"Alright."
Since Song Yuan had agreed, Song Chaoyu naturally nodded.
If these matters were settled today, Song Yuan would not go back on his word in the future.
Song Chaoyu was genuinely happy for Concubine Liu.
—
After the meal, Song Chaoyu went to Concubine Liu's painting studio.
Meanwhile, Mu Changxi entered the study with Lord Song, who seemed to have endless political affairs to discuss.
Concubine Liu had finally been waiting for Song Chaoyu. As they had not seen each other for many days, she immediately stepped forward and took Song Chaoyu's hand, saying, "Look, your complexion has improved again! It's clear how well the Prince treats you, and my heart can finally be at ease!"
Song Chaoyu's eyes reddened slightly. "But Mother has lost so much weight."
"It's alright."
Unlike before, Concubine Liu's eyes no longer held any calculating thoughts.
Only a gentle warmth towards the world remained. "I feel at ease in my heart now. Don't worry, I will take good care of myself."
Song Chaoyu nodded, then said, "Mother, please don't worry. I just came from Father, and he has already agreed. When the Prince and I return from Qin Prefecture, we will find a small courtyard for Mother in the capital. He is going to grant Mother freedom, so Mother should be happy!"
Finally, she had received the desired outcome.
Concubine Liu did not show excessive joy. Instead, she paused for a moment, then smiled gently.
She had let go of all her burdens and now felt detached from everything. "It's good like this. Ayu, Mother will finally be free! From now on, everything will get better, won't it?"
"Yes!"
Song Chaoyu was very certain about this.
The mother and daughter talked for a long time, sharing many secrets, and only left after having another meal at the Song residence.
At the same time, at the Prince of Chang's mansion, everything that needed to be packed had been packed, and everything that needed to be prepared had been prepared.
They... were about to set off for Qin Prefecture.
Before leaving, Song Chaoyu changed the name of her maid, Taozi.
After all, there was already a little Taozi in the household, and it was considered an inauspicious clash for the maid to have the same name.
After asking her herself, Song Chaoyu chose the name "Lizi," which reminded her of warm roasted chestnuts in winter, and she liked this name for the maid.
—
Qin Prefecture was not particularly far from the capital, nor was it a place of extreme hardship.
Song Chaoyu and her entourage disguised themselves as ordinary citizens, and even their carriage was changed to the simplest style.
Just before departing, they brought along the young eunuch found in the palace who was related to the Tan family.
This young eunuch had been kept in a dark and lightless room. Even when brought before Mu Changxi and Song Chaoyu, his head was still covered with a black cloth.
As soon as he entered the carriage, Song Chaoyu smelled a foul odor.
It seemed that this young eunuch had not had an easy time these past few days!
Song Chaoyu nodded to Xiao Ruizi, who then pulled off the black cloth from the young eunuch's head.
Before Song Chaoyu and Mu Changxi could say anything, the young eunuch had already knelt before them, repeatedly kowtowing, "This servant knows his mistake, this servant knows his mistake! I beg the Prince and Princess to forgive this servant!"
"Mistake?"
Mu Changxi sneered, "Do you know where you went wrong?"
The young eunuch had suffered torment these past few days.
At this moment, he wished he could pour out everything. "This servant should not have poisoned the Consort's pastries. This servant deserves death!"
He confessed so easily.
Song Chaoyu and Mu Changxi exchanged a glance. Mu Changxi continued to question him, "Then you should know what I'm going to ask. Speak, who instructed you to do this?"
"It was... the Crown Princess."
The young eunuch closed his eyes. "It was the Crown Princess who told this servant to put the substance in the Consort's pastries. Before that, this servant didn't even know what that substance was!"
The Crown Princess?!
This was someone Song Chaoyu and Mu Changxi could never have expected!
The Crown Princess wanted to harm the Consort?
"This is impossible!"
Song Chaoyu was the first to speak, staring intently at the young eunuch. "Don't try to be clever and sow discord between the Crown Prince's mansion and our Prince of Chang's mansion. Do you think you're worthy of that?"
The young eunuch quickly shook his head. "I dare not, this servant absolutely dares not! At this point, how could this servant still do such a thing? If the Princess does not believe me, she can investigate this servant's identity! This servant originally served the Crown Princess's mother, and was sent to the Crown Princess last year. All of this can be verified!"
The young eunuch was already terrified out of his wits and kept kowtowing and begging for mercy.
Song Chaoyu felt that what he said might not be false.
She looked at Mu Changxi and noticed that his expression was equally solemn.
Song Chaoyu then asked the young eunuch, "So, what else do you know?"
The young eunuch shook his head like a rattle drum. "I don't know, I really don't know anymore! When I entered the palace, I only knew that the Crown Princess told this servant to put the medicine in the Consort's pastries, and that was all!"
Song Chaoyu asked again, "Was it the Crown Princess who told you to do this? Was it not the Crown Princess's mother who told you to do this?"
"No."
The young eunuch stated with certainty, "It was the Crown Princess's will."
Song Chaoyu waved her hand, signaling Xiao Ruizi that it was enough.
Mu Changxi also looked at the young eunuch and sneered, "Kill him. Don't leave any traces. It seems we won't be able to get anything more from him."
"No, don't!"
The young eunuch begged again. "Everyone says that Prince Chang and Princess Consort are the most gentle and benevolent. This servant has said all that should be said. I beg the Prince and Princess to spare my life!"
"Gentle and benevolent?"
Song Chaoyu also sneered. "Gentle and benevolent are for those who deserve it. For someone like you, who commits murder, you actually ask others to be gentle and benevolent?"
Song Chaoyu said disdainfully, "Don't tell me that as a servant, you had no other choice. In the palace, you could have sought the Consort's help, or even the Crown Prince's. Or you could have even tried to persuade the Crown Princess, but you did nothing. You were certain that we are gentle and benevolent people, and that's why you dared to bully us like this?"
Gentle and benevolent never meant being weak and easily bullied.
No matter how the young eunuch cried out, Song Chaoyu and Mu Changxi showed no hesitation.
Only after the young eunuch's voice disappeared did Mu Changxi look at Song Chaoyu with deep eyes. "His words... do you believe them?"
"I don't think they're fake."
Song Chaoyu also spoke truthfully. "However, I also believe in the Crown Princess. I think the Crown Princess's original intention was not to kill the Consort. It's just that I don't know what deception she fell prey to that led her to act this way."
Mu Changxi nodded. "I also believe in the Crown Prince. Then, after returning to the capital, shall we have a frank conversation with the Crown Prince and the Crown Princess?"