The Beauties of the Song Dynasty - Chapter 71
"Eunuch Wang, are you going to stop me?" Zhao Defang asked calmly.
"This servant dares not, but there is something I would like to say to the Princess."
Wanlan stared at him blankly. "What did you say?"
Wang Ji'en paused, then lowered his eyes and said quietly, "Your Highness has been hurt, but His Majesty is certainly not feeling well either. I hope that after you go in, you can calm down and be fair to His Majesty."
Wanlan pursed her lips, "I'll try my best."
Upon entering the side hall, the strange smell of something burning filled the air, causing the two to change their expressions drastically. After exchanging a glance, they rushed into the inner hall, only to be stunned by what they saw before them, remaining rooted to the spot and not moving an inch.
Dressed in plain white, Empress Song knelt under the lattice window. In front of her was a porcelain basin about the size of a person's embrace, inside which flames were raging and something was burning. Empress Song was also putting some small clothes into it.
Behind her, Zhao Guangyi stood expressionless, his hands clasped behind his back, watching her without making a move or saying a word. Judging from this scene, it seemed that the two had maintained this relationship ever since Zhao Guangyi had driven the palace servants out.
Until the King of Qin and his wife barged in.
"Mother!" Wanlan hurried over and squatted down beside Empress Song, glancing sideways at Zhao Guangyi, wondering if he had questioned his mother about the child.
"What business do you have with the Empress Dowager, Imperial Uncle?" she asked coldly.
Zhao Guangyi turned to her with a blank expression, his dark eyes unfathomable. "Princess Deqing, are you questioning me?"
"How dare I question the Emperor?" Wanlan curled her lips sarcastically. "The Empress Dowager has been unwell lately. If Your Majesty has something to attend to, could you please come another day?"
"This is a matter between me and her; it's none of your business!"
Wanlan suddenly stood up and glared at him. "You've already hurt her so badly, what more do you want? Just be your emperor, marry a new empress, govern your country properly, and give her some peace, okay, Your Majesty!"
"Jiao Wanlan!" Zhao Guangyi glared angrily. He hadn't asked anything since entering the Funing Palace, but their sudden intrusion had ignited his anger. According to Wanlan, they really did have some secret they hadn't told him. Zhao Dezhao hadn't lied to him.
"Royal Uncle!"
Zhao Defang strode over and grabbed Zhao Guangjiu, then turned to Wanlan and said, "Wanlan, stop talking." She was clearly telling her to calm down, but why did her words always come out barbed?
Zhao Guangyi slowly turned to look at him, his face tense and somewhat frightening. "Defang, you found out too?"
"Uncle..." He only found out because Wanlan told him.
"So the only person who was kept in the dark was me?" He closed his eyes, then suddenly roared, "Ning'er! Why did you hide this from me! This matter... this matter should have been kept from me the last person! How could you... be so cruel!"
The cry of "Ning'er" stunned the three people, including Empress Lian Song. She trembled uncontrollably under Wanlan's palm, but still silently burned the little clothes she had sewn herself.
Wanlan was stunned for a moment before suddenly realizing that "Ning'er" was probably her mother's given name. She glared at Zhao Guangyi and pointed at him without any politeness: "What right do you have to call her cruel? You knew what kind of harm you would cause her, so why did you keep getting close to her! I'm asking you, how exactly did the child die! Tell me!"
Zhao Guangyi slightly raised his right hand, forcefully brushed away Zhao Defang who was grabbing him, and turned his back with his hands behind his back.
“It was that glass of wine…” If he knew the secret Ning’er had been hiding from him, he would never have coldly watched her drink that glass of wine!
"Didn't you say that wine wouldn't kill anyone?" Wanlan said angrily. Why did wine that wouldn't kill still take the life of an unborn child?
A flat, emotionless voice answered her, "It won't kill anyone, but as the effects wear off... the poisoned person will experience severe abdominal pain..."
The abdominal pain wouldn't stop... Wanlan couldn't believe it. How painful must it be for someone three months pregnant to have such severe abdominal pain? And... "How long?"
Zhao Guangyi slowly raised his hand to his forehead, his voice hoarse and barely audible: "...half an hour..."
So that's how the baby's hand was lost... I see, I see.
Wanlan looked down at the completely frozen Empress Song, and silently squatted down to join her in burning the small clothes. The air was filled with a pungent smell, but no one left, and no one spoke again.
Only when Empress Song's hands were empty did she silently stand up. Perhaps because she had been kneeling for a long time, she suddenly stumbled and almost fell to the side before she could straighten her legs. Wanlan hurriedly reached out to support her, but a pair of strong arms suddenly reached out and grabbed her. It was Zhao Guangyi, who had been standing behind them at some point.
Wanlan silently withdrew her hand, took a step back and stood beside Zhao Defang behind her, silently watching the suffering couple in front of her, no longer knowing how she felt.
"Ning'er..."
"Your Majesty." Empress Song shook off Zhao Guangyi's hand, her numb legs bending slightly. "I thank Your Majesty for your concern, but I am fine. Your Majesty, please return." Her eyes remained lowered, and before he could speak, she walked past him to the soft couch, tidying up the embroidered basket she had left behind while wearing her embroidered clothes, seemingly oblivious to his presence.
Zhao Guangyi pursed his lips, staring intently at her slender back. Suddenly, he sneered, "Didn't you originally intend to bring Defang into the palace that night? Now he's right in front of you. If you agree to leave this place of trouble with me, I will immediately return what belongs to him to him!"
Empress Song paused slightly as she picked up the basket. She straightened up without turning around and said calmly, "What belongs to whom or not belongs to whom is no longer my concern. Your Majesty can do whatever you want."
Zhao Guangyi glared furiously at her resolute figure. Ignoring the presence of others, he strode forward, grabbed her, and pulled her towards him. The red wicker basket fell to the ground with a thud, while the person who had been holding it remained silent and desolate. This exhausted Zhao Guangyi's already dwindling patience. "Then what about my brother! Why did you attack him! You still dare to say it wasn't because of me, or because of the child?!" No one knew her gentle nature better than him! And he knew all too well how stubborn this gentle woman could be when she was desperate.
Since she did that to protect him, why is she avoiding him so much now that things have come to this?
"If Your Majesty wishes to avenge the late Emperor, I will not deny it." Her voice remained calm and even.
"Damn it! What exactly do you want me to do?! Just tell me clearly!"
Empress Song finally looked up, quietly meeting his raging eyes, and suddenly smiled, "Please let me go."
Chapter 76, Sunlight Warms Lantian, Jade Emits Smoke (1)
The heavy snow fell from the 24th until the new year.
On New Year's Eve, Wanlan went to the palace to invite Song Huining—who is now Empress Dowager Song—to the Prince of Qin's residence to have New Year's Eve dinner together. Naturally, Yuanniang accompanied her.
Lan Wen had already returned to the capital the day before. Wan Lan arranged leave for half of the servants in the manor, allowing them to go home and reunite with their families. Those who stayed behind received double their monthly salary, as if they were working overtime. Her sudden announcement surprised everyone, and the entire manor was filled with joy and excitement.
The New Year's Eve banquet lasted until very late, and Song Huining was in much better spirits. Seeing that the programs Wanlan had arranged for her were all simple programs organized by the servants in the mansion, the smile on her lips did not fade until the banquet ended. It seemed that she was really happy.
Wanlan didn't dare ask her about the request her uncle had made to her that day. Looking at Song Huining, who finally smiled, she felt a lump in her throat, and then the words naturally came out:
"Mother, I would like to ask you to take care of Xu'er for me, is that alright?"
The two were heading towards the cherry blossom garden. Song Huining was sleeping there that night. Upon hearing this, she paused, turned to look at Wanlan, who had a serious expression, and asked in confusion, "Lan'er, what do you mean?"