Song Tangxue's gaze swept over Haitang, who nodded almost imperceptibly. Song Tangxue smiled with satisfaction and said, "Cuixi, please sit down too. Now that you've entered my courtyard, we're all one family, a harmonious and happy family. Come on."
Cui Xi looked up, her eyes filled with surprise and disbelief: "Miss..."
Haitang slammed the bowl down on the table with a loud thud: "If Miss tells you to sit, then sit. Why are you making so many noises?"
As he spoke, he glanced at her sideways, and Cui Xi stiffened, her steps halting as she walked forward.
Song Tangxue tugged at Haitang: "Alright, Cuixi, sit down and eat."
Haitang snorted heavily, picked up her bowl and chopsticks, and glared at her fiercely. Cuixi sat down cautiously, her eyes lowered.
Haitang's glares were constantly piercing her.
It's easy to imagine that since he had just arrived and was ordered by the Empress to oust Haitang who had been serving him, Haitang's resentment was only temporary.
She no longer needs to serve the Empress; the position can be returned to Haitang.
After lunch, Song Tangxue summoned Haitang and Cuixi into the room. When Haitang entered, she bumped into Cuixi hard, causing Cuixi to lose her balance and fall to the ground. Another maid ran over and helped her up.
Once inside, the door closed, and Haitang grabbed her arm, her face full of guilt: "Are you alright? I just wanted to touch you, but I didn't mean to knock you over."
Cui Xi was a little surprised. Song Tangxue sat down and said, "Alright, Haitang, don't scare Cui Xi."
Cui Xi stood blankly to the side with Hai Tang. Song Tangxue looked at her and asked, "Cui Xi, would you be willing to help me?"
Cui Xi immediately knelt down to pledge her loyalty: "I am willing. No matter what Miss wants to do, please just say the word if there is anything that can be done with Cui Xi."
Song Tangxue nodded: "I want you to introduce Haitang to the Empress."
Cui Xi looked up in surprise, then understood what Song Tangxue meant and nodded in agreement.
The Empress was not a good mistress; she even fed her medicine before letting her leave the palace. Now, all of that has been taken care of by the young lady, which is equivalent to giving her a second chance at life.
And that's how the matter was settled.
When they left, Haitang looked angry, while Cuixi was beaming with joy. The contrast between the two was obvious, and the servants in the courtyard pondered to themselves.
The next day, Song Tangxue made Cuixi responsible for her food, clothing, and shelter from now on, while Haitang was demoted to an ordinary servant. Her eyes immediately welled up with tears, and she lowered her head.
Cui Xi looked at her smugly; the person standing next to Song Tangxue had become Cui Xi.
That evening, Cuixi and Haitang came out of the back gate of the Song residence and followed the path to a dog hole at the palace gate, which led to the outskirts of the city.
Upon arriving at a secluded riverbank, the messenger nanny had been waiting for a long time. In the afternoon, Cui Xi had already written a letter to the Empress, informing her that she had turned Song Tangxue's personal maid, Haitang, against her.
Haitang was deeply loved by Song Tangxue. With her around, Song Tangxue's money was the Empress's money.
Empress Cheng was overjoyed and immediately sent her maid out of the palace that night to meet with the two of them and discuss the matter.
Upon seeing the old nanny, Haitang immediately started chattering: "Miss Song is really going too far. She changed my position just like that, and she's usually so stingy. I haven't received my monthly allowance for three months..."
The old woman listened patiently, and the more Haitang talked, the happier she became. She took out a silver hairpin from her sleeve and said, "This hairpin was specially bestowed upon you by Her Majesty the Empress."
Haitang carefully took the hairpin, stroking it with obvious affection: "This servant will certainly serve my mistress well!"
The old woman took out another pill and handed it to Cui Xi, who was clearly distracted. Cui Xi immediately smiled, looking relieved.
The nanny nodded in relief and left. Having completed their task, Haitang and Cuixi returned to the Song residence with peace of mind. The hairpin appeared in front of Song Tangxue, and Haitang looked at her with disdain: "It's just a plain hairpin, ptooey."
Song Tangxue fiddled with the hairpin, then casually tossed it aside.
The next day, Empress Cheng was in a very good mood and had the leisure to tend to the flowers in the palace. Her nanny came in and handed her a letter.
Empress Cheng dismissed her attendants and began to read the book word by word. A smile gradually spread across her face, and after finishing, she exclaimed "Good!" three times.
Her slender hands stroked the letter in her hand. The letter was naturally sent by Haitang and Cuixi. She thought to herself that Haitang had persuaded Song Tangxue to send all the money she had to the palace on a certain day.
It's important to understand that Song Tangxue controls the Shen family business; while she may not be incredibly wealthy, she possesses a substantial amount of money.
The Queen excitedly burned the envelope and couldn't help but clap her hands in admiration, saying, "I made such a brilliant move!"
The personal maid rushed in from outside the door and immediately knelt on the ground, covered in cold sweat.
The Empress's good mood vanished by half: "Speak if you have something to say."
The palace maid gritted her teeth: "Consort Lin's pregnancy is safe. The Emperor is currently in her palace. I heard..."
"I heard that many rewards were also given."
"Bang..."
The small incense burner on the table was thrown to the ground, scattering incense ash everywhere. The palace maids and nannies knelt down, bowing their heads and not daring to speak.
"That bitch! How could she have kept this pregnancy? She's a worthless woman, yet she still wanted to give birth to a prince."
Empress Cheng smiled sinisterly: "Heh."
This child cannot be kept. The Consort is already favored, and if he were to give birth to a son or daughter, the Emperor's heart would likely be captivated.
This situation is not good for either the crown prince or her.
Song Tangxue was completely unaware of the strange happenings in the palace. She slept soundly until the next day. When the sun was at its zenith, Song Tangxue summoned Cuixi and dressed herself up nicely.
They arrived at Song's mother's courtyard.
Song's mother was having her meal. The table was full of dishes from the morning, including a bowl of bird's nest. Song's father had gone to court, and Song Tangli was eating in her own courtyard.
Today, only Song's mother was having breakfast. When she saw Song Tangxue arrive uninvited, Song's mother frowned, and her brow twitched.
She felt uneasy as soon as she woke up in the morning; it turned out that this vengeful ghost was coming.
Completely ignoring her mother's disapproving look, Song Tangxue sat down in the chair with an air of nonchalance: "Mother, have you forgotten something?"
Thinking of that thousand taels of silver, Song's mother's heart was bleeding. She pretended to change the subject, saying, "What could Mother possibly forget?"
As long as he doesn't bring it up, Song Tangxue will still make up the 1,000 taels of silver. It's always been like this before, and it will be the same now.
"The Empress asked for a thousand taels of silver, but Mother hasn't given it to me yet." Song Tangxue wasn't going to be taken advantage of again, and looked at her mother with a smile.
Song's mother choked with emotion, her smile somewhat awkward: "Tang Xue, you see, your mother is also short of money. I really can't come up with this thousand taels of silver. You are generous with your money, could you make up for it for your mother first, and I will pay you back later?"
It sounds better to talk than to act. If Song Tangxue were to actually take out this money, it would be like throwing a meat bun to a dog – gone forever.
Song Tangxue sneered inwardly, her eyes slowly sweeping over the dazzling array of items on the table. Song's mother looked somewhat embarrassed, especially at the bowl of bird's nest soup, something even nobles in the palace might not drink every day.
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