I just want to be a princess, no, you want to be a queen

Chapter 255 Change of Mind

Imperial Palace, Xiefang Palace

This was the first time the emperor came to Xiefang Palace since Song Moli was released from the cold palace, but it seemed that he did not want to stay overnight because he brought his new favorite concubine with him.

The beauty from Yunzhao was truly stunning and unparalleled. Dancing to a four-stringed instrument, she looked like an ethereal spirit descended into the human world. Such beauty and talent were rare even among the royal family.

Free and clear, it makes people forget their worries when looking at it.

Back when Song Moli was still a noble concubine, she had only glimpsed the Yunzhao Dancer from afar when the Duke of Wei presented her. But now, after a closer look, she finally understood why the Emperor liked her so much.

During the days when she was trapped in the cold palace, she jumped from beauty to concubine and was promoted to concubine.

Although Song Moli felt the emperor was being cold and indifferent, she didn't show it at all. She graciously poured wine for the emperor. After the beauty finished dancing, she also poured her a cup of warming flower tea.

"Thank you, sister!" Concubine Duan took the teacup but didn't drink it. She leaned against the emperor, her eyes moving. The emperor stroked the cute little head and fed it grapes.

Concubine Duan puffed up her delicate lips, her voice about to burst into tears: "Your Majesty, I am tired."

Are you leaving?

Without waiting for the emperor to reply, Song Moli said, "Sister has been dancing for a long time. Come on, have some cakes and take a break from watching the singing and dancing."

As he said this, he gave instructions to Jiaoli.

Since it was a dance banquet, Concubine Duan wouldn't be the only one dancing. Song Moli had also arranged a number of songs and dances for the Imperial Music Bureau. As the zither and zheng played in the moonlight, dancers entered, their long sleeves fluttering.

Suddenly, a cold light flashed from the sleeves of a dancer.

"Empress Song, give me your life!"

With a loud shout, Song Moli overturned the food tray and rushed forward. With a swish, the dagger pierced his shoulder.

"Miss!"

Two eunuchs held down the dancer who was about to assassinate them. At the same time, Jiao Li stepped forward to support Song Moli and shouted for help, "Quickly call the imperial physician."

The dancer raised her disheveled head and roared angrily, "Your Majesty, it was Concubine Song who used my family's lives to threaten my father to assassinate the Marquis of Chengyang. My father died tragically, so why is she still alive and well?"

The Imperial Guards rushed in to arrest her. The emperor waved his hand and asked in confusion, "Whose daughter do you say you are?"

The dancer raised her head and said, "My father is Sun Jisheng!"

The emperor remembered, and Song Moli groaned in pain. He hurriedly had someone help her to the bed and continued to interrogate Sun Jisheng's daughter. Song Moli lay on the bed and could faintly hear the sounds outside.

Although Sun Jisheng's daughter was only fifteen, her words were watertight. She insisted that she had witnessed Song Moli threatening her father.

Jiaoli also excitedly held her daughter's hand and cried, "Girl, please hold on, you must hold on."

Soon, the noise outside died down. The emperor asked Concubine Duan to leave and went into the bedroom. Song Moli stood up with pain in her heart, "I deserve to die. It's all my fault for causing Your Majesty such a fright."

The emperor sat on the bed and helped Song Moli lie down. He was faintly excited: "Mo'er, why don't you know how to hide."

Song Moli sobbed, "Mo'er was afraid she'd suddenly become malicious and hurt Your Majesty. Mo'er had done such a terrible wrong, yet Your Majesty still managed to stay with Mo'er and her brother despite the pressure from the ministers. Mo'er will die for her, so how could she be allowed to have the opportunity to hurt Your Majesty? Besides, it was Mo'er's fault in the first place, so she deserved to come after her."

"Silly beloved concubine!" The emperor caressed her with heartache.

In order to prevent the truth from being revealed and Hui'er from knowing, he wanted her to die quietly, but after all, she was the woman who gave birth to his only son. How could he bear to let her go after going through so many ups and downs for so many years?

If he had not come to Xiefang Palace to visit the Song siblings who had given him advice and worked hard for him, he would not have had this unexpected surprise.

Not long after, the imperial physician rushed over and examined Song Moli's injuries.

Eunuch Su came in and said, "Your Majesty, the person who left the palace has returned. Do you want to see him?"

The emperor waved his hand and smiled at Song Moli.

After examining Song Fangyi's pulse, Zhang Yuanpan said, "Your Majesty, Song Fangyi hasn't sustained any vital injuries, but the wound is too deep. To prevent it from getting worse, you must carefully heal her."

"I understand." After sending Zhang Yuanpan away, the emperor took the medicine from Jiaoli's hand and bandaged Song Moli himself.

Song Moli was flattered. "I am injured and cannot serve Your Majesty. Your Majesty should go to Sister Duan. She can serve Your Majesty on my behalf."

The emperor frowned and scolded her lightly, "She is just a dancer of low status, how can she be worthy of you calling her sister?"

Song Moli was apprehensive: "But she is of higher rank than me. According to the rules, I should call her sister."

The emperor sighed, "Now that all the officials are watching, I can't hastily restore your position. But you must remember, in my heart, no one can compare to you. When things calm down, you will still be the master of the harem."

"I have caused such a great disaster for Your Majesty, don't you blame me?" Song Moli cried. She knew that after this incident, she could finally survive, and survive well.

The emperor also sighed, "How could I blame you? I will only feel more sorry for you."

That night, they slept on the same bed. The next morning, he considerately didn't let the palace maids wake Song Moli, and quietly left Xiefang Palace, returning to Qinzheng Palace to prepare for court.

But how could Concubine Song sleep so soundly beside him now? She opened her eyes as soon as the emperor left.

Jiaoli came in, knelt before the bed, and said excitedly, "His Majesty said that you were injured and it was not appropriate for you to go to Shoukang Palace every day to pay your respects. He was worried that you would not obey, so he asked Eunuch Su to take away all the rouge and lip balm. He said that he would send you better ones when you recovered."

Concubine Song smiled and touched Jiaoli's innocent little head.

Ever since she suspected that the emperor wanted her killed, she had asked Pharmacist Zeng to check the food and utensils in her palace, only to find out that the emperor had put a slow-acting poison in his lip balm.

As long as you apply it every day, you will die within 30 days.

Jiao Li continued, "Last night, His Majesty had the eighteen people implicated in the assassination immediately executed. It seems that he is very angry. His Majesty still cares about the girl."

"He's not concerned about me, he's worried about himself."

Which emperor could tolerate an assassin appearing before him openly and threatening his life? Concubine Song sneered and said to Jiao Li, "Remember, never take chances with a man."

She sees it clearly now.

Jiaoli nodded in confusion and sighed, "Poor those eighteen people."

"She's dead. There's always death in this palace." Concubine Song said calmly, "Where's the daughter of the Sun family?"

Jiao Li said, "Your Majesty has ordered the Grand Court to investigate and execute him at the Meridian Gate at noon today."

Those implicated were immediately executed, but the assassin was still alive. The emperor wanted to completely blame himself for the death of Marquis Chengyang, leaving no doubt.

Song Moli asked, "Did she leave any message?"

Jiaoli pulled out a longevity lock from her bosom and said, "She asked me to give this longevity lock to her mother so that her mother and brother can live well."

The only condition for Sun Jisheng's daughter to commit the assassination was to rescue her mother who was also imprisoned in the Jiaofangsi and to bring back her brother who was exiled to Ningguta.

Jiao Li looked at the longevity lock, and although she felt reluctant, she still suggested: "She died at noon today. To prevent His Majesty from knowing, it is better to leave it alone."

"Shut up!" Song Moli said coldly, "Jiaoli, remember, no matter how much you owe someone, you can't owe them to the dead. Since she risked her life to serve me, I, Song Moli, will not let her down."

"I spoke out of turn!" Jiaoli looked at the longevity lock and smiled.