Chapter 140

In fact, from the moment the Empress proposed to cut down the peach tree at the Zhongsi Gate, Song Zhao had already begun to suspect something.

Having been in the palace for so long, the peach tree at the Zhongsi Gate had been there for quite some time.

Why did the Empress choose to deal with it only after Consort Chen obtained the authority to manage the six palaces?

And what about Consort Chen?

Initially, she could have refused, but on her first day managing the six palaces, with so many other concubines watching, if the Empress used a little provocation, she would definitely take the bait.

Princess Dowage Yu and the Ning Family had already been at odds, but this incident poured fuel on the fire.

On the surface, it seemed like the Empress was plotting against Consort Chen.

However, upon closer consideration, Song Zhao felt that this matter was likely far more than what it appeared to be on the surface.

The Empress's scheme was too superficial to deceive the deeply suspicious Xiao Jingheng.

This plan of the Empress's would hurt the enemy a thousandfold while also harming herself. It didn't match her usual composed style of doing things.

When all possibilities were ruled out, there was only one truth left:

- That everything happening today was part of Xiao Jingheng's scheme. He wanted the Empress to take a liking to cutting down the peach tree, and then he gave Consort Chen the authority to manage the six palaces.

At this moment, to avoid suspicion, the Empress would definitely go along with it and hand over this matter to Consort Chen.

And since Consort Chen had just obtained great power, she needed to establish her authority in the harem and couldn't possibly refuse.

With the peach tree cut down, Princess Dowage Yu would be driven to her death by anger.

Moreover, Prince Rui would hold the Ning Family responsible for this.

At this particular time, Xiao Jingheng granted Prince Rui the title of a prince, making it more convenient for him to act in the former dynasty.

The vendetta of killing one's mother was an irreconcilable one.

Prince Rui would surely continue to bite at the Ning Family, and they would retaliate against him.

Among all the princes, Prince Rui already had the most power and prestige.

When the former emperor designated the crown prince, he had hesitated for quite some time between Prince Rui and Xiao Jingheng.

In regard to Prince Rui, Xiao Jingheng had always been wary. Now, it was good.

After this incident, Prince Rui and the Ning Family had become sworn enemies.

They would bite and fight each other, while Xiao Jingheng only needed to watch from the sidelines and enjoy the show.

No matter who ended up losing the fight in the end,

Xiao Jingheng could eliminate a major threat without expending a single soldier or horse.

As for whether Princess Dowage Yu was angered to death

or poisoned to death by Xiao Jingheng going along with the flow...

Song Zhao couldn't be bothered to guess and didn't want to think about it any further.

She only knew that the thoughts of an emperor were undoubtedly much more complex than those of the women in the harem.

So in the future, when facing Xiao Jingheng, she must be even more cautious and calculate three steps ahead to ensure prudence.

*

The next day at noon, Xiao Fuzi hurriedly came to report:

"Miss, the carriage and horses escorting Lord have already entered the palace this morning. After the Emperor finished the morning court session, he immediately interrogated Lord. Now, the matter has been settled."

While removing the delicate makeup from her face, Song Zhao casually asked, "What did the Emperor say?"

Xiao Fuzi said, "His Majesty spared Lord Shicheng's life but stripped him of his title as Duke of Protecting the Nation, demoting him to an envoy. Lord Shicheng is to travel far to the cold northern region to handle foreign affairs."

Xiao Jingheng did spare Song Shicheng's life,

but he banished him to a foreign land, essentially forbidding him from ever returning to the capital.

Song Zhao applied some rouge to her vermilion lips, trying to look distressed and melancholic. She then asked Xiao Fuzi,

"Father will embark on a long journey, and when he was in the Yu Province, he suffered a head injury with unhealed blood clots. It may be risky for him to travel. I asked you earlier to prepare a good medicine to dissipate the blood clots. Did you prepare it?"

Xiao Fuzi nodded and went back to her chamber, fetching a hidden brown pill for Song Zhao.

After accepting the pill, Song Zhao glanced at the bronze hourglass and said, "By this hour, Father should be approaching the noontime side gate. Come with me to see him off."

When Song Zhao reached the noontime side gate, she coincidentally encountered Song Shicheng who was about to leave the palace.

"Father!"

With a tearful voice, she called out from afar,

Song Shicheng stopped and turned around. Seeing his daughter running towards him in tears, he felt a mix of emotions.

Throughout the years, he had favored Song Yue and mistreated Song Zhao,

but he never expected that the one who would plead with the Emperor to spare his life would be this illegitimate daughter he didn't value.

Xiao Yinzi, who was responsible for escorting Song Shicheng out of the palace, had accepted the bribe from Xiao Fuzi. He didn't give Song Zhao a hard time and said,

"Miss, if you have anything to say, say it quickly to Lord Song. I am following orders and can't afford to delay." After saying that, he stood aside and didn't stop Song Shicheng from approaching Song Zhao.

At this moment, Song Shicheng was no longer the illustrious Duke of Protecting the Nation he used to be.

His figure was stooped, his hair grayed, and his voice filled with weariness.

"Zhao'er, I won't be able to support you in the future. Be careful in the palace..."

Song Zhao knelt before Song Shicheng, crying, "How can Father say you won't be able to support me? As long as you stay well, that's the greatest comfort for your daughter!"

Her act of bidding farewell to Song Shicheng violated the palace etiquette.

Song Shicheng quickly stepped forward to support her, saying, "Miss, you mustn't!"

As Song Shicheng helped her up,

Song Zhao surreptitiously slipped the pill hidden in her sleeve into his hand,

The father and daughter embraced each other and wept. Song Zhao whispered in a voice only they could hear,

"This medicine was bought by your daughter at a high price from the Imperial Pharmacy. If you take it, the blood clots in your brain will dissipate. When you reach the harsh land, make sure to take care of yourself before continuing the journey. Don't worry your daughter."

Song Shicheng was brought back from the Yu Province as a criminal,

Even if military physicians treated him, they wouldn't put much effort into it,

Even if they did, it would still pale in comparison to the miraculous medicines of the palace.

Song Shicheng calmly accepted the pill and, with tears streaming down his face, said a few words of farewell to Song Zhao. Only then, under Xiao Yinzi's urging, did he leave the palace.

As Song Zhao watched Song Shicheng's departing figure, her initially sorrowful expression turned cold.

She gently wiped away the tear stains from her cheeks and murmured,

"Father, may you rest in peace."

In reality, the pill she gave to Song Shicheng was not some good remedy for removing stagnant blood, but rather a common tonic pill.

However, within it, invisible lethal poison had been added!

Lethal poison was a substance used by the royal family for executing people. The reason Song Zhao had it was because when the Empress Dowager ordered her to kill Song Yue, she had been cautious and left some behind.

Lethal poison knew no dosage; as long as it came into contact with someone, it was undoubtedly fatal!

Deep inside, Xiao Fuzi felt a trace of worry. Only after returning to the palace, during a moment when there was no one around, did she ask Song Zhao,

"Miss, what if the coroner discovers that Master was poisoned to death by lethal poison? I'm worried that the Emperor will suspect you."

"Suspect me? Hahaha!" Song Zhao burst into laughter.

"The Emperor would suspect that the Empress Dowager secretly made a move to protect the dignity of the royal family. The Empress Dowager would suspect that the Emperor couldn't tolerate him and resorted to murderous intentions. Based on their numerous speculations, they would never suspect me."

She spoke while concealing her laughter, and pretended to be sorrowful, saying,

"After all, I'm just a pitiful person who has lost her entire family. From now on, I'll have no one to rely on in this world."