"You're still arguing with me, Consort Hui! You really have a lot of nerve!" The emperor glared at the woman below.
Song Anxin buried her head on the ground: "Your Majesty, please calm your anger. This humble woman truly knew nothing."
The emperor's face was stern and cold: "You, a noblewoman of the court, have actually infiltrated the court and sided with the Crown Prince, engaging in private dealings with the Yan family. Do you know your crime?!"
Upon hearing this, Song Anxin raised her face, looking bewildered: "Your Majesty, I am only loyal to what Your Majesty is loyal to. I do not understand why this has angered Your Majesty so much."
Seeing her blank expression and hearing her words, the emperor paused, a hint of hesitation on his face.
"Loyalty to what I am loyal to?" he countered.
"Yes." Song Anxin looked at the emperor in front of her, her expression undisguised. "Your Majesty, I stand on the side of the Crown Prince, but I am only loyal to Your Majesty. As everyone knows, the Crown Prince is the heir apparent of the Great Yin Dynasty chosen by Your Majesty. He is the person Your Majesty has carefully nurtured to protect the Great Yin Dynasty in the future. I believe that Your Majesty is wholeheartedly following Your Majesty. Am I wrong?"
The emperor's eyes widened in surprise at the question.
When Eunuch Qi, who was waiting to the side, saw that Song Anxin did not defend herself but instead asked about the Emperor, he was terrified. He was afraid that the Emperor's anger would intensify and Hui Shuren's life would be in danger.
Song Anxin showed no fear, her eyes filled with sincerity. She knew that only in this way could she dispel the Emperor's suspicions about her.
The emperor paused for a moment, then instead of being angry, he laughed: "Hehe, Consort Hui, what a wonderful Consort Hui! This is the first time I've seen someone speak of this matter so frankly."
However, he was secretly pleased.
Song Anxin said loudly, "I dare not conceal anything from His Majesty."
The emperor's expression had softened, and he said, "Consort Hui, rise."
Eunuch Qi was utterly astonished. Just moments ago, the Emperor was furious, but now he was completely unharmed?! He couldn't help but cast an admiring glance at Consort Hui. How did this wise Consort Hui manage to so perfectly grasp the Emperor's thoughts?
Song Anxin's heart sank immediately. The pressure from the person in charge was truly terrifying. Fortunately, she managed to stay calm.
She knew that being honest with such powerful people was what they wanted most. She didn't form cliques or have any real power. She stood clearly before the emperor, so he naturally wouldn't make things difficult for her.
"Thank you, Your Majesty!" Song Anxin stood up.
"Cough cough cough!..." Suddenly, the emperor let out a violent cough.
Eunuch Qi quickly helped the emperor pat his back and then handed him a teacup. After taking a sip of tea, the emperor felt better.
Song Anxin looked worried and wanted to ask him something, but the emperor waved his hand and said, "Consort Hui, you may leave."
She could only say, "Then, this humble woman will take her leave. I hope Your Majesty will take care of your health."
After Song Anxin left, the emperor began to cough violently and uncontrollably. He covered his mouth with a handkerchief, and when he finally caught his breath, the handkerchief in his hand was covered in scarlet blood.
Upon seeing this, Eunuch Qi was horrified: "Your Majesty, you, you again..."
"Shut up! I'm not going to die yet." The emperor glared at him fiercely.
Eunuch Qi stopped talking, his face full of worry: "Then, then this old servant will still invite Physician Lu as usual?"
The emperor leaned back wearily in his chair, his eyes slightly closed: "Go."
Song Anxin was led out of the palace by a young eunuch when she unexpectedly ran into the eldest prince right outside the palace gate.
"Isn't this the wise and capable Lady Hui?" The eldest prince sneered when he saw Song Anxin. "Why is Lady Hui running around in the palace instead of going to the fields to think of things to please Father and those lowly people?"
He looked Song Anxin up and down, his eyes full of disdain: "That's right, a peasant woman from a remote place has finally come to this capital, so naturally she should take a look at the palace. She can brag about it to those ignorant peasants in her village when she gets back."
Song Anxin was utterly speechless. After bowing, she pressed her face against Song Anxin's and said, "I came to the palace by His Majesty's summons, and the position of Lady of Virtue was also bestowed upon me by His Majesty. I earned it through my own abilities, unlike some people who have no ability and only know how to steal others' credit! And yet they're still acting so sour and looking down on others."
Once is one thing, but Song Anxin will never tolerate it a second time. Even if you are a prince, I will not indulge you.
The eldest prince hadn't expected this woman to directly refute him and bring up the matter so openly. He was stunned for a moment, then his face flushed with anger: "You, what nonsense are you spouting!" His eyes held a hint of guilt. "This prince..."
Song Anxin chuckled and interrupted him, "Whether I'm talking nonsense or not, Your Highness knows perfectly well. If Your Highness has any complaints about me, you can go to His Majesty to impeach me. I'm very busy, unlike Your Highness who has so much free time. I'll take my leave now."
After finishing her sentence, Song Anxin gave a slight bow and walked away, quickly leaving the eldest prince behind. She felt like she needed to wash her eyes just looking at this kind of person.
The eldest prince was both angry and bewildered. Never before had anyone dared to openly challenge him like this!
He turned around, intending to call out to Song Anxin and use his princely authority to scold her, but she had already gone far away.
The eldest prince could only angrily flick his sleeves and say, "A peasant woman is a peasant woman. She walks so fast. She really is a country bumpkin. My second brother is actually trying to curry favor with someone like that. Humph!"
Song Anxin walked very fast, afraid that the dog would bite her again. As soon as she stepped out of the imperial city gate, she saw General Yan and Feng He standing not far away, both of them with worried expressions.
"Mother, you're out." Lin Fenghe asked as he saw his mother hurrying up to greet him.
Yan Shuping asked, "Has His Majesty given you any difficulties?"
Song Anxin shook her head: "Let's talk about it in the carriage."
After they boarded the carriage, Song Anxin told them everything about her conversation with the Emperor.
Lin Fenghe breathed a sigh of relief after hearing this.
"His Majesty just let it go?" Yan Shuping asked in surprise. "His Majesty has been suppressing our Crown Prince's faction all along."
Lin Fenghe thought for a moment and analyzed, "Now the power in the court is obvious, and the emperor is also aware of it. My mother has no real power, so speaking frankly is the best way to reassure the emperor. Moreover, the crown prince is indeed His Majesty's choice, and His Majesty cannot go against his own will."
“Yes,” Song Anxin continued, “I have no real power, so it’s pointless for a Lady of the Imperial Decree to suppress me. She only summoned me here today to give me a warning. I have the support of the people, so His Majesty will naturally have to take me into consideration. I am loyal to His Majesty’s choice, which is to say I am loyal to His Majesty. This is exactly the attitude His Majesty wants.”
"Oh, by the way, I ran into the First Prince when I left the palace..."
Song Anxin then recounted what had happened between her and the eldest prince.
Yan Shuping's expression turned cold as he comforted her, "Hui Shuren, there's no need to worry. He won't be able to impeach you before the Emperor."
Song Anxin knew that the reason she dared to confront the eldest prince like that was because he was certain he wouldn't dare to impeach her to the emperor. Firstly, he was guilty, and secondly, bringing up this old grievance wouldn't do him any good.
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