I Was Supposed to Be the Villainous Consort

Before Song Yunzhao could speak, Feng Ze, who had been lying motionless on the couch, suddenly rolled over and looked toward Consort Shu.

"Oh!" Consort Shu beamed, carefully picking up the Eldest Prince. She had become quite adept at holding a baby without even realizing it. "My dear Eldest Prince is just the cutest. Look what I brought for you."

As if presenting a treasure, Consort Shu pressed a hollow, filigreed gold ball into his hand. It was slightly larger than a walnut, and Feng Ze struggled to grip it. The ball slipped from his grasp and fell onto the large couch, making a pleasant chiming sound.

Feng Ze took an instant liking to it and rolled over, trying to chase the ball.

Song Yunzhao: "..."

After Consort Shu had her fun playing with the child, Song Yunzhao called the wet nurse in to take Feng Ze away. With him around, the two of them couldn’t possibly have a proper conversation.

Xiangxue served tea and snacks, then bowed and retreated, taking Consort Shu’s attendant, Yunshang, outside with her for a rest and some tea.

Now that their two households were close, their attendants also got along well.

Consort Shu took a sip of tea before looking at Song Yunzhao. "The Emperor’s decree has been issued. What do you plan to do?"

"I was just thinking of asking for your guidance, Consort Shu. I’ve never done anything like this before, so I have no experience. Naturally, I’ll do whatever you say," Song Yunzhao said with a smile.

Consort Shu: "..."

’Is she getting a little too comfortable treating me like a patsy?’

Consort Shu rolled her eyes without hesitation. "Don’t give me that. I’ve never done anything like this either. Who in this harem is a fool? Is there anyone who can’t see the true meaning behind the Emperor’s decree? Don’t you dare play dumb with me."

Song Yunzhao: "..."

’Sigh, Consort Shu isn’t so easy to fool anymore. It’s taken a lot of the fun out of it.’

The look in Song Yunzhao’s eyes only made Consort Shu more irritated. ’I knew it. I just knew she was up to no good. It’s a good thing I came prepared.’

"This task is bound to offend people," Song Yunzhao said with a sigh.

’Who doesn’t know that?’ Consort Shu thought. ’And I’m the first one it offends!’

If the harem were to be thoroughly purged, it would become inconvenient for her to maintain contact with her maiden family. As a concubine without the Emperor’s favor, she relied on them completely. The Emperor was cutting off her lifeline, so how could she possibly be happy?

Seeing the stormy expression on Consort Shu’s face, Song Yunzhao guessed the reason. She feigned ignorance and spoke in a helpless tone, "The Emperor’s decree has put us in a difficult position. Honestly, Consort Shu, I’m truly at a loss and don’t know what to do. You must give me some guidance. After all, we’re in the same boat. The Emperor said the three concubines must work together. You can’t get out of this."

That was exactly what angered Consort Shu. The Emperor was helping Song Yunzhao establish her authority, but on what grounds was he dragging her and Princess Consort Wan into it?

Princess Consort Wan was just a bookworm, so she didn’t count; everyone in the harem knew her disposition. But Consort Shu herself was in a truly awkward position, unable to advance or retreat. It was like being forced to stab herself, and the Emperor was the one handing her the knife.

’How ruthless.’

"You know how things are in the harem. It’s not just us. Many people here are holdovers from the late Emperor’s reign. To clear them all out would offend far too many people."

Consort Shu stared at Song Yunzhao. ’I refuse to believe she doesn’t understand the risks and isn’t afraid!’

When she had first entered the palace, she was able to live comfortably precisely because her father had his own network of connections within the court.

Now, the Emperor wanted them to purge these people, which was tantamount to cutting off their own arms.

Who could possibly be happy about that?

"Consort Shu, let me ask you something." Song Yunzhao looked at her with utmost sincerity. "Tell me, do you really want to keep living this life in the harem, where you can say something in private behind closed doors today, only for it to be common knowledge tomorrow?"

Consort Shu was silent.

Song Yunzhao continued, "The Song Family has no network, no informants, and no favors to call upon in the palace. When I first arrived, every step was a struggle. Even a minor office like the Clothing Bureau within the Six Departments tried to make things difficult for me. I’ve never felt the benefits of a powerful family’s protection; I’ve only felt threatened by the web the great clans have woven throughout the harem."

At this, Consort Shu felt a pang of guilt. She had, after all, had a hand in that.

"If I, a mere concubine, feel so constrained, how do you think the Emperor feels? The courtiers’ reach extends so far that they can pry into every corner of the harem. Such audacity! The Emperor might tolerate it for a time, but will he tolerate it forever?"

Hearing this, Consort Shu looked at Song Yunzhao. ’She’s speaking with such righteous conviction... she must be trying to trick me again!’

’I won’t fall for it!’

"It’s been this way since the late Emperor’s time. If you’re going to say the harem’s rules are a mess, you can’t pin the blame on us," Consort Shu huffed. As a beneficiary of the current system, she was naturally unwilling to see her interests harmed.

"As you said, that was during the late Emperor’s time. A new ruler means a new court, and the same naturally applies to the harem."

"The Emperor has established new palace rules, and we must abide by them. Consort Shu, I doubt you want to be the one to test those laws and be made an example for everyone else, do you?"

Of course Consort Shu didn’t want that. Why else would she have come to see Song Yunzhao?

’Just to make herself miserable?’

Consort Shu’s expression was volatile, her emotions clearly in turmoil.

Song Yunzhao refilled her tea and spoke slowly, unhurriedly. "I was just thinking that the Emperor’s sudden move might have a hidden motive."

Consort Shu glanced at Song Yunzhao. ’I don’t know if the Emperor has some deeper meaning, but Song Yunzhao definitely does. She just wants to drag me into this and make us partners in crime.’

Just as she was thinking this, she heard Song Yunzhao say, "Consort Shu, if the three of us fail at this task, what do you think would happen if the Emperor, in a fit of anger, handed authority over the harem to the Empress Dowager?"

"Absolutely not!" Consort Shu blurted out without a second thought. Her relationship with the Empress Dowager was not good. If the Empress Dowager took power, wouldn’t she make things difficult for her at every turn?

"That’s what I was thinking too." Song Yunzhao sighed. "So we absolutely cannot let authority over the harem fall into the Empress Dowager’s hands. That means this task must be done perfectly."

Consort Shu nodded instinctively, but then she felt that something wasn’t quite right. She turned her head to look at Song Yunzhao.

Meeting Consort Shu’s gaze, Song Yunzhao remained perfectly composed, a faint smile on her face. "Consort Shu, even if a batch of Palace Attendants is sent away, the impact on us won’t be that great. The harem’s rules are all based on precedent. You and I hold the rank of high concubine; we’re much better off than those minor concubines, wouldn’t you agree? Right now, all the Emperor wants is to restore order and discipline in the harem. That’s it. If we can’t even accomplish that, what use does he have for us?"

Consort Shu fell into deep thought, carefully weighing Song Yunzhao’s words for any traps. But no matter how she thought about it, she couldn’t find a single pitfall. It all made perfect sense.

Yet, she had a nagging feeling that something was off, she just couldn’t pinpoint it in Song Yunzhao’s words.

That was incredibly frustrating.

Consort Shu kept a stern face and said nothing.

Song Yunzhao wasn’t worried. She had cast her line, and now she just had to wait for the fish to bite.

Consort Shu collected her thoughts and considered it carefully one last time before finally speaking. "How can you guarantee the Emperor only wants to sort out the harem’s rules for now?"

"Oh, I can’t," Song Yunzhao replied, her face a mask of innocence.

Consort Shu: "..."

’Say that again!’