A long time later, the Empress Dowager asked with a little hope, “Which Miss Sikong did you mention?”

“Your Majesty, it is future Princess Consort of Liang!”

“Future Princess Consort of Liang?” The Empress Dowager looked at Song Yixiao in shock, “I heard that she was fine when she was sent back to the Sikong's mansion, right?”

“At that time, Yiluo breathed steadily although she didn't wake up. The doctor said that she could be treated after being sent back to the Sikong's mansion.” Song Yixiao was struck dumb after hearing the maid's words and finally realized the current situation by her mother-in-law's cough. She tried hard to restrain her emotion and still sobbed a little, “How come… How come?”

Sikong Yiluo was only 14 years old!

She was even one month younger than Song Yixiao. The young girl was always healthy. How could she die suddenly?

Song Yixiao's heart wasn't calm at all. She bit her lip tightly to not to cry loudly. She was so sad that her rosy face became pale with tear strains.

Fortunately, the Empress Dowager and Jinguo Grand Princess were also shocked by it and didn't notice her faux pas. The Empress Dowager said, “Just now, the Empress and n.o.ble Consort Cui came with the Crown Princess to admit their error and ask for punishment. They said that the younger sister of the Crown Princess was young and asked future Princess Consort of Liang to drink more, and then she felt uncomfortable on the way back to home. Luckily, Xubai's wife and the Empress's nephew helped her so that something terrible didn't happen… It just pa.s.sed four hours. How could she…”

“Future Princess Consort of Liang gets along well with Xubai's wife. As she pa.s.sed away, Xubai's wife should go to mourn her.” Jinguo Grand Princess was Song Yixiao's mother-in-law and instinctively cared about her junior after she calmed down. She said, “The mourning hall of the Sikong Family must haven't been prepared, right? Why did Xubai urge his wife to go there? Is the Sikong Family disputing with the Wei Family now?”

“It's such an important thing that we should figure it out!” The Empress Dowager looked serious a little after hearing that. She pondered for a while and finally sighed, “Anyway, since Xubai called his wife, we should let her leave… Yuguo, go with Xubai's wife! Tell me in time when you have new messages. Let me know what's going on!”

A senior palace maid stepped forward after hearing that and said calmly, “Yes!”

Song Yixiao also had no time to think about the Empress Dowager's intention at present. She just wanted to go out of the palace immediately to figure it out. She forced herself to say “Yes”. Then she left quickly.

Outside the hall, Yuguo turned to remind Song Yixiao in a low voice, “The rouge on your lips seemed to be a little vague. Would you want to wipe it?”

Song Yixiao unconsciously took a handkerchief to press her lips and saw blood on the green silk when lowering her head. She began to remember that she didn't rough her lips this morning. She took a deep breath and said, “Thanks for your attention!”

Yuguo kept silent and just nodded slightly.

Yuguo led Song Yixiao to leave the palace soon. But they didn't see Jian Xubai when they arrived at the gate of the palace.

One of guards nearby came to ask Song Yixiao's ident.i.ty. After making sure she was Duke of Yan's wife, the guard said, “Duke Jian would have wanted to wait for you. But people of the Eastern Palace urged him to go. So before he left, he let us tell you to go to the Eastern Palace soon!”

Song Yixiao asked surprisingly, “The Eastern Palace? But I heard that something terrible had happened to the Sikong Family.”

“Madam, I just saw people of the Sikong Family and the Wei Family had come to the Eastern Palace. Maybe that's why Duke Jian asked you to go there.” The guard had a look at Yuguo and then said, “The carriage of Duke of Yan's mansion is there. Do you want me to let it come here?”

“General, thank you!” Song Yixiao nodded to him and implied Jinxun to give him a purse. The guard refused her with a smile. It might be because Yuguo was also here.

There was only a palace wall between them and the Eastern Palace. Its small door was not far from Song Yixiao. But as a t.i.tled lady, she had to enter in the front door which was on another street.

Song Yixiao got out of the carriage at the gate of the Eastern Palace. After she said her ident.i.ty and intention, guards hurried to open the door to let her in. Before pa.s.sing the screen wall, the voice of hoot beat suddenly came behind her, as well as the persuading words.

“Is there any urgent official things? Otherwise who dare to ride a horse in front of the Eastern Palace's gate?” Song Yixiao and her people were a little shocked after hearing the sound. They unconsciously stopped and turned back, seeing a black fine horse with white hooves. The horse ran here quickly chased by other horses and almost touched the weapons of the Eastern Palace's guards when it stopped.

The female rider on the horse seemed not to see the weapons nearby. Getting down quickly and turning back to sneer after standing on the ground, she ridiculed, “I've been here. Are you able to tie me back before I go to the Crown Prince's house?”

The rider was almost the same age as Song Yixiao. Her neat hair was a little fluffy after riding a horse quickly. A pearl dangling ornament in her hair shook continuously when she was saying. She wore a yellow coat and a red dress, belted at the waist. She was trim and tall. She was attractive and many girls were not as taut as her.

She looked so beautiful with delicate eyebrows and white skin. Her bright eyes like gems were full of anger at this time. She coldly scolded the attendants who came late, “Go away! Do you want to riot in front of the Eastern Palace?”

Song Yixiao and Yuguo had an astonished look at each other. They were curious about her ident.i.ty. The girl turned to said to the alert guards of the Eastern Palace, “I'm the second daughter of the Sikong Family. I heard that my parents, eldest brother, the Crown Prince and his wife, and people of the Wei Family were talking about my sister's death. So I also want to go in to listen. Please let them know my request!”

Yuguo frowned a little after hearing that and pulled Song Yixiao's sleeve.

Song Yixiao understood her hint. The Wei Family had argued with the Sikong Family because of Sikong Yiluo's death. As a witness, Song Yixiao wasn't proper to contact with Sikong Yiluo's younger sister in advance.

So they quickly changed their way after pa.s.sing the screen wall and directly walked to the main hall.

The main hall had been full of people at this time. The Crown Prince and his wife were definitely here because they were hosts. But Cui Jianlian, the side concubine, also asked to stay here. Under the seat of honor, Wei Yinlian's and Sikong Yiluo's parents and brothers sat opposite each other. The air between them was tense and serious.

The smell of tea permeated the air in the hall. It was the best Errui Tea and not everyone in the imperial palace could drink it. The Crown Prince got it because the Emperor liked him. He wouldn't let his guests drink it if his sister-in-law wasn't in the wrong.

But it was a pity that others weren't in a mood to enjoy such a good tea at this time, except that Jian Xubai took a sip of it sometimes on the last seat.

Seeing that Song Yixiao finally came here, many of them excitedly stood up to talk with her, “Madam Song, what happened yesterday…”

“Your Highness Crown Prince, Your Highness Crown Princess!” Song Yixiao just nodded at these people without talking and then directly curtsied to the Crown Prince and his wife elegantly.

The Crown Prince and his wife hurried to stop her curtsy and said to Yuguo after seeing her, “Miss Yuguo, do you also come here?”

“Her Majesty the Empress Dowager was very shocked after hearing such grievous news.” Yuguo curtsied and said calmly, “So Her Majesty sent me here with Madam Song to ask what happened actually!”

Hearing the words “grievous news”, people of the Sikong Family with tear stains almost sobbed again. People of the Wei Family also looked dark. Mrs. Wei stretched out to hold Wei Yinlian's hands to comfort her. But both of Mrs. Wei and her daughter looked desperate.

The Crown Prince sighed secretly after seeing that. He asked Song Yixiao and Yuguo to have a seat. After palace servants gave them tea, he began to touch his jade ring and said softly, “Madam Song, you must know why I call you here. You are close to Miss Sikong and Miss Wei. Yesterday, Miss Sikong was ill. I heard that you had seen the whole process. So I want you to describe it in detail to us now!”

“Yes!” Song Yixiao didn't look better than people of the Sikong Family and the Wei Family. She forced herself to calm down and said, “Her Highness the Crown Princess held a feast yesterday. Duke of Yan's mansion is near the Eastern Palace. So I was the first one to come here. Then Yiluo also came. Yinlian was the last one…”

She said what happened yesterday in detail except their conversation in the wing-room. She felt more and more upset. The friend who had talked with her last night pa.s.sed away suddenly!

At the end of her description, Song Yixiao couldn't help sobbing even if she tried to restrain herself.

“I've said what happened after my daughter was sent back to home.” Madam Zhu, Sikong Yiluo's mother said first after hearing that. She glanced at people of the Wei Family opposite slowly with tears. Her tone was not fierce but was in deep anger and grief. “At the beginning, she looked fine. But at the midnight, her condition suddenly became terrible. My son immediately went to call an imperial doctor. But it was useless… My daughter finally pa.s.sed away at 9 o'clock this morning in my arms. She didn't say anything during this time!”

Madam Zhu had already choked with sobs before she finished saying!

Although her husband and son didn't shed tears, they all clenched fists and gritted teeth. Clearly, they restrained their bitterness so hard.

People of the Wei Family bit their tongues. Finally, Wei Yinlian's mother, Madam Tian, cautiously said, “We didn't teach my daughter well. My daughter knew your daughter's little capacity for liquor. But she still persuaded her to drink several cups of Lychee Green Liquor, making your daughter uncomfortable after drinking…”

Then Madam Tian kept silent at this time.

Her meaning was very clear. Although her daughter was wrong, Lychee Green Liquor was not a kind of liquor. Otherwise the Crown Princess would use it at the feast congratulating Side Concubine Cui's pregnancy. Besides, Wei Yinlian didn't ask Sikong Yiluo to drink too much. The cups for women were delicate and small. Several cups of wine were less than a bowl of wine!

Madam Tian replaced her daughter to admit the guilt that the wine made Sikong Yiluo uncomfortable! But it wasn't Wei Yinlian's wrong to make Sikong Yiluo die! At least, they shouldn't only blame Wei Yinlian about it!

After all, how could a healthy girl die from a bowl of Lychee Green Liquor?

What Madam Tian said was reasonable. But the question was that people of the Sikong Family in sadness didn't think so!

Madam Zhu stared at Wei Yinlian with cold eyes. She said, “I want to ask your daughter a question!”

Wei Yinlian's face was in pale and she didn't look vivacious and lively as usual any more. She raised her eyes fearfully and hurried to lower her head. Her voice trembled a little, “Please ask!”

“Did my daughter refuse when you persuaded her to drink?” Madam Zhu said flatly, “Your mother also admitted that you forced her to drink many times for fun even if you knew she couldn't drink much! Now she is dead, leaving her family and Prince of Liang who will marry her next month. I and my husband lose our daughter and Prince of Liang loses his betrothed wife. Are you satisfied now?”

“…” Wei Yinlian opened her mouth, as if she wanted to explain away or apologize. But she finally said nothing and her body shook a little. Then she fell down in a faint!

Madam Tian was so shocked and hurried to hold her daughter to check. Then she scolded Madam Zhu, “Madam Zhu! My daughter didn't do that intentionally. You…”

“But my kid is dead!” Madam Zhu looked at her coldly and said loudly, “Your daughter is fine! I just ask her a question and you become so worried about her! Have you ever thought about my feeling? Is your Wei Family's daughter much more important than my Sikong Family's daughter? We still don't know whether your daughter really faint or not! How can it be enough to offset my kid's life?”

The Crown Princess had to say, “Madam Zhu, please restrain your grief! My mother didn't mean that. Yiluo is Aunt Zhenyang's beloved granddaughter and the offspring of the first emperor of our dynasty. How can the Wei Family's daughter be n.o.bler than Yiluo?”

Although Madam Zhu was filled with grief and wanted to kill Wei Yinlian, she didn't lose all senses of reason. Hearing the Crown Princess's words, she couldn't continue to force Madam Tian. But she wouldn't give up at this time!

So she thought of an idea and then left her seat. She knelt down and begged, “Your Highness, please administer justice for my daughter!”

Didn't the Crown Princess want to help her family? Let all people know how the Crown Princess dealt with it fairly!

Would the Crown Princess continue to help her younger sister or administer justice for the fiancée of her husband's brother?