Meng Qi whispered, "You were in the palace trying to protect yourself back then, so how could you have the energy and ability to investigate so much? The Crown Prince had set up this scheme so thoroughly, so early on, and he was always protecting you and befriending you, so how could you possibly be suspicious? Also, you said you didn't investigate then, but even now, if it weren't for the purse leak, I wouldn't have suspected Li. She disguised herself so well, as an unloved concubine who had lost her child. She kept a low profile, allowing people to only sympathize with her and be defenseless."
Song Chengze sighed, "So, what else? Is it related to her or did you find out something about the prince?"
Meng Qi thought for a moment and said, "Do you remember what Mrs. Hu said? She killed Mrs. Li's child with her own hands, but she couldn't figure out why."
After hearing this, Song Chengze sat up straight and asked, "Did she say that?"
Meng Qi didn't say anything directly. Song Chengze said, "Could it be that she is loyal to the prince and giving birth to my child is a great shame and humiliation for her?" His voice was full of self-mockery.
Meng Qi shook her head. "No, how could that be? That's the foundation of her existence in the palace. If the child were alive and her story were exposed, the outcome would be completely different for her with or without the child."
That's right, he had just spent a long time in the outer courtyard thinking about how to deal with Wu. Neither the Wu family nor Wu herself would affect his decision. Only Song Nongyu would matter. How would he explain this to his daughter?
"So, what is she doing this for?" Song Chengze asked again, "It doesn't matter, just tell me. Is there anything more unacceptable to me than that fact just now?"
Meng Qi gave a wry smile, "This is even more unacceptable to you than what happened just now."
"Why?"
"Because, because that child belongs to the prince."
"What did you say?" Song Chengze stood up from the kang and brought the seasoning plate on the corner of the table to the ground, making a crackling sound.
Yuan Dong's nervous voice came from outside, "Princess, do you want to add anything?"
Meng Qi watched Song Chengze pacing back and forth in the room, his anger seeming to burst out of his chest.
"No need." Meng Qi said coldly, then got off the kang, stepped forward and took Song Chengze's hand, "Prince, please don't be like this. This is really not your fault. It's the Crown Prince and Li who are too vicious. It's their fault."
Song Chengze stood there, looking down at Meng Qi's worried face, and took a deep breath, "Why?"
Meng Qi pulled him along, gently skirting the messy floor and walking behind the screen. As she spoke, she used a wet towel to gently wipe Song Chengze's hands, which had just been splashed with the dish.
Song Chengze stood there, letting Meng Qi wipe it, and listened quietly until Meng Qi finished speaking and looked up at him, "This is why she killed the child."
Song Chengze took the handkerchief and threw it back into the basin, then pulled Meng Qi to sit on the kang in the inner room. "Yes, I remember now. It really happened. When everyone talked about the two children's resemblance, the prince seemed a little dissatisfied."
Meng Qi sat down next to him. "It's just that the Crown Prince didn't expect that his legitimate son didn't survive, but instead killed this healthy one. I'm afraid he will regret it later."
Song Chengze snorted coldly, "Two evil wolves, they can kill their own children, he deserves to be without descendants."
Meng Qi looked at Song Chengze's furrowed brows and flushed cheeks, thought for a moment, and changed the subject. "Oh, by the way, I've been forgetting to ask you. The last time I met my second sister, she talked about Qingning's life experience. She said she and her second brother-in-law had analyzed it, and she didn't know if it was true. She also said that her second brother-in-law would tell you about it."
Song Chengze was diverted by Meng Qi, so he let out a breath and stood up. "It's cold, let's go to the kang and talk."
Meng Qi hummed and didn't object. She took off her shoes and got on the kang. Song Chengze pulled the quilt over her. Then he took off his shoes and pulled another quilt over her.
(As for Qingning's life story, please refer to the last few chapters of "After the Substitute Bride" for a detailed explanation.)
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