Chapter 117: Did I force you to break off the engagement?
Song Lingyi didn't know how to respond for a moment. If she said she knew him before returning to Beijing, what would she do if Queen Shen asked for details?
While she was considering her words, Queen Shen winked at the aunt in charge beside her, and all the palace maids in the hall quickly left.
The hall was filled with silence. Song Lingyi, despite the pressure, slowly spoke, "I am from Huaizhou City. Last year, my father led his troops to support Danyang County and died for his country. My mother fell seriously ill and passed away soon after. I had no choice but to go to the capital to stay with my relatives. On the way there, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince rescued me."
As far as she knew, Queen Shen came from a military family, her mother's family was full of loyal and brave people, and Song's father was the captain of Huaizhou. She also came from a military family. If she announced her family background first and let Queen Shen know the reason for the Song family's decline, it shouldn't be difficult for her.
"But the circumstances were special at the time. His Royal Highness the Crown Prince and I didn't reveal our identities to each other, and we parted ways before entering the capital."
Queen Shen saw the girl's clear and frank eyes, nodded, and sighed softly, "The pirates are besieging Danyang County. The corrupt officials in the court are causing trouble and have delayed sending reinforcements. I have to thank Captain Song for his righteous act. Otherwise, if Danyang County had been lost, who knows how many people would have been displaced."
Hearing this, Song Lingyi breathed a sigh of relief. Seeing that Queen Shen's eyebrows softened a lot, she was touched and smiled, "Your Majesty is concerned about the people's sentiments. It is a blessing for the people."
During the conversation, the palace maid served hot tea.
As soon as the lid of the cup was opened, white mist curled up, the tea soup was a bright yellow-green color, and the fragrance of tea was fragrant. Song Lingyi took a sip to moisten her throat, and while drinking tea, she avoided looking at Empress Shen.
Queen Shen leisurely stirred the foam in the cup, her voice gentle and calm, "Speaking of which, ever since the Crown Prince returned to the capital, I have been urging him to get married through the imperial selection process. I've mentioned it several times, but nothing has happened. Miss Song, do you want to know what the Crown Prince said to me?"
Such a serious topic made Song Lingyi straighten her back and look up seriously: "...I don't know."
It's probably related to her, so it's better to play dumb.
"The Crown Prince told me that he already has a girl he likes. He met her on the way to the capital, and he even wants to give her the position of Crown Princess." Queen Shen said slowly, her eyes cast at the girl with an inexplicable sense of oppression.
“…”
Song Lingyi was already nervous, and when she heard this, all kinds of emotions surged in her heart: uneasiness, shock, and even more panic. She thought that Empress Shen thought she was a seductress and was here to punish her, so she immediately knelt down.
"Your Majesty, please be wise. I, the second son of the Pei family, and I are in love with each other. We are already engaged and will be married next year. Entering the palace today was just an accident. I am not a fickle person..." Her voice trembled slightly.
The person at the table didn't speak for a long time. Only the subtle sound of porcelain clinking as the tea lid was fiddled with could be heard. Time seemed to stand still, and Song Lingyi felt increasingly uneasy.
Just when she was so nervous that she was sweating profusely, Queen Shen's voice rang out softly: "I know that entering the palace today is not what you wish. The prince is acting in a domineering way. I am not unreasonable, so how could I punish you."
Song Lingyi said nothing, but continued to kneel on the ground with her head bowed, not daring to slack off in the slightest.
Empress Shen made no move to let her stand up. She simply stared at her repeatedly, saying to herself, "I am in the harem, but I have heard others say that the second son of the Pei family is a man of outstanding literary talent. I wonder if he has entered the government now?"
Song Lingyi replied respectfully, "Your Majesty, Pei Erlang is now a scholar at the Hanlin Academy."
“A fifth-rank official, his starting point is pretty good.” Queen Shen said after hearing this.
This sentence seems to have no profound meaning, but it is actually full of temptation.
Song Lingyi suddenly remembered what Xuanfeng had said to her before:
"Pei Erlang is only a scholar of the Hanlin Academy. He still needs to work hard for many years to reach the highest position in the government. How can he compare to His Royal Highness the Crown Prince?"
Yes, a Bachelor of the Hanlin Academy was only a fifth-rank civil official, and promotion was not an easy thing; but Xiao Mingyi was different. The emperor had retired to the palace, and he was now the regent. After waiting for another one or two years, he would be able to ascend the throne and become emperor.
If she chose Pei Zhao, she would at most be a lady appointed by the imperial court; if she chose Xiao Mingyi, he could promise her the position of Crown Princess, and even if their relationship broke down in the future, she would still be honored and respected above everyone else.
How many people in the world can be indifferent to fame and fortune? Queen Shen doesn't believe her.
"Although he is only a fifth-rank official, I believe in Pei Erlang's ability and believe he will achieve something in the future," said Song Lingyi.
As he finished speaking, a light laugh came from above.
Queen Shen leaned forward slightly, resting her elbows on her knees, staring at her intently and saying, "This world belongs to the Xiao family. The Crown Prince is in love with you. If Pei Erlang dares to take away someone else's favor, no matter how capable he is, how can his career be smooth sailing?"
Song Lingyi knew that this was true, and she felt inexplicably depressed and uncomfortable.
"I am stupid and of humble origin, so I have no intention of marrying into the Imperial Palace. Even after learning of the Crown Prince's identity, I never considered breaking off the engagement."
"Others may be eager to pursue the wealth and honor of the royal family, but I only want a smooth life and to grow old with my beloved."
"Your Majesty, I understand the greater good. I do not want Pei Erlang's career to be affected because of me. Please, Your Majesty, please advise His Royal Highness the Crown Prince to let go of the past, let me go, and not bother me again in the future."
The hall, filled with warm fragrance, suddenly fell into a dead silence, and the only sound was the rustling of the wind outside the window.
The aunt in charge standing beside her was horrified and didn't know how to evaluate this Miss Song. Not only did she look down on the position of Crown Princess, but she even dared to say that His Royal Highness the Crown Prince was entangled with her.
After a long time, Queen Shen put down the teacup and looked at the person kneeling on the ground with a complicated expression.
"I heard that the young master was imprisoned. The case is very difficult. The Crown Prince asked you to enter the Eastern Palace today. Is he forcing you to break off the engagement?"
“…” Song Lingyi was speechless.
Xiao Mingyi probably had that intention, but after being rebuked by her, he didn't say it clearly.
This moment of silence made Queen Shen's heart sink. She became more certain of what she was thinking and slammed the table in anger.
With a 'bang', Song Lingyi's shoulders trembled slightly.
Queen Shen ordered the head aunt to help her stand up, and her hands plucked the white jade beads faster and faster, "This is ridiculous!"
As the prince's biological mother, she thought she had taught him to be gentle, kind, modest and polite, but she never expected that he would force a minister to cancel the engagement behind her back. She was so ashamed that she had nowhere to put her face.
Just at this moment, there was a loud commotion outside the hall, followed by the greetings of the palace servants waiting at the door of the main hall.
Xiao Mingyi is here!
Song Lingyi's eyes trembled slightly. She didn't expect that this person would come so quickly.
After a while, a palace maid hurried in and nodded, announcing, "Your Majesty, the Crown Prince has arrived."
Queen Shen said with a cold expression: “Let him wait outside!”
It was rare to see the Queen so angry. The palace maid looked nervous and held her breath as she left the hall to pass on the message.
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