Chapter 69

After the banquet, the departure of the courtiers was unusually quiet.

The moon shone brightly in the sky, casting a clear light all around.

It was a scene of extreme purity and clarity, bringing a touch of coldness and solemnity when it entered the palace.

Instead of being held in the Mingguang Pond, the family banquet was held in the Jinge Palace. Members of the Royal Family and their relatives were required to attend, and even the princes from other families came.

Originally, the purpose of the family banquet was twofold: to receive tributes from the feudal princes and to observe the younger generations of each family, in order to choose a child for adoption into the East Palace to continue the family line.

But after Song Pianxian’s speech —

What was the point of adoption? The family line of the East Palace had already ended, and he still had a healthy and disaster-free son. It might be better to directly transfer the East Palace to him.

While the Emperor was thinking, Hong Chang interjected:

“Your Majesty, the Princess said that the Crown Prince was buried in Taolin.”

Although there was little time between the two banquets, the Emperor still asked about the whereabouts of the Crown Prince’s body. Seeing is believing, how could it all rely on Song Pianxian’s words alone?

There was a tiredness buried in the wrinkles on the Emperor’s face, his voice elderly:

“Send someone to find him and bring the Crown Prince back.”

“Yes.”

“Has Duan’er arrived at the Jingde Palace?”

Hong Chang paused, “He should have… he should have arrived.”

The Emperor closed his eyes, sounding dissatisfied:

“He should have? Yixi Palace should be more attentive —— Tomorrow, remind me to appoint two Grand Tutors for Duan’er.”

Having just been released from confinement, the Third Prince, who had disappeared silently, now stood out as the only prince after tonight’s events. Would he be favored by the Emperor from now on?

Hong Chang pursed his lips and agreed.

When they arrived at the Jingde Palace, the wives and children of various royal families, as well as several high-ranking concubines, had already arrived.

Empress Hui led everyone in a greeting. When the Emperor scanned the crowd, he noticed that Song Duan was missing.

As he walked inside, he asked, “Where is Duan’er?”

Empress Hui had no idea how to answer, but He Qiuchan, holding Song Yingguang in front of her, gracefully said:

“Your Majesty, have you forgotten? You granted a favor to the Third Prince. Perhaps the Third Prince has been delayed by some minor matters and will arrive shortly.”

The Emperor furrowed his brow, taking a while to remember that a few days ago, He Qiuchan had told him that since it was the Full Moon Festival, he should let Song Duan meet with Consort Xi. He had agreed.

But he hadn’t expected Song Duan to still be with Consort Xi at this late hour, causing him to arrive late for the banquet.

“Don’t blame the Third Prince, Your Majesty, otherwise, blame it on this subject.” He Qiuchan added.

The Emperor glanced at her, “You are too soft-hearted.”

He Qiuchan smiled gently, not arguing.

She looked behind the Emperor, where Song Pianxian and Feng Yuexian were both present, calm and composed. She and Feng Yuexian exchanged a subtle glance, smiling even more brightly.

“Your Majesty, please.”

King Chu followed closely behind and entered the Jingde Palace, standing together with Queen Chu before taking their seats together.

His heir was also present, obediently following his mother to her seat. King Chu was already feeling uneasy, seeing that every other family had two or three children, while his own had just one, feeling somewhat aggrieved.

King Chu raised his wine glass, his gaze quietly shifting towards Song Yingguang, who was beside He Qiuchan.

Song Yingguang was looking around curiously when she inadvertently caught King Chu’s gaze and offered a friendly smile.

In the eyes of King Chu, Song Yingguang was not just a niece; she was also the daughter he had given the most esteemed person in the world a cuckold.

Just this fact alone made him look upon Song Yingguang and Song Duan with great affection.

Moreover, with Song Duan present, there was still much potential on the side of the East Palace —

As the banquet was about to begin, Song Duan finally arrived. He was usually proud and arrogant, but today his face was pale and lacking in spirit, which drew several glances from King Chu and prompted the Emperor on his seat to express concern several times.

The more the Emperor spoke, the more hesitant and evasive Song Duan became, showing a lack of confidence.

How could he have turned into this appearance after seeing his birth mother?

The Emperor was puzzled. Could it be that seeing Consort Xi’s situation had frightened him?

Immediately, he decided that after the family banquet, he would remove Consort Xi from the cold palace and reinstate her as a Virtuous Consort —— it was necessary to give the birth mother of the new Crown Prince some favor and dignity. With a sip of wine, the Emperor thought lightly.

Halfway through the banquet, everyone moved outside to admire the moon, scattering among the garden pools or ascending star-picking platforms.

There were also various performances and spectacles, adding to the lively atmosphere.

Under the cover of night, the palace lanterns hanging everywhere were enchanting, their flickering flames making the night seem even hazier, making it difficult to see people clearly.

King Chu walked a bit farther, reaching a moon-viewing pavilion on a faux mountain, ostensibly to admire the moon but actually to send his close guards to summon Xuancao for questioning.

“Duan’er seemed a bit unusual today. What happened in the palace?” He knew that Song Duan didn’t care much about Consort Xi, so he found it even more strange. After learning of the Crown Prince’s demise, Song Duan’s position in his heart had soared.

“I was about to report to you,” Xuancao said with a bowed head and rapid speech. “Today, when I went to see Consort Xi, she… might have been confused by illness and revealed the true identity of the Third Prince to him.”

King Chu stood up abruptly, “Consort Xi has gone mad, hasn’t she?”

Xuancao lowered his head, “Please give your orders, my lord. Consort Xi… should she be kept alive?”

King Chu took a couple of deep breaths, his face showing a fierce expression, and said slowly, “She has spoken words she shouldn’t have. She — deserves to die.”

Across a small path and sparse trees, various brilliant fireworks lit up the star-picking platform, soaring towards the sky-reaching bright moon.

Since they weren’t far away, King Chu could even hear the joyful shouts of children.

“Wow, it’s so beautiful,” Song Yingguang looked up, the dazzling fireworks blooming in the night sky, flowing like stars.

Song Ruyan said, “The palace is indeed splendid, unlike our place where fireworks are rarely set off.”

Song Yingguang smiled slightly, about to reply, when she was called over by He Qiuchan.

In the thick night, He Qiuchan pointed her in a direction and whispered a few words to her before saying, “Yingguang, do you remember yesterday’s instructions? Do you remember what your mother asked you to do?”

Song Yingguang clenched her fists tightly and nodded solemnly.

He Qiuchan felt a bit guilty, but to ensure the plan’s success, she had no choice but to send Song Yingguang — adults rarely guarded against children, especially since Song Yingguang was always obedient and innocent.

He Qiuchan brushed her fair cheek, steeled her heart, and gently pushed her forward, “Off you go.”

Song Yingguang obediently walked towards her father, the Emperor.

She passed by several young cousins who were laughing joyously at the fireworks, making her want to turn back and see the beautiful sight in the sky.

But she innocently knew that she had to do something for the adults.

She walked past the crowd, even having her face rubbed by the County Princess Qinghe in passing, before finally reaching her father’s side.

Hopefully, she hadn’t delayed anything —

“Father, Father,” Song Yingguang called softly.

The Emperor lowered his head, “Yingguang, what’s the matter?”

Song Yingguang pointed to the moon-viewing pavilion roof faintly visible behind the trees, “What’s that over there? I’ve never been there.”

As fireworks rained down from the sky, for a moment, the thick night seemed to dissolve, inside and outside the pavilion, as bright as daylight.

Only now did King Chu see a figure under the moon-viewing pavilion.

Upon closer inspection, it turned out to be Song Duan.

“Duan’er?”

How did Song Duan come here?

— No, why hadn’t the guards stationed at the intersection reported this!

In this instant, everything clicked together.

Why did Song Duan suddenly learn the truth today, why could he come to him unhindered —

Even, why did the provincial kings come to the capital early, before the Mid-Autumn Festival?

Unaware, as he enjoyed the aftermath of the Crown Prince’s demise, the intricate web woven by the East Palace had already descended upon him.

Hateful that he remained oblivious!

King Chu quickened his pace, intending to urge Song Duan to leave immediately.

But it was too late.

In the afternoon, Song Duan was taken to Consort Xi’s residence and was emotionally stirred by his mother’s words.

In the evening, as he struggled to remain composed and joked with the Emperor, someone knocked something over — it seemed to be He Jieyu knocking over a fruit plate. He turned his head and saw Xuancao’s sneaky figure leaving.

Consort Xi said, Xuancao belonged to King Chu.

Thinking of Xuancao’s usually somber expression and the absent King Chu, the so-called his biological father, he inexplicably followed along and, in the silent night, was able to overhear the conversation between King Chu and Xuancao.

A young boy’s temperament was inherently unstable, especially one who had been indulged and had never tasted hardship.

“You want to kill my mother just because she told me the truth?”

Song Duan didn’t care about the Empress’s life, but what he cared about was, was he so intolerable?

Perhaps when Song Duan regained his senses, the first thing he would think of was the Empress’s death, so that he could continue to be the unparalleled Third Prince.

But at this moment, King Chu’s frantic efforts to erase the stain stabbed at his pride.

He viciously kicked a nearby rock, “What are you, even worthy of being my father?”

“I don’t know what the Empress was thinking. A good concubine was disregarded, and she actually threw herself to someone as heartless and contemptuous as you.”

Song Duan’s tongue flew, cursing vehemently, venting the anger in his heart, or perhaps, concealing his unease.

King Chu was both anxious and furious, “Shut up!”

Song Duan paid no attention to him. Hearing King Chu’s footsteps approaching in the dark night, he shouted loudly, “No, Consort Xi  has gone mad, I can’t trust her —”

“She said I am your son, that’s it? Who knows if this is a scheme concocted by you and Xuancao, this dog slave!”

King Chu quickly approached and grabbed Song Duan, covering his mouth with his hand and using his elbow to hold his throat.

King Chu was, after all, an adult man. With all his strength, Song Duan had no chance to speak, and even breathing became difficult; only his limbs were struggling frantically.

The world quieted down.

It was safe.

King Chu breathed a sigh of relief.

The next moment.

In the distance, the eunuch’s shrill voice rang out:

“Your Majesty! Your Majesty, what happened to you?”

King Chu’s face froze, like a hardened lump of lime, pale and lifeless.

“Someone! Summon the imperial physician—”

The Imperial Guards arrived faster than the royal physician.

Layer upon layer of Imperial Guards surrounded the Moon-viewing Pavilion.

Footsteps came in waves, everyone rushing towards the Moon-viewing Pavilion.

Seeing King Chu and Song Duan restrained by the Imperial Guards, the Emperor unconscious, his complexion pale, speculation ran rampant among the crowd.

“Release me!”

“Would you dare lay a hand on me, risking your lives?”

King Chu’s Consort felt dizzy in the head, urgently asking, “What’s going on? For no reason, the Prince and the Imperial Son have been seized? How could there be such logic?”

The commander of the Imperial Guards stood firm, like a cold spear standing on the ground, rigid and indifferent:

“The Emperor is indisposed, and only they were present. Whether guilty or not, it awaits the Emperor’s awakening for judgment.”

“They are of royal blood!” King Chu’s Consort threatened with authority.

From behind, a voice came from afar, cold and tinged with an indescribable flavor:

“Father, it’s long live the Emperor, it’s Your Majesty.”

King Chu’s Consort paused, turning to look, and saw the Princess Consort.

Beside the Princess Consort stood the Princess.

Feng Yuexian glanced at King Chu’s Consort, pausing briefly on the little prince beside her.

King Chu’s Consort subconsciously pulled her son into her arms, holding him tighter.

As someone close to King Chu, how could she not know that Feng Yuexian was a major concern in the King’s heart? She considered herself somewhat scheming, but under the influence, she never underestimated Feng Yuexian.

King Chu’s Consort dared not make a scene again. She was anxious, but could only console herself, likely just a coincidence, it would be fine once the Emperor woke up.

King Chu’s Consort calmed down and discreetly glanced at the Princess who dared to stand in for the Crown Prince.

Could someone who spent all day with Feng Yuexian, sharing the limelight, be as fierce as a wolf?

But Song Pianxian paid no attention to her.

He Qiuchan was crying beside the Emperor, this was something she had to do as the favored consort, further clearing her suspicion.

Song Yingguang stood by, looking somewhat bewildered and lost.

The adults were all focused on the Emperor’s condition, no one noticed her.

Song Ruyan was talking to her, but Song Yingguang seemed not to hear, offering no response.

Song Pianxian walked over.

For some reason, although everyone present was of royal and noble status, influential figures, in front of Song Pianxian, none dared to confront her.

The crowd parted like water, making way for Song Pianxian.

Song Pianxian walked behind Song Yingguang, reaching out to cover her eyes, the movement exceptionally gentle.

Like a tender spring leaf, carefully shielding the clearest and most fragile dewdrops, preventing them from being harmed by the harsh sunlight of the world.

Song Pianxian spoke, her voice like a light sigh:

“It’s okay.”

It ended.

---

Come join the Discord, where all the cool kids hang out!

Please support us on Ko-Fi. You can now read extra chapters by supporting.

Translator: Glariosa
Editor: Ruu

---

---