I Was Supposed to Be the Villainous Consort

As the hours slowly passed, a steady stream of Palace Attendants came seeking instructions. Consort Shu went outside to manage affairs, while Yun Zhao remained seated.

Princess Consort Wan glanced at her from the side. Song Yunzhao felt the look but didn’t return it.

When the Empress Dowager emerged, she was dressed in magnificent ceremonial robes. Her face was set in a slight frown, and her dark eyes swept over the crowd, a clear departure from her usual demeanor.

"May the Empress Dowager enjoy good fortune, longevity, and health."

Everyone rose to pay their respects.

The Empress Dowager took her seat and surveyed the crowd, her gaze lingering on the faces of Consort Shu and Song Yunzhao before she finally spoke in a slow, deliberate voice. "You may all rise."

"Thank you, Your Majesty the Empress Dowager."

Everyone rose and returned to their seats.

Although the three concubines held the same rank, their order was determined by when they entered the palace. However, with Song Yunzhao having given birth to the Imperial First Son, many eyes were watching to see how her seat would be arranged.

Here in Shouci Palace, Song Yunzhao’s seat had been arranged last among the three concubines.

’Song Yunzhao had long expected the Empress Dowager to try and vex her, and here it was.’

Before, everyone had been sitting casually. Now that they were taking their formal seats, the other concubines’ eyes darted about, clearly a little surprised.

Given Ming Fei’s level of favor and the merit of having delivered the Imperial First Son, even if she couldn’t be placed first among the three concubines, she certainly shouldn’t be last.

But Song Yunzhao showed no sign of being bothered, calmly taking her seat beside Princess Consort Wan.

Princess Consort Wan couldn’t help but look at her again, and Song Yunzhao offered her a faint smile.

Princess Consort Wan’s heart suddenly settled, and she let out a small sigh of relief.

Song Yunzhao had a long history of making trouble, and when she did, she was absolutely ruthless. In the past, Princess Consort Wan still harbored illusions about the Emperor, so she had the spirit to compete with Song Yunzhao. But over the past year, she had come to terms with reality. The Emperor would rather sleep alone while Song Yunzhao was pregnant than favor any of the other concubines in the harem. What was there left for her to fight for?

Once that fighting spirit deflated, her thoughts and attitude toward things naturally changed.

She couldn’t afford to provoke Song Yunzhao, who had the Eldest Prince on her side. Nor could she win against Song Yunzhao’s volatile temper. Since she couldn’t best her in any way, it was better for them to just respect each other and live peacefully.

She used to think it was humiliating, but now that not a single concubine in the entire harem could stand against Song Yunzhao, it wasn’t just her own personal shame. And if it wasn’t personal, it didn’t count.

Now, the Empress Dowager was deliberately doing this to stir up trouble. Princess Consort Wan just wanted to live her days in peace; wasn’t she afraid of Song Yunzhao flipping the table?

Seeing Song Yunzhao’s pleasant expression, devoid of any dissatisfaction, she finally relaxed a little.

Qin Xiyue sat amidst the crowd, her head slightly lowered. Her attire today was very simple and elegant, as if she intended to fade into the background.

After the three concubines were seated, she heard gasps from those around her and looked up. Her gaze immediately sharpened.

The day before yesterday, Miao Rui had visited her at Huayang Palace to deliver tea gifted by the Empress Dowager. She knew this was a signal from the Empress Dowager.

This time, however, Qin Xiyue did not go to Shouci Palace to show her allegiance as she had in the past. When Qin Song was taken from her side, she had sent word to the Empress Dowager, hoping for her help, but the Empress Dowager had done nothing.

Qin Xiyue thought of what had happened to Wang Zhaorong. ’I’m just another Wang Zhaorong.’

The Empress Dowager only wanted to use her; she would never offer her protection.

At this thought, Qin Xiyue looked up at Wang Zhaorong. She was wearing a lake-blue palace dress, her attire neither remarkable nor flawed. She was turning her head to speak with Han Jinyi beside her. Whatever was said, both of them had smiles on their faces.

Wang Zhaorong and Song Yunzhao were once like fire and water, but now she could bend her back, lower her head, and grovel before Song Yunzhao. All the pride in her bones had been shattered.

Qin Xiyue retracted her scornful gaze. ’I will never let myself fall to that level.’

Then she looked at Song Yunzhao. Dressed in purple brocade, the sash at her waist was inlaid with jade and precious stones. Her dark hair was styled in a high chignon, adorned with a dazzling red gold filigree hairpin of a phoenix with spreading wings. Even though it was only a three-tailed phoenix hairpin, it was enough to capture everyone’s attention.

The Song Yunzhao of today had been completely transformed; she was a world away from the person who had first entered the palace for selection.

Qin Xiyue lowered her eyes again. ’In this deep palace, I’m now truly the only one left struggling alone.’

Her father, and the support he had left for her, had all been eliminated by the Emperor and Song Yunzhao. She had nothing left. She was alone in this quagmire, with no future and no dawn in sight.

Before she entered the palace, her father had told her that she would face setbacks, but in the end, she would be the victor.

She understood her father’s words. With so many beauties in the palace, it wouldn’t be easy to stand out and win the Emperor’s favor, but she had the confidence and the ability. What did a few setbacks matter?

’Would marrying someone else have made me happy?’

But she never expected to encounter Song Yunzhao.

In the past, she had never paid her any mind. She was just the daughter of a minor official from out of town. So what if she had some beauty? The palace had no shortage of beauties of all kinds.

But she never, ever imagined she would suffer such a massive defeat at Song Yunzhao’s hands.

Qin Xiyue gazed at Song Yunzhao, seated in her high position. Even though the Empress Dowager was deliberately humiliating her by placing her last among the three concubines, she looked completely unconcerned, still chatting happily with Consort Shu and Princess Consort Wan.

Even though she sat in the last seat, who could truly look down on her?

She was, after all, the mother of the Imperial First Son.

Qin Xiyue withdrew her gaze and lowered her head once more.

When the appointed hour arrived, the noble women entered Shouci Palace in succession to offer their birthday wishes. The Empress Dowager sat high on her throne, attended by the three concubines, while the other concubines were seated according to their rank. The hall was filled with a festive atmosphere.

Song Yunzhao saw Mrs. Cai standing in the crowd. The First Lady of the house had no official title, and the Empress Dowager had not granted a special decree, so she was unable to enter the palace to offer birthday wishes this time.

Song Yunzhao sneered inwardly. ’The Empress Dowager really is trying to crush my prestige, stooping to manipulate even such trivial matters.’

’Does she really think I’ll get angry and start trouble just because my eldest aunt isn’t allowed to enter the palace?’

’Why would I be so foolish as to hand her an advantage on a silver platter?’

Mrs. Cai was being especially well-behaved today. She and her husband were currently in the process of separating. Mrs. Cai wasn’t a fool; if she got divorced and returned to her maternal home, what glory would she have left?

She couldn’t get a divorce. She couldn’t lose her status as a Marchioness. Therefore, before coming to the palace, the First Lady of the house had repeatedly warned her not to cause any trouble for Yun Zhao.

She knew her sister-in-law’s unspoken meaning: if she caused trouble for Yun Zhao again, her husband would truly divorce her—a simple separation would be off the table.

While waiting in the outer hall earlier, Marchioness Wu Xin had provoked her several times, but she had gritted her teeth and endured it. Now she had no choice but to live with her tail between her legs. Even though she was furious, what could she do but bottle it up?

Song Yunzhao looked at Mrs. Cai’s preoccupied expression. The spirited air she used to carry was gone from her face. It seemed the matter with Song Qinghan had indeed been a huge blow to her.

As long as Mrs. Cai behaved herself, Song Yunzhao couldn’t be bothered with her. A dim-witted woman like her was lucky to have a proper Lady of the Family like her eldest aunt; otherwise, she would have been devoured with nothing left.

Song Yunzhao’s gaze shifted and met Marchioness Wu Xin’s. The marchioness immediately looked away, appearing somewhat guilty.