“Your Highness, the Second Prince, you should find time to visit Chuntao.”
Dugu Kan’s expression remained unchanged. “Who is Chuntao?”
Song Yunying smiled. “Who she is doesn’t matter. What matters is that the Ninth Prince nearly beat her to death with a court rod earlier. If her mouth isn’t sealed and she wakes up spouting nonsense, someone might find themselves in deep trouble.”
What was going on today?
Song Yunying, that foolish girl, had always been gentle and obedient. Apart from tinkering with herbs, she usually knew nothing else. Why was she suddenly picking fights left and right?
His mother once said that the Emperor was growing old, and the position of Crown Prince remained vacant, with endless debates over whether to appoint the eldest or the legitimate heir.
Most of the old ministers in the court supported the Ninth Prince, the legitimate son. If they didn’t fight for it, he and his mother would be trampled underfoot for the rest of their lives.
The Duke of Song held a high position and wielded great power. Only by leaning on this mighty tree could he have the capital to contend for the throne.
The top priority now was to marry a daughter of the Song family first.
The sixteenth day of Layue was an auspicious date.
The royal family’s marriage and the Duke of Song’s daughter’s wedding became a grand event in Huijing, drawing crowds of onlookers.
The Song family produced noble daughters, as the Duke of Song had no sons, and all four of his daughters married into prestigious families.
Among them, the third son-in-law married by Song Yunying was the most distinguished and honorable.
Times had changed. Father Song and Madam Yuan treated her with unusual courtesy.
Father Song said, “Once you enter the palace, be cautious in everything. The Emperor intends to enfeoff the Ninth Prince as a prince. Once the Wangfu is renovated, you will be allowed to move out of the palace. While you are in the palace, do not stir up trouble.”
Madam Yuan maintained her image as a loving mother. “Yunying, you are now the most accomplished girl in our family. In all matters, you must prioritize the greater good.”
Father Song nodded. “Yaoxian has been spoiled since childhood. As her elder sister, you should help her more.”
“Yes, from now on, you sisters must support each other.”
“Yunying is the most sensible. She will.”
A crowd surrounded Song Yunying, offering congratulations.
Song Yaoxian, accustomed to being the center of attention, felt inexplicably neglected and complained to Madam Yuan, “A petty person gets their way. Mother, you’re even rushing to flatter her. It’s like favoring an outsider.”
“When will you ever change this impulsive nature of yours? According to protocol, you must bow to her as well. The palace is not like the Song family, where you can act willfully.”
“Bow to a concubine-born daughter? What a joke.”
“Foolish girl. The third daughter will surely suffer once she enters the palace. You know it in your heart, but a few flattering words won’t cost you anything. Don’t upset your father.”
“I know, I know. You’re so nagging.”
After bidding farewell to their parents, the two sisters each boarded their bridal sedan chairs.
Song Yaoxian caught up and said, “Congratulations, Sister, on marrying into a noble family. With the Empress protecting you, I am truly envious.”
Song Yunying smiled back. “Are you envious, or jealous?”
“What?”
“I guess Fourth Sister is jealous.”
“You say I’m jealous of you?”
At home, Song Yaoxian had always been the one to pick first, and others only got what she didn’t want. Since childhood, she had never known the taste of jealousy.
Song Yunying showed no mercy. “You know what you mixed into the sachet.”
“Nutmeg and mimosa powder are aphrodisiacs. What were your intentions, making me carry them to meet the Ninth Prince?”
“The Empress is allergic to peaches, yet you mixed peach juice into it. Wasn’t it just to frame me?”
Song Yaoxian, flushed with anger, retorted, “You’re slandering me!”
Song Yunying forced her to step back. "Song Yaoxian, have you ever considered that if the Empress were to suffer harm to her noble health because of this, which of us could escape unscathed? What would become of the entire Song family?"
"You—who are you trying to scare?"
"Scare? Consort Zhuang showed great disrespect to the Empress, and the Emperor had her beaten to death with a single round of caning. Do you still think I'm just trying to scare you? Or shall we go before Father and settle this?"
Song Yaoxian naturally refused. "Who wants to go with you?"
"If you want to play the fox, hide your tail first. Scheming like a petty person all day—aren't you tired?"
Song Yunying pushed Song Yaoxian aside and stepped into the bridal sedan chair.
She had more important matters to attend to and couldn’t be bothered to waste time on her.
"Stop right there!"
Song Yaoxian stamped her feet in anger behind her. Since childhood, she had never been scolded like this.
In her past life, she had tried to curry favor with the Empress by specially selecting jade peaches from the Western Regions as tribute, but her plan backfired, causing the Empress to fall seriously ill. She herself was severely caned as punishment.
How could Song Yunying be so fortunate as to win the Empress’s favor?
Song Yaoxian fumed, "Song Yunying, don’t get too smug. The road is long and winding—we’ll see who has the last laugh!"
Song Yunying paid no attention to her idle chatter, simply arranging her medicine pouch properly.
Tonight, there was a tough battle ahead.
Because she had to save someone.
In her past life, the wedding night of the two princes was also the day Princess Danyang went into labor.
The princess was harmed, leading to premature birth. In the end, because the poisoner committed suicide and no antidote could be found, she succumbed to the poison, and both mother and child perished.
Princess Danyang was the Emperor’s most beloved daughter. Because of this incident, over a dozen medical officials from the Taiyishu were executed.
And Song Yunying’s junior sister was unfortunately among them.
Before her master passed away, he had entrusted her junior sister to her care.
Since she couldn’t stop it in time in her past life, on this path of rebirth and revenge, she was determined to save her.
Night fell, and the wedding chamber was aglow with candles.
Song Yunying was somewhat distracted, as time was running out for her.
In the past, Dugu Yu would have had no interest in the wedding night, sleeping soundly instead, which led to Song Yaoxian being ridiculed and returning to her family to complain.
Tonight, however, seemed different.
Song Yunying couldn’t help but steal another glance at Dugu Yu.
"Seen enough?"
She had been glancing his way all evening.
Song Yunying hurriedly adjusted her phoenix crown and pearl tassels. "Your Highness is so handsome, I… couldn’t help but want to look a little longer."
"Smooth talker."
"Not at all, I’m just speaking the truth."
"Are you hiding something from me?"
She replied firmly, "No."
Dugu Yu stretched out his arms, waiting for her to undress him.
Usually, he wore official yellow attire, but now, dressed in the brocade-red wedding robe, he had shed some of his youthful air and gained a touch of maturity.
"Don’t think you’re special just because you know a little something. I married you because my mother likes you."
How arrogant.
"Yes."
Song Yunying thought to herself, I never expected us to be soulmates anyway. As long as you stay alive and well, allowing me to rely on you for shelter, that’s enough.
"If you care so much about the Empress, why did you deceive her?"
"I have my reasons. As my wife, you can safely depend on me."
Song Yunying remained expressionless, pretending to lower her posture. As the saying goes, one doesn’t strike a smiling face.
"What about your clothes?" he raised an eyebrow.
After all this talk, she had only been focused on undressing him. Now, Dugu Yu was already in thin inner garments, while she was still wrapped up like a rice dumpling.
Even though this wasn’t Song Yunying’s first time in a wedding chamber.
Undressing in front of her brother-in-law still required courage.
She made up a random excuse, "I'm afraid of the cold. Why don't you get into bed first, husband, and warm it up for me?"
Dugu Yu grabbed her hand, "Wishful thinking."
He wasn't the least bit shy, and as he spoke, he began to undress her.
"Your… Your Highness," Song Yunying held on tightly, "I know you're eager, but don't rush."
Young people are truly impatient and restless.
As the moonlight deepened, his shallow breaths brushed against her forehead, the atmosphere growing ambiguous.
As the saying goes, a full moon stirs the heart.
He didn't let go, "Since we are husband and wife, why be so coy?"
Song Yunying was almost at her limit.