A flash of disdain crossed Prince Ling's eyes.
"Feng City is my fiefdom. Could a mere advisor possibly have more financial resources than me?"
Song Shuyu was completely bewildered; she didn't quite understand Prince Ling's meaning.
Old Madam Song had only told Song Shuyu about the Second Prince, but hadn't mentioned that Prince Ling was the Second Prince.
Because Old Madam Song, as a woman of the inner courtyard, only knew about court affairs through her second son's letters home.
And Song Jiang dared not say too much about Prince Ling at all.
Every time he wrote, he spoke very vaguely.
As a result, even the old madam didn't know that the Second Prince was Prince Ling.
Old Madam Song reeked of a foul stench, and the old maid taking her to wash up was highly disgusted.
The old maid directly splashed a bucket of water onto Old Madam Song.
Startled, Old Madam Song woke up instantly.
"Ah! I'll confess!"
The constant fear of fleeing all day had already caused Old Madam Song to break down.
So, when she opened her eyes and saw the old maid holding a water bucket, she immediately begged for mercy.
The old maid was startled but also breathed a sigh of relief.
"You're awake? Good, His Highness wants you to bathe and change before going to see him."
"The bathwater is in that tub. Clean clothes have been prepared and placed on the chest for you."
"Hurry up and wash clean, His Highness is waiting."
After saying this, the old maid walked out and closed the door.
"Achoo!"
Old Madam Song sneezed, smelling her own foul odor.
She hurriedly took off her clothes and climbed into the bathtub.
Old Madam Song looked around; she had no idea where she was.
Therefore, feeling very uneasy, she quickly washed herself and put on the clothes from the chest.
The clothes the old maid had prepared were servant's clothes.
As soon as Old Madam Song put them on, she immediately felt very uncomfortable.
When she was in the Song Manor, she wore silks and satins.
This kind of coarse cloth worn by servants made her feel as if she were being pricked by needles all over.
Tugging at the clothes, Old Madam Song walked out of the room.
The old maid outside looked her up and down.
"Alright, follow me."
Old Madam Song hurried to keep up, "Excuse me, where are you taking me?"
"Didn't I just tell you? To see our Prince." The old maid was a bit impatient.
Old Madam Song was very panicked inside, observing everything in the courtyard.
She was looking for a way to escape.
However, the old maid watched her very closely until they reached the door of a room.
"Your Highness, she is washed!"
The door opened, and a guard walked out. He looked Old Madam Song over and then stepped aside from the doorway.
The old maid gave Old Madam Song a push, and Old Madam Song involuntarily entered the room.
"Click," the guard closed the door.
Old Madam Song braced herself and walked further in.
"Grandmother!"
A soft, delicate voice rang out, and then Old Madam Song felt someone throw themselves into her arms.
She looked closely and saw it was her granddaughter, Song Shuyu.
Her eyes stung with tears, "Shuyu? Why are you here? Were you caught too?"
Before her tears even had the chance to fall.
Song Shuyu pushed Old Madam Song away, covering her nose.
"Grandmother, what is that smell on you? Why does it stink so much?"
Saying this, Song Shuyu ran back to Prince Ling's side, a look of disgust on her face.
Old Madam Song's arms felt empty. She sniffed herself; there was indeed a smell.
Because she had been so flustered just now, she hadn't washed very carefully.
However, being despised by the granddaughter she doted on made Old Madam Song feel very uncomfortable.
Especially when she saw her granddaughter acting close to this so-called Prince, her displeasure grew even greater.
Her son had said that he was going to offer her granddaughter to the Second Prince in exchange for a good future.
If her granddaughter got close to other princes, the Second Prince would definitely be furious.
When that happened, it would ruin her son's plans.
"Song Shuyu, come here!"
Old Madam Song scolded Song Shuyu with a dark face.
"No!"
Song Shuyu twisted her body away.
She had a spoiled and willful temperament to begin with, not to mention that Old Madam Song's tone was currently so harsh.
She was even more unwilling.
"What did Grandmother tell you when you came out? Hurry up and come here!"
Old Madam Song wished she could reach out and grab her.
But, intimidated by the terrifying aura of the Prince seated above, she dared not act rashly.
"Ahem!"
Prince Ling scoffed.
The guard standing by the door walked up behind Old Madam Song.
"Why do you not kneel when seeing His Highness?"
After saying that, the guard pressed Old Madam Song down, forcing her to kneel on the ground.
With a loud thud, Old Madam Song almost cried out in pain.
Seeing the guard's actions, Song Shuyu shrank back a little.
"You are Lady Song? Song Jiang's mother?"
Prince Ling spoke slowly.
Old Madam Song shuddered.
It was over!
This Prince actually knew her second son's name!
"No! I am not!"
Old Madam Song flatly denied it.
Prince Ling revealed a cold smile.
"Men, since she is not, drag her out and execute her!"
The guard began dragging Old Madam Song outside, and Song Shuyu was terrified.
She ran over and grabbed the guard's hand.
"Grandmother, why won't you admit it? My second uncle is Song Jiang, isn't that what you told me?"
Old Madam Song's eyes turned red.
"Did you tell him your second uncle's name?"
Song Shuyu shook her head vigorously.
"No, he asked!"
"Fool! He was tricking you!" Old Madam Song was furious.
Song Shuyu froze, staring blankly at Prince Ling seated above.
"Report!"
A very urgent reporting voice came from outside the door.
The guard released Old Madam Song and opened the door.
A guard ran in and dropped to his knees with a thud.
"Report! Your Highness, an iron mine was discovered at the place where we found this young lady yesterday!"
Prince Ling, seated above, stood up abruptly.
"Really?"
"Really! The advisor sent someone to look. Although the mountain is small, it is enough for us to forge a batch of weapons!"
"Hahaha! Excellent!"
Prince Ling laughed heartily toward the sky in delight.
Heaven was truly helping him!
"Quick! Lead me to see it."
Prince Ling walked toward the door, and the guards followed him out.
In an instant, only the grandmother and granddaughter were left in the room.
Old Madam Song collapsed onto the floor.
She felt like she had just survived a disaster. It was too terrifying!
"Grandmother!"
Holding her breath, Song Shuyu helped Old Madam Song up and sat her on a chair.
Old Madam Song looked at the clothes on Song Shuyu. They were brand new silks, so it seemed Song Shuyu hadn't suffered.
"Didn't Grandmother tell you to hide? Why are you in this so-called Prince's mansion?"
Song Shuyu pouted.
"I fell into a dry well and almost starved to death."
"Later, Prince Ling sent people who found me and brought me back."
"I thought about running away, but I couldn't escape."
"Grandmother, if it weren't for me, you wouldn't have been saved by Prince Ling!"
Song Shuyu was very displeased.
She had saved her grandmother, yet her grandmother actually spoke to her so harshly.
