As the wind grew stronger, the doors and windows were tightly closed, yet the howling gale outside continued to make sounds, never letting one forget for a moment that they were in the depths of winter.
Song Chuyi’s thoughts gradually drifted far away. She thought, how could this Consort Song be reckless and timid? And how could she be so foolish as to hand leverage to Grand Empress Dowager Rongxian simply because Consort Xian and Consort Liang had egged her on a few times?
Even if she hadn’t initially anticipated Song Chuyi’s importance, her true purpose was definitely not about warding off disaster, much less about trying to gain more stability through Grand Empress Dowager Rongxian.
Looking at how Grand Empress Dowager Rongxian had now fallen while her Fengzao Palace remained as before, one could understand.
She had probably detected Consort Xian and Consort Liang’s intentions long ago and simply played along—after all, due to Grand Empress Dowager Rongxian’s interference, no one from the Song family had been able to visit her for a long time. The news that she might be pregnant had no way to be transmitted out, and she also had the Eleventh Princess to care for. She was clearly using Grand Empress Dowager Rongxian’s hand to remind the Song family that there was still a great tiger in the palace watching covetously.
As for what happened afterward, hadn’t she truly emerged unscathed from being at the eye of the storm? Even such major news as her pregnancy hadn’t caused any waves in the rear palace, after all, the misfortune of Grand Empress Dowager Rongxian and Princess Shijia had caused such a citywide uproar that the matter of a consort being pregnant, under such a violent storm, didn’t seem so prominent.
“Elder Sister.” She came back to her senses and looked at Consort Song’s dignified features, sighing and then smiling. “Did you summon me to the palace this time specifically to reveal this news to me?”
To let herself know that she truly had no choice back then because of the child, and had only temporarily pushed her forward? No wonder she had adopted such a posture from the start. What a clever person.
Consort Song hadn’t expected her to be this perceptive, and for a moment was somewhat speechless. After a long while, she looked toward Old Madam Song. “Grandmother, I truly admire you. When Little Six reaches my age, who knows how formidable she’ll become.”
Old Madam Song grasped Song Chuyi’s hand and patted it, smiling gently at Consort Song. “Your Ladyship, this sister is truly no ordinary clever person. Your Ladyship took too great a risk this time. If we had truly pushed Xiao Yi forward, I’m afraid our family, together with Your Ladyship, would all have been completely swept away.”
Consort Song also nodded with lingering fear. “This matter was indeed too risky on my part. However, what you did later also truly frightened me into a cold sweat. Speaking of which, we really have Xiao Yi to thank. If she hadn’t discovered the clues before entering the palace and followed the trail to catch the Yun family, Grandfather probably wouldn’t have been able to make such a determined decision to cut through the chaos swiftly.”
As she spoke, she lowered her head and sighed again. “Actually, when Consort Xian and Consort Liang first instigated me, I already knew what they had in mind. Although I’ve been respectful toward Changning Palace all these years, my relationship with Qingning Palace hasn’t been bad either. They were clearly conspiring with that person in Changning Palace to scheme against me. I happened to miss my monthly cycle that month, and I was truly forced into a corner with no other option. They had planted quite a few informants in my palace—I simply didn’t dare take risks. I could only have someone go out once to put on that act, making them truly believe our family was panicking.”
Peeling away the mask of impulsiveness, irritability, and susceptibility to provocation, this was Consort Song’s true face underneath.
Hearing these words, the First Madam remembered her own actions at that time and felt her cheeks burning. She lowered her head, wringing her handkerchief with a long sigh, not daring to speak.
Old Madam Song nodded. “This truly cannot be blamed on you. Now in this palace—”
“After this commotion, all the planted agents in my palace were taken away by Her Majesty the Empress.” Consort Song smiled broadly. “Your granddaughter’s hands are spotless, not to mention arousing the suspicion of Consort Xian and Consort Liang.”
So overall it was still a great thing. After all, both Consort Song and the Song family had longed for this pregnancy of Consort Song’s for so many years—now their wish was finally fulfilled.
Old Madam Song frowned in thought for a while, then turned to ask Song Chuyi, “The reason back then—do you know why?”
This truly put Song Chuyi in a difficult position. In her previous life, when Consort Song died suddenly, she was merely a little girl crying behind Shen Qingrang. How could she have known such secrets?
But thinking left and right, she finally grasped a thread of clue. With a grave expression, she raised her head to look directly at Consort Song. “Elder Sister, besides being careful of Consort Xian and Consort Liang, you should also avoid several of the princesses, especially the Ninth Princess.”
No matter how composed Consort Song was, she couldn’t help but feel her hair stand on end.
She suddenly remembered, for some reason, Consort Qin Shu from two years ago—she had been bumped by the Ninth Princess and fell into the lake, resulting in a miscarriage.
Old Madam Song called out sternly, “Your Ladyship!”
This brought Consort Song back to her senses. Old Madam Song then solemnly instructed her, “Since Xiao Yi says this, Your Ladyship should be extra vigilant. Don’t you often say that the Eleventh Princess likes to play with the Ninth Princess? After all, the Ninth Princess grew up with Her Majesty the Empress Dowager. The connections here, if investigated deeply, truly cannot be explained clearly. Better to avoid them.”
Consort Song came back to herself, firmly agreeing, then seeming somewhat emotional. “Previously I didn’t know why she was so valued by Grandfather and Grandmother. Having met her today, I finally understand.”
She laughed for a while, then asked Song Chuyi, “What do you think about Little Eight’s matter?”
Previously, she had never known how to dispel Song Chuyi’s reservations toward herself. Now having met Song Chuyi in person, this intention in her heart became even more urgent.
“I’m not afraid of other things.” Song Chuyi looked honestly at Consort Song. “I’m just afraid she doesn’t know her limits and harbors a heart full of resentment toward us, and will do something foolish.”
Consort Song was somewhat dismissive. She didn’t know about Song Chuning’s abnormality and only thought that since Song Chuning was born to Li Shi, there would inevitably be conflicts with Song Chuyi and her siblings. She just wanted to do them a favor. Now hearing Song Chuyi mention doing something foolish, she couldn’t help but smile. “She’s just a little girl not even seven years old yet—”
The First Madam quickly shook her head, waving her hand at her. “Your Ladyship doesn’t know—you can know a person’s face but not their heart. This girl who isn’t even seven years old yet is truly someone to be feared.”
She lowered her voice and recounted how Song Chuning had set fire to burn Song Yan, and later how she had silenced Nanny Yu, concluding with a sigh. “Such scheming and methods are probably no worse than an adult’s. How can you call her just a little girl?”
This Song family second branch was truly so blessed by heaven—to have gained two such frightening girls at once?! Consort Song felt her jaw click as she stared blankly and shook her head.