Chapter 309

In the following days, both inside and outside the palace became completely "lively."

Everyone was searching everywhere for Cheng Yu's whereabouts, but not a single piece of good news reached them.

Wanshuang and Rongyue secretly visited Song Zhao several times, mostly comforting words to put Song Zhao's mind at ease.

Song Zhao found it somewhat ironic. In the past, she was busy comforting others, but now it was her turn to be in despair.

The power struggles and calculations within the palace seemed endless. No matter how intelligent a person was, they couldn't always emerge victorious.

Fortunes change, and with the passing of time, only the emperor remains undefeated.

During these days, Xiao Jingheng spared no effort in searching for Cheng Yu. Since his ascension to the throne, he had suspended early morning court sessions for the first time, even leaving the management of the southern water crisis to Prince Qi and the four ministries.

He was busy day and night, neglecting even his personal grooming. The stubble on his chin made him appear considerably older.

He truly resembled a father who had lost his child, his mind in turmoil.

Unfortunately, the envoy from the Ada Hu tribe in the Shenzhen Prison died before revealing any useful information, despite their claims.

Enraged, Xiao Jingheng wanted to hold the Ada Hu tribe accountable. However, these foreign envoys from tribes and small countries who had submitted to the court were all witnesses to the prince's disappearance. Whether it was to pledge allegiance to Xiao Jingheng or for their own self-proclaimed righteousness, they united unprecedentedly and were willing to assist him in eradicating the treacherous Ada Hu tribe responsible for such sinister acts.

As the only reliance of the Ada Hu tribe within the palace, Consort Yin cried until she had no tears left when her maternal relatives were implicated in such a significant matter.

On this day, Xiao Jingheng summoned Song Zhao to the Chaoyang Palace for a meeting.

When Song Zhao arrived, she saw Consort Yin kneeling outside the Chaoyang Palace's main gate under the clear sun, her hairpin removed as a sign of submission, continually kowtowing.

"Your Majesty! My maternal relatives would never have such intentions, Your Majesty! My maternal relatives have always been loyal to Your Majesty. I refuse to believe they would commit such a treacherous and unfilial act! Your Majesty, please see the truth! Your Majesty, have mercy!"

Despite Consort Yin's pleading, even though her words were accompanied by tears and her throat was hoarse, no response came from inside the main hall.

Song Zhao bypassed her and headed towards the main hall.

Consort Yin noticed her and crawled madly to her side, bowing repeatedly and crying out,

"Consort Yi, Consort Yi, please listen to me! I truly didn't do it, and neither did my maternal relatives! It truly wasn't us! I didn't harm your child, I swear it wasn't me!"

Song Zhao glanced down at her, her face devoid of any emotional fluctuations, and commanded Yun Shan to help Consort Yin up.

Consort Yin wiped away her tears. Due to her anxiety, she couldn't even speak properly. "I, I swear, if my maternal relatives and I have ever committed such an unjust and unrighteous act as kidnapping the crown prince, may I be condemned by the heavens! May I have no descendants!"

Song Zhao looked into her tear-filled eyes and nodded lightly.

"I believe you."

These words, "I believe you," caused Consort Yin to completely collapse, sobbing in pain.

Ever since the incident during the Festival of Eternal Longevity, all the women in the palace were waiting to see her become a laughingstock. Not only did they not believe in her, but even those who used to be on her side would go to her and mock her, almost humiliating her.

But she had treated Song Zhao the same way in the past.

However, today, only Song Zhao, the person involved, was willing to say the word "believe" to her.

Consort Yin tightly held Song Zhao's hand, feeling moved in her heart, but also truly desperate:

"But the Emperor wants to deal with my mother's family, I really have no way... Yifei, I beg you, help me, let me see the Emperor..."

Song Zhao remained silent, gently pushing away Consort Yin's hand, and turned around, stepping slowly towards the main hall.

Upon entering, she saw Xiao Jingheng drawing something on a large map of mountains and rivers that hung high.

Song Zhao took a steady look and saw that the lines he drew seemed to be several necessary routes from the capital to the Ada Hu Tribe.

As soon as Xiao Jingheng saw her, he immediately greeted her with concern.

"Zhao'er, you're here."

He also felt that Consort Yin's crying outside was really noisy, so he solemnly instructed a little eunuch,

"Go out and tell Consort Yin that if she dares to make noise again and disturb Yifei's pregnancy, I will immediately demote her to a concubine."

The little eunuch left to carry out the order, and soon it became quiet outside.

Xiao Jingheng held Song Zhao's hand and gestured towards the routes and deployments on the map, explaining them one by one.

"I have discussed with the officials of the four ministries. If the people of the Hu Tribe have taken Cheng Yu away, they will definitely return through these routes. I have already sent six troops along the way to intercept them, it should be possible..."

He spoke incessantly, discussing many methods they had come up with to rescue Cheng Yu.

But all Song Zhao could see and hear was the horrifying aspect of it all.

Suddenly, she asked Xiao Jingheng,

"Emperor, what did the Chief Astronomer of the Astronomical Observatory say about this?"

Xiao Jingheng was obviously not expecting Song Zhao to suddenly mention the Chief Astronomer, but he only hesitated for a moment before responding as usual,

"I asked, but there were no clues."

Song Zhao sarcastically remarked, "He can predict even floods, so how could he not predict the danger to the Emperor's precious child? How could he not predict where Cheng Yu is now? It shows that he is useless."

Xiao Jingheng responded, "I have instructed the Astronomical Observatory to intensify their divinations, but as the father of Cheng Yu, I cannot solely rely on the Astronomical Observatory to find our son." These words were eloquent.

But as Song Zhao listened to them now, they only sounded harsh.

She stared at Xiao Jingheng and asked again,

"A few days ago, the Emperor was almost hit by a falling plaque. I remember that in the following days, the Chief Astronomer almost came to see the Emperor every day. What did he come to tell the Emperor?"

Song Zhao, unlike her usual submissive self, came today with a somewhat compelling tone in her words.

The warmth in Xiao Jingheng's eyes faded a bit, "It was just some ordinary celestial phenomena."

They looked at each other in silence for a long time.

At this point, Song Zhao had completely run out of options.

In this palace, the struggle between women has always relied on the wise judgments of Xiao Jingheng.

Song Zhao had always believed that as long as she could manipulate Xiao Jingheng, she would have a smooth sailing in the palace.

But little did she know, one day she would also become a pawn in Xiao Jingheng's game?

When her reliance suddenly turned into her constraint,

how could she escape from this predicament?

And how could she save her own son?

A boundless sense of despair swept over Song Zhao from all directions.

It manifested as invisible pressure, weighing her down, wanting to crush her...

An inexplicable pain, like a twisting knife, suddenly struck her lower abdomen, causing Song Zhao's legs to go weak, and she fell into Xiao Jingheng's arms.

She was soaked underneath, her breathing became erratic.

Before long, accompanied by the calls of Xiao Jingheng and Yun Shan, everything turned black before her eyes, and she fainted.

Yun Shan looked at Song Zhao and realized that her water had broken. In a panic, she shouted, "Your Majesty! The Empress is about to give birth... but she's only eight months pregnant!"

Xiao Jingheng also panicked and said, "Quick! Hurry and fetch the imperial physician and the midwife. Move Zhao'er to the bedroom first! Be careful, don't hurt her!"

The Chao Yang Palace instantly became chaotic,

Xiao Jingheng originally intended to accompany Song Zhao in the bedroom,

but on the corridor, he ran into the impulsive Xiao Yinzi,

and Xiao Yinzi solemnly reported to him:

"Your Majesty... the Navy Admiral has captured Qu Yanran, who was planning to assassinate you in Lin'an. They have already entered the palace with their men!"