As Song Yu's voice faded, Emperor Yuanyou's breathing also grew faint.
The emperor, too, was eager to know whether Song Yanzheng and the other children had been involved in this matter.
But Shen Hua'er's eyes were hollow. At this moment... she had no evidence in hand. How could she implicate all the imperial grandsons of the Ping Prince's Mansion?
Just as Shen Hua'er hesitated inwardly, Song Yanzheng couldn't hold back and charged in.
"Shen Hua'er! How dare you poison my father? You have some nerve!"
Song Yanzheng could no longer care about the distinction between ruler and subject. His mind was consumed with preventing Shen Hua'er from uttering even half a word more. He even rushed toward Shen Xiao, attempting to draw the sword at his waist.
The commander of the Imperial Guards never went anywhere without his sword.
Wu Qi couldn't help but widen his eyes. Given Shen Xiao's martial prowess, the eldest imperial grandson would likely be subdued before even getting close. This move of his... was truly reckless.
Just as Wu Qi shook his head inwardly, he saw Song Yanzheng effortlessly pull the sword from Shen Xiao's waist—while Shen Xiao acted as if he hadn't had time to react.
Wu Qi: "..."
What an act.
Song Yanzheng didn't spare a thought as to why he had managed to draw the sword of the Imperial Guards' commander. He immediately thrust it toward Shen Hua'er's chest. "Shen Hua'er, today I will avenge my father!"
Even Song Xiyan and the others who had rushed in behind Song Yanzheng fixed their gazes on the sword in his hand, silently praying that this strike would end Shen Hua'er's life.
Just as the blade was about to pierce Shen Hua'er, a jade pendant sliced through the air and struck Song Yanzheng's hand gripping the hilt.
Song Yanzheng cried out in pain, and the sword clattered to the ground with a crisp ring.
"Song Yanzheng, how dare you act so recklessly before His Majesty!"
Song Yanzheng turned toward the source of the voice, and when his eyes landed on Song Shihuan, they narrowed sharply.
Once again, Song Shihuan had ruined his plans!
......
Shen Hua'er snapped back to her senses and staggered back a few steps. The affection in her eyes when she looked at Song Yanzheng was gone, replaced by boundless resentment.
"I did give the life-ending pill to the prince."
Shen Hua'er's voice rang out abruptly, tears streaming down her cheeks. At this point, whether she admitted it or not, death was inevitable.
But Song Yanzheng had actually tried to kill her.
Then don't blame her for dragging him down with her before she died.
"But it wasn't my decision alone—it was the collective choice of the imperial grandsons in the mansion!"
The moment these words were spoken, the air in the Zichen Hall grew stifling.
Even Wu Qi, a seasoned veteran who had spent decades in the palace, felt a chill run down his spine.
"You're slandering me?"
Song Yanzheng's teeth chattered, but his survival instincts kicked in. "Your Majesty, this woman is venomous! She wants to drag the Ping Prince's Mansion down with her to the grave!"
"That's right, Grandfather. Your granddaughter would never dare entertain such thoughts."
One by one, the imperial grandsons of the mansion knelt, their faces twisted in hatred as if Shen Hua'er were their mortal enemy.
"Hahaha..."
Shen Hua'er laughed.
"Song Yanzheng, it was you who said the time was right—that’s why I dared to drug the prince." Shen Hua'er now seemed like a madwoman. "Otherwise, how could a newlywed woman like me have the courage to poison her own husband?"
"Every single person standing here knew about this!"
"Your Majesty, these are the imperial grandsons of the Ping Prince's Mansion. Outwardly, they appear noble and righteous, but inside, they are rotten to the core. Not only did they drug their own father, they wouldn’t even spare their own mother!"
Shen Hua'er had completely lost all sense of time, spilling everything she knew.
Meanwhile, Song Yanzheng and the others stubbornly insisted that Shen Hua'er had no proof and was merely defaming them.
"Enough!"
Emperor Yuanyou's voice thundered with fury.
"Grandfather, we truly are innocent. You mustn’t believe this poisonous woman’s words."
As he looked at Song Yanzheng, the emperor's gaze was icy.
To be fair, he believed Shen Hua'er.
"And what if I said..." Shen Hua'er collapsed weakly to the ground, her eyes empty, "that I... had an affair with you, the eldest imperial grandson?"
Boom—
Even Song Yu felt as if he had been struck by lightning.
......
Not just Song Yu—Song Yanchao, Song Yanming, and Song Xiyan all stared at Song Yanzheng in disbelief. Shen Hua'er's words were too shocking.
"You vile woman! What grudge do you hold against me to tarnish my name like this?"
Song Yanzheng was livid, his face flushed with rage. He turned to Emperor Yuanyou. "Grandfather, today your grandson has been slandered beyond endurance. I cannot bear to live in shame—I will dash myself against this pillar to prove my innocence!"
With that, he mustered all his strength and charged toward the farthest pillar.
At this point in the game, he had no choice but to stake his life on this gamble.
Just before he collided with the pillar, Shen Xiao moved, shoving Song Yanzheng aside by an inch. Song Yanzheng tumbled to the ground.
The impact sent pain radiating through his chest, but he crawled with all his might to Emperor Yuanyou's feet.
"Grandfather... your grandson... truly didn’t..."
Song Shihuan watched with a mocking glint in her eyes. Though there was no concrete evidence to condemn Song Yanzheng, the emperor had already passed judgment in his heart.
"Shen Hua'er, for harming an imperial descendant, is to be taken immediately to the imperial mausoleum before Prince Ping's tomb... and beaten to death."
"Her crimes are unforgivable. Exterminate her nine clans. The deposed consort Shen in the palace is to commit suicide."
Emperor Yuanyou's voice was devoid of emotion. Imperial Guards immediately entered the hall and dragged Shen Hua'er away. By now, she was too terrified to utter another word.
Like a lifeless lump of flesh, she was hauled out into the pouring rain.
"As for the rest of you—kneel outside in the rain."
......
The rain only grew heavier. Song Yanzheng and the others were drenched to the bone, but none dared relax for even a moment, fearing the emperor’s wrath might fall upon them at any second.
Just as Song Yanzheng was still calculating how much weight Emperor Yuanyou had given to Shen Hua'er's words, footsteps approached. He looked up.
Song Yu emerged from the hall.
His expression was darker than Song Yanzheng had ever seen, sending a shiver of fear down his spine.
"Uncle..."
Song Yu held a thick wooden club, the size of an infant's arm. Without warning, he kicked Song Yanzheng, sending him sprawling onto the ground.
In that instant, Song Yu recalled the dream where Song Shihuan had been crippled, her limbs severed.
A ruthless glint flashed in his eyes.
He raised the club high—then brought it crashing down on Song Yanzheng's legs.
