"No, Your Highness, spare my life!"
Eunuch Xiang seemed not to have expected that after serving Prince Wen for so long, he would be so easily handed over to Song Chaoyu by Prince Wen!
He was naturally fearful.
He knew what Tiao Hong represented to Song Chaoyu, and even more so, he knew that his own fate would not be good after Song Chaoyu's anger!
Eunuch Xiang knelt before Prince Wen, tears and snot streaming down his face. "This old servant has served Your Highness for so long. Even if I have truly done something wrong, Your Highness cannot hand me over like this! Furthermore, the matter of Tiao Hong was truly not my intention; it was the Princess Consort's intention. This old servant does not know what has happened these past two days, but I was merely following orders."
He said with tears in his eyes, "I beg Your Highness to forgive this old servant and spare my life!"
As expected, it was Ti Le!
Song Chaoyu's eyes grew even more somber.
She should have known long ago that Ti Le would not give up so easily.
But with what had happened to Tiao Hong, let alone a mere eunuch, even Ti Le herself would not be spared by Song Chaoyu!
Prince Wen did not necessarily intend to push Eunuch Xiang out.
He had never liked Eunuch Xiang very much, but Eunuch Xiang was sent by his mother consort. He had been serving him since he moved into Prince Wen's mansion.
Therefore, even though Eunuch Xiang was a bit arrogant and overbearing, Prince Wen never said anything.
But today...
Prince Wen looked at Song Chaoyu, knowing that the matter did not originate with Eunuch Xiang, but it would certainly not end with him.
Everyone must give Tiao Hong and Prince Chang's mansion an explanation.
Even if he wanted to protect Eunuch Xiang, it was impossible.
So he lowered his head and looked at the pleading Eunuch Xiang, finally saying with a cold tone, "If you had not done such a thing, then this prince would not need to help you. But since you have done it, you should have thought of the consequences from the beginning. Eunuch Xiang, this prince cannot help you. Ti Le cannot help you either. This time, you can only go to Prince Chang's mansion yourself. You made Tiao Hong suffer, so you should have been prepared."
Eunuch Xiang understood his prince's temperament and knew that at this point, there was no room for recovery.
He collapsed onto the ground, realizing for the first time that he should never have followed Princess Ti Le to provoke Prince Chang's mansion!
Even if Princess Ti Le was Prince Wen's consort, so what?
He turned and wanted to beg Mu Changxi and Song Chaoyu for mercy.
But seeing their stern gazes, Eunuch Xiang understood that he was finished.
He was completely finished. The people of Prince Chang's mansion would never forgive him.
Thus, Prince Wen could only watch as the dazed Eunuch Xiang, who had collapsed on the ground, was roughly supported by people from Prince Chang's mansion and dragged away.
Song Chaoyu tried her best to maintain her composure and looked back at Prince Wen, "Thank you, Your Highness Prince Wen."
Prince Wen gave a bitter smile, "Sister-in-law, I have wronged you in this matter. If you thank me again, aren't you slapping my face? Rest assured, whatever you need, just tell me. I will not let Tiao Hong suffer such injustice in vain."
Song Chaoyu shook her head and sneered, "Some things, once suffered, can never be undone. But I know you are helpless, so it's alright. We will be as we were before. Let's not let others ruin our relationship."
With that, she carried Tiao Hong away from Prince Wen's mansion without looking back.
---
After returning to Prince Chang's mansion, Song Chaoyu did not deal with Eunuch Xiang immediately. Instead, she had him locked up in the woodshed.
Song Chaoyu personally took care of Tiao Hong, never leaving her side.
Tiao Hong had suffered severe injuries this time, not just physically, but also emotionally.
However, her appearance did not seem as painful as everyone had imagined.
Since returning, she cooperated with Qiu Qing. Even though she was in great pain, she diligently treated her wounds.
At the same time, she also made an effort to eat and sleep on time.
The only change was: she became increasingly silent, rarely speaking, and avoiding eye contact.
This was what made Song Chaoyu feel the most distressed, heartbroken, and frightened.
So Song Chaoyu had people guarding Tiao Hong's door almost twelve hours a day, fearing that Tiao Hong might do something too drastic.
Until three days after Tiao Hong returned—
Song Chaoyu was sitting by Tiao Hong's bed, peeling an orange for her, when Tiao Hong suddenly spoke, "Princess Consort, you don't need to have those people guarding me. I... I won't commit suicide."
She said it so directly that Song Chaoyu was taken aback.
Song Chaoyu looked up and met Tiao Hong's eyes, which were like a pool of stagnant water.
Tiao Hong seemed to want to smile, but could only twitch the corner of her mouth. "If I die like this, won't I make those people happy? They want me to die, they want Princess Consort to be sad, but I will defiantly not let them have their way! So, Princess Consort, please rest assured, I won't die. I want to see those people die with my own eyes before my life can be considered fulfilling!"
As she said this, her eyes, like a pool of stagnant water, were suddenly covered by intense hatred.
This made Song Chaoyu unsure whether this was a good or bad thing.
She reached out and held Tiao Hong's hand. "Tiao Hong, please rest assured. I will find everyone who hurt you and bring them before you so you can see their fate with your own eyes!"
Tiao Hong nodded and took a deep breath. "Princess Consort, do you want to hear who hurt me?"
Song Chaoyu knew what she wanted to say but was a little worried. "No rush. If you don't want to say it, you can take your time. You don't have to say it now. I know it's very painful for you."
"It's alright."
Tiao Hong's hand also clenched tighter and tighter. "Nothing is more painful than this. If you can catch that person, Princess Consort, you must bring him before me. I want to deal with this person personally, is that okay?"
With her request and her will to live, Song Chaoyu was naturally willing.
Tiao Hong told Song Chaoyu that the person who hurt her was likely a subordinate of Princess Ti Le.
Judging by the accent, they didn't sound like people from Da Yue, but had a southern accent.
However, they had never seen this person before, so they were likely Princess Ti Le's hidden guards.
No one knew that Princess Ti Le had hidden guards.
The day after she was sent to the woodshed, Princess Ti Le brought that person with her.
At first, Princess Ti Le didn't seem to want to do anything to Tiao Hong.
She merely told Tiao Hong that if Tiao Hong betrayed Song Chaoyu, she could spare Tiao Hong.
Tiao Hong naturally refused such a thing.
So Princess Ti Le left that man in the woodshed, under the guise of letting him "guard" Tiao Hong.