Song Chaoyu merely waved her hand, "There's no use in discussing this now. Why don't you tell me, what other evidence do you have? For such a significant matter, surely we can't just rely on your word that two people can prove it."
Lord Qiu was, of course, fully prepared for this trip.
He let out a cold laugh and looked at Song Chaoyu, "Then I'm afraid it will be up to the Princess Consort. A few days ago, Hai Sha was sent to the Prince's manor. She bore the Prince a child. I believe that if we can use the child for a blood-drop paternity test with the Prince, proving that the child is indeed the Prince's, it will surely prove that Hai Sha's words are true, won't it?"
He stared at Song Chaoyu, "I wonder if the Princess Consort is afraid, which is why she hasn't brought Hai Sha over? I'll trouble the Princess Consort to bring her here!"
Lord Qiu sneered, "However, we haven't had any news of Hai Sha these past few days. Could it be that the Princess Consort has already killed her?"
Upon hearing this, the Emperor's eyes sharpened, and he looked coldly at Song Chaoyu.
Song Chaoyu showed no signs of panic, "What makes Lord Qiu say that? If Hai Sha were a concubine in my Chang Prince's manor, but still maintained contact with Lord Qiu and his associates, wouldn't that be improper?"
Lord Qiu then realized that he shouldn't have said that, and Song Chaoyu had found an opportunity.
Song Chaoyu turned and said to Tiao Hong, "Go and personally bring her here. Be careful on the way. Don't let others seize an opportunity. If Madam Hai is killed, our Chang Prince's manor will truly be unable to explain itself!"
Song Chaoyu's words were bold, yet they left Lord Qiu and his company helpless.
Even the Emperor hadn't expected Song Chaoyu to be so forthright about this matter.
Song Chaoyu then looked at Lord Qiu, "Lord Qiu, since I am bringing the person over, shouldn't you also bring your people? Don't mistake Hai Sha's child! Otherwise, if the blood-drop paternity test with our Prince is unsuccessful, and Lord Qiu tries to blame our Chang Prince's manor, we won't accept it!"
Song Chaoyu's words were barbed, causing Lord Qiu's expression to darken.
"Ahem!"
Prince Ning, seeing that Lord Qiu couldn't out-argue Song Chaoyu, also frowned and coughed lightly, "The Chang Prince Consort is truly sharp-tongued! Lord Qiu hasn't said anything yet, has he? Why is the Chang Prince Consort targeting Lord Qiu with every word of mockery? Lord Qiu is, after all, an envoy from the Southern Kingdom. For the sake of both countries' reputation, I fear the Chang Prince Consort should speak with more discretion!"
"The reputation of both countries?"
Song Chaoyu scoffed, "It is not our Chang Prince's manor that is disregarding the reputation of both countries now. They have come to our doorstep, and am I not allowed to speak? Are we to let our Prince be wrongly accused? Then our Chang Prince's manor would truly be wronged to death!"
Saying this, Song Chaoyu even glared at Mu Hanxu, making Mu Hanxu so angry he didn't know where to direct it, but he couldn't do anything in front of the Emperor.
Mu Hanxu could only turn and roll his eyes at Song Yanjiao, attributing all his inner displeasure to Song Yanjiao.
Song Yanjiao looked at Song Chaoyu's expression with even more hatred.
She realized that in Mu Hanxu's heart, she was still not as important as Song Chaoyu.
Why should Song Chaoyu live a prosperous life while I suffer?
But at this moment, Song Yanjiao could only suppress all her displeasure and lower her head, gently stroking her belly, placing all her hopes on this child.
—
A moment later, Lord Qiu's people brought Hai Sha's child over first.
The child looked no more than two or three years old, a little boy, quite cute, named "Qi Feng."
As he entered the hall, he stood still, looking timidly at his surroundings, appearing somewhat fearful.
However, even Song Chaoyu had to admit that little Qi Feng's eyebrows bore quite a resemblance to Mu Changxi.
His large eyes darted around, causing Song Chaoyu's lips to curl into a slight smile.
She imagined that Mu Changxi must have looked much like Qi Feng when he was a child.
The Emperor and Empress saw Song Chaoyu's smile and felt that someone who smiled at a child couldn't possibly be the disloyal and unfilial person described by Prince Ning and Lord Qiu.
Qi Feng stood in place, a small dumpling obediently bowing to the Emperor and Empress.
Lord Qiu explained that Qi Feng had no surname.
When the Chang Prince was in the Southern Kingdom, he dared not give the child the royal surname of the Great Yue Dynasty.
Hai Sha, as Qi Feng's mother, was merely of slave status.
Therefore, they had not given Qi Feng a surname, keeping his name as a memento for everyone to refer to him by.
Song Chaoyu, however, suspected that Hai Sha hadn't taken good care of the child over the past two years.
Although he was cute, as a boy, his stature was considerably smaller than boys of the same age.
Not only that, but his physique also appeared very frail. Even the clothes he wore looked like discarded adult clothes that had been altered to fit him.
Song Chaoyu wondered if Hai Sha had deliberately dressed the child to look so pitiful, or if she had dressed him this way specifically for today.
Song Chaoyu's feelings towards Hai Sha grew increasingly displeased.
As everyone was appraising the child, Hai Sha also entered from outside.
Since Song Chaoyu had made her statement, no one dared to harm Hai Sha on the way.
Seeing Hai Sha enter unharmed, Lord Qiu's expression soured.
In the Southern Kingdom, he had heard that Song Chaoyu was a jealous person, which was why the Chang Prince's manor had no concubines or secondary consorts in its inner court.
Therefore, he believed that Song Chaoyu would not tolerate Hai Sha's existence. He hadn't expected that Song Chaoyu not only tolerated Hai Sha but also took good care of her.
After only a few days apart, why did Hai Sha seem to have even gained some weight?
Naturally, Hai Sha, confined to her small courtyard, did nothing but eat and sleep all day, so how could she not gain weight?
Seeing Hai Sha kneel down looking quite radiant, the Emperor and Empress's expressions grew even more displeased.
Even Song Yanjiao rolled her eyes at Hai Sha, while little Qi Feng, not understanding much,
After being separated for many days, upon seeing his mother again, Qi Feng stepped forward and timidly stared at Hai Sha, looking as though he wanted to get close but dared not: "Mother!"
Hai Sha smiled at Qi Feng and wanted to embrace him, but Qi Feng instinctively flinched away, making Hai Sha a little embarrassed. "Good child, have you been obedient?"
Hai Sha originally just wanted to show their mother-son affection, but unexpectedly, little Qi Feng dodged her more fearfully, and she hastily explained, "Mother, Qi Feng is obedient, Qi Feng is very obedient! Please, Mother, don't hit Qi Feng!"
As he spoke, he waved his little arms in front of his eyes.
How Hai Sha usually treated Qi Feng was self-evident to everyone present.
"Hmph!"
The Empress above snorted coldly and spat at Hai Sha, "You wretch! What does such a small child understand? Is he to be beaten every day? I think this Hai Sha is also no good."
At the same time, Song Chaoyu slightly bowed and took out a small fruit candy she carried with her after becoming pregnant, offering it to Qi Feng, "Little Qi Feng, don't be afraid! We are all here today, and your mother won't hit you. Come to Auntie, are you hungry? Auntie has delicious fruit candy."
This fruit candy was specially made for Song Chaoyu by Granny Han and was not available anywhere else.
Even Song Yanjiao's eyes lit up upon seeing the fruit candy.
After becoming pregnant, she often felt dizzy. The imperial physician said that eating something sweet would help, but Mu Hanxu always accused her of being overly sensitive.