Chapter 924

Miss Yuan collapsed on the ground, her lips trembling nonstop, tears pouring down her face, filled with terror.

Murong Jin raised her hand and slapped the table: "Could it be that you really want me to send people to dig three feet deep in your mansion?"

The last glimmer of hope in Lady Yuan's heart was crushed by those words, and she even held her breath.

She knocked her head to the ground: "Please forgive me, Empress! Please forgive me, Princess and Princess Consort Ning!"

Murong Jin's voice was cold: "To falsify and impersonate another's poetry before me is the utmost disrespect!"

"As for those private matters in your mansion..."

She paused: "I will personally report this to the emperor and await his judgment."

Lady Yuan went limp and collapsed: "Your Majesty! No..."

Murong Jin ignored her: "Effective today, you two are confined to the mansion to reflect."

"Without my decree, you may not step outside the mansion even a single step."

Lady Yuan and her daughter hastily kowtowed in thanks, wishing they could find a crack in the earth to disappear into.

The noble ladies hid their smiles behind folding fans, lowered their heads to adjust cuffs, but could not conceal the schadenfreude on their faces.

The jealousy they felt watching Miss Yuan shine earlier has now turned into satisfaction.

"Serves her right for pretending!"

"How wise the Empress is; to dare deceive her to her face deserves severe punishment!"

"Indeed, look at her smug little-villain attitude just now—it's nauseating."

Murong Jin turned to Song Shujun, eyes gentle: "Miss Song, today's Hundred Flowers Banquet champion is none other than you."

Song Shujun stood frozen in place, still not recovered from the series of sudden changes just now.

Murong Jin slightly raised her hand; Si Yu carried a brocade box to Song Shujun and gently lifted the lid.

Inside was a set of Duanyan Lake brushes; the inkstone slab carved with several bamboo stalks, the brush shafts uniformly dark and lustrous.

"This set of the Four Treasures of the Study, I bestow upon you." Murong Jin smiled, "May you write even finer works in the future."

She glanced at Tuan Tuan: "Teach the princess well."

Cheng Ru'an hastily rose and bowed: "Thank you, Empress."

Song Shujun slowly knelt, receiving the box with both hands: "Your servant... your servant thanks the Empress for this generous gift."

"Rise, and stay to dine with me."

She glanced at Tuan Tuan, her smile deepening: "The princess has been wronged today; why not keep the Princess Consort as well, for a livelier gathering?"

Cheng Ru'an nodded: "Thank you for your grace, Empress."

Tuan Tuan ran over and pulled Song Shujun up: "Sister, you're amazing! I knew you'd take first place!"

Song Shujun held the box, looking at Tuan Tuan, her lips curving.

Murong Jin scanned the meticulously made-up faces around the table, a faint weariness rising in her heart.

These noble ladies, each vying for beauty and scheming before me, how are they any different from common market women?

She withdrew her gaze, showing weariness, and lightly raised her hand.

Si Yu understood, stepped forward and announced loudly: "Empress is tired; ladies, please take your leave."

"Yes." All rose together, bowing: "Your servant takes leave."

Lady Yuan and her daughter supported each other as they walked last, steps unsteady and staggering, their heads nearly buried in their chests.

Tuan Tuan walked up to Murong Jin, lifted her little face: "Empress, I want to go see Imperial Aunt with Mother and Sister Song first, then come back later, okay?"

A faint smile touched Murong Jin's lips as she raised her hand to gently pat Tuan Tuan's head: "Go."

Tuan Tuan cheered.

Cheng Ru'an and Song Shujun bowed to Murong Jin: "Your servant takes leave."

Tuan Tuan pulled her mother with one hand and tugged Song Shujun with the other, marching out excitedly.

Murong Jin watched their receding backs, slowly rose, and Si Yu hurried forward to support her arm.

Returning to the bedchamber, Si Yu helped her out of her fine robes, removed her hairpins, and changed her into ordinary clothes.

"Si Yu."

"Your servant is here."

Murong Jin walked to the cradle, looked down at the sleeping Xiao Che, and lightly touched his cheek with a fingertip: "Whoever had me arrange the palace banquet—could it be they have a grudge against Minister Yuan?"

Si Yu shook her head: "I can't figure it out either."

"But if the princess hadn't been present, how would that Miss Yuan have exposed herself? She truly brought it upon herself."

Murong Jin gazed at her son's little face, silent.

That night, the main hall of Fengyi Palace was brightly lit with candles.

Murong Jin sat in the seat of honor, Cheng Ru'an at her right, Tuan Tuan beside her mother, and Song Shujun beside Tuan Tuan.

The table held several exquisite dishes.

Murong Jin personally took up her chopsticks, placed a piece of fish meat in Tuan Tuan's bowl: "Try it; I had them add milk to it."

Tuan Tuan put it in her mouth, her eyes lighting up: "It's really delicious!"

Murong Jin immediately gave her another piece.

Cheng Ru'an laughed and shook her head.

The atmosphere at the table was relaxed; Murong Jin and Cheng Ru'an chatted about everyday matters, while Song Shujun remained poised and silent.

Midway through the meal, Murong Jin set down her silver chopsticks, looked at Cheng Ru'an with a solemn expression: "I have something I wish to discuss with you."

Cheng Ru'an put down her chopsticks, turned slightly: "Please speak, Empress."

Murong Jin's gaze fell on Tuan Tuan, her eyes unusually tender: "I really like this child."

"She is pure-hearted and kind, and gets along very well with Xiao Che."

She paused: "This palace wishes to adopt Tuan Tuan as an adopted daughter; I don't know what Princess Consort thinks."

Cheng Ru'an's heart stirred slightly.

She met Murong Jin's gaze, seeing the anxiety in it, and even a plea.

She lowered her eyelids, pondered for a moment: "Your Ladyship's deep affection leaves this humble wife overwhelmed with favor."

"However, this matter is not trivial; I still need to discuss it with the Prince. I hope Your Ladyship will understand."

Murong Jin heard this and smiled: "That's only natural."

"If Prince Ning consents, this palace will pick an auspicious day and then hold a banquet for Tuan Tuan known throughout the world."

Cheng Ru'an rose and bowed: "Thank you, Your Ladyship, for your grace."

Tuan Tuan lifted her head from the rice bowl, looking at her mother and then at the Empress, her cheeks still puffed: "What does 'adopted daughter' mean?"

Murong Jin reached out and gently tapped her nose: "If you become this palace's adopted daughter, you will be Che'er's elder sister."

Tuan Tuan blinked, then without hesitation nodded: "Great! The little brother is so adorable; I was already his sister!"

Murong Jin froze for a moment, then laughed aloud, picked up her silver chopsticks, and gave Tuan Tuan another piece of fish: "Be good, eat more."

Upon returning to the Prince's Mansion, Tuan Tuan was already asleep in the carriage.

Xiao Er carefully lifted her from the carriage, entered Jing Lan Yuan, gently laid her on the bed, covered her with a brocade quilt, performed a salute, and withdrew.

The three little ones each took their place, curling into a fluffy circle around Tuan Tuan's pillow.

Cheng Ru'an bent down to kiss her daughter's forehead, lowered the curtain, and slipped out quietly, arriving at the study.

Xiao Yuanhang lifted his head, saw it was his wife, closed the book in his hand, and extended his hand to her: "You're back?"

Cheng Ru'an walked over and placed her hand in his palm.

Xiao Yuanhang looked at her complexion: "What happened?"

Cheng Ru'an recounted everything that had happened today in detail.

Xiao Yuanhang fell silent for a moment, then spoke slowly: "His Majesty said that the Empress's silk handkerchiefs in the palace are all present, none missing."

"Now she can be considered to have extricated herself from this matter."

"She likes Tuan Tuan; summoning her more often would suffice, but insisting on making her an adopted daughter must be for the sake of the little prince."

Cheng Ru'an let out a soft sigh: "Parents' love for their children entails far‑reaching plans; the Empress, too, has it hard."

"She has no support in the palace; wanting Tuan Tuan to protect her young son is only natural."

Xiao Yuanhang patted the back of his wife's hand: "Although the heir apparent is now settled, the inner court and officialdom still have undercurrents; it's best that Tuan Tuan not get involved."

"If she brings this up again, just say I'm undecided; push any matters onto me."

Cheng Ru'an laughed: "All right, with the Prince blocking her, she can't summon you."

Xiao Yuanhang smiled: "Exactly so."

Cheng Ru'an asked: "I wonder how His Majesty will deal with Minister Yuan?"