Chapter 519 The Truth
Jiang Fenghua arrived at Song Qing's palace and saw Song Qing playing with the Second Prince. She was clearly a loving mother. The Second Prince was strong and taller than other children his age.
Jiang Fenghua never treated the other princes harshly, treating them all equally, so the second prince also had many new clothes.
When Song Qing saw Jiang Fenghua arrive, her eyes were full of smiles. She stepped forward warmly to greet her and asked, "What brings Your Highness here?"
"I just wandered around and ended up at Jinghe Palace," Jiang Fenghua said. "I've heard that Jinghe Palace has the most delicious food. I wonder if I'll have the chance to enjoy it."
Song Qing was also very happy and asked Dong'er to bring the delicious fruits and snacks to Jiang Fenghua. "There are so many delicious things in my palace. Your Majesty, please try this. It's soft and sweet. My parents asked someone to bring it to me."
Jiang Fenghua tasted a piece and said, "It really is delicious. Consort Shu's parents really love you."
"Yes, they loved me the most. Even though I've married, they still think of me. It's just a pity that I may never see them again in this lifetime." Thinking of her family, Song Qing's eyes suddenly filled with tears.
Jiang Fenghua held her hand and wiped away the tears from the corners of her eyes, "You will still have the chance to see your parents again."
Song Qing shook her head. "How could a woman who has married into the harem possibly see them again, especially someone like me?"
Jiang Fenghua suddenly remembered that among the concubines who entered the palace, it seemed that only Song Qing had never met her parents. Every time a banquet was held in the palace, the other concubines would have the opportunity to see their parents again. For example, Zhu Zhenzhen was able to enter the palace for every banquet because her father held a high official position.
Song Qing was different; she didn't have the chance to see her father.
"If you miss your parents, you can bring them to the capital for a reunion, or I will grant you permission to return to your hometown to visit your relatives."
Song Qing's eyes lit up. "Really? I can see them again."
"I guarantee it to you, it's possible." Jiang Fenghua said with absolute certainty.
"Thank you, Your Majesty. Since I entered the palace, only Your Majesty has been kind to me. I am truly grateful to Your Majesty," she said again.
Jiang Fenghua walked to the table and saw the scriptures on it. She said, "Why are you still copying scriptures?" She had a good memory, and these scriptures were the repentance scriptures that she had copied last time.
Song Qing's eyes became flustered, and she said, "I was just bored and wanted to practice my calligraphy, so I just randomly picked some books to write from."
"The handwriting is quite good too. Consort Shu must have put in a lot of effort!" Jiang Fenghua praised. She clearly remembered that she hadn't seen these scriptures when she came to Song Qing's palace last time. Perhaps she had deliberately hidden them, but why would she have hidden them?
Jiang Fenghua hugged the Second Prince again, and the Second Prince also liked her very much. He kissed Jiang Fenghua's cheeks a few times and laughed.
Jiang Fenghua kissed the Second Prince's little face and said with a smile, "The Second Prince is being raised so well by Consort Shu. He is taller and bigger than other children his age. Consort Shu should take good care of the Second Prince. He will surely be blessed in the future."
"Yes." Song Qing's mood suddenly sank. She didn't dare to look Jiang Fenghua in the eye. Now she couldn't sleep peacefully every night.
Jiang Fenghua noticed her panic and said to the wet nurse and Dong'er, "Take the Second Prince away. I will discuss Buddhist scriptures with Consort Shu for a while."
The servants took the Second Prince away, and Granny Wang also left, leaving only Jiang Fenghua and Song Qing in the room.
Jiang Fenghua sat down at the desk and picked up a pen to start copying. As she copied, she muttered to herself, "It is indeed not easy to calm down and copy Buddhist scriptures. I wonder if a person can really reduce the sins in their heart even if they read these words with the utmost care? Buddhism talks about cause and effect, and the cycle of six realms of reincarnation."
These past few days, Song Qing had been terrified, and her lips were trembling as she said, "Your Majesty."
Jiang Fenghua's eyes flashed with a sharp, cold light as she stared intently at Song Qing. "I have seen the Buddhist scriptures you copied for the Third Prince. They were very carefully copied. You copied so many by yourself, didn't you? You want to atone for your sins and repent to the Third Prince, is that it?"
Tears welled up in her eyes, "I..."
"Speak," Jiang Fenghua said, softening her tone. "The reason I came here is to hear your explanation."
Song Qing suddenly knelt on the ground, tears streaming down her face. "I was just thinking that he was so young, what did he do wrong? Why should he have to suffer all this pain for his mother? I really didn't mean it. I can fool everyone else, but I can't fool myself. So I'm so scared. I always have nightmares at night, dreaming of a child crying. It's the Third Prince's voice. He looks at me as if he's begging for help, but I didn't save him."
After hearing this, Jiang Fenghua said in a deep voice, "So the Third Prince could have been saved that night. How exactly did the Third Prince die?"
“I saw the wet nurse feed him medicine with my own eyes. I knew that it was dangerous for a child to drink too much licorice soup, but I didn’t stop her. The wet nurse who was taking care of the Third Prince left him alone in the side hall because she wanted to go out and see the excitement. She probably thought that the Third Prince would fall asleep after drinking the medicine, but he kept crying after being fed the medicine.” Song Qing continued, “I felt like I was possessed at the time. I felt very annoyed watching him cry, so I covered the Third Prince’s swaddling clothes more tightly, and then he stopped making a sound.”
Jiang Fenghua's expression turned solemn, and she said in a deep voice, "So he was deliberately smothered to death by you."
“I don’t know. He stopped crying soon after, and I didn’t dare to lift the swaddling clothes to look.” Song Qing’s eyes were full of regret. “From that day on, I couldn’t sleep well every day. The Third Prince’s crying kept echoing in my ears. I was afraid. He was still a child.”
"What gives Tang Qianran the right to act so arrogantly? She only became a Noble Consort because of her child!" Song Qing said again.
Jiang Fenghua had mixed feelings. She knew that Song Qing and Tang Qianran had a grudge, and Song Qing must have done this with hatred for Tang Qianran in her heart.
She said, "I have my doubts, but the answer I want to hear is that this matter has nothing to do with you. I even hope that you will give more advice to the Song family. You are confused! No matter what, the Third Prince is the heir to the throne. Can you bear the crime of plotting against the heir to the throne?"
"Song Qing, I know you are very smart. If a woman who enters the harem is too stupid, she will not be able to sit in your position. However, being too smart may be your downfall. I am not as easy to talk to as you think, nor am I going to protect you. I will say the same thing again: as long as you behave yourselves, I will not mistreat you."
"I'm sorry, I've been regretting it all this time. I was wrong." She cried. "I really regret it. I'm also a mother, but I did something heinous. I feel so guilty. I'm willing to accept whatever punishment Your Majesty deems appropriate."
Jiang Fenghua said, "From now on, this matter will remain a secret in your heart. The Third Prince is destined to suffer this calamity. I hope he will be reborn into a good family."
Even after being reborn into Tang Qianran's womb and growing up, she was only used by the Tang clan.
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