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

Song Qingning had never met Consort Shen, but she had heard many rumors about her.

According to legend, she was just an ordinary merchant's daughter, but she won the Emperor's favor because of her kindness and innocence.

She was otherworldly and unassuming, loved and cherished by the emperor. Even after her death, she remained the person most cherished in his heart.

Looking at the Shen family father and son, and then at Xie Yuqi and Xie Yuzhen, Song Qingning found it hard to believe that Consort Shen was truly indifferent to worldly affairs.

"She..." Xie Xuanjin frowned.

"A bodhisattva's face, but a venomous snake's heart."

His evaluation of Consort Shen can be summed up in just eight words.

Without needing to say more, Song Qingning understood.

Song Qingning didn't ask any more questions. The two went to Fengqi Palace. Xie Xuanjin sat for a while and then went to Qianyuan Hall to meet the emperor.

Song Qingning and Empress Meng were chatting casually when Consort Hui happened to arrive.

Emperor Yuan did not have many concubines in his harem. Empress Meng was kind and generous, and the concubines would come to Fengqi Palace to pay their respects every few days. Today was not a day for paying respects, but Consort Hui came.

When Consort Hui saw Song Qingning, she was surprised and said, "The Princess Consort of Huai is here too."

She then said apologetically, "It is my fault for coming at the wrong time and disturbing you both. I do have important business to attend to."

Since there were important matters to attend to, Song Qingning consciously avoided them.

Empress Meng spoke first, "Ning'er, try the new pastries made by the Imperial Kitchen and see if you like them."

It means that she doesn't need to avoid it.

"Yes, Mother."

Empress Meng treated her like family, and Song Qingning obediently ate the pastries, her mind focused on them, and she had no intention of paying attention to the "important matter" that Consort Hui had mentioned.

When Consort Hui mentioned "Consort Shen," Song Qingning's attention still drifted over to her.

"This year marks the anniversary of the Imperial Concubine's death..." Consort Hui mentioned the Imperial Concubine, paying special attention to Empress Meng's expression.

He seemed somewhat apprehensive.

Empress Meng was drinking tea when she heard the words "Imperial Consort," and her hand visibly paused.

But only for a moment, and he returned to normal. "She's been dead for ten years!"

His tone was calm, as if he were talking about someone insignificant.

Consort Hui was somewhat surprised.

She knew best the feud between Empress Meng and Consort Shen.

"On the anniversary of the Imperial Concubine's death, His Majesty holds a memorial service every year, and I always take care of the arrangements, not daring to disturb Her Majesty the Empress. But this year, His Majesty has decreed that Her Majesty should do his part."

The decree that Emperor Yuan gave to her was instead sent to Consort Hui.

I thought Empress Meng would be furious, but instead I heard her chuckle.

The laughter was tinged with sarcasm, but mostly with disdain.

Consort Hui was unsure of Empress Meng's intentions. "If Your Majesty is unwilling, I will go and plead with the Emperor to rescind his decree."

"Take back your order?" Empress Meng's tone became even more sarcastic.

"How does Your Majesty expect me to exert myself?"

"His Majesty... allowed the Empress to join him in the worship."

Even Song Qingning was shocked when Consort Hui finished speaking.

Where is there a scene of an empress offering sacrifices to her concubines?

Emperor Yuan's personal worship was to commemorate his beloved, but to allow the Empress to accompany him was a deliberate attempt to embarrass Empress Meng!

Consort Hui then said, "His Majesty said that Your Majesty is kind and benevolent. When Consort Gui was alive, she was kind to the Empress. Because of that kindness, Your Majesty should also pay homage."

Empress Meng put down her teacup.

A moment of silence fell over the air.

After a long pause, Empress Meng uttered a single word, "Good," which surprised even Consort Hui.

"Please trouble Consort Hui to inform His Majesty that I will cooperate with the worship ceremony."

Empress Meng's face darkened after Consort Hui left.

Aunt Ling, unable to contain her resentment any longer, retorted, "Kindness? When Consort Shen was alive, which of those underhanded tricks she used on you involved any kindness?"

"Her words were sweet, but her heart was treacherous; she was adept at putting on an act in front of others, even in her death..."

Aunt Ling paused in her speech.

Ultimately, she couldn't swallow her anger. "Heaven has eyes; she reaped what she sowed, dying by her own hand!"

Empress Meng had suspected and investigated the accident that led to Consort Shen's death.

Many things are understood perfectly well.

She disdained Shen's methods and didn't bother to fight with her. What Shen wanted was the Emperor's love and pity, and she didn't compete with Shen for the love of a petty person.

But Shen, like a venomous snake, kept a close eye on her.

Finally, the snake's fangs bit her.

Empress Meng shook off her thoughts and looked at Song Qingning, who was eating pastries beside her. Seeing her slightly furrowed brows, she asked, "Ning'er, are you worried about me?"

Song Qingning nodded.

Empress Meng smiled.

"His Majesty deeply loved Consort Shen. When she was alive, he doted on her immensely. It's widely rumored that my position as Empress was given to me by Consort Shen, and even when I married His Majesty, she relinquished my status as the primary wife. How ridiculous!"

"Anyone with eyes can see that these rumors are absurd, yet they have persisted for over twenty years, with many people behind the scenes fueling them."

"Consort Shen wanted the world to know how much the Emperor loved her, and the Emperor also wanted the world to know how much he loved Consort Shen."

"They were a perfect match."

"The balance of power in the court has been delicate during this period. He has realized that after so many years, he has diluted the Meng family's military power, suppressed the Meng family, and suppressed the Empress and Xuan Jin. The situation is not entirely under his control. The anger that has been building up in his heart will eventually have to be vented."

"His intention to choose a concubine for Xuan Jin was simply because he was unhappy about it."

"Rather than let him continue to target the Meng family and Xuan Jin, I'd rather take the hit."

Empress Meng picked up her teacup, her contempt for Emperor Yuan seemingly ingrained in her very bones.

She took a sip of tea, a hint of cunning flickering in her eyes. "He wants me to offer sacrifices, so I will. But what offerings should I send to his beloved..."

Empress Meng did not continue speaking.

She took a piece of pastry, savored it carefully, and showed a satisfied expression.

"The pastries from the Imperial Kitchen are quite good this time. Aunt Ling, please prepare more so that Ning'er can take them back to the Prince's Mansion later."

"Yes," Aunt Ling replied.

Empress Meng had a plan in mind, and Song Qingning was immediately relieved.

Emperor Yuan wanted to use the anniversary of Consort Shen's death to humiliate Empress Meng.

But it remains to be seen who will ultimately be slapped in the face.

While eating pastries, Song Qingning talked to Empress Meng about Shen Wan'er's scheme against Prince Huai the day before.

Empress Meng, filled with worry and lingering fear, said, "Fortunately, Shen Wan'er didn't succeed..."

He glanced at Song Qingning one more time.

Upon seeing Song Qingning today, I noticed that she was somewhat different.

Empress Meng was well aware of the nature of their marital affair and did not ask any further questions.

Just then, Aunt Ling returned with pastries and a message.

"The eldest daughter of the Shen family knelt outside Consort Shen's palace, saying that Consort Shen appeared to her in a dream and asked her to serve her. She also said that as Consort Shen's niece, she should fulfill her filial duty and wished to become a nun and spend the rest of her life chanting sutras and praying for Consort Shen."

"Has this Miss Shen gone mad?"

Aunt Ling was unaware of what had happened at the Yongning Marquis's residence yesterday.

The Shen family members are greedy for fame and fortune; it is absolutely impossible for them to shave their heads and become nuns to fulfill their filial duties.

That's why she was surprised.

Song Qingning and Empress Meng exchanged a glance and immediately understood Shen Wan'er's purpose.

"She's not crazy, she's perfectly clear-headed. She's just afraid of actually marrying that servant, so she's using this as a strategic retreat." Empress Meng saw through Shen Wan'er's thoughts at a glance.

Song Qingning was also perfectly clear-headed.

Is it merely a strategic retreat?

Song Qingning was very suspicious.

Sure enough, not long after, the unexpected arrival confirmed Song Qingning's suspicions.