RPAGF Chapter 346 Princess Chang's Rebellion 7
Chapter 346 Princess Chang's Rebellion 7
Liu Mingyuan gently stroked Ji Yao's hand—no, now called Song Yao's—his eyes flashing with feigned tenderness: "Yao'er, although your mother is strong, she is still flesh and blood and will soften her heart."
Song Yao bit her lip, her eyes still filled with resentment: "But she humiliated me in public and even made me change my surname to Song! I can't swallow this!"
Liu Mingyuan chuckled softly and leaned close to her ear: "So, we need to let her know that without us, she is nothing."
Song Yao was taken aback: "What do you mean?"
Liu Mingyuan took out a secret letter from his pocket and handed it to her: "Take a look at this."
Song Yao unfolded the letter, her expression changing drastically: "This...this is a secret letter between Mother and the envoy from the Northern Border? How is this possible!"
The letter clearly read:
"The northern army has assembled as agreed and is awaiting the princess's signal before heading south."
The signature bears the personal seal of the King of the North.
Liu Mingyuan sighed: "Yao'er, your mother has long been secretly colluding with the Northern Border, plotting a rebellion. If this is exposed, it will be a crime punishable by the extermination of nine generations of her family."
Song Yao's fingers trembled, almost unable to hold the letter: "No...it's impossible! How could Mother..."
“I don’t want to believe it either,” Liu Mingyuan said, feigning heartache. “But I found this letter in a secret compartment in your mother’s study. Her strict discipline of you over the years was probably to cover up her treasonous intentions.”
Song Yao's mind was in chaos. Remembering her mother's usual domineering nature and her coldness towards the court officials, she suddenly felt…
It doesn't seem entirely impossible.
"Then, what should we do?" she asked in a panic.
Liu Mingyuan grasped her hand, his voice seductive: "Yao'er, we must save her."
"Save her?"
“Yes.” A cold glint flashed in Liu Mingyuan’s eyes. “You pretend to go back to the princess’s residence to admit your mistake and put this letter back in the study. Then we will immediately go to the palace and ask your Aunt Yuyao to plead with His Majesty that the princess was just confused for a moment and is willing to atone for her crime by doing good deeds.”
Song Yao hesitated: "But if we do that...wouldn't Mother be at the mercy of others?"
"This is for her own good!" Liu Mingyuan said righteously. "If His Majesty finds out on his own, she will surely die! By exposing her in advance, we can save her life."
Song Yao looked down at the letter, her mind in turmoil.
The mother is indeed too domineering...
From childhood to adulthood, whatever she said went, and she was never given a choice. Now that she has been expelled from the household, she shows no mercy whatsoever.
If only I could make my mother suffer a little, and teach her a lesson...
Perhaps she won't be so domineering in the future?
"Okay." Song Yao finally nodded. "I'll listen to you."
Liu Mingyuan smiled with satisfaction and gently kissed the back of her hand: "Yao'er is so smart."
The next morning, after washing up, Song Yao changed into a simple dress, which was given to her by the maidservant that Wang Shi had casually asked to get for her.
After placing the letter Liu Mingyuan had given her the previous night in the inside pocket of her clothes, she then took the carriage arranged by the Marquis of Anning's residence to the gate of the Princess's residence.
Song Yao stood in front of the Princess's mansion, looking up at the familiar vermilion gate, her heart filled with mixed emotions.
Yesterday she was a high and mighty princess, but today she has to return to see me as a "daughter of the Song family".
She took a deep breath and gently knocked on the door knocker.
The gatekeeper opened the small window, and upon seeing who it was, his expression immediately turned strange: "Miss Song?"
Suppressing her humiliation, Song Yao whispered, "Please inform them that I...I want to see my mother."
The gatekeeper hesitated for a moment, but ultimately dared not make a decision on his own: "Please wait a moment, young lady."
Before long, the old nanny came out herself, coldly scrutinizing her: "His Highness said that if Miss Song comes to apologize, please leave. The Princess's residence has no shortage of daughters."
Song Yao's eyes reddened, and she knelt down on the stone steps in front of the door with a thud: "Granny, Yao'er knows she was wrong! Please let me see my mother just once!"
Her voice choked with sobs, her forehead pressed against the cold ground, looking utterly remorseful. Passersby turned to look, pointing and whispering.
The old woman frowned: "What is Miss Song doing? Get up quickly!"
"No!" Song Yao raised her tearful eyes, "If Mother doesn't see me, I will kneel here forever!"
Just then, a clear, cold voice came from inside the mansion: "Let her in."
Song Yao's heart skipped a beat.
It's my mother!
Helpless, the old woman had no choice but to step aside and say, "Please, Miss Song."
Song Yao staggered to her feet and followed the old woman through the familiar corridor.
Every blade of grass and every tree remains unchanged, but her identity has changed drastically.
Inside the main hall, Ji Xiaosong sat upright in the main seat, holding a cup of tea in her hands, without even lifting her eyelids.
"Mother..." Song Yao knelt down as soon as she entered the door, tears streaming down her face. "Daughter knows she was wrong! Please forgive me, Mother!"
Ji Xiaosong then raised her eyes, her gaze sweeping over her like a knife: "Miss Song, you have mistaken me for someone else. My daughter died yesterday."
Song Yao trembled and cried even harder: "Mother! Your daughter really knows she was wrong! That beast Liu Mingyuan lied to me, he... he doesn't love me at all!"
She crawled a few steps on her knees, trying to hug Ji Xiaosong's legs, but was stopped by a maid beside her.
Ji Xiaosong put down her teacup and said calmly, "Oh? Then tell me, where did you go wrong?"
Song Yao sobbed, "I shouldn't have talked back to my mother, I shouldn't have trusted Liu Mingyuan so easily, and I shouldn't have... I shouldn't have helped my father cover up his mistress."
She secretly glanced up to observe her mother's expression, only to find that her phoenix eyes were completely unmoved, as if she were looking at a stranger.
"That's all?" Ji Xiaosong chuckled. "It seems Miss Song still doesn't understand."
Song Yao's heart tightened, and she hurriedly said, "My mistake was that I shouldn't have been so arrogant because I was spoiled, I shouldn't have..."
"That's enough," Ji Xiaosong interrupted her. "Since she's here, let her stay. Granny, take her to the west wing."
Song Yao was taken aback, not expecting her mother to give in so easily.
She quickly kowtowed, saying, "Thank you, Mother! Thank you, Mother!"
After Song Yao was taken away, Rongrong floated onto Ji Xiaosong's shoulder: "Ah Song, are you really going to forgive her?"
Ji Xiaosong's lips curled slightly: "No rush, let's see what she's up to first."
*
Inside the west wing, Song Yao looked around and found that the room was still furnished as it had been before, even the rouge on the dressing table was the brand she always used.
"My mother still cares about me..." she murmured to herself, then remembered the purpose of her trip and quickly reached for the secret letter in her pocket.
The letter is still there.
She had to find an opportunity to put the letter in her mother's study.
Just as I was pondering this, I heard footsteps outside the door.
“Miss Song,” the nanny said from outside the door, “His Highness has instructed that now that you have returned, you should abide by the rules of the manor. From today onwards, you must go to pay your respects to His Highness every morning at 7:00 AM.”
Song Yao quickly replied, "Yes, Yao'er will remember."
She breathed a sigh of relief after the old woman left.
Seeing my mother every day gives me the opportunity to get close to the study!
*
The next morning, Song Yao got up early, carefully dressed herself, and went to the main courtyard to pay her respects.
Ji Xiaosong was having breakfast when she saw her arrive. She simply nodded and said, "Sit down."
Song Yao carefully sat down at the end of the table and obediently served her mother food: "Mother, please try these crystal dumplings. I specially asked the kitchen to make them."
Ji Xiaosong glanced at her: "I remember you used to hate getting up early."
Song Yao's hand trembled slightly, but she forced a smile and said, "My daughter has grown up and is naturally sensible."
"Is that so?" Ji Xiaosong gave her a meaningful look and said nothing more.
After having breakfast, Ji Xiaosong stood up and said, "I need to go to my study to handle state affairs. You may go back now."
Song Yao's eyes lit up.
The opportunity is coming!
“Mother,” she began timidly, “I…I would like to borrow a few books. May I go to the study to get them?”
Ji Xiaosong paused slightly, a cold smile appearing on her face as she turned her back to her: "Whatever."
*
Inside the study, Song Yao nervously looked around.
Mother went to the front hall to greet the guests, and the nanny and maids were waiting outside. This was the perfect opportunity!
She walked quickly to the bookshelf, pretending to look for a book, but secretly observing where would be the best place to hide the letter.
Suddenly, her gaze was drawn to an exquisite wooden box on the desk.
The box was carved with a phoenix pattern; it was where my mother kept her important documents!
Song Yao's heart pounded like a drum, and with trembling hands she took out the secret letter, about to put it into the box...
"What are you looking for?"
A cold voice sounded from behind.
Song Yao froze, slowly turned around, and met Ji Xiaosong's ambiguous smile.
"Mother, Mother..." The letter in her hand fluttered to the ground, and the seal of the King of the North was clearly visible.
Ji Xiaosong bent down to pick up the letter, glanced at it, and chuckled softly, "Well done forgery, what a pity..."
She suddenly pulled another letter, almost identical to the one in the letter, from her sleeve: "This is the King of the North's real handwriting."
Song Yao's face turned ashen, and she collapsed to the ground: "You...you knew all along?"
“From the moment you stepped into this mansion,” Ji Xiaosong said coldly, “I just want to see just how stupid you can be.”
She stepped forward slowly, looking down at this "daughter" she once loved: "For a man, you would actually kill your own mother?"
Song Yao burst into tears: "Mother! Your daughter has been deceived! Liu Mingyuan said..."
"You believed him when he said I was plotting a rebellion?" Ji Xiaosong's eyes were filled with disappointment. "More than ten years of nurturing kindness can't outweigh a few words of instigation from outsiders?"
Song Yao was speechless and could only kowtow repeatedly, pleading, "Mother, spare me! Mother, spare me!"