Prince Ling took it and carefully examined the embroidered pouch that Xiao Yunming had made.
Secondary Consort Wei craned her neck to glance at the pouch in Song Shuyu's hands and let out a startled cry.
"Oh, why is one of the dragon claws missing?"
Song Shuyu looked at Secondary Consort Wei with tear-filled eyes. "Missing one what?"
Secondary Consort Wei's face was full of shock. She covered her mouth with her handkerchief.
"Commandery Princess Funing, you can't possibly not know, can you?"
"All of His Majesty's accessories use the five-clawed golden dragon."
"It is only the princes who use the four-clawed golden dragon!"
Song Shuyu's mouth fell open, her face full of astonishment.
"What four-clawed golden dragon, five-clawed golden dragon? I don't understand!"
Secondary Consort Wei saw Prince Ling staring at Song Shuyu with a dark, brooding gaze. She waved her handkerchief lightly.
"Commandery Princess Funing, if this pouch was embroidered for His Highness the Prince, then it would be just right."
"However, if this was meant to be given to His Majesty, it would be a gross disrespect!"
"If His Majesty were to misunderstand that His Highness the Prince intentionally had you send such a gift..."
Seeing Prince Ling's expression grow even darker, Secondary Consort Wei quickly changed the subject.
"Still, it's quite normal that you wouldn't know this."
"Why didn't the person who gave you the embroidery pattern explain it clearly?"
"Could she have deliberately set you up?"
Though Song Shuyu was young, she was not stupid. She caught the implication in Secondary Consort Wei's words.
Song Shuyu looked at Princess Consort Ling in disbelief.
"Setting you up is one thing, but if it implicates His Highness the Prince, what then?"
"His Highness is only one step away from that position. Thank heavens he thought to take a look first, or else..."
Secondary Consort Wei did not finish her sentence.
Princess Consort Ling saw Prince Ling's icy gaze fixed on her. She hastily stood up and knelt down.
"My Prince, Your Consort did not give Funing the embroidery pattern."
"She must have stolen it from me in secret!"
"If I had known she stole the pattern meant for Your Highness, I would never have let her continue embroidering it!"
Xiao Yunming and Xiao Yun'an, seeing their mother kneel, knelt down as well.
Xiao Yunming pointed at Song Shuyu.
"Father, she heard that I was preparing to embroider a pouch for Grandfather and stole the pattern!"
"She always wants to compete with me in everything. She has malicious intentions!"
By now, Song Shuyu fully understood.
Why had Princess Consort Ling never sent anyone to reclaim the embroidery pattern when she first took it?
It seemed that Princess Consort Ling must have known all along!
And Secondary Consort Wei, too.
Song Shuyu remembered clearly that the embroidery mistress sent to teach her was said to have come from Secondary Consort Wei.
That mistress had embroidered everything under the sun—she certainly knew the difference between a five-clawed and a four-clawed dragon.
Yet she never said a single word.
When Song Shuyu said she wanted the claws reduced, the mistress showed no sign of concern!
So Secondary Consort Wei must have known about this from the start.
Song Shuyu's mind raced; she needed to find the best way out.
Song Shuyu burst into tears with a loud wail.
"You deliberately placed the pattern with the pouch to show off to me!"
"Father, I don't know the difference between a dragon with a few claws."
"But Xiao Yunming must have known!"
"She deliberately set me up because she hates me!"
"Father, look at my hands—they're full of needle pricks!"
"If I truly meant you harm, why would I torment myself like this?"
"I could have easily made a maid do it. I genuinely wanted to help earn Grandfather's favor for you, Father!"
Song Shuyu wept as she extended her hands, covered in needle marks, toward Prince Ling.
Prince Ling's face darkened as he stared at her wounded hands.
Song Shuyu was right—if she had truly understood the implications, would she have labored so painstakingly over this for so long?
Seeing that Song Shuyu had swayed her father in just a few words, Xiao Yunming grew frantic.
"Father, don't listen to her lies!"
"She did it on purpose! She meant to frame you!"
"Slap!"
Prince Ling struck Xiao Yunming across the face.
Song Shuyu flinched in fright, and the other concubines hastily covered their children's eyes.
Princess Consort Ling quickly pulled Xiao Yunming into her arms and clamped her hand over her daughter's mouth, muffling her scream.
"My Prince, Ning'er is young and naive. I will correct her when we return!"
Princess Consort Ling held her daughter tightly, terrified that she might be hit again.
Prince Ling glared darkly at Princess Consort Ling.
"I trusted you enough to put you in charge of the entire household."
"And this is how you manage it?"
"Is this the thanks I get?"
"Thank heavens I heard they were preparing gifts and asked to see them first."
"If this gift had been presented on the day of the Emperor's birthday..."
"Do you know what the consequences would have been?"
Prince Ling clenched Princess Consort Ling's chin between his fingers, his voice seething with anger.
Princess Consort Ling felt the pain in her jaw but fought back her tears.
"My Prince, it was my oversight. I was wrong. Please forgive me!"
Prince Ling shoved her away roughly. Princess Consort Ling fell to the floor.
Seeing her mother like this, Xiao Yunming dared not cry anymore.
Xiao Yun'an lay prostrate on the ground, too afraid to move.
Prince Ling stood up in fury.
"From today on, the authority over the household is given to the Secondary Consort."
"As for the Princess Consort, you will reflect on your failures!"
"And Xiao Yun'an, from today on, you are not permitted in the inner quarters. You will stay in the front courtyard and focus on your studies!"
Princess Consort Ling felt as if the sky had fallen.
Not only had Prince Ling stripped her of her authority over the household, but he was also forbidding her from seeing her son.
This would be the end of her!
Princess Consort Ling rolled her eyes back and fainted.
Seeing this, Secondary Consort Wei let out an exaggerated gasp.
"My Prince, I suspect the Elder Sister is pretending to faint."
"She must be unhappy with your decision just now!"
"If you ask me, the Elder Sister can manage the household well enough, but when it comes to the children..."
"My Prince, didn't you hire a governess to teach them proper conduct?"
"It seems to me their manners leave much to be desired."
Prince Ling had already lost his temper. Seeing Princess Consort Ling lying on the floor, with the two children crying in terror as they clung to her, he grew even more irritated.
He had no time to waste on trivial household squabbles when he was overwhelmed with state affairs in court.
"Secondary Consort Wei, from today on, my inner household is in your hands."
"If I find it still in such a mess, you know the consequences?"
Prince Ling's voice was sharp and commanding.
Secondary Consort Wei quickly stood up, bent her knee, and curtsied.
"Rest assured, my Prince. I will do my utmost to manage the household well and assist Your Highness on the swift path to ascension!"
Prince Ling cast a stern look at the others in the room, who were huddled like quails, and strode out without sparing another glance at the fallen Princess Consort Ling.
