Chapter 324: Volume 1, Chapter 324: Biting the Hand That Feeds

Rong Luoge naturally would not overlook Song Huihe's expression, and knew she would not give up just like that, and could also guess whom she would go to find, but she did not stop her.

Although the Empress Dowager was wholeheartedly protecting the Su family, she was no fool; if she were truly foolish, Noble Consort Ming, however favored she was, would not have been suppressed by the Empress Dowager in rank her entire life.

The only thing Rong Luoge worried about now was whether things would go smoothly on Han Xinglan's side; with the blade pressed to the Song family's neck, it all depended on whether the Song family would surrender with hands bound or fight to the death.

Song Huihe went all the way to Funing Palace to request an audience with the Empress Dowager; the Empress Dowager had just come out of the small Buddhist hall, and hesitated for a moment upon hearing Yan Yin's words.

"Why would the Empress stop Marquis Ningyuan's wife from seeing Consort Hui for no reason?" The Empress Dowager could not quite figure it out; though she did not like the Empress, she had also gauged the Empress's temperament clearly—too lazy to bicker with people, so long as no one stepped on her head, under ordinary circumstances she would not make things difficult for anyone.

Yan Yin shook her head, "This servant does not know either. Your Majesty the Empress Dowager, the Empress has always acted cautiously. This servant feels this matter is certainly not simple."

She was hoping the Empress Dowager would not intervene; otherwise, if the Song family truly caused some trouble, the one who would end up worse off would still be the Empress Dowager.

The Empress Dowager sighed softly, "Nowadays life in this Hou Gong is truly becoming more and more tasteless."

It is only interesting when a hundred flowers bloom together, but her good son insisted on pressing down and plucking only the Empress, this one flower; no matter how angry she was, there was nothing she could do.

Yan Yin found these words difficult to respond to, and after a moment's thought said, "The matter of the Ten Thousand Li Rivers and Mountains Painting from before has not yet been cleared up, but this servant has heard that someone beside His Majesty has taken over the case. Now, for Marquis Ningyuan's wife to request an audience, this servant does not know whether it is related to this matter. Your Majesty the Empress Dowager, the Ten Thousand Li Rivers and Mountains Painting was something the Empress had Gou Shuyi painstakingly embroider; the symbolism sounds festive and auspicious, yet the result was that Consort Hui destroyed it. Moreover, this servant has heard that it was the Virtuous Consort who told Consort Hui about this matter. Regardless of what is said, at a time like this, it would be best for Your Majesty to keep a distance."

The Empress Dowager's expression was not pleasant, but she also knew Yan Yin spoke reasonably; she did not truly want to fall out completely with her own son—if it really came to that day, what good could she, as the mother empress, possibly gain?

"I do not know what Ying'er was thinking; why would she involve herself in such a matter?" The Empress Dowager could not help speaking with some dissatisfaction. "Go tell Consort Hui that I am unwell and have already retired; let her go back."

Yan Yin agreed and turned to leave; upon exiting Funing Palace, she saw Consort Hui standing there with a gloomy expression. She stepped forward and bowed, "This servant greets Your Ladyship Consort Hui."

Song Huihe accepted the bow, looked at Yan Yin, and asked, "Can I go in now to see Her Majesty the Empress Dowager?"

Yan Yin did not mind Consort Hui's rather impolite tone, and said as calmly as ever, "Please forgive me, Your Ladyship Consort Hui; Her Majesty the Empress Dowager has been worshipping the Buddha for too long and is tired and has already retired. Your Ladyship had best go back first."

Song Huihe was taken aback—she had never imagined the Empress Dowager would refuse to see her!

After all, their Song family and the Su family were still allies; how could she possibly not see her?

But Yan Yin was the person the Empress Dowager trusted most; if she said so, it must be true—the Empress Dowager truly would not see her.

Song Huihe's expression turned ugly at once; she looked at Yan Yin and said, "Aunt Yan Yin, please go and inform Her Majesty the Empress Dowager once more. My mother has always been someone who knows the weight of things; this time she would rather kneel endlessly outside the palace gates than not see me—there must be a major matter outside. The Empress stopped me from seeing my mother, and I suspect the Empress harbors ulterior motives; that is why I have asked Her Majesty the Empress Dowager to uphold justice."

Song Huihe deliberately made it sound as grave as possible; she did not believe Yan Yin would dare not pass on the message.

Yan Yin frowned, and her gaze toward Consort Hui grew somewhat cold as she said, "Your Ladyship Consort Hui, ever since the Late Emperor passed away, Her Majesty the Empress Dowager has devoted herself to worshipping the Buddha and has long ceased concerning herself with outside matters. Your Ladyship had best go back first."

After Yan Yin finished speaking, she gave a slight bow, then entered through the great gates of Funing Palace and ordered someone to shut the palace doors.

Song Huihe watched this scene in astonishment, trembling all over with anger, never imagining that the Empress Dowager would actually wash her hands of the matter at a time like this.

Then again, the Empress Dowager and the Emperor were mother and son by blood; when it truly came to a critical moment, the Empress Dowager would in all likelihood favor her own son even more!

Song Huihe had failed to seek the Empress Dowager's help, and for the moment had no other good option; she walked back as if she had lost her soul—could it really only end like this?

Thinking of her mother still kneeling outside the palace gates, Song Huihe was unwilling to accept it; she was truly afraid—something must have happened at home, otherwise her mother would not have done this.

Song Huihe was like an ant on a hot pan, spinning around in anxiety, yet had no good solution.

On the other side, Su Ying had also learned of this matter, and what surprised her even more was that the Empress Dowager had not even seen Consort Hui—how was that possible?

Su Ying could no longer sit still either; ever since the palace maids beside her had been taken away, they had still not been sent back—had the Empress truly found something out, or had her aunt learned of something?

Otherwise, why would her aunt refuse to see Song Huihe?

Even for the sake of the alliance between the two families, her aunt would not refuse to see someone.

Su Ying could not sit still; her heart was in panic. The matter of the Ten Thousand Li Rivers and Mountains Painting had been her scheme from the very start; though she was certain she truly had left no loose ends, the information had indeed been passed to Song Huihe by her—what if the Empress seized on this point and refused to let go?

Su Ying could sit still no longer, and immediately went first to Yunhua Palace to find Song Huihe.

The moment Song Huihe saw Su Ying, she could not hold back from speaking with cold mockery, "Is Virtuous Consort Su here to see me make a fool of myself?"

Su Ying frowned, "What do you mean by that, Consort Hui? I only heard that Lady Song has been kneeling endlessly outside the palace gates, and not knowing what exactly has happened, I came to ask with concern whether there is anything I can help with—why must you mock me like this? Do not forget, the two of us are on the same boat."

"So you still know the two of us are on the same boat." Song Huihe scoffed, "Now Her Majesty the Empress Dowager will not even see me; I suppose the alliance between our two families is as good as over."

Su Ying's expression also turned ugly from being confronted by Song Huihe; she had never been one to meekly submit to mistreatment, and immediately said, "Since you put it that way, then I shall go back. I originally thought that one person's plans are short while two people's plans are long; if something has truly happened, for you and me to discuss it together would surely be better than you alone hitting a wall here. Since you do not trust me, then never mind."

Su Ying turned to leave; she had deliberately provoked Song Huihe with words—as long as she still wanted to see Lady Song, she would surely call her back.

Sure enough, Su Ying had guessed correctly; Song Huihe opened her mouth and called her back.

Su Ying stopped in her tracks, turned to look at Song Huihe, and said nothing.

Song Huihe rose to her feet, walked step by step to stand before Su Ying, her eyes fixed intently on her, and after a long while spoke: "Su Ying, do you know? The people from beside you and me whom the Empress took away have already been handed over to His Majesty."