I Was Supposed to Be the Villainous Consort

Song Yunzhao said with a perfectly straight face, "Of course I’m going. All the others hope I won’t, but don’t think for a second I don’t know what they’re up to. I simply can’t let them get what they want."

Feng Yi gazed intently at Song Yunzhao. ’Only she could make her jealousy sound as grand and righteous as a courtier presenting a memorial to the throne.’

If anyone else had said such a thing, Feng Yi would have left in a huff long ago. But for some reason, hearing Yun Zhao say it, especially paired with the fierce look she was deliberately feigning, made him feel quite pleased.

"What are you smiling at, Your Majesty?" Song Yunzhao asked, looking at Feng Yi with some confusion. ’His smiling at a time like this seems a bit frivolous.’

"I am moved by Zhaozhao’s profound devotion to me, and have decided to grant your heartfelt desire."

Song Yunzhao: ...

’Could he please speak like a normal person? I feel like he’s mocking me.’

Since the Emperor had made his stance clear, Song Yunzhao immediately put on a delighted expression, which she then replaced with a cautious one as she asked, "In that case, who else will Your Majesty be taking?"

’In my opinion, Qin Xiyue should be left behind in the palace,’ she thought, ’but that’s obviously impossible.’

’Just to save face for Grand Tutor Qin, Feng Yi can’t possibly leave Qin Xiyue behind. How frustrating.’

’Besides, if Qin Xiyue can’t go, then Feng Yunjin and Lu Zhixue, who are of lower rank, won’t be able to go either. This is a rare chance to get out of the palace for a breath of fresh air. I can’t drag them down just for my own selfish reasons.’

"Who do you want to bring?"

"Is that for me to decide? I will listen to whatever Your Majesty commands."

"Of course, we must bring those you’re friendly with. The other three concubines will discuss and draw up a list for the rest."

Song Yunzhao felt secure. "Your Majesty is truly the best."

Feng Yi looked at Yun Zhao. "You must think this through. The journey will not be comfortable, and you are with child. I worry you will suffer on the way."

"As long as I can accompany Your Majesty, I would brave a mountain of swords and a sea of flames. This is merely a carriage ride. I’m not afraid."

Feng Yi: ...

’Give her an inch and she takes a mile.’

Seeing that the mood was right, Song Yunzhao took out a diagram she had drawn and presented it to the Emperor like a treasure. "Your Majesty, would you care to see what this is?"

Feng Yi glanced at Yun Zhao. "What is it?"

"Just take a look."

Feng Yi took it with a smile. He studied the diagram for a moment before looking at Yun Zhao, a hint of surprise in his eyes. "You came up with this?"

Song Yunzhao said with a serious expression, "When I say I want to accompany Your Majesty, I don’t just pay it lip service. I’m truly sincere. I researched many books and combined that with my own uncomfortable experiences in carriages, and I came up with this. What do you think?"

Feng Yi didn’t care about the diagram itself. He cared about Yun Zhao’s words. ’She truly wants to be with me, so much so that she’s willing to do things no well-bred young lady would ever consider.’

’If word got out that his favored concubine was an artisan, wouldn’t she become a laughingstock?’

Feng Yi looked at Yun Zhao. ’Does she not care about her own reputation? All just to follow me out of the capital for the summer?’

"You should know that if this diagram gets out, it will not be good for your reputation."

In the hierarchy of scholar, farmer, artisan, and merchant, the status of an artisan had always been low.

"I know. But I also know that Your Majesty will protect me."

Feng Yi was silent for a long moment before saying, "You are right."

’How could Song Yunzhao trust him so completely? The Imperial Family is the most ruthless of all. He doted on her now, but who knew if he would dote on another in the future? By then, all these things she was doing would become ammunition to attack her with.’

Song Yunzhao pretended not to notice the gravity in the Emperor’s eyes, nor his brief moment of silence.

’How long have we even known each other? Without several years of companionship and mutual understanding, who could claim our bond is deep?’

’I’m not in a rush. I still have time to add bricks and tiles to our ’love’.’

"Your Majesty, I heard that the courtiers accompanying the court on this trip can also bring their families, is that true?" Song Yunzhao had, of course, read this in a book.

Feng Yi nodded. "Rest assured, the Song Family will be on the list of those granted this favor."

Given the Song Family’s status, they would not normally be able to accompany the imperial procession. However, with Song Yunzhao now being a favored concubine, making an exception to grant them this grace was no major issue.

Song Yunzhao said hesitantly, "I’m afraid my father’s leg still can’t handle the jostling of a long journey. He probably won’t be able to attend."

Feng Yi asked, "Who do you want to go?"

"Let my eldest paternal aunt go. It’s a shame my eldest paternal uncle is far away in Yucheng, or he could have taken my father’s spot." Of course, Song Yunzhao couldn’t pass up this opportunity. It wasn’t a matter of whether they wanted to go, but as she was a favored concubine, this was a matter of face for the Song Family. If the Song Family did not attend, people would begin to doubt the extent of her favor.

Feng Yi wasn’t particularly concerned with such trivial matters. "The Song Family will be given a few slots. You can decide who gets them and make the arrangements yourself."

Song Yunzhao’s eyes lit up. "Really? In that case, could I invite my married-out sisters?"

"Of course," Feng Yi said with a smile.

Song Yunzhao asked again, "What about female cousins?"

Feng Yi looked steadily at Yun Zhao. "The slots are given to the Song Family. You have full authority over them."

Song Yunzhao threw herself into the Emperor’s embrace. "Your Majesty, how can you be so wonderful?"

’I want to invite Xie Linlang, but our familial ties are a bit distant. With the Emperor’s permission, though, it should be fine.’

’I don’t want Xie Linlang to end up as someone’s concubine in this life, so the only way is to elevate her social standing.’

’And what could elevate her standing?’

’Accompanying the Song Family to the Summer Palace would be an affirmation of her status and a sign that she is held in high regard.’

’A wonderful girl like Linlang deserves to marry a good man.’

Feng Yi had a faint idea why Yun Zhao had asked that question. He hadn’t planned on probing, but Yun Zhao was already speaking eagerly. "I gave the diagram to Xie Jinshu of the Xie family. He sold it to a carriage company and earned 800 taels of silver for me. They’re also the ones handling my storybooks. Miss Xie and I are very close, but it’s a shame she’s a merchant’s daughter. Her marriage prospects are likely to be difficult, which is why I thought of bringing her along."

’800 taels?’

’That’s it? And she’s this happy about it?’ To be supportive, Feng Yi said, "Not bad. The Xie family is quite capable."

Song Yunzhao laughed. "This sort of thing is very easy to replicate. Once it starts circulating on the market, any artisan can copy it. It won’t be worth much by then, so 800 taels is actually a very good price."

Feng Yi hadn’t expected Yun Zhao to understand such matters. "Who told you that?"

"Does anyone need to be told that? Before I entered the palace, whenever a jewelry shop released a new hair ornament, the shop next door would quickly copy it and start selling their own version. If that’s the case for something as complex as jewelry, it goes without saying for a simple device like this."

Hearing Yun Zhao’s nonchalant tone, Feng Yi suddenly burst out laughing. "You can infer the general rule from a single instance. Not bad, you’re a clever one."

Song Yunzhao: ...

’This time, she could distinctly hear the teasing in the Emperor’s voice.’

Seeing Yun Zhao’s face darken, Feng Yi couldn’t hold back and laughed even more heartily.

’My judgment really is impeccable. She’s not just feisty; she’s practical, too.’