Chapter 637 - 415: Fine, She Admits Defeat
Xiangxue took the brocade box, then opened it and placed it on the table.
Song Yunzhao turned her head to look. Inside the box was a set of white jade jewelry. The jade was exquisite and smooth, with a gentle, lustrous sheen. It was clearly high-quality.
’If this thank-you gift was truly arranged by Marchioness Wu Xin, then it’s quite a substantial one.’
’I wonder what the Marchioness was feeling when she prepared it. Given her attitude toward me, she certainly wasn’t happy about it.’
Now that the box was open, returning it might be misunderstood as her looking down on the gift. So, she accepted it and had Xiangxue fetch some high-quality ejiao and bird’s nest from the storeroom for Caiqin to take back as a restorative supplement.
After Caiqin left, Xiangxue whispered, "Your Highness, this is a very generous gift. I suspect Xu Ji sent something so valuable for more than just thanking you for last time."
Song Yunzhao nodded slightly. "Since Caiqin didn’t say anything explicitly, let’s leave it at that. If Xu Ji wants something, she will surely visit again."
Song Yunzhao guessed that Xu Mingying must have been terrified by the Empress Dowager. She was likely hoping Yunzhao could help her if she ran into trouble again. But favors can’t be established only when they’re needed, so she used the previous incident as an excuse to send Caiqin over.
’By being so indirect, she also avoids making me think she’s a purely opportunistic person. In that sense, she’s much smarter than her mother.’
The harem has no shortage of clever people; what it lacks are clever people who can also control themselves.
In a dog-eat-dog place like the harem, survival until the end is not a matter of luck.
Thinking of this, Yun Zhao’s dislike for the Empress Dowager deepened. ’It’s a miracle someone with her temperament has survived this long. After Feng Yi publicly humiliated her this time, I wonder how long she can hold on.’
The days in the palace passed both quickly and slowly. In the blink of an eye, it was Feng Ze’s birthday. This year, Yun Zhao had no intention of throwing a big celebration. She simply cooked her son a bowl of longevity noodles, and she and Feng Yi spent the day playing with him. That was enough.
Feng Yi thought Yun Zhao was being too low-key, but she felt it was just right. Being too ostentatious attracts unwanted attention. If you provoke people too much, who knows what they might do.
After Feng Ze’s birthday, spring quickly came to an end, and summer was just around the corner.
The royal court was bustling with activity every day, and the struggles among the courtiers grew more intense by the day. Yun Zhao knew Feng Yi intended to let them fight amongst themselves while he simply sat back and reaped the benefits.
The Feng Yi of today was starting to show some of the cunning of an Emperor described in books—tactics he had learned after suffering several setbacks at the hands of his courtiers since ascending the throne.
Because Song Nanzhen had once again distinguished himself by procuring grain supplies, his influence among the Six Ministers was growing. With his elder brother Song Nanyong managing their social connections in the Capital City, the two brothers worked in tandem, and the Song Family’s position was becoming increasingly stable. It could now be said that the Song Family had finally secured a firm foothold in the capital.
Feeling stuffy sitting in her palace hall, Song Yunzhao decided to get up and walk outside. Feng Ze was at Taixi Hall again. She didn’t know what Feng Yi was thinking. What could such a small child possibly do? Feng Ze was a mischievous rascal, and she heard he was often seen running ahead with a pack of eunuchs chasing after him, a sight that frequently left visiting courtiers dumbfounded.
Then again, he was the Emperor’s only heir. The Eldest Prince was already this old, yet none of the other concubines in the harem had borne a second prince. It wasn’t strange that the Emperor doted on him.
If Song Yunzhao heard such thoughts, she would just smile without comment. It wasn’t that she couldn’t have another child, but that she didn’t want to have them too frequently. Giving birth to children too close together was not good for a woman’s body and could easily lead to many hidden health problems.
She wanted to have children, but she also wanted to be healthy when she did so. More importantly, she wanted to see her children grow up. She had no desire to go through the hardship of childbirth only to have it benefit someone else in the end.
However, Feng Ze was no longer a baby, and she was indeed considering having another child. But Feng Yi was incredibly busy. He was so dedicated to state affairs that he often spent his nights in Taixi Hall. An Emperor as self-disciplined as him was truly a rare sight.
’After all, given his age...’ Song Yunzhao thought. ’Forget an Emperor, even an ordinary man would rarely be so restrained.’
Just as she was considering having another child but before she could act on it, good news arrived: her eldest cousin’s wife and Xie Linlang were pregnant. And, calculating the months, He Lan Yun was due to give birth in just a few more. The good news just kept coming.
With summer approaching, preparations for the annual retreat from the heat had to begin. Yun Zhao still didn’t want to go this year; she thought it would be enough to take her son to Jincui Garden for two months again.
However, the Empress Dowager hadn’t yet indicated where she would be going, so Yun Zhao could only keep her plans to herself for now. In her mind, she had it all figured out: if the Empress Dowager went to Jincui Garden, she would persuade the Emperor to go to the traveling palace. If the Empress Dowager went to the traveling palace, she would stick with Jincui Garden.
’She and the Empress Dowager just clashed. It was best for them to stay as far apart as possible.’
She had barely had the thought when Consort Shu arrived to fish for information.
"What are your plans for the summer retreat this year?" Consort Shu asked bluntly as soon as she arrived.
Song Yunzhao poured her a cup of tea and said with a smile, "It’s still early, yet you’re already thinking about the summer retreat, Sister Shu."
Consort Shu scoffed. "Don’t pretend with me. I’m sure you started thinking about it long before I did."
"If you’re going to talk like that, this won’t be any fun. Where you want to go isn’t for me to decide, Sister Shu."
Consort Shu rolled her eyes. ’It’s true she can’t decide for me, but she can decide for the Emperor. Wherever she goes, the Emperor follows.’
Last year, Consort Shu had spent two months at the traveling palace and discovered that a summer retreat without the Emperor was remarkably relaxing and carefree. That’s why she didn’t want to accompany the imperial retinue this year and had come to sound Song Yunzhao out.
’What’s the point of going with the Emperor? He doesn’t notice me and won’t favor me. I’d just have to watch him dote on Song Yunzhao, which is an eyesore. I’d rather let them go be happy by themselves.’
Song Yunzhao was truly thrown for a loop by Consort Shu. She was stunned after hearing her words, never expecting Consort Shu to have such a plan.
Although she had been subtly snubbed by Consort Shu, Song Yunzhao wasn’t upset. She looked at her and said, "I truly haven’t heard the Emperor mention it. You know as well as I do, Sister Shu, the Emperor might only visit my Yaohua Palace three or five times a month. How could I have so much inside information?"
Consort Shu glared at Song Yunzhao. "You should be grateful! At least you get to see him three or five times a month. I haven’t seen the Emperor once since the New Year."
Song Yunzhao: ...
Fine, she conceded.
Seeing the subtle change in Song Yunzhao’s expression, Consort Shu couldn’t help but feel a flicker of pride. ’Hmph, I’m not the same Consort Shu who used to be rendered speechless by Song Yunzhao’s barbs.’
’I am the resurgent Consort Shu now! You little brat, it won’t be so easy to bully me anymore.’
Seeing Consort Shu looking like she could sprout wings and fly, Song Yunzhao didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. Who would have thought that the day would come when she, of all people, would be put on the spot by Consort Shu.