A wicked mother swaps her son and sucks his blood? The true legitimate daughter is reborn and goes o

At the welcoming banquet, men and women sat at separate tables.

But Emperor Yuan ordered the curtain separating the two sides to be removed.

Emperor Yuan and Empress Meng sat in the main seats, with the rest of the guests arranged in order of rank, from princes to princesses.

Princess Nanlin sat to the side of Empress Meng, with the Sixth Prince Xie Lian directly opposite her. The two could see each other with just a glance. The intention behind this arrangement was all too obvious.

Everyone understood perfectly.

Today's welcoming banquet is for the Sixth Prince Xie Lian and Princess Nanlin, as Emperor Yuan wants the two to meet.

From the start of the banquet, neither of them glanced at the other, as if they were not interested in each other at all.

But in the scenario that the emperor desires, everyone else is just a pawn.

Emperor Yuan's gaze swept over Xie Lian. "Lian'er, Princess Nanlin is a little younger than you. She is a guest in my Great Jing. You must entertain her well for me."

"You should first have a welcome drink with Princess Nanlin."

The emperor's voice and majesty.

Consort Hui's eyes widened slightly. How could Lian'er's health allow her to drink alcohol?

Consort Hui quickly put on a smile and raised her wine cup first. "Your Majesty, I shall toast Princess Nanlin."

She couldn't bear to see her son suffer, but someone deliberately prevented her from getting what she wanted.

"you?"

Princess Yuzhen exclaimed in surprise, her gaze sweeping over Consort Hui, a fleeting hint of disdain that went unnoticed.

"This is probably inappropriate! Your Highness, by what right do you offer such respect to Princess Nanlin?"

"You are my father's concubine, and a generation above Princess Nanlin. If you offer this wine, where will that leave my father and the Great Jing?"

That makes a lot of sense.

Officials from prominent families vied to approve of it.

"It is only out of hospitality for the Sixth Prince and Princess Nanlin to drink this wine, but if Consort Hui and Princess Nanlin were to drink it, it would be beneath the dignity of Emperor Yuan and the Great Jing."

"That's not appropriate, that's not appropriate."

Seeing that Emperor Yuan also frowned, Consort Hui immediately knelt down in fear and explained the reason, "Your Majesty, I did not consider this carefully, but Lian'er's health..."

Before she could finish speaking, Xie Yuqi interrupted her again, "Sixth Brother was able to leave the palace today; I think he's in good health."

Xie Yuqi glanced at Consort Hui, his eyes filled with the same disdain as Princess Yuzhen's.

He sat beside the sixth prince.

He leaned over, took the wine pot, and filled the cup in front of the Sixth Prince. "It's true that Sixth Brother has been frail since childhood, but he shouldn't be unable to drink. Today, to welcome the Crown Prince and Princess of Nanlin, you should listen to your father and make an exception, how about it?"

Xie Yuqi placed the wine cup in the Sixth Prince's hand.

Xie Lian held the wine, and the smell of alcohol made him feel dizzy. His already pale face turned even paler.

Ignoring his expression, Emperor Yuan coldly ordered, "Drink!"

"Your Majesty..."

Consort Hui tried to stop him again, but Xie Lian couldn't bear to see her anger the Emperor any further, so he interrupted her, saying, "Your subject obeys the decree."

Having said that, he resolutely tilted his head back and drank all the wine in the glass in one gulp.

The strong liquor choked him, causing him to cough repeatedly.

"I told you, it's okay for Sixth Brother to drink a little. It's normal for him to cough the first time he drinks. He'll get used to the taste of alcohol and stop coughing. Maybe drinking some alcohol will even be good for his health."

Xie Yuqi patted Xie Lian's shoulder with such force that it seemed he could break him apart.

Consort Hui glanced at Xie Lian with concern.

She wanted to show concern, but she held back, lowered her eyes and apologized to Emperor Yuan, "It was my concern that clouded my judgment and caused me to make a grave mistake."

"It's good that you know you're wrong." Emperor Yuan glanced at her indifferently.

Consort Hui was understanding and obedient, which was what attracted him to her.

But he was still a lowly servant, far inferior to the Imperial Concubine. In terms of thoughtfulness and overall consideration, he was no match for the Imperial Concubine at all.

Her value lay only in the fact that when he missed the Imperial Concubine, seeing her made his memories of her more vivid.

And Xie Lian...

"Father, it's time for my medicine. Please allow me to take it in the side hall." Xie Lian was about to give up.

His pale face turned bright red from the alcohol and the stifling cough.

A hint of disdain flashed in the Emperor's eyes. "Go."

Having received permission, Xie Lian rose and left his seat.

Xie Lian left, and everyone acted as if nothing had happened; even Consort Hui had a smile on her face.

It seemed no one cared about Xie Lian, and then the dancers entered, creating a harmonious atmosphere.

Song Qingning sat in the men's section, thinking about Xie Lian's death in her previous life, and unconsciously, her gaze followed him.

As he entered the side hall, his shoulders trembled, and he was clearly coughing badly.

The coughs were drowned out by the music and dance.

Song Qingning only looked away after the figure disappeared.

She glanced at Consort Hui subconsciously, and a hint of heartache flashed across her dignified smile, mixed with a trace of barely perceptible hatred.

She hates?

Does he hate Prince Rui, Xie Yuqi? Or... does he hate the emperor?

As everyone knows, Consort Hui was once Consort Shen's maid. After Consort Shen's death, Consort Hui took special care of the two children left behind by her former mistress.

There are even rumors that when Prince Rui made a mistake in his youth, Consort Shen and Emperor Yuan wanted to severely punish him. It was Consort Hui who knelt outside Emperor Yuan's palace for three days and three nights, begging Emperor Yuan to show leniency.

The truth may not be so.

The malice Xie Yuqi and Princess Yuzhen showed towards the Sixth Prince just now seemed so genuine, and the fleeting hatred in Consort Hui's eyes also seemed real.

Consort Hui only gained Emperor Yuan's favor because of Consort Shen; Emperor Yuan didn't even show her any affection.

She had no connections, no background, and only a son whom Ling Yixian predicted would not live past twenty-two.

Even if she hates it, there's probably nothing she can do.

In less than six months, Xie Lian will die.

Song Qingning pictured Xie Lian and Meng Yushu holding hands; such a pure friendship across generations was truly rare.

She didn't want Xie Lian to die.

But there are some things she can't change, and she won't force them. Song Qingning shook off her thoughts and looked up, just in time to see Liu Shi winking at her.

Madam Liu gestured with her eyes, indicating that Song Qingning should look at the lady sitting next to her.

Song Qingning looked over and saw that the lady had a smiling face, kind eyes, and goodwill between her brows.

Song Qingning also nodded politely to the lady.

This gesture deeply moved Madam Yang.

He murmured to himself, "Not only is he talented and skilled in both literature and martial arts, but he is also so approachable and courteous. No wonder he is praised by everyone."

However, Lady Liu was displeased.

She disliked others praising Song Qingning, but then realized that Madam Yang might have taken a liking to Song Qingning.

"Does Madam Yang like Qingning?" Madam Liu asked tentatively.

"I like it, of course I like it."

Madam Yang's eyes were curved in a smile, and she looked at Song Qingning with exceptional kindness.

Madam Liu then suggested, "Since you like her, why not let our Qingning become your daughter-in-law?"

"Daughter-in-law?" Madam Yang almost exclaimed, but thankfully she lowered her voice.

She was stunned for a moment, then her face showed fear.

Just as Liu was wondering what was the source of her fear, she heard someone mention Song Qingning's name.

"Your Majesty, I think you have misunderstood. This time, it is not my younger sister who is being sent to a marriage alliance, but this Crown Prince."

The one who spoke was none other than Xiao Ling, the Crown Prince of Nanlin.

Those present could not hide their astonishment.

Xiao Ling's next words exploded like a thunderclap in the room:

"I, the Crown Prince, have long admired General Song of your esteemed country. I have come here specifically to request that the Emperor of Dajing bestow her upon me!"