Chapter 598 - 376: As Expected of the Male Lead, He’s Black-Bellied
Qin Xiyue’s mood soured at the words. The thought of living under the same roof as An Shutong was exasperating. She wished she could stay at the traveling palace forever and never return.
"So what if she’s smart? Didn’t she still end up in the palace? If she were truly smart, she never would have entered." Qin Xiyue’s words were a bit harsh, but she couldn’t suppress the anger in her heart.
An Fangyi glanced sideways at her. "It seems you two don’t get along very well."
"We walk different paths and have nothing to discuss."
An Fangyi looked away. ’How many in this harem truly share the same thoughts? The only thing they all have in common is probably the desire to become the next Ming Fei.’
Song Yunzhao was counting the hours. The Empress Dowager hadn’t arrived yet. ’Is she planning to put me in my place at the banquet?’
After all, she was the one hosting this welcome banquet. If the Empress Dowager arrived late, it would be a public snub, and she would be the one to lose face.
Just as she was thinking this, an announcement came from outside. "His Majesty, the Emperor, has arrived! Her Majesty, the Empress Dowager, has arrived!"
Song Yunzhao breathed a small sigh of relief. It seemed Feng Yi had personally gone to Shouci Palace to invite the Empress Dowager to the banquet with him.
’How thoughtful of him.’
’He deserves a thumbs-up for that.’
’I’ll have to reward him tonight.’
Everyone bowed to welcome them. "Greetings, Your Majesty. Long live the Emperor! Greetings, Your Majesty, the Empress Dowager. May you have a long and prosperous life!"
"You may dispense with the formalities. Rise."
"Thank you, Your Majesty! Thank you, Empress Dowager!"
Everyone waited for the Empress Dowager and the Emperor to be seated before taking their own seats. Feng Yi then began by expressing his welcome to the Empress Dowager and the concubines on their return to the palace. He also bestowed rewards upon them for accompanying the Empress Dowager at the traveling palace, much to their delighted surprise. They all rose to give their thanks.
Feng Yi then changed the subject, noting that Ming Fei had also worked very hard managing palace affairs and caring for the Eldest Prince in their absence, and thus, he rewarded Yun Zhao as well.
’What a master of keeping the peace,’ Yun Zhao thought. But his efforts smoothed everything over, creating a "you’re happy, I’m happy, everyone’s happy" situation, which suited her just fine.
’Even a company has to pay dividends at a shareholders’ meeting. The Emperor can make everyone happy just by handing out some money, so why not do it?’
This time, Feng Yi had given the Empress Dowager plenty of face. This was also to ensure that when he left for his northern tour, the Empress Dowager would not make things difficult for Yun Zhao. A superficial friendliness was all that was needed.
Song Yunzhao, however, thought, ’Feng Yi’s plan is probably doomed to fail. The Empress Dowager is already looking at me with daggers in her eyes.’
’I’m no pushover. I need to have a backup plan.’
The welcome banquet was a lively affair. Afterward, the Empress Dowager seized the opportunity to ask the Emperor to escort her back to Shouci Palace, and she also called for An Shutong to join them. The implication was obvious.
Nearly everyone’s gaze fell upon Song Yunzhao, eager to see her reaction.
Song Yunzhao had no reaction. She wasn’t the same person she was before the selection.
’Right now, Feng Yi has no eyes for any An Shutong or Bai Shutong. We just spent two months living alone together in Jincui Garden. It’s like we’re in our honeymoon phase. I’d bet my life that Feng Yi won’t even spare another woman a glance.’
Song Yunzhao remained perfectly composed, which disappointed some of the onlookers. The Lady Ming of today was far more patient than before; one could no longer read anything from her expression.
Qin Xiyue fell behind the crowd, walking alongside An Fangyi. "Ming Fei doesn’t seem the least bit anxious," she said as they walked. "I’m afraid the Empress Dowager will be disappointed today."
Hearing this, An Fangyi looked up toward Ming Fei’s distant figure. At that moment, her attendants were helping her into a sedan chair. Surrounded by a dozen or so people, she departed, truly looking as if she didn’t care at all.
"Perhaps," An Fangyi said softly. "But who’s to say something unexpected won’t happen?"
Song Yunzhao returned to Yaohua Palace and played with Feng Ze for a while. After coaxing the child to sleep, she went back to her bedchamber. She had just changed into her nightclothes when she heard a commotion outside. Turning around, she saw Feng Yi striding in.
Feng Yi’s expression was grim. Song Yunzhao knew the Empress Dowager must have been up to her old tricks again. She smiled, pulled him down to sit, and ordered someone to prepare water before saying, "Why don’t you change your clothes first?"
Feng Yi nodded. The Dragon Robe was indeed not as comfortable as his regular attire.
Song Yunzhao brought him a change of clothes. Meng Jiuchang led his men to carefully hang the Dragon Robe on a rack, while Xiangxue and several other maids attended to them, holding a copper basin, towels, and other items.
After everyone had withdrawn, Feng Yi finally said to Yun Zhao, "As for the Empress Dowager, it’s the same as before. You don’t need to go pay your respects every day."
Song Yunzhao looked at Feng Yi. Though his expression had softened slightly, his eyes still held a trace of hostility. She wisely chose not to ask further questions and simply nodded in agreement. "I’ll listen to whatever you say. In that case, I’ll go with Consort Shu and Princess Consort Wan to pay our respects once every half a month."
Feng Yi squeezed Yun Zhao’s hand. Hearing her words, he wanted to say that once a month would be even better, but he swallowed his words.
He then sighed deeply and looked at Yun Zhao. "In half a month, I must leave for the northern tour. I’m truly worried about leaving you and our son in the palace."
Song Yunzhao keenly sensed the weight behind Feng Yi’s words. This was unprecedented. ’Could the Empress Dowager have said something incredibly aggressive?’
With this in mind, Song Yunzhao’s eyes shifted, and she said slowly, "Your Majesty, if you leave me with enough people at my command, and considering the palace has its own rules, the Empress Dowager will have to mind her reputation."
Feng Yi’s grip on Yun Zhao’s hand tightened slightly. "Let me think about it some more."
Taking the mother and son with him was impossible. The northern tour had a tight schedule, and Feng Ze was too young and could easily fall ill. Yun Zhao, being a woman, wouldn’t be able to endure such hardship either.
But if they stayed in the palace, the Empress Dowager would surely find ways to deal with Yun Zhao to pave the way for An Shutong.
The key was An Shutong. Feng Yi’s eyes narrowed, and an idea instantly came to him.
Feng Yi leaned down and whispered a few words to Yun Zhao. Seeing her dumbfounded expression, his mood improved greatly, and he went into the bathing chamber.
Song Yunzhao’s jaw nearly dropped. ’I have to say, for a male lead, he’s certainly got some ideas.’
’He’s actually thinking of having An Shutong accompany the tour, then leaving her stranded somewhere halfway once they’re out of the capital. He’d just pick her up again on his way back.’
’That way, with An Shutong in his hands, the Empress Dowager would be wary of acting rashly and wouldn’t dare to make a move against me and our son.’
’It’s a plan, I must admit, that an ordinary person would never think of.’
’As expected of the male lead. He’s a black sesame-filled bun through and through.’
Song Yunzhao was overjoyed. She supported this plan with both hands and both feet.
She had to admit, An Shutong posed a much greater threat to her if she remained in the palace. But if she were taken out and held by Feng Yi, the Empress Dowager would indeed have to think twice. The relationship between that mother and son was not good. If anything happened to her and her son, Feng Yi was truly capable of making An Shutong and the entire Gu’en Houfu pay with their lives.
Song Yunzhao was in a wonderful mood. Even her dreams were sweet.
The matter of Feng Yi’s northern tour was quickly put on the agenda. In light of Beiming’s increasingly brazen activities, the court split into two factions. One side supported the Emperor’s tour, while the other was concerned for his safety and advised against it.
Feng Yi had already made up his mind and issued an imperial decree to finalize the matter.
Yun Zhao didn’t know how the courtiers felt, but in the harem, the news caused a stir of restless ambition.
After all, on a northern tour, someone had to attend to the Emperor along the way. Ming Fei certainly couldn’t leave the Eldest Prince to accompany the imperial procession, so someone else would have to be chosen.