A sliver of sunlight peeked through the swaying carriage curtain.
She spoke as if it were intentional, but Song Tangxue sat quietly and said, "The Empress invited us at 9:00 AM, and it's only 7:00 AM now. Why are you so eager, little sister?"
Song Tangli was speechless for a moment, and pursed her lips: "The Empress is the Crown Prince's birth mother, so she is also my mother. I should naturally want to fulfill my filial duty as soon as possible."
"Then don't drag me into this." Song Tangxue glanced at her, her meaning clear: it's your business if you want to act like this, and it has nothing to do with her.
"No wonder the Empress doesn't like you." Song Tangli was still speechless, and continued without thinking, "Her Majesty the Empress has long desired me to be the Crown Princess, and now her wish has come true. It's okay to tell you the truth. Bringing you along this time was just a convenient thing to do."
"If you continue to speak so recklessly in front of the Empress, don't blame your sister for being ruthless then."
Song Tangli looked smug, unconsciously feeling that she had won back a bit. No matter how much Song Tangxue tried, she could never compete with her position in the hearts of the Crown Prince and the Empress.
The Crown Prince and she were childhood sweethearts with a deep bond. The Empress also watched her grow up and has always regarded her as her daughter-in-law, showing her great favor. What can Song Tangxue, who came in halfway, compare to her?
The more Song Tangli thought about what Song Tangxue could use to compete with her, the more excited she became, even fantasizing about the Empress disciplining Song Tangxue for her.
"But don't worry, sister, I'll definitely put in a good word for you with the Empress," Song Tangli said with a mischievous smile. Just from their conversation, one would think they were close sisters.
Song Tangxue didn't reply, hoping that Song Tangli would be able to smile later.
Once inside the palace, Song Tangli released her former maid, Cuiyi, to go and catch up with old friends, so that the news of her entry into the palace could naturally reach the Empress Dowager's ears.
Cuiyi was overjoyed and grateful. She nodded to Song Tangxue and then quietly left.
Upon arriving at the Empress's bedchamber, the Empress's personal maid, Ruhua, came to greet the two of them. Ruhua was extremely attentive to Song Tangli, but ignored Song Tangxue completely.
Song Tangxue was happy to have some free time.
Song Tangli was incredibly proud and glanced at her sideways several times.
After entering the bedchamber and exchanging greetings, the two were offered seats. As soon as she sat down, Song Tangli pouted and said, "I was planning to come and see Mother earlier, but I don't know what tripped me up, Sister, that's why I'm a little late."
The Empress nodded and smiled kindly at her: "This is not your fault. But why is Tang Xue so reluctant to see the Empress Dowager? Dragging her along..."
"Ah, I suppose it wasn't intentional, sister. Sister's health isn't good. She fell ill after the wedding and couldn't get up, which wasn't her intention..." Song Tangli anxiously and quietly defended Song Tangxue.
These words seem polite, but they point out many problems. There were no problems before the wedding, but problems arose after she married into the Crown Prince's residence. This makes it sound like the Crown Prince's residence is unclean.
Song Tangxue replied calmly and confidently, "We came at the time invited by Her Majesty the Empress. If everyone breaks the rules, then there's no need to be strict about the time; it all depends on self-discipline, isn't it?"
This left the empress, who was trying to use this as an excuse, speechless. As the empress of a country, she couldn't possibly expect everyone to wait in advance.
Although it is customary for those of lower status to wait for those of higher status, it doesn't look good to make it public.
"We're all family, talking about these things will only make us feel distant." The Empress slightly turned the bracelet on her wrist, changing the subject. There were more important matters to attend to, and there was no need to waste time on such things.
Song Tangli glanced at Song Tangxue discreetly, her expression unfriendly.
Song Tangxue looked back nonchalantly and even smiled.
"Tang Xue, when will the money that your mother deposited with you be returned?" The Empress finally got to the point, picking up her teacup and smiling kindly: "Your mother doesn't have much money left to manage."
“Yes, sister, now that you’ve married into the Crown Prince’s household, you should return what Mother gave you,” Song Tangli chimed in. “Besides, when did you ever owe Mother any money?”
"Aren't you always so generous?" Song Tangli's gloating was palpable. Standing on the same side as the Empress, she condescendingly teased Song Tangxue.
"Mother is mistaken; those things are Shen's treasures." There's no reason to return what has been brought back.
The smile on the Empress's lips vanished, and she looked at Song Tangxue with cold eyes: "Tangxue, are you going to go back on your word? You promised yourself that after you got married, you would hand over the shops in your possession to your mother to manage."
"You're already exhausted from being a wife and mother in the Crown Prince's residence. Entrusting these things to your mother for safekeeping will benefit Xian'er and your family. Would your mother possibly harm you?" The Empress tried her best to whitewash this robbery-like behavior, making it sound righteous.
"Or is it that you don't trust the Empress Dowager?" These words sounded like a warning, and Song Tangxue maintained a polite smile throughout.
Song Tangli's heart suddenly skipped a beat. Those shops couldn't be handed over to the Empress; they all belonged to her!
Unfortunately, Song Tangxue had long seen through the Empress's true nature; she was a greedy and insatiable miser in human skin.
"Mother, perhaps you're a little forgetful? Didn't we say that the money would be given to you after I became the Crown Princess? If you want it, go ask the Crown Princess for it." Faced with the accusation, Song Tangxue calmly pushed Song Tangli forward.
Song Tangli has used her as a shield so many times, it's time for her to pay back.
Still unable to come up with a solution, Song Tangli looked up blankly and met the Empress's gaze, which was filled with resentment. Song Tangli gritted her teeth inwardly; Song Tangxue had tricked her again.
Song Tangxue casually spread her hands: "My dowry doesn't include any of that money. It's all my maternal grandmother's inheritance, which is now being managed by the old members of the Shen family. How can a married woman like me interfere?"
"After all, I am not the principal wife, so it is only natural that the Shen family is unwilling to give up these dowries." Song Tangxue used a retreat as a strategy to make her situation clear.
The Empress's eyes were unfathomable. Song Tangxue continued, "After all, no concubine would bring a large dowry. That would be unreasonable and would overshadow the principal wife, which would lead to gossip."
"Furthermore, Mother did not prepare a dowry for me, and I have been struggling to make ends meet since I entered the manor." This put Song Tangli in the spotlight even more. If no dowry was prepared for the legitimate daughter, where did the dowry go?
The answer is self-evident.
With just a few words, Song Tangxue silenced the Empress. Although she knew that Song Tangxue was probably just making things up, she couldn't force her, because what she said was true.
Concubines were all taken from illegitimate daughters; where would they get the money? Only the principal wife got to enjoy the finer things in the world.
As for the Empress Dowager's dowry, the Empress dared not even mention it, as the Empress Dowager was one rank above her, like a mountain.
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