I Was Supposed to Be the Villainous Consort

But she felt that things weren’t so simple. She looked at Anshun and said, "Go to Cuiwei Palace. Say that I wish to pay a visit to Lady Lu, and ask if she has a moment to spare."

’Consort Lu just suffered a major setback and even lost her title designation. Why would she do something like this?’

"Yes."

Anshun left and returned quickly. "Lady Lu says to please come over, my lady."

Song Yunzhao changed her clothes and, taking Xiangxue and Yulu with her, headed for Cuiwei Palace.

Consort Lu did not look pleased to see Song Yunzhao, but Song Yunzhao didn’t care. She stated her purpose for coming directly.

Consort Lu looked astonished, glaring at Song Yunzhao as she said angrily, "Are you suspecting me, Song Jieyu?"

Song Yunzhao chuckled lightly. "If I truly suspected you, Lady Lu, I would not have come to your door personally."

Consort Lu’s expression hardened. "Then what do you mean?"

"Because it involves someone from your palace, I naturally wanted to ask Your Ladyship to handle the questioning." Song Yunzhao sighed softly. "I know that you greatly dislike me, Lady Lu, but this matter must be investigated thoroughly. Surely you don’t wish to be blamed for something you didn’t do?"

Song Yunzhao’s words made Consort Lu’s face darken with anger. She said bluntly, "Using the Imperial Kitchen to humiliate you? That is not something I would do. It’s so indirect. I wouldn’t stoop to something that would only bring me shame!"

Song Yunzhao simply smiled and said nothing.

Consort Lu ordered Yunshang to investigate and find out the truth of the matter.

’Just looking at Song Yunzhao made her angry. If this had happened to anyone else, they would either go make trouble for the Imperial Kitchen or file a complaint with the imperial court. But her? She had the gall to come straight to my door. Does she really think I’m that easy to bully?’

Song Yunzhao looked at Consort Lu’s face, as black as the bottom of a pot, and said no more. She sat there, waiting quietly, faintly hearing some voices from outside the hall.

Consort Lu kept a stern face and deliberately ignored Song Yunzhao, thinking she would at least feel a little uncomfortable. But to her surprise, the woman showed no reaction at all. ’Her shamelessness is truly something to behold,’ she thought, almost impressed.

The atmosphere in the hall was strange. Outside, Yunshang finished her questioning, and her expression was also grim.

"Your Ladyship, the palace maid only said she was acting on someone’s request, but she refuses to say who instructed her."

Hearing this, Song Yunzhao gave Consort Lu a subtle look. ’The palace maid readily admitted to it, which drags Consort Lu into this mess. But by refusing to name her mastermind, isn’t this forcing Consort Lu to take the fall for someone else?’

Song Yunzhao decided to fan the flames. She looked at Yunshang and asked, "Is that palace maid refusing to confess, or is there simply no need to confess?"

Yunshang’s expression changed slightly. She immediately looked at Song Jieyu and said, "I dare not speak a single false word. Why would our lady do such a thing for no reason?"

"How could it be for no reason? Consort Lu lost her title designation because of me. We have quite a history of bad blood between us," Song Yunzhao said, her face stern.

Yunshang was momentarily speechless, as what Song Yunzhao said was undeniably true.

Consort Lu stared at Song Yunzhao. "There’s no need for your sarcastic remarks. If I were truly going to target you, why would I do something so dull? To use the Imperial Kitchen against you... it’s petty, unsophisticated, and frankly, an embarrassment to me."

Song Yunzhao looked at Consort Lu and said, word by word, "Though our relationship is poor, I have some understanding of Your Ladyship’s character. That is why I came here to ask for clarity. However, while I may understand, outsiders may not be so convinced. Don’t you agree, Your Ladyship?"

How could Consort Lu not understand Song Yunzhao’s meaning now?

’She wants me to investigate it myself!’

"You’ve certainly played your cards well."

"I am merely giving Your Ladyship a chance to prove your innocence. If people can so easily meddle with the Imperial Kitchen, today it’s just a matter of substandard meals. But what if someone tries something else in the future? How can any of us eat in peace, Your Ladyship? I am only a Concubine; for such a major issue, I can only look to you to take charge."

’This plotline was never in the book. It must have been created because of me. In other words, it’s aimed at me.’

Song Yunzhao wasn’t wrong. As a mere Concubine, she didn’t have the power to discipline the Imperial Kitchen. It was simply beyond her reach.

’But just because she couldn’t do it didn’t mean no one could. Since the person behind the scenes dragged the unfortunate Consort Lu into this, she could use Consort Lu’s hand to achieve her own goal.’

Consort Lu stared at Song Yunzhao in silence, thinking, ’If I had even half of her shamelessness, I wouldn’t have lost my title designation in the first place.’

"What’s in it for me if I help you?"

"Your Ladyship, what are you saying? This isn’t about helping me. This is about clearing your own name."