When Gu Yurong heard that Song Lin had been given the opportunity to perform a sword dance in front of the emperor, the gloom that had been hanging over her heart for days finally dissipated a little.
Her parents were imprisoned, and she was powerless to help them. Her eyes were swollen from crying.
Recently, Gu family members have been frequently visiting her, begging for her help. Even her cousin, who has been close to her since childhood and lives far away in Yuzhou, rushed over overnight, but all of them were turned away by the General's Mansion.
So resolute.
She knew in her heart that even if her parents escaped death, her ties with her maternal family would be severed.
This incident caused Song Ziyu to harbor resentment towards her.
In this secluded mansion, she was all alone.
The only person I can rely on is Song Lin.
“Our current misfortune is only temporary,” she encouraged Song Lin. “As long as you win the Emperor’s favor and are granted the title of Heir Apparent, our good days are yet to come.”
"What is a prince?"
Song Lin scoffed.
"Since Father can't have any more children anyway, as long as I get rid of Song Yu, the entire General's Mansion will be mine!"
Gu Yurong was startled, her hand trembled, and the teacup crashed to the ground.
"What did you say?"
She was confined to the courtyard and unaware of what was happening outside.
Song Ziyu had been living a life of debauchery for many days. Even after sobering up, he was still in poor health. The matriarch of the Yuan family invited a doctor to examine him and said that his body was severely weakened and that he would have difficulty conceiving in the future.
The elder's wife was so shocked that she fainted on the spot.
Song Ziyu was even more unable to accept this fact, and he has been extremely furious these past two days.
Upon hearing this, Gu Yurong's expression shifted slightly.
As everyone knows, Song Yu was an adopted son of the imperial family, while the children of Consort Ru were of low status, and Song Lin's status...
She cleared her throat and asked, "Lin'er, do you still remember the cousin from your mother's family that your mother mentioned? In terms of age, you should call him uncle."
"The one who does porcelain business in Yuzhou? I heard he came to see you the day before yesterday."
Song Lin frowned in thought, but his sinister gaze fell on Gu Yurong's personal maid, Zi Que.
Zi Que just turned fifteen this year. She has delicate features and a pair of bright, watery eyes.
As Song Lin scrutinized her, Zi Que shuddered, recalling the rumors circulating in the backyard.
Song Lin then withdrew his gaze.
"Your grandmother doesn't want you to see the Gu family, so you should have less contact with them to avoid causing trouble again."
He got up and went out, but before leaving, he smiled knowingly and turned back to say something.
"I'm going to practice my sword. Mother, please prepare some late-night snacks. Zique can bring them over later."
Gu Yurong agreed.
Her mind was entirely on the Lantern Festival.
Since the late emperor's decree allowed people to bring their families into the palace, the matriarch of the Yuan family would definitely bring her along.
Now, countless people in the capital are mocking her, including Jiang Wan.
Once Lin'er has rendered meritorious service, she will definitely make those people pay!
Time flies, and in the blink of an eye, it's the fifteenth day of the first lunar month.
In the past few days, Song Ziyu has hired renowned doctors from all over the capital at high prices, but the conclusions they all reached were the same.
He was disheartened and unable to quit drinking.
On the day he entered the palace, he finally managed to muster some energy.
Because of military supplies, the general's mansion became the subject of much gossip and jokes.
After entering the palace, feeling the gazes cast upon them, the Song family members felt ashamed and couldn't lift their heads.
Apart from Song Yu.
He kept glancing ahead until the eunuch shouted, "His Majesty has arrived! Her Majesty the Empress has arrived!"
Song Yu's eyes lit up.
As everyone watched, Emperor Jingyuan approached with his empress, followed by a woman dressed in a brocade peach blossom skirt, with a jade hairpin adorned with cloud patterns and jewels slanted into her hair. Her black hair cascaded down like a waterfall, and her features were exquisitely beautiful.
The Empress took her hand and told her not to go to the Song family's seat, but to sit to the left of her, her manner gentle and affectionate.
Someone recognized her and exclaimed in a low voice, "It's Madam Jiang!"
Jiang Wan turned around upon hearing the sound, a perfectly timed smile on her face, her cheeks rosy, clearly indicating that she was living a very comfortable life.
When the Song family saw her like this, they were so angry that they gritted their teeth.
The General's Mansion was in turmoil, suffering endless ridicule and sarcasm. Everyone was so anxious that they couldn't eat or sleep, but Jiang Wan was enjoying a life of leisure in the palace!
This is absolutely outrageous!
Does she still have any self-awareness as a wife and daughter-in-law of the Song family?
At the banquet, everyone knew that Song Ziyu had angered the emperor, and almost no one came to offer him a toast or to entertain him.
On the contrary, Jiang Wan, having saved the emperor's life, was also deeply favored by the empress and quickly became a popular figure among the noblewomen.
Just look at her clothes; they are palace gowns made of tribute silk, and even the hairpins in her hair were specially taken out of the treasury by the Empress.
Her entire outfit was exquisitely luxurious, making everyone envious.
Officials' wives kept coming up to toast her and chat with her.
"How dare she! Her Majesty the Empress is so kind to her!" Song Tingyue, a discerning woman, immediately recognized that Jiang Wan was highly favored.
Gu Yurong also narrowed her eyes, her eyes filled with suppressed hatred.
Zhou couldn't sit still any longer. Thinking of the torment Song Ziyu had suffered these past few days, while Jiang Wan was enjoying a life of luxury in the palace, she couldn't help but want to tear her smiling face apart.
The matriarch pulled her back to her seat and scolded, "With so many people around, don't be rash!"
Jiang Wan can't stay hidden in the palace forever.
Once she returns to the manor, her good days will be over!
The Song family felt neglected and could only watch as others toasted and drank.
The only person to come and offer a toast was General Shaoguang.
Although the incident on New Year's Eve, in which the matriarch asked him to help cover up the matter of the eagle, went awry and damaged his reputation, he was somewhat dissatisfied.
But he was an old friend of General Song, so he had to give the General's Mansion some face.
"Thank you, General."
The matriarch rose to her feet and exchanged a few pleasantries with him, then said, "This festive season reminds me of the days when you, General, entrusted your lives to each other on the battlefield, riding horses and wielding swords together."
This chapter is not finished, please click the next page to continue reading!
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com