I Was Supposed to Be the Villainous Consort

Consort Shu watched the Empress Dowager’s expression, feeling utterly gratified. It was a pity she wasn’t the Empress. If she held that title today, she would have certainly exchanged a few more barbs with the Empress Dowager to fully vent her resentment.

"This concubine takes her leave." Consort Shu performed a curtsy and walked out slowly, a placid smile on her face.

Princess Consort Wan glanced at Consort Shu, hesitated for a moment, then followed her out.

Feng Yunjin and the other two could barely contain their excitement, their eyes practically shooting sparks. ’What an unexpected and delightful turn of events! Tsk, tsk, what a grand show we witnessed today.’

To think that the Empress Dowager, after hearing what Consort Shu said, didn’t humiliate her on the spot and just swallowed the insult.

Seeing that the show was over, Lu Zhixue turned to follow Princess Consort Wan. Feng Yunjin and Han Jinyi quickly fell in step behind her.

The remaining women saw this and, not daring to linger, also began to depart. Just before leaving, Qin Xiyue glanced back at the Empress Dowager. Even seeing the flames of fury dancing in the old woman’s eyes couldn’t dispel Qin Xiyue’s earlier feeling of regret.

’This whole setup today was truly a shame.’

She still didn’t quite understand why that image had flashed through her mind. With so many questions awaiting answers, she had no desire to linger on a battlefield where the game was already lost.

’Let Princess Consort Zhuang, her partner in crime, deal with the Empress Dowager’s wrath.’

Once everyone was gone, Princess Consort Zhuang took a deep breath, stepped forward, and said, "Empress Dowager, we should have Miss An treated first."

The Empress Dowager had no intention of letting Princess Consort Zhuang see An Shutong in such a compromising state. "You may return and rest as well, Princess Consort Zhuang," she said.

Upon hearing this, the smile on Princess Consort Zhuang’s face tightened. "This concubine takes her leave."

The moment Princess Consort Zhuang was gone, the Empress Dowager’s fury erupted. She looked at Nanny Yao and commanded, "Save her."

Nanny Yao had already ordered Yourong and Miao Rui to prepare cold water. At the Empress Dowager’s command, she had servants support the flushed and groggy An Shutong into the bathing chamber and lower her into a tub of cold water.

An Shutong shuddered violently from the cold, her eyes fluttering open in a daze. Her mind was a chaotic fog; she tried to speak but couldn’t form any words. Just as she parted her lips, cold water was splashed over her head. Her body convulsed, the words she wanted to say now impossible to utter. Her thoughts were a jumbled mess as sensations of hot and cold warred within her. The agony made her try to climb out of the tub, but she was forced back down...

「In Wangyou Palace」

Song Yunzhao was still waiting for good news from Shouci Palace when, unexpectedly, the Emperor himself arrived.

The Emperor’s arrival was like a tornado—sudden and swift. Fortunately, she was well-prepared. The moment she heard his approach, she shoved her storybook under the pillow, burrowed into the brocade quilt, and squeezed her eyes shut.

Feng Yi strode into the bedchamber. The bed curtains were drawn, dimming the light within. He instinctively softened his footsteps as he approached, slowly reaching out to lift the canopy. There he saw Yun Zhao, sleeping peacefully. Her face was wan, her lips pale—a stark contrast to her usual rosy-cheeked, vibrant self.

Feng Yi sat gently on the edge of the bed, his eyes fixed on Song Yunzhao, simply gazing at her.

Song Yunzhao could feel his gaze locked on her. She didn’t dare to move a muscle. She even had to force her breathing to remain steady and even, not daring to let her eyes shift in the slightest.

’You have to lie in the bed you’ve made,’ she thought ruefully.

An unknown amount of time passed, but she could still feel his unmoving gaze. Her body was growing tense; she couldn’t hold the pose for much longer. ’If this keeps up,’ she worried, ’I’m going to give myself away.’

Just as Yun Zhao was debating whether she should pretend to wake up, she heard Zhang Maoquan’s voice from outside. "Your Majesty."

"Enter."

Song Yunzhao heard Feng Yi’s deliberately hushed voice and felt his gaze finally shift away from her. She let out a small, inward sigh of relief.

Still, she didn’t dare move.

She then heard footsteps entering, followed by Zhang Maoquan’s voice. "Your Majesty, an aphrodisiac was burned in the main hall. It is fortunate you did not enter. On my way back, Lady Shufei gave me something and instructed me to present it to you."

"What is it?" Feng Yi asked.

"The wine cup you used at the banquet."

Song Yunzhao felt the temperature in the room drop. Her mind raced. ’Just like in the book, the Empress Dowager tampered with things.’

’Consort Shu gave the Emperor the wine cup from the banquet, so she must have secured crucial evidence. This is completely beyond my expectations. I thought her greatest contribution would just be foiling the plot.’

’I didn’t expect Consort Shu to be so clever this time, actually thinking to grab the evidence.’

’There were so many details she couldn’t even tell Nanny Yu. How else could she explain knowing so much? I really didn’t expect Consort Shu to be so formidable this time.’

’Now that he has the wine cup, the Empress Dowager’s meddling will be impossible to hide once the Emperor investigates further.’

’And her accomplice, Princess Consort Zhuang, is going to have to suffer for it this time.’

’But why didn’t Zhang Maoquan mention Qin Xiyue, the story’s protagonist?’

’That’s not right.’

Song Yunzhao found she could no longer lie still. She chose that moment to stir and open her eyes.

The moment she moved, the Emperor turned back to look at her.

Their eyes met. Song Yunzhao immediately put on a look of pleasant surprise. "I thought I heard Your Majesty’s voice in a dream. I never imagined you were actually here."

Song Yunzhao started to struggle to sit up, and Feng Yi quickly reached out to help her. "Zhaozhao, are you awake?"

Song Yunzhao nodded, a wide smile on her face. She then tilted her head, gazing at the Emperor. "Your Majesty, why are you here? Weren’t you supposed to be at Shouci Palace?"

Feng Yi froze. "How did you know I went to Shouci Palace?"

The smile on Song Yunzhao’s face froze for an instant before she replied nonchalantly, "I heard the palace attendants talking."

But Feng Yi sensed something was amiss. He turned his head toward Zhang Maoquan. "What is the meaning of this?"

He had only intended to make a token appearance at Shouci Palace, so he had given specific orders that no word of it was to reach Wangyou Palace, lest Yun Zhao find out and start overthinking things.

Who would have thought she’d find out anyway.

This was the opening Zhang Maoquan had been waiting for. He immediately said, "Your Majesty, a great many people passed by Wangyou Palace today."

Feng Yi’s expression soured. As he looked at Yun Zhao’s lowered head, he couldn’t help but recall his earlier promise to her. The memory made his cheeks burn, and he felt deeply uncomfortable.

Seeing his chance, Zhang Maoquan bowed deeply and quickly excused himself.

Feng Yi sighed softly and took Yun Zhao’s hand. "The Empress Dowager insisted I pay a visit. She used our bond as mother and son to pressure me, and I didn’t want to make the situation too tense, so I thought I would just go through the motions..."

"Your Majesty has no need to explain to me. I am merely a Zhaoyi; how would I dare to question your whereabouts? If the Empress Dowager were to find out, she would surely punish me for it." Song Yunzhao kept her voice low. She had always known that a woman who appeared vulnerable was far more pitiable than one who acted strong.

Besides, it wasn’t in her nature to suffer a loss in silence. Now, not only had she been disadvantaged, but she had also been wronged, and the Emperor had broken his promise to her. In a situation like this, she knew exactly how to act to secure the greatest possible advantage.

She would make Feng Yi remember this: don’t make promises lightly. And if you make one to her, you had better not break it.