Consort Xian’s hands trembled, her words coming out in a jumbled mess.
She turned to those around her and said, “This consort must go see my elder brother. No—quickly, help me dress and prepare. This consort must go see His Majesty.”
At some point, dark clouds had gathered in the sky, streaks of lightning tearing through the heavens as if to rend them apart.
Suddenly, a torrential downpour began, raindrops hammering the ground and splashing up layers of spray…
Yu Liu held up an umbrella. “Your Highness, the rain is too heavy. Your body is precious; it would be better not to go see His Majesty.”
Tears welled in Consort Xian’s eyes as she shook her head. “If this consort does not go, every member of our Song family will die. They are my closest kin. As long as there is a sliver of hope, I will go and beg His Majesty. Over these years, His Majesty has shown me great favor. Whatever request I make, he has always granted it.”
With that, she took out a silk handkerchief to wipe her tears and strode directly outside.
Seeing that they truly could not stop her, the palace maids said nothing more.
They followed behind Consort Xian, heading toward the Imperial Study.
Under the eaves of the Imperial Study stood several guards and eunuchs on duty.
Upon seeing Consort Xian arrive, they all clasped their fists and bowed their heads in greeting. “We pay our respects to Consort Xian!”
Song Mengxian paid them no mind, as arrogant and domineering as ever. “Where is His Majesty? This consort demands to see His Majesty!”
A young eunuch glanced inside the room and whispered a reminder, “Consort Xian, His Majesty is currently in a rage. It would be best if you did not enter.”
Consort Xian shot him a sharp glare, her tone hostile. “Impudent slave! How dare you, a rootless thing, presume to decide for His Majesty? Get lost!”
Not relying on anyone else to announce her, she called out from outside, “Your Majesty, your concubine requests an audience!”
Hearing Consort Xian’s voice, Nangong Yuntian felt anger surge within him. “When the Seventh Prince’s life hung in the balance, she wasn’t this anxious. Now that she knows her maternal family is in trouble, she rushes here through wind and rain.”
Emperor Huiwen’s eyes grew even darker as he spat out a few words: “The Song family—extermination of the nine familial clans!”
Chief Steward Qin listened nearby, thinking: Consort Xian, you are truly foolish, daring to shout and yell outside the Imperial Study. Well, this has turned out just fine—your clansmen will indeed share in your glory, all of them losing their heads.
Emperor Huiwen’s voice was fierce and severe as he commanded, “Qin Huai! The Song family, ungrateful for the vast grace of the emperor, relying on their status as imperial relatives, knowingly broke the law—their crimes are unforgivable. Exterminate their nine clans! Repeat these words to her exactly, without missing a single character. This emperor has no time to see her.”
“Yes, Your Majesty!”
Chief Steward Qin walked out.
When Consort Xian saw Qin Huai emerge, her voice softened considerably. “Chief Steward, this consort wishes to see His Majesty.”
Qin Huai ignored her and declared, “Consort Xian, receive the imperial decree!”
Consort Xian knelt in the heavy rain. Though shielded by an umbrella, her clothes were already more than half soaked.
Eunuch Qin recited, “By His Majesty’s oral decree… Consort Xian, it would be best for you to return. His Majesty saw a certain register and flew into a towering rage.”
“What register?”
Qin Huai glanced around, then lowered his voice beside Consort Xian’s ear. “On the night of the full moon, His Majesty stayed at Fengyi Palace. After the morning court session, he hurried back to the Imperial Study. At some point, a register appeared in his hands, and His Majesty was so furious he nearly tore the roof off. Since His Majesty will not see you, you should go back.”
Chief Steward Qin then turned to the nearby Imperial Guard and said, “By His Majesty’s oral decree: Exterminate the Song family’s nine clans. Go quickly and inform Chancellor Feng.”
Consort Xian collapsed to the ground, tears streaming down like broken strings of pearls, continuously welling up.
Her voice choked with sobs, she cried, “Why would His Majesty do this? Why must he exterminate my nine clans? Why!”
The palace maid Yu Liu and Nanny Sun, seeing the situation, knew things had taken a terrible turn. They hurriedly helped Consort Xian up, saying, “Your Highness, let’s return quickly. If not for your own sake, think of the Sixth Princess!”
Consort Xian, now drenched like a drowned rat, felt her entire world collapse in an instant.
Supported by the two maids, she began walking back toward Xianfu Palace but collapsed halfway there.
“Your Highness!”
“Your Highness! Fetch the Imperial Physician, quickly!”
The people of Xianfu Palace bustled about in the heavy rain, sharing a common premonition: Consort Xian had fallen from favor.
From this day on, without the protection of her maternal clan and with no prince to rely on, she would never regain her former glory.
Consort Xian was carried back to Xianfu Palace.
After much fussing by the Imperial Physician, Consort Xian awoke, wishing desperately that it had all been a dream.
The Emperor refused to see her; his heart was set, determined to destroy the Song family.
Her mind turned to the register. Qin Huai wouldn’t dare speak recklessly—doing so would risk offending the Empress.
It seemed she had lost her usefulness, and the Empress had now targeted her family.
Remembering all the past kindnesses, their sole purpose had been to make her poison that vile woman’s son.
Now, the Seventh Prince had only a year left to live; the cold poison was incurable.
Through her tear-blurred eyes, a venomous glint appeared. Gritting her teeth, she seethed with resentment: You are ruthless, killing the donkey after it’s done grinding the mill. Since you show no benevolence, do not blame me for being unrighteous.
The Empress sneezed several times in succession.
Her Wet Nurse asked with concern, “Your Highness, have you caught a chill? This old servant will fetch you another robe.”
“No need. Likely someone is cursing me. Tell the Crown Prince to lay low these next few days. The palace is unsettled; the Emperor has begun to act.”
“Yes, this old servant will go at once.”
“Wait until the rain stops, lest you get soaked.”
“Thank you for your consideration, Your Highness.”
The Empress stroked the bracelet on her wrist, a cold, ruthless chill appearing in her eyes. “Utterly useless. Has she no brain at all?
The Emperor’s word is law. How could a matter warranting the execution of an entire clan be changed by mere pleading? She overestimates herself.
In the past, her jealousy and desire to outshine others were one thing, but to be so utterly lacking in judgment…”
The Wet Nurse at her side advised, “Your Highness, it’s not worth your anger. As long as she hasn’t caused trouble for the Crown Prince.
After all, she was merely a pawn. Now that she’s worthless, she can be discarded.”
“By the way, have those four young women arrived?”
“They have. The old matron has examined them; all are untouched,” the Wet Nurse replied.
A smile touched the Empress’s lips, but the icy chill in her almond-shaped eyes was no different from the frost of deep winter.
“Send them to the Seventh Prince’s Mansion in three days. With different faces this time, I refuse to believe he would dare refuse and send them back.”
She never expected those women to be beaten crippled and thrown back…
…
Li Prince Manor
Nangong Li, dressed in a dark blue python robe, sat beside his desk.
An Yi entered and bowed with clasped fists. “Master, news from the palace.
The Empress has found four more beautiful women from her clan. They will be sent the day after tomorrow.”
Nangong Li frowned, a murderous intent flashing in his eyes. “She truly has no memory. At the manor gates, have them beaten crippled and thrown back directly.
Has there been any news of that young woman?”
“We have dispatched some men to investigate secretly, but there is still no trace. It’s as if she vanished into thin air,” An Yi replied.
“Keep searching!” Nangong Li ordered.
“Yes!”