novelden Chapter 179 The Empress's Questioning
Chapter 179 The Empress's Questioning
Song Ruozhen nodded, "Your Majesty, I have read it."
The Empress pointed to the books beside her and said, "I am a little tired. Why don't you read a book to me?"
"Yes, ma'am."
Song Ruozhen picked up the book beside her and looked at its contents, which were clearly arranged by the Empress beforehand.
In fact, she knew in her heart that the Empress was a model of virtue for the country, and was completely different from people like Madam Lin who would cry and play the victim at the drop of a hat. She would not start by questioning her.
Song Ruozhen looked at the historical records in front of her and slowly read the contents aloud.
"Do you know what story this is about?" the Queen asked calmly.
Song Ruozhen smiled faintly, "Your Majesty the Empress wants to remind me that one should not covet what does not belong to oneself. Even if it seems beautiful at the moment, it is ultimately nothing but a mirage."
Seeing Song Ruozhen calmly explain everything, her fair face did not show the slightest resentment. This indifferent attitude surprised the Empress.
Before the bridal sedan chair entered the house, Song Ruozhen saw Lin Zhiyue marrying Qin Shuangshuang at the same time. She insisted on getting off the sedan chair herself and, in front of everyone, broke off the engagement without hesitation.
Later, she sued the Lin family for money, and even exposed Lin Zhiyue and Qin Shuangshuang's embezzlement of money. Each and every incident revealed her vengeful nature.
I thought she would be the same way, and even if she tried to hide it well, she would inevitably reveal something. But to my surprise, she was calm and composed, and had nothing to do with being petty.
"Since you understand my advice, you must know what to do, right?"
The Empress put down her teacup, seemingly nonchalant, but in reality, she exuded immense pressure.
Song Ruozhen bowed and said neither humbly nor arrogantly, "Your Majesty is overthinking it. I have never thought of the things you are worried about."
The old nanny standing nearby was secretly surprised to see Song Ruozhen responding to the Empress with a calm demeanor; the Empress's authority was not to be underestimated.
If it were an ordinary girl, after being asked such a question by the Empress, she probably wouldn't dare to hide anything and would have already said everything that should and shouldn't be said, even bringing up the King of Chu as a shield.
However, the girl has managed not to mention His Highness the King of Chu until now, which shows she is quite clear-headed.
As expected, the Empress's gaze softened, and she said calmly, "I've heard that you've been getting quite close to Prince Chu lately?"
Song Ruozhen was silent for a moment. She knew very well that the Empress had summoned her to the palace today because Madam Tang must have said something she shouldn't have, standing up for Tang Xuening. However, she was not one to let the other party smear her.
Tang Xuening's fate last night was entirely her own fault; she has no one to blame but herself.
Even if she weren't there, the outcome wouldn't have been much better.
"I wonder if Your Majesty is referring to the Bai residence or the temple fair night tour?"
"Oh?" The Empress chuckled lightly, but the smile didn't reach her eyes. "Then tell me, what does the Bai family matter have to do with you?"
The temple fair night tour was not what the Empress cared about most; rather, the matter at the Bai residence bothered her more.
The King of Chu has always been a man of principle. The affairs of the Bai family are official matters, not child's play. Bringing a young lady along on such an occasion would only make people think he is incapable of distinguishing right from wrong.
If this gets back to the Emperor, it will be even more significant.
"Because there are rumors of ghosts in the Bai residence, and since I happen to be skilled in metaphysics, His Highness Prince Chu asked me for help."
It wasn't that she begged the King of Chu to take her along; rather, it was the King of Chu who specifically invited her to go.
This Madam Tang really knows how to embellish the story. She probably made it out to be that he used seductive means to curry favor with the King of Chu, to the point that the King of Chu couldn't distinguish between public and private matters and even had to take her with him when he was on official business.
"The King of Chu asked you for help?"
The Empress caught the words and Song Ruozhen's confidence, and felt slightly displeased, but her attitude changed. "Mystical arts? You went to the Bai residence to exorcise ghosts?"
The girl in front of me looks gentle and beautiful, with delicate features. She is the kind of young lady who never lifts a finger. It is quite a contrast that she can catch ghosts.
Song Ruozhen nodded slightly, "Exactly."
Upon hearing this, the maids and servants in the hall changed their expressions. It was one thing for high-ranking monks and Buddhist disciples to be good at metaphysics, but it turned out that General Song's daughter was also good at it.
"Are metaphysical arts so easy to learn? Are you trying to deceive me?"
The Empress frowned, but her heart was slightly relieved. If it was to catch a ghost, it meant that the Prince of Chu had brought Song Ruozhen there on official business, and that he was not unaware of the occasion.
"Your Majesty, even if I had the greatest courage in the world, I would not dare to deceive you."
"I remember seeing Her Majesty the Empress's sister a month ago. I did a divination then, and she should be pregnant now," Song Ruozhen said.
"Are you talking about Minhui?" the Empress asked.
Song Ruozhen nodded. She had helped Lu Minhui with her calculations when she first met her at the banquet.
Before, when the due date wasn't reached, it was naturally impossible to detect the pregnancy. Now that a month has passed, it's probably time to find out.
"What nonsense!"
The Empress's face suddenly turned cold. "I just saw Min Hui a few days ago, and she is not pregnant."
A few days ago, when Lu Minhui entered the palace, she specifically mentioned this matter. Her inability to conceive had become a major worry for her, and she was eager to get pregnant so that she could have a child soon and have a harmonious marriage.
Unfortunately, she had no children for a long time, and there were even rumors that she was infertile. Her mother-in-law also had some complaints and even considered taking a concubine.
It's ridiculous that Song Ruozhen is now saying she's pregnant!
"That's because the child is still young and the diagnosis hasn't been made yet." Song Ruozhen remained calm. "I imagine the Princess will come to see Her Majesty the Empress soon to announce the good news."
The Empress's eyes turned cold. "Is this how you usually deceive people?"
She had said that the King of Chu was not interested in other girls, so why was he different from Song Ruozhen? Now that she saw it, she understood. Metaphysics is something that anyone would find interesting.
Not to mention the King of Chu, even she herself felt that this girl was extraordinary. She suspected that the King of Chu's feelings for her were not romantic, but merely curiosity about metaphysics.
As for this girl... she's probably using this as an excuse to deliberately get close to the King of Chu in public, creating the illusion that their relationship is extraordinary.
That's a clever tactic!
Thinking of this, the Empress felt even more strongly that the King of Chu had to break off contact with Song Ruozhen.
How could a prince spend all his time with people who study metaphysics?
However, just as the atmosphere was becoming tense, a voice suddenly came from outside the door.
"The Queen Mother is here!"
The sudden sound startled the Empress, who quickly stood up, her mind filled with confusion. Why would the Empress Dowager come all of a sudden?
"I've met my mother."
"Meet the Queen Mother."
Song Ruozhen bowed respectfully before noticing that Chu Yungui and Chu Muyao were with the Empress Dowager.