Chapter 52.2: Caught

Back in her room, Xia Tong felt particularly light on her feet, yet her mood was complicated. The prince was so forgiving toward her—what about her feelings?

She felt she should face their relationship squarely, but what did she truly feel for the villain? Why didn’t she feel disgusted when he kissed her?

The more she thought about it, the more tangled her feelings became. Xia Tong spent the afternoon reading, but every time she remembered her actions and that the villain hadn’t been angry, she felt particularly uneasy, as if she had committed a great sin.

Unaware of the situation in court, the next day, Xia Tong still brought food to the dungeon to see her mother. The environment was as harsh as ever, and the elderly ladies looked much more haggard, their faces pale. Those who had lived in comfort all their lives couldn’t bear such suffering.

When she arrived, the old lady initially wanted to scold her, but realizing only this fourth girl could help her, she softened her tone, sighing, “I’m an old woman who should be buried in the ground. It’s a pity for those grandchildren and your father.He just got promoted and already suffered such a disaster. I don’t know what the Xiahou family has done to deserve this.”

The once commanding old lady now wore a prison uniform, her white hair disheveled, and she looked decades older, sitting on the filthy, damp ground sipping the bird’s nest porridge Xia Tong had brought, her spirit low.

Though Madam Liu also looked somewhat disheveled, she still had a good spirit. Seeing her daughter, she was filled with joy and didn’t mention the rescue.

However, Madam Zhang couldn’t bear it anymore, urgently saying to Xia Tong, “Aunt knows she has said some ridiculous things in the past, but we are still family. Even if you don’t care about us, you can’t ignore your father and mother!”

The prisoners in the cell were unaware of the outside world and didn’t know that the matters the Xiahou family had done had already been exposed. Even if the issue of the crown prince being poisoned were disregarded, the Xiahou family was still in peril.

Xia Tong paused, squatted over there, combed her mother’s hair, and glanced at the old lady and the others. “The Xiahou family is surely beyond saving, but I will do my best to protect you all.”

“What do you mean?” Madam Zhang’s expression changed. In her disheveled state, she hardly resembled the noble lady she used to be.

How could the old lady not be aware of the Xiahou family’s misdeeds? Although it was ironic, Xia Tong calmly replied, “Uncle and Second Uncle, along with several other relatives, have been exposed for embezzlement and abuse of power. The Emperor is furious and has ordered a thorough investigation. Even if the Crown Prince’s poisoning has nothing to do with us, do you think the Xiahou family can still survive this?”

As soon as she finished speaking, the old lady’s hunched body leaned to the side, and Madam Wang quickly supported her. “Mother, are you alright?”

Not only was the old lady dazed, but Madam Zhang and the others were similarly stricken, their faces pale. They never imagined that the Xiahou family’s centuries-old foundation would be destroyed just like that. Why was fate so cruel to them?

“However, you don’t need to worry, Grandmother. As long as my cousins are still here, we can start anew and establish a new Xiahou family,” Xia Tong said softly.

As long as they had ability, titles and achievements would come naturally. Besides, Xia Ning was still around, right?

But the others clearly didn’t take her words to heart, remaining despondently slumped in silence. The dim, damp prison cell felt eerily still, with everyone’s faces ashen. They hadn’t felt such despair even when they were thrown into the dungeon.

After combing her mother’s hair into a bun, Xia Tong had Qing’er bring out the clothes and blankets she had brought. In such cold weather, getting sick would be disastrous.

“Mother believes in you.” Madam Liu said, holding her hand tightly and smiling gently.

Xia Tong embraced her mother tightly, a flicker of determination flashing in her eyes. She was determined to rescue her parents as soon as possible!

After discussing this with her father, it was clear that he remained more composed. Even though her uncles were also in a dire situation, they knew that as long as Xia Tong and Xia Ning were around, the Xiahou family would not fall.

The foundation of a noble family lies in the connections built over hundreds of years. As long as the people in the family were safe, a resurgence wouldn’t be impossible. After all, the Xiahou family’s collateral branches had already infiltrated the court and various counties. Unless all nine clans were implicated, it wouldn’t be so easy to bring them down.

Upon returning to the residence, Fang Yu mentioned that Xia Ning had come looking for her. But it was easy to guess the reason, they were merely stalling for time. If the Grand Tutor’s residence pursued the matter, it would surely drag down more noble families. Xia Tong knew that to Gu Qin, the Xiahou family was merely bait. From the very beginning, the Crown Prince’s poisoning was far from simple. She believed Gu Qin would not allow her parents to suffer such a fate.

The weather had turned colder, and the charcoal fire in her room was already burning. Yet, even so, she still felt particularly cold while bathing. It was tough without heating.

“I heard there’s a hot spring in the backyard that maintains a constant temperature all year round. Would you like to try it, Master?” Qing’er suddenly suggested.

The mist in the room was hazy, and steam wafted from the bath tub. As Xia Tong was unfastening her clothes, she suddenly recalled hearing the villain mention something about this.

Feeling a sudden urge, she couldn’t resist having someone bring her clothes and petals and head to the west courtyard.

The hot spring was located in a part of the residence that she had never visited before, with two maids guarding the entrance. Upon seeing her approach, they quickly bowed, probably the first time they had seen the newly married princess.

The main hall was very warm, with several hot spring pools inside. The largest one was in the center, steaming pleasantly. It seemed the villain had chosen this spot for its hot spring when building the palace.

Having power and influence was certainly beneficial, Xia Tong sighed, then instructed Qing’er and the others to wait outside.

“Princess, please be careful. The water here is a bit deep,” one of the maids from the hot spring hall gently reminded her as she left.

Xia Tong nodded, and once everyone had exited, she eagerly squatted by one of the springs and dipped her hand in the water, finding the temperature perfect.

There were snacks and tea prepared by the maids nearby. After she had undressed, she couldn’t wait to step into the largest pool, where the warm water made her exclaim in delight. She couldn’t believe she hadn’t discovered such a wonderful place before; it truly felt like a waste to neglect it.

Outside, Qing’er was chatting casually with the two maids. They laughed and talked about which guard in the residence was the best-looking, growing increasingly bashful as the conversation continued. However, when they noticed someone approaching, they quickly knelt on the ground in fear.

“This servant pay their respects to the Prince.”

Qing’er was startled and flustered. She had only heard that the Prince visited every few days, but she hadn’t expected him to come today. However, perhaps this was an opportunity, since the Prince and her Master had yet to consummate their marriage. Continuing this way was not a solution.

The man cast a cold glance at her without speaking, a chill wind swirling around him as he suddenly moved his foot and pushed the door open.

Following him, Xifeng’s expression turned subtle. He knew that the Prince wasn’t as detached as he appeared. Meanwhile, the two young maids nearby frequently glanced at him, their cheeks flushed. Besides the Prince, it seemed that Xifeng was the best-looking one here.

In the misty, steaming hall, the largest hot spring pool was occupied by a woman with skin as smooth as jade. She revealed half of her snowy back, her slightly damp hair sticking to her fair shoulder, and her pale form was partially obscured by the water. In her hand, she held an old, tattered book.

The man felt a tightness in his throat as he silently approached, gazing down at the stunning sight before him, his eyes swirling with a predatory storm.

With a piece of rose cake in one hand and a book in the other, Xia Tong relaxed at the pool’s edge, playfully splashing water as she enjoyed the warm touch. She never thought she would get to bathe in a hot spring in ancient times. The villain certainly knew how to enjoy himself. It was indeed much warmer here.

After taking a bite of the cake, perhaps feeling a bit thirsty, she set the book aside, intending to turn around to grab a teacup. But as she turned her head, her gaze fell on a familiar figure in robes.

Holding her breath, she slowly looked up, only to be met by an all-too-familiar silhouette, her pupils dilating in shock.

“You–“

The water surface suddenly splashed, and a figure suddenly emerged from the water. After a long time, a wet little head appeared, looking at the man by the pool with a helpless look.

Slowly squatting down, Gu Qin glanced at the frightened little face. His eyebrows moved slightly. While picking up the small book on the ground, he said in a low voice, “A romantic talent and a famous prostitute in a brothel?”