Song Zhao felt disgusted by Consort Hui, and every inch of her skin trembled with unease. She pushed against Consort Hui's chest, trying to avoid her, but her fingernail, like a sharp water onion, hooked onto the clasp of Consort Hui's collar, causing the button to pop off and the collar to fall to the ground.
In that moment, Song Zhao looked up and saw something astonishing: Consort Hui's neck, which should have been covered in burn scars, was now smooth and fair. The old scars had completely disappeared!
In their place were several distinct horizontal lines on her neck.
Song Zhao widened her eyes, feeling both shocked and puzzled...
Neck lines...
The queen was twenty-three years old when she had just started to develop faint neck lines. Consort Hui was only fifteen this year, so why were the neck lines on her neck so noticeable?
Unless...
Consort Hui had a childlike face, but her actual age was older than even the queen's?
Facing Song Zhao's astonished gaze, Consort Hui showed no fear. She twisted her neck from side to side, loosening her muscles, and smiled lightly.
"You are truly clever and troublesome," she said.
Song Zhao stared fixedly at Consort Hui's youthful face, feeling her stomach churn, making her extremely nauseous!
She suppressed the surge in her chest and asked with disgust, "What kind of monster are you?"
"Tsk, tsk, you've discovered my little secret," Consort Hui blinked her round eyes mischievously and stuck out her tongue at Song Zhao.
Then she bent down, picked up the collar from the ground, and draped it back around her neck before speaking again, "Hehe~ In that case, I should change how I address you now. I should call you Sister Song~"
Facing Song Zhao's astonished gaze, Consort Hui became even more composed.
"You don't need to think about telling the emperor anything. I have known him since we were young. When he was just an unloved prince, he brought me into his residence. The emperor knows that we are the same age, and he has raised me all these years. He wanted me to replace the late Wei Linlan in the palace and be his spy."
Saying this, she looked at Song Zhao with a playful smile. "Actually, you must have guessed all of this a long time ago, right? As clever as you are, you probably already knew that I am the emperor's person. I bet you even thought of using my identity to your advantage, right? Tsk, tsk..."
Consort Hui shook her head slowly, her tone full of banter.
"Sister Song, you truly are sharp-witted. In all these years in the palace, I have never encountered an opponent who can match me~"
At this point, no matter how shocking the news was to Song Zhao, it seemed ordinary.
She simply asked Consort Hui in a stern voice, "You say you work for the emperor, but many of the things you do are probably your own ideas, aren't they?"
Consort Hui smiled without confirming or denying it.
Instead, she gently stroked her abdomen and boasted, "I am pregnant, so it's not suitable for me to stay in this cold palace for long. But before I leave, I can show you some mercy and tell you something you've always been curious about. Don't you want to know the whereabouts of your son?"
Hearing her mention Cheng Yu, Song Zhao couldn't help but feel a sinking feeling in her heart.
Consort Hui then walked to her side, protectively holding her waist, and spoke with a voice as melodious as silver bells.
"Since the birth of your noble child, have you ever considered how many disasters have occurred inside and outside the palace?
The emperor was assassinated, there were floods in the south, fertile fields were destroyed, epidemics spread, the empress dowager fell seriously ill, and the emperor narrowly escaped danger in the Chaoyang Palace. Each and every one of these incidents was a catastrophic event. Why is it that after your noble child was born, there have been peaceful and uneventful years, but now they coincide with unfavorable times?"
She lightly patted Song Zhao's shoulder, her smile becoming more sinister.
"But, it's all thanks to your clever plan. You intentionally gave birth prematurely, so that your child shares the same birthday as the emperor. Did you think that this way, your child would not attract any calamities due to their birthdate?
It seems that your wish has come true. He is truly a lucky star. So, in times of turmoil for the nation and misfortune for the emperor, he will bear all of these burdens on behalf of the emperor and the people."
Consort Hui spoke as if she was talking about something joyous, growing more excited as she continued.
"In fact, this has been the case for emperors throughout history. Haven't you heard of a practice called 'planting the foundation of fortune' or 'burying blessings'? Your noble child, who shares the same birthdate as the emperor, is the foundation of the emperor's fortune and the blessings of the Great Qi dynasty. That's why the emperor has proclaimed him as the crown prince and even sent him to the imperial tomb... to..."
She paused, looking at the glimmer of tears in Song Zhao's eyes, as if she was admiring her spoils, feeling quite satisfied.
She approached Song Zhao step by step, leaning close to her ear, and whispered word by word:
"Emperor, bury him alive~"
"You..."
Intense grief spread throughout Song Zhao's heart, engulfing every part of her body.
Her heart was burdened with despair, a mix of sorrow and anger so overwhelming that she couldn't contain it, and a mouthful of blood gushed out uncontrollably.
At this moment, Consort Hui's laughter echoed incessantly, piercing Song Zhao's heart even more deeply.
Song Zhao desperately pushed Consort Hui away, wishing she could kill this venomous woman with her own hands!
But weakened by her physical condition, she was pushed back by Consort Hui and fell to the ground.
Consort Hui stood tall and looked down at her.
"Song sister, take care of your own body. After childbirth, you must avoid great sorrow and grief. Don't end up with postpartum hemorrhage. In the cold palace, there are no imperial physicians who can treat you!"
Song Zhao's breath seemed to be stuck, and because of the ubiquitous pain, her whole being, from the inside out, seemed to have been completely shattered.
She realized that when a person reaches the utmost despair, it is not as easy as severing one's liver and intestines.
It is like having thousands of sharp knives simultaneously carving your flesh, peeling your bones, making you live as a mangled mess without a hair unharmed.
Before Song Zhao lost consciousness, she saw Yun Shan rushing in and desperately protecting her.
When she woke up again, it was already a day later.
Contrary to Consort Hui's wish,
she did not suffer from postpartum hemorrhage, nor did she end up consumed by sorrow and despair.
However, the moment she opened her eyes, it was a life devoid of hope, and her heart turned to ashes.
Buried alive...
These two words lingered in Song Zhao's ears at all times.
She tightly gripped the bedding, tears flowing uncontrollably,
feeling heartache for her poor child, and wishing she could throw Xiao Jingheng and Consort Hui into a sea of knives and fire, tormenting them until their flesh and skin were separated, until they died without a complete body.
But her child...
He was still so young, unable to walk steadily yet,
And yet, he was so clever and adorable, often calling her "Mother" with his babbling voice.
He is Xiao Jingheng's child too!
How could he...
In the following two days, Song Zhao stopped eating and drinking, remaining silent. She couldn't find rest either,
She spent the whole day kneeling and huddled in the corner of the room, gazing blankly at the faint light seeping through the narrow diamond-shaped window.
"Creak."
The door was pushed open again, presumably Yun Shan bringing in food, trying to persuade her to eat some.
But Song Zhao continued to stare out the window, showing no response at all.
"Thud."
With a muffled sound, the bowl was forcefully placed in front of her.
"Eat!"
Immediately, a man's voice echoed in her ear, filled with rebuke.
She mechanically lifted her head and saw standing beside her, none other than An Wang, Xiao Jingyan.
