Chapter 328: Volume One, Chapter 328 – The Empress Points Her Sword at the Su Family

Volume One, Chapter 328 – The Empress Points Her Sword at the Su Family

Song Huihe had not yet waited to request an audience with the Empress when she suddenly received news that the Emperor intended to attack the Song family of Suizhou.

Song Huihe seized the palace maid who came to deliver the message, demanding, "Who told you? Who ordered you to bring this to me?"

The palace gates were controlled by Fengyi Palace, cutting off information; how could such news reach her for no reason?

The maid knelt and said, "Please calm your anger, Concubine Hui. I come from the inner court; Madam Song once showed me kindness, so I secretly brought the news in."

Song Huihe's eyes brightened at the words, clutching her and refusing to let go, "What about my mother? How are the family? And my father?"

"I only know that Madam Song has become very thin, but her life is safe; as for the Marquis, I do not know."

Song Huihe burst into tears, crying and laughing as if she were mad.

The maid bent and slipped away; as she passed Fengyi Palace, she nodded from a distance to Rong Xin before hurrying off.

Rong Xin turned and entered Fengyi Palace.

Rong Luoge smiled, "Concubine Hui, this time you should be able to make a decision."

She had given her two chances; if she were still impertinent, she would not bother with her any longer.

Song Huihe arrived quickly; a flood of tears had ruined her careful appearance, leaving her without the spirit to dress up. She washed her face and came to request an audience with the Empress.

Rong Luoge did not meet her in the main hall but moved to a side hall; when she entered, she saw Song Huihe's gaunt look, a stark contrast to her own when she first entered Dong Gong years ago.

Back then she was full of vigor and never regarded herself as insignificant, yet now she had to lower her noble head.

"Your Majesty, I, the concubine, pay my respects to the Empress," Song Huihe said, bowing. Even if she still harbored resentment, Rong Luoge had already attained the Empress's position and bore His Majesty's only son.

Originally she could wait, but now her family is about to collapse; she has no time for future promises.

"Concubine Hui, rise, sit and speak," Rong Luoge said gently, her demeanor still calm; now that victory was assured, she was even more composed.

Song Huihe did not sit; she looked at the Empress and asked, "Your Majesty, the news from outside the palace was deliberately sent to me by you, wasn't it?"

Rong Luoge lifted her eyes to Song Huihe, did not deny, and smiled, "I did not deliberately intervene; I simply did not stop the people Madam Song arranged from entering the palace, that's all."

Song Huihe wondered what the difference was.

The Empress's words alone showed that she firmly controlled the harem, a display of power toward her.

"Your Majesty let me know this news; what do you want me to do?" Song Huihe did not beat around the bush. She only wanted her family safe, so she was willing to bow to the Empress even if it was painful.

"Concubine Hui seems to have misunderstood something; it is not that I want you to do something, but how you will act. If you are sincere, perhaps you can still save your father's life." Rong Luoge's smile faded. "All under heaven belongs to the king; your father, as a subject, harbors ambition. If His Majesty does not punish him, who will?"

Song Huihe's complexion turned pale and fluctuated, anger flashing in her eyes. "Empress, you cannot speak that way. The Song family, as a noble house, has given so much to the Owl Kingdom. My father has no ambition; he only wishes to share the Emperor's burdens."

"Oh, what a noble 'sharing of burdens'!" Rong Luoge sneered. "Concubine Hui, why pretend to understand and then lie? If Marquis Ningyuan were truly loyal, how could he collude with ministers against His Majesty? The Emperor issues orders, yet your father not only fails to share the burden, but obstructs the court for his own selfish desires, acting as he wishes. Concubine Hui, Marquis Ningyuan has brought this upon himself."

Song Huihe certainly knew, but even so could not admit it. She clenched her teeth and said, "Empress, my father acted on a momentary impulse and may have been used. I am willing to persuade him to serve His Majesty. Please, Empress, grant me mercy and allow me to see my father."

"Whether or not he was used, Marquis Ningyuan has committed unforgivable deeds. Now the Song family of Suizhou is stubbornly resisting; His Majesty has ordered Xiao Shen to besiege the city. Soon the city will fall, and the Song clan will be annihilated."

Song Huihe's breath caught as she stared at the Empress. "Empress, you need not threaten me; just tell me what you want me to do. As long as my father's life can be saved, I will obey your command."

"Concubine Hui, your profound sense of righteousness entitles you to this chance," Rong Luoge said slowly, "Plant a spy in the Military Works Bureau to obtain the artillery schematics. Any of these acts are capital crimes. Yet there is room for mitigation: if Marquis Ningyuan truthfully confesses his co‑conspirators and atones with merit, I will speak favorably for you before His Majesty."

Accomplice?

Song Huihe narrowed her eyes slightly, "Who else could the accomplice be?"

Of course it is the Su family, allied with her father!

So the Empress's sword truly points at the Su family!

Song Huihe realized that the Empress's kindness was only because of Su Ying and the Empress Dowager.

Coincidentally, she had wanted to expose Su Ying's false façade before the Empress, so she readily agreed, "Thank you, Your Majesty, for this opportunity; I am willing to go and persuade my father."

The Su family had allied with theirs, but now that her father is in trouble, the Su family merely watches from the sidelines. They are ruthless; we should not blame ourselves for lacking righteousness.

Rong Luoge nodded approvingly, "Concubine Hui, you must act quickly. If Marquis Ningyuan hesitates two more days, Suizhou will surely fall to His Majesty, and your persuasion will be useless."

Song Huihe understood and immediately said, "I am ready to leave at once."

Rong Luoge looked at her and nodded, "That is good."

The Song family of Suizhou, with Han Xinglan, will certainly fight, but the attitude of Marquis Ningyuan in the capital is also crucial and will sway many opinions.

If Marquis Ningyuan were to concede and surrender, it would greatly aid His Majesty in purging the noble houses.

The tangled web among the noble families means that opening a single opening allows the subsequent matters to flow smoothly.

Song Huihe boarded a carriage, left the palace, and headed to the Ministry of Justice. The prison there was dark and damp; as she stepped down the stone steps into the cell, the smell nearly made her vomit.

When she reached the end cell, which was relatively clean, she breathed a sigh of relief, crouched, and looked at her father, who was turned away with his back to the wall, and choked out, "Father, I've come to see you."

Marquis Ningyuan shivered, spun around, and stared at his daughter outside the cell, horrified, "Why are you here? Has His Majesty taken his anger out on you and locked you in as well?"

Song Huihe shook her head, covered her mouth, and sobbed, unable to speak.