him out of the palace."

Yu Xiaoxiao widened her eyes. Why should she leave someone who would screw her over in 20 years by her side? 

w.a.n.g momo took out a cloth bundle from her sleeve and showed it to the girl. "Yesterday the Inner Palace Department made some new clothes for His Seventh Highness, but Wei momo and the rest pulled out these from the lining inside."

Yu Xiaoxiao took the bundle from w.a.n.g momo and opened it up to see a congealed bloodstain that was turning black. w.a.n.g momo declared, "These clothes were definitely worn by smallpox victims in the past! Those vile things just want His Seventh Highness dead!"

"Why not tell my father?" Yu Xiaoxiao asked. Why wasn't anyone telling the self-indulgent ruler that there were plots against his own son? 

w.a.n.g momo only sighed. "So what if they did? What's the use of killing a few eunuchs from the Inner Palace Department?"

"Who wants Yu Ziyi dead?" Yu Xiaoxiao wondered.

"His Seventh Highness is the son of the empress herself," w.a.n.g momo said as her voice dropped into a whisper. "But none of the mothers of the other six princes in the palace are a good lot!"

"I don't get it," Yu Xiaoxiao shook her head.

w.a.n.g momo only sighed. Once again, she lamented the empress for protecting her daughter too well. "His Seventh Highness is the son of the official wife, so none of the other six sons can take his place. Once he grows up to be a man, he'll become the crown prince!" 

Now Yu Xiaoxiao understood. Because this big-sis-killing boy had blocked the path to the throne, he was a thorn in the side of all the other women in the palace.

w.a.n.g momo fretted, "Wei momo and the rest are all followers of the empress, so they're trustworthy. But they're only servants at best. Though they can protect His Seventh Highness now, they can't shelter him for a lifetime, ah! Wei momo even said to discuss this with Supreme Commander Gu and the rest, but…" w.a.n.g momo trailed off. If the princess hadn't stepped forward today, the Gu Clan would be back in the prisons again. They had enough trouble protecting themselves, let alone His Seventh Highness's safety.

"Don't worry," Yu Xiaoxiao said to w.a.n.g momo's teary far. "He'll definitely grow to be a man." Not only that, he ends up being emperor too.

w.a.n.g momo really burst into tears at Yu Xiaoxiao's words. "Esteemed Empress gave her life to give birth to His Seventh Highness. Now that she's gone, who can protect him until he grows up? This servant has let esteemed empress down!"

"Do you have to be so pessimistic?" Yu Xiaoxiao muttered.

w.a.n.g momo's cries intensified. "Princess, ah, what should we do about His Seventh Highness?"

Yu Xiaoxiao scratched her head. Right now, that big-sis-killer is only a little baby. As long as I don't do any bad deeds, or play around with lovers, or turn into some wicked ruler in this life, he shouldn't burn me to death in a fire again, right? Thus, she told w.a.n.g momo, "Then I'll bring him out of the palace."

"What?" w.a.n.g momo asked.

Yu Xiaoxiao pushed open the carriage door, leaped outside, and vanished from sight. w.a.n.g momo was still covered in snot and tears. She didn't even have time to react. Outside the carriage, Gu Xingnuo only caught sight of a human silhouette flash by his eyes. Before he could shout, the image was gone. He lowered his head and asked inside, "Her Royal Highness left again?"

At his words, w.a.n.g momo regained her wits. "Princess–Her Royal Highness went back to the palace again. Eldest young master, we have to turn back!" 

Both Gu Xingnuo and Supreme Commander Gu swayed on their horses. Is the eldest princess regretting it and going back to kill Consort Zhao?

"Go back," Gu Chen ordered urgently.

Once again, the entire group turned back to race for the palace. 

—

A few seconds later, the palace gate guards were met with the sight of Yu Xiaoxiao standing before them. They almost fell to their knees–what was she doing back here?

"If Your Royal Highness wants to see His Majesty, this soldier will send someone to announce you right away," the commander bowed humbly.

"Has Zhao Qiuming and the rest left?" Yu Xiaoxiao asked.

The commander nodded quickly. "Zhao Qiuming and the rest have returned to their estates. If Your Royal Highness wishes to see Lord Zhao, you can go to the prime minister's estate."

"Oh," Yu Xiaoxiao replied. "I'm not looking for him right now, I want to enter the palace."

For a second, the imperial guards were all left speechless. Why did you ask about Zhao Qiuming if you didn't want to find him?

Yu Xiaoxiao pushed off against the ground before leaping for the palace's gate tower again. 

This isn't how you enter the palace! The imperial guards cried internally. Who taught the eldest princess lightness techniques? Does she have to show off her martial arts twice in a day?!

After entering the palace, Yu Xiaoxiao grabbed a random eunuch and said, "Lead the way to Clear Rainbow Palace."

The young eunuch s.h.i.+vered at the sight of her and stammered, "Y-Your Royal Highness, this servant doesn't know a thing."

"You don't know the way to Clear Rainbow Palace?"

"I do."

"Then let's go," Yu Xiaoxiao pushed the eunuch in front of her. 

—

Xiaozong was doing his best to comfort Consort Zhao when Jing Zhong announced from outsid, "Your Majesty, Her Royal Highness returned to the palace."

Xiaozong dropped his teacup on the floor. "Why did she come back again?!"

Jing Zhong said, "Your Majesty, Her Royal Highness went to Clear Rainbow Palace."

As soon as Consort Zhao heard that, she understood everything. But she simply asked Xiaozong, "What is the matter? How can the princess enter and exit the palace as she please? She isn't following any of the rules."

Translator's Note: This s.p.a.ce will now be reserved for chapter/novel related notes only! For general updates, check announcement posts on the homepage like

Translator's Note: This s.p.a.ce will now be reserved for chapter/novel related notes only! For general updates, check announcement posts on the homepage like

Annnd I've realized that the mentions of “Lord Zhao” in previous chapters would work better as “Prime Minister Zhao,” so expect those changes in future releases, whew.