The dark clouds hung low over Kyoto tonight, veiling the bright moon like a gossamer. The atmosphere was unusually oppressive.
Inside the Duke Hu's Residence, Song Yue lay in bed, tossing and turning, unable to fall asleep.
Her heart was racing, sometimes worrying about the Ge family, and other times hoping that Song Shicheng would return triumphantly from the front lines.
"Bang! Bang! Bang!"
The urgent knocking made her tremble.
"What's the matter?"
"Miss... There are people from the palace who have come, saying they want to take Miss into the palace to meet the emperor."
"To meet the emperor?" Song Yue hastily put on a coat and opened the door to her chamber. "I have no dealings with the palace in my daily life. Why would the emperor summon me to the palace in the middle of the night?"
Her dark eyes restlessly darted in their sockets as she asked, "Has that wretched Song Zhao done something wrong?"
"I'm not sure, but the people who came were very rude and kept urging Miss to hurry."
"I understand. Go back and tell them that I will follow them after I change my clothes."
After saying that, Song Yue was about to turn back to her room when she saw the people from the palace had already barged in.
Leading the way was Xiao Yinzi, who usually wore a smiling face in the palace, but today he exuded an air of authority as he shouted at Song Yue, "The emperor has summoned you. How dare you dawdle? Men, take her into the palace immediately!"
Thus, in the chilly night of early spring, with only a thin sleeping gown draped over her, Song Yue was escorted into the imperial palace.
It was her first time entering the palace, with its crimson walls, green tiles, and resplendent golden brilliance. Everything she saw exuded an air of nobility, but it also filled her with trepidation.
On the way, she asked Xiao Yinzi, "Has my wayward half-sister caused trouble in the palace? She is nothing but a disgrace as a low-born. If she has done something disgraceful, it has nothing to do with me, the legitimate daughter of the Duke Hu's Residence!"
Xiao Yinzi, upon hearing this, promptly slapped Song Yue across the face, leaving her ears ringing and her head throbbing.
"Song Noblewoman is the emperor's concubine. Do you think you have the right to comment on her like this? If you dare to speak nonsense again, I will teach you some manners!"
Having received this slap, Song Yue quickly learned her lesson. Holding back her tears, she followed the palace attendants in silence, no longer daring to utter a word.
When they arrived outside the main gate of the Chaoyang Palace, they ran into another group of people.
She saw that the person being escorted was none other than Ge Zhongqi, and instantly her emotions surged.
Since the incident with the granary fire, which resulted in the Ge family being placed under house arrest, Song Yue had been concerned about Ge Zhongqi.
Upon seeing each other, Ge Zhongqi, however, adopted an unusual attitude. He pretended not to recognize Song Yue and gave her a signal to restrain herself.
Only then did Song Yue hold back her tears and feigned indifference as she added, "Although we are not acquainted, our fathers were colleagues after all. It is only natural for me to show concern."
The two of them were brought into the grand hall and knelt down to pay their respects to Emperor Xiao Jingheng on the dragon throne.
"We, your subjects, pay our respects to Your Majesty. May Your Majesty be blessed."
Emperor Xiao Jingheng did not instruct them to rise. He looked down at them with a gloomy gaze and first asked Ge Zhongqi a question.
"During the year of your suitable marriage, have you set your sights on any noble ladies from official families? I can make arrangements for you, which would also fulfill your father's wish."
Ge Zhongqi replied timidly, "I am wholeheartedly devoted to serving the court and have no other desires!"
Xiao Jingheng sneered and then spoke sternly, "If you are wholeheartedly devoted to serving the court, how could you have allowed the army's provisions to be burned? If you have any ulterior motives, wouldn't that be tantamount to plotting rebellion!?"
Ge Zhongqi couldn't withstand the fright and immediately kowtowed, saying, "I made a major mistake due to a momentary negligence. I hope Your Majesty can give me a chance to make amends!"
He finished speaking but continued banging his head.
His head crashed against the jade stone floor, and before long, blood splattered.
Xiao Jingheng paid no attention to him and looked at Song Yue instead. "You are the legitimate daughter of the Duke of Huguo?"
Song Yue was overwhelmed by his oppressive aura and dared not speak, only trembling as she nodded in response.
Xiao Jingheng continued, "Your half-sister, Song Zhao, is a favored concubine of mine. She has taught her well—she understands etiquette, follows the rules, and is knowledgeable and sensible. Considering you are her older sister and of legitimate birth, you should surpass her in every aspect."
Song Yue, being naive, couldn't detect the sarcasm in Xiao Jingheng's words and thought he was praising her.
So she immediately picked up on it and said, "Thank you for your praise, Your Majesty. Our father has always been strict in teaching us sisters since childhood, and I will uphold his teachings diligently, never slackening for a moment."
"Oh?" Xiao Jingheng rubbed the ruby signet ring on his thumb, showing great interest. He smiled and said, "Let's test your knowledge then. Do you know what the crime of deceiving the emperor entails?"
Song Yue was startled and stammered, "The crime of deceiving the emperor... deserves... deserves the extermination of nine generations."
Upon hearing this, Xiao Jingheng's expression turned serious, and he suddenly became furious. "Since you know, how dare you deceive me along with your father?"
Song Yue was terrified, struggling to catch her breath, and stuttered, "I-I didn't..."
"You didn't? Song Shicheng used your infertility as a reason to let Zhao'er replace you in the palace. But now you are secretly involved with someone and carrying their child. You and Ge Zhongqi have done such shameless things right under my nose. Do you think your life is too long?"
Xiao Jingheng directly exposed the illicit relationship between the two in front of everyone.
Both of them were at a loss for words, denying it incoherently.
At that moment, Jiang Deshun ordered his men to hold Song Yue down, and a royal physician came forward to examine her pulse.
"Your Majesty, this woman is indeed more than two months pregnant."
In the face of irrefutable evidence, all their arguments seemed feeble.
Song Yue, being a delicate and pampered woman since childhood, had never encountered such a situation before. She had completely lost her senses.
But she genuinely loved Ge Zhongqi.
Seeing her beloved also pale from fright, his head bleeding from repeatedly banging it, her heart couldn't help but tremble.
So she made up her mind and, gritting her teeth, decided to shoulder all the blame herself.
"Your Majesty! The affair between me and Lord Ge was entirely my fault! The blame lies solely with me. I implore Your Majesty..."
"Yes, yes, yes! Your Majesty, please judge accordingly!"
Song Yue didn't expect that before she could finish her words, Ge Zhongqi interrupted and pointed at her, saying:
"It was she who seduced me! I was drunk and unclear, which led to that... She seduced me! Your Majesty, please be merciful!"
Ge Zhongqi's words echoed in Song Yue's ears like a thunderbolt.
She was so angry that her whole body trembled, and with tearful eyes, she stared at the man she once loved dearly.
He continued, "Why are you looking at me like that? Hurry up and explain to His Majesty that it was you who seduced me! Speak up!"
Song Yue had never seen such a repulsive face on him. The deep affection they had just moments ago instantly shattered and collapsed.
She angrily scolded, "Ge Zhongqi! You shameless person! I seduced you? Who taught me such methods, allowing my father to lie to the emperor on my behalf, sparing me from the selection process to enter the palace? And who climbed over the wall of my house in the middle of the night, insisting on rendezvousing with me under the moonlight? Moreover, who promised to marry me and claimed that the child in my womb was adopted by us, deceiving the court?"
"You... you stop spouting nonsense!"
With the last teardrop falling, Song Yue refused to say another word to Ge Zhongqi.
She turned around, facing Xiao Jingheng, and with a dignified posture, kneeled on the ground, her heart filled with despair.
"I have kept all the love letters he gave me. If His Majesty doesn't believe it, I can bring them for him to examine one by one!"
