The Changchun Palace was tightly shielded. Although the morning sun had already risen, candles were still burning inside.
The candlelight cast on Song Yinghuai's silent face, as if a layer of faint frost had fallen upon it.
Empress Ma knew Song Yinghuai's character. If it weren't for the Crown Prince repeatedly disregarding the lives of the common people for personal matters, Song Yinghuai wouldn't have presented the evidence against the Crown Prince to the Emperor this time when he entered the palace.
Empress Ma said, "The Crown Prince is immoral. As his mother, I can't shirk my responsibility. I hope I can bear all his retribution for him..."
"Mother," Song Yinghuai's expression finally tightened slightly.
But Empress Ma waved her hand to stop him and just continued on her own, "I know my own body well. I'm afraid I won't make it through this year. In my life, I've received the exclusive favor and respect of your father, and I've raised a remarkable child like you. I'm already content..."
"The only thing I'm worried about is the Crown Prince. Your father and I owe this child."
Song Yinghuai silently tightened his lips.
"I know there are loud voices outside advocating for the abolition of the Crown Prince," Empress Ma said with a clear look in her eyes. "I also don't think Yuan'er would be a beneficial crown prince for the family or the country. So, I'm not asking you to stand by his side."
Song Yinghuai suddenly raised his eyes and looked at Empress Ma.
Empress Ma took a breath and said, "You're a man of great ambition. So, mother is asking you... No matter what position Yuan'er is in the future, mother only asks that you give him a peaceful rest of his life and don't let him die miserably... For the sake of mother having taught you for so many years, can you promise me?"
Empress Ma was a virtuous empress of her generation. But she was also a woman who had fought alongside Emperor Guangwu in battles and had held a high position in the palace.
She couldn't be ignorant of what was going on outside.
On the contrary, she probably saw the situation in the court more clearly than anyone else.
She knew that Song Yinghuai was the most suitable crown prince for this country and its people, and she also knew what the people under Song Yinghuai were plotting.
But she was powerless to stop it.
She didn't expect her son to sit on the throne and bring disaster to the country and its people. She only hoped that her own son could live a peaceful life in the future.
Song Yinghuai looked at Empress Ma's kind face, just like when he was first sent to the Changchun Palace.
Back then, Empress Ma helped up the frightened young boy with a kind smile on her face. "You're Xuanyao, Concubine Yao's child. From now on, you can consider the Changchun Palace your home. Mother is also your mother, and the Crown Prince is your elder brother. Is that okay?"
Song Yinghuai stood up and knelt down again, with a firm look on his face.
"Your subject swears that as long as the eldest brother doesn't harm the people and things that your subject cares about the most, your subject will protect the elder brother for the rest of his life."
"Good, good..."
After getting Song Yinghuai's promise, Empress Ma showed all her fatigue on her face and could hardly hold on.
Nanny Yang quickly laid her back down. Seeing that Empress Ma had fallen into a deep sleep, she then said to Song Yinghuai,
"The Empress hasn't stayed up late for a long time. Only when Your Highness comes back and she is happy in her heart does she listen to Your Highness talk about things for so long."
Song Yinghuai nodded and took another look at the sleeping Empress Ma. "Take good care of the Empress."
Outside the palace was a different world from inside.
After a night of rain, the sky outside the palace cleared up. The sky was bright and the blue sky was as clear as if it had been washed.
The sun poured down, and the capital city of Shangjing was bustling with prosperity.
As soon as the city gate opened, a very good-looking man drove a carriage into the city and headed straight for the Prince Yan's Mansion.
Qingqing poked her head out of the carriage window and asked Sheng Jiangli, who was sitting in front of the carriage, "Brother Sheng, are you sure Sister Caiyu and the others have already arrived at the Prince Yan's Mansion?"
Sheng Jiangli didn't even turn his head and just whipped the horse, saying, "Sure! You've asked this seven times on the way. Aren't you annoying?"
Qingqing pursed her lips and let out a "giggle" laugh, teasingly saying, "When I ask you other things, you either don't answer at all or lie to me. I can only ask this!"
Sheng Jiangli let out a scoff and didn't reply anymore.
Since Qingqing woke up, she seemed to have had a sudden enlightenment.
Everything she said was teasing.
Either she would ask how he met Caiyu, or if he was married, or how many women he had had...
How was he supposed to answer?
This was Shu'er's little follower. Sheng Jiangli couldn't just brag and say that he had countless women in his harem like he did in front of other women.
This girl had a lot of tricks up her sleeve. If she added fuel to the fire and told Shu'er what he had said nonsense,
He might never have a chance in his life.
So he simply became seriously reserved for once and behaved like a "gentleman" who was cautious in his words and deeds all the way.
The more Sheng Jiangli behaved like this, the more fun Qingqing found it to tease him, and the more interested she became.
After the carriage had traveled for about the time it takes to burn an incense stick, it arrived at the gate of the Prince Yan's Mansion in Shangjing.
It happened to be Ning Wang who was guarding the gate. Qingqing poked her head out and greeted Ning Wang who was standing at the gate.
When Ning Wang saw it was Qingqing, he was extremely happy. He quickly sent someone inside to inform Caiyu and rushed over himself.
Sheng Jiangli was the commander of the Hu cavalry. He shouldn't have entered the capital without an imperial edict.
But he obviously didn't care about showing his face in Shangjing openly. He just swaggered and showed up at the gate of the Prince Yan's Mansion.
After all, Song Yinghuai already knew that he had entered the pass, and there was no way to hide it. He could just leave these headache - inducing matters to the Crown Prince to handle.
Just as Ning Wang walked up to the carriage, he saw Qingqing lift the curtain and say to the handsome man outside the carriage,
"Brother Sheng, my feet hurt. I can't walk."
After coming out of the dense forest that day, Qingqing woke up and traveled at night with Sheng Jiangli.
This man didn't know how to be gentle with a woman. He just walked ahead on his own, which made her sprain her ankle.
She had no choice but to hire a carriage after entering Lingbi.
Sheng Jiangli chuckled and said, "Let him carry you in!"
Ning Wang immediately took three steps back with the foot he had just stepped forward, shaking his head in horror. "I can't do that. I have a fiancée in Yanjing!"
Qingqing's eyes narrowed into slits with laughter.
It was good that he had a fiancée.
"You hear that? He has a fiancée, so it's not convenient for him to carry me. Brother Sheng, you should carry me instead."
A sly look flashed in her eyes. "Or is it that your woman is also in the mansion, so it's not convenient for you to carry me either?"
Sheng Jiangli: ...
He was experiencing for the first time what it felt like to shoot himself in the foot.
All the teasing aside.
He didn't dare to talk nonsense like this in front of Caiyu. Otherwise, that girl would be merciless and would twist his ear in front of the whole street.
Where would he put his face?
Sheng Jiangli's ears twitched slightly. He had already heard the light footsteps approaching from inside the mansion. He turned to Qingqing and said with a smile,
"I can carry you in, but you have to promise me one thing..."
"Don't tell her those absurd things I said."
Qingqing raised her eyebrows. "Deal!"
Then she immediately jumped onto Sheng Jiangli's back.
Sheng Jiangli: ... She was really not polite at all.
Was this how a maid was supposed to act?
If he had the chance, he must talk to the Prince of Yan.
The maids in this mansion were all more unruly than the last. None of them were humble!
Qingqing lay on the man's broad back, and the faint, unknown fragrance became even clearer.
"You smell so good," Qingqing couldn't help but get closer and sniffed at his neck.
Suddenly feeling the warm and soft breath of the young girl approaching his neck, Sheng Jiangli almost threw her out. A layer of goosebumps rose on his body.
"Behave yourself!" Sheng Jiangli growled through gritted teeth. "If you dare to get any closer, I'll throw you out!"
After saying that, he strode into the mansion and met Caiyu head - on.
It wasn't really that long since they last saw each other, but when Sheng Jiangli saw her charming and enchanting appearance, he was still stunned.
The arms around Qingqing's hips unconsciously loosened.
On his back, Qingqing keenly noticed Sheng Jiangli's momentary distraction. A smile suddenly curled up on her lips.
Two short embroidered needles shot out from her red lips and headed straight for Sheng Jiangli's two arms!