Song Chaoyu, however, only felt a sense of falseness.
This falseness made her weary, but thinking that she might soon be freed and elope with Mu Changxi, she mustered her spirits to deal with it.
The Empress took her seat first, then gestured for Song Chaoyu to sit.
However, Shui Yunyan did not sit down. Instead, she attended to the Empress, taking the place of a palace maid, appearing very respectful of the Empress.
The Empress started eating first, and Song Chaoyu did not stand on ceremony.
She had always been respectful to the Empress. Since it did not earn her any way out, she might as well cast aside that so-called respect and make herself more at ease.
Seeing Song Chaoyu's calm demeanor, the Empress smiled slightly, "If I remember correctly, you have been married into the Prince of Chang's manor for over two years?"
Only two years?
Song Chaoyu felt as if she had experienced so many things with Mu Changxi that it felt like many years had passed.
The only constant was the feelings they had for each other.
She nodded, "Thank you for your concern, Your Majesty. It has indeed been two years."
"You have worked hard."
The Empress gestured for Shui Yunyan to place a lightly stewed pigeon egg on Song Chaoyu's plate.
Then the Empress spoke, "I still remember that day. The Emperor felt extremely guilty towards Prince Chang for his return from the Southern Kingdom. He wanted to bestow the most outstanding woman in the world upon him as his princess, but he insisted on choosing a daughter from the Song family that neither I nor the Emperor had heard of. When he spoke your name, the Emperor's first question was, 'There is another daughter in the Song family named Song Chaoyu, why has no one heard of her?'"
The Empress chuckled softly, as if lost in the memory of that day.
Her tone was gentle and soft, without any sharpness, "The Emperor asked me to inquire about you. When I learned of your background, I was also astonished. You are the daughter of a concubine, and your aunt was a low-class opera singer. You were raised outside the estate from a young age and had only recently been brought back into the manor. Compared to the reputation of your legitimate elder sister, Song Yanjiao, you were insignificant!"
The Empress shook her head, "Even compared to a concubine's daughter in your Song manor, you counted for nothing. When the Emperor heard of your background, he was merely surprised. I was also advising the Emperor at the time, urging him to persuade Prince Chang properly, as your background was truly unbearable. Moreover, Prince Chang, upon his return to the capital, specifically requested to marry you. It is likely there is something fishy going on, and the Emperor and I believed it to be your doing."
In fact, thinking back now, Song Chaoyu felt a chill down her spine.
If it hadn't been for Mu Changxi's persistence and protection at that time, she would likely have been punished by the Emperor and the Empress long ago.
A prince who had just returned from the Southern Kingdom wanted to marry a concubine's daughter. Even if she claimed she had not been scheming behind the scenes, no one would have believed her!
But at this moment, the Empress and the Emperor had already seen through it.
She put down her chopsticks and suddenly stared at Song Chaoyu, "So, at this point, you can speak to me frankly, can't you? Did you and Prince Chang know each other long ago?"
Since things had come to this, there was no need to hide it.
Song Chaoyu slowly nodded, "This concubine... grew up on an estate outside the capital, and so did His Highness."
The Empress's eyes suddenly lit up, "No wonder, no wonder! So the Imperial Consort sent His Highness to the estate outside the capital. Right under our noses, who would have thought of that?"
The Empress looked up and stared at Song Chaoyu, asking, "I remember he told the Emperor that he lived on the estate under the alias Han Xi. So you grew up together?"
"Yes."
Song Chaoyu nodded, "At that time, this concubine did not know his identity. He was just Han Xi, my neighbor brother. We grew up together, and our families even celebrated New Year's together. It was only after returning to the capital and seeing His Highness Prince Chang that this concubine realized his identity."
"No wonder!"
The Empress sneered, finally understanding, "No wonder you were so flawless back then. It turns out you had no idea about this at all. Prince Chang, like the Imperial Consort, is a person who can keep his composure!"
She felt this way, and Song Chaoyu took it as her praising Mu Changxi.
The Empress kept staring at Song Chaoyu, as if trying to see something in her eyes, "At that time, the Emperor agreed to Prince Chang marrying you out of pity. But now, the situation is different."
A heavy gloom seemed to have settled in her eyes, "The Emperor is old now, and he knows what the situation in the capital will be like. He discussed with me, and it would be best to retire early and move to the hot spring palace outside the capital with me to enjoy our old age. By then, the capital will be the Crown Prince's domain, and Prince Chang will naturally be the Crown Prince's right-hand man. Don't you think that makes sense?"
The Empress's words were erratic, and Song Chaoyu was beginning to feel impatient, "Mother Empress, what do you want to say? Just say it directly!"
"Good, you are a smart person!"
Sensing Song Chaoyu's impatience, the Empress's gaze turned cold, "Since you are a smart person, then tell me, if Prince Chang becomes a powerful minister of the state one day, what help can someone of your status as a concubine's daughter offer him?"
So this was what she was waiting for!
Song Chaoyu immediately understood, "Does Your Majesty mean that Prince Chang should depose this concubine as his princess?"
"No, no, no!"
The Empress quickly waved her hand, "Of course, that's not what I mean. Anyone with eyes can see that Prince Chang cares a great deal about you. It's probably impossible for anyone to make him divorce you willingly, right?"
The Empress suddenly looked seriously into Song Chaoyu's eyes, "I want you to leave Prince Chang yourself. Only then can he forever give up the thought of being with you. In the future, he will have a bright future and will surely become the Emperor's most trusted person. And your children can also become companions to the Emperor's children, enjoying great glory. I believe that for the sake of Prince Chang's manor and for your children, you will agree to this request of mine, won't you?"
A request? Why did Song Chaoyu feel like it was a threat?
She remained silent, showing no emotion.
The Empress continued, "Of course, you can rest assured about everything in the capital and in Prince Chang's manor."
She looked up at Shui Yunyan, "This is my niece. You must be aware of her background. Marrying her into Prince Chang's manor is not mistreating Prince Chang, is it? She is gentle and will surely take good care of Prince Chang."
"And your two children."
The Empress stopped eating altogether, wiped her mouth with a handkerchief, and then continued, "The children naturally cannot go with you. You can rest assured about that. If Yunyan treats the children of Prince Chang's manor poorly in the future, let alone you disagreeing, even I will not agree!"
Her gaze was sincere, clearly having come prepared to say all this to Song Chaoyu.