That Imperial Concubine is both wicked and cunning! Your Majesty, wake up!

Chapter 171 Surrounded by Enemies on All Sides, Caught in a Dilemma

Everyone frowned and shook their heads when they saw the Second Prince's appearance. The Second Prince's temperament was becoming more and more unruly and difficult to tame every day.

The Third Prince's eyes welled up with tears as he gently stroked Snowball's fur after it was thrown to the ground.

Song Shuangning gave a wink, and the palace servants took Xue Tuan and the Third Prince aside to comfort them.

The eldest princess strode forward, greeted everyone, and then grabbed the second prince's wrist: "Stop fooling around. If your mother finds out, she'll punish you by making you copy books."

The second prince, who had finally managed to get out of the house, forcefully broke free from her hand, stomped his feet, and threw a tantrum: "Just a little while longer, only a short while."

Xue Tuan was still frightened and huddled together with the palace servants. When she saw the Second Prince still baring his teeth and brandishing his claws, she immediately arched her back and breathed on him.

The second prince had never been so humiliated and immediately became enraged.

"You stinky cat, kill it for me!" the Second Prince roared, pointing at the snowball.

Startled, Xue Tuan jumped off the palace maid's arms.

The group was startled again. It was just a child, yet he said he wanted to kill the cat just because he was slightly annoyed.

The second prince glared angrily at the nannies and eunuchs, "What are you all standing there for? Hurry up and catch that stinky cat!"

Song Shuangning slammed her hand hard on the table, causing the cups and saucers to tremble slightly.

The second prince was startled and his body shrank back suddenly.

"Shut up! You have shown no respect for your elders since you arrived. Not only did you not pay your respects to me or the other ladies, but you also kicked and threw my cat, making it frightened and trembling."

The Second Prince was intimidated by Song Shuangning's imposing presence, and his arrogance instantly subsided. He could only stammer, "I didn't know this was Consort Yuan's cat. I didn't mean to."

"I can tell you did this on purpose."

Consort Shao quickly reached out and tugged at Song Shuangning's arm, whispering, "You're still pregnant, don't get angry, be careful not to hurt yourself."

The second prince, harboring a deep resentment, retorted defiantly, "It hissed at me first, it was the one that was aggressive towards me. It's nothing but a beast, while I am a prince!"

Song Shuangning sneered, "Is this how Her Majesty the Empress taught you to abuse your status and disregard reason?"

The eldest princess, who had been silent all along, spoke up in rebuttal, "The Empress Dowager is of upright character and has always been virtuous. She has taught us all the rules of the royal family. Consort Yuan, you cannot speak ill of the Empress Dowager behind her back."

The eldest princess remembered that when she accidentally fell into the lake, it was Consort Yuan who saved her.

However, the Empress Dowager has been getting increasingly haggard lately, and her power to manage the six palaces has been lost to others. She has been reprimanded by the Emperor, and all of these things are caused by Consort Yuan.

Consort Shao, fearing things would escalate, quickly stepped forward to smooth things over, "Princess, you misunderstand. Consort Xian was merely reprimanding the Second Prince; how could she have been speaking ill of Her Majesty the Empress?"

The eldest princess ignored her accusations, her eyes red as she continued to accuse Song Shuangning, "Empress Consort Yuan, you are now a venerable and virtuous consort in the harem. Isn't this much favor enough? Do you have to force my mother to the brink of despair and relinquish the Empress's position to you before you'll stop?"

"Your Highness, be careful what you say."

The second prince was terrified by the scene before him.

His previous hostility vanished, replaced by fear. He hurriedly reached out and grabbed the eldest princess's sleeve tightly: "Sister, let's go back."

The eldest princess flung his hand away, each word laced with reproach, "It's all because of you that this mess started."

"Your mother has worried herself sick over you, but you haven't made any progress at all. You're naughty, ignorant, and only know how to cause trouble. You're utterly useless."

The second prince was scolded by the eldest princess and burst into tears.

The Empress rushed over and was greeted by this standoff.

She looked at the weeping second prince with utter disgust.

Consort Yuan is currently enjoying the Emperor's favor and is pregnant. If she feigns abdominal pain at this moment, the Emperor will surely protect her.

If Wan'er were to argue in public like that, she would only be accused of disrespecting her elders.

Princesses are not like princes; they have no maternal family to support them and no chance of becoming heir apparent. The emperor's favor is their greatest asset in the palace, and they must not let themselves be ruined by momentary anger.

The Empress suppressed her anxiety, slowly stepped forward, grasped the eldest princess's hand, and coldly reprimanded, "You're becoming increasingly ill-mannered. Why did you dare to talk back to Consort Xian?"

The eldest princess shook her head, feeling wronged: "Mother, I did not talk back to Consort Yuan."

"You dare to talk back?" The Empress's voice grew even colder. "Quickly apologize to Consort Yuan."

The eldest princess stubbornly insisted: "Your subject did not talk back or contradict the Empress Dowager. You only told the truth."

Song Shuangning raised her hand to stop her, saying, "Your Majesty need not be harsh on the princess. The princess did not talk back to me."

"But I have a few words I'd like to say to you privately."

*

After everyone withdrew, the Empress stood coldly before Song Shuangning and said, "What do you want to say to me?"

Song Shuangning's gaze hardened, and she spoke without hesitation: "Your Majesty, the method Rong Lian used to harm me last time, was it your idea?"

Caught off guard by her direct question, the Empress's expression changed slightly, her lips tightened, and she remained silent.

Seeing her silence, Song Shuangning continued, "Your Majesty, are you truly determined to be so confrontational and irreconcilable with me? You must have heard what the Eldest Princess said today, right? For your sake, she has disregarded all dignity. As her mother, you should at least consider the Eldest Princess's future. Or rather, haven't you even thought about leaving her a way out?"

"Princesses are different from princes; a princess's future depends entirely on your position as empress."

"If you insist on fighting with me, I will fight you to the end. If things escalate to the point where the Emperor loses his patience, do you really think you can still keep your position as Empress? Once the decree to depose you is issued, you yourself will be in trouble for the eldest princess. She was originally the eldest legitimate princess, but once her mother is deposed, she will become the daughter of a disgraced empress. How will she stand in the palace in the future? Who will dare to respect her? Even if the Emperor still has feelings for her, how can he cherish her as before?"

The Empress clutched her handkerchief tightly, speechless for a moment after Song Shuangning's words struck a nerve.

"How dare you utter the words 'depose the empress'?"

The Empress gritted her teeth, her words firm, but her hands, hanging by her sides, trembled slightly.

She knew better than anyone that she had long lost her former power. Her authority to manage the six palaces had been taken away, and her voice in the Phoenix Palace had gradually diminished. Now, she was merely clinging to power by virtue of her title as Empress.

If she makes another mistake, even a few insignificant ones, given the Emperor's current favor towards Consort Yuan, it's not impossible for him to depose her as Empress.

How could she not have thought of that?

Having held a subordinate position for many years, how could he willingly relinquish it to someone else?

But when she thought of her daughter's red-eyed defense of her, and the phrase "daughter of a sinner," her heart felt like it had been struck hard.

She looked up at Song Shuangning, "Consort Yuan, what do you want from saying all this to me?"

Consort Xian remained expressionless and spoke calmly: "I say this today only to remind Your Majesty the Empress that the Princess's future rests entirely on Your Majesty's decision. I urge Your Majesty to consider this carefully."

The Empress's eyes flickered.

Consort Yuan's words, "Think it over carefully," were a blatant declaration of her intentions.

If she insists on targeting Consort Yuan Xian.

Then Consort Yuan would no longer show any mercy.

He will personally drag her down from the back seat, cutting off her and the princess's escape route.

Consort Yuan Xian never said that she would not turn her anger towards her child.

If they were to truly tear off all pretenses and fight each other, how could she possibly be a match for Consort Xian?

She is destined to lose.

The Emperor's heart is entirely devoted to Consort Xian; what can she possibly offer in return?

Moreover, the palace is not just a place of open conflict; there are many hidden talents among its inhabitants.

She is now surrounded by enemies and has no way to advance or retreat.