Mu Han Su simply lowered his head, knowing he had to let the Emperor vent his anger first before he had any chance to explain.
However, while he thought this, others might not have.
Song Yan Jiao, standing beside Mu Han Su, suddenly stirred.
Her eyes reddened, and with tears streaming down her face, she began to plead for Mu Han Su: "Father Emperor, please see clearly! Our Ning Prince's manor would never harbor such intentions! This matter has reached such a point, and yet we still dare not say it has been fully investigated, and Father Emperor is already determined to condemn our Ning Prince's manor. Prince Chang is your son, and Ning Prince is also your son! Why must Father Emperor insist on condemning the Ning Prince's manor?!"
If she hadn't spoken, her words made even Mu Han Su realize the gravity of the situation was dire!
He turned back, glaring fiercely at Song Yan Jiao, and whispered, "Stop talking! Father Emperor has his own plans for how to decide!"
"On what grounds?!"
Song Yan Jiao, however, seemed to have lost her mind. With her neck stiff and eyes red, she didn't even listen to Mu Han Su's words: "We are doing this for Father Emperor's own good, so why should Father Emperor punish our Ning Prince's manor? The matter has come to this, and yet they from Prince Chang's manor do not admit guilt. We are all just trying to prevent Father Emperor from being deceived by others. What wrong have we done?"
In fact, Song Chao Yu had guessed that Song Yan Jiao was doing this merely to make the Emperor believe they were sincere, and also to make them seem pitiable and wronged.
However, saying such things at this moment was simply a sign of her extreme foolishness.
The Emperor was currently in a fit of rage, so how could he possibly listen to her words?
As expected, when Mu Han Su looked up at the Emperor, he found that the Emperor's eyes were filled with even more anger.
Thinking of how Song Chao Yu had protected Mu Chang Xi just now, Mu Han Su felt a surge of indignation.
"Slap—"
Mu Han Su turned back and, in front of everyone, fiercely slapped Song Yan Jiao!
He reprimanded Song Yan Jiao in a low voice, "Are you questioning Father Emperor now?! No matter what grievances we have suffered, Qi Feng is still Prince Chang's child. This fact is set in stone. How can you expect Father Emperor to believe our words? Even if you wanted Father Emperor to calm down, we would be willing to accept punishment. Why step forward and say such things? Do you think you are the only one who feels wronged?!"
Song Chao Yu also realized that this was likely another act of "performance" by Mu Han Su.
It was for the Emperor to see, and for everyone else to see.
It was to make the Emperor believe that their Ning Prince's manor had also been deceived, but unfortunately... he shouldn't have actually hit Song Yan Jiao.
He didn't hit her hard, but Song Yan Jiao had already lost her reason, so how could she carefully consider why Mu Han Su was acting this way?
Seeing Song Yan Jiao covering her face, Song Chao Yu guessed that she would likely have a "never-ending" quarrel with Mu Han Su.
As expected—
Before the Emperor above could say anything, Song Yan Jiao, covering one side of her face and the other side of her stomach, looked at Mu Han Su with fury: "You hit me?! You dare to hit me? I am your lawfully wedded wife, the Ning Princess Consort whom you officially welcomed into the manor! On what grounds do you hit me?"
As if she could no longer bear the injustice, she stepped forward, her belly protruding, and lunged towards Mu Han Su: "In the manor, you favored your concubines and side consorts, and confined me. Now, even in front of Father Emperor, you still bully me like this. Do you really think I am a pushover?!"
She was pregnant, and such actions were truly frightening.
Mu Han Su retreated repeatedly, frowning and signaling to Song Yan Jiao: "We've reached this point, can you stop this nonsense?! You are pregnant now, and the priority is to protect the child in your womb. Father Emperor has given his orders, and he naturally has his own plans. Why must you meddle blindly? Just shut up!"
This unreasonable and overbearing Song Yan Jiao had truly driven Mu Han Su to utter helplessness.
But in front of the Emperor, Mu Han Su dared not say or do anything more.
Who knew that Song Yan Jiao completely failed to grasp Mu Han Su's intentions.
She sneered even more, then deliberately propped up her belly and knelt on the ground, continuing to wail to the Emperor: "Father Emperor, you have seen it all! This is how the Ning Prince treats me in the manor! I bore him children and entrusted my life to him! To think that he is worse than a beast!"
As the words "worse than a beast" left her lips, the veins on Mu Han Su's forehead twitched.
The Emperor also rubbed his temples, finding Song Yan Jiao to be excessively noisy.
His annoyance with the Ning Prince's manor grew even more.
This was also an opportune moment.
Song Chao Yu coughed lightly and stepped forward slightly, intending to help Song Yan Jiao up from the ground: "Good sister, so many people are watching here! Can we stop this scene? Please let Father Emperor rest. Today, Father Emperor has only confined you, he hasn't done anything else. I believe if there is truly a misunderstanding, once our Prince wakes up, our two manors can sit down and talk it through. Between brothers, are there any deep-seated hatreds that cannot be spoken of?"
Her words were extremely considerate of everyone's dignity present, truly a "sensible" statement.
But in Song Yan Jiao's eyes, Song Chao Yu was simply a "hypocrite."
She flung Song Chao Yu's hand away, glaring at her with anger: "Why are you pretending to be a good person? I fear you have long harbored deep hatred for our Ning Prince's manor. Why are you putting on such a show of fake concern?!"
Her movement was forceful, causing Song Chao Yu to stumble.
Fortunately, Consort Gui and Tiao Hong behind her steadied Song Chao Yu, and Song Chao Yu instinctively protected her own belly.
The Emperor's expression grew even more displeased.
Mu Han Su's expression also grew increasingly grim.
Finally, before the Emperor could lose his temper, Mu Han Su stepped forward, disregarding whether Song Yan Jiao was pregnant. He pulled Song Yan Jiao up from the ground: "Have you made enough of a scene?! If you've had enough, then shut up quickly! Come back to the manor with me to be confined!"
He still hoped that Song Yan Jiao would be more "sensible."
Mu Han Su leaned down and whispered into Song Yan Jiao's ear: "Stop making trouble! Father Emperor is even getting angry! If you still want to preserve your wealth and status, then shut up for me! Otherwise, even if I divorce you, I won't let this venomous woman drag me down!"
In reality, Mu Han Su was merely trying to scare Song Yan Jiao.
But in Song Yan Jiao's ears, only the words "divorce you" buzzed.
"What did you say?!"
Under Mu Han Su's disbelieving gaze, Song Yan Jiao raised her voice, a hint of madness in her tone: "You said you want to divorce me?! You actually want to divorce me? You've had this idea for a long time, haven't you?"
She no longer cared about anything else, even patting her swollen belly fiercely: "If it weren't for this child I'm carrying, you would have sent me a divorce letter long ago, wouldn't you?! Fine, fine! Your heart is only for those little whores in the inner courtyard. Do you have any room left for us, mother and son?!"
Her actions startled Mu Han Su's mother, who stood up and said, "What are you making such a fuss about?! Be careful of your belly! Is this really the time for such reckless behavior?!"
The more they cared about this child, the more brazen Song Yan Jiao became.
With her belly protruding, her words grew increasingly harsh: "What? You're also afraid? If you had known this would happen, you should have treated me better back then?"