Madam Chang let out a dazed chuckle.
"Your Highness, the evidence from back then has long vanished, and everyone involved has become headless ghosts," Madam Chang spoke slowly. "By now, it's far too late for you to investigate."
"This prince is well aware that the obvious evidence is gone."
Song Yu's gaze sharpened. "What I demand to know today is exactly who orchestrated the plot against me and how they framed me."
Ah Huan had said that uncovering the truth would reveal a new angle to approach this.
Madam Chang glanced at her unconscious grandson. "I trust Your Highness. In return, I ask that you send someone to summon Imperial Physician Mei."
As things stood, she had no right to bargain with Prince Qin.
"Your Highness, as the legitimate son born of the late empress, the one who resents you most is none other than Her Majesty the Empress in Kunning Palace now."
Madam Chang laughed self-deprecatingly—how foolish they had been to dream of becoming the most powerful noble family in Da Qi.
"Back then, after Master reached a private agreement with Her Majesty, the Empress promised to handle the betrothal between the Crown Princess and you."
"As for how it was handled, the Chang family played no part."
"Are you mocking me?" Song Yu's eyes burned with fury. "The Chang family reaped benefits without lifting a finger—do you expect Kunning Palace to have allowed that?"
"The world calls Your Highness a spoiled, ignorant fool, but it seems the masses were blind."
Behind him, Shen Qingping signaled for the cell to be opened and lifted the unconscious child.
Madam Chang's expression twisted in panic. "Put him down at once! What are you doing?"
"We don’t have time for your games. If you don’t start talking, I’ll toss this child into the water dungeon," Shen Qingping sneered. "Let him take his final journey."
Seeing that Shen Qingping wasn’t bluffing, Madam Chang cried out:
"It was illusion grass! Your Highness was dosed with both an aphrodisiac and illusion grass. Xin'er carried a specially scented sachet that would lure you to seek her as the antidote."
"My wine and food were thoroughly inspected at the time—no traces of drugs were found." Song Yu showed no surprise upon hearing the truth.
So it was his hypocritical stepmother after all.
At his words, Madam Chang lowered her eyes.
"From what I know, the aphrodisiac and illusion grass were baked into the wedding cakes. Your Highness must have consumed a poisoned one."
Song Yu's blood boiled at the revelation.
"The chef is dead, and every palace servant who handled it is dead." Madam Chang shook her head. "Your Highness, you cannot clear your name now."
Yet Song Yu's lips curled into a chilling smile as he leaned closer, his voice barely audible.
"You’re mistaken. The Empress, the Crown Prince, Chen Chi... none of them are dead yet. How could this prince fail to clear his name?"
With that, Song Yu strode out of the prison, ignoring Madam Chang's desperate cries behind him.
The Chang family, who had aided the villain, deserved death just the same.
"Your Highness, the wedding cakes..." Shen Qingping swallowed his words at Song Yu's stormy expression.
"Those cakes were handed to me by Song Ling himself."
He had said it was to let Song Yu taste the sweetness of his impending marriage.
So Song Yu had eaten them without suspicion.
"All I ever wanted back then was a peaceful life, but Song Ling destroyed it with his own hands." Song Yu's eyes darkened. "Now, I will destroy what he desires most—only then will my hatred be satisfied."
Song Ling wanted to be Crown Prince?
Then Song Yu would drag him down from that throne.
---
Meanwhile, after receiving gifts from Song Yanzheng one after another, even Gu Mingzhu finally caught on and flushed with anger. "Father, how can the Eastern Palace treat the daughters of the Gu family like this—marrying them when it suits them and discarding them just as easily?"
"Silence!" Gu Zheng nearly clapped a hand over her mouth. "The Eastern Palace houses the future ruler of the nation!"
"Aunt was delayed for five or six years because of them!" Gu Mingzhu retorted stubbornly. "I’ve heard people say that after the Crown Prince and Crown Princess married, no respectable family in the capital dared to wed Aunt."
At the mention of the past, Gu Zheng stiffened.
"Father, these gifts..." Gu Mingliu sighed. Gifts from those in power could not be refused.
And by now, rumors were surely spreading through the capital.
Just as the Gu family was at a loss, Song Shihuan arrived at their manor, her hair tied in two playful buns.
"Mingzhu!" She threw herself at Gu Mingzhu. "On my way here, I heard people say the Grand Imperial Sun sent many gifts to the Gu residence—all addressed to Sister Gu?"
At her words, the Gu family’s expressions darkened.
"The news spread so quickly..." Gu Mingzhu's lips paled. "What do we do now?"
"Do about what?" Song Shihuan jingled the bells on her wrist as she moved.
"Sister Gu, may I see the gifts? If I fancy something, could you part with it for me?" She put on her most covetous look.
"Of course, you may take whatever you like," Gu Mingliu answered absently.
Under the stunned gazes of the Gu family, Song Shihuan loaded every gift from Song Yanzheng into her carriage and left the manor in high spirits.
Before departing, she flashed her little fangs in a grin. "Next time there are such fine things, Mingzhu, remember to call for me!"
With that single trip, the rumors outside shifted entirely.
Now, it was said that the Grand Imperial Sun had offended Princess Fu'an and was trying to appease her by sending gifts through Second Miss Gu.
Hadn’t everyone seen how everything ended up in Princess Fu'an’s hands?
---
At Qin Prince's Mansion, Shen Qingping laughed until tears welled in his eyes.
"Princess, if the Eastern Palace hears the tale you spun, they’ll be too furious to eat!"
Song Shihuan swayed playfully, looking utterly adorable.
"To win my favor, one must put in effort. Even if Song Yanzheng sends more gifts, the people will only find it reasonable."
"But this only solves the immediate problem." She propped her chin on her hands. "To truly free Sister Gu, we’ll need another plan."
"What’s so difficult about that?" Song Yu, who had been silent, finally spoke.
"All we need is to ruin Song Yanzheng’s reputation. Then the Eastern Palace will have no face left to pursue First Miss Gu."
"There are countless ways—arrange for him to be caught with a palace maid, or have him secretly pledge himself to some noble daughter."
Song Yu's gaze darkened—just as the Eastern Palace had once done to him.
