RPAGF Chapter 413 The Crown Prince Coaxes Song Yin
Chapter 413 The Crown Prince Coaxes Song Yin
The next day, Zuo He and Hu Manman both complained that they had been in the palace for so long but had never even seen the Crown Prince. They felt that they were more like palace maids than concubines.
Having no other choice, Gui Shan took the two concubines to the Zichen Palace to request an audience with Consort Wan.
The younger sister came out and spoke to them: "His Majesty's condition has worsened, and he is unable to see anyone. You need to understand."
Gui Shan smiled and said, "Your Majesty is right. His Majesty is seriously ill and His Highness the Crown Prince is also very busy. The concubines have been in the palace for almost a month now, and it's not good for them to stay in the East Palace all the time. So I thought I'd bring them here to meet Your Majesty and let them get to know you."
They were acquaintances, but now that their identities have changed, they have to get to know each other all over again.
The younger sister gently had two identical jade bracelets brought out and gave them to Zuo He and Hu Manman.
He then gave a few more instructions, such as to serve the Crown Prince well and to help him produce offspring for the royal family as soon as possible.
The young woman exuded a medicinal fragrance and possessed a serene beauty, truly resembling an elder addressing a younger generation.
Gui Shan also shared some personal thoughts, saying, "Speaking of which, Your Majesty praised my gold hairpin last time, but that hairpin is an heirloom left by my maternal grandmother, and it's not appropriate to give it away. Just recently, while sorting through my dowry, I found a gold hairpin that is similar in quality to that hairpin, and I thought Your Majesty would definitely like it."
She had a palace maid present the box containing the gold hairpin.
"I had wanted to send it to Your Highness before, but I always thought it would be better to present it to Your Highness in person. I have been busy with the matter of the concubine entering the palace and have not had the time. I was only able to send it today."
The younger sister opened the box, glanced inside, and smiled, "Shanshan always remembers me."
After seeing off the Crown Prince's principal and concubine concubines, the younger sister returned to her bedchamber, opened the box, and examined it carefully.
The Emperor approached with great interest: "What is Wan'er looking at?"
“Your Majesty, the Crown Princess has not visited Zichen Palace for over a month, which I found strange. Today, she suddenly gave me a gold hairpin, and I am investigating what is suspicious about it.”
The Emperor reached out and took the gold hairpin, looked it over, and then applied a little force to the part of the hairpin that was connected to the head. The head separated from the hairpin, and the hairpin turned out to be hollow.
The younger sister's eyes widened as she poured out a slip of paper, unfolded it, and took a look.
"If there are any problems with the Dharma assembly, it could endanger His Majesty's life. Please be extremely careful."
After the younger sister finished reading, she looked up at the Emperor in astonishment: "Gui Shan, she's... betraying me."
The Emperor was far more thoughtful than she was; as he took the paper, his gaze darkened considerably.
The paper slip had only one sentence on the front, but it felt very special. He walked to the table, moistened the slip with tea, and the words on the back were revealed.
The younger sister's eyes widened in surprise: "Is that even possible?"
On the back of the paper were densely packed small characters, one name after another. The little girl read a few and became even more puzzled.
"Who are these people?"
The Emperor explained, "They are people who are colluding with the Crown Prince."
Most of these people were close to the Crown Prince or the Zuo family, which the Emperor had always known. But there was also a small group of people whom the Emperor had not expected.
In the emperor's eyes, these people had always been loyal ministers.
The Emperor sneered, "Fortunately, I was prepared in advance. I only truly trusted a few people, otherwise I wouldn't even know how I died."
The younger sister wouldn't allow him to talk nonsense, and only asked, "Your Majesty, what should we do now?"
The Emperor was delighted when she said "we," and seeing her nervousness, he comforted her, saying, "Don't worry, everything is going according to plan."
The younger sister remained uneasy, nestled in the Emperor's arms, and said, "How can I not worry? I used to think that perhaps all of this was just a misunderstanding, but now it seems impossible. His Highness the Crown Prince really intends to harm Your Majesty, but you are his father."
"Yes, I am his father, which is why he is so fearless!"
……
The Ten Thousand Buddhas Assembly was scheduled for April 20th. On the 9th of April, the Crown Prince finally had time to return to the Eastern Palace, and upon his return, he went to see Song Yin.
Song Yin has been missing her child for six days. Because Gui Shan is meticulous, the palace maids and servants in the Eastern Palace also know that the Crown Prince has special feelings for Miss Song Yin, and they take good care of her.
Moreover, she was in good health and did not look haggard from losing her child.
But after not seeing her for several days, she was not as lively and cheerful as before; she seemed dazed and just stared at the bed curtains.
When she heard the Crown Prince call her, she merely turned her head to look at him, without responding or rising to greet him.
The Crown Prince didn't mind and stepped forward gently, saying, "A-Yin, are you blaming me?"
He took Song Yin's hand.
"Ayin, I have my own reasons. The die is cast, and I have no choice but to act. I'm too busy to spare any time. Ayin, you understand me best, so how can you hold a grudge against me?"
Song Yin's gaze shifted from his hand holding hers to his face, but she remained silent.
The Crown Prince patiently said, "I was wrong that day. I didn't realize I was using so much force that you lost your child. This child was my first, how could I not be heartbroken?"
Is it heartbreaking? Yes, it is heartbreaking, because he didn't even come back to see her.
The prince took her hand to his lips and gently kissed it.
"Ayin, please wait a little longer, just a little longer. Once I succeed, I will definitely make it up to you, okay?"
Song Yin lowered her eyes and asked in a low voice, "Does Your Highness still remember the promise you made when we were children?"
The prince was stunned.
Song Yin continued, "Back then, His Highness said he truly wished he were an ordinary citizen, so that he could live with A-Yin, you farming and I weaving, having many, many children, and living a normal life..."
Her voice was a little hoarse, and her eyes were a little red.
The Crown Prince didn't notice. He released her hand, frowned, and said, "Ayin, those were just childish words from when we were young. How can you take them seriously?"
Song Yin forced a smile: "Yes, it was a joke from when we were young. When we were young, I said I wanted to be your wife, but you are His Highness the Crown Prince, how could you have a wife like me?"
"Don't talk nonsense, Ah Yin. Others may not understand me, but don't you understand me either?"
The prince's tone was somewhat urgent, but seeing the redness at the corners of her eyes, his voice softened.
"Things are different now. I'll soon be on the throne. Aren't you happy for me, Ah Yin?"
"Besides, although you are not my wife in name, my feelings for you are different from those for others. Even the Crown Princess cannot conceive because I hope my eldest son will come from your womb. Don't you understand?"
Song Yin reached out and touched her stomach: "But, the baby is gone, isn't it?"
“We will have children.” The Crown Prince said firmly, “Ayin, we will have more children.”
Tears welled up in Song Yin's eyes.
The Crown Prince took a deep breath in frustration: "Ayin, I treat you differently, but you should know your place. I've given you everything I could. What more could you want?"