"Big brother!"
A wailing cry echoed, startling Song Yu and making his heart flutter. Even Song Shihuan quickly turned to look at Song Yu.
Father is perfectly fine.
Why would someone make a sound akin to mourning?
Prince Chu was crying profusely, like a giant missile, rushing towards Song Yu. Song Yu's eyes narrowed instantly, "Shihuan, run."
Don't get knocked away by this guy.
The next moment, Song Yu was enveloped in Prince Chu's embrace.
"My poor big brother," Prince Chu continued to wail, "to be unjustly accused for so many years. I always said that a child born to such a pure and kind woman as the legitimate mother would never consort with a palace maid."
Heaven has opened its eyes, and Prince Chu's Mansion might also have a royal grandson. If the Eastern Palace falls, then Yan Hong could have a chance to compete...
Today's heavenly opportunity has plunged the Eastern Palace into such a predicament. If he doesn't seize the chance to step on it, he'd get up in the middle of the night and slap himself.
Realizing Prince Chu's intentions, Song Shihuan twitched her mouth. Goodness, she never expected her third uncle to have such a clever mind.
With swift action, Song Shihuan immediately played along.
"Third uncle is right," Song Shihuan sniffled, looking pitiful, "To speak disrespectfully, Father is your own nephew, Your Majesty, and your heart is the most ruthless."
Prince Chu smeared his tears and snot all over Song Yu, who was disgusted to the point of gagging, but Prince Chu mistook it for deep sorrow. "Shihuan is right, Father, you must stand up for big brother. Look, big brother has never been this sad."
"Let him go first."
Emperor Yuanyou couldn't bear to watch anymore, "Speak properly, and keep your distance from your big brother."
Doesn't he, as a father, know what a fuss Song Yu makes?
He'd make a scene if his clothes got a bit dirty, and this third one is really...
It's making his stomach feel uncomfortable too.
"Father, if it weren't for that incident back then, big brother would have married the daughter of the Chang family. Now, the Eastern Palace would naturally be occupied by the legitimate and eldest brother!" Prince Chu was determined to step on the Eastern Palace, showing none of his previous eagerness to curry favor with it.
"Old third, I even pleaded for the Sun family, and you dare!"
When the wall falls, everyone pushes. The Crown Prince was already struggling alone.
"Second brother, there are gods three feet above our heads." Prince Chu knelt down righteously, "Back then, it was the Successor Empress's scheme that succeeded without appropriate punishment, leading Yan Zheng astray and causing today's incident."
"If there's no severe punishment, how can it serve as a warning to the other royal grandchildren?" Prince Chu wiped his tears, "Thinking of big brother being alone all these years makes my heart ache."
Song Shihuan's eyes shifted. Third uncle's meddling was truly exquisite.
He directly linked the events of the past with the position of the Crown Prince.
Emperor Yuanyou gazed deeply at the Successor Empress.
"Your Majesty, I have always been deeply affectionate with my sister. Back then, I was momentarily blinded by greed, but my sister was most magnanimous. If she were here, she would surely forgive me."
Cornered, the Successor Empress resorted to her final trump card.
But with the words spoken before Empress Yuan's memorial tablet by Song Xiyan and others, the Successor Empress's words had just touched Emperor Yuanyou's sore spot.
"Sisterly affection?"
Emperor Yuanyou slowly stood up and approached the Successor Empress.
"For so many years, I truly misjudged you. I thought, being Fen'er's sister, you would possess the same pure and kind virtues as her." Emperor Yuanyou tightened his grip on the Successor Empress's chin. "I was blind."
"No wonder the children of the Eastern Palace have all been led astray. Yan Zheng, as the eldest imperial grandson, has committed such disgraceful acts, unworthy of being a son!"
The Successor Empress shook her head frantically. "No, Yan Zheng is being framed, Your Majesty."
"Someone, go to Kunning Palace and take away the empress's seal and insignia."
Emperor Yuanyou intended to depose the empress directly!
"No, Father, Mother has managed the harem for many years. Even if there are no merits, there have been hardships." The Crown Prince knelt before Emperor Yuanyou. "Even if it's for the sake of the Xu family, you cannot depose her."
If she were deposed.
He would become a son of a concubine.
Just like Prince Chu and Prince Qi.
But Emperor Yuanyou had made up his mind.
"Draft the decree: Lady Xu the Younger, lacking in virtue and attempting to harm the imperial heirs." Emperor Yuanyou's voice was heavy, and as soon as the decree was issued, all present knelt. "Today, she is deposed from the position of empress, demoted to consort, and temporarily resides in Jingsi Palace."
The emperor's words were final and unchangeable.
The Successor Empress could not withstand such a blow and fainted completely.
After speaking, Emperor Yuanyou turned to the Crown Prince, "One empress from the Xu family is enough."
...
Outside, the rain showed no sign of stopping.
A decree to depose the empress silenced the atmosphere inside the hall.
Song Shihuan glanced at Song Xiyan, who was already at a loss, and smirked.
Without the protection of the Successor Empress, her status as the legitimate daughter of Prince Qin seemed to be about to surpass that of Song Xiyan by far.
However, only punishing the Successor Empress, how could that be enough?
"The accounts from back then have been settled, but what about today's?" Song Yu slowly spoke, "Yan Zheng, as your elder, you dare to falsely accuse me."
No wonder the Eastern Palace always liked to use the authority of elders to pressure Ah Huan.
This feeling... is quite satisfying.
Song Yu crossed his arms, clearly not intending to leave until the matter was resolved.
"I am being wronged." Song Yanzheng was already terrified by the deposing of the empress, fearing that Emperor Yuanyou would really strip him of his golden belt.
"Father, how is Yan Zheng's current situation any different from my elder brother's back then?" The Crown Prince was on the verge of emotional collapse. "If you spare Yan Zheng today, perhaps the truth will be uncovered tomorrow."
"Should Yan Zheng follow in my elder brother's footsteps?"
"Song Ling, I made you Crown Prince not to give you more power to scheme against your brothers." Emperor Yuanyou's dissatisfaction with the Crown Prince had reached its peak. "You have greatly disappointed me."
This statement rendered the Crown Prince speechless.
He felt that his father even considered deposing him as Crown Prince.
Everyone in the hall awaited Emperor Yuanyou's punishment for Song Yanzheng, especially Prince Chu, whose eyes were filled with anticipation.
It would be best if he were deposed.
Then, Emperor Yuanyou's voice rang out again, "Since the Eastern Palace went to great lengths to marry Lady Chang back then, I now bestow Chang Ling'er upon Yan Zheng as his principal wife."
Song Yu almost burst into laughter upon hearing this.
A principal wife who is the daughter of a criminal official for the imperial grandson—how is that any different from being deposed?
He swore on his honor that the emperor was deliberately trying to disgust the Eastern Palace!
Meanwhile, Song Shihuan lowered her head to hide the complexity in her eyes. Despite all the twists and turns, Song Yanzheng, just like in the previous life, ended up marrying Chang Ling'er.
It truly was karma.
In this moment, Song Yanzheng felt all his strength drain away. All his hopes and plans had turned into mere illusions.
He had become a completely useless pawn.
