Generally, one had to kneel and kowtow when receiving an Imperial Edict. Yet throughout the entire process, Song Qingshu stood rooted to the spot like a spear, with no intention of kneeling whatsoever. The eunuch reading the edict acted as though he saw nothing and never mentioned it from beginning to end. After finishing the decree, he even hurried over with a fawning smile to ingratiate himself with Song Qingshu.
After all, which eunuch in the palace was not exceptionally well-informed? Back when Song Qingshu had refused to bow even to Zhao Gou in court, the entire civil and military administration had been helpless. How could a mere eunuch like him fail to recognize trouble when he saw it?
Of course, he could report the matter afterward. By the rules, if someone showed disrespect while receiving an edict, he was obligated to report it. But he had spent so long surviving in the palace that he was no fool. Even if Zhao Gou learned of it, there was nothing he could do. If he insisted on adding to the emperor's frustrations, would that not make him disliked? The emperor could not punish Song Qingshu, and if he could no longer suppress the anger in his heart and took it out on him instead—such things happened often in the palace. Where would he go to seek justice then?
While he was trying to curry favor with Song Qingshu, Yue Lingshan was still thinking of the smile Song Qingshu had given when he turned around earlier. Her head felt light for a moment. Seeing his composed yet faintly proud bearing throughout the entire affair, her girlish heart stirred, and she secretly poked Lin Pingzhi. "Little Lin, did you see that? When will you be as impressive as Brother Song?"
Lin Pingzhi looked