The empress dowager wanted Song Zhao to swiftly resolve the chaos and ordered her to immediately go and accompany Song Yue on her final journey.
However, Song Zhao, considering her sisterly bond with Song Yue, pleaded with the empress dowager, saying, "I beg the empress dowager to allow me to return to the palace and prepare a hearty meal for my elder sister, so she won't depart on an empty stomach."
The empress dowager grunted in displeasure but didn't stop her.
Once back in the palace, Song Zhao hurriedly busied herself in the small kitchen.
Yun Shan, who had returned from the Ministry of Internal Affairs with her monthly allowance, learned from Xiao Fuzi that Song Yue was to be executed. Needless to say, she was overjoyed.
She was happy for Song Zhao. Their young mistress had been bullied by that arrogant miss for so long, and today she would finally receive her comeuppance!
Yun Shan cheerfully went to the small kitchen and saw Song Zhao steaming something in a bamboo steamer. She asked, "Mistress, what would you like to eat? Just tell this servant, why bother doing it yourself?"
She wanted to lend a hand, but Song Zhao waved away her good intentions and shook her head, saying, "This is for my elder sister. She is locked in the dungeon and won't even have a proper meal. We share a sisterly bond, and I don't want her to leave in such a pitiful state."
Yun Shan, in an unusual tone, grew more intense. "It's good that she dies! Mistress, you've endured her mistreatment for so many years. If I were in your place, I wouldn't utter a word of plea on her behalf in front of the emperor!"
Song Zhao sighed and said, "Forget it. When a person is about to die, what's the point of holding grudges?"
"Till this day, I still remember when our young mistress was twelve years old, and there was a plague in the capital. But she actually stuffed rats into our young mistress's bed, causing her to be bitten and infected with the illness, almost losing her life! She has always been scheming. Today's unfortunate outcome is nothing but her just desserts!"
"She was spoiled by her parents since childhood and became quite arrogant."
Song Zhao calmly took out the steamed pork from the bamboo steamer and filled a bowl with fragrant rice.
"Let Xiao Fuzi accompany me to the dungeon today. He is a male servant, and if my elder sister refuses to face her death, he can assist me."
Later, as dusk approached, Song Zhao and Xiao Fuzi set off for the dungeon.
Song Yue was imprisoned in the inner prison, where all the palace's wrongdoers were held.
Led by the prison attendant, Song Zhao wandered through the cramped and dim cells until they reached the innermost one.
"Your Grace, the prisoner is held in this cell," the attendant said.
Song Zhao nodded faintly, and Xiao Fuzi promptly took out a couple of silver coins from his pocket and handed them to the attendant, whispering to him, "My mistress and the prisoner have some parting words to exchange. Please give us some privacy. Half an hour later, you can come and collect the body."
With a smile, the attendant accepted the silver coins and readily handed over the key to Xiao Fuzi.
"I'll be waiting over there," he said, pointing to a corner, and left.
After he was gone, Xiao Fuzi unlocked the cell door.
The cells in the inner prison were individual rooms, devoid of windows.
As soon as the door opened, a pungent and foul smell assaulted their senses in the dimness.
Song Zhao held a handkerchief to her nose while Xiao Fuzi helped her sit down and pulled out a match to light the almost dried-out candle in the prison cell.
In the dim candlelight, Song Zhao caught a glimpse of Song Yue curled up in the corner.
She was trembling, disheveled, and had no trace of color on her face.
She was wearing a luxurious silk nightgown, meticulously crafted from the silk of silkworms. Song Zhao remembered that it was a gift from Song Shicheng to Song Yue, worth twenty taels of silver. At that time, she herself only wore coarse cloth similar to that of a servant.
But now, compared to the magnificent robe Song Zhao wore, the dirty nightgown on Song Yue seemed cheap and tawdry.
In a daze, Song Yue lifted her weary eyes.
She saw Song Zhao's exquisite and radiant face flickering in the candlelight, as if it gave her a glimpse of the only light that could redeem her from the depths of despair.
With all her strength, she crawled to Song Zhao's feet and asked, "Zhao'er... Are you here to save your sister?"
"Elder sister has suffered. Quick, Xiao Fuzi, help her up," Song Zhao said softly.
Xiao Fuzi supported Song Yue and helped her sit opposite Song Zhao.
Song Zhao looked at the rotten cabbage leaves and moldy steamed buns scattered on the ground and exclaimed in shock and anger, "This is outrageous! You are my elder sister, yet they dare to give you this swill-like food?"
Song Yue couldn't contain her excitement and burst into tears, "Wuwu, Zhao'er! Please, get me out of this place! I can't bear a moment longer here!"
Song Zhao held her hand and said gently, "Elder sister, don't worry. If I can come to see you, I will find a way to help you."
She then signaled to Xiao Fuzi, who placed a food tray in front of Song Yue and opened the lid.
The rich aroma of meat filled the air, making Song Yue salivate, and her stomach rumbled.
Song Zhao took out the dishes, and also handed Song Yue a pair of chopsticks, saying, "These are braised pork slices that I cooked myself. I remember how much elder sister loved them when we were at home. Come, elder sister, eat while it's still hot."
Song Yue was extremely hungry.
Without even picking up the chopsticks, she grabbed the pork slices and rice with her hands and stuffed them into her mouth.
Seeing her devouring the food, Song Zhao smiled and said, "Elder sister, take it easy. Eat slowly."
When Song Yue had eaten half of the pork slices, she suddenly noticed something underneath them.
She moved aside the sauce and was shocked to find a complete mouse skin on top:
"Ah!!! What... What did you make me eat!?"
Before she could finish her sentence, her stomach churned, and she leaned over the table, about to vomit. Unexpectedly, Xiao Fuzi swiftly stepped forward and covered her mouth, preventing her from spitting it out.
Song Zhao looked at Song Yue with a seductive gaze.
After a while, she couldn't help but laugh out loud.
"Haha~ Sister, didn't you used to love mice the most? In the past, you dared to catch mice and put them in my beddings. It shows that Sister is not afraid of these little creatures."
She picked up a pair of bamboo chopsticks and waved a piece of rat meat in front of Song Yue.
"Today, I specially cooked this little guy for you to eat. You should be delighted, right? Why aren't you smiling? I remember when the mice bit me and I ran around the room in a panic, you were outside the door laughing so hard that you almost bent over!"
Song Yue, because she was being held back by Xiao Fuzi, vomited out what she had eaten and swallowed it back down.
She mustered all her strength to push Xiao Fuzi away and fell to the ground in fear.
"I won't eat it! Take it away! Take it away!"
Song Zhao saw that she was almost scared out of her wits, and she felt nothing but delight in her heart.
The smile on her face grew even more intense as she softly instructed Xiao Fuzi:
"Xiao Fuzi, what are you still standing there for? Go and serve Miss in her meal."
"Your servant obeys!"
The empress dowager wanted Song Zhao to swiftly resolve the chaos and ordered her to immediately go and accompany Song Yue on her final journey.
However, Song Zhao, considering her sisterly bond with Song Yue, pleaded with the empress dowager, saying, "I beg the empress dowager to allow me to return to the palace and prepare a hearty meal for my elder sister, so she won't depart on an empty stomach."
The empress dowager grunted in displeasure but didn't stop her.
Once back in the palace, Song Zhao hurriedly busied herself in the small kitchen.
Yun Shan, who had returned from the Ministry of Internal Affairs with her monthly allowance, learned from Xiao Fuzi that Song Yue was to be executed. Needless to say, she was overjoyed.
She was happy for Song Zhao. Their young mistress had been bullied by that arrogant miss for so long, and today she would finally receive her comeuppance!
Yun Shan cheerfully went to the small kitchen and saw Song Zhao steaming something in a bamboo steamer. She asked, "Mistress, what would you like to eat? Just tell this servant, why bother doing it yourself?"
She wanted to lend a hand, but Song Zhao waved away her good intentions and shook her head, saying, "This is for my elder sister. She is locked in the dungeon and won't even have a proper meal. We share a sisterly bond, and I don't want her to leave in such a pitiful state."
Yun Shan, in an unusual tone, grew more intense. "It's good that she dies! Mistress, you've endured her mistreatment for so many years. If I were in your place, I wouldn't utter a word of plea on her behalf in front of the emperor!"
Song Zhao sighed and said, "Forget it. When a person is about to die, what's the point of holding grudges?"
"Till this day, I still remember when our young mistress was twelve years old, and there was a plague in the capital. But she actually stuffed rats into our young mistress's bed, causing her to be bitten and infected with the illness, almost losing her life! She has always been scheming. Today's unfortunate outcome is nothing but her just desserts!"
"She was spoiled by her parents since childhood and became quite arrogant."
Song Zhao calmly took out the steamed pork from the bamboo steamer and filled a bowl with fragrant rice.
"Let Xiao Fuzi accompany me to the dungeon today. He is a male servant, and if my elder sister refuses to face her death, he can assist me."
Later, as dusk approached, Song Zhao and Xiao Fuzi set off for the dungeon.
Song Yue was imprisoned in the inner prison, where all the palace's wrongdoers were held.
Led by the prison attendant, Song Zhao wandered through the cramped and dim cells until they reached the innermost one.
"Your Grace, the prisoner is held in this cell," the attendant said.
Song Zhao nodded faintly, and Xiao Fuzi promptly took out a couple of silver coins from his pocket and handed them to the attendant, whispering to him, "My mistress and the prisoner have some parting words to exchange. Please give us some privacy. Half an hour later, you can come and collect the body."
With a smile, the attendant accepted the silver coins and readily handed over the key to Xiao Fuzi.
"I'll be waiting over there," he said, pointing to a corner, and left.
After he was gone, Xiao Fuzi unlocked the cell door.
The cells in the inner prison were individual rooms, devoid of windows.
As soon as the door opened, a pungent and foul smell assaulted their senses in the dimness.
Song Zhao held a handkerchief to her nose while Xiao Fuzi helped her sit down and pulled out a match to light the almost dried-out candle in the prison cell.
In the dim candlelight, Song Zhao caught a glimpse of Song Yue curled up in the corner.
She was trembling, disheveled, and had no trace of color on her face.
She was wearing a luxurious silk nightgown, meticulously crafted from the silk of silkworms. Song Zhao remembered that it was a gift from Song Shicheng to Song Yue, worth twenty taels of silver. At that time, she herself only wore coarse cloth similar to that of a servant.
But now, compared to the magnificent robe Song Zhao wore, the dirty nightgown on Song Yue seemed cheap and tawdry.
In a daze, Song Yue lifted her weary eyes.
She saw Song Zhao's exquisite and radiant face flickering in the candlelight, as if it gave her a glimpse of the only light that could redeem her from the depths of despair.
With all her strength, she crawled to Song Zhao's feet and asked, "Zhao'er... Are you here to save your sister?"
"Elder sister has suffered. Quick, Xiao Fuzi, help her up," Song Zhao said softly.
Xiao Fuzi supported Song Yue and helped her sit opposite Song Zhao.
Song Zhao looked at the rotten cabbage leaves and moldy steamed buns scattered on the ground and exclaimed in shock and anger, "This is outrageous! You are my elder sister, yet they dare to give you this swill-like food?"
Song Yue couldn't contain her excitement and burst into tears, "Wuwu, Zhao'er! Please, get me out of this place! I can't bear a moment longer here!"
Song Zhao held her hand and said gently, "Elder sister, don't worry. If I can come to see you, I will find a way to help you."
She then signaled to Xiao Fuzi, who placed a food tray in front of Song Yue and opened the lid.
The rich aroma of meat filled the air, making Song Yue salivate, and her stomach rumbled.
Song Zhao took out the dishes, and also handed Song Yue a pair of chopsticks, saying, "These are braised pork slices that I cooked myself. I remember how much elder sister loved them when we were at home. Come, elder sister, eat while it's still hot."
Song Yue was extremely hungry.
Without even picking up the chopsticks, she grabbed the pork slices and rice with her hands and stuffed them into her mouth.
Seeing her devouring the food, Song Zhao smiled and said, "Elder sister, take it easy. Eat slowly."
When Song Yue had eaten half of the pork slices, she suddenly noticed something underneath them.
She moved aside the sauce and was shocked to find a complete mouse skin on top:
"Ah!!! What... What did you make me eat!?"
Before she could finish her sentence, her stomach churned, and she leaned over the table, about to vomit. Unexpectedly, Xiao Fuzi swiftly stepped forward and covered her mouth, preventing her from spitting it out.
Song Zhao looked at Song Yue with a seductive gaze.
After a while, she couldn't help but laugh out loud.
"Haha~ Sister, didn't you used to love mice the most? In the past, you dared to catch mice and put them in my beddings. It shows that Sister is not afraid of these little creatures."
She picked up a pair of bamboo chopsticks and waved a piece of rat meat in front of Song Yue.
"Today, I specially cooked this little guy for you to eat. You should be delighted, right? Why aren't you smiling? I remember when the mice bit me and I ran around the room in a panic, you were outside the door laughing so hard that you almost bent over!"
Song Yue, because she was being held back by Xiao Fuzi, vomited out what she had eaten and swallowed it back down.
She mustered all her strength to push Xiao Fuzi away and fell to the ground in fear.
"I won't eat it! Take it away! Take it away!"
Song Zhao saw that she was almost scared out of her wits, and she felt nothing but delight in her heart.
The smile on her face grew even more intense as she softly instructed Xiao Fuzi:
"Xiao Fuzi, what are you still standing there for? Go and serve Miss in her meal."
"Your servant obeys!"
