The system did not indicate that the supplement was poisonous, which put Nian Yuyao at ease.
She glanced down and saw that the slightly chipped bowl contained bird's nest, but it wasn't normal bird's nest; it was broken pieces, and the soup contained many impurities.
Nian Yuyao smiled, thinking, "Isn't this a show of force?" This kind of thing wouldn't even be presentable to a second-class palace maid, let alone to a concubine like herself.
"Your Majesty, I am of humble status and this is all I can offer. I hope you will not find it offensive," Songyin said softly from the side, her tone quite humble, her eyes slightly lowered, looking like a typical young woman.
Looking at Song Yin's pitiful and aggrieved expression, Nian Yuyao thought to herself: "Hmph, don't think I can't see through you. You just want to use our past relationship to regain my trust. Too bad you've miscalculated one thing: I'm not the original owner of this body, and I will never be defeated by such a petty trick!"
"Really? Is this your best possession?" She looked at Song Yin with a half-smile in her phoenix eyes.
Songyin had never seen Nian Yuyao look at her like that before, and she couldn't help but shiver. But she quickly regained her composure and said, "Yes, Your Highness, I would never dare to lie to you."
Nian Yuyao slightly curled her lips, her gaze towards Songyin flashing with a profound meaning. She glanced indifferently at the red bracelet on Songyin's wrist and asked without showing any emotion, "I heard that the Emperor has bestowed many things upon you. This red bracelet on your wrist alone could make hundreds of bowls of bird's nest soup. It's clear that you didn't come here sincerely."
“Your Majesty, how can you say that?” Songyin’s eyes were red. “That was a gift from the Emperor, it’s different. This bowl of bird’s nest was bought with my own money, and then carefully selected and slowly simmered for several hours.”
"With such dedication, it seems I have no choice but to drink it?" Nian Yuyao said coldly.
"This is my humble wish, I only wish to gain Your Majesty's forgiveness. If Your Majesty does not accept it, are you still blaming me and the Emperor?"
Nian Yuyao remained calm and continued watching Song Yin's performance.
Seeing that she didn't speak, Songyin finally let her long-held fake tears fall. She choked out, "Your Majesty, this really is not my fault. It was all His Majesty's will. I am of lowly status, how could I dare to disobey?"
Upon hearing this, Nian Yuyao's expression grew even colder. It was clearly Song Yin who used underhanded methods, yet she shifted the blame onto someone else. This only added a hint of contempt to her gaze.
“That’s right, I’m still blaming you, and I’m even blaming the Emperor,” Nian Yuyao said, raising an eyebrow.
"This..." Song Yin was stunned. It was really too illogical. Even the Empress would have to put on a good show, but Nian Yuyao was completely unconcerned about the gazes of everyone in the harem.
“Your Majesty, you…” Songyin looked at Nian Yuyao with innocent eyes.
Nian Yuyao curled her lip in disdain and said coldly, "Don't look at me like that, it makes me feel nauseous."
“Your Majesty…” Songyin bit her lip, tears streaming down her face, thinking to herself: What madness has Yuyao gone this year? Where has his usual gentleness and generosity gone? Was it all an act?
Seeing this, Nian Yuyao couldn't help but scoff, thinking to himself: You still think you can manipulate me? You're too green.
However, at this moment, she thought of a way that could not only punish Song Yin, but also perhaps draw out the mastermind behind it all.
So she smiled and said, "If you want me to forgive you, you can drink this bowl of bird's nest soup." With that, she picked up the bowl of bird's nest soup.
Seeing this, a glint of triumph flashed in Songyin's eyes, but she still wore a pitiful expression on her face. "As long as Your Majesty can forgive me, I am willing to do anything for you."
Nian Yuyao said softly, "I don't need you to do anything. You just need to kneel on the ground sincerely for the time it takes to burn an incense stick, and then kowtow thirty times. Perhaps I will forgive you."
"What?" Songyin was shocked. "Thirty kowtows and one incense stick? Your Majesty is clearly making things difficult for us."
"I'm forcing you. If you don't want to kneel, you can get out now," Nian Yuyao said impatiently, her pretty face showing intense disgust. "Don't forget, you betrayed me first."
"I have already explained, this is His Majesty..."
"I don't want to hear it. If you want my forgiveness, then do as I say right now." Nian Yuyao said coldly, then slammed the bird's nest in her hand down.
For her own purposes, no matter how unwilling she was, Songyin could only grit her teeth and say, "Since this is what Your Highness requests, then this concubine agrees."
Nian Yuyao snorted coldly, turned around and walked to the table to sit down, and instructed, "Chenxi, go and light the incense."
Chen Xi, who was outside the door, responded cheerfully and ran quickly. She was incredibly excited at that moment.
Just as Song Yin entered, Chen Xi arrived as well, but because Nian Yuyao hadn't invited her in, she waited at the door.
Soon after, incense was lit inside the room.
Songyin had no choice but to kneel down and kowtow thirty times. After the thirty kowtows, a bump began to swell on her forehead. But when she raised her head, she was dumbfounded. The incense stick was twice the size of the usual one, and it would take at least two hours to burn.
Chen Xi met Song Yin's stunned gaze with a smug look, as if to say, "I did it on purpose, let's see how you bully your master now."
Songyin came to her senses, but it was too late. If she went back on her word now, wouldn't all those thirty kowtows have been for nothing?
Thinking of this, she could only grit her teeth and persevere.
She was filled with hatred and wished she could kill this damned Chen Xi.
Nian Yuyao sat there quietly, looking at the scene before her, a faint smile appearing on her lips. This kind of torment was the best possible outcome.
In order to make the incense burn more slowly, Songyin closed the doors and windows, leaving only a small crack, because Yuyao was still in confinement that year and should not be exposed to the wind.
The incense burned for two and a half hours before it gradually went out. During this time, Nian Yuyao ate and teased Fu Pei as usual, without missing a single thing.
"Your Majesty, can you forgive me now?" Songyin tried to stand up, but her knees were numb from kneeling for so long. She tentatively reached out to grab the edge of the stool to get up, but she used too much force and the stool fell down with her.
She endured the pain, her face contorted in agony.
"I forgive you for this." Nian Yuyao kept her word, then picked up the swallow's nest and slowly walked towards Song Yin's side.
Just as Song Yin thought her scheme had succeeded and she had just revealed an evil smile, a cold and sticky liquid began to flow down her head.
Her eyes widened, and she instinctively tried to cover herself with her sleeve, but it was too late. Her hair was completely soaked, and a clear liquid clung to her body.
That's right, this is the bird's nest soup she made herself. Nian Yuyao didn't drink a drop; he poured it all on her.
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