I Was Supposed to Be the Villainous Consort

"Chu Yuying has thoroughly lost face this time. Besides, Huang Mingxiu isn’t an easygoing person. There’s bound to be plenty of conflict between those sisters-in-law in the future," Han Jinyi said, shaking her head with a sigh.

"She’s just reaping what she sowed. Why are you pitying her?" Lu Zhixue said with a disdainful look. "That’s just how things are in this world—the winner takes all. If you succeed, everything is wonderful and you get all the benefits. If you fail, you just have to accept your defeat. What’s there to pity? She made her own choices."

’When I first entered the palace, I suffered two major setbacks one after another. Who did I complain to?’

’I could only blame my own incompetence.’

Feng Yunjin looked at Song Yunzhao and said thoughtfully, "It’s also possible that Marchioness Yongjia will request an audience to apologize and show goodwill."

Song Yunzhao glanced at Feng Yunjin. "Did someone ask you to pass on a message?"

"Truly, nothing can be hidden from Zhaoyi," Feng Yunjin said with a smile.

Hearing Feng Yunjin’s frank admission, Song Yunzhao also smiled. "Tell Marchioness Yongjia that since Sixth Miss Huang suffered at the banquet because she was used by someone else, the matter is over. Tell her not to worry about it."

’This meant she wasn’t going to pursue the matter.’

’If Marchioness Yongjia hadn’t sent Chu Yuying back to the Capital City,’ Feng Yunjin thought, ’Zhaoyi certainly wouldn’t have been so agreeable. That Marchioness is a formidable woman indeed.’

"In that case, the Marchioness will surely be endlessly grateful to Zhaoyi."

"I wouldn’t go that far." Song Yunzhao shook her head. "The Marquis Yongjia Mansion has deep roots in the Capital City. Although I am a favored concubine currently enjoying the limelight, my own foundation is not yet secure. My glory, wealth, and future all rest in the Emperor’s hands. While others may be especially cautious around me, they aren’t truly afraid of me."

It was only because of her past grievances with the Dingnan Bo Mansion that Marchioness Yongjia was afraid she would take the opportunity to take her anger out on them.

Lu Zhixue watched Song Yunzhao let the Marquis Yongjia Mansion off so lightly. On second thought, it wasn’t surprising. She had been let off the hook just like that in the past.

’Thinking about it now made her feel a bit dazed. She couldn’t imagine what had possessed her back then. She knew Song Yunzhao was not to be trifled with, yet she still insisted on locking horns with her like a brainless idiot. Wasn’t that just asking for trouble?’

Just as she was thinking this, she heard Han Jinyi ask, "If the Qin Family really was involved in this, how will they be dealt with?"

Hearing this, Lu Zhixue snapped out of her reverie and also looked at Song Yunzhao.

"Grand Tutor Qin is a veteran official who has served three reigns. Even the Emperor has to show him some deference," Feng Yunjin said. She felt that Zhaoyi might come out on the losing end of this, and that once Chen Ran was convicted, he’d just be quietly disposed of.

Song Yunzhao said, "The Emperor said he would give me a proper resolution, so I will just wait."

Lu Zhixue grumbled, "Even if he wants to give you a resolution, it’s not like he can dismiss Grand Tutor Qin from office and have him beheaded, can he?"

The others: ...

Meeting everyone’s gazes, Lu Zhixue couldn’t help but feel a little embarrassed. "Am I wrong? That Qin Xiyue is so arrogant, and every time she manages to get away completely unscathed. Who would believe she doesn’t have Grand Tutor Qin protecting her? As long as Grand Tutor Qin doesn’t fall, Qin Xiyue won’t fall either. Just thinking about it makes me lose sleep."

’As someone who’s been screwed over by Qin Xiyue before, my face stings every time I think about it.’

"Who knows? We’ll just have to wait and see," Song Yunzhao said softly. She also wanted to know how far Feng Yi would go this time.

"Regarding this matter, there hasn’t been a single peep from the Empress Dowager. What does that mean?" Lu Zhixue asked with a frown.

’Song Yunzhao has been so wronged. Even if it was just for appearance’s sake, the Empress Dowager should have at least shown her stance. But she’s just playing deaf and dumb, not saying a word. That’s very telling.’

"What the Empress Dowager does or doesn’t do isn’t really important. What matters most is what the Emperor does," Feng Yunjin said meaningfully.

’Feng Yunjin is absolutely right,’ Song Yunzhao thought.

"Then let’s just wait and see," Han Jinyi said, but she didn’t have much confidence in her heart.

’How could Grand Tutor Qin, a veteran of three reigns, be so easily toppled?’

The three of them didn’t stay long, leaving after about half an hour.

Song Yunzhao personally saw them out, then went to a small, temporarily set-up study to practice calligraphy and calm her mind.

’At a critical time like this, she had to remain steady.’

’She had done everything she could. Now it was all up to the Emperor. If she were to do anything more, it would be superfluous.’

At lunch, Feng Yi sent word for Yun Zhao to eat on her own. Song Yunzhao had her lunch, took a nap, and then waited for the Eldest Madam.

「In the afternoon.」

The Eldest Madam arrived right on time.

Upon seeing Yun Zhao, the Eldest Madam looked her up and down carefully before letting out a soft sigh of relief. "Seeing you safe and sound with my own eyes finally puts my heart at ease. I knew you were fine, but I couldn’t rest easy until I saw you for myself."

Song Yunzhao noticed the dark circles under the Eldest Madam’s eyes. Although she had tried to cover them with powder, they were so dark that they still showed through.

"Eldest Aunt, you didn’t rest well last night, did you?" Song Yunzhao asked with concern.

Hearing Yun Zhao’s concerned words, the Eldest Madam said, "How could I sleep well when something so terrible happened to you? The Qin Family has gone too far! Although our Song Family can’t compare to them, we cannot just swallow this insult. I’ve already written letters back to your Eldest Uncle and your father. I also had Ye Xi visit Princess Zhenbei this morning, and I went to visit Lady Lu myself."

Song Yunzhao: ...

Seeing Yun Zhao’s shocked expression, the Eldest Madam said in a stern, deliberate tone, "Chancellor Lu already owed you a favor. This is the perfect time for him to repay it."

Song Yunzhao could tell that her Eldest Aunt was truly angry this time. She said softly, "Eldest Aunt, I actually think things through before I act. You don’t need to worry so much."

"You have your considerations, but the Song Family is your family. We can’t just do nothing, or how will others view you in the future? Even if the Song Family’s official ranks are low, we still have our backbone!" the Eldest Madam said firmly. "When the Qin Family bullies you, they are bullying the Song Family. If we, as your elders, don’t even say a word and don’t dare to stand up for you, how will people look at you? How will they look at the Song Family? We rise and fall together."

"I will remember my Eldest Aunt’s teachings," Song Yunzhao replied earnestly, looking at the Eldest Madam.

Only then did a hint of a smile appear on the Eldest Madam’s face. "Life is not easy for you in the palace, Zhaoyi. Don’t think you’re causing trouble for the family. The family’s status has risen because of you, so it’s only right that we stand up for you."

Though the words were rather transactional, Yun Zhao found them exceptionally comforting to hear.

"Ye Xi got some news from the Prince Zhenbei Mansion. The Emperor’s Imperial Guard Leader has been dispatched. From the looks of it, this matter won’t be let go easily," the Eldest Madam said in a low voice.

Song Yunzhao hadn’t known this piece of news and said with some surprise, "News from the Prince Zhenbei Mansion?"

The Eldest Madam nodded. "Zhaoyi, you needn’t find it strange. After all, Ye Xi is now Princess Zhenbei’s niece-by-marriage. She can still get this little bit of information."

’So this is the power of a marriage alliance,’ Song Yunzhao thought. ’In the past, given Princess Zhenbei’s personality, she certainly wouldn’t have revealed any information so easily.’