Three days had passed since the drugging incident. An imperial edict arrived from the palace, summoning Song Jiuning to enter the court.
Song Jiuning had long been prepared. She left Xun Mo, who wanted to follow, at the manor and entered the palace alone.
Carriages could not enter the palace grounds. Song Jiuning alighted at the palace gates and walked all the way toward the Imperial Study.
The exotic flowers and rare plants within the palace held no interest for her. She was only thinking about her plans after returning from this trip.
After a long while, she let out a cold laugh.
At worst, it would simply mean tearing all pretense with Shen Yunting. She would have her revenge, making him taste every bit of the suffering she endured in her previous life.
“Does this cold laugh from the Ninth Miss Song mean seeing This Prince has ruined your mood?”
A cold voice came from ahead. Song Jiuning snapped back to attention and looked forward.
It was Shen Wenjing, who had appeared before her at some unknown time.
She suddenly understood.
Since both of them had the same destination, it was normal to encounter each other here.
“Your Highness, what are you saying? How Jiuning feels toward Your Highness, I have already said countless times. Does Your Highness still not understand?”
Upon seeing him, Song Jiuning wore a smile on her face.
If in this world, apart from the General’s Manor, there was anyone else she could trust, it must be him, right?
The thought that after today, Song Jiuning might no longer need to feign cordiality with Shen Yunting made her whole being feel lighter and more cheerful.
She swept her gaze over Shen Wenjing: “Your Highness, did you bring that jade pendant with you?”
It would have been better not to mention it. As soon as these words left her mouth, Shen Wenjing’s expression instantly turned cold.
The figure in dark cyan was before her in the blink of an eye. Before Song Jiuning could react, a tremendous force gripped her wrist, pulling her off balance.
Her back slammed heavily against the rockery. Song Jiuning gasped in pain from the impact.
Just as she was about to straighten up, a slender, large hand suddenly clamped around her neck, forcibly pressing her back against the rocks.
“Betray This Prince?”
Her vision darkened as Shen Wenjing’s exceptionally handsome face rapidly approached, stopping just a finger’s breadth away from hers.
“Wh-what?”
The intense pain in her back and the suddenly close face in front left her somewhat disoriented.
Song Jiuning glanced around nervously: “Your Highness, please get up quickly. Don’t let anyone see.”
She wasn’t sure to what extent Shen Wenjing’s influence had developed at this time. If unfavorable rumors were to spread now, it was something she absolutely did not want.
The hand gripping her neck suddenly loosened. Song Jiuning had just caught her breath.
But then her chin hurt again, forcefully pinched and lifted upward.
Shen Wenjing’s voice carried a hint of thinly veiled anger: “Who are you afraid will see? Shen Yunting?”
Forced to tilt her head back, Song Jiuning met his deep, dark eyes directly. A chill instantly swept through her entire body.
She asked in confusion: “Your Highness, my feelings… haven’t I already made them clear?”
“Feelings? Song Jiuning, you dare toy with me?”
Shen Wenjing stared fixedly into her eyes, the hand pinching her chin trembling slightly: “For Shen Yunting, you are truly willing to do anything, aren’t you?”
“Your Highness, why can’t you believe me?”
Song Jiuning strained to turn her head, trying to free her chin: “I said, the current Song Jiuning has only Your Highness in her heart, not Shen Yunting.”
“How do you expect This Prince to believe you? The heart of the Ninth Miss Song is truly ruthless.”
A warm breath sounded by her ear. Song Jiuning trembled slightly, feeling a large hand caress her waist, sliding downward.
Song Jiuning’s heart skipped a beat, and she hurriedly tried to stop him: “Your Highness, this place is not—”
Her words were cut off halfway.
Shen Wenjing clearly had no intention of letting her explain. A nameless fury seemed to have taken hold of him, and he vented it all on her, utterly disregarding her feelings.
The rockery pressed painfully against Song Jiuning’s back, yet she dared not make a sound, fearing she might draw someone’s attention.
Anxious and furious, the grievances of two lifetimes surged within her all at once.
Her nose stung, and tears she could no longer hold back began to fall.
She had never cried before, not even during her previous life’s battles on the battlefield where she had narrowly escaped death time and again. Yet now, treated this way by Shen Wenjing, her tears simply would not stop.
Since her return, aside from seeking revenge, she had only wanted to repay him.
How had things come to this?
The man pressed against her paused for a moment. Shen Wenjing, his heart in turmoil, couldn’t help but reach out to cover her eyes. “Don’t cry,” he said.
While the scene by the rockery was utterly absurd, the tea in the Imperial Study had been refreshed cup after cup.
Emperor Chengtian frowned slightly. “Has Wen Jing encountered some trouble?” he murmured, his brow furrowed.
Shen Yunting, seated in a lower position, snorted coldly. “What else could it be? He must be too guilty to show his face.”
He secretly rejoiced. For Shen Wenjing to falter at such a moment—truly, even heaven was on his side.
Just then, a eunuch announced: “Prince Gongning and Song Jiuning request an audience.”
Emperor Chengtian raised a hand. “Admit them!”
Shen Yunting’s brow furrowed.
Why were the two of them coming together?
Shen Wenjing and Song Jiuning entered the Imperial Study one after the other.
After paying their respects, Shen Wenjing spoke gently to apologize: “Your son encountered Miss Song Jiu on the way. She was feeling unwell, and I feared her condition might offend Your Majesty’s presence. The delay was entirely my fault.”
Song Jiuning lowered her head even further, her face burning with embarrassment.
Facing his most outstanding son, Emperor Chengtian remained quite gentle. “Since there was a reason, take your seats.”
“Yes.”
Song Jiuning found a seat at the very end, keeping her eyes downcast and refraining from saying a single unnecessary word.
Seeing all three present, Emperor Chengtian wasted no time and got straight to the point. “Regarding the incident at the Wangfu a few days ago, have any clues been uncovered?”
“Father, the one who administered the drug has vanished without a trace. Every lead we managed to find has been severed. After these past few days, your son has gained nothing at all.”
Shen Yunting seized the initiative. “To handle things so cleanly—aside from Second Brother, I truly cannot think of anyone else capable.”
As he spoke, Shen Yunting seemed to touch upon a painful memory. With a look of grief, he knelt before Emperor Chengtian on the raised seat.
“Father, not only that, but even my most capable subordinate died at Gongning Wangfu! He served me for over ten years, like a brother to me. To die so mysteriously—I beg Father to uphold justice for me.”
Listening from the side, Song Jiuning felt her stomach churn.
How had she never noticed before just how shameless Shen Yunting could be?
To improve his own chances, even a lowly servant—someone he could dispose of at will, whose name he probably didn’t even know—had become his “brother.”
What struck her as even more ironic was that all of this was aimed at his own true brother.
“Miss Song Jiu, what is your view on this matter?”
Emperor Chengtian did not respond to Shen Yunting’s words. After a moment of contemplation, he unexpectedly turned his gaze toward Song Jiuning.
Instantly, the eyes of the other two also fell upon her, awaiting her reply.
Shen Yunting kept frantically signaling to her with his eyes, even unable to resist urging her aloud: “Ah… ahem, Miss Song Jiu, you may speak the truth. Who exactly gave you the drug? With Father Emperor here, he will surely grant you justice.”
Song Jiuning took a deep breath and slowly raised her head.
She glanced at Shen Wenjing, who sat on the other side of Emperor Chengtian with an inscrutable expression.
Then, she respectfully bowed to Emperor Chengtian: “Your Majesty, please discern the truth. This humble woman indeed knows who is responsible for this matter.”