Song Chaoyu's single movement made Hai Sha's body involuntarily shrink.
She swallowed, her eyes darting sideways, not daring to meet Song Chaoyu's gaze. "This servant... is naturally sincere and devoted to His Highness Prince Chang, not daring to be remiss in any way."
Song Chaoyu nodded. "Then what kind of person do you think he is? Do you think his days in the Southern Kingdom were easy?"
Each of Song Chaoyu's questions seemed to be nothing difficult to answer.
Yet, each question made Hai Sha, who was already sharp-minded, inwardly surprised.
It appeared that if she didn't answer these questions, Song Chaoyu wouldn't let her off so easily today.
Hai Sha hesitated for a moment before saying, "When His Highness first arrived in the Southern Kingdom, he was somewhat reserved. His status was awkward, so many people treated him poorly. But His Highness never dwelled on those matters. He was very curious about everything in the Southern Kingdom and made a few friends. At that time, this servant felt His Highness was very happy."
Actually, Song Chaoyu could hardly imagine what kind of life the person impersonating Mu Changxi had in the Southern Kingdom.
Hai Sha sighed, as if entering her own memories at this moment. "Later, His Highness's leg was broken. During that time, His Highness saw no one and said nothing. Only this servant attended to him. This servant felt His Highness seemed to have some regrets. But how could coming to the Southern Kingdom be His Highness's decision? This servant stayed by His Highness's side daily, talking to him, helping him adapt to his broken leg. Only then did His Highness's mood improve."
If Hai Sha was telling the truth, then even Song Chaoyu had to admit that Hai Sha must have been an extraordinary presence in that person's heart.
She had accompanied him through the most difficult period, but if that were truly the case, why, upon returning to the Great Yue Dynasty, did he remain tight-lipped about Mu Changxi regarding Hai Sha's existence?
Hai Sha was unaware of Song Chaoyu's thoughts. She merely smiled and continued, "Perhaps after experiencing that life-and-death ordeal, His Highness changed a lot. He became much more composed. This servant could feel that he began to dislike the Southern Kingdom. He disliked the place, the people, and even this servant. He often said that if he were in the Great Yue Dynasty, he would never have been treated that way. He often said that he only had this servant by his side, but this servant probably looked down on him. In truth, this servant never dared to feel that way."
Those days were not easy. That person, while in the Southern Kingdom, must have struggled with himself for a long time.
Later, in utter helplessness, he had to compromise.
Then, what did Hai Sha truly mean to him?
Before Song Chaoyu could ponder, Hai Sha spoke again. "In truth, while serving by His Highness's side, this servant never harbored any excessive desires. We servants in the Southern Kingdom can only have one master. Since this servant served His Highness, she belongs to His Highness. Regardless of whether His Highness likes this servant or not, this servant can never serve anyone else. Therefore, in this servant's heart, there can only be His Highness, and dare only be His Highness."
Whether it was genuine emotion or not, Hai Sha looked up and gazed earnestly at Song Chaoyu. "Princess Consort, you may not believe anyone else, but you must believe this servant's heart for His Highness! This servant truly misses His Highness, and coming to find His Highness this time was merely to serve by His Highness's side! I beg the Princess Consort to give this servant a way. When His Highness recovers, even if the Princess Consort wishes to kill this servant, this servant will have no regrets!"
Such "sincerity" was indeed touching.
But while it could deceive others, it could not deceive Song Chaoyu.
She lowered her gaze and sneered, finally releasing Hai Sha's chin. "Hai Sha, I gave you a chance. For the sake of your long service to His Highness, I also wanted to leave you a way out. But you were unwilling to tell me the truth, so I have no other recourse. I am not foolish. You came with Lord Qiu and the others. Do I not know your purpose?"
She spoke tentatively, but her tone was firm. "In fact, you know very well that your child is not His Highness's child at all, isn't that right?"
Hai Sha's pupils suddenly trembled.
Just as Song Chaoyu had predicted, Hai Sha pursed her lips, thinking Song Chaoyu had discovered their "secret."
She opened her mouth, revealing a flaw. "No... that child... belongs to the His Highness who went to the Southern Kingdom back then! Princess Consort can accuse this servant of anything, but she cannot slander this servant's loyalty to His Highness! This servant would never dare to do anything that betrays His Highness!"
Hai Sha spoke these words out of fear.
But Song Chaoyu let out a cold laugh. "Hai Sha, you've seen His Highness recently, haven't you?"
Hai Sha's pupils contracted again.
Song Chaoyu's heart gained some confidence.
She reached out and patted Mu Changxi, who lay beside her. "From beginning to end, whenever I spoke of His Highness, your eyes never fell upon him. Hai Sha, you truly are a pitiable person! From start to finish, you have been used by others, and now even your child may not have a good end."
She asked in confusion, "Shouldn't parents plan for their children? Your life has already been tossed about like a floating duckweed. Do you think this child will have any good outcome after you bring him back?"
Before Hai Sha could speak, Song Chaoyu sighed again. "You clearly met the person you wanted to see, and you probably know the child's identity is unclear. Yet you still came here to see His Highness Prince Chang. Your intentions are nothing more than whether you can force us to keep you and the child in Prince Chang's mansion, right? Whether I keep you or not, you are both potential hidden dangers."
Song Chaoyu's words were clear, making Hai Sha's despair deepen.
Seeing her face turn ashen, Song Chaoyu's smile grew more pronounced. "Then I will make it clear to you here as well. Just as you have someone you care about, His Highness and I also have people we care about, and to protect those we care about, we will do things no one can imagine. I will let you enter the mansion, because I also need to protect the people I want to protect. I will acknowledge your identities and bring you into the mansion to live at ease."
Hearing this, Hai Sha's eyes brightened.
"But!"
Song Chaoyu's tone suddenly shifted. "I will use your status as a servant who always makes mistakes as a reason to confine you to your own courtyard. It will be absolutely impossible for you to contact Lord Qiu or Prince Ning! After all, you are just a servant from the Southern Kingdom, and I am the legitimate Princess Consort of Prince Chang. I believe no one would dare to criticize me for dealing with a slave, would they?"