"Your presence is respectfully seen off, Imperial Consort."
Song Chaoyu bowed her body deeply.
Only when there was no one else in the Dengque Hall did she raise her head, her eyes filled with apprehension.
—
At this moment, the Virtuous Imperial Consort had not returned to her chambers.
She stood behind a screen of glazed crystal depicting a hundred birds returning to their origin, located behind the Dengque Hall, and looked at Mu Changxi, who was sitting in a wheelchair. "Xi'er, what choice do you think she will make?"
Mu Changxi's brows were tightly furrowed.
He looked at the Virtuous Imperial Consort helplessly. "Is Mother trying to make things difficult for her, or for your son? Mother knows my heart; I wish to keep her by my side. But you have given her the path to leave. What she wants most is a stable life. How can she still choose to stay by my side as merely a concubine?"
"Heh—"
The Virtuous Imperial Consort reached out and stroked Mu Changxi's shoulder. "What's wrong with being a concubine? She would be your Prince Chang's secondary consort! Countless women in this world would break their heads to sit in that position. Why is she unwilling?"
Mu Changxi's eyes were filled with helplessness and reluctance. "She is different from other women. Mother, I am certain she will choose the second path. I am Prince Chang; even the Emperor would not truly do anything to me in this capital now. Moreover, the Emperor did not blame me today. I can protect myself, but she has to protect herself, her aunt, and her younger brother. Becoming a principal wife in Jiangzhou is her best destination."
Perhaps at this moment, the Virtuous Imperial Consort realized why her son had taken a liking to such a minor illegitimate daughter.
She sighed, her gaze distant. "Xi'er, not everything in this world can go according to our wishes. Even though your father is the Son of Heaven, he too has his own unavoidable circumstances and helplessness. What is destined will come, and what is not, one should not force. The choice depends on this little girl. Whether it is great wealth and honor, or her ordinary life, you must give her a chance to choose."
Mu Changxi understood the Virtuous Imperial Consort's deeper meaning. "Mother, I was wrong. I was always afraid that if I didn't seize the moment, she would drift away from me. I forgot how much trouble my impulsiveness today would cause her. I should have asked her before making a decision."
"You are not wrong, and she is not wrong."
The Virtuous Imperial Consort lowered her head and stroked her son's hair again. "Many things are simply unavoidable. It is the same for you as it is for her. It all depends on how she chooses. Xi'er, I only advise you to let go when it is time to let go. It is for her sake, and for yours. I truly worry how this small, illegitimate daughter of an outer chamber will survive amidst the turbulent winds of the capital."
"I am here..."
Mu Changxi's voice was very, very soft, so soft that even the Virtuous Imperial Consort did not hear it.
He gave a light laugh, then suddenly looked up. "Mother, shall we make a bet?"
The Virtuous Imperial Consort paused, then nodded in agreement.
The mother and son hid behind the screen, watching Song Chaoyu, who was still kneeling in the Dengque Hall, each lost in their own thoughts.
—
Song Chaoyu desperately wanted to stand up and, as the Virtuous Imperial Consort had suggested, return to her hometown in Jiangzhou to live a stable life!
However, the hatred in her heart, mixed with Han Xi's image appearing from time to time, prevented her from standing up.
She also asked herself: Song Chaoyu, do you really want to be Mu Changxi's secondary consort? Do you know what it means for you, an outer chamber daughter, to become Prince Chang's secondary consort?
But Han Xi from her memory seemed to appear in her mind once more.
He always said: "Yu'er, there is nothing in this world to be afraid of. As long as we try, whether we succeed depends on fate, but at least we will not regret it, nor will we have any regrets."
Regret and remorse were things she did not wish to face, were they?
Han Xi was also someone she could not let go of, wasn't he?
As time ticked by, Song Chaoyu's mind seemed to become numb along with her fatigue and the pain in her knees.
Should she... stand up and leave here?
As she lost herself in endless thought, the incense in the hall gradually burned out—
When Song Chaoyu finally looked up, she realized that the sky outside the hall had already begun to show a hint of dawn.
She knew this was her last chance.
If she stood up and left now, everything would still be in time! She could still have a stable life, and even after marriage, she could find a way to return here and seek revenge.
But there was a voice in her heart that seemed to be constantly stopping her.
It said: Song Chaoyu, you are not allowed to stand up! Standing up this time means you will bid farewell to Han Xi forever! Is this truly what you want? To never see Han Xi again, to let him remain in this place forever. From now on, there will be no possibility between you! Is this... truly what you want?
No, it wasn't.
As the morning glow slowly rose, the pink clouds illuminated the horizon. Song Chaoyu seemed to finally hear the voice within her heart.
She had been kneeling until now. If she stood up at this moment, wouldn't it be too much of a loss?
So, when the Virtuous Imperial Consort woke up, she heard a palace maid report: "Your Highness, that Miss Song is still kneeling at the entrance of the Dengque Hall! Throughout the night, eunuchs and palace maids have come and gone, and they have all seen her! She has had no other reaction, her expression has remained calm. I fear that after kneeling all night, she will not be able to stand up later."
The Virtuous Imperial Consort was stunned for a moment, then she suddenly laughed. "This girl has quite a bit of perseverance! Go, help her up, and then send her back to the Song residence with care. If she truly has trouble from kneeling, Prince Xi will be unhappy later!"
Saying this, she also pulled the departing palace maid. "By the way, delay the carriage that will take her back. Then, quickly prepare my makeup. I am going to see the Emperor and the Empress."
"Yes!"
The palace maid immediately found someone to help the Virtuous Imperial Consort with her makeup.
Then, she personally walked to Song Chaoyu, who was still kneeling, and extended her hand to Song Chaoyu. "Miss Song, our Consort understands your intentions. She has instructed me to escort you back to the Song residence, and everything will proceed as discussed yesterday."
"Thank you, Imperial Consort."
Song Chaoyu truly could not stand up anymore. She graciously accepted the maid's help and slowly walked towards the outside of the Dengque Hall.
Tiaohong also came to help Song Chaoyu immediately. The palace maid was not hurried or flustered. "Walk slowly. You'll need to see a doctor for your knees when you get back. Make sure there are no lingering problems. It's cold today; if you catch a chill, it will be the Imperial Consort's fault! Miss, please do take your time."