"Imperial Grandfather."
Before Mei Xiang could speak, Song Shihuan looked up at Emperor Yuanyou, standing on her tiptoes to wipe the rain from his face.
Even with Wu Qi holding an umbrella, the downpour was so heavy that the emperor had still gotten slightly wet.
Among everyone present, only Song Shihuan—shielded tightly by Emperor Yuanyou’s sleeve—remained untouched by the rain.
"The rain is getting heavier. Ah Huan worries you might catch a chill. Shall we return to Zichen Hall?"
Hearing these warm words, Emperor Yuanyou felt an urge to tear up.
At least he still had a good granddaughter.
"Very well. The rest of you may return to your residences."
Only then did Song Shihuan lower her head. If the high-ranking officials and their families stayed to hear what followed... their political futures would likely not remain as smooth as before.
After all, knowing the intimate details of a royal scandal was hardly a blessing.
Sure enough, the noblewomen cast grateful glances at Song Shihuan.
Whether Princess Fu'an had acted deliberately or by chance, they owed her this favor.
......
Half an hour later.
Inside Zichen Hall, only members of the imperial family remained. Emperor Yuanyou sat high upon the dragon throne, his expression stern and imposing.
"Mei Xiang, speak truthfully. Who gave you this sachet?"
Seeing the Successor Empress’s twisted expression, Mei Xiang stammered in terror, "It was the Crown Princess... the Crown Princess gifted it to this servant."
The Successor Empress’s gaze instantly pierced through the Crown Princess, as though trying to see into her very soul.
"Chang Lixian, so you’ve joined forces with Prince Qin’s faction?"
Even the Crown Prince and Song Yanzheng glared at the Crown Princess with fury, their trust in her utterly shattered.
"Father, I did gift this sachet," the Crown Princess feigned panic. "But... all the servants in Li Garden received similar ones. It wasn’t given to Mei Xiang alone."
Hearing this, Mei Xiang nodded frantically. "Yes! Her Highness had been restless lately and specially prepared calming herbs. Once she felt better, she had them made into sachets for us."
"Impossible!"
The Successor Empress turned on the Crown Princess like a madwoman—Chang Lixian was hardly the type to care so much for servants.
"It must be you! You’ve held a grudge ever since the Chang family fell from grace." Her eyes burned with rage. "Yanzheng is your own son! How could you be so heartless?"
"I didn’t!"
The Crown Princess retreated several steps, her face a mask of panic as she laid bare the ugly scheme. "Mother Empress, I only acted on your orders! I don’t know why Gu Mingliu didn’t fall into the lake, nor why Mei Xiang was there!"
Well, well.
Prince Chu and Prince Qi’s eyes widened like copper bells.
What an unexpected twist.
Tonight was truly full of surprises.
"Lixian, how could you slander Mother Empress and Yanzheng?" The Crown Prince was both frantic and furious. "I know you’re strong-willed, and the Chang family’s downfall hit you hard. That’s why you were deceived by Eldest Brother. But if you confess the truth, I’ll plead for leniency on your behalf."
How laughable.
The Crown Princess stared at the man she had shared a bed with for nearly twenty years.
He wanted her to implicate Song Yu and drag them both to the grave.
As if he could protect himself, let alone intercede for her.
And all her children stood silent, seemingly eager to sacrifice her alone in this deadly feud with Song Yu.
"Second Uncle."
A slightly hoarse voice rang out, freezing the Crown Prince in place as blood rushed to his head.
Ever since Song Shihuan had been brought back, she had only ever addressed him as "Your Highness."
This was the first time she had called him "Second Uncle."
Never before had he felt so acutely that this child was truly no longer his.
"Years ago, Imperial Grandmother framed my father. Now, are you forcing the Crown Princess to do the same?"
Meeting Song Shihuan’s fathomless gaze, the Crown Prince’s breath hitched.
"Sister Gu is such a good person. First, you nearly killed her father, and now you scheme against her. The thought that I share blood with you makes me wish I could drain every drop from my veins!"
A lifetime of hatred erupted in this moment.
These were her flesh and blood—yet they had ordered her death and left her body floating in the lake.
Had it not been for her father’s mercy, Song Shihuan would have been condemned to wander as a lonely ghost for eternity.
How she loathed them!
"Outrageous!" The Crown Prince’s dignity was utterly provoked by her words. His palm swung down with a sharp gust of wind. "A mere ten-year-old child dares lecture me on filial piety? Today, I’ll teach you proper respect!"
In the next instant, Song Shihuan was pulled behind Song Yu.
A sharp slap rang out—but it was the Crown Princess who took the blow, blood trickling from her lips.
"We were the ones who abandoned Ah Huan. Why should she show us filial piety?" The Crown Princess clutched her cheek. "If anything, she owes it to Eldest Brother. What does it have to do with you or me?"
"Chang Lixian, have you lost your mind?" The Crown Prince barely recognized the woman before him.
"Yes, I have."
The Crown Princess turned and slowly knelt, meeting Song Shihuan at eye level.
"I was so deranged that I couldn’t accept my own child."
Her eyes brimmed with unbearable regret. "That day, seeing Ah Huan covered in dirt, I only felt ashamed—never once did I ache for her suffering."
"Because Ah Huan’s imperial favor threatened the Eastern Palace, I turned a blind eye to the plots against her. I don’t deserve to be called a mother."
The children she had poured her heart into raising had become the blades turned against her.
The one she had cast aside had repeatedly risked her life to protect Song Yu.
This was her retribution.
Then, dazed, the Crown Princess reached out to Song Shihuan. "Ah Huan... if only on your birthday banquet, I had held you close and whispered my blessings... would everything have been different?"
Song Shihuan shook her head. Reborn, she knew no forgiveness.
The last glimmer of light in the Crown Princess’s eyes faded into darkness.
"Imperial Grandfather, my father is pure of heart. I swear on my life—he would never have poisoned Eldest Brother’s wedding cakes."
Her voice echoed through the hall, stirring even Emperor Yuanyou’s heart.
Such unwavering devotion in a child—how rare for the Song family.
Only Song Yu smirked. "In that case, I swear upon my mother Empress Yuan’s spirit—any wedding cake that passed through my hands was harmless."
At the mention of the late empress’s spirit, the Successor Empress realized the truth. She collapsed, limbs rigid, unable to move.
She had lost. Utterly and completely.
As the Crown Prince shouted for the imperial physicians, Song Shihuan watched coldly while Song Yu’s eyes gleamed with mockery.
Oh, he had poisoned someone alright—just not in the wedding cakes.
Did they truly think Song Yu was that stupid?
