The next day.
Today was the monthly rest day for the rear palace concubines, so they did not need to go to Noble Consort Chen's morning and evening audiences.
Although it was leisure time, Consort Hui was not at ease at all.
At that time, she was changing clothes for Chengjing. Chengjing rubbed his sleepy eyes and pouted, unhappily saying:
"Mother consort, I don't need to go to the study room of the Secretariat today, why do I still have to get up early..."
Consort Hui said: "Your father emperor asked your mother to take you to play with Ruo Xin sister at Chang Le Palace. Go wash your face to wake yourself up, don't go there and make people laugh."
After the palace maid took Chengjing away to wash up, Chun Lan said in a low voice to Consort Hui:
"Is Mother really going? Haven't you always avoided Concubine Yi and didn't want to go to her palace?"
Of course Consort Hui didn't want to go.
She had instructed Concubine Yao to harm Song Zhao with peach blossom powder, so of course she wanted to stay far away to watch the excitement. She was also afraid that if she went, it would cause trouble later and she would also arouse suspicion.
But now that Xiao Jingfeng had told her to go, what could she do?
Hearing her helpless tone: "Didn't you see the emperor's attitude towards me yesterday? If I don't go, I'm afraid he will be even more annoyed."
As she was talking, a palace maid came in and started making Consort Hui's bed.
Chun Lan stared at her unblinkingly, and as soon as the palace maid finished tidying the bed and withdrew, she flipped the bedding open again, examined it carefully, then tidied it up again.
Consort Hui saw this in her eyes and said, "You really pay attention to everything."
Chun Lan said, "No matter who serves Mother Consort in this palace, I can't feel at ease. Especially when it comes to personal matters, there can be no carelessness."
Consort Hui nodded reassuringly, "My master arranged for you to enter the palace, so from now on I will have someone I can trust."
Chun Lan's expression became solemn, emphasizing her words: "Mother Consort, rest assured, I will definitely take good care of you and assist my master with you to accomplish great things."
Later, Consort Hui took Chengjing to Chang Le Palace.
As soon as they entered, Chengjing's eyes were attracted by the butterflies filling the courtyard.
He clamored to catch butterflies and play, but Consort Hui sternly scolded him, forcibly pulling him into the inner hall to greet Song Zhao.
"Sister Song~"
Song Zhao had been reading, and when she saw Consort Hui come, she quickly closed her book roll and intimately came forward.
She held Consort Hui's hand with one hand, and touched Chengjing's cheek with the other,
"This is Chengjing, right? Very handsome."
However, Chengjing did not appreciate this.
Somehow the little thing had such a big temper, and slapped Song Zhao's hand away. He did not greet her at all, only kept clamoring with Consort Hui,
"I want to play with butterflies! I want to play with butterflies!"
"You cannot go!" Consort Hui sternly scolded: "You didn't even greet Mother Consort Song and you still want to play with butterflies? Have you completely forgotten the etiquette I taught you?"
Chengjing stopped after the scolding and reluctantly said to Song Zhao:
"Greetings, Mother Consort Song."
Although it was a greeting, he neither bowed nor looked at her, just like he was perfunctorily going through the motions.
Song Zhao did not fuss over him and still smiled: "Younger sister, please come sit."
After they were seated, Xiao Fuzi brought Ruo Xin's toys for Chengjing to play with.
However, Chengjing picked up and tossed down one thing after another and still pouted at Consort Hui.
Consort Hui was unable to coax him down, so she had to turn and ask Song Zhao: "Where is Third Princess?"
For a moment, the grief in Song Zhao's eyes overflowed and she shook her head helplessly, sighing: "Noble Consort Chen took her away again."
Consort Hui discontentedly said: "She already has her own children, why must she snatch your daughter every day?"
Song Zhao bitterly smiled and said: "Ruo Xin is closer to her as well, so I can't force the child too much."
She then changed the subject, her eyes full of maternal love looking at Chengjing,
"I really can't compare with you younger sister. Chengjing is so intimate with you."
Song Zhao picked up a piece of milk crumb candy that was on the table and smilingly handed it to Chengjing.
Unexpectedly Chengjing waved his hand and slapped the milk crumb candy onto Song Zhao's elegant robes, dropping smears on the fine fabric.
He stared greedily out the window. He saw Chun Hua and Qiu Yue trimming flowers and branches in the courtyard, with large groups of butterflies dancing around them, and he became even more difficult to control.
"I want to play with butterflies! Let me go play with them!"
Consort Hui sternly said, "You naughty child! Why don't you listen?"
She then said to Song Zhao: "Sister Song, look at him, this... alas..."
Song Zhao gently advised: "Also don't be too harsh on the child, he's younger than Ruo Xin. He's at an age where he likes to play around. The sun isn't too intense now, just let the child play if he wants to."
Of course Consort Hui didn't want Chengjing to leave her sight.
She was afraid that if Concubine Yao really gave Song Zhao the peach blossom powder in the future, the matter would implicate her and her son.
But at this point Chengjing was really making a fuss, and Consort Hui was at a loss. She had to say reluctantly:
"Then go ahead, play in a shaded area, don't get sunburnt. Chun Lan, follow along with him."
Chengjing got his way and happily let Chun Lan lead him to the courtyard.
Consort Hui watched his skipping figure with increasing helplessness:
"Boys really are naughty. I really can't do anything." She then said to Song Zhao, "You used to have a...."
She stopped mid-sentence, her actions showing distinct embarrassment as she lifted her teacup and took a sip.
Song Zhao curiously asked: "What did younger sister wanted to say? I used to have what?"
Consort Hui awkwardly waved her hand. "Nothing, nothing. I was just talking randomly, don't mind me Sister Song."
"Ah!!!"
Suddenly, several sharp piercing screams came from the courtyard, startling Consort Hui and Song Zhao.
The two quickly looked towards the courtyard.
They saw Chun Hua and Qiu Yue were inexplicably lying on the ground with their eyes wide open in horror. Black blood flowed from all their orifices. Still motionless, evidently they were dead...
The butterflies in the courtyard were crazily whirling around Chun Lan and Chengjing.
Chun Lan held Chengjing in her arms, continuously waving her hands to chase the butterflies away.
But they saw that just as Chun Lan and Chengjing came into Consort Hui and Song Zhao's view, the two had also collapsed to the ground, motionless.
Consort Hui lost her courage and frightfully screamed:
"Chengjing! My son!"
Then she rushed out not caring about her own safety in her panic.
