Yes, no matter what, Little Peach is innocent.
Song Chaoyu finally nodded, sighing, "If this is your wish, and you can trust me, then I will certainly take good care of Little Peach. However, from now on, if you want her to ascend to great heights like you, it will likely be difficult. You know, this child has a congenital weakness."
"No, don't!"
But this time, Song Yanjiao's head shake was decisive: "Let her live a simple life. Especially, I implore you, when she gets married in the future, you must choose a good person for her. Never let her choose the wrong person like I did, and then regret half her life."
Speaking of this, Song Yanjiao seemed to have lost all her strength. She closed her eyes: "I trust you. Now I can't fight for a better future for this child. So... I can only rely on you!"
Perhaps it was because she had said all she could, using up all her strength, that Song Yanjiao closed her eyes gently, her breathing seeming to weaken.
Song Chaoyu lowered her head and sighed, "Should I go inform Father and the First Madam?"
Song Yanjiao's lips seemed to twitch: "That's fine, that's fine. To see Father and Mother one last time, my life will be complete."
She truly couldn't hold on any longer. Song Chaoyu turned back and saw Tiaohong also rushing out the door to deliver the message.
A moment later, the Song family arrived.
Not only Song Yuan and the First Madam, but even the Old Madam came.
"My Jiao'er!"
As soon as the First Madam entered the room, she rushed to Song Yanjiao's side.
No matter how they were before, at least the mother-daughter bond between them was genuine.
The First Madam wept tears of blood towards Song Yanjiao: "How could this be, my Jiao'er, how could you become like this? You were fine the day before yesterday, how can you be like this today?"
"Mother, don't cry."
Song Yanjiao reached out to the First Madam, her lips curling into a bitter smile: "This is for the best. Mother, you don't know how tired I've been living this past year! This is for the best, Mother should be happy for me!"
Even the Old Madam stepped forward with a look of unbearable pain in her eyes: "Second girl... why did you think so lightly of yourself? Even though you made mistakes, life still has to go on, right? No matter how angry we are, we wouldn't abandon you. Why did you think so lightly of yourself? Why didn't you let the imperial physicians treat you?"
"Grandmother, I'm sorry."
At this moment, even if Song Yanjiao regretted it, all that remained was endless sorrow: "It is your granddaughter's fault for doing too many things she shouldn't have, and for having too many foolish dreams. I have disappointed Grandmother and the entire family. Your granddaughter is about to depart, and with Third Sister and Fourth Sister serving Grandmother, your granddaughter can rest assured. It is your granddaughter... who has wronged the Song family and failed Grandmother's nurturing grace."
At this point, Song Yanjiao could no longer hold on.
She didn't even give others a chance to speak to her, and finally, she let go of Song Madam's hand, her hand dropping heavily—
A line of tears finally slid down her cheek.
"Jiao'er!"
Song Madam's cry echoed in the room: "Jiao'er! Don't scare Mother! Don't do this to Mother, alright?! Mother was wrong, Mother will never let you cling to anyone again! Mother just wants you to live well in this world, my Jiao'er, don't leave Mother, alright?!"
But at this moment, no matter how the First Madam cried out, Song Yanjiao could no longer hear.
Carrying the regret and guilt of the past half-life, and the pain in her heart, she ultimately chose to leave this world.
The Old Madam also walked over and knelt beside Song Yanjiao.
This was the first time Song Chaoyu had seen the Old Madam cry.
Even Song Yuan turned his head away, wiping away a tear.
And from outside, Mu Hansu's voice rang out: "What happened? What happened to the County Princess?"
Song Chaoyu didn't believe he didn't know Song Yanjiao's condition.
His pretense was merely to deceive the Song family.
Even Song Yuan knew this.
Having just lost his most cherished daughter, Song Yuan had no intention of playing along with Mu Hansu's act!
As Mu Hansu approached Song Yanjiao's door, he was blocked by Song Yuan: "Your Highness the County Prince, it's best not to enter. I'm afraid our Jiao'er does not wish to see the County Prince at this moment."
Song Yuan's cold and imposing gaze made Mu Hansu's steps halt at the door.
After a long silence, he lowered his head: "Please believe me, Father-in-law, this was not how the County Prince and Jiao'er were supposed to end up. It's just that many things were beyond my control. Jiao'er was also too..."
"Silence!"
However, Song Yuan, who had always been respectful, suddenly became stern with Mu Hansu: "Our Song family has always respected Your Highness. But if Your Highness has reached this point and still wants to push all the blame onto Jiao'er, then our Song family cannot agree. Your Highness knows better than anyone what kind of life Jiao'er had in the Prince's mansion! She even suffered so much during childbirth!"
Song Yuan said righteously: "If Your Highness still has a heart, please allow us to bring Jiao'er's body back to the Song family. I want to bury Jiao'er in the Song family, please grant this, Your Highness!"
This matter, if known to others, would undoubtedly be a blow to Mu Hansu's reputation.
Indeed, Mu Hansu's expression changed: "Father-in-law, this is perhaps inappropriate! Jiao'er is this King's County Princess, how can she be buried back in her maiden home? If so, how am I to explain this to my father, the Emperor?"
"Your Highness need not worry about this."
Clearly, Song Yuan had thought of everything: "This humble minister will naturally report the matter to His Majesty and seek His Majesty's approval. I believe that now that Jiao'er is gone, His Majesty will not make things difficult over such a minor matter. So please rest assured, Your Highness, this matter will be handled properly by this minister."
With that, he didn't wait for Mu Hansu to speak further. He fiercely wiped away the tears that were about to well up, then turned and instructed: "Mother, you should go home first! Have Yang'er come and personally escort his sister home."
The Old Madam, supported by the maids, stood up and nodded repeatedly.
Mu Hansu paced back and forth anxiously, then suddenly looked at Song Chaoyu and approached her, whispering: "Fourth Sister, can you also persuade Father-in-law? I know that Jiao'er and you have never been on good terms. I imagine you understand my intentions, right?"
Even now, he was still saying this?
Song Chaoyu raised her eyes, her gaze icy: "Your Highness is joking. Even if my Second Sister and I had any disagreements at home, now that she is dead, those matters are insignificant. I implore the County Prince to agree to my father's request and let Second Sister go home!"
"You—"
Mu Hansu narrowed his eyes, his gaze towards Song Chaoyu filled with a hint of resentment.
But in the end, what else could he do now?
He could only clench his fists and watch as Song Jiayang came over, personally lifted Song Yanjiao from the bed, and slowly walked out the door: "Sister, brother is here to take you home! After going home, there will be no pain, nor so much sorrow!"
Before leaving, Song Chaoyu looked again at Cao'er, who had been standing by the door, now weeping with her head bowed. She said to Mu Hansu: "This maid, from now on, will follow me. I will buy her from the Prince of Chang's mansion at the current price. I believe the County Prince would not be stingy with this little maid, would he?"
Song Chaoyu had decided that in the future, she would have this maid serve Little Peach, and she believed she would do her best.