I Was Supposed to Be the Villainous Consort

Song Yunzhao’s plan proceeded just as she intended. Baozhuang Building signed a supply order with the Ling Family. After being stalled for half a month, the Six Departments and the Inner Workshop finally sensed something was amiss and discovered the Ling Family.

The people from the Six Departments first approached Zhang Maoquan, repeatedly claiming that Baozhuang Building’s actions violated palace regulations. Zhang Maoquan cheerfully retorted that Baozhuang Building was a private shop the Emperor had permitted Lady Ming to open. Since it wasn’t palace property, palace rules didn’t apply, and the Six Departments was clearly overreaching.

Zhang Maoquan and the Six Departments bickered back and forth, and the affair ended on a very unpleasant note for both sides.

The Six Departments didn’t dare to make a move against Ming Fei, so they turned to trouble the Ling Family instead. It was easy to make life difficult for a merchant family with any random excuse. For instance, the number of government offices conducting inspections at the Ling Family’s shops in the Capital City suddenly skyrocketed. All in all, they found dozens of faults and forced them to shut down.

This was exactly what Song Yunzhao had been waiting for. Feigning a great rage, she took the case straight to the imperial court. She accused the Six Departments of failing to distinguish between public and private matters and of abusing their authority. She then publicized how the Six Departments and the Inner Workshop had colluded to cut off Baozhuang Building’s supplies, tearing away their last shred of dignity and exposing everything for all to see.

’Do you people have any shame? Your own affairs are a mess, yet you have the gall to cause trouble for others.’

With the Ling Family’s shops shut down, Ling Yunhe appeared to be running about in a panic. However, he had already received a promise from Xie Jinshu and had a plan in mind. After Ming Fei presented her case at the imperial court, the Ling Family also went to the government office to file a report.

This inside-and-out coordination was perfectly synchronized. The speed and acuity of their reaction made the more perceptive members of the court sense that something was amiss.

It all felt strangely familiar, but they couldn’t quite place where they had seen such a maneuver before.

Consort Shu and Princess Consort Wan came to see Song Yunzhao. The two of them just stared at her for a long moment without saying a word.

Song Yunzhao felt a strange twinge of guilt and could only maintain her smile.

"You planned this all along, didn’t you?" Consort Shu felt this whole situation went far beyond Song Yunzhao’s original claim of simply switching suppliers.

"I’m not a fortune-teller. How could I have planned for all of this?" Song Yunzhao replied. ’There’s no way I can admit it. Besides, I really couldn’t have predicted exactly how things would unfold. I could only do my best to push them in the right direction.’

Princess Consort Wan, ignoring the extent of Song Yunzhao’s scheming, just asked worriedly, "Can the shop still stay open?"

She had found that developing new formulas was a good way to pass the time. She would be quite disappointed if the shop had to close.

She was genuinely worried now that things had escalated so much. Who would have thought it would blow up all the way to the court?

’Isn’t this supposed to be a harem affair?’

"Of course it will stay open. Sister Wan, you just focus on your new formulas," Song Yunzhao said reassuringly.

Princess Consort Wan nodded slightly. That was good to hear. This was as much as she could contribute; she was truly no help with anything else.

Princess Consort Wan left, but Consort Shu stayed behind. She stared at Song Yunzhao and asked, "Making such a big scene... you must know what’s coming, don’t you? The Six Departments is probably in for a major shake-up."

"Sister Shu, the appointments and dismissals within the Six Departments—who rises and who falls—have nothing to do with us. From now on, Baozhuang Building won’t need to deal with them. We can just order directly from the Ling Family." ’Consort Shu has really improved,’ Song Yunzhao thought. ’She’s able to think this far ahead now. It just goes to show that people need to keep learning. The more you learn, the sharper your mind becomes.’

"Aren’t you afraid someone will impeach you?"

"Once we pay our taxes to the court at the end of the year, they’ll all shut their mouths. After all, the court is desperate for money right now. Those officials who are all talk can’t magically produce funds for the court. But by running our shop honestly and diligently, we can provide a source of tax revenue. The tax silver might not be much at first, but as long as we work hard, we’ll surely do even better."

Consort Shu thought that made a lot of sense. She used to think commerce was a lowly profession, but if it meant paying taxes to the court—a lot of taxes—then it was actually quite respectable, wasn’t it?

’It is, right?’

’Or maybe not?’

Consort Shu couldn’t quite make up her own mind. But Song Yunzhao clearly didn’t look down on commerce. Perhaps her unwavering attitude made Consort Shu feel like it wasn’t such a major issue after all.

’It’s just a shop, isn’t it?’

Having been fed a big, fragrant bowl of "chicken soup for the soul" by Yun Zhao, Consort Shu went back and immediately wrote a letter home. She told her father not to interfere in this matter, and that even if he did, he was forbidden from holding her back.

The Right Minister was stunned for a long while after reading his daughter’s letter. ’I knew it!’ he fumed. ’Ming Fei dragged my daughter into this mess from the beginning precisely to silence me today!’

’So infuriating!’

’But there’s nothing I can do about it.’

’She’s my own daughter. I have to deal with the consequences.’

’The arguments at court have been fierce the past few days. That muddle-headed Yao Zongjing looks completely possessed. The Emperor’s face is as black as the bottom of a pot, yet Yao Zongjing still insists on posturing as a "Pure Minister." He’s not like those sharp-penned Imperial Censors who would actually dare to remonstrate to the death and spill their blood in the court.’

’Just you watch. Yao Zongjing is making such a scene; he’s bound to take a nasty fall this time.’

’The Emperor has been displeased with them for a long time. Now that he has the chance, he’ll surely use it to assert his authority.’

’And that sly old fox, the Left Minister... now that his son has the Emperor’s favor, the old coot has learned to take a step back at court.’

’Sigh, if I had a son that capable, I wouldn’t have all these worries.’

’Then again, Ji Yunting’s wife has been married for so long and there’s still no news from her belly. I’m afraid those rumors about her being injured are true. The Left Minister can’t even get a grandson. What’s the use of having a capable son then?’

’I’m different. I already have a precious grandson!’

Because Song Yunzhao and the Ling Family had coordinated their complaints, the Emperor appointed someone to investigate the matter. The person he chose was none other than Ji Yunting.

Song Yunzhao: ...

She took a deep breath. ’As expected of the highly capable second male lead from the novel,’ she thought. ’No one can take away his screen time.’

’Considering he’s already Xie Linlang’s husband... and as long as Xie Linlang is doing well, it doesn’t matter how they ended up getting married. I suppose I find Ji Yunting a little less displeasing to the eye now. I’ll be merciful and not cause any trouble for him.’

’Otherwise... Hmph. I’d definitely set a trap for him and let him witness the power of a vicious female side character.’

「In the Left Minister’s Mansion.」

Xie Linlang had just returned from the main courtyard. Wangyou rushed to help her sit down, grumbling, "Madam Ji isn’t even that sick, yet she insists you attend to her. Isn’t she just trying to torment you on purpose?"

Ever since her lady married into the family, Madam Ji had been falling "ill" every other day. If it wasn’t a headache, it was a sore foot. In short, something always ached.

Xie Linlang’s complexion was rosy, showing no sign of fatigue from her nursing duties. She looked at Wangyou and asked, "Is the soup I asked the kitchen to prepare ready yet?"

"It is. We timed it perfectly." Sheng Ge happened to walk in just then, carrying a food container.

Xie Linlang took it from her and immediately turned to head out. "The Young Master should be back by now, right?" she asked as she walked.

"Yes, a message just came from the front. The Young Master has just walked through the main gate."

Xie Linlang carried the soup toward Madam Ji’s quarters. ’Who am I putting on this virtuous act for?’

’My husband, of course. When he’s not home, I can’t be bothered to play the filial daughter-in-law for his mother.’

’Just you wait. I’m about to put on a grand performance for them all.’