The Black Chamber Dream: Daiyu's Revenge

"Your Highness, please have some ginseng soup first." Her personal maid, Cui'er, carefully fed her a bowl of ginseng soup. "The midwife said it's only a couple of days left, you need to conserve your strength."

Wang Xiyun took a sip of ginseng soup, her gaze falling on the crabapple blossoms outside the window. Xiao Tingkai had planted them especially for her, saying they were her favorite flower. But she knew that the prince loved the peonies in Song Huilan's courtyard even more.

Suddenly, a sharp pain shot through her lower abdomen, and Wang Xiyun dropped the handkerchief in her hand. Cui'er quickly caught her: "Your Highness!"

"Quick... quick, call the midwife..." Wang Xiyun gritted her teeth, "I... I'm going into labor..."

The midwife arrived quickly and directed the maids to prepare hot water, scissors, and a white cloth. Because everything had been prepared in advance, it was all worthwhile for Ruian.

Wang Xiyun lay on the bed, feeling wave after wave of pain. She gripped the brocade headboard tightly, her knuckles turning white.

"Your Highness, push!" the midwife's voice rang out. "We can see the head!"

Wang Xiyun took a deep breath, using all her strength. She recalled the day she entered the manor, and the look of amazement in the prince's eyes when he lifted her veil.

But as time went on, the prince's mind and body became preoccupied with the struggle for the throne.

"It's out! It's out!" The midwife's joyful voice pulled her back to reality.

A clear cry echoed through the room. Wang Xiyun weakly raised her head and saw the midwife holding a tiny swaddled baby.

"Congratulations, Your Majesty, it's a girl!" The midwife brought the baby to her.

Wang Xiyun was stunned. It was a daughter? She had thought about it for so long, and it was a daughter? Her face was already pale, but now it was even more frighteningly white. In her panic, she fainted.

Another chaotic scene ensued, but Lady Teng, having composed herself, took her cleaned-up child and went out to show Prince Rui.

Even if it's a daughter, it's still a joyous occasion. Mrs. Wang Ziteng knew very well that the Prince would naturally want a son.

But having children is better than not having them.

Upon hearing the news, Xiao Tingkai was stunned, as if time had frozen. The moment the word "daughter" reached his ears, the burning anticipation and joy in his heart were mercilessly extinguished by a sudden downpour, leaving only cold ashes.

He felt a deep sense of dejection well up from the bottom of his heart, quickly spreading to every corner of his body. It was like having painstakingly climbed a high mountain, only to find that the summit was not the beautiful scenery he had imagined, but only a desolate and bleak landscape.

He had imagined countless times what it would be like after his child was born. He thought that he would be able to stand up for himself in front of the Crown Prince and his fourth brother, and that his father would reward the Prince's Mansion for having a son.

The bucket of cold water, called disappointment, was poured mercilessly over him, chilling him to the bone. He stood there blankly, his eyes vacant and lifeless, his heart filled with indescribable loss and helplessness.

When Madam Wang Ziteng saw that the prince showed no intention of reaching out to hold the child, she was very dissatisfied. Of course, she understood that the prince was disappointed to have given birth to a son, but the prince's behavior was too unseemly. After all, she, his mother-in-law, was right there, yet he was giving her such a cold shoulder and didn't care how much pain Xi Yun was going through during childbirth.

Despite her dissatisfaction, Wang Ziteng's wife still smiled and said, "Your Highness, things take time. The Crown Princess had a daughter first, and now she has both a son and a daughter."

Xiao Tingkai then snapped out of his daze, took his daughter from Wang Ziteng's wife, held her for a moment, and then sent someone to the palace to report the good news to the Emperor and Empress.

The Empress was delighted to hear that the Prince Rui's family had given birth to a daughter: Consort Wu had killed her own son back then, it seems that retribution has indeed come.

But outwardly, she certainly wouldn't show anything, and even thoughtfully paid out of her own pocket to send a few things to the Prince's residence.

As for the rewards from the palace, since the Crown Princess is now in charge of palace affairs, they will naturally be handled by her. Daiyu had made two preparations in advance: longevity locks, gold bracelets, etc., which could be worn by both baby boys and baby girls, as well as tiger-head shoes, tiger-head hats, etc. In addition to the gifts prepared for the newborns, there were also gifts for the concubines.

Since Jin Jiazhu had already given birth and was now a concubine, the things prepared for the Crown Princess were naturally exactly the same.

The Emperor was also pleased to hear that it was a granddaughter: the second son was still not giving up. Although he had worked very hard in his duties these past two years, one's ambition cannot be hidden. Now that a daughter had been born, the second son should be more settled and stop thinking about such things.

So the emperor happily bestowed a name upon his granddaughter: since the elder sister was named Qiongnan, then the younger sister would be named Qiongfang. The Chu Ci, in the Nine Songs, Donghuang Taiyi, says: "Jade mat and jade ornaments, why not hold Qiongfang?"

At the same time, the child was also granted the title of Princess Shunning. In fact, the name Shunning was meant for Prince Rui to hear, so that he would learn to be obedient and tranquil.

"Now, I have quite a few grandchildren." The emperor was very pleased and bestowed many rewards upon the Prince Rui's mansion. "These past few years have been peaceful, truly a good time."

Hu Delu, standing to the side, naturally followed the emperor's words and said many auspicious things.

In truth, he still hadn't figured out the emperor's thoughts. When the emperor went to the Phoenix Palace and said the same thing, the empress understood.

"I think Your Majesty is looking forward to going out for a walk," the Empress said with a smile.

The Emperor immediately nodded in approval: "The Empress understands me best. Now that the world is at peace, I think it's time to go and see Mount Tai."

Mount Tai? Could it be that the emperor wants to perform the Fengshan ceremony there? But since ancient times, only wise and virtuous rulers have dared to perform the Fengshan ceremony.

As if seeing through the Empress's thoughts, the Emperor said again, "I am not going to perform the Fengshan ceremony. On the contrary, I have heard that the scenery in Shandong is very beautiful. I will go to the Confucius Temple to pay my respects and take Cong'er with me."

"If His Majesty is taking Cong'er, then won't the Crown Prince and Crown Princess have to go along too?" The Empress could tell that the Emperor was extremely satisfied with the Crown Prince's family.

"The Crown Prince will stay to oversee the country, while the Crown Princess will accompany you. Not only Cong'er, but also Yingying and Yueyue. Oh, and Qiongnan as well."

Although the emperor's travels only involve a few people, actually carrying out a mission is no easy feat.

Clearly, the emperor had made up his mind and immediately summoned the crown prince, entrusting him with full authority to make arrangements.

Chapter 274 The Crown Prince Regent and Prince Rui's Scheme

Since Qin Shi Huang, only six emperors have performed the Fengshan ceremony on Mount Tai, mostly during the Han and Tang dynasties.

There was also one in the Song Dynasty, Emperor Zhenzong, but his Fengshan ceremony drew fierce criticism from scholars across the land. But thinking about it, it makes sense; an emperor who had signed the Treaty of Chanyuan dared to perform the Fengshan ceremony at Mount Tai, so it was only natural that he would be condemned.

From then on, emperors would at most go to Mount Tai to offer sacrifices, and no one dared to perform the Fengshan ceremony there anymore.

The Emperor traveled with the Empress, but no one else. His grandson, Cong'er, was the only one with him, while his daughter and two granddaughters were also present. Besides them, only Yingying's birth mother, Consort Guo, and the Crown Princess were also there.

Upon hearing the news that the Crown Prince would be regent, Xiao Tingkai began to ponder how to trip up the Crown Prince and give him a reputation for being an incompetent regent.

Song Huilan was quite dissatisfied that she couldn't go to Shandong: ever since Wang Xiyun gave birth to a daughter, Song Huilan had become arrogant again. Xiao Tingkai didn't want a son; in fact, he probably wouldn't have one anytime soon.

On the contrary, at this time, Song Huilan's mother reminded her daughter: Since the concubine is not pregnant, why not find a way to put someone in the prince's room, preferably someone that Song Huilan can control? In the future, if she gives birth to a son, Song Huilan, as the princess, can take him over to raise.

Although Song Huilan was unwilling, she thought again that if Wang Xiyun got pregnant again and gave birth to a son, wouldn't that be very troublesome?

After much thought, Song Huilan realized that her mother's words made sense. Xiao Tingkai had long since stopped loving her, so she might as well do as her mother suggested.

"But Mother, where can we choose a maid who will listen to me and is willing to become Xiao Tingkai's concubine? This is different from the concubines and other concubines in the Prince's mansion, whose status is much lower." Song Huilan asked quickly, feeling that since her mother had proposed this method, she probably already had someone in mind.

Mother Song naturally had a candidate in mind: "Your fourth younger sister is outstanding in appearance and clever in mind. If she can enter the Prince's mansion, she will surely be favored."

But when she thought of her fourth sister's appearance, which was the most outstanding among the sisters, Song Huilan was immediately unhappy: "But if she becomes favored and has a son, won't she trample me underfoot?"

Song Huilan thought this way because her fourth younger sister, Song Huixiang, was born to her father's concubine, Li. Because they didn't share the same mother, Song Huilan often bullied her from a young age, taking advantage of her status as the eldest legitimate sister. Song Huilan felt that Song Huixiang would definitely seek revenge.

"Don't worry, her mother and brother are in my hands, she wouldn't dare disobey." Song's mother said this with a kind expression. Song Huilan was stunned. She had always thought that her mother was too weak, which was why her father dared to favor his two concubines. It turned out that she didn't understand her mother well enough.

"Since Mother has made the arrangements, then I will go back and talk to the Prince properly to see what he thinks." Song Huilan thought it was feasible, but was stopped by her mother.

"You silly child, in a couple of days, we'll invite the prince over for a chat. Let the prince get an impression of your fourth sister first, and then you can go and talk to him. I guarantee it will be a success." Seeing that her daughter didn't object, Song's mother revealed her plan.

Men, they all fall in love with every woman they see.

Song Huilan nodded, then clung to her mother's arm affectionately. Her mother tapped her daughter's forehead with her index finger and said, "You're just too direct. Sometimes, as a woman, you have to be a little more shrewd."

Xiao Tingkai would never have imagined that his wife and mother-in-law were plotting against him. And he himself was planning to plot against the Crown Prince.

Xiao Tingkai decided to start with politics, so he summoned his faction of officials in the capital and asked them to observe carefully and prepare to seize upon the mistakes made by the Crown Prince during his regency.

But half a month later, the Crown Prince's actions proved to be remarkably prudent, experienced, and meticulous. Apart from the six ministers, more and more officials felt that the Crown Prince, who was overseeing the country, was diligent, studious, and willing to listen to advice.

For a moment, Xiao Tingkai was unable to find the Crown Prince's mistake.

At this time, one of Xiao Tingkai's retainers, named Sun Qi, put forward a bold idea.

“In the past, Li Chengqian, the deposed crown prince and son of Emperor Taizong of Tang, performed exceptionally well during his first regency, earning high praise from the ministers. However, little did he know that an outstanding crown prince could easily arouse the emperor’s suspicion.” Sun Qi said slowly, his voice deep yet clear, as if a stone had been thrown into a calm lake, stirring up ripples.

Upon hearing this, Xiao Tingkai frowned slightly, a thoughtful look flashing in his eyes. He put down his teacup, looked up at Sun Qi, and gestured for him to continue.

Seeing this, Sun Qi's lips curled up slightly, and he continued, "The Crown Prince's role as regent is originally a test of His Majesty's trust in him. But if the Crown Prince performs too well, and everyone in the court and the public praises him, even overshadowing His Majesty, what do you think His Majesty will think?"

A glint of light flashed in Xiao Tingkai's eyes, as if he had grasped something crucial. He leaned forward slightly and asked in a low voice, "You mean to exaggerate the Crown Prince's abilities?"

Sun Qi nodded, his gaze firm and profound: "Exactly. In particular, we must make the Crown Prince outshine His Majesty. In this way, His Majesty will inevitably feel apprehensive. After all, the more popular the Crown Prince is, the more His Majesty will feel that his authority is threatened."

Xiao Tingkai pondered for a moment, a look of understanding gradually appearing in his eyes. He gently tapped the table and muttered to himself, "Yes, Father is now in the prime of his life. If the Crown Prince is too outstanding, Father himself will have to be a little wary."

Seeing that Xiao Tingkai had understood his meaning, Sun Qi continued, "Your Highness, this matter must be handled with caution. We don't need to directly slander the Crown Prince. We only need to secretly stir things up in court, exaggerating the Crown Prince's achievements and even making some uninformed court officials have excessive expectations of the Crown Prince. In this way, His Majesty will naturally become suspicious."

Xiao Tingkai nodded, a cold glint in his eyes: "That's right. The more popular the Crown Prince is, the more Father Emperor will feel that he threatens his position. At that time, the Crown Prince's situation will become delicate."

Sun Qi smiled slightly, cupped his hands and said, "Your Highness is wise. If this matter succeeds, the Crown Prince's position will be shaken, and Your Highness will naturally have the opportunity to advance further."

Xiao Tingkai took a deep breath, his gaze gradually hardening. He stood up, walked to the window, looked at the majestic palace in the distance, and said in a low voice, "Alright, as you say. However, we must proceed with caution and not give ourselves away in the slightest."

Sun Qi bowed and replied, "Your Highness, rest assured, I will make the arrangements properly."

Xiao Tingkai nodded, already having made up his mind. He gazed at the distant palace walls, a slight smile playing on his lips, as if he could already see the day the Crown Prince would fall from power.

In a good mood, Xiao Tingkai went to the Song family happily.

Chapter 275 A fleeting glimpse, contradictory

The Song family had already made all the preparations, so Xiao Tingkai, who was visiting the Song family, stood on the Yanbo Bridge and saw Song Huixiang, the fourth daughter of the Song family in Lichun Garden.

On a warm spring day, with a gentle breeze, a seventeen-year-old girl stood on the garden lawn, holding a spool of thread and gazing up at a colorful butterfly kite soaring in the sky. She wore a light blue ruqun (a type of traditional Chinese dress), the hem embroidered with delicate intertwined floral patterns, and a pale pink ribbon tied around her waist, fluttering gently in the wind. Her hair was styled in an elegant updo, adorned with a silver hairpin inlaid with pearls, and a few strands of hair cascaded down her sides, making her small face appear even more delicate and charming.

The girl's features were exquisitely beautiful; her almond-shaped eyes were clear and bright, captivating all who looked at her. Her nose was straight and elegant, her lips cherry-colored, and a slight upturn at the corners of her mouth carried a playful smile. Her skin was as white as jade, with a faint blush, like a peach blossom in early spring—vibrant yet refined.

The spool in her hand turned gently, and the kite danced in the air, sometimes soaring high, sometimes swirling low. The girl's laughter was clear and melodious, like silver bells echoing in the spring breeze. She occasionally turned back to the two maids beside her and said, "Look, how high it flies! Doesn't it look like a real butterfly?"

The two maids were about the same age, one wearing a light green blouse and the other a light yellow skirt, both with smiling faces. The maid in the green blouse said with a smile, "Miss's kite naturally flies the highest, even the clouds in the sky have to give way!" The maid in the yellow skirt echoed, "Yes, Miss's skill is truly unmatched. This kite flies so steadily, it's really enviable."

Upon hearing this, the girl's smile deepened, a hint of pride flashing in her eyes. She gently pulled the spool, and the kite drew a graceful arc in the air.

The girl seemed oblivious to Xiao Tingkai's gaze, still intently staring at the sky, as if the whole world consisted only of her and the kite. Her figure shone brightly in the sunlight, like a vivid painting, unforgettable.

Xiao Tingkai remembered that Song Huilan had several younger sisters, but he hadn't paid much attention to them before.

When Xiao Tingkai returned home that evening, he came to Song Huilan's room. Upon seeing this, Song Huilan already knew what was going on: he hadn't come to her room for so long, it seemed that her fourth sister's beauty had indeed captivated that scoundrel of a man.

So when Xiao Tingkai brought it up, Song Huilan pretended to be angry. Seeing that Xiao Tingkai was about to leave in a huff, she grabbed his sleeve.

"Oh well, I'll tell you then." Song Huilan reluctantly told Xiao Tingkai about her fourth younger sister.

Xiao Tingkai said "Oh," looked at Song Huilan, and then surprisingly said, "Lan'er, as you know, your body was damaged when you gave birth to Qiongnan, and now I'm afraid you can't have any more children."

When Song Huilan saw that Xiao Tingkai had taken the bait, she was half happy and half disappointed. She was happy that her plan was about to succeed, but disappointed that Xiao Tingkai had no love for her at all.

"I think that the best children are those born of the legitimate wife. Fourth sister has the blood of the Song family. If she can give birth to a son for me, he will be raised under your name in the future. What do you think, Lan'er?" Xiao Tingkai was not stupid. Since he saw that girl at the Song family today, he could guess the Song family's intentions. Since they were interested in each other, he would go with the flow.

Song Huilan was unwilling and pretended to be angry before finally agreeing.

Xiao Tingkai was extremely pleased with himself: Now, the court officials' praise of the Crown Prince has been spread to Shandong, and he doesn't believe that his father won't be suspicious of the Crown Prince after hearing these words.

At the same time, he can win the heart of a beautiful woman, and his future is bright.

But Xiao Tingkai never expected that his wife, Song Huilan, was also plotting against the Crown Prince.

Song Huilan's scheme was closely related to Consort Wang Xiyun: Now that the Crown Princess had gone to Shandong with the Emperor and Empress, the Crown Prince would be the only one left in Delin Palace.