"Your Highness, speaking of this matter, I am truly ashamed. My sister did such a despicable thing, bringing shame to the Song family. My father was very angry about it."
Although Song Lingyu was filled with jealousy, she had been around her mother and naturally learned to say one thing and do another, and was good at putting on an act.
Her face was full of disapproval of Song Lingxi's actions, but in reality, she was itching to be the one who received all the emperor's favor.
Xiao Heng was indeed intrigued by her words, or rather, he wanted to understand Consort Ling in the palace. Knowing yourself and your enemy is the key to victory in every battle; to kill the enemy, you must first understand him.
He took Song Lingyu's hand and clasped his fingers together, seemingly to comfort her and soothe her little mood.
“Yu’er, you don’t need to worry about this kind of person. In my heart, you are you and will not be affected by her.”
Xiao Heng's gentle actions surprised Song Lingyu. She was initially flattered, then deeply moved. When she looked at Xiao Heng, her eyes sparkled with admiration.
"Your Highness, thank you for your understanding. I will serve you well and repay your kindness."
Xiao Heng nodded in satisfaction. Seeing Song Lingyu's admiration for him, he knew that this was the perfect time to win her heart, so he began to subtly probe her for information.
"Yu'er has been raised so well by my father-in-law. I am truly fortunate to have married Yu'er."
Xiao Heng first praised Song Lingyu to lower her guard, then suddenly changed the subject and mentioned Song Lingxi.
"How come your sister disregards propriety and shame, and even after marriage she couldn't live a peaceful life, she managed to seduce the Emperor. How can sisters be so different?"
Song Lingyu was still immersed in Xiao Heng's rare thoughtfulness when he asked about Song Lingxi. Song Lingyu immediately sobered up and realized that his real intention was not what he thought.
“Your Highness, when my sister was still at home, she was disobedient to our father and mother and often talked back to them, which made our parents very distressed.”
Although Song Lingyu didn't know what Xiao Heng's purpose was, she didn't want Xiao Heng to have a good impression of Song Lingxi, so she kept belittling her.
“My father doted on my sisters and specially hired a female tutor to teach them needlework, music, chess, calligraphy and painting. But my older sister often shirked her studies and didn’t learn anything.”
"Are you saying that Consort Ling has no special skills and no filial piety?"
As Xiao Heng listened, he conjured up an image of a rude, stupid, and foolish idiot in his mind, and his brows furrowed.
"I have never heard of a woman in the world who is so ignorant of manners."
"But I am truly worried. Yu'er, do you know that Consort Ling has been very favored since entering the palace? Now, I have learned that Consort Ling is pregnant."
"What!"
Song Lingyu rarely lost her composure. Of course, she knew what this meant for her. She married Xiao Heng because he might inherit the throne.
Otherwise, given how much the eldest princess disliked her, and how Xiao Heng often went out to seek pleasure behind her back, she would never want to marry such a person!
She gripped the handkerchief tightly, her brows furrowed, her previous composure completely gone, and her face looked extremely pale.
Song Lingyu has a big secret: she traveled from the 21st century. This is a novel, and I heard that the author abandoned the ending, killing off Emperor Xiao Jin, and then no one read it anymore.
She remembered this incident vividly, and therefore, she tried every means to marry the next emperor, who is now Xiao Heng.
She thought she was sitting on her own two feet, but she never expected to encounter such a huge storm that capsized her boat. What pregnancy? She didn't remember Emperor Xiao Jin having any other heirs.
"That's impossible!"
"What's impossible, Yu'er?"
Xiao Heng overheard Song Lingyu's mutterings and, seeing her somewhat overreacting reaction, quickly asked her what was wrong.
"Yu'er, why are you reacting so strongly? Consort Ling is pregnant; shouldn't that be good news for the Song family?"
Xiao Heng acted out of consideration for his family. Generally speaking, the imperial court and the harem are closely related, and the family is expected to support their daughter and provide her with the best education.
Families send their daughters to the palace for several reasons. First, they can try to gauge the emperor's opinion. Second, if someone in the family is convicted of a crime, they can plead for leniency. Third, if the daughter gains the emperor's favor, he might actually reduce her punishment.
Secondly, if a concubine becomes pregnant or even inherits the throne, the family can gain huge benefits. In other words, even a third-rate family could become the number one family in the capital.
Xiao Heng's words were both a test and a warning; he didn't want the woman he married to always side with her family.
"I... I just have some doubts. My sister is pregnant, and this child is..."
Song Lingyu paused for a moment before quickly finding an excuse. She didn't believe the child was Xiao Jin's, since Xiao Jin didn't have any children in the novel.
Her thoughts coincided with Xiao Heng's; he was also wondering about it. Others might not believe Song Lingyu's suspicions, but Xiao Heng did.
However, he wouldn't be foolish enough to say it aloud. Instead, he whispered a reminder, seemingly thinking to himself, but actually speaking to Song Lingyu.
"Yes, His Majesty said the good news was just three months ago. But if it was just three months ago, why would he be in such a hurry to say it? It would make more sense if it was three and a half months ago."
"Three and a half months—that's the day the Emperor took my sister as a concubine. Your Highness, there must be something fishy about this!"
Song Lingyu was indeed fooled. She quickly pointed out the problem, but although she made this guess, she had no proof and no way to find evidence.
“Yu’er, why don’t you go to the palace first and visit Consort Ling? You two sisters haven’t seen each other for a long time, you should catch up.”
Xiao Heng did indeed suddenly come up with a good idea: someone should go and pay a visit to Consort Ling to find out the truth.
He felt that Song Lingyu was the best choice, as she would not be abrupt and would not make the emperor think that the Princess's Mansion had ulterior motives.
However, Xiao Heng was unaware that Song Lingxi had long since broken ties with the Song family. Not to mention sending Song Lingyu there, even if Song Liwen, the old father, went in person, he would not be able to see her.
Feeling Xiao Heng's expectant gaze, Song Lingyu reluctantly agreed. Seeing the smile that instantly appeared on Xiao Heng's face, she breathed a sigh of relief.
It seems she has no choice but to go to the palace; she just doesn't know if she'll be able to get in.
Sure enough, seeing Song Lingyu obediently nod, Xiao Heng breathed a sigh of relief. His eyes softened even more. It seemed that his wife was still somewhat useful, and he hadn't made a mistake in marrying her.
"Yu'er, thank you for your hard work. It's still early, I'll go and submit your memorial to the palace now."
"So fast?"
Song Lingyu abruptly pulled her hand back, clenching both hands tightly, twisting the handkerchief in her hands into a mess, and her smile became somewhat forced.
"Your Highness... so soon? Should I prepare anything?"
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