"Your Highness, going to the palace to find the Empress Dowager will not help..."
No sooner had he finished speaking than a guard rushed in to report: "Your Highness, something has happened to the Empress Dowager."
Upon hearing this, both of their eyelids twitched suddenly.
Xu Lingqing, in particular, asked, "What happened to the Empress Dowager?"
"Reporting to the Eighth Princess Consort, the Empress Dowager has hit her head on a pillar and is now in extremely serious condition."
Xu Lingqing frowned. This move should have been made by Consort Rou. As long as Consort Rou publicly proved her innocence by dying and insisted that she had been framed.
The Eighth Prince's Mansion might still be able to turn the tide.
Now that the Empress Dowager had used this trick ahead of time, she couldn't think of any other way for the time being, and the faint pain in her back was still reminding her.
She is no match for Song Yue now; Song Yue still has leverage over her.
It is not advisable to offend them.
Zhao Zhiyan's face was cold. He couldn't believe that the little girl would be so ruthless. Was it worth it just to fight for the throne?
“Once the issue of imperial heirs is questioned, it’s impossible to explain.” Xu Lingqing said helplessly. The founding emperor had been dead for a long time. They couldn’t very well dig him up and have his blood dripped to examine his bones, could they?
The moment this idea even surfaced, let alone the civil and military officials, even the common people's spittle could drown the Eighth Prince's mansion.
She regrets it now.
She regretted competing with Song Yue for the position of Eighth Prince's Consort.
Even if Song Yue marries in, so what? She has plenty of ways to kick Song Yue out, so that Yun Ke won't get away with it for nothing.
Zhao Zhiyan took a deep breath: "I will go find her!"
Xu Lingqing couldn't stop her.
She had no choice but to leave. After thinking for a moment, she turned around and went to find Consort Rou.
When Consort Rou heard that rumors about her were circulating outside, she was so frightened that she hid in her room and didn't dare to come out. Suddenly, she heard someone knocking on the door, and her legs started trembling.
"Mother, it is I, Lingqing."
Upon hearing that it was Xu Lingqing, Consort Rou hurriedly went to open the door, saying sarcastically, "You've finally decided to come back."
Xu Lingqing patiently and said casually, "I just went out to take care of some business, but there are some bad things happening outside."
"How can you so easily believe rumors?" Consort Rou was like a hedgehog with its feathers standing on end, covered in thorns, and said unhappily, "How could you believe it and even dare to come and question me!"
Seeing that Consort Rou was still putting on airs, Xu Lingqing wished she could slap her twice to wake her up. What kind of time is this?!
"Whether it's just rumors or not, Mother knows in her heart. Right now, the person behind the scenes isn't targeting Mother, but the Prince. Once Mother's past is confirmed, the Prince's identity will become questionable."
Speaking of this, Xu Lingqing was both angry and helpless. She was furious that Song Yue's methods were too ruthless, actually using such despicable means to cut off Zhao Zhiyan's escape route.
Consort Rou was stunned.
"Since the person behind this dares to spread the word, they must have prepared all the evidence." Xu Lingqing sighed helplessly.
"It's the Empress Dowager!" Consort Rou gritted her teeth: "That old hag Empress Dowager also keeps many advisors."
"The Empress Dowager's affair has not been concealed either. Just now, someone from the palace came to deliver a message that the Empress Dowager hit a pillar an hour ago and her injuries are extremely serious." Xu Lingqing patiently guided, "The person behind the scenes is not the Empress Dowager. The Empress Dowager was also used by someone. The reason why the Empress Dowager risked her life is that she has no children. If she dies, the royal family will definitely bury her in the name of the Empress Dowager."
The glory after death was earned with a life.
Consort Rou stared wide-eyed in disbelief, and after a long while, she finally reacted: "It's...it's Song Yue?"
Xu Lingqing looked around and, seeing that no one was around, nodded gently: "It should be."
"That bitch! It's just that Yan'er didn't marry her, and she's still holding a grudge after all this time!" Consort Rou cursed angrily, but then suddenly stopped, turned to look at Xu Lingqing, stepped forward and took her hand: "Lingqing, just bear with it and give the position of Eighth Prince's Consort to Song Yue. Once Yan'er has established himself, I will definitely stand up for you and take back everything that belongs to you."
Xu Lingqing really wanted to crack open Consort Rou's head to see what was inside.
"Lingqing, isn't she just trying to force Yan'er to compromise? Zhao Yunke, that sickly fellow, is nowhere near as good as Yan'er!" Consort Rou naturally assumed that it was Song Yue's scheme, with the goal of securing the position of the Eighth Prince's consort.
Xu Lingqing fell silent. Is that really the case?
"Yan'er has helped her so many times. If it weren't for Yan'er, she would have died countless times. She must be hating her because of love. As long as Yan'er softens his stance and makes a promise to her for life, he can definitely turn the situation around." The Dowager Consort Rou became more and more excited as she spoke, and pulled Xu Lingqing to go out and find Song Yue.
"Mother, the Prince has already gone to see the Crown Princess."
"Really?" Consort Rou's eyes lit up, and a bright smile appeared on her face. She gently patted Xu Lingqing's shoulder: "When Song Yue enters the manor, you must treat her with respect. She has a bad temper, so don't provoke her. Put her first in everything, and don't go looking for Yan'er in private..."
That sounds really awkward.
Xu Lingqing saw no need to persuade her any further and simply nodded perfunctorily.
...
Guangjia Prince's Mansion
The plaque at the entrance had not been taken down yet, so she was staying at the mansion for the time being. When she heard from the maid that Zhao Zhiyan had arrived, Song Yue was somewhat surprised.
"I heard that the Eighth Princess Consort has returned to the manor. Could it be that she persuaded me to return?" Yun Dong asked.
Song Yue didn't seem to care much: "Let him in."
Zhao Zhiyan was quickly brought in, his reproachful eyes fixed on her: "Did you do all of this today?"
Song Yue stood under the corridor, her eyes calm and composed: "Why would I want to harm you for no reason?"
"You!" Zhao Zhiyan felt a little guilty.
Because he wanted to harm Princess Jiahua yesterday, he sent many people out to spread rumors, including that Princess Jiahua deliberately led the Northern Chu Emperor to his death and disregarded human life.
"Little girl."
Song Yue frowned: "Eighth Prince, please have some self-respect!"
Zhao Zhiyan reluctantly changed his words: "I have something I want to say to you alone."
"I have nothing to say in private. If the Eighth Prince wants to speak, then speak; if he does not wish to speak, then so be it."
She's not stupid enough to give anyone the opportunity to threaten her.
She felt at ease only after seeing the courtyard full of Imperial Guards.
Zhao Zhiyan pursed his lips, unable to utter the words of blame, nor would he easily back down. He took a step forward, closing the distance, and lowered his voice: "Is it possible for us to go back to three years ago?"
Three years ago, he was unmarried, and she was unmarried.
When the two help each other.
Song Yue chuckled: "Eighth Prince, are you perhaps drunk? I am now the Crown Princess, and you can barely protect yourself. How can you go back to three years ago?"
After being provoked by those words, Zhao Zhiyan's face flushed slightly, and he wanted to say that he regretted it.
He regretted it the moment he saw that jade pendant; he shouldn't have been so rash and impulsive, continuing to try and outdo her.
"If I hadn't been modest, things wouldn't have ended this way," he said in a deep voice.
Song Yue raised an eyebrow; "It's just that I'm not as skilled. A real man accepts his loss!"
Zhao Zhiyan was suddenly stunned.
These words were like a slap in the face.
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