After conversing with Shang Rong, Song Wan gathered several people from the Eastern Palace together and informed them of the entire situation from beginning to end, as well as her and Shang Rong’s conjectures—only omitting any mention of regicide.

Who would have thought that Qi Qingling, who had just recovered her health and hadn’t spoken in a long time, would suddenly say, “If that’s the case, His Majesty probably won’t easily dispatch troops.”

She touched her uneven cheeks, her tone despondent. “If the Crown Prince cannot return to the capital, we people of the Eastern Palace won’t meet with any good end either.”

After being gravely injured by Qin Rao, Qi Qingling’s temperament had become much more melancholic than before. Everyone usually took care to protect her, so seeing her in such a dejected state now made their hearts ache.

Lu Youjun was about to speak words of comfort when she heard Qi Qingling say, “If His Majesty…”

She pinched the handkerchief in her hand. “If His Majesty insists on this course, we need to think of a way to prevent him from dragging the Crown Prince down.”

Song Wan and Shang Rong exchanged glances, both lowering their brows without speaking.

Lu Youjun, however, said in a panic, “How can we prevent His Majesty from dragging the Crown Prince down? We can’t possibly rebel and force him from the throne, can we?”

“Dead men don’t drag others down.”

Her gaze swept back and forth across the faces of Song Wan, Shang Rong, and Qi Qingling. After a long while, Zhao Nanzhang murmured these words.

“First let’s get the message out of the palace. We’ll slowly figure out the rest.”

Wu Xixiang took up paper and brush and quickly wrote an ambiguous letter—one so cryptic that even Shang Rong couldn’t discern its deeper meaning.

Zhao Nanzhang followed suit, and soon handed to Shang Rong the message she wanted sent to her family.

Several of them took action, but only Lu Youjun’s face flushed red, and before long tears appeared in her eyes. Zhang Baozhen, watching from the side, stepped forward to silently comfort her.

Neither of them was favored in their families, and due to various reasons, they couldn’t help at all with such important matters.

Not only did they have no messages to send, but even if they sent word home, probably no one would pay attention.

The two bit their lips, their hearts exceptionally downcast at being unable to help the Eastern Palace.

“You two needn’t feel this way. There will be plenty of places where help is needed later.”

Shang Rong spoke lightly, as convincingly as always.

“Regarding this matter, has Song Chenghui informed Noble Consort Yun?”

Song Wan shook her head. “Not yet. I was just preparing to go inform my aunt now.”

In Changxin Palace, Song Yuning was clutching an embroidered handkerchief tightly, her lips pressed into a firm line.

Her face was pale and livid, fury surging in her chest. When Song Wan mentioned that Jiang Man had been secretly sent to Qin Rao’s hands to be tortured to death, she couldn’t help but flinch violently.

When Song Wan spoke of her own conjectures and Emperor Wenhui’s deployment in Shaanxi, she finally couldn’t restrain herself. Pressing her lips, she ran to the washing stand and began to retch.

Perhaps because there was nothing in her stomach, Song Yuning only vomited up a few mouthfuls of clear water before feeling somewhat better.

Seeing this, Song Wan’s gaze was stunned, but Song Yuning merely laughed coldly. “Don’t read too much into it. Your aunt is simply too disgusted by Shen Congyi to bear it.”

After blinking to force back the bitter sourness in her eyes, she grasped Song Wan’s hand but couldn’t speak for a long while.

When she entered the palace, she had been just a young girl who had barely come of age. Though she knew she was entering the palace to pave the way for her clan, when getting along with Shen Congyi, she had also once felt genuine affection.

At that time she was still just a teenager, inexperienced in worldly affairs and innocent. Shen Congyi was skilled at being humble and submissive before women in the inner chambers, coaxing them into happiness. How could she not be moved?

He was her husband. She had borne Qianbai for him. How could she remain unmoved year after year?

Thinking of this, Song Yuning bent over and vomited again with a wail.

Even though the affection between them had long since vanished, Song Yuning had never imagined that one day she would find Shen Congyi this repulsive.

In the past, though she knew he was cowardly, she had merely thought he had been frightened out of his wits and was timid by nature. She never imagined this person could be so despicable!

“Wan’er, return to the Eastern Palace.”

After rinsing her mouth, Song Yuning summoned Caiji and had her escort Song Wan back. Though Song Wan was unwilling, Song Yuning forcibly sent her away.

After Song Wan left, Song Yuning said, “Changping, go find Qianbai. I have something to discuss with him.”

When Shen Qianbai appeared, his face still bore a silver mask. Song Yuning beckoned to him. “Come let your mother consort take a look at you.”

“What’s wrong, Mother Consort?”

Standing beside Song Yuning, Shen Qianbai was now almost as tall as she was. The Shen family all had good looks—if Shen Qianbai’s appearance hadn’t been ruined, he would certainly be a graceful and refined young man now.

Lovingly reaching her hand to Shen Qianbai’s cheek, Song Yuning said, “Consort Jiang is gone. Your father Emperor secretly sent her to Qin Rao’s hands. I hear her death was tragic.”

“Father Emperor…”

Shen Qianbai’s face showed disbelief.

Of all the imperial princes in court, only Shen Qianbai was favored by Emperor Wenhui. From childhood he had been raised by Emperor Wenhui as the heir apparent, and was the only imperial prince who had ever been held in Emperor Wenhui’s arms while learning the art of ruling.

In Shen Qianbai’s heart, though his father Emperor couldn’t be called supremely wise and enlightened, he was still a ruler who governed well internally and cared for his people with diligence.

How could he believe that his own father Emperor would do such a contemptible thing?

While Shen Qianbai was still in a daze, Song Yuning told him everything Song Wan had said.

“I need you to leave the palace today and go to the Song residence to find Song Lan’an. Tell him everything on my behalf, and stay at the Song residence without returning to the palace.”

“What does Mother Consort intend to do?”

“Do what your mother consort ought to do.”

Having said this, Song Yuning summoned Changping and had him take Shen Qianbai away from Changxin Palace.

She herself then went to the small kitchen and brought out the warming tonic soup that had been simmering for the Third Imperial Prince all evening.

After today, Emperor Wenhui would certainly be reviled by all the people, and the memorials of impeachment from important court officials could bend his spine with their weight alone. After tonight, given his temperament, he would certainly retreat into his shell and never again leave the rear palace.

So she had no more time. She couldn’t let Emperor Wenhui commit such a monstrous wrong, gambling all of Dongning for his name to be glorified through the ages.

Carrying the food box, Song Yuning walked to the Emperor’s sleeping quarters to wait for the eunuch to announce her.

“What brings you here?”

Seeing Song Yuning, Emperor Wenhui’s face showed a smile, appearing quite pleased.

“Qianbai mentioned Your Majesty today, so this consort came to see you.”

Her tone was neither warm nor cold, appearing not particularly happy, but Emperor Wenhui was used to this.

Now that he was getting on in years, he had grown increasingly fond of Song Yuning’s temperament.

“Has the injury on Qianbai’s face improved?”

Hearing this, Song Yuning paused in her movements and glared at him without any pleasant expression as she arranged the food from the box onto the table.

“Has Your Majesty already eaten? If so, this consort will take this away to avoid offending your eyes.”

As she spoke, she was about to put the soup bowl back into the food box. Seeing that Emperor Wenhui didn’t answer, Song Yuning said indifferently, “It seems you’ve already dined together with Consort Jiang.”

“When did I ever eat? I’m quite hungry.”

His mood had been good recently, so he was willing to humor these women of the rear palace somewhat.

“You’ve worked hard.”

Taking the soup bowl from Song Yuning’s hands, Emperor Wenhui sat down to dine with her.

Seeing her ladle out a spoonful of hot soup from the tureen and drink it first as usual, only then did Emperor Wenhui begin drinking it spoonful by spoonful.