Hai Sha closed her eyes. She should have known. If she insisted on going to Prince Chang’s manor, this would be the outcome.
But she remained silent, knowing what she was doing.
Song Chaoyu continued, “Are you thinking now that your death wouldn’t matter? If your child could remain in Prince Chang’s manor, it would be for the child’s future. You are insignificant, and there’s nothing to fear?”
Her thoughts had been guessed so accurately by Song Chaoyu, leaving Hai Sha feeling helpless.
It seemed from the beginning, though they were in the advantageous position, at what point did all her thoughts become so precisely predicted by Song Chaoyu?
Song Chaoyu unhurriedly picked up a cup of fruit and flower water, specially prepared for her by Qiu Qing, from a small side table. After taking a sip, she slowly said, “I will allow that child to stay safely in Prince Chang’s manor for a few years. He will be taught what is necessary, but after a few years—”
Her eyes suddenly turned icy cold. “The child is still young, and moreover, the Prince’s health has never been good. He likely has some congenital illness. Our manor has done its utmost to treat him, but the child’s fate is simply not long. He is but a concubine’s son. If he were to pass away from illness, I will give him a grand funeral and mourn him properly. I imagine… things would then pass, wouldn’t they?”
“You—how can you be like this?!”
Hai Sha finally seemed to grasp Song Chaoyu’s formidable nature. Her body began to tremble, and she looked up at Song Chaoyu, shaking her head repeatedly. “No… no! That child is innocent! Your Highness, aren’t you afraid that others will call you a cruel and ruthless person in the future?”
“Tsk!”
Song Chaoyu let out a scoff, put down her cup, and gently stroked her own abdomen. “Cruel and ruthless? I am not so foolish as to let others see that I was responsible. My child, whether a boy or a girl in the future, will be of legitimate birth. Furthermore, all the immense power of Prince Chang’s manor is now in my hands. What trouble can a child born to a mere servant cause my child? Before people call me cruel and ruthless, they should consider why I would harm that child?”
Song Chaoyu winked at Hai Sha, as cunning as a fox. “For the first two years he is here, I will treat him like my own mother. After his death, I will also give him a grand funeral. At that time, how will the people in the capital call me cruel and ruthless?”
Watching Hai Sha’s eyes gradually fill with despair, Song Chaoyu’s smile grew more intense. “Even if someone were to suspect something, it would only be suspicion and gossip behind my back. You should know, my background is not high. Are there not many people in the capital who gossip about me behind my back? If I cared about all of them, then I wouldn’t be able to live my life.”
She looked at the despair in Hai Sha’s eyes, like a high and mighty deity looking down on everything. “Hai Sha, you may have anticipated everything, but you did not anticipate that I, Song Chaoyu, am actually a cruel and ruthless person. You have pushed me to this point, and naturally, I must fight back. I don’t care if you have the Southern Kingdom or Prince Ning behind you. There are only a few days left, so think it over carefully yourself.”
She sneered. “If your life is lost, it is not a pity. But your child… do you wish for him to live a peaceful life, or to become a pawn in the power struggles of others, ultimately not even knowing where he will be buried when he dies? Think it over yourself.”
Children were always the soft spot of their parents.
Of course, Song Chaoyu was merely trying to frighten Hai Sha.
How could she truly harm a child?
But those who were truly cruel and ruthless would not think of Song Chaoyu in that way.
Hai Sha did not understand Song Chaoyu; her heart was now filled only with dread.
—
The carriage stopped in front of Prince Chang’s manor. Song Chaoyu alighted first, while Mu Changxi was carried out. Xiao Ruizhi and the others, knowing Song Chaoyu was in a bad mood today, became even more cautious.
Hai Sha remained in the carriage for a long time, lost in thought. Only when the carriage was about to be led to the stable did she get down, looking around the vast Prince Chang’s manor with a hint of apprehension.
Because Song Chaoyu had given instructions beforehand, the people of Prince Chang’s manor, though they disliked Hai Sha, did not treat her poorly.
As soon as she entered the manor, a maidservant approached her.
The maidservant did not smile, but her tone was polite enough. “Madam Hai, please come in. The courtyard has been prepared for Madam Hai. Our Princess Consort said that since Madam Hai was previously by the Prince’s side as a mere servant, you can only be addressed as ‘Madam’ after entering the manor, not ‘Concubine.’ We apologize for any inconvenience, Madam Hai. When the young master is brought back, the Princess Consort will personally arrange for Madam Hai to be elevated to the rank of Concubine. Please be patient and wait.”
Everything in the manor was highly regulated, even more so than in the Southern Kingdom, which made Hai Sha feel somewhat at a loss.
But she did not forget her “mission” and asked the maidservant, “When… when can I go and see the Prince?”
“Hmph!”
To her surprise, the maidservant let out a cold snort. Although she bowed, she showed little respect to Hai Sha. “With your status, I’m afraid you won’t be able to get close to the Prince! Best not to think about it too much. If you stay peacefully in the manor and don’t cause trouble, that will be the best and most secure way to serve the Prince. If I may say something I shouldn’t, the Princess Consort welcoming you into the manor is merely out of respect for the Southern Kingdom’s reputation. You should clearly understand your own status!”
This maidservant had given Hai Sha a clear warning, causing Hai Sha to frown.
The maidservant continued, “Of course. You are from the Southern Kingdom. If you feel that we are not treating you well, then it is I, the servant, who is ignorant and disrespectful, overstepping my bounds. It has nothing to do with the masters of the manor. If you wish to lodge a complaint, you may only complain about me. Whether it is punishment or reprimand, I will accept my fate!”
The maid’s formidable demeanor left Hai Sha somewhat flustered.
After all, she was a maid trained by the Tiao Hong sect; how could she be someone easy to deal with?
Hai Sha, holding back a surge of anger, intended to find an excuse to vent it once she entered her courtyard.
However, upon entering her courtyard, she was somewhat dumbfounded—
This courtyard was far better than where she had lived in the Southern Kingdom!
The courtyard was spacious, and everything it should have was present.
The courtyard was filled with flowers and plants, looking very beautiful.
In the main hall of the house, many items were also placed.
From clothing to cosmetics to decorative items, everything was there. For Hai Sha, who had not seen much of the world, it was impossible to find fault with anything.
The anger Hai Sha had been holding back now made her even more annoyed.
It was only now that she realized Song Chaoyu was not as soft-natured as outsiders claimed!