Chapter 518 — Twisted
Purple Streets of Chang'an · Page 1 of 4
Li Tiaoniang had conceived before Jiang-shi did — this was likely the only humiliation that Jiang Huisun, that darling of heaven, had ever suffered in her life.
At the mere thought of it, Song Cen felt his blood boil. He wanted to see Li Tiaoniang; even her base shamelessness had become something delightful to behold. Especially when he saw Li Tiaoniang, too, with a big belly, pleading coyly, "This is your own flesh and blood — surely you cannot let him be left out there in the world," the plot of *The Civet Cat Exchanged for the Crown Prince* immediately rose before his eyes, and it grew more vivid by the moment!
If Jiang-shi knew that the child she had raised with such hardship was Li Tiaoniang's own, what would she do?
Once the thought took hold, there was no stopping it.
Before Jiang-shi he played the humble, trembling servant, bustling about arranging for midwives and physicians. Not only did his father not suspect him, he was gratified on every side that the boy had grown up and become sensible. For the first time he felt that some things need not be as arduous as he had imagined.
It was as though Heaven itself could no longer bear to watch and had taken his side — when Jiang-shi went into labor, the birth was difficult, while Li Tiaoniang delivered her child smoothly. And Jiang-shi bore a daughter, while Li Tiaoniang bore a son.
Without a soul the wiser, he switched the two infants.
Perhaps it was the bond between mother and child; whenever Jiang-shi held Song Han, a flicker of unease would now and then surface in her brow.
Watching, he could not help but tremble with fear, and simply took it upon himself to care for the child.
Jiang-shi settled her heart and devoted herself wholly to Song Han, spending even more effort on him than on Song Yan.
Every time he saw the scene, a strange impulse stirred in him. He longed for Song Han to grow up quickly, for him to be more docile and obedient than Song Yan, more sensible and clever — he even longed for the Jiang family to pour themselves into nurturing Song Han as they had nurtured Song Yan.
When the truth was finally revealed, it would be great fun.
With such feelings he waited, until Jiang-shi fell ill over the matter of Jiang Meisun.
Then he quietly slipped arsenic into her medicinal broth, and in her final days told her the truth!
He thought he would never forget Jiang-shi's shocked face for the rest of his life.
It was also the first time in his life he had seen Jiang-shi shocked.
Just as unforgettable was the feeling of triumph, of breathing free at last, when he saw that shocked face.
But even after being provoked into vomiting blood, Jiang-shi would not die.
So he had no choice but to press a quilt over her face.
Jiang-shi kicked at the bedding with all her strength.
How strong she was!
She kicked the bedsheet to shreds.
She even cursed him at the time.
She said he would get his retribution!
At this thought, Song Cen's throat, which had grown somewhat numb, began to burn and sting again.
As though Song Han were still biting into his throat.
Like the fangs of a venomous snake, driven deep into his flesh.
That low-born wretch Song Han, unfit for any decent company — just as Jiang-shi had predicted, he had turned and bitten the hand that fed him!
Song Cen shook with rage, wanting to shout, "Beat Song Han to death with clubs!" — yet not a sound would come out. Instead his chest tightened and his breath ran short, and he nearly could not breathe at all.
Seeing this, Song Maochun hurried to say, "Don't move about, whatever you do — mind you don't tear the wound open. The physician will be here at once."
Song Cen was still unwilling to give in; he wanted to look toward where Song Han had fallen. But he had barely lifted his head before his strength failed him, and he slumped back down.
Song Tongchun hastily pressed hard upon his wound.
The party hurried off to the Xiangxi Courtyard.
The great hall fell silent all at once.