Chapter 285 Should I also bow?
"What does the Empress think?"
Song Zhuyi gave a standard smile, "I will do as Your Majesty wishes."
Xiao Yu was merely asking him a question; how could he possibly take his opinion seriously?
Song Zhuyi smiled bitterly to herself. In the past, she would have felt sorry for Song Zhuran, but she would have thought that the two sisters could take care of each other in the palace, just as the Emperor had hoped.
When Emperor Xiao Yu saw that Empress Song Zhuyi was no longer pressing the matter, he felt a pang of guilt but also breathed a sigh of relief.
The empress was a well-educated and reasonable person, which saved him a lot of trouble.
Just as Xiao Yu helped Song Zhuyi to sit down, Wu Panpan limped in and said, "Your Majesty, the culprit in this matter has been found."
Seeing that Wu Panpan went to investigate the matter without resting for a moment after receiving her punishment, Xiao Yu felt less angry with her.
"explain."
Wu Panpan immediately lowered her head and said, "It was Little Li from the Imperial Kitchen who, on Consort Su's orders, added some aphrodisiacs to Miss Song and His Majesty's tea..."
"This Consort Su was exiled by His Majesty because her father was corrupt. Consort Su had pleaded with the Empress, but the Empress refused, saying that the inner palace should not interfere in politics. Consort Su was furious."
"Knowing that the Empress Dowager favors Miss Song the most, she did this in order to get revenge."
"When this servant arrived, Consort Song had already hanged herself."
"Unable to withstand the torture, Little Li confessed the truth and then bit off his tongue and committed suicide."
The explanation was so perfect that Xiao Yu believed it. "Are there any other people in the Su family?"
"Your Majesty, there is also a younger sister from a collateral branch."
"Kill him." Xiao Yu uttered two words calmly.
"Your Majesty," said Empress Song Zhuyi, "this was done by Consort Su, and she is her sister from a collateral branch. Speaking of which, many members of the Su family within three generations were implicated in the matter of Lord Su's embezzlement. They kept this child because she was still an infant."
"Why don't we just leave it at that? If I remember correctly, Consort Su's younger sister has been adopted by a commoner family."
"Your Majesty has a good memory. That's right. The child is now seven or eight years old."
When the Emperor saw that the Empress had pleaded for leniency, he knew that the Empress must also be feeling bad about this matter, so the Emperor went along with her and said, "Since the Empress has spoken, then the child will be spared punishment."
"Thank you, Your Majesty." Empress Song Zhuyi bowed.
She knew in her heart that Su Meiren was nothing more than a knife in the hands of her good sister.
Whether she hanged herself or not is still unknown. The beautiful Su was gentle and kind, and when she came to beg him, she was full of apologies.
Moreover, although she refused outwardly, she still helped her find a solution in private. Only she and Su Meiren knew about this. Furthermore, if Su Meiren wanted to frame her, she would have done so long ago.
How could it have waited until today?
Leaving a bloodline for the Su family was the last thing she could do.
As for that young Li from the imperial kitchen, he was probably willing to die, otherwise how would he have dared to poison the emperor, and why would he confess his crimes before committing suicide?
“Your Majesty, there is one more thing,” Wu Panpan said softly. “The Grand Princess just sent someone with a letter, saying she wants to ask Miss Song to…”
"Oh no, it's Consort Song. She said that Princess Ping'an wants Consort Song to attend her wedding banquet at the Grand Princess's residence."
Xiao Yu pondered the Grand Princess's intentions, and Wu Panpan continued, "I heard that the Princess Consort of Langya went to the Grand Princess's residence early this morning."
"The princess also asked someone to pass on a message to Her Majesty the Empress, saying that her mother's condition has fully recovered and thanking Her Majesty the Empress for her concern."
"Already healed?" the Empress asked in surprise. Considering the time elapsed, if she hadn't recovered, she feared...
It seems that Jiang Wan Ning was able to attend Princess Ping An's wedding banquet, which means she must have recovered. However, I'm afraid that Jiang Wan Ning's trip wasn't just a simple attendance at the wedding banquet, but rather an attempt to cause trouble.
As Song Zhuyi thought about it, she smiled with relief. Fortunately, Jiang Shi had recovered, otherwise she would probably have been accused of ordering a murder.
"The Empress seems to have gotten along much better with the Princess of Langya these past few days," Emperor Xiao Yu asked tentatively.
"Your Majesty, the Princess Consort of Langya cured my illness, which is why I was fortunate enough to conceive Your Majesty's child. Naturally, I wish to make her feel better as well."
Xiao Yu nodded. "The Empress is right."
"In that case, Your Majesty, please accompany Consort Song to the Grand Princess's residence."
"I wonder what tricks my aunt is up to this time. With the Empress around, Consort Song will certainly not suffer any injustice. She is too naive."
"And then there's this matter..." Emperor Xiao Yu paused for a moment before speaking, "The Empress should comfort her; I hadn't even considered it..."
Xiao Yu had indeed always treated Song Zhuran as a younger sister, but now that things had come to this, he could only accept it. Besides, it was normal for an emperor to have one or two more women in his harem.
Despite her discomfort, Song Zhuyi bowed and said, "Yes, Your Majesty, I obey."
When Song Zhuyi came to find Song Zhuran, the other woman was huddled in a corner. Although she had changed her clothes, she seemed to have been quite frightened.
If Song Zhuyi hadn't already known her younger sister's true colors, she would probably only feel pity and tenderness for her right now.
The door opened, and Song Zhuran slowly raised her head, "Sister!"
As she spoke, she threw herself into Song Zhuyi's arms.
Song Zhuyi gave a wink, and the nanny beside her immediately understood. "Miss Song, you are now a Noble Lady. When you see the Empress, you must first pay your respects. You can no longer do it the same way as before."
"Should I bow as well?" Song Zhuran looked up, fluttering her wet eyelashes.
"The order of ruler and subject comes before father and son, and the same applies to the harem," the old woman said softly.
Song Zhuran wanted Song Zhuyi to speak up for her, but Song Zhuyi helped her up and said softly, "Ranran, since you have already embarked on this path..."
"From now on, you can only be Consort Song in this harem, not the young lady of the Song family."
"I will find two nannies to teach you palace etiquette in the future. I have also sent someone to inform your grandfather and father about your matter."
"Today is Princess Ping'an's wedding day. The Grand Princess has come to invite you. Please prepare yourself so I can accompany you."
"What?" A flicker of panic crossed Song Zhuran's eyes, but she quickly regained her composure. "I've never had any dealings with her before. What does she want with me?"
"Sister, I don't want to go," Song Zhuran pouted.
Empress Song Zhuyi said calmly, "Ranran, this is an imperial edict."
"As I said, you are now Consort Song. His Majesty commands you to go, and you cannot disobey the decree."
"His Majesty sent me?"
Song Zhuyi nodded gently, "Alright, go pack your things. I'll wait for you here. We'll set off in an incense stick's time."
A sense of unease rose in Song Zhuran's heart, but she had no other choice at the moment, so she could only nod in agreement.
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