I Was Supposed to Be the Villainous Consort

The sun climbed higher in the sky, and it was clear the banquet would begin soon. An Shutong moved among the guests, her demure and restrained demeanor tinged with helplessness. Although she wore a smile, one could sense it was somewhat forced.

After making a round, An Shutong found an opportunity to slip outside the hall. Mu Qing immediately followed her. "Miss, Nanny Yao just returned."

An Shutong tilted her head slightly. "And?"

"Nanny Yao didn’t look very happy." Mu Qing’s expression was also grim. If Nanny Yao had been delighted, it would have meant the Empress Dowager’s orders had been carried out.

As things stood, Mu Qing couldn’t be sure if the Emperor would come.

An Shutong looked up at the sky. The palace eaves blocked most of the sunlight, but she still had to squint to gaze upward.

’I always knew the chances of failure were high. Although the Emperor and the Empress Dowager are mother and son, their relationship is far from close.’

’And though the Emperor and I are cousins, we have never interacted or even met before. There is no affection to speak of between us.’

Even though she was the Empress Dowager’s niece, holding a birthday banquet in the palace was still too ostentatious.

Though she was very much against it, she could only obey once the Empress Dowager had made up her mind.

’But... when it comes to other things, I can’t just let people plot against me.’

"Remember what I told you to do. When the time comes, act on my signal." An Shutong’s voice was extremely soft and slow, and her eyes curved like a sword about to be drawn from its scabbard.

"Miss, rest assured."

"The Empress Dowager has arrived!"

An Shutong’s heart jumped, and she immediately turned to greet the Empress Dowager.

She managed to take the Empress Dowager’s arm just before she entered the hall, guiding her inside with a beaming smile.

"Greetings, Empress Dowager. May Your Highness enjoy boundless fortune and good health."

The concubines all rose to salute.

At that moment, Song Yunzhao was still leaning against a soft pillow, reading a book. Her expression was calm, her posture relaxed.

Suddenly, the sound of hurried footsteps came from outside, and soon Shizhu appeared before her.

"Your Ladyship, the Emperor has gone to Shouci Palace."

Song Yunzhao wasn’t the least bit surprised. Just like in the book, she casually placed the book in her hand on the small table by her bed and looked at Shizhu. "Proceed according to plan."

"Yes." Shizhu nodded at once.

The main gate of Wangyou Palace opened quietly. Anshun hurried toward the Imperial Hospital and soon returned with an Imperial Physician. After the physician entered Wangyou Palace, the gate was closed once more.

Zhang Maoquan had recently been busy with the matter of Ying Chun, the palace maid who served Han Guipin. Today, Yan Gongzheng had taken people to gather evidence, so with nothing to do, he returned to Wangyou Palace.

The moment he returned, he found the palace gate closed. His heart skipped a beat, and he immediately went to knock.

After several knocks, a voice from inside finally called out, "Who is it?"

"It’s me," Zhang Maoquan called back.

There was a pause from within, and then the gate quickly opened. The eunuch on duty smiled. "So it’s Chief Steward Zhang. I thought you were at the Palace Justice Department. If I had known it was you, I would have opened the gate and been waiting."

Zhang Maoquan looked at him and asked, "Why is the gate closed for no reason?"

The eunuch looked like he wanted to speak but hesitated, his face full of difficulty.

Zhang Maoquan lifted his leg and kicked him in the stomach. "Speak. What’s going on?"

"It was the Zhaoyi’s order. I’m just following instructions, how could I dare to ask why?" the eunuch said with a troubled expression. "But... Steward An did summon an Imperial Physician to take the Zhaoyi’s pulse."

Zhang Maoquan froze. "Today isn’t the scheduled day for a pulse reading, is it?"

"You have a sharp memory, Chief Steward Zhang, to even remember that. You’re right, it’s not. The appointment is for the day after tomorrow."

Zhang Maoquan’s heart sank. He paid the gatekeeper no further mind and immediately strode inside.

Wangyou Palace was eerily quiet. This silence only made Zhang Maoquan feel more uneasy.

Just as he reached the covered walkway, he saw Anshun escorting an Imperial Physician out. Upon seeing Zhang Maoquan, Anshun hurried forward to salute.

Zhang Maoquan merely nodded at Anshun, his eyes fixed on the Imperial Physician. "I recall today isn’t the scheduled day for the Zhaoyi’s pulse reading, is it, Doctor Zhang?"

Doctor Zhang didn’t dare offend a steward who served the Emperor. He looked at Zhang Maoquan and said, "You have a good memory, Chief Steward Zhang. This humble servant was summoned by Steward An. Song Zhaoyi is feeling a bit unwell."

"Is Song Zhaoyi alright?" Zhang Maoquan asked, suddenly tense.

Doctor Zhang frowned slightly. "Judging from her pulse, Song Zhaoyi is suffering from some emotional distress, causing her spirits to be unsettled and her qi to stagnate."

Chief Steward Zhang’s heart sank again when he heard this. The pulse diagnosis didn’t suggest any mortal danger, but emotional distress, unsettled spirits, and stagnant qi... this was clearly caused by a foul mood that she was bottling up and unable to release.

Song Zhaoyi wasn’t just in a bad mood; it was serious enough to be diagnosed from her pulse. Zhang Maoquan’s mind raced, and he immediately thought of the birthday banquet at Shouci Palace today. His heart gave another lurch.

’Song Zhaoyi must have been angered into this state, right?’

’It wasn’t unacceptable for the Empress Dowager to host a birthday banquet for her niece, but she just had to insist on inviting His Majesty. Moreover, they’re cousins. With Song Zhaoyi pregnant and unable to serve the Emperor in bed, even an idiot could figure out what the Empress Dowager is planning.’

’How could someone as intelligent as Song Zhaoyi not see it?’

With that thought, Zhang Maoquan understood the root of Song Zhaoyi’s illness. ’She’s worried someone will steal the Emperor’s favor while she’s pregnant.’

’But Song Zhaoyi can’t stop it. After all, she’s pregnant and can’t attend to him. Is she supposed to expect the Emperor to remain celibate for her? That would be a joke.’

’Even a fool knows you can’t do or say such things.’

’So, what else can Song Zhaoyi do? She can only worry and fret and feel insecure all by herself.’

’After all, back then, the Empress Dowager herself was plotted against and lost favor while she was pregnant. From then on, she was disdained by the late Emperor and never managed to make a comeback, not for her entire life. Even giving birth to the current Emperor didn’t help her regain his affection.’

’But the late Emperor didn’t lack for sons. The current Emperor is different. The child in Song Zhaoyi’s womb is his first. That carries a different weight entirely.’

Besides, Zhang Maoquan felt that the Emperor’s affection for Song Zhaoyi was not as fragile as the late Emperor’s had been for the Empress Dowager.

Thinking of this, Zhang Maoquan decided he couldn’t just let the matter rest. ’This is a golden opportunity for me to distinguish myself!’

After seeing off the Imperial Physician, Zhang Maoquan watched as Nanny Yu and a few others went in to attend to Song Zhaoyi. With a glint in his eye, he turned and headed out. Halfway there, he ran into Anshun and, after a moment’s hesitation, called out to him.

Hearing Zhang Maoquan call him, Anshun hurried over. "Chief Steward Zhang, what are your orders?"

Zhang Maoquan looked at Anshun and asked, "How long has the Zhaoyi been like this?"

Anshun put on a perfectly calibrated look of surprise, his smile stiffening slightly. "Chief Steward Zhang, what are you talking about? Isn’t the Zhaoyi the same as always?"

Zhang Maoquan snorted. "Well now, you’ve gotten bold, haven’t you? Daring to lie even to me. Tell the truth!"

Anshun’s face fell into a miserable expression. "It’s not that I won’t say it, but the Zhaoyi forbade me. How could I dare to disobey her orders?"