Perhaps it was Madam Lin's behavior that angered Song Chengzhang, for he quickly packed his things and left the capital in a sorry state that night, leaving behind the unsuspecting second and third wives.
The second branch of the family immediately came to Lin to inquire about the matter. Because of the injury on her face, Lin stayed at home and did not come out. After two days, she packed her things and went to a nunnery in the capital to meditate.
This matter was overshadowed by other things within two days in the capital.
When Song Yaozhu heard that Lin Shi had passed away, she lit incense before Song Yaozhu's memorial tablet, hoping that Song Yaozhu's spirit in heaven could rest in peace knowing of the Song family's fate.
Song Chengzhang and his wife were, after all, the biological parents of this body. She could let them fall into poverty and hardship, but she couldn't directly take their lives.
Those who kill their fathers and mothers will suffer endless torment in the eighteenth level of hell.
—You've suffered so much in this world, I only hope you'll receive good treatment in the underworld.
Granny Qin didn't know who her princess's blank memorial tablet was dedicated to, but she still thoughtfully locked it up.
"Your Highness, the palace banquet is tomorrow. What else do you think we should prepare?" Caijin thought of everything she could think of.
A review of the palace banquets the princess attended reveals that something amiss each time. They concealed sleeping potions in her sachets, hid razor blades in the soles of her shoes, replaced her hairpins with knife-shaped ones, and hid a small antidote pill in the setting of her tourmaline ring...
In short, everything that needs to be considered has been taken into account. I hope everything goes smoothly!
Truly, may our ancestors have blessed us!
The following day, Xie Lü stayed home to take care of his two grandchildren, while the couple, fully armed, boarded a carriage and went to the palace.
Today is not only the Mid-Autumn Festival banquet, but also the emperor's birthday. Therefore, there is no court assembly today. Officials of the fifth rank and above in the capital must go to the palace to attend the banquet, and officials who are not in the capital must also send gifts to the emperor.
The entire palace was in a flurry of activity, with carriages arriving and departing at the palace gates, one after another. Each carriage was more ornate than the last.
When the carriage of the Prince of Xiaoyao's mansion reached the inner city, it encountered a four-horse carriage. That carriage was wide and magnificent, and the curtains were even decorated with kingfisher feathers and gemstones, making people click their tongues in admiration at the other party's wealth.
Even after working at the Prince of Xiaoyao's mansion for so many years, the coachman couldn't help but be drawn to the magnificent carriage. He glanced at it a couple of times, and without noticing, the two carriages bumped into each other.
The people inside both cars were startled by the collision.
The coachman from the Prince of Xiaoyao's mansion was so frightened that he repeatedly apologized, "I'm so sorry! I'm really so sorry!"
He then explained to the prince and princess inside the carriage, "It was my carelessness that caused me to bump into the carriage next to me. Please forgive me, Your Highness and Your Highness!"
Such a small thing is nothing. The alley is so small, it's normal to bump into things.
"If there's nothing else, let's keep going."
No sooner had Xie Liwei finished speaking than a sound came from outside.
"How could you drive like that! Don't you have eyes?! You scared my master half to death, how are you going to compensate me?!"
The other party was aggressive, and the driver, already in the wrong, naturally dared not utter a sound, only repeatedly begging for mercy. Unexpectedly, seeing the driver's cowardice, the other party became even more aggressive, punching the carriage.
"Do you even know what kind of person my master is!"
The coachman's heart pounded violently with the punch he landed on the carriage wall. If he had disturbed the prince and princess, his life would have been in danger!
"I'm so sorry! It was my oversight that disturbed such an important person!" The coachman thought to himself, "No matter how powerful your family is, his master is still the Prince of Xiaoyao. Is the sign on their carriage too small for this attendant to see?"
Or is it that their guards aren't imposing enough?
Just then, his collar was grabbed by the attendant and slammed against the side of the Prince's carriage. Song Yaozhu, who was inside the carriage, was startled.
"What happened?" Xie Liwei lifted the curtain. The troublemaking attendant had been subdued by the guards of the Prince's mansion. The coachman recounted what had just happened in great fear.
Xie Liwei looked towards the carriage. The carriage was made of the finest Phoebe zhennan wood, with intricate patterns carved on its body. From a distance, he couldn't quite make out the designs. However, his gaze was still drawn to the kingfisher feathers and jewels adorning the carriage walls.
Song Yaozhu also saw it and couldn't help but frown in disgust.
"The Great Chen Dynasty forbids the killing of kingfishers for their feathers, but the people of Donglin love to use kingfisher feathers to make headdresses. I heard that a phoenix crown requires the killing of forty or fifty kingfishers. I wonder how many kingfishers would be slaughtered to make such a carriage."
"Didn't Donglin only send envoys? Could such a carriage be used by their envoys?" Xie Liwei frowned slightly.
"Yuwen Wuji's birthday is a good opportunity to test the strength of the Great Chen Dynasty. How could the Eastern Lin Kingdom let such a good opportunity pass by?"
Just like Beiqing, they have always been eyeing Dachen covetously, eager to seize the opportunity to take a bite out of Dachen.
"I heard that for the past two years, there has been a constant struggle in Donglin over the position of crown prince. It seems that a winner has emerged now," Xie Liwei said coldly, as he watched the troublemaking attendants rush to the carriage to complain.
A moment later, a man who was six feet tall but dressed in fine clothes stepped out of the carriage. He had a baby face and wore a dark blue headband with a pearl the size of a pigeon's egg in the center, flanked by kingfisher feathers.
The stray hairs at his temples were braided into small braids, which then gathered into a large braid on top of his head and stood upright. Each braid had a pearl pendant at the end, making him appear extremely wealthy.
Upon seeing him, Song Yaozhu said to Xie Liwei with disgust, "I want to kill him."
Dongfang Shi, the regent of the Eastern Kingdom.
Despite his handsome face and youthful appearance, resembling a seventeen or eighteen-year-old young master, he is actually thirty-six years old.
Song Yaozhu had clashed with him several times. This man was insidious and ruthless, a stark contrast to his face. He was ruthless and cruel, treating human life like dirt; he was an absolute poisoner.
“I want to too,” Xie Liwei echoed.
He saw Dongfang Shi walking towards their carriage and said, "I am Dongfang Shi from Donglin Kingdom. My servant just now disturbed you. I apologize on his behalf."
Since he had spoken up, Xie Liwei had no choice but to show himself.
He opened the car door, shielding Song Yaozhu beside him with his body, and leaned halfway out to look at Dongfang Shi.
"It was my coachman who was at fault, and he does not deserve a word of apology from the Regent."
Dongfang Shi looked at Xie Liwei, scrutinizing him intently. Suddenly, a smile appeared on his seemingly harmless face.
"Since you've done something wrong, how can you not apologize?"
After he finished speaking, his two guards escorted the attendant forward. The attendant was pale and had completely lost his previous arrogance.
"Apologize to the Carefree Prince now!"
As soon as he finished speaking, a guard immediately severed the attendant's arm, and the attendant's screams echoed throughout the entire street.
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