Chapter 50 Play
Time passed quickly, and ten days were gone in the blink of an eye.
The injuries on Song Tangning's face gradually improved, and after a few days of recuperation, he was able to walk freely on the ground.
Princess Cheng would go to Jiyun Lane to visit Tang Ning every two days, but her complexion became worse and worse. Although she did not tell Tang Ning in detail about the things in the palace, Tang Ning could feel that Princess Cheng mentioned Prince Cheng less and less. Even if she mentioned him occasionally, her eyes were no longer as gentle and affectionate as before.
Prince Cheng's men returned to the capital a few days earlier than Xiao Yan expected. After receiving the things sent back by those people, Prince Cheng came to Jiyun Lane helplessly.
"I told you that you're overthinking it. How could the Song family possibly use an outsider to confuse their own bloodline? The government records clearly state it."
Prince Cheng looked at Princess Cheng who was checking those things, and his eyes fell on Tang Ning with some blame.
"You too, I know you're angry with your brother and the others, but how can you make up such nonsense when there's nothing to it? If people knew you were making random guesses, you'd be branded as someone who slandered your elders. If it got out, it would ruin the reputation of the entire Song family and make your aunt worry about you day and night.
The wound on Song Tangning's hand had healed a lot. She was holding the things sent by King Cheng, on which was carefully written "Daughter of the Li family, from Anzhou".
"Did the people sent by my uncle find out?"
"Who else could it be if not me? How can I let others know about this kind of thing?"
Seeing Tang Ning looking at him with his dark eyes, King Cheng frowned.
"Why, you don't even believe me? If you don't believe me, I'll call those people from Anzhou over here, and you can question them yourself. They've thoroughly investigated Song Shulan's past, and it turns out her biological mother, Li, did have some connection with your father."
"Seventeen years ago, Wuzhou was devastated by floods, and your father was ordered to go there to help with the relief efforts. Li was originally from Wuzhou, and they met in Wuzhou that year. Your father was injured while helping with the relief efforts and was missing in the Wuzhou area for nearly three months. During that time, he was rescued by Li, and they lived together day and night."
"I don't know how they fell in love, but before your father returned to the capital, he did arrange for a group of disaster victims to be relocated to Anzhou, including Li."
Prince Cheng looked at Princess Cheng, who had a grim expression on her face, and Song Tangning, who had lowered her eyes and remained silent, and said in a slow voice:
"I know you don't want to believe your father has had an affair with your mother, but Song Shulan's identity is indeed true. Li was found to be pregnant after she went to Anzhou. After giving birth to Song Shulan, she has been a widow ever since. She not only has a letter from your father, but also a jade pendant that she had pawned due to financial hardship. The people I sent took some effort to redeem it."
He handed Tang Ning a bamboo-patterned pendant.
"This jade pendant was your father's favorite. Your aunt must have seen it in the past. If you still don't believe it, your father disappeared while helping with disaster relief in Wuzhou, and was later resettled in the Li family. There are witnesses. There are also people in the capital who can recognize your father's handwriting. You can find someone to verify it, but by then, your father's reputation might be in jeopardy..."
When Song Tangning heard Prince Cheng's worried words, he suddenly felt a chill in his heart.
This is her uncle who has loved her since she was a child, and her aunt's husband who has slept in the same bed with her for many years. How could he lie in front of them so confidently and help the Song family to make up for the precarious lie that put them in so perfectly?
He knew very well that she would never take those things to outsiders for verification and ruin her father and mother's reputation.
Tang Ning looked at Princess Cheng, who was so angry that she tightly grasped the things in her hands, her fingertips white with strength but she was trying her best to endure it. She lowered her eyelashes to hide her indifference: "Of course I believe my uncle, I was overthinking it..."
"You're just overthinking it."
Prince Cheng disapproved. "You've been making a fuss for quite some time now. The old lady of the Song family has been bedridden, and her hand is completely crippled. Everyone out there is talking about the Song family right now. The reputation of the Duke of Song's mansion has been ruined, and your brother's future is largely ruined. Even you've been accused of being cruel and heartless."
He spoke earnestly and with exhortation.
"Tang Ning, I know you're angry about Shan, but the Song family has already paid the price. It won't do you any good if they fall."
"Now that you're relying on Xiao Yan's protection, no one dares to do anything to you. But who knows if he's acting on impulse or has other motives? Besides, if you associate with a eunuch, you'll only end up damaging your own reputation."
"The Empress and the Lu family are already dissatisfied. Listen to your uncle's advice and let this matter end here."
Song Tangning found Prince Cheng's earnest teachings ridiculous. She looked up with a blank expression, as if hesitating: "But I've already had such a quarrel with my grandmother and the others. Even if I want to give up, I'm afraid they won't give up..."
"Tang Ning is right." Princess Cheng said coldly, "The Song family's affairs are their own fault. If you want Tang Ning to go back and admit her mistakes and surrender, forget it!"
Prince Cheng sensed a softening in the two's words, and he heaved a sigh of relief when he saw that Tang Ning was willing to make peace with the Song family.
"Look at what you're saying. I'm also protecting Tang Ning. How can I let her apologize to the Song family? Even if we want to make peace, the Song family will have to make a big show of it. I see that the Shangsi Festival is coming soon, so why not hold a spring banquet in your mansion and invite the Song family to come."
"Tang Ning's injuries are better now. Take this opportunity to move back to the palace and live there for a few days. Then you can invite some ladies from other palaces, or invite some gentlemen to come to your house. I will go and make the Song family surrender at the banquet. Then Tang Ning can return to the Song family naturally, and no one will say anything."
Princess Cheng frowned and did not agree.
Prince Cheng said softly, "Mother Yue, I know you are dissatisfied with the Song family, but you have to think about Tang Ning's future."
Princess Cheng was a little unhappy when she heard this, but she finally compromised: "You are right, Tang Ning, what do you think?"
"I listen to my uncle."
"Okay then, I'll post it when I get back later."
Seeing that both of them agreed, Prince Cheng couldn't help but smile: "Then Tang Ning will go back with us today?"
"Why reply?"
Before Song Tangning could speak, Princess Cheng said, "Since we are going to hold a Spring Festival Banquet, let's hold a grand one."
"After I return, I'm afraid I'll be too busy just sending invitations and preparing for the banquet. The mansion will be a mess with all the people coming and going. Tang Ning hasn't fully recovered yet, so let her stay in Jiyun Lane for now. I'll send someone to pick her up on the day."
Upon hearing this, Prince Cheng did not force her: "Alright, then let her stay here for now."
Prince Cheng achieved his goal and the smile on his face became a little wider. After talking with Tang Ning for a while, he planned to return home.
Knowing that Princess Cheng wanted to stay in Jiyun Lane to talk to Tang Ning for a while, he pretended to be jealous and complained a few words, saying that Princess Cheng only had eyes for Tang Ning and didn't care about him anymore.
Princess Cheng pushed him coquettishly and drove him out of the yard. When she came back from outside, she suddenly vomited while leaning against the wall. She vomited until she was dizzy and her eyes were red. At the same time, she desperately wiped her face with a handkerchief, which had just been touched so intimately by Prince Cheng.
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