Song Wenyue bit her lower lip; she really thought Yuwen Wuji was despicable.
He didn't seem to cherish the other person much while she was alive. If he truly loved Empress Jingxian, he wouldn't have let her be plotted against and killed by his own concubines.
To love someone is to cherish everything about her—her safety, her joy, and everything about her.
Do people only realize how much they loved after they die?
That's absolutely stupid.
However, the palace maid's words reminded her that she had an older sister who looked very much like Empress Jingxian.
Previously, the Imperial Concubine had tried to curry favor by sending Song Yaozhu to the Emperor's bed, almost implicating herself in the scheme. Why couldn't she use her adopted older sister to secure the Emperor's favor as well?
Thinking of this, she suppressed her emotions.
Since entering the palace, her mindset has become much calmer. Sometimes, when she looks back on the past, she can't even understand why she was so foolish to fall for Song Yaozhu's schemes.
If it were her now, she would never let Song Yaozhu control her again!
The next day, after finishing her work, she immediately took the ginseng soup that she had been simmering all morning to Qiankun Palace to find Yuwen Wuji.
Yuwen Wuji disliked her because of Song Zhao's poem. But thinking of his youngest son, he still let her in, though he didn't give her a friendly look.
With a smile, Song Wenyue presented the ginseng soup and said, "Your Majesty, I know you are busy with official duties lately and there are some small matters that I cannot bother you with. However, there are some things that I am really unsure about and would like to ask Your Majesty for advice."
Yuwen Wuji placed the soup bowl aside, his eyes filled with coldness as he looked at her.
"What is it? Speak."
"It's like this, the weather is getting warmer. Will the list of concubines going to the Summer Palace this year be the same as in previous years? There are quite a few new ladies arriving this year. Would Your Majesty like to select a few?"
Yuwen Wuji thought it was something important, but was displeased to hear about such a trivial matter.
The words "Summer Palace" still bother him.
Before he could speak, Song Wenyue continued, "I haven't been able to see my sister for a year. This trip to the manor will allow me to reunite with her. Just thinking about it fills me with immense excitement!"
Upon hearing her mention Song Yaozhu, Yuwen Wuji pictured Song Yaozhu's face, which was almost indistinguishable from Xie Wanqing's.
Especially their eyes; the way they look at people is so similar.
Furthermore, he had tried to possess Song Yaozhu several times, only to have her "run away," so how could he not be resentful?
At the time, Song Wenyue was pregnant, and he was also preoccupied with other matters, which distracted him. Now, thinking of her again, that restless longing resurfaced, making him feel uneasy.
He glanced at Song Wenyue, whose ingratiating smile seemed to say it all.
Yuwen Wuji chuckled and picked up the bowl to take a sip of ginseng soup.
"I'll go to your place tonight, and we'll talk then."
Song Wenyue's smile became more genuine. She cleared away the dishes and took her leave.
He felt even more strongly that Yuwen Wuji should be renamed "Utterly Shameless".
With Song Wenyue's reminder, Yuwen Wuji immediately ordered someone to draft a list of the accompanying personnel for this trip to the Summer Palace, and the Xiaoyao Prince's Mansion was prominently listed.
However, he soon received a leave request from the Prince of Xiaoyao's residence.
In his memorial, Xie Liwei first greeted Yuwen Wuji, then congratulated the Emperor on the birth of his son, and said that he had benefited from the Emperor's good fortune, as the Princess Consort was finally pregnant. However, the pregnancy was unstable, and he was worried because this was the only child he had in so many years. Therefore, he requested leave and could not stay by the Emperor's side. He was apprehensive and uneasy, and only asked the Emperor not to blame him.
It is common for officials to request leave when a female member of the household is pregnant. However, Yuwen Wuji saw a hint of boasting in this memorial.
He was so angry that he threw the document on the ground, which startled Li Wei and made him shudder.
"Summon Chu Wei here!"
Li Wei had no idea what madness his ancestor had gone mad about again, but as long as this madness didn't affect him, he immediately went to call Chu Wei over.
It's always better to have a colleague's job that's difficult than your own.
Better to die for your fellow Daoist than for this one!
After Chu Wei arrived, he received the Emperor's order. This order was arguably the most incomprehensible mission he had ever undertaken as a death squad member: to force the Princess Consort of Xiaoyao to have an abortion, without harming the mother.
This...this is even worse than taking advantage of the Princess Consort's pregnancy to send a few women into the Prince's residence. Sending these assassins to do it is like using a sledgehammer to crack a nut.
Meanwhile, at the Prince Xiaoyao's residence, Granny Qin was packing her things for the Song family's wedding banquet the next day. The news of Song Yaozhu's pregnancy hadn't spread yet, so she needed to prepare carefully to avoid any potential disruption.
Just as she was extremely busy, someone arrived from the palace. Li Wei had made the trip personally, bringing a large amount of tonics and rewards, as well as the imperial physician.
Yuwen Wuji still didn't believe Xie Liwei's explanation, so he specially sent the imperial physicians from the Imperial Hospital to make this trip.
After taking her pulse, Physician Zou said, "The Princess Consort's health was severely depleted in her childhood, so this pregnancy will likely be very difficult. She should take good care of herself, but she shouldn't be too overly delicate. She should move around more often and eat less nourishing food, because if the fetus is too large, it will make childbirth difficult for the mother."
Upon hearing this, Granny Qin clapped her hands, terrified.
She quickly grabbed the imperial physician and asked, "The princess was seen to be weak, so she's been given a lot of tonics. Won't that...?"
"It's alright. The fetus hasn't fully developed yet. You can't supplement it like this after the limbs are fully grown."
Granny Qin breathed a sigh of relief and patted her chest: "That's good, that's good! Thank goodness!"
With the imperial physician's words, Li Wei put down his things and bid farewell to Xie Liwei.
"Please wait, sir."
Li Wei turned to look at him, waved to his disciples, and the eunuchs took a few steps back before he walked up to Xie Liwei.
"Does Your Highness have any instructions?"
"It's nothing. I see that you're having a hard time these days, and you've lost a lot of weight. I don't have much to offer, so I can only add some money for wine and food." Xie Liwei handed him a purse.
Li Wei looked down at the purse, and finally accepted it.
"Thank you for your generous gift, Your Highness."
Then he left with his men.
On his way back, he distributed some of the reward money to his young apprentices, who were all smiles.
They're happy to run errands outside the palace just for the little bit of money!
Upon returning to the palace, Li Wei and the imperial physician went to report to Yuwen Wuji. Upon learning that Song Yaozhu was indeed pregnant and that the pregnancy was unstable, his expression darkened.
After the imperial physician left, he kept Li Wei behind for questioning.
"What did Xie Liwei say to you before he left?"
"Your Majesty, the Prince only gave me a reward and didn't say anything else."
Yuwen Wuji scrutinized Li Wei. It was just a reward; did a prince really need to give it to him personally?
Either Li Wei betrayed him, or Xie Liwei was trying to sow discord between him and Li Wei.
Xie Liwei has always been cunning; he might very well be the latter.
Thinking of this, he narrowed his eyes. What a cunning Xie Liwei! Just a small gesture, and he'd planted a thorn in his heart. Even if Li Wei was utterly loyal, he would still remember this scene when he needed him in the future.
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