Chapter 144

The servants all obediently withdrew,

Once everyone dispersed, Song Zhao instructed Yun Shan:

"Let Zhihua oversee them and only allow them to do the most basic cleaning tasks. As for matters pertaining to me personally, it will still be you and Xiao Fuzi attending to them."

Yun Shan respectfully nodded and then went off to give the instructions.

Meanwhile, Xiao Fuzi stood by Song Zhao's side and whispered:

"Your Majesty, I have followed your orders and inquired about it. The coroner who examined the body confirmed that His Majesty indeed died from hanging and there were no signs of poisoning."

Song Zhao furrowed her delicate eyebrows slightly, pondered for a moment, and said:

"He committed suicide? I know my father's temperament very well. If he wanted to die, he would have done so long ago in Yu Province. Why would he wait until he returned to the capital to take his own life?"

She couldn't help but chuckle, "What? Did he know that the Song Residence is filled with so many wicked spirits and sins that the accumulated grievances bring it close to the depths of hell? Was he in such a hurry to die so that he could escape to the netherworld and dive into a cauldron of boiling oil?"

Xiao Fuzi didn't laugh at Song Zhao's jest. Instead, his expression grew more serious and he asked,

"Your Majesty, do you suspect that His Majesty was murdered?"

Pausing for a moment, he cautiously ventured, "By the Emperor?"

"It's unlikely," Song Zhao pondered for a moment and shook her head. "If it were the Emperor, then he would have already known that Song Shicheng would undoubtedly die that day. He wouldn't have come to my palace for lunch and deliberately let me hear the news of Song Shicheng's death just to grieve me, right? I think it's possible that the Emperor is unaware of this matter."

"Then... could it be the Empress Dowager?"

Song Zhao felt a bit weary. She sighed and smiled wryly, "Perhaps. I can't figure it out either. Since the person is already dead, there's no point in investigating the matter further. Let it be."

*Creak*

Yun Shan entered the room, holding a pearwood tray with a bowl of lukewarm medicinal soup on top.

She placed the medicinal soup on the small table next to Song Zhao and said with lingering fear:

"After drinking this last dose of medicine, Your Majesty's symptoms of weak and slippery pulse will be relieved. A while ago, you asked Xiao Fuzi to administer medicine that would make your pulse feel weak and slippery. But day and night, I have been worried, fearing that it might harm you and the little prince."

Xiao Fuzi added, "Your Majesty, you have taken an extremely dangerous step. Although I can control the dosage when administering the medicine, so as not to harm you as much as possible, the medicine is still slightly poisonous. This is truly a risky move..." Song Zhao smiled dismissively at their concerns and casually picked up the medicinal soup by her side.

The medicine was bitter, just the smell alone made one's throat tighten,

But Song Zhao didn't even furrow her brows. She downed it all in one gulp.

After finishing the medicine, she casually set the bowl aside and protectively held her small abdomen, her tone cold and solemn:

"If my child cannot endure even this bit of bitterness, then once he is born, imagine the dangers in this palace filled with hidden dangers. Which one of them won't be more perilous than this? "

Ever since Song Zhao learned about her pregnancy,

She had already begun to make arrangements.

She secretly had Xiao Fuzi prepare a medicinal soup that could cause a smooth and weak pulse. While ensuring the safety of her unborn child, she drank several doses of the medicine.

There are many reasons that can lead to a pregnant woman having a weak and smooth pulse, and one of the most important factors is pent-up emotions, palpitations, and worries.

This perfectly matched Song Zhao's mood after the death of her entire family.

Song Zhao knew very well that her joyful pulse had to be diagnosed by the imperial physician in front of Xiao Jingheng in order to achieve the desired effect.

After all, one can fake feelings of sadness, but the pulse cannot deceive people.

Only in this way could everyone believe that she was truly heartbroken,

and only then could Xiao Jingheng show her exceptional tenderness and eagerness to do something to comfort her.

He gave Song Zhao this concubine position,

whether it was to preserve the imperial heir or out of genuine affection for Song Zhao,

Song Zhao didn't care.

What she cared about

was only her status as the mistress of this palace, which she now firmly held in her hands.

On this day, the Empress Dowager also came to visit Song Zhao.

Since learning of Song Zhao's pregnancy, the Empress Dowager, who rarely left Shoukang Palace, had visited Song Zhao three times.

Even when the Empress was pregnant, the Empress Dowager only symbolically visited her twice,

which shows Song Zhao's position in her heart.

Compared to the previous two meetings, the smile on her face was noticeably brighter, and she didn't look like a frostbitten eggplant anymore.

But the Empress Dowager could see that there was still bitterness behind Song Zhao's smile. She held Song Zhao's hand and her expression became slightly solemn:

"I know you're suffering in your heart. But although you are a daughter of the Song family, you are also the Emperor's concubine. As a woman of the Emperor, the affairs of your natal family are no longer your concern. Even if it's hard for you, you can only bear it and swallow it, understand?"

Song Zhao nodded and said, "I understand. Both His Majesty and the Empress Dowager have been very good to me. My father's funeral was handled properly, and I have enjoyed all the glory and wealth in the palace. I don't feel any bitterness."

Only then did the Empress Dowager smile kindly and say, "It's best if you can think like that."

After leaving Song Zhao's place, on the way back to the palace, the Empress Dowager said to Qingzhu:

"I don't like Song Shicheng, but the Emperor has gone a bit too far this time. Fortunately, Song Zhao is a determined person. Otherwise, if this incident had harmed the imperial heir in her womb, the Emperor would have regrets."

Qingzhu asked softly, "Does the Empress Dowager think that the death of Lord Song was the Emperor's intention?"

"Ha," the Empress Dowager sneered and shook her head, "I still don't know him? Remember, those who have ambitions for the world often have the narrowest minds. Song Shicheng caused such a big disturbance in Yu Province and even committed the crime of deceiving the Emperor. In such a situation, the Ning family still came out to plead for him? No matter which of these three matters he is involved in, the Emperor cannot spare him."

Qingzhu didn't dare to comment on Xiao Jingheng, so she could only follow the Empress Dowager's words and say,

"The Emperor has been quite ruthless this time. Fortunately, Consort Song and her child are safe."

"Ruthless? Haha." The Empress Dowager chuckled meaningfully. "Who among the emperors hasn't climbed to the top by stepping on a mountain of corpses? Those who aren't ruthless can only have their breath cut short and be trampled underfoot. How could they ever conquer this world and its throne?"

Meanwhile, in the Chao Yang Palace,

Xiao Jingheng dismissed his attendants and remained alone with Jiang Deshun to converse.

"Since the Emperor suspects that Lady Song's death was orchestrated by the Empress Dowager, should I order an investigation by the Tianji Office?" Jiang Deshun asked.

Xiao Jingheng's expression turned cold,

as he repeatedly touched the ink jade thumb ring on his thumb,

he fell into silence for a while before speaking:

"If you investigate the Tianji Office, wouldn't it strain the mother-son relationship between the Empress Dowager and me? Besides, the Empress Dowager's actions are also meant to preserve the dignity of the imperial family."

He sighed, then waved his hand. "Forget it, as long as Lady Song and her child are safe, let's not mention this matter again."

"Bang bang bang!"

As the two were conversing, there came a few muffled knocks on the door from outside the main hall.

Xiao Yinzi reported from outside the door:

"Your Majesty, the Empress is here with the Ministry of Internal Affairs to present the conferred title for Lady Song. They ask if you have a moment."

Upon hearing this, a hint of joy appeared on Xiao Jingheng's brows.

"Let them in."

[Direct Spoiler: The lousy father is not the Emperor or the Empress Dowager's doing; there is someone else behind it.]