Chapter 172

Shen Shuangning quickly calculated in her mind the feasibility of Gong Sun Yu obtaining a divorce.

No matter what, the result was "no".

The Gong Sun family had served as officials for generations, a prestigious clan; in the court they were a formidable force, and all along they had secretly provided considerable support to the Crown Prince.

The Crown Prince also helped consolidate the Gong Sun family's power and influence; their interests were intertwined, and neither was willing to abandon the other.

The Crown Prince needed the Gong Sun family's support, making it absolutely impossible for him to depose the Crown Princess; the Gong Sun family did not wish to offend the imperial clan, especially since the other party was the Crown Prince, who was highly likely to inherit the throne, and they would certainly not agree to Gong Sun Yu's divorce.

This is almost an unsolvable problem.

Gong Sun Yu is so perceptive; how could she not understand?

Divorce, for her, was merely a luxurious wish; if she could not obtain it, then she would never see him again.

Gong Sun Yu closed her eyes, and two lines of clear tears streamed down.

Shen Shuangning looked toward the window, as if making a very difficult decision.

When Mu Yu administered acupuncture to the Crown Princess, outsiders were not allowed to disturb, and the others withdrew from the inner chamber to avoid interference.

Taking this opportunity, Shen Shuangning quietly asked Granny what had actually happened the previous night.

Once out of the Crown Princess's sight, Granny finally dared to speak, her face full of indignation.

"Yesterday was the Crown Princess's birthday; normally the Crown Prince would spend it with her, but since Song Good Lady was unwell, the Crown Prince took her to the temple to pray for blessings. The Crown Princess felt hurt, so she left the palace to clear her mind, and only upon returning did she learn that the Crown Prince had been waiting for her to celebrate her birthday."

"But when the Crown Princess happily went to the bedchamber, what she saw was the Crown Prince and Song Good Lady......" Granny said this, unable to continue, and shook her head.

"In the past, the Crown Prince never summoned Song Good Lady to the bedchamber, yet he chose this day, the Crown Princess's birthday— isn't that like stabbing a knife into her heart?"

As the master of the Eastern Palace, the Crown Prince actually has the freedom to summon whomever he wishes to the bedchamber.

But Granny knew that before Song Good Lady arrived, the Crown Prince and Crown Princess's relationship was still quite good, and the servants of the Eastern Palace could see that.

That bedchamber was actually their bridal suite.

Granny felt sorry for the Crown Princess.

The imperial family is the most ruthless.

Shen Shuangning sank her face and said, "What about Song Xizhi?"

She did not address her with the title "Song Good Lady", but called her by name directly.

Granny glanced at her with slight surprise, didn't think much, and replied, "She was summoned by the Empress to the Palace of Earthly Tranquility."

Empress Wang is the Crown Prince's nominal stepmother, and the Crown Princess is her daughter-in-law. Since the daughter-in-law suffered a miscarriage, she, as the mother-in-law, naturally could not ignore it.

Although put bluntly, this is not Song Xizhi's fault; after all, the Crown Prince wanted to favor her, she could not refuse, and she never expected it would lead to the Crown Princess's miscarriage.

But the Crown Prince is the heir apparent; the Empress cannot punish him, so she picks a soft target to vent on—Song Xizhi, no matter how innocent, must endure it.

At present, she is kneeling at the gate of the Palace of Earthly Tranquility, under the scorching sun.

She hasn't even seen the Empress's face; from the moment she set foot here, she has been kneeling, and two hours have already passed.

Yet her back remains straight as a pine or cypress, never bending.

The passing palace servants never gave her a proper glance. As for the Crown Prince's Good Lady, she is merely a concubine; a concubine causing the primary wife's miscarriage, the Empress not ordering her death is already considered merciful.

Song Xizhi paid no heed to the surrounding gazes, her expression calm, yet the two hands at her sides were clenched tightly.

She gazed at the imposing Palace of Earthly Tranquility before her, the corner of her mouth lifting in an extremely faint, mocking smile, while her eyes concealed burgeoning ambition.

The Crown Princess is currently weak and needs rest; Shen Shuangning did not stay long.

Upon leaving the side hall, the Crown Prince was no longer outside.

Upon inquiry, she learned that just then, a palace attendant beside Song Good Lady had rushed in to report that Song Good Lady had fainted in the Palace of Earthly Tranquility.

Shen Shuangning said nothing, lifted her foot, and walked out.

After walking a stretch, she saw the Crown Prince striding toward her, holding in his arms Song Xizhi, who appeared to have already fainted.

Shen Shuangning stopped, looked at them, and suddenly spoke to halt the Crown Prince.

Good upbringing made Di Yu stop, but when he spoke his tone was cold: "What is it?"

Shen Shuangning said, "The Crown Princess just told me she wants a divorce; I don't know if Your Highness the Crown Prince is aware of this."

Upon hearing the words "divorce", Di Yu's pupils trembled slightly, and he almost instinctively retorted: "Nonsense!"

"She is my Crown Princess; her life and death are mine!"

The Song Xizhi in his arms trembled her eyelashes almost imperceptibly.

Shen Shuangning's lips curled into a faint arc as she glanced at the woman in his arms, looking rather puzzled: "Your Highness and Song Good Lady truly love each other, yet you let her remain in the position of Good Lady— isn't that unjust?"

"If the Crown Princess and Your Highness divorce, the position of principal wife would be vacated, and Song Good Lady could rightfully become the principal wife— shouldn't Your Highness be pleased with that outcome?"

Shen Shuangning paused, her gaze locking onto him: "Or perhaps Your Highness the Crown Prince actually does not like Song Good Lady that much?"

"You——" Di Yu was choked speechless, a surge of unnamed anger rushing up to his heart.

"My affairs— when is it your place as an outsider to intervene? Gong Sun Yu is the Crown Princess, a marriage bestowed by the emperor; who dares mention divorce? Not even she can!"

Having spoken angrily, Di Yu embraced Song Xizhi and strode away.

He still could not believe that Gong Sun Yu would actually want to divorce him; he immediately summoned those attending the Crown Princess and questioned them personally.

They trembled with fear and reported the truth faithfully.

The just-awakened Song Xizhi grabbed the Crown Prince's lapel, looking at him with a fragile expression.

But Di Yu unhesitatingly pulled his lapel free, leaving only the words "Rest well," and departed without looking back.

A gloom clouded Shen Shuangning's lovely face; her steps swift, as soon as she left the palace she ordered the coachman to go straight to the Guard Bureau.

Midway through the carriage ride, Mu Yu hesitantly said, "I can treat the Crown Princess's illness, but it must be done quickly; otherwise, given her current condition, she will live at most half a month."

Shen Shuangning was pondering matters; hearing this, she suddenly looked at her.

"You can cure the Crown Princess's stubborn ailment?"

Mu Yu nodded: "I have previously encountered a patient with the same deficient cold stomach qi, far more severe than hers."

Saying this, she couldn't help muttering, "This isn't an incurable disease after all; it seems the imperial physicians in the palace are no better than this."

Those imperial physicians, if they heard this, would be so angry they'd spit a mouthful of Lingxiao blood, then point at her nose and scold her for talking big without shame!

Just now in the Eastern Palace, Mu Yu's silence was due to the Crown Princess's dire situation—the other party had not a shred of will to live.

She could cure the other's stubborn ailment, but if the patient themselves didn't want to live, even a divine doctor could hardly save them, ah.

If the Crown Princess were to die then, others might think she was killed by her treatment, and she would then be unable to speak in her defense.

Mu Yu originally hadn't planned to get involved, but seeing Shen Shuangning's displeased face reminded her of having deceived her before.

Although she had been ordered to act as a mole at that time, Shen Shuangning had treated her quite well during that period, and even after being exposed, hadn't given her the cold shoulder, making her feel even more embarrassed.

So Mu Yu hesitated all along, but still decided to speak up.

"Heir Consort, don't get too excited yet."

Mu Yu said solemnly: "The Crown Princess has had this illness for too long, it has injured her foundation; she is still greatly deficient in qi and blood. If untreated, she has at most half a month left. If cured, she would have only ten years."

Moreover, I suggest ah, the Crown Princess had best leave the Eastern Palace early, change places to treat and recuperate; otherwise ah, brooding in the heart could also take a life.

Maybe she'll suddenly be pissed to death by that damned couple, huh?

"I understand." Shen Shuangning said, "I'll go back and think of a solution."

"Actually she has already thought of it, but putting it into practice might not be easy."

"The Crown Princess wanting a divorce is very difficult." Xiao Jingyuan said, "Whether out of sentiment or interest, the Crown Prince would never agree."

Xiao Jingyuan sat in the Grand Tutor's chair, lightly tapping the armrest: "If she only wants to leave the Eastern Palace, there is a way: feign death to escape."

"Shen Shuangning's expression was not at all surprising; it was obvious they had thought of the same thing."

Xiao Jingyuan curled his lip: "Ningning also thinks that way?"

Shen Shuangning nodded: "I tested the Crown Prince today; judging by his attitude, he won't let her leave."

"She really didn't want to see the Crown Princess, even in death, be trapped in that realm."

"She wanted to lend the Crown Princess a hand; besides feeling pity, she also saw her past self in the Crown Princess, feeling some empathy."

Xiao Jingyuan pulled her into his embrace, lightly holding her hand, and said: "Whatever you want to do, I will accomplish it for you. However, feigning death to escape means she must give up everything she originally possessed."

"Abandoning the old name, discarding the old body, even having a home one cannot return to. You may mean to help, but she might not be able to make that decision."