A wicked mother swaps her son and sucks his blood? The true legitimate daughter is reborn and goes o

Two days later, Song Qingning entered the palace to meet the emperor.

Qinzheng Hall.

The emperor's majesty and imposing presence were awe-inspiring.

Emperor Yuan seemed to have high hopes for Song Qingning, saying, "I have set a precedent for women entering the court. Song Qingning, do not disappoint me."

"Your subject will certainly do his utmost to fulfill his mission," Song Qingning replied respectfully.

She had guessed why the emperor set this precedent.

She wasn't naive enough to think that the emperor valued her abilities. There was no shortage of capable people in the world; perhaps he valued something else about her.

As for what it is, she still can't guess.

Your heart is hard to fathom.

Song Qingning simply did what she was supposed to do.

Song Qingning left the Hall of Diligent Governance.

Eunuch Gao bowed and stood beside Emperor Yuan. "His Highness Prince Huai has gone to Fengqi Palace to pay his respects."

"Did you bring pear cakes?" Emperor Yuan read the memorial without even lifting his eyelids.

Eunuch Gao said, "His Highness came empty-handed today."

Last time, the Prince of Huai specially brought pastries from outside the palace for the Empress. The Empress was angry and had the pear cakes thrown out of Fengqi Palace.

Six years later, the Empress still disliked the Prince of Huai.

"Your Majesty, at the Princess Consort's birthday banquet earlier, the Princess Consort was looking for a match for Prince Yun. The Princess Consort is kind-hearted and also intends to look for a match for Prince Huai."

Eunuch Gao intended to bring up the marriage proposal to the Prince of Huai.

Emperor Yuan then raised his eyes. "What? You think I should start looking for a princess for the Prince of Huai?"

The emperor, with his imposing presence and unpredictable emotions, terrified Eunuch Gao, who knelt on the ground in a panic, saying, "This old servant dares not, this old servant has misspoke, this old servant will slap himself."

Grandpa Gao really slapped him in the face.

The crisp sound rang out several times in the hall before Emperor Yuan gave him a cold glance. "Alright, alright, not too loud, not too soft, just putting on an act."

"Your Majesty..." Eunuch Gao looked at the emperor with trepidation.

Seeing the emperor reread the memorial, he knew the emperor disdained to punish him.

Grandpa Gao breathed a sigh of relief.

Then Emperor Yuan murmured, "It's time for Prince Huai to get married. The Dragon Boat Festival is coming soon. I'll hold a banquet in the palace then and see which girl is worthy of him."

……

Song Qingning left the Hall of Diligent Governance.

On the way out of the palace, a young eunuch came to deliver an imperial decree: "Second Miss Song, Her Majesty the Empress invites you to visit Phoenix Palace for a short visit."

Empress Meng summoned her!

Song Qingning had never met Empress Meng.

She had heard from Chen's mother that Lady Lu and Empress Meng were once close friends.

Song Qingning followed the eunuch to Fengqi Palace.

Inside the Phoenix Palace.

Empress Meng took another sip of tea.

Today, Xie Xuanjin paid his respects as usual.

The mother and son sat together drinking tea as usual, without speaking or exchanging glances.

As was customary, Xie Xuanjin would leave after finishing a cup of tea.

So when he was almost finished with his tea, Empress Meng instructed Aunt Ling to send someone to invite Miss Song.

The Second Miss Song saved Meng Yushu's life.

As Yushu's aunt, her gratitude to her savior was perfectly justified.

"Your Majesty, Miss Song has arrived," a young eunuch announced as he entered.

Empress Meng glanced at Xie Xuanjin, who still showed no sign of leaving. Finally, she couldn't help but ask, "Ah Jin, aren't you busy today?"

To politely send someone away.

Xie Xuanjin continued drinking his tea, saying, "Your subject has some free time today."

They have no intention of leaving.

Empress Meng: "..."

The sun has risen in the west!

"Then..." Empress Meng hesitated.

Song Qingning is a young woman, and I'm afraid she'll feel uncomfortable with men present.

Before Empress Meng could finish speaking, Xie Xuanjin said, "Mother, please take care of your business. I'll sit for a while and have some tea. Just pretend I'm not here."

Empress Meng: "..."

does not exist?

She can pretend he doesn't exist.

But his aura was overwhelming, his presence incredibly strong; who could ignore him? What if he frightened Song Qingning…

He rarely wanted to stay with her for a little longer.

Fine!

Empress Meng couldn't really send him away, so she instructed Aunt Ling, "Please invite Miss Song in."

Song Qingning entered the inner hall.

He bowed to Empress Meng and then discovered that Prince Huai was also there.

"minister……"

Song Qingning thought of the position of captain of the Shence Army, and the Prince of Huai was her superior. However, she had not yet officially reported to the Shence Army, so she changed her address, "This subject greets Your Highness, Prince of Huai."

Xie Xuanjin sipped his tea without looking at Song Qingning, as if he had only stayed to drink tea.

Song Qingning was also very composed.

It was Empress Meng who summoned her.

Song Qingning stood respectfully before Empress Meng. Empress Meng looked her over, and Song Qingning let her look her over.

Empress Meng was stunned when she first saw Song Qingning.

Huai Zhou had told her about General Song more than once. He strongly recommended Song Qingning to serve in the court, setting a precedent for women, which she originally disagreed with.

The Meng family had already become too powerful and attracted unwanted attention, and Xuan Jin, who also controlled the Shence Army, aroused the emperor's suspicion.

Such a high-profile recommendation would only arouse the emperor's suspicion and put the Meng family in grave danger.

Upon seeing Song Qingning, Empress Meng understood why Huaizhou was so determined to do this.

She is dead, but her brother's obsession remains.

"Ning'er, may I call you Ning'er?" Empress Meng asked in a kind and gentle tone.

Xie Xuanjin, who was drinking tea, looked up in surprise.

Song Qingning was also surprised.

In both her past and present lives, only Madam Lu called her "Ning'er".

Such intimacy made her feel close and warm.

When the Empress addressed her that way, a strange feeling stirred within Song Qingning. "Your Majesty may call me Ning'er. That's how my mother addresses me too."

Song Qingning refers to the Lu family.

Empress Meng, however, thought of Lady Liu.

After Lady Liu was granted the title of "First-Rank Imperial Lady", she brought Song Qingyan to the palace to pay her respects several times.

Just like when she was young, Liu's eyes were full of wicked thoughts that she couldn't hide.

Song Qingyan actually looks a bit like her.

On the contrary, it was Song Qingning...

Empress Meng looked her over and saw a resemblance to Jing Shu in her, especially in her eyes, which were clear and clean, just like Jing Shu's.

"Come here and sit next to me," Empress Meng beckoned her forward.

Song Qingning sat down calmly beside Empress Meng without any hesitation.

Empress Meng asked about Lady Liu, "How is your aunt...?"

Song Qingning knew that Empress Meng and her mother were close friends.

Despite living in the capital for so many years, they rarely kept in touch. Song Qingning knew that her mother did not want Empress Meng to worry about her situation.

"She'll be alright." Song Qingning smiled.

Her smile startled Empress Meng, making her feel that she resembled Jing Shu in her youth.

But soon, Empress Meng shook her head.

Song Qingning was the daughter of the second wife of the Marquis of Yongning, born to Lady Liu.

"Ning'er, Huaizhou and his wife only have one child, Yushu. By saving him, you've saved their entire family, Aunt Ling..."

Empress Meng instructed Aunt Ling to bring up the previously prepared gifts of gratitude.

Pearls and jade, exquisite headdresses, and precious fabrics—each piece was extraordinary, along with a platter of gold and silver.

"This is my gift of gratitude, Ning'er, you must accept it," said Empress Meng.

Song Qingning hurriedly declined, "Your Majesty is too kind. It was only a small matter for me to save Young Master Meng. Besides, Minister Meng and his wife have already given us a gift of thanks."

"What they give is theirs, what I give is my heartfelt gift."

As Empress Meng spoke, she took off the jade bracelet from her wrist and put it on Song Qingning's wrist. "Don't refuse anymore! If you don't accept it, I will be angry."

Song Qingning: "..."

She dared not anger the Empress.

But the jade bracelet on her wrist seemed to weigh a ton.

Xie Xuanjin's gaze was fixed on the jade bracelet, lost in thought.

"Your Majesty, I thank you." Song Qingning expressed her gratitude.

Empress Meng spoke to her for a while before letting Song Qingning leave the palace.

As soon as Song Qingning left, Xie Xuanjin also got up and left.

Aunt Ling couldn't help but laugh and said, "Your Highness Prince Huai is acting strangely today. He usually only drinks one cup of tea and leaves, but today he's drunk several. Was the tea any better today?"

"After Miss Song left, he left too. Anyone who didn't know better would think he stayed behind specifically for Miss Song."

Empress Meng was greatly alarmed upon hearing this.

Not long ago, when the Princess Consort of Yu visited the palace, she mentioned that Xuan Jin had a girl he liked.

Could it be Song Qingning?!