Song Yuan glanced at Song Chaoyu and sighed.
The Song family now all knew that if Song Yanjiao could not be pushed out, then their Song family would be completely finished!
Even the elder of the Song family had spoken, but could not get Song Chaoyu to say a word in favor of Song Yanjiao. What else could they hope for?
Moreover, seeing that the Emperor had also begun to dislike Mu Hansu, Song Yuan felt there was no need to gamble all of the Song family's assets to help the Ning King's estate maintain secrecy.
Thus, he knelt before the Emperor and revealed that Song Yanjiao had switched the children.
But what Song Chaoyu found rather clever about Song Yuan was—
When he spoke of this matter, he did not attribute the entire fault to Song Yanjiao.
Instead, in certain phrases and between the lines, there were hesitations and ambiguities.
This led the listeners to believe that the Ning King Mu Hansu was likely involved.
Or, even if he wasn't involved, he had given Song Yanjiao such "hints," which led Song Yanjiao to take such a risk and choose this path.
"Bang—"
When the Emperor first heard this "truth," his immediate reaction was, naturally, anger and fury.
He unceremoniously smashed the teacup beside him in front of Song Yuan, his chest heaving with rage: "What?! How could such a thing happen? Is this the good daughter you raised, and my good son?!"
His action caused everyone to jump to their feet in fright.
In fact, for a moment, Song Chaoyu felt a sense of crisis.
If the Emperor were to vent his anger on the Song family because of this matter, then she, as a daughter of the Song family, would inevitably come to mind.
Would the Chang King's estate also be implicated?
But the Emperor clearly did not.
He even glanced at Song Chaoyu, who had stood up, and waved at her: "Chang King's Consort is currently pregnant, please sit down quickly. I will not vent my anger on the rest of the Song family."
Hearing this, Song Chaoyu breathed a sigh of relief.
However, she did not sit down. Instead, she bowed to the Emperor: "Father Emperor, I merely wish to inform you that the child born to the Ning King's Consort that day... is currently being raised in our Chang King's estate."
"Oh?"
A hint of suspicion appeared in the Emperor's eyes, and then he suddenly understood: "No wonder Chang'er said he could hear the child crying every day. So it's because that child is in your Chang King's estate. How did that child end up in your Chang King's estate?"
If this were said poorly, it might lead the Emperor to believe they were "accomplices."
Song Chaoyu quickly said: "When the Ning King's Consort was giving birth, it was premature, and the Ning King's estate had no preparations whatsoever. Therefore, I suggested that she go to the Chang King's estate to give birth. The Chang King's estate had all the necessary provisions for childbirth. The Empress can also attest to this."
The Empress, who had not wanted to get involved in this matter, was suddenly drawn in. And since Mu Changxi had always supported the Crown Prince, she naturally had to nod and say to the Emperor: "This concubine can testify. The Ning King's Consort's water broke while she was here. Upon inquiry, it turned out that the Ning King's estate believed the Consort was still two months away from giving birth and had made no preparations. It was the Chang King's Consort who said they were prepared and that it would be best to send the Ning King's Consort to give birth."
At this point, the Emperor frowned and glared at Mu Hansu.
After all, when does a family not prepare for a child from the moment of birth?
Song Yanjiao, as the dignified Ning King's Consort, how could she be seven months pregnant, and the Ning King's estate still hadn't prepared a midwife?
Speaking of this, the Emperor couldn't help but order the guards: "Go! Bring the Ning King here! He has caused trouble in harmony, and I want to ask him properly what he intends to do!"
The guards dared not delay and quickly retreated.
The Emperor then looked at Song Chaoyu: "Continue!"
Song Chaoyu nodded: "Actually, at the beginning, how could I have imagined that the Ning King's Consort would be so bold? It was just a maid by my side who felt that the Ning King's Consort was acting strangely. Clearly, the Ning King's Consort had risked her life to give birth to this child, yet at the last moment of labor, she dismissed everyone I sent, and only allowed those she trusted to enter. This matter was truly unusual."
What Song Chaoyu said was also what had actually happened that day: "So the maid by my side followed, wanting to see what was going on. To my surprise, she watched as those midwives secretly carried out a swaddled infant. This maid felt something was wrong and followed them."
Thinking of Xiao Taozi's appearance, Song Chaoyu felt a pang of heartache even now: "Who knew that she would see those wet nurses and midwives walking all the way to the outskirts of the capital, and then place the swaddled infant by the Bianxi River! Fortunately, the maid by my side was quick-witted and, while those wet nurses and midwives were leaving, pulled the swaddled infant up. Only then did we discover that the swaddled infant contained a baby."
Song Chaoyu gave a wry smile, and her heart felt heavy: "Later, I saw that it was a little girl born prematurely. The poor child was born with a weakness from her mother's womb, no wonder she was abandoned."
Hearing this, the Emperor's body began to tremble slightly.
It was the Empress beside him who supported the Emperor, and only then did he stand a little steadier. He then waved at Song Chaoyu: "That child is the one the Ning King's Consort gave birth to, right? So you brought that child back to the Chang King's estate, and Chang'er could hear the child crying every day."
"But..."
The Emperor quickly realized something was amiss: "But the news I received was that the Chang King's Consort had safely given birth to a little prince. They brought that little prince into the palace, and I saw him. It was a healthy little boy. The imperial physicians said that although the child was premature, as long as he was carefully looked after, he would soon be like an ordinary boy. Where did that child come from?"
Song Chaoyu sighed: "We also found someone by the Bianxi River, her name is Liu Siniang. She was seven months pregnant, and her abdomen was cut open by someone to take out the child. Now, Liu Siniang is willing to come forward to testify against the Ning King's estate. If Father Emperor wishes to see her..."
"See her!"
Such shocking and unbelievable things made even the Emperor feel a chill to the bone: "Bring her to me! If what she says is true, then this matter was designed by them from the very beginning! If that is the case, they are deceiving the Emperor and the court! This truly breaks my heart!"
Everything Song Chaoyu said did not conflict with the facts of that day.
Therefore, no matter what evidence the Emperor wanted, Song Chaoyu could produce it.
At this moment, Song Yanjiao, who was kneeling in the hall, was already trembling with fear.
She didn't understand why everything she had done had been predicted by Song Chaoyu.
She thought her flawless plans had all been exposed under Song Chaoyu's watchful eyes, and she only found out today!
At this moment, Song Yanjiao's hatred for Song Chaoyu grew, as did her hatred for Mu Hansu!
She didn't understand why her life had turned out this way.
She was the most beautiful noble lady in the capital, the most admired beauty in the capital!
Song Yanjiao's tears, in the end, could no longer be held back and streamed down her face.
But at this moment, no one in the hall would feel even a shred of sympathy for her tears.