Chapter 139 The Sound of a Heartbreaking Break

The atmosphere was tense, and only the two of them remained under the eaves.

Shen Yiqiu gently brushed Xiao Yongjing's hand away, then looked up at him.

“Where did you find that midwife? Seventeen years have passed, and even I have never found such conclusive evidence.”

Upon hearing this, Xiao Yongjing slightly curved the corners of his mouth, revealing a cunning smile like that of a fox.

He leaned down slightly, close to her ear, his warm breath brushing against her earlobe:

"Looking for it? What if I say... I didn't find it at all?"

Shen Yiqiu understood instantly.

Xiao Yongjing straightened up, leisurely appreciating the subtle surprise on her face, and explained slowly:

"That was just a pretext I found to put on a show for you. People with guilty consciences will naturally jump out and identify themselves. Whether this person exists or not is not important; what matters is whether Song Qingming and Song Sangyu have this matter in their hearts."

It turned out that he had already seen through her plan and cooperated with her tacitly, giving her a push at the crucial moment.

They used a psychological warfare tactic that blurred the lines between reality and illusion to break down the opponent's psychological defenses.

She had to admit that this move was indeed brilliant.

Xiao Yongjing looked at her, then changed the subject:

"However, Mo Yu did find something... about Zhao Xuan's whereabouts."

"Zhao Xuan?"

Shen Yiqiu was surprised and instinctively grabbed his wrist, asking urgently:

Where is she?

Zhao Xuan is Song Sangyu's biological mother and the key to unraveling all the mysteries.

Finding her might reveal why she only allowed Song Sangyu to enter the Song family after her grandmother Shen Zhaohua's death.

Xiao Yongjing did not answer immediately, his gaze slowly falling on her slender fingers that were gripping his wrist.

The smile in his eyes deepened, and he spoke mischievously:

"Madam...you're really enthusiastic. In broad daylight, pulling and tugging at each other, I...I wasn't prepared at all."

The burning intensity in his eyes made Shen Yiqiu frown and release her grip.

"I'm serious."

Xiao Yongjing: "I am serious."

He found it extremely amusing to watch her face turn cold, until he couldn't stand her warning gaze any longer. He then raised an eyebrow and continued:

"However, it won't be that easy for you to see her. If it were that easy, I would have brought her to you by force today."

"She is now Consort Zhao's personal maid and is in the palace. You probably won't be able to see her so easily."

"Within the palace?"

Chen Yiqiu's heart sank.

The palace was heavily guarded, which was indeed a difficult situation.

Shen Yiqiu: "Is there any way I can see her? I have to ask her in person."

Xiao Yongjing stroked his chin, then smiled slightly:

"Well... there are ways. It just depends on whether you, General Shen, are willing to go all out."

Seeing his familiar expression, Shen Yiqiu felt a strange sense of unease rising in her heart:

"……What's the meaning?"

Xiao Yongjing smiled, and said triumphantly:

“If you were to present your petition as General Song, the Marquis of Yongjia, it would be too conspicuous, and you would lack a legitimate reason to request an audience. You might not even be able to see a concubine’s personal maid. But if…”

"...entering the palace in the name of the Crown Princess to familiarize herself with the environment, pay respects to the Empress Dowager, and perhaps bump into a few palace maids would be much more logical."

Shen Yiqiu immediately understood his conditions.

She paused for a moment, then looked up again, her expression calm and composed, and readily replied:

"My husband."

The call was crisp and decisive, without the slightest hesitation, which surprised Xiao Yongjing, who was ready to watch the show.

"General Shen is truly... flexible and pragmatic, very good at understanding the times."

"In that case, come with me to the palace tomorrow to see the Empress Dowager."

"Tomorrow? So suddenly?"

"What, does Madam need to pick an auspicious day, bathe and burn incense, and mentally prepare herself for three days before daring to meet her mother-in-law?"

He looked her up and down with a mocking gaze. “Even an ugly daughter-in-law has to meet her in-laws eventually, and besides, you’re not ugly. The sooner you establish your official status, the easier it will be for you… to get things done.”

His last two words were quite meaningful.

Shen Yiqiu knew that this was the fastest and most reasonable way.

He took a deep breath and nodded:

"Okay, tomorrow is tomorrow."

...

The next morning.

As Qingzhu combed Shen Yiqiu's hair, she asked softly:

"Miss, how would you like to dress for your visit to the palace today?"

After a moment's thought, Shen Yiqiu said:

"Follow the regulations for a marquis, be solemn and magnificent, not too plain."

Bai Mei, who was tidying up clothes nearby, couldn't help but wonder:

"Miss, don't you usually prefer a simple and neat style? Why are you dressed so elaborately for the palace? What if the noble ladies in the palace don't like flashy things?"

Shen Yiqiu looked at her cool and aloof face in the mirror and smiled slightly.

:

As the saying goes, "Respect the clothes before respecting the person."

"Today I enter the palace not only as the future Crown Princess, but also as Marquis Yongjia, Shen Yiqiu. I can be more casual on ordinary days, but today, I represent the Shen family and I must not bring shame to my maternal grandmother."

Outside the gate, the Crown Prince's carriage had been waiting for a long time.

As soon as Shen Yiqiu stepped out of the mansion, she paused slightly, noticing a swaying shadow in the corner.

"Now that you're here, why not show yourself?"

Her voice was clear and melodious, as if she had already guessed who it was.

From the shadows, Zhang Heze emerged, scratching his head somewhat awkwardly, his eyes bruised and swollen.

"General Song... Shen".

Shen Yiqiu remained composed and spoke easily:

"Lieutenant Zhang has been incredibly busy lately, even missing my succession ceremony and several exciting events."

Zhang Heze looked at her bright and graceful appearance, his eyes filled with complex emotions:

"I heard... you became the Crown Princess? I'm so... so happy for you."

Seeing his expression, which looked like he was about to cry, Shen Yiqiu spoke bluntly:

"Lieutenant Zhang doesn't look happy at all. What's going on today...?"

Zhang Heze hurriedly took out an exquisite wooden box from his bosom and handed it over with both hands. Inside the box was a hairpin carved with peach blossoms, simple yet with a unique charm.

"I wanted to give this to the general when we were on the frontier... but seeing that the general never dressed like this, I was afraid it would look cumbersome. Now that I've put it off, finally... let's just consider it a wedding gift for General Shen."

Shen Yiqiu accepted it graciously, ran her fingers over the warm, smooth wooden hairpin, and said frankly:

"Thank you. Then I also wish Lieutenant Zhang... a happy marriage and a bright future."

Zhang Heze gave a relieved smile, looked at her deeply, and watched her board the carriage.

Inside the carriage, Xiao Yongjing was already waiting.

Upon seeing Shen Yiqiu, who had arrived in full regalia, a hint of amazement flashed across his eyes.

Today she wore a light blue palace dress, which was gorgeous and elegant, making her skin look as white as snow. With the gentle sway of her hair ornaments, she added a touch of dignity.

After she sat down, Xiao Yongjing deliberately listened attentively, then raised an eyebrow and smiled:

"I think I heard... the sound of someone's heart breaking."