The delicacies personally cooked by Song Zhao naturally could not be left to waste.
So whether Song Yue wanted to eat them or not, she had to eat them!
Xiao Fuzi practically force-fed Song Yue the entire plate of braised meat slices.
In the process, Song Yue vomited twice, but even the vomit was grabbed by Xiao Fuzi and stuffed back into her mouth, forcing her to swallow it.
Finally, after the "delicacies" had been cleanly consumed, Xiao Fuzi casually pushed Song Yue, knocking her over onto the ground like a pile of mud.
Song Yue lay prone on the ground, drenched in sweat, crying as she shouted at Song Zhao:
"Why are you treating me this way? No matter what, I'm still your elder sister! We both have the Song family blood flowing in our veins. You..."
"Now you remember that you're my elder sister?" Song Zhao cut her off with a cold laugh. "Aren't you always telling people that the unluckiest thing in your life is having a bastard younger sister like me?"
Of course Song Yue could not swallow this humiliation.
But more than salvaging her pride, she wanted to survive.
And Song Zhao was her only lifeline.
With great difficulty, she crawled to Song Zhao's feet, grasping her pants leg, and softened her tone:
"Let's say I really did wrong you in the past. You can hate me all you want, but think of me as your elder sister and save me first. Once I get through this calamity, you can make me your ox or your horse to repay you however you want!"
"Save you? Hahaha~" Song Zhao laughed as if she had heard the funniest joke. She casually kicked Song Yue's hands away and mocked, "It was me who told the Emperor about your sordid affair with Ge Zhongqi. How can you still be so naive as to think I would save you?"
Upon hearing this, Song Yue was struck dumb. She stared wide-eyed in shock:
"It was you? It was actually you!"
She suddenly erupted in madness, mustering all her strength to throw herself at Song Zhao.
Song Zhao sat unmoved like a mountain, merely seeing her as a joke.
Before Song Yue could even get close, she was fiercely kicked in the abdomen by Xiao Fuzi and sent flying over ten feet away.
Clutching her abdomen in agony, she painfully rolled about on the ground:
"Why! Why did you kill my child! Why did you ruin my entire life!"
"Then why did you ruin my entire life!?" Song Zhao suddenly erupted in fury, enunciating each word sharply:
"You made me take your place and enter the palace, trapping me in this gilded cage for life, while you got to cavort freely with your lover? I'm telling you, I won't allow it!"
"Wretched woman... you jinx! Mother was right, you were born to extract vengeance on the Song family!"
"How could I possibly have come to take vengeance? I clearly came to repay kindness."
Song Zhao composed herself, smiling prettily with scarlet lips. "Don't you love Ge Zhongqi so much you were willing to live and die for him? Don't worry, I'll be sending you to him very soon. I will definitely arrange for you adulterous lovers to be joined in matrimony in the underworld, so you won't fail each other."
"Pah!" Song Yue spat a mouthful of bloody phlegm at Song Zhao, cursing resentfully: "Wicked woman! How vicious your heart is!"
Song Zhao was unangered, even smiling in response. She bowed her head deferentially. "I thank elder sister for your high praise, but little sister does not deserve it."
As she finished speaking, her gaze drifted to the candle on the table. She casually ordered:
"Xiao Fuzi, the candle is nearly burnt out. It's about time to send young lady Song on her way."
Xiao Fuzi acknowledged and took out the poison given by the Empress Dowager from her sleeve. She pried open Song Yue's mouth and forced it down her throat.
That poison was extremely toxic, sealing the throat on contact with blood.
After drinking it down, Song Yue still wanted to curse Song Zhao with an 'evil death'.
But she didn't even have the chance to utter the word 'death' before her eyes glazed over and she breathed her last.
The instant she died violently, the flame in the prison cell also happened to flicker out,
And everything was shrouded in darkness once more.
- Boom -
After leaving the tower dungeon,
Song Zhao looked up to see the warm golden sunset overcast by a layer of pitch black clouds.
A few muffled rumbles sounded before a spring rain unexpectedly began pouring down.
At the same time, Xiao Jingheng, who was reviewing memorials in the study hall, was also startled by the thunder.
He used to love the moist aroma of petrichor on rainy days,
but ever since becoming affectionate with Song Zhao, whenever a storm approached he could only worry about that one woman.
He was just thinking that he would have to accompany Song Zhao tonight,
otherwise his delicate darling would surely cry again.
Just then, he saw Jiang Deshun come forward and report:
"Your Majesty, the eldest daughter of the Song family just... died violently in the tower dungeon."
Xiao Jingheng was unsurprised and casually asked, "Was it by the Empress Dowager's decree?"
"Yes... but the executioner was Concubine Song..."
Only then did Xiao Jingheng realize that the Empress Dowager had actually ordered Song Zhao to kill her own elder sister with her own hands.
The Empress Dowager's intention was to purge the harem and protect Song Zhao, preventing any idle gossip from entangling her in the future.
But Song Zhao was fainthearted by nature and would surely be terrified to kill someone.
- Boom -
Another earth-shaking roar of thunder sounded.
Xiao Jingheng lost all interest in reviewing memorials and promptly ordered:
"Ready the palanquin. I will go see Concubine Song at Yao Hua Palace."
That night when he saw Song Zhao, she seemed just as usual on the surface, only slightly more weary.
The thunderstorm persisted into the night. Xiao Jingheng said he would stay to accompany Song Zhao,
And Song Zhao did not refuse him, only saying she was truly exhausted today and had no mood for intimacy. Xiao Jingheng acquiesced and the two retired early.
Later in the deep of night, following a sudden clap of thunder,
Song Zhao, who had already fallen asleep, was startled awake with a jolt.
She bolted upright in bed, hands covering her ears tightly as she cried out in panic:
"No! Elder sister, don't!"
Xiao Jingheng was also woken up. Realizing she was having a nightmare, he got up and took her into his embrace, gently stroking her back as he softly comforted:
"Don't be afraid, Zhao'er. It was just a dream. I'm here."
Song Zhao clung tightly to Xiao Jingheng, trembling as she said: "There was blood, so much blood... Elder sister asked me why I killed her! Your Majesty, I'm so frightened..."
It was evident she had truly been terrified,
otherwise she who was usually most proper would not address herself as 'I' in front of Xiao Jingheng.
But he did not chastise her, instead holding her even tighter:
"The Empress Dowager made you do that to protect you, and to prevent gossip circulating in the harem about you. But I know having you personally execute your elder sister placed a difficult burden on you."
He lowered his head, softly kissing her forehead:
"Don't be scared. I will stay by your side. With me here, be at peace."
Later, Xiao Jingheng held Song Zhao tightly the entire night.
And this timid beauty snuggled softly against him like a rabbit,
eyes closed as she quietly listened to the sound of rain pattering outside the window.
She had never felt the sound of raindrops drumming the window ledge
could be so soothing as in that moment.
The delicacies personally cooked by Song Zhao naturally could not be left to waste.
So whether Song Yue wanted to eat them or not, she had to eat them!
Xiao Fuzi practically force-fed Song Yue the entire plate of braised meat slices.
In the process, Song Yue vomited twice, but even the vomit was grabbed by Xiao Fuzi and stuffed back into her mouth, forcing her to swallow it.
Finally, after the "delicacies" had been cleanly consumed, Xiao Fuzi casually pushed Song Yue, knocking her over onto the ground like a pile of mud.
Song Yue lay prone on the ground, drenched in sweat, crying as she shouted at Song Zhao:
"Why are you treating me this way? No matter what, I'm still your elder sister! We both have the Song family blood flowing in our veins. You..."
"Now you remember that you're my elder sister?" Song Zhao cut her off with a cold laugh. "Aren't you always telling people that the unluckiest thing in your life is having a bastard younger sister like me?"
Of course Song Yue could not swallow this humiliation.
But more than salvaging her pride, she wanted to survive.
And Song Zhao was her only lifeline.
With great difficulty, she crawled to Song Zhao's feet, grasping her pants leg, and softened her tone:
"Let's say I really did wrong you in the past. You can hate me all you want, but think of me as your elder sister and save me first. Once I get through this calamity, you can make me your ox or your horse to repay you however you want!"
"Save you? Hahaha~" Song Zhao laughed as if she had heard the funniest joke. She casually kicked Song Yue's hands away and mocked, "It was me who told the Emperor about your sordid affair with Ge Zhongqi. How can you still be so naive as to think I would save you?"
Upon hearing this, Song Yue was struck dumb. She stared wide-eyed in shock:
"It was you? It was actually you!"
She suddenly erupted in madness, mustering all her strength to throw herself at Song Zhao.
Song Zhao sat unmoved like a mountain, merely seeing her as a joke.
Before Song Yue could even get close, she was fiercely kicked in the abdomen by Xiao Fuzi and sent flying over ten feet away.
Clutching her abdomen in agony, she painfully rolled about on the ground:
"Why! Why did you kill my child! Why did you ruin my entire life!"
"Then why did you ruin my entire life!?" Song Zhao suddenly erupted in fury, enunciating each word sharply:
"You made me take your place and enter the palace, trapping me in this gilded cage for life, while you got to cavort freely with your lover? I'm telling you, I won't allow it!"
"Wretched woman... you jinx! Mother was right, you were born to extract vengeance on the Song family!"
"How could I possibly have come to take vengeance? I clearly came to repay kindness."
Song Zhao composed herself, smiling prettily with scarlet lips. "Don't you love Ge Zhongqi so much you were willing to live and die for him? Don't worry, I'll be sending you to him very soon. I will definitely arrange for you adulterous lovers to be joined in matrimony in the underworld, so you won't fail each other."
"Pah!" Song Yue spat a mouthful of bloody phlegm at Song Zhao, cursing resentfully: "Wicked woman! How vicious your heart is!"
Song Zhao was unangered, even smiling in response. She bowed her head deferentially. "I thank elder sister for your high praise, but little sister does not deserve it."
As she finished speaking, her gaze drifted to the candle on the table. She casually ordered:
"Xiao Fuzi, the candle is nearly burnt out. It's about time to send young lady Song on her way."
Xiao Fuzi acknowledged and took out the poison given by the Empress Dowager from her sleeve. She pried open Song Yue's mouth and forced it down her throat.
That poison was extremely toxic, sealing the throat on contact with blood.
After drinking it down, Song Yue still wanted to curse Song Zhao with an 'evil death'.
But she didn't even have the chance to utter the word 'death' before her eyes glazed over and she breathed her last.
The instant she died violently, the flame in the prison cell also happened to flicker out,
And everything was shrouded in darkness once more.
- Boom -
After leaving the tower dungeon,
Song Zhao looked up to see the warm golden sunset overcast by a layer of pitch black clouds.
A few muffled rumbles sounded before a spring rain unexpectedly began pouring down.
At the same time, Xiao Jingheng, who was reviewing memorials in the study hall, was also startled by the thunder.
He used to love the moist aroma of petrichor on rainy days,
but ever since becoming affectionate with Song Zhao, whenever a storm approached he could only worry about that one woman.
He was just thinking that he would have to accompany Song Zhao tonight,
otherwise his delicate darling would surely cry again.
Just then, he saw Jiang Deshun come forward and report:
"Your Majesty, the eldest daughter of the Song family just... died violently in the tower dungeon."
Xiao Jingheng was unsurprised and casually asked, "Was it by the Empress Dowager's decree?"
"Yes... but the executioner was Concubine Song..."
Only then did Xiao Jingheng realize that the Empress Dowager had actually ordered Song Zhao to kill her own elder sister with her own hands.
The Empress Dowager's intention was to purge the harem and protect Song Zhao, preventing any idle gossip from entangling her in the future.
But Song Zhao was fainthearted by nature and would surely be terrified to kill someone.
- Boom -
Another earth-shaking roar of thunder sounded.
Xiao Jingheng lost all interest in reviewing memorials and promptly ordered:
"Ready the palanquin. I will go see Concubine Song at Yao Hua Palace."
That night when he saw Song Zhao, she seemed just as usual on the surface, only slightly more weary.
The thunderstorm persisted into the night. Xiao Jingheng said he would stay to accompany Song Zhao,
And Song Zhao did not refuse him, only saying she was truly exhausted today and had no mood for intimacy. Xiao Jingheng acquiesced and the two retired early.
Later in the deep of night, following a sudden clap of thunder,
Song Zhao, who had already fallen asleep, was startled awake with a jolt.
She bolted upright in bed, hands covering her ears tightly as she cried out in panic:
"No! Elder sister, don't!"
Xiao Jingheng was also woken up. Realizing she was having a nightmare, he got up and took her into his embrace, gently stroking her back as he softly comforted:
"Don't be afraid, Zhao'er. It was just a dream. I'm here."
Song Zhao clung tightly to Xiao Jingheng, trembling as she said: "There was blood, so much blood... Elder sister asked me why I killed her! Your Majesty, I'm so frightened..."
It was evident she had truly been terrified,
otherwise she who was usually most proper would not address herself as 'I' in front of Xiao Jingheng.
But he did not chastise her, instead holding her even tighter:
"The Empress Dowager made you do that to protect you, and to prevent gossip circulating in the harem about you. But I know having you personally execute your elder sister placed a difficult burden on you."
He lowered his head, softly kissing her forehead:
"Don't be scared. I will stay by your side. With me here, be at peace."
Later, Xiao Jingheng held Song Zhao tightly the entire night.
And this timid beauty snuggled softly against him like a rabbit,
eyes closed as she quietly listened to the sound of rain pattering outside the window.
She had never felt the sound of raindrops drumming the window ledge
could be so soothing as in that moment.
