I Was Supposed to Be the Villainous Consort

Song Yunzhao saw Wang Zhaorong arrive. She knew Feng Yunjin would pull through.

Seeing Song Yunzhao again, Wang Zhaorong looked extremely uncomfortable. She, who had once been so high and mighty, now had to bow and offer greetings to Song Yunzhao.

Song Yunzhao had no intention of asserting her dominance. The moment she saw Wang Zhaorong, she put on a friendly expression and said with a smile, "It’s an honor that you could join me for tea, Wang Zhaorong. Please, sit and let’s talk."

Wang Zhaorong froze. After a moment’s hesitation, she sat down.

Feng Yunjin sat down on the other side and said with a smile, "We’ll be returning to the capital in a couple of days. If we want to come back, I’m afraid we’ll have to wait until next year. When that time comes, Zhaoyi, you mustn’t forget to bring me with you."

Wang Zhaorong was stunned by these words. She turned to look at Feng Yunjin. ’How can she say something like that so brazenly?’

’Where is her sense of shame?’

Feng Yunjin met Wang Zhaorong’s astonished gaze and said calmly, "Zhaorong, you know as well as I do that we were only able to come this year because we relied on the Zhaoyi. Since it’s the truth, there’s no need to hide it. I want to come to the traveling palace again to escape the summer heat, so naturally, I must ask the Zhaoyi for help."

"But how can you be so sure Song Zhaoyi will even be able to come next year?" Wang Zhaorong asked, her gaze sharp as she looked at Feng Yunjin.

"Of course, I can’t predict the future, but I believe the Zhaoyi can make it happen."

Wang Zhaorong looked at Feng Yunjin. ’Has she lost her mind?’

"Since we’ve benefited from the Zhaoyi’s help, we will naturally do our best to ensure her well-being. What we can do may be insignificant, but we will work together," Feng Yunjin said, looking at Wang Zhaorong.

Wang Zhaorong fell silent. She had always thought Feng Yunjin and the others were foolish for flocking around Song Yunzhao. What benefits could Song Yunzhao possibly give them?

Song Yunzhao herself was only a Zhaoyi; there was a limit to what she could offer.

But now, meeting Feng Yunjin’s gaze, she realized she had overlooked something. All of them believed Song Yunzhao would climb even higher, and so they would support her with all their might.

Song Yunzhao looked at Wang Zhaorong. "I invited you for tea, Zhaorong, because I was hoping we could join forces. I’m sure you’re aware that your current situation is not good. Even so, someone refuses to let you off the hook—and they refuse to let me off, either. They want the two of us to fight to the death so they can profit from the chaos. You don’t want to be a lamb to the slaughter on someone else’s chopping block, do you, Wang Zhaorong?"

"How do I know if you’re telling the truth?" Wang Zhaorong asked, composing herself.

"Are you asking about the rumors or about my proposal to join forces? Regarding the rumors, I have no reason to do anything. To be blunt, you pose no threat to me right now, Wang Zhaorong. That being the case, why would I waste my energy trying to deal with you?"

The words were so true and so blunt that Wang Zhaorong’s face darkened.

However, she inwardly breathed a small sigh of relief. It wasn’t surprising to hear such words from someone with Song Yunzhao’s temperament.

"As for joining forces, I simply refuse to be manipulated like this. It’s an insult I can’t swallow, and I imagine you can’t either, Zhaorong."

Wang Zhaorong was indeed seething, but even if she couldn’t swallow it, her current situation forced her to.

"What kind of alliance did you have in mind?"

"All we need to do is be friendly with each other. Our enemy wants to see us fight, but what if we become friends instead? Won’t that infuriate them? When their goal isn’t achieved, won’t they be forced to try something else? We just have to lure the snake out of its hole and then catch her."

Song Yunzhao made it sound so simple that Wang Zhaorong was left speechless.

It sounded easy, but the very first step was incredibly difficult. Not everyone could take the initiative to extend an olive branch as Song Yunzhao had, giving the other person a graceful way out.

If the roles were reversed, Wang Zhaorong knew she could never do it. She couldn’t let go of her dignity; she couldn’t cast aside her pride.

And so, she remained trapped in a cage of her own making. But now, Song Yunzhao had taken the initiative to open the door. Perhaps, she could finally walk out.

"Are you sure we can catch them?" Wang Zhaorong asked, looking at Yun Zhao.

"Maybe we can, maybe we can’t. Who knows? But if we don’t even try, we’ll definitely never catch them."

Wang Zhaorong: ...

This was a side of Song Yunzhao she had never seen before.

’She’s acting a bit like a rogue.’

Perhaps Wang Zhaorong’s expression was too telling, for Yun Zhao pretended not to notice and called out loudly to Xiangxue, "Bring the leaf cards! And go invite Han Guipin and Lu Pin over."

The hall instantly burst into activity. Some set up a table, others brought out the leaf cards, and still others brewed tea and served refreshments. A Palace Attendant came in with a porcelain platter heaped with fruit, still glistening with droplets of water, clearly having just been pulled from a cool spring.

Every Palace Attendant wore a broad smile when speaking to Song Yunzhao. As Song Yunzhao reached for a piece of fruit, one of them deftly moved the platter away, saying, "These are for the other ladies, Your Highness. They’ve been chilled in spring water, so they’re a bit too cold for you. This servant has already washed some fruit for you that hasn’t been chilled. I’ll bring it right over."

Song Yunzhao then reached for some candied fruit, only for another Palace Attendant to move it away. "The Imperial Physician said you can’t eat too many sweets now that you’re further along in your pregnancy. I’ve asked the kitchen to make some white jade cake with less sugar. It will be ready soon, so please wait just a little longer, Your Highness."

Wang Zhaorong watched Song Yunzhao let out a heavy sigh and heard her grumble, "Just you wait. When you’re all old enough, I’ll marry every single one of you off. We’ll see if you can still boss me around then."

"To be granted a marriage by Your Highness would be a blessing we must have earned in a past life! You must keep your word. We will be eagerly awaiting it."

The entire hall was filled with joyous laughter, and everyone wore a smile. As Wang Zhaorong watched, she found the corners of her own lips turning up unconsciously.

She then thought about her own life recently—it was completely lifeless. The people around her didn’t even dare to speak loudly. The more this went on, the more stagnant the atmosphere became. But she couldn’t break free, and so she sank deeper into despair.

’So, is this why the Emperor favors Song Yunzhao?’

’It really is cheerful here.’

An image of Song Yunzhao acting coyly with the Emperor flashed through her mind. ’Yes,’ she thought, ’if I were a man, I would like a woman like this too.’

’Who wouldn’t want to be happy?’

She had little left to lose. Her father had been lucky to escape with his life, and her mother’s hair had grayed at the temples from running herself ragged for him. She remembered her sister-in-law had even used her own dowry to help. Thankfully, her brother still had his official post. Her family still had hope. She couldn’t continue to wallow in misery.

’Song Yunzhao is right. I can’t let the villain who’s trying to harm us get their way.’

’It doesn’t matter who it is or whether we can lure them out. You have to make the first move.’

Wang Zhaorong felt a sudden clarity. She was the one with nothing to lose; why should she fear those who had everything?

Song Yunzhao, the one with everything to lose, wasn’t afraid. What did she have to fear?

Han Jinyi and Lu Zhixue arrived one after the other, and both were stunned to see Wang Zhaorong. They exchanged frantic glances. ’What in the world happened?’

’Why is Wang Zhaorong playing cards with Yun Zhao, Feng Yunjin, and... Xiangxue?’

’Are we still dreaming?’

The moment Xiangxue saw them, she gave up her seat. Yun Zhao also pushed her own hand of cards into Han Jinyi’s grasp. "You all play. I’ll keep score. Let’s see who has the best luck and wins the most today. The loser has to treat everyone to a meal."

The two of them sat down at the table in a daze. ’So, what exactly happened here?’