The Empress spoke to this point, and Shui Yunyan stepped forward proactively, bowing to Song Chaoyu: "Your Highness, please rest assured. I can promise you that no matter whether I give birth to a son or a daughter for His Highness in the future, His Highness the Crown Prince will always be His Highness the Crown Prince. My children will never contend for the position of Crown Prince. I am willing to make an oath here!"
It seemed they had planned this long ago.
Song Chaoyu raised her eyes to look at Shui Yunyan, saying nothing.
Although Song Chaoyu's gaze was calm, the way she looked at Shui Yunyan made Shui Yunyan feel apprehensive.
Seeing that Song Chaoyu remained silent, the Empress's brow furrowed deeper: "What, Yunyan has said so much, and Your Highness is still unwilling? Of course, I will not let Consort Ang lose the position of Consort Chang in vain. No matter what your request is, you can tell me. I will ensure you are well-provided for your entire life, and you can do whatever you wish. There is only one thing—"
She narrowed her eyes: "From now on, you must never appear before Prince Chang. Let him think you are dead, or that you have run away. In any case, he must completely let go of you and live a peaceful life with Yunyan."
The more the Empress spoke, the more Song Chaoyu felt an extremely ridiculous sensation.
She lowered her gaze and picked up her chopsticks herself: "Does Your Majesty not feel that you have nothing to exchange with me now? Why should I give up the position of Consort Chang? Even the Crown Prince has never said such a thing to me. Does Your Majesty not think it is too… meddlesome?"
Song Chaoyu's attitude had become quite impolite.
The Empress's pupils also contracted sharply, and the last trace of a smile in her eyes completely vanished.
But in fact, facing Song Chaoyu's question, the Empress's attitude was somewhat powerless: "That's right, I have nothing to bargain with you right now. But I believe that even for Prince Chang's future, for the future of Prince Chang's manor, you should agree to what I say, shouldn't you?"
As a woman, the Empress understood how to grasp a woman's heart: "Indeed, perhaps now, your relationship with Prince Chang is very good, you are deeply in love and wish to be together forever. Prince Chang might even forsake other women for you. But you must know that a woman's beauty quickly fades. What about after five years, ten years, or even twenty years?"
The Empress involuntarily reached out and touched her own cheek: "A man's love, it comes and goes as it pleases. Moreover, he is Prince Chang, who is currently in power. When you reach my age, there will be many young women like flowers appearing by his side. Can you guarantee that he will still love and respect you as he does now?"
The Empress gave a wry smile: "Perhaps there will even be a woman as radiant and captivating as you are now. Can you guarantee that Prince Chang's eyes will not be drawn to others? Men are all the same, after all."
Admittedly, Song Chaoyu had to admit that many men in this world were indeed as the Empress described.
But she still did not yield.
The Empress continued: "In this palace, everyone changes. When he has seen and understood more in the future, what will you use to make him continue to love you? The purity you desire will cease to exist! Just like His Majesty, doesn't he love the Noble Consort? For all these years, his eyes and his heart have only been for the Noble Consort!"
At this point, the Empress's tone was tinged with a hint of jealousy: "But what happened later? He could abandon his beloved Noble Consort for any reason, couldn't he? Therefore, a man's love is the most unreliable thing. Your current sweetness like honey will only turn into bitterness like bitter herbs later on."
The Empress's words made Song Chaoyu raise an eyebrow slightly: "Since Your Majesty has so little faith in His Highness Prince Chang, why then send your own niece into Prince Chang's manor? If Your Majesty has selfish motives, you need not go to such lengths to persuade me, right?"
"That's right, I have selfish motives."
The Empress nodded and frankly admitted: "In this vast palace, who is without selfish motives? I just want to tell you that after Prince Chang tires of you, your status will become your greatest weakness! At that time, everyone will use this point to 'attack' you, and it will become the most painful thing for you. You wouldn't want to be divorced by Prince Chang for such a reason in the end, would you?"
In fact, as someone who had lived another life, Song Chaoyu was not afraid of others speaking of her status.
She simply leaned her back against the chair and fell into deep thought: "Your Majesty has taken great pains to persuade me, and I appreciate it."
She raised her eyes and looked at Shui Yunyan again: "However, I fear you do not understand Prince Chang's heart. Do you have any abilities that can make Prince Chang favor you?"
Shui Yunyan thought Song Chaoyu was relenting and her eyes showed much joy: "You don't need to worry about this, Your Highness. I have my own ways. As long as Your Highness is willing to give up your position, I will one day make His Highness fall in love with me."
Her tone… was indeed quite boastful!
Song Chaoyu picked up her chopsticks and ate the quail egg.
Many things would likely have to be planned carefully—
—
That day, after Song Chaoyu left the Empress's palace, she returned to the manor and did not see Mu Changxi.
Concurrently, news came from the palace that the Emperor was to abdicate and yield the throne.
Suddenly, the entire capital became busy. Mu Changxi was out early and returned late, exhausted, leaving Song Chaoyu no opportunity to discuss her conversation with the Empress with him.
She thought that many matters would probably have to wait until the Crown Prince ascended the throne before they could be discussed.
Thus, the matter was put aside for the time being. The most important matters now were the Emperor's abdication ceremony and the Crown Prince's enthronement ceremony.
This was the first time since the founding of the Great Yue Dynasty that the Emperor had made the decision to "abdicate." Naturally, there was much discussion among the common people.
However, the Crown Prince was currently in a position of great favor, and no one dared to voice any objections.
The Empress's intention was for Song Chaoyu to leave the capital after the Crown Prince's enthronement ceremony.
Taking advantage of the crowd and the chaos at the time, Mu Changxi would not be able to catch up with her.
Perhaps as a "compensation," the Empress sent Song Chaoyu a new set of palace attire.
It was made from the most precious gauze gifted by the Southern Kingdom, and it took thirty-five embroiderers in the palace's embroidery room a full month to embroider the crane and cloud patterns onto Song Chaoyu's Consort Chang attire. In the sunlight, the entire outfit shimmered, looking exceptionally beautiful.
Even the maids praised the dress: "Your Highness, this dress is truly beautiful! The Empress is so good to you!"
Good things, however, always came at a price. No one in the palace was foolish.
Song Chaoyu smiled faintly: "If it's beautiful, then keep it. The Empress's gifts are all things that will serve you in the future."