Chapter 921 Money Makes the World Go Round

Song Qing felt increasingly uneasy. Ever since someone started sending her money, someone had been plotting against her.

She glanced at Granny Yun, who then said, "It was that Boss Xing who deals in medicinal herbs who brought it in! Luckily, we usually keep good relations with the authorities. When they got to the palace gate, they saw that it was silver inside and didn't check it much before letting us through."

"How dare you accept their offer to kill the Empress?" Song Qing was also afraid.

Granny Yun's palms were sweaty: "It was delivered with the silver, but you don't even want the silver! Boss Xing said it's not poison, just a sleeping potion, and that it won't really harm the Empress."

The old woman touched her sleeve pocket. "The silver is here, Your Highness, please keep it safe." She had already taken her share.

The silver was handed to Song Qing, a fierce glint flashing in her eyes. The Song family did indeed need money; they needed to make arrangements both inside and outside the palace.

Granny Yun continued, "Brother Xing said that if the matter is successfully completed, the other half will be delivered to the Master and the Empress. If it is not completed, we will have to stop doing business. What will we do if we can no longer earn money?"

A barely perceptible sneer appeared on Song Qing's lips as she said softly, "As long as Granny Yun takes care of things, I will listen to her. But we can't handle this ourselves."

Granny Yun paused, "What does Your Highness mean?"

Song Qing whispered a few words in her ear: "Go and do it!"

Granny Yun said, "Leave it to...she to do it. Is she capable of it?"

Song Qing sneered, "Having taken my benefits, how can I let her keep taking them for free? You can say you don't want to do it, but if she doesn't want to do it, then expose her. Isn't Granny Yun the most eloquent? I believe you can handle it."

Granny Yun smiled and said, "Your Majesty is very thoughtful. I will go and do it right away."

As Granny Yun was about to leave, Consort Song suddenly said, "If something happens, Granny Yun, you won't be able to escape either. Granny Yun, do you know how serious this is? Don't try to fool me. If I'm in trouble, none of you will be in trouble, including Granny Yun's family."

Her tone was full of threats.

Granny Yun was stunned for a moment, then quickly said, "This servant understands, Your Highness, please rest assured, even if this matter is investigated, it will not be traced back to us, much less to Your Highness."

After saying that, Granny Yun left.

Song Qing didn't trust Granny Yun either. She had taken a lot of money from her before, and Song Qing had always turned a blind eye. She thought that as long as she could satisfy Granny Yun's appetite, she would naturally become more proactive.

But this time, she dared to accept the medicine meant to harm the Empress; her audacity was beyond measure.

Only after Granny Yun left did she turn to Dong'er and say, "Put this silver in Granny Yun's room and hide it well."

Dong'er said, "So much money, should we give it all to her?"

Song Qing was also cautious. She would never dare to plot against the Empress. She didn't know if the medicine bottle really contained a sleeping potion. Whether it succeeded or not was none of her business. Usually, it was Granny Yun who contacted those people. She just needed to know nothing.

Song Qing knew that there was no such thing as a free lunch, so she had already prepared a backup plan.

She said, "Go and inform my mother that the Song family is not allowed to enter the palace for the Emperor's birthday banquet."

"Go and tell them yourself, so they won't disobey," Song Qing instructed.

Dong'er was the head maidservant of Consort Shu. She could easily leave the palace with just Consort Shu's token.

"Yes, this servant will go right away," Dong'er said.

Song Qing did not want to get involved in the plot to murder the Empress. She was injured and could find an excuse not to attend. What she wanted was not the position of Empress, because she knew she was not qualified to be the Empress of the Great Zhou.

However, her son can compete for the position of crown prince.

Those who were hiding outside Jinghe Palace to keep watch saw that Granny Yun was walking hurriedly and suspiciously, so they followed her.

Meanwhile, Dong'er's act of delivering a message to Song's mother was also witnessed by others.

Ao Xue saw Dong'er go to the palace gate with her own eyes. She said she was delivering a letter home, and the guards checked her casually and let her pass.

She sneered, "It's true that money can make the devil turn the millstone. She can even give two taels of silver to the gatekeeper to buy him wine."

Aoxue followed Dong'er out of the palace. After leaving the palace, she hired a carriage and followed her all the way to General Peng's mansion. She didn't dare to follow any further.

-

This day was the Emperor's birthday banquet, which was held in the Imperial Garden. The garden was in full bloom this season, and everyone could enjoy the flowers, watch the songs and dances, and drink to their hearts' content.

The banquet began with a luncheon, where officials, imperial relatives, and their families were entertained. The entire Imperial Garden was bustling with activity, filled with singing and dancing.

Jiang Fenghua was dressed in an exquisite phoenix robe. The weather was getting hotter and hotter, and she was feeling a little uncomfortable. Her face was also flushed. Xie Shang saw this and asked with concern, "Why is Ruan Ruan's face so red?"

"Perhaps it's too hot! I'd like to change my clothes first; I'm a little tired after sitting all morning."

Xie Shang said to Hongxiu, "Quickly help the Empress to rest."

Hongxiu quickly helped the Empress leave.

The banquet was bustling with activity, with "Farewell My Concubine" being performed on stage and the audience in high spirits.

Jiang Fenghua glanced at everyone; they all seemed quite happy, and it was clear that they were all familiar faces.

Qin Yunyan has entered the palace again under the identity of Bai Zhiyan. Today is really lively!

Hongxiu said, "Your Highness, let's go first."

Jiang Fenghua whispered, "Has Madam Peng entered the palace?"

"They'll probably run into Lady Song from Jinghe Palace visiting Consort Shu right now," Hongxiu added. "Your Highness, don't worry, everything's arranged."

Jiang Fenghua smiled and said, "I am indeed feeling a little dizzy."

Hongxiu glanced into the shadows. She hadn't expected that Consort Shu would extend her reach into Kunning Palace. No matter how good the Empress was to them, they were still ungrateful wretches who could never be satisfied.

Jinghe Palace.

When Consort Song saw her mother being brought in, she was startled. "Mother, why are you here? I told you not to come to the palace. What are you doing here?"

Song Qing then realized, "You're here. Did Second Brother and Third Brother come along too?" She was afraid that the Song family members would foolishly come to the palace and cause trouble.

Madam Song smiled and said, "You don't welcome your mother? Not only are your two older brothers here, but your two sisters-in-law are here too."

Song Qing shouted outside, "Dong'er!" What kind of person is she?

She called out twice, and a palace maid came in: "Your Highness is looking for Sister Dong'er. She said she went to the Imperial Garden and asked Your Highness to give her some instructions."

Madam Song said, "You may leave now. I need to have a private conversation with Consort Shu."

The palace maids would definitely need the Empress's permission before they dared to leave.

Song Qing then remembered that she had instructed Dong'er to watch over Granny Yun. She said, "You may leave!"

Once the palace maids left, Madam Song looked at her daughter's impressive bearing and beamed with joy. "My daughter is truly blessed. Look at her grandeur!"

Song Qing said, "I sent Dong'er to tell you not to enter the palace, why didn't you listen?"

“Why can’t we enter the palace for my son-in-law’s birthday? Are you trying to embarrass me? I spent a lot of money on this outfit today, so I certainly won’t embarrass you.” Madam Song straightened her clothes and added, “I’ve hidden all the money you sent.”

Song Qing quickly said, "Mother, don't mention money. Wealth should not be flaunted."

Madam Song quickly shut her mouth, "Mother knows, don't worry!"

She added, "Qing'er, I'm staying at your uncle's house, and I'm worried about you..."

Madam Song's eyes reddened as she spoke, and Song Qing asked, "Mother, what's wrong? Who bullied you?"

Madam Song rattled off a long string of words, "She only became a general's wife because she married my brother. What right does she have to look down on us? My brother and I share the same surname. She's the outsider. I eat my brother's food, what's it to her? My brother became a great general, a favorite of the emperor. My daughter is the emperor's woman. What right does she have to boss me around? When your uncle comes back, I'll find him a beautiful concubine. Let's see how arrogant she is then..."