The hall remained silent, save for the sound of the wind turning the pages of books on the table. Song Tangxue stood quietly at the lower end of the hall. She was in no hurry; she had a trump card up her sleeve. It was Consort Lin who was on the defensive.
As expected, Consort Lin sighed heavily, as if resigned to her fate, and collapsed onto the couch as if all her strength had been drained away: "How did you know?"
The hand that had been supporting her stomach was withdrawn; it hadn't been properly tied in her haste, and was limp and lifeless.
Without this child, how could she compete with the Empress?
"How I know this is not important. What matters is the result. What does Consort Lin plan to do now?" Song Tangxue seemed fearless and not worried at all about being silenced here.
Consort Lin took a deep breath, lay back on the couch, her brows furrowed with a deep, lingering resentment: "The Empress told you, didn't she?"
This statement was like grasping at the last straw, hoping for a denial from Song Tangxue.
"Consort Lin, you still haven't grasped the key point. If I were sent by the Empress, you wouldn't be sitting here today," Song Tangxue said leisurely.
Consort Lin suddenly realized what was going on and relaxed a little. Knowing Empress Cheng's temperament, if she were to suppress this one mistake, she would surely do so relentlessly, making it impossible for Consort Lin to recover.
Consort Lin's lifeless eyes suddenly brightened a bit, her beautiful phoenix eyes narrowed slightly, her face was as lovely as a peach blossom, captivating anyone who looked at her.
The Imperial Concubine's beauty surpassed even that of the Empress, captivating the young Emperor and causing the Empress to feel as if she were facing a formidable enemy.
"So you're asking me for money?" Consort Lin guessed. People live for nothing more than money and power. If she could keep Song Tangxue from talking, she was willing to spend money.
The child was her bargaining chip; she couldn't afford to lose him.
Song Tangxue was not short of money. She had the Shen family under her control, so she had no shortage of money: "Your Highness, I just wanted to remind you of a few things. After all, I am not very close to Empress Cheng."
When talking to a smart person, there's no need to spell it out; this is what it means to gain an ally, Consort Lin understood.
It seems the rumors outside are wrong. The rumors are that the Crown Princess likes the Crown Prince and will marry him with her family fortune, thus broadening the Crown Prince's horizons.
Consort Lin softened her gaze. This woman must be quite capable to be able to act under the noses of the Empress and the Crown Prince: "I wonder what insightful opinion Miss Song has?"
I'm already at my wit's end, so I might as well listen to her opinion.
"I wouldn't call it a brilliant insight, but the current Empress is vindictive and petty, and she must want to get rid of the child in your womb as soon as possible," Song Tangxue pointed out the Empress's shortcomings incisively.
"Why don't you turn the tables on her and show off in a high-profile manner, so that Empress Cheng will hold a grudge and you can use her to abort the child?"
Song Tangxue's idea for Consort Lin made her heart tremble. In the past, she was always worried about being exposed and would avoid it if she could. She had never thought of this possibility.
With a solution to the pent-up frustration in her heart, Consort Lin suddenly realized and looked at Song Tangxue with gratitude: "You have helped me a great deal."
Song Tangxue smiled gently: "It's just a small favor."
Consort Lin rose from the couch herself and took Song Tangxue's hand: "I thank you this time. In the past, I was always held back by my family and dared not do such a bold thing. You have cleared the clouds and enlightened me."
"If you're going to put on an act, you have to go all the way. Your Highness, remember to go to the Imperial Hospital to get a prescription to protect your pregnancy. Most importantly, you have to show off to the Empress. Make sure the Empress knows how much favor you have this pregnancy, and spread the word that this baby is a prince!"
"The Empress is impatient and will always find fault with you, trying to prevent the child from being born. This is how your opportunity comes."
Those remaining in the palace were all close associates of Consort Lin. Song Tangxue spoke frankly, revealing her entire plan so that Consort Lin could have a reference.
The power dynamics within the palace are complex and intertwined; ultimately, everything depends on Consort Lin herself.
After saying this, Song Tangxue bent down and said, "It's getting late, so I'll leave the palace first."
Consort Lin told her to take care and had her personal maid see her out. She lowered her head and looked at the flickering flame, her brows furrowed. She gently adjusted the wick, thinking that perhaps she really could influence the Empress.
As they approached the palace gate, Song Tangxue jogged to the front, her cheeks flushed, and stopped at the gate, looking around.
The old woman led a palace maid out. She had just seen this maid in the Empress's palace. The maid bowed and greeted her.
The old woman scrutinized her for a few moments, and Song Tangxue, still catching her breath, explained in a low voice, "I found the token on the way here, and I was in a hurry, so I asked a maid for a shortcut. I'm sorry to have kept you waiting, old woman."
Those who came out of the Empress's palace would definitely tell the nanny that they hadn't been there and hadn't encountered her on the way there.
Song Tangxue had already prepared an excuse for herself, unafraid of the nanny's questioning.
The old woman looked at her suspiciously, but Song Tangxue smiled faintly, her expression open and honest. The old woman didn't press further: "Then hurry up and leave the palace."
"Oh, by the way, Her Majesty the Empress misses Miss Song. This palace maid has been serving her for a long time and is quite pleasing to the eye. She will now be given to Miss Song to take care of her daily life," the nanny said softly.
Upon hearing this, the palace maid cautiously stepped forward: "This servant greets Miss Song."
Song Tangxue knew perfectly well what this palace maid was really like; she was just a spy sent by the Empress.
On the surface, however, she feigned a delighted expression: "Really? Thank you, Your Majesty the Empress." As if she had received some tremendous reward.
The old woman smiled sarcastically. She was just a naive girl who had never seen the world. Did she really deserve such a serious treatment from the Empress? Well, this half-grown child had countless coins in her hands.
In such easily controlled hands, money is essentially unclaimed. As long as Song Tangxue's mind is understood, money will be plentiful.
Money makes the world go round, and the prince's future will be much brighter.
Song Tangxue leaned down, her tone equally mocking: "I wonder what this palace maid's name is?"
The old woman smiled and said, "The past is the past. Now that she's been sent to serve you, you are her mistress, so you should be the one to take this name."
After racking her brains, Song Tangxue finally said, "Let's call her Cuixi over there."
Cui Xi immediately knelt down: "Thank you, Miss, for bestowing this name upon me."
Upon arriving at the Song residence, the nanny went to deliver the imperial decree, and Song Tangxue feigned concern, saying, "I'm a little tired today, please allow me to wash up first."
The old woman didn't care: "You know Her Majesty's decree, so there's no need for you to come over. Go and rest."
Song Tangxue was happy to have some peace and quiet. After delivering this decree, her mother would definitely come looking for trouble. Song Tangxue wanted to conserve her energy to deal with her unreasonable mother.
Regardless of the circumstances, they absolutely have to pay this money. After using her own money for so many years, how could Song Tangxue be content without giving back a single penny?
As expected, Song Tangxue had just settled down in her own courtyard when her mother arrived in a menacing manner, this time with even her usually silent father following behind.
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