I Was Supposed to Be the Villainous Consort

"Then let’s look at it from another angle. Suppose Ji Yunting is in love with the County Princess, and she’s fully aware of it but neither rejects him nor clarifies her stance. Instead, she turns around to laugh and chat with another young gentleman. If Ji Yunting were to lose his cool and cause a scene, and the County Princess still defended the other man... what would Your Majesty think then?"

Feng Yi’s expression stiffened.

"When you like someone, when you care about someone, you can’t bear to see them hurt or sad. You’ll find yourself involuntarily paying attention to them, caring for them, wanting to be near them, and protecting them. Because you like them, you ask for nothing in return. Your Majesty, look at Ji Yunting. Has he done any of that? That’s why I’m not optimistic about this marriage. The County Princess is too deeply in love, and I’m truly afraid she will regret it and be heartbroken later on."

Hearing Song Yunzhao’s words, Feng Yi’s heart skipped a beat. She had said that when you like someone, when you care about someone, you can’t bear to see them hurt or sad. You find yourself involuntarily paying attention to them, caring for them, wanting to be near them, and protecting them.

’Lately, it seems I’ve been paying special attention to Song Yunzhao.’

Song Yunzhao glanced at the Emperor’s expression from the corner of her eye. Seeing the gravity between his brows, she snorted inwardly. ’Hmph. Even if you won’t read my little stories, I can still make my attitude perfectly clear.’

"I just have a fiery personality. That’s why on that day, when Princess Consort Wan tried to humiliate me with a Dancing Girl, hoping to steal your favor and snatch you away from my side, I absolutely refused to let it happen."

Hearing this, Feng Yi recalled Song Yunzhao’s every move that day. He also remembered her mentioning that she had set her sights on him back when she was outside the palace, falling for him at first sight and wanting to marry him.

He had always thought she was just joking to please him, but now he wasn’t so sure.

Thinking of this, Feng Yi looked at Song Yunzhao and said, "Song Yunzhao, I have many beautiful women in my harem, and I will have even more in the future."

’You damn player,’ Song Yunzhao cursed inwardly. Out loud, however, she said, "I am aware, Your Majesty. But asking me to share you is impossible. If they have what it takes, they can come and try to steal you away. If they succeed, it’s because I wasn’t good enough, and I will graciously admit defeat."

Feng Yi: ...

’What does she take me for?’

Just as he was thinking this, he heard Song Yunzhao continue, "I’m not like them. They entered the palace for their families’ futures, for power and status. They want too much. I just want you, the man. How can they possibly compare to me?"

Feng Yi: ?

’Just me?’

"You don’t believe me, Your Majesty?" Song Yunzhao asked immediately, meeting the Emperor’s suspicious gaze.

Feng Yi wondered how to answer. ’I don’t believe her, of course. How could there be such unconditional affection in this world?’

So he remained silent.

’A suspicious Emperor, through and through,’ Song Yunzhao sighed inwardly. ’I’ve come ninety-nine steps tonight; I can’t falter on the last one.’ She looked at the Emperor with a particularly sincere smile. "It’s alright if you don’t believe me, Your Majesty. Time reveals a person’s heart. Eventually, you will know if my words today are true or false. Sincerity and falsehood are like pearls and gravel. When the tide recedes, the truth is revealed."

Feng Yi gazed at Song Yunzhao. Her face held a gentle, soothing smile, the corners of her lips slightly upturned. In her eyes, he could see no ulterior motives or desires, only pure determination and confidence.

Feng Yi lowered his gaze slightly. After a long moment, he said, "In that case, I shall wait and see."

Song Yunzhao: ...

’What else can I do? To survive, and to live with honor, I can only keep cheering myself on.’

’It’s not like I can get a divorce now that I’m in the harem, can I?’

’Other than dedicating myself completely to winning over the Emperor, there’s no other way forward.’

The Emperor had someone bring out a chessboard. Song Yunzhao understood immediately: the Emperor was in a chaste mood tonight.

The two played chess. Song Yunzhao played quite seriously, but for some reason, her skills just wouldn’t improve.

Watching her agonized expression, Feng Yi instantly felt a sense of satisfaction.

’This’ll teach her to watch her mouth.’

After two games of chess, Song Yunzhao stumbled into the bed curtains, light-headed and with her mind full of chess pieces. She fell asleep in no time. ’A date with Zhou Gong is far better than playing chess.’

Feng Yi didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. He reached out and lowered the bed curtains, blocking out the room’s light. Turning his head, he looked at the soundly sleeping Song Yunzhao and gently brushed her cheek with his hand.

’Wanting me, the man... Hmph. It’s a good thing I’m in a charitable mood tonight and won’t hold it against her. If word of that ever got out, she’d be in for it.’

Feng Yi lay down beside Yun Zhao, but for a while, he felt no sleepiness. His mind was filled with all the wild talk from Song Yunzhao earlier.

’Love?’

’Where in this world could you find such a clean, pure, and flawless love?’

Feng Yi turned on his side. The person beside him was still sleeping sweetly. He couldn’t help but think back on everything that had happened since he met Song Yunzhao.

Before entering the palace, she had indeed inquired about his background. According to her, she had wanted to marry him.

After she entered the palace, he recalled her clinging to his neck and crying in front of everyone in the Imperial Garden, and also her big scene with Princess Consort Wan at the Qixi Festival banquet.

Moreover, in all the time she had been by his side, Feng Yi had never once heard her recommend another concubine to attend to him in bed. In the past, even the three concubines would sometimes recommend other concubines for him.

As for her, not once.

Feng Yi’s feelings grew complicated.

’Could it be? Did she really just fall for my face?’

The very idea made Feng Yi feel... off. He immediately squeezed his eyes shut. ’I can’t think about this. I have to stop thinking about this.’

But closing his eyes only made him think more. There were so many people in the harem, yet he truly did prefer coming to Wangyou Palace.

At Wangyou Palace, he could relax. He didn’t have to be too guarded when speaking with Song Yunzhao. Her personality was straightforward, and her every emotion was plain to see on her face. He didn’t have to waste energy guessing her thoughts, which allowed him to feel very at ease.

’So, is this what Song Yunzhao meant when she said, "Because you like them, you ask for nothing in return"?’

’It’s precisely because she asks nothing of me that we both feel so relaxed when we’re together.’

Feng Yi tossed and turned, not knowing when he finally fell asleep.

「The next morning」

When Song Yunzhao heard the person beside her stir, she started to get up as well.

Feng Yi put on his outer robe and stepped out from behind the bed curtains. He turned back and said to her, "Why are you getting up too?"

"I have to at least keep up appearances."

The corner of Feng Yi’s mouth twitched. He reached out and pushed her back down. "There’s no one else here. You don’t have to put on an act."

Song Yunzhao let herself fall back. "You’re the one who said it, Your Majesty. You can’t accuse me of being lazy or discourteous later."

Feng Yi glanced at her with a smile.

Song Yunzhao pulled the brocade quilt over most of her face, leaving only her eyes, which darted about mischievously.

Feng Yi: ...

Meng Jiuchang, waiting outside, overheard Song Jieyu. He was beyond speechless.

’This Song Jieyu really dares to say anything. I’ve never seen a concubine like her.’

’So brazenly outspoken, yet the Emperor actually likes it. How strange is that?’