Feeling everyone's gaze fixed upon her, Song Xiyan clenched her fists tightly.
Seeing Song Shihuan's icy demeanor, so different from moments ago, both Song Yanchao and Song Yanming instinctively shrank back, their pupils contracting, while Song Yanzheng's face also paled slightly.
"Ah Huan, it was Second Brother's fault before."
Song Yanchao stood up and downed three cups of wine without hesitation. "Today, I offer this as an apology. If you're willing to forgive me, just call me 'Second Brother,' and I'll give you my favorite sword."
Following his lead, Song Yanming mimicked the gesture.
"If Ah Huan calls me 'Third Brother,' I'll give her my favorite glass chalice."
A sword...
A glass chalice...
Poisonous jealousy seeped into Song Xiyan's eyes. Ever since moving out of the Eastern Palace, her brothers had treated her far less warmly than before. The days when they would have given her their very hearts now felt like a distant dream.
And today, she had to watch as Song Shihuan became the one they cherished.
"Ah Huan, we're all family. Your uncles can see that Yanchao and Yanming have admitted their mistakes. Just call them 'brother,' and you'll have more people doting on you in the future," Prince Qi interjected, never one to miss an opportunity to stir the pot. Now that Prince Chu had fallen from power, his ambitions were rekindling.
"Yes, Ah Huan, holding grudges isn't good for a child," Shen Hua'er chimed in. "We're all family, and your grandfather the Emperor loves nothing more than seeing harmony among us."
Hearing these words, Song Shihuan's expression grew even more mocking.
Her gaze toward Shen Hua'er turned frosty. Did she dare ruin her mood?
Then today, the Ping Prince's Mansion wouldn't leave the palace in high spirits.
......
"Family?"
The moment Song Shihuan spoke, Emperor Yuanyou, seated at the head of the hall, lowered his head and rubbed his nose.
In the imperial family, there was no such thing as "harmony brings prosperity."
As long as Ah Huan wasn't bullied, he had no objections.
Even if a fight broke out, he'd only take her side.
"Why isn't Prince Ping's concubine here today?"
At the mention of Lady Chang, Shen Hua'er's expression stiffened. "Princess, today's banquet is a family gathering. None of the other princely households brought their concubines—it wouldn't be proper."
"But none of the other princely households have children born to concubines attending either."
With just one sentence, Song Shihuan crushed the Ping Prince's children underfoot, grinding them into the dirt.
Just when everyone thought the matter would end there, her next words sent chills down their spines.
"Grandfather, please send someone to the Ping Prince's Mansion to fetch the concubine."
"It's not that I refuse to reconcile with Second and Third Imperial Grandsons. But last year, when Second Uncle passed away, the concubine explicitly forbade them from having any ties with the Qin Prince's Mansion," Song Shihuan said coolly. "So if we're to rebuild these bonds today, she must be present."
Thinking of Liu'er's report on the situation in Li Garden, Song Shihuan's face twisted with scorn.
"As Ah Huan suggests, send someone to bring Lady Chang."
"No!"
Shen Hua'er nearly shouted, her composure crumbling. "Father, Lady Chang has been unwell lately. We wouldn't want her illness to spread to you. Why not invite the Princess to visit her at the mansion another day?"
"Grandfather, Mother truly is unwell," Song Yanzheng added, backing her up.
"Unwell?" Song Yu scoffed. "Ever since Lady Chang was demoted to concubine, she's been 'unwell' every day. She never fell sick so easily before—is this just an excuse?"
"Send a physician to the Ping Prince's Mansion to verify whether the concubine is truly ill."
Inside the hall, the Princesses of Chu and Qi wished they could bury their heads in the ground.
As women of the palace, they knew Shen Hua'er's words were just a pretext. But most would preserve decorum and not expose it.
Meeting someone like the Qin Prince's household? That was just the Ping Prince's Mansion's bad luck.
......
Half an hour later, the eunuch sent to fetch Lady Chang returned, his face grim as he knelt before the hall.
"Your Majesty, the Ping Prince's concubine awaits outside."
"Is she truly ill?" Emperor Yuanyou frowned, sensing something amiss.
"Your Majesty... she is unwell, but... not from illness."
Before the eunuch could finish, a shrill scream pierced the air from outside. "Let me see the Emperor! I must tell him how that venomous woman Shen Hua'er disrespected the Prince and tortured me mercilessly!"
At Lady Chang's accusations, the Ping Prince's household turned deathly pale.
"Bring her in."
Even braced for the worst, the sight of Lady Chang shocked everyone.
Her clothes were worn and tattered, her hair disheveled, her hands covered in bloody scratches. She was emaciated, her cheeks hollow, her eyes sunken.
"Your Majesty, this guilty woman was demoted for my mistakes. Since the Prince's passing, I've prayed daily for his soul in the small shrine," Lady Chang wept. "But the Princess killed my old servant and had the mansion's servants torment me daily! Your Majesty, she resents me—she never wanted to marry the Prince, so she took her anger out on me!"
"Nonsense!" Shen Hua'er nearly shrieked, her composure shattered.
She had come to the palace to bid Song Yanhong farewell—how had things spiraled into this?
"Lies?" Lady Chang glared at Shen Hua'er with venom. After murdering the nursemaid who had served her for decades, she would have gladly slit Shen Hua'er's throat. "You had my shrine destroyed—isn't that proof enough?"
"That shrine wasn't for the Prince—it was to curse Song Shihuan!"
The hall fell dead silent.
"I disliked her from the moment I saw her. Why would I pray for her?"
Lady Chang wiped her tears.
"Your Majesty, if not for this chance to see you, you might soon have heard only of my death."
"Outrageous!"
Emperor Yuanyou slammed the table. "Lady Chang may have erred, but she bore the Prince's children! Shen Hua'er, I never knew you were so cruel behind my back!"
"And you—your birth mother suffered, yet you did nothing! Such filial impiety!"
At the Emperor's rebuke, Song Yanzheng and the others dropped to their knees.
"Grandfather, we beg your mercy! We truly didn't know Mother endured such torment. We failed in our duty."
Seeing this, hatred flashed in Lady Chang's eyes. She opened her mouth to speak again, but Song Yu cut her off.
Without evidence, it was best to quit while ahead.
After all, the Emperor didn't think highly of Lady Chang either. If this dogfight turned against her, it wouldn't be worth it.
"Father, why not send a few experienced matrons to assist at the Ping Prince's Mansion?"
"Six should suffice."
"One each for the Princess, the concubine, Yanzheng, Yanchao, Yanming, and Xiyan."
Leave no one out—keep them all under watch!
If he could find six suitable matrons, surely the Emperor could too.
