Chapter 375 - 153: Must Not Add Fuel to the Fire
Song Yunzhao didn’t know much about the salt administration, but she knew from history that salt vouchers had caused many problems. She just didn’t realize that in the world of the book, issues could arise even with salt production.
"What do you mean, exactly?" Song Yunzhao asked, looking at Feng Yunjin.
Feng Yunjin considered this carefully before speaking slowly. "To be honest, I’m not entirely clear on the specific situation. However, a relative of my family once collected salt from the Salt Transport Bureau, so I know a little. After the salt vouchers are sold to salt merchants, they go to the salt fields or salt wells to collect their salt. Some merchants transport it away immediately, while others store it temporarily in a salt warehouse. But these warehouses, while supposedly run by the government, are used to store the salt merchants’ salt. That leaves a lot of room for manipulation."
Listening from the side, Han Jinyi’s expression grew solemn. "If that’s the case, then it’s not impossible that someone is deliberately framing Mr. Song."
Feng Yunjin nodded slightly. "This is just our own speculation. Everything requires evidence."
"If it’s a deliberate setup, I’m afraid getting evidence will be very difficult," Han Jinyi said with a soft sigh.
Song Yunzhao’s heart sank. This matter would not be easy to handle. She hadn’t expected the latest storm in the court to be aimed not at her, but at her family.
’In the end, my eldest uncle’s misfortune is because of me.’
Song Yunzhao was at a loss for a moment. She looked at Feng Yunjin and Han Jinyi and said, "As long as my eldest uncle is innocent, I believe Your Majesty will see that he gets justice."
Feng Yunjin and Han Jinyi exchanged a look. As long as the Emperor protected Mr. Song, this ordeal would surely be a scare, but nothing more.
After seeing Feng Yunjin and Han Jinyi off, Song Yunzhao thought about the Emperor’s plan for a military review. Just as it was proposed, her eldest uncle ran into trouble. Sending troops to suppress the local officials involved a conflict between the civil and military factions, and now the civil servants were stirring up trouble.
Song Yunzhao sighed. ’Unfortunately, I don’t have the protagonist’s halo, nor do I have a legion of admirers to pave the way for me. I have to do everything myself. But I’m stuck deep within the palace walls with no one to command. The Xie family siblings can help me make money, but they can’t speak a single word for me in court.’
’It’s truly impossible without your own people. No wonder the court is full of factions and cliques. Now that I’m mired in this mess, I can finally understand what it feels like to be so utterly alone.’
Song Yunzhao entered the study and sat down behind her desk. She rolled up her sleeves and began to carefully grind an ink stick.
From outside the hall, the occasional sound of Palace Attendants chatting and laughing could be heard, their voices kept low for fear of disturbing her.
The weather, which had been clear just moments ago, suddenly turned gloomy as dark clouds gathered overhead. A strong wind kicked up, and the sky filled with roiling thunderheads. The hurried footsteps of Palace Attendants echoed intermittently as they rushed to put away the miscellaneous items in the courtyard.
Song Yunzhao was already in a foul mood. She put down the ink stick, rose, and walked to the window. A southern wind blew in, making her robes rustle. Just as she was about to lower the support rod for the window, she saw a familiar figure striding toward her from a distance.
Song Yunzhao froze. In the blink of an eye, Feng Yi was already before the window.
Their eyes met through the open window. Song Yunzhao snapped back to her senses and said immediately, "Your Majesty, it’s about to rain! Please, come in quickly."
Feng Yi stepped over the threshold and strode inside. Seeing Yun Zhao’s pale complexion, he asked, "You know?"
Song Yunzhao nodded, her face etched with worry. "I just learned about my eldest uncle and my father. It’s true that misfortunes never come singly. I never expected my father and uncle to both run into trouble one after the other."
Feng Yi looked at Yun Zhao’s ashen face, took a step forward, and grasped her hand. "I was going to have Meng Jiuchang come, but I worried he wouldn’t explain it clearly, so I decided to come and tell you myself. I know that what happened to your father and uncle is an unwarranted disaster, a consequence of the strife in court."
Hearing this, Song Yunzhao immediately said, "Your Majesty, my father and uncle are loyal to you. It is their duty to share your burdens. How could this possibly be Your Majesty’s fault? It is all the doing of those vile people."
Feng Yi’s grip on Yun Zhao’s hand tightened slightly.
Song Yunzhao looked up at the Emperor. His upright figure was like a finely forged sword, honed through a thousand trials. His gaze was sharp and piercing, enough to make her heart tremble.
Song Yunzhao squeezed his hand back, and in the next instant, he pulled her tightly into his embrace.
"Zhaozhao, don’t worry," Feng Yi said in a low voice, his words like a promise.
"With Your Majesty protecting me, of course I’m not worried," Song Yunzhao said with a forced, lighthearted smile. She could sense that the Emperor was not just in a bad mood; the courtiers’ repeated provocations had pushed him to his limit.
’This is not the time to add fuel to the fire.’
At this thought, her racing heart gradually calmed. She buried the words she wanted to blurt out deep within herself. ’Sometimes, it’s not enough to show weakness; I also have to learn when to keep my mouth shut.’
Feng Yi released Yun Zhao, his fingers gently tracing the space between her brows before he turned and left.
Song Yunzhao stared at the Emperor’s retreating back and leaned lightly against the door. After a long moment, a soft smile touched her lips.
’As long as the Emperor understands the injustice my family has suffered, that’s more useful than anything else.’
’I can’t do anything more. I’ll just have to wait.’
*
"Go pay our respects to the Empress Dowager?" Song Yunzhao looked at Nanny Yu in surprise.
Nanny Yu nodded. "Yes. Consort Zhuang was the first to propose it. She said that no one went to disturb the Empress Dowager right after she returned to the palace. But now that the Empress Dowager has been back for some days and has had time to rest, it is natural that we go pay our respects."
Song Yunzhao scoffed. "And what did Lady Wanfei and Lady Shufei have to say?"
’She asked, but she knew they wouldn’t dare refuse. Wouldn’t that be handing their opponent a weapon against them?’
"They naturally agreed," Nanny Yu said with a derisive smile.
’Just as I thought. First, the court targets my family, and now the harem is coming for me?’
’It’s one thing for the others to go pay their respects, but I’m pregnant. I can’t be put through this ordeal every day.’
"When does it start?"
"Tomorrow."
"She’s certainly in a hurry," Song Yunzhao said with a cold laugh. "Fine, then. I’ll go."
’I can’t avoid it. I’d like to see just what Consort Zhuang is planning.’
Thinking of this, Song Yunzhao looked at Nanny Yu and asked, "Has there been any movement from Qin Wan Yi lately?"
Although Nanny Yu didn’t quite understand why her mistress was paying so much attention to Qin Wan Yi, she answered earnestly, "Qin Wan Yi has been very quiet recently. She rarely even steps out of Huayang Palace."
Song Yunzhao mulled this over. ’Could it be that Qin Xiyue isn’t involved with Consort Zhuang in this matter?’
Looking at her mistress, Nanny Yu spoke again. "I heard that the military review will take place in two days. It’s said that the Emperor issued a royal decree for it and considers it very important."
Hearing the term "military review," Song Yunzhao remembered Feng Yi saying how clever it was. She hadn’t expected him to use it so soon. ’Just thinking about the military parades of later generations is enough to make one’s blood boil with excitement.’
The military review wasn’t until the day after tomorrow, but she had to go pay respects to the Empress Dowager tomorrow.
Thinking of this, she looked at Nanny Yu and asked, "There are so many concubines in the palace. Surely not everyone can go. Did Consort Zhuang say who is permitted to attend?"
"She said that to avoid having too many people disturb the Empress Dowager’s peace, only concubines of the fifth-rank and above may go."
’Fifth-rank and above?’
Song Yunzhao clicked her tongue. ’The cutoff is perfectly calculated. It puts Feng Yunjin right on the edge, making her the very last one in line to greet the Empress Dowager.’