Chapter 91: Revealing the Truth
“You are truly pitiful,” Consort Song said, looking at Wen Mingqian with pity in her eyes. She reached out and gently tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear. “Such a beauty, about to fade away.”
“Tell… tell me…” Wen Mingqian clutched her sleeve, her whole body writhing in pain, yet she refused to let go.
“The Suyang Duke’s Manor, do you remember it? I was originally meant to be the concubine of their Young Duke,” Consort Song said, her voice tinged with sadness as she recalled the past. “The Young Duke was dashing and of noble birth. He had promised me everything, but then something happened…”
Wen Mingqian certainly remembered. About ten years ago, the Suyang Duke was suddenly accused of colluding with the enemy and treason, his entire family executed, leaving no survivors.
This incident caused a huge stir in the Capital City, and Consort Song entered the Gong Family’s household after that.
But who would have thought she was having an affair with the Heir Apparent of the Suyang Duke’s Manor?
“But… but… when you first entered the mansion, the Old Madam clearly called for a doctor…” Wen Mingqian had been unable to figure this out until now.
“Heh, it wasn’t difficult at all.” Consort Song smiled. “I found a way to prevent him from detecting the pregnancy pulse. I had someone seal several acupoints on my body beforehand, and since I was still in the early stages of pregnancy, my pulse was not very strong. So, I managed to get by…”
“So that’s how it was. No wonder… we all thought the child was premature, but it turns out it was just the right time.” Wen Mingqian knelt on the prayer mat. “You… you truly have ability!”
For so many years, Wen Mingqian had been unable to understand why Consort Song would harm her own eldest son. After all, this child brought her nothing but benefits.
The Gong Family had never doubted Gong Kang’an’s origins over the years. Consort Song had given birth to Gong Kang’an seven months after entering the household, and the child was indeed a bit small at birth.
Thinking back now, it must have been intentional on Consort Song’s part. Eating less, or perhaps binding her abdomen with cloth strips daily, could have made the fetus appear small.
“You flatter me. Women of our humble origins, wanting a life of wealth, must resort to extraordinary measures,” Consort Song sighed softly. “We are like fishermen, casting our nets again and again. We naturally don’t care for small fish and shrimp, but we are reluctant to discard half-grown fish, so we keep them in a pond.
If we can catch a big fish, then our wishes will be fulfilled, and we will never have to worry again.”
“Heh! So… Master is just a half-grown fish you kept in your pond…”
“What choice did I have? I had to survive! And live a good life.” Consort Song felt immense pity for herself. “I was afraid of being implicated, so I had to quickly find a new connection. Master was the easiest to fool; a few words, a few tears, and he would do anything to bring me back to the mansion.
I originally thought that the child’s birth had been concealed. Who would have thought that as he grew, he would gradually begin to reveal the truth?
The male members of the Suyang Duke’s family have a patch of skin on their chests that resembles snakeskin, and the Heir Apparent was just like that. The older he got, the more obvious the snakeskin became. Kang’an’s child didn’t show it in the first few months, but later it gradually began to appear.
This thing cannot be hidden; as he grew, it would eventually be discovered.
If that day were to come, what awaited us, mother and son, would be eternal damnation…”
The Gong Family and the Suyang Duke’s Manor naturally had dealings, and Gong Xu even had a good relationship with the Suyang Duke’s Heir Apparent.
They were all aware of this matter, so Consort Song could not hide it.
“So… you…”
“I couldn’t take his life for no reason; I had to find a scapegoat! Why wouldn’t I do something that killed three birds with one stone?” Consort Song looked at Wen Mingqian as if she were an idiot. “I eliminated him, framed you, and made the Gong Family indebted to me for life…
Don’t feel wronged. You don’t know how difficult my situation was at the time.
When I fed that cake to him, my heart was bleeding…”
He looked at me sweetly and smiled, calling me Mother. When the poison took effect, he looked at me, his little mouth opening and closing, saying, ‘Mother, it hurts… rub it for me…’”
As Consort Song spoke, tears involuntarily streamed down her face. “But I had no choice. I told him, ‘Child, you shouldn’t have been born. Go find your real Daddy!’”
She loved the child, of course, but she loved herself more.
“You… you are truly heartless. Then why did A Shou die?” Wen Mingqian was already gasping for breath, as if she would pass away at any moment.
“A Shou? She died for you! Before you were married, didn’t you have a childhood sweetheart neighbor? His name was Lin Wenchang…” Consort Song tapped her chin, recalling events from years ago. “He still couldn’t forget about you! He even found his way to the Capital City.
A Shou met him on the street. He pestered A Shou for information about you, but A Shou refused to say and hurried away.
Coincidentally, Granny Yang saw this scene. She pretended to be one of your maids and struck up a conversation with the bookworm surnamed Lin.
She told him that you were not doing well in the mansion, that your husband favored concubines over his wife, and that your mother-in-law was making things difficult for you at every turn.
Lin Wenchang was heartbroken upon hearing this, so he wrote a letter and asked Granny Yang to deliver it to you.
He was truly devoted, not minding that you were already a withered flower. He even harbored hopes that you would leave the Gong Family and grow old with him.
I then took this letter and found A Shou, threatening her by saying you were having an affair with another man and that the evidence was now in my hands. I told her to obey me obediently, or I would show the letter to Master.
That maid was truly loyal! She snatched the letter and threw it into the brazier. During the struggle, Granny Yang’s son accidentally knocked her unconscious.
I had a sudden inspiration and told them to make it look like A Shou committed suicide out of guilt. After all, a dead witness can also mean no witness… If she wouldn’t comply, then let her die!”
“You… you… is what you’re saying true?” Wen Mingqian stared at her fiercely, her eyes almost spitting fire.
“Of course, it’s true. You’re dying, why would I lie to you? Go on! When you reach the underworld, if you happen to meet A Shou, ask her if what I said is true.” After pouring out her secrets, Consort Song felt an indescribable sense of relief. “Wen Mingqian, you are no match for me. Don’t feel wronged. In this world, the victor becomes king, and the vanquished becomes a bandit.”
“Song Xiulian, is there something you haven’t noticed is wrong?” Wen Mingqian looked at her and suddenly smiled at the corner of her mouth.
Consort Song frowned, unable to comprehend it for a moment.
Wen Mingqian slowly sat up, raising her sleeve to wipe the blood from the corner of her mouth. “Haven’t you noticed that I haven’t died yet after all this time? Zhang Ma’s madder juice and hawthorn syrup were too astringent; she forgot to add sugar.”
“You…” Consort Song suddenly realized. “You weren’t poisoned?!”
“Aren’t you the best at acting? I was just playing along with you in a play,” Wen Mingqian slowly smoothed her hair. “Was it satisfying?”
