"This is simply outrageous." Elder Lady Xu held Song Shihuan in her arms. "They're taking advantage of Ah Huan's youth and bullying her while the prince is away from the estate."
Song Shihuan wiped her tears upon hearing this. "If you hadn't come today, I... I would have been tormented beyond recognition by these wretched servants."
Song Xiyan stared intently at Song Shihuan, her heart seething with venomous malice.
"Earlier, those servants claimed you were ill, sister. But I see no sign of sickness in you." Song Xiyan stepped forward and grasped Song Shihuan's hand. "Are you pretending to be sick to deceive them?"
"His Majesty once said he despises liars the most."
Her elder brother had clearly told her that Song Shihuan had taken poison.
By now, she should have been driven to madness, too ashamed to show her face. Song Xiyan had rushed here eagerly to expose her disgraceful state.
Yet now, her efforts had come to nothing!
"How could I possibly pretend to be ill?" Song Shihuan sighed sorrowfully. "Do you truly think so little of me, sister?"
"If that's not the case, why have you been avoiding even Uncle for so long?"
"Xiyan!"
The moment Song Xiyan finished speaking, Song Yanzheng urgently interjected. In an instant, she realized she had made a grave mistake.
She had said something she shouldn't have.
"Xiyan, how is it that you know so much about the affairs of my household?"
A lazy voice drifted in as Song Yu made a perfectly timed entrance, feigning ignorance. "What's going on here?"
"Your Highness, this old woman must speak out of turn—while you were away enjoying yourself, the princess was left at the mercy of these insolent servants who bullied her mercilessly." Elder Lady Xu's face was full of disapproval. "Had the Crown Princess and I not stumbled upon this today, who knows how much longer the princess would have suffered?"
"These damned servants! How dare they mistreat Ah Huan!"
Song Yu angrily kicked the kneeling servants a few times before turning his attention back to Song Xiyan. "Just now, Xiyan mentioned that Ah Huan has been avoiding me. Hmm... could it be that you've planted spies in my estate?"
Elder Lady Xu's expression shifted abruptly. Having spent years navigating noble circles, she immediately grasped the implications.
"I... I was just speaking carelessly."
Song Xiyan twisted her handkerchief nervously, stammering her reply.
"It seems my sister would rather believe those vile servants than me, even without knowing the truth." Song Shihuan's voice trembled as if on the verge of tears. "You really do dislike me, don't you?"
Song Xiyan's face twisted with fury, and she couldn't help but shout at Song Shihuan, "You're clearly just trying to—"
Before she could finish, Song Yanzheng covered her mouth.
"Uncle, Grand Aunt, please forgive Xiyan. She's not in her right mind."
"Very well, then let the Crown Princess decide how to handle this."
Elder Lady Xu cast a glance at Song Yanzheng and Song Xiyan before addressing the Crown Princess calmly.
Song Shihuan's eyes narrowed slightly. This grand aunt was indeed shrewd—by deferring to the Crown Princess rather than letting Song Yu handle the matter, she effectively shielded both her and her father from suspicion.
The Crown Princess composed herself. Initially, she had been furious to see Song Shihuan bullied by servants—after all, Song Shihuan was her own child, and such humiliation was unacceptable.
But the reactions of Song Yanzheng and Song Xiyan had stirred doubts in her mind.
"Give each of these servants twenty lashes, then sell them off."
The Crown Princess paused. "Uncle, in a few days, I'll have the inner court send over some more capable servants."
"That won't be necessary."
Song Shihuan sniffled. "The estate only has Father and me. We don't need so many servants. I'm not used to being waited on by too many people."
"How can that be..." The Crown Princess still wanted to plant more of her own spies in the estate.
"Let's respect Ah Huan's wishes. This child has suffered hardships outside for so long—too many unfamiliar faces frighten her." Elder Lady Xu tightened her embrace around Song Shihuan. "As for this matter, I will personally explain it to His Majesty."
Seeing this, the Crown Princess had no choice but to relent.
......
Song Xiyan was dragged away from the estate by Song Yanzheng. Before leaving, Elder Lady Xu gave the Crown Princess a meaningful look. "Your Highness, though the ten fingers of a hand vary in length, if one is severed, the pain is unbearable."
Hearing the veiled warning in Elder Lady Xu's words, the Crown Princess instinctively averted her gaze.
Inside the carriage on the way back to the palace, an unusual silence lingered.
"Are the two of you keeping something from your mother?" the Crown Princess asked softly. "Xiyan, why were you so agitated today?"
"Mother is overthinking it." Song Yanzheng smiled. "Xiyan is just childish—accusing Song Shihuan of feigning illness was only to remind her that His Majesty detests liars."
But the Crown Princess fixed her gaze directly on Song Xiyan. "Xiyan, is what your brother said true?"
"Mother, I... I admit I don’t like her, so I wanted to find fault with her." Song Xiyan's eyes reddened. "I was just afraid she would steal your love away from me. I love you too much, Mother."
The half-truth in her words convinced the Crown Princess somewhat, and she sighed in relief.
As long as it wasn’t what she had feared...
After all, Xiyan was such a kind-hearted child. Though she had a spoiled temper at times, how could she possibly do something so cruel?
"Alright, it's Mother's fault. You will always be my one and only precious jewel."
At this, Song Xiyan turned her tears into a smile and nestled into the Crown Princess's arms.
Eastern Palace.
"Brother, does Mother suspect me?"
Song Xiyan's eyes darkened. "Mother still cares for Song Shihuan. If she ever learns the truth, she’ll abandon me."
"Don’t talk nonsense. I was the one who procured the poison, and I was the one who arranged for it to be administered. What does this have to do with you?"
Song Yanzheng looked at Song Xiyan with pity. "How could Mother ever abandon you?"
Song Xiyan lowered her head. If Mother discovered they had tried to harm Song Shihuan, would she still hold her like this?
She didn’t dare to gamble on it.
"Brother, no one will trace this back to us, will they?"
"Don’t worry. I’ve taken care of all loose ends." Song Yanzheng made a slicing motion across his throat. "However, with all our spies in the estate now removed, it won’t be easy to act again."
"And Elder Lady Xu... the way she looked at me today frightened me."
Song Xiyan's voice quivered with lingering fear. She had truly lost her composure earlier, provoked beyond reason by Song Shihuan.
"On the way back, I kept wondering—how did she evade our scheme?" Song Yanzheng narrowed his eyes. "For now, we’ll lay low. I’ll investigate further before making another move."
"Alright. I’ll follow your lead, Brother."
Seeing Song Xiyan so obedient, Song Yanzheng’s heart softened.
"Don’t worry, Xiyan. Sooner or later, I’ll help you eliminate her."
Once Song Shihuan was gone, the Eastern Palace’s only stain would vanish forever.
