Feng Yi looked at Song Yunzhao. The young woman was still too naïve. Though she had a fierce temperament, deep down, she still yearned for love, which is why she was so angry about Liu Peilan’s plight.
She was right about one thing—there was no such thing as love. It was nothing more than a fabrication of sentimental scholars designed to deceive people.
There was no such thing as pure love in this world.
At that moment, the Song Yunzhao in front of him overlapped with the one outside the palace at the Yuquan Tower. Her fiery temperament and sharp tongue were still the same. It seemed she hadn’t changed much in front of him.
Thinking of this, Feng Yi looked at Song Yunzhao and asked meaningfully, “What did you think when you found out my identity back then?”
Song Yunzhao thought, Finally, the dog emperor has asked this question—it took long enough.
“Does Your Majesty want to hear the truth or a lie?”
Feng Yi smiled. “What do you think?”
“Obviously a lie. People always prefer lies—they make them feel better.” Song Yunzhao raised her eyes to meet the Emperor’s, and this time, she didn’t look away, smiling with an exceptionally sincere expression.
“The truth and the lie—I’ll hear both. Tell me.”
Hearing this, Song Yunzhao thought to herself that it was just like the modern phrase about adults making decisions—choosing both, of course. Whoever said this must have enjoyed themselves.
“The lie is: ‘Ah, so it was His Majesty the Emperor. No wonder you helped me so righteously that day—Your Majesty is truly noble and virtuous, a role model for us all.'”
Feng Yi: … Totally unnecessary.
“The truth is: ‘Ah, so it was the Emperor. No wonder you ran so fast that day.'”
Feng Yi was speechless once again. He realized that whenever he was with Song Yunzhao, her shocking words often left him at a loss for words.
“Are you blaming me?”
“Not at all. After all, before you ran, you helped me avoid being pushed down and injured.” Song Yunzhao spoke earnestly. “And later, after I entered the palace for the selection, Your Majesty also helped me when I got lost. You’re a good person—I know that in my heart. So, in my eyes, we’re even now.”
Feng Yi thought to himself that the young woman’s words made it sound as if he really owed her something. Her way with words was truly remarkable.
“At the time, did you not want to stay in the palace?”
Caught off guard by this question, Song Yunzhao’s heart sounded alarm bells. Was he trying to trap her again?
Her brain worked at lightning speed, practically overheating, and she put on a hesitant expression before settling into a nonchalant attitude. “It’s not that I didn’t want to. I just didn’t dare.”
“Didn’t dare? Is there something you’re afraid of?” Feng Yi thought, She was quite fierce when scolding people outside the palace.
“If you put it that way, then I won’t hold back,” she replied.
Feng Yi’s brow twitched.
Song Yunzhao said, “I was just thinking, with my personality, I probably wouldn’t last long in the palace. You see how miserable I was back at Zhichun Palace. If I entered the palace, with my humble background and low rank, the mountains of pressure above me would be overwhelming for my small frame. Sometimes beauty is an opportunity, but it can also be a fatal danger… Your Majesty, this is my honest opinion, so you can’t blame me. You were the one who insisted on asking.”
Feng Yi raised his head and gave Song Yunzhao a deep look before smiling after a long pause. “What are your plans for the future?”
“No idea. I’ll just take it one day at a time. Anyway, whoever makes my life unpleasant, I’ll make their life unpleasant. Worst case scenario, I’ll be reborn as a hero in eighteen years.”
“What?” Feng Yi couldn’t believe his ears.
Song Yunzhao quickly covered her mouth. “You misheard me. What I meant was, I’ll face the future without fear and not dwell on the past. I’ll live my life well.”
Face the future without fear, not dwell on the past…
Feng Yi silently recited these words in his mind, chuckling to himself. How were these words any different from the previous statement? She really had a way of fooling him.
Seeing the Emperor laugh, Song Yunzhao realized she might have gone a bit overboard, so she considered making up for it. Just as she was about to say something, she heard the Emperor remark, “Given our acquaintance, I’ll look after you a little more.”
Huh?
Huh!
This time, Song Yunzhao was genuinely shocked. The dog emperor really went all out to get her to work for him.
Did he even realize what those words implied?
Wasn’t he encouraging her to cause trouble?
She had underestimated the Emperor’s shamelessness. Farewell!
Farewell? The Emperor wouldn’t allow it.
Song Yunzhao’s eyes darted, and she immediately said, “Your Majesty, I’ll remember those words, and you can’t go back on them. Golden words from the Emperor carry immense weight.”
Feng Yi was amused. “Would I deceive a young girl like you?”
Young girl?
How old was he himself? That tone sounded like an old man’s.
“Of course not,” Song Yunzhao quickly flattered him. “Your Majesty is noble and upright, refined and dignified. How could you deceive me with such words?”
After finishing his tea, Feng Yi stood up. “Take your time reading the book; I need to review memorials.”
Song Yunzhao quickly nodded. “Don’t worry, Your Majesty. I won’t disturb you.”
Feng Yi smiled and went back to his work, while Song Yunzhao genuinely settled down with her book. However, her thoughts wandered wildly.
The characters in books were like paper figures—flat and thin, entirely reliant on imagination. As the saying goes, a thousand readers see a thousand Hamlets.
The Emperor’s behavior was different from what she had imagined. Perhaps it was because they had met outside the palace beforehand, but the Emperor seemed slightly more cordial to her than he had been to the heroine in the beginning of the book.
From start to finish, he never told her to restrain her personality. Moreover, the Emperor had offered her a promise of protection. At least he had some humanity.
After all, in the book, the heroine had to rely entirely on herself during the initial palace struggles. Did this mean Song Yunzhao had found a powerful ally?
At least for now, Song Yunzhao felt her chances of surviving in the harem had slightly improved.
As she pondered her next steps, she decided to first see her family. She was eager to catch a glimpse of Cai Shi’s face.
After more than an hour, the ministers seeking an audience with the Emperor began to increase, so Song Yunzhao sensibly took her leave.
This time, Feng Yi didn’t stop her and had Zhang Maoquan escort her back.
Before leaving, Song Yunzhao looked at the Emperor. “Your Majesty, when can I see my family? I miss them terribly.”
Feng Yi glanced at Meng Jiuchang.
Meng Jiuchang stepped forward to reply, “There’s a rule in the palace: newly entered concubines can meet their families within the first month after entering the palace, but the dates must be arranged in advance.”
Song Yunzhao understood immediately—it was now a matter of rank.
As a noble concubine, she was the queen among the newcomers. Delighted, she said, “Then I should be able to meet them soon, right?”
Meng Jiuchang paused, glanced at the Emperor, only to see him watching her.
“You really want to see your family?”
“Of course.”
Feng Yi, reflecting on her family’s situation, speculated that Song Yunzhao just wanted to have her way, so he agreed straightforwardly. “Have Meng Jiuchang arrange it for you.”
“Thank you, Your Majesty.” Song Yunzhao was overjoyed—her first favor granted by the Emperor, and it wasn’t bad at all. Turning to Meng Jiuchang, she smiled and said, “Chief Meng, I’ll rely on you for this. The sooner, the better.”
Meng Jiuchang: …
She really wasn’t shy about giving orders. Apart from the Emperor, she was the first person to direct him so boldly!
But since the Emperor had spoken, Meng Jiuchang had no choice but to comply, suppressing his annoyance while responding with a forced smile, “Rest assured, Your Highness.”
Song Yunzhao cheerfully left, and on the way back, she addressed Zhang Maoquan, “Chief Zhang, I have a question, but I’m not sure if I should ask?”
Zhang Maoquan promptly replied with a smile, “Feel free to ask.”
After witnessing her face-off with Xu Siji earlier today, he was more than willing to assist.
“That Chief Xu doesn’t seem friendly. I don’t think I’ve done anything to offend him, right?” Song Yunzhao asked with an expression of confusion.
Zhang Maoquan replied, “You’ve just entered the palace, so you’re unaware of certain matters. Xu Siji often serves in front of several higher-ranking concubines, and his temper is quite fiery.”
Song Yunzhao understood—he was an enemy, not a friend.
Behind her, Xiang Xue followed silently, but she mentally noted Zhang Maoquan’s words.
Though she’d been in the palace for a few years, she hadn’t served directly under a mistress before, so some details had eluded her.
Xu Siji was indeed often tasked with conveying the Emperor’s orders, but Xiangxue hadn’t realized he served several of the higher-ranking concubines as well.
“Ah, so that’s how it is. No wonder.” Song Yunzhao suddenly understood. “I hope Chief Zhang can guide me in the future. I’m completely in the dark about palace matters and just worry I might inadvertently make a mistake and cause trouble for His Majesty.”
Zhang Maoquan was taken aback by her words. She truly dared to speak freely, but judging by her behavior earlier while accompanying the Emperor, she didn’t just dare to speak—she dared to act as well.
“If you ever needs anything, simply give the word,” Zhang Maoquan offered kindly. He and Xu Siji were rivals, so Xu’s offense against Song Yunzhao naturally prompted Zhang to take her side.
“Thank you, Chief Zhang.” Song Yunzhao stopped in front of Wangyou Palace, expressed her gratitude, and sent him away before stepping inside.
The entire staff of Wangyou Palace swarmed around her upon her return.
Song Yunzhao was delighted—she loved having lots of people around and even spent her personal savings on extra dishes from the royal kitchen to reward them. For a time, Wangyou Palace was bustling with excitement.
This commotion quickly reached the neighboring palace. Consort Wan in Roufu Palace didn’t mind—having been in the palace for years, she’d seen plenty of such scenes. This was nothing.
However, Lu Zhixue, who lived in Yihua Palace behind Wangyou Palace, was not pleased. Her mood darkened, and she lost her appetite.
Song Yunzhao gaining favor was not good news for her. She would much rather see Qin Xiyue basking in glory.
Thinking about this, Lu Zhixue couldn’t sit still any longer. She went straight to Huayang Palace, and as she passed Wangyou Palace, hearing the laughter and chatter of the palace servants inside, her expression darkened further.
Under the blazing sun, Lu Zhixue broke out in a sweat, and by the time she reached Huayang Palace, Qin Xiyue had just finished her lunch and was preparing for a nap. Hearing that Lu Zhixue had come, Qin Xiyue personally came out to welcome her inside.
“Why come out under such a scorching sun without an umbrella?” Qin Xiyue asked with concern, hastily ordering her servants to serve tea.
Entering the hall, Lu Zhixue felt a wave of cool air and sighed in relief. “I was so angry I didn’t even think about it and just rushed over.”
“Angry? Who upset you?” Qin Xiyue asked in surprise. “Have some tea to soothe your throat, then tell me slowly.”
“Who else could it be? That one from Wangyou Palace!” Lu Zhixue snapped after drinking her tea, fuming. “It’s just accompanying the Emperor to read, yet look at how arrogant she’s become. The whole of Wangyou Palace is a noisy mess—it’s infuriating.”
Qin Xiyue, being clever, immediately grasped the situation. It was likely that after Song Yunzhao returned from accompanying the Emperor, the commotion at Wangyou Palace had been too much for Lu Zhixue to bear.
“What’s there to be angry about?” Qin Xiyue said with a smile.
“You’re not upset?” Lu Zhixue looked at Qin Xiyue incredulously. She didn’t believe her for a second.
Qin Xiyue shook her head. “It’s not something worth getting upset over—it’s just that you and I didn’t have her luck.”
“Luck?” Lu Zhixue snorted. “She’s just relying on that face of hers.”
Hearing this, Qin Xiyue lowered her eyes slightly. “You shouldn’t be angry. She’s only just entered the palace; there will be plenty of opportunities in the future.”
Lu Zhixue studied Qin Xiyue’s calm and composed demeanor, noticing her lack of jealousy. For a moment, she couldn’t quite figure her out and hesitated before asking, “Are you really just going to sit back and let Song Yunzhao take the lead?”
“And what else could I do?” Qin Xiyue looked at Lu Zhixue seriously. “Zhixue, I know you feel indignant, but what can that achieve? For Noble Concubine Song to get ahead, that’s her skill. Besides, you and I aren’t the only ones in the palace—there are plenty of others. If you lose your composure, you’ll end up as someone else’s tool.”
Lu Zhixue froze. She knew this well, and it was precisely because she knew that her anger had nowhere to go. That’s why she came to Qin Xiyue for a conversation.
She was neither someone who easily admitted defeat nor someone who acted impulsively. But for some reason, when it came to matters involving Song Yunzhao, she always lost her cool.
“You’re right—I can’t let myself be used,” Lu Zhixue said, taking another sip of tea and beginning to calm her thoughts. “We’ll be seeing our families soon. I should bring this up with mine. We can’t act against Song Yunzhao in the palace, but the Song family shouldn’t think they’ll have it easy outside the palace.”
This time, Qin Xiyue didn’t oppose her but instead thoughtfully said, “The Song family isn’t without influence.”
“So what? Their glory is from years ago—they’re no longer what they used to be and pose no real threat,” Lu Zhixue sneered. “If something were to happen to the Song family and it angered the Emperor, Song Yunzhao’s good days in the palace would come to an end.”
“I’ll also mention it to my family, but I can’t control how they choose to act,” Qin Xiyue sighed softly.
Hearing this, Lu Zhixue pursed her lips. She didn’t get what she wanted from Qin Xiyue and didn’t wish to linger, so she stood up to take her leave.
Qin Xiyue escorted Lu Zhixue out, and after she left, Qin Xiyue turned and returned to her chambers.
After dismissing the palace servants around her, Qin Xiyue turned over and stared at the bed canopy. The patterns on the canopy were far more exquisite and beautiful than those embroidered at home. The floral designs were stitched with silver threads that shimmered faintly with movement, their flickering light making her mood worse.
She sat up and leaned against the soft pillow, half-reclining on the bed. For days, she had been pondering one question—it felt like she had seen the Emperor somewhere before, but she couldn’t recall where.
Thinking carefully, she realized she had no occasion to have met the Emperor. Although her father was the Grand Tutor, and the Emperor occasionally visited their residence to see him, the inner and outer courtyards were strictly separated, and she hadn’t encountered him before.
She was her father’s daughter born late in life, the youngest child in the family. Her elder siblings were much older but not particularly accomplished, leaving her father’s legacy with no successor.
Hence, her family had urged her to participate in the selection, and she understood it was to preserve the Qin family’s status and prosperity.
Her parents had raised her, and her siblings had doted on her. She couldn’t stand idly by.
Thinking of this, Qin Xiyue’s mood became unsettled.
The rivalry between the Left and Right Prime Ministers had persisted for years. The Left Prime Minister’s family didn’t send any daughters to the palace, while the Right Prime Minister’s daughter was Consort Shu. She had originally hoped that if Ji Yunting had feelings for her, the two could marry, fulfilling her love and supporting her family.
But she was disappointed—Ji Yunting said and did nothing.
Thus, she joined the selection.
With her pride, she couldn’t bring herself to question him directly.
She had assumed that with her family background and beauty, entering the palace would go smoothly. Who could have foreseen Song Yunzhao appearing unexpectedly?
And yet, Song Yunzhao had helped her…
Thinking of Song Yunzhao’s help, Qin Xiyue abruptly sat upright. She remembered!
No wonder the Emperor seemed familiar. At Sanyuan Tower, when Song Yunzhao first helped her, there had been a gentleman with a folding fan who spoke up to assist. Those eyebrows, that voice…
Qin Xiyue’s expression turned strange. Was it him?
Although she couldn’t be completely certain, it seemed likely.
If the mysterious gentleman was indeed the Emperor, then he favored someone with a fiery personality like Song Yunzhao?
Qin Xiyue froze, suddenly unsure how to proceed.
If this were true, the Emperor and Song Yunzhao had a prior connection, and her own involvement in disputes with Helan Yun, which also implicated Ji Yunting…
Her face turned pale.
If the Emperor believed her heart was elsewhere, why did he keep her in the palace?
Reflecting carefully, she concluded that she hadn’t explicitly admitted anything. This realization brought her slight relief. Even if Helan Yun had made baseless claims, her interactions with Ji Yunting had been proper, and there shouldn’t be any issue.
Despite reassuring herself, Qin Xiyue decided to keep a low profile for the time being. It would be best if the Emperor didn’t think about her for now—she could revisit matters later.
Thinking this through, Qin Xiyue felt fortunate she hadn’t conceded when Lu Zhixue approached her earlier. Otherwise, she would now be in a dilemma.
Song Yunzhao, unaware of Qin Xiyue’s thoughts, received news from Meng Jiuchang that her family visit had been scheduled for three days later—a timeline that pleased her.
She submitted a guest list to Meng Jiuchang. Though she couldn’t leave the palace to enjoy the spectacle, she could summon people to the palace for a live performance.
Upon receiving Noble Concubine Song’s lengthy guest list, Meng Jiuchang couldn’t help but twitch at the corners of his mouth.
After some thought, he submitted the list to the Emperor during his leisure.
Feng Yi glanced at the list and immediately laughed.
Most of the female relatives from the Song family were included, along with a cousin whom Feng Yi knew had a close relationship with Song Yunzhao, as well as an aunt and cousin from a branch family. Song Yunzhao was indeed someone who held grudges.
“Use this list. Have someone deliver the decree to the Song family,” Feng Yi said with a smile.
Meng Jiuchang noticed the peculiar smile on the Emperor’s face, feeling there might be something between the Emperor and Noble Concubine Song that he didn’t know about.
But he didn’t dare ask. He wasn’t looking for trouble.
Thus, he accepted the list with both hands and replied respectfully, “I’ll send someone immediately.”
Feng Yi waved him off, allowing him to leave, then resumed reviewing memorials. They were filled with trivial and nonsensical matters—these senior ministers were just trying to fool him.
For the past few days, Song Yunzhao had been doing well. To her surprise, even Consort Shu and others hadn’t bothered her. Upon reflection, she realized it was because the palace didn’t have an Empress, nor had the Emperor granted the consorts authority to oversee the harem.
As a result, the palace hadn’t devolved into chaotic gatherings in the Empress’s residence—a loss of drama, indeed.[mfn]All the concubines had to visit the Empress early in the morning in order to pay their respects[/mfn]
Life without an Empress was truly comfortable—sleeping as late as one wanted, no need to clock in for work, simply delightful.
“Your Highness, Chief Zhang sent word asking where you’d like to meet your family,” Xiang Xue said as she lifted the curtain and entered.
Song Yunzhao asked, “Are there other options?”
“Yes, there are many places in the palace. If you don’t want to meet them at Wangyou Palace, you can choose another hall,” Xiang Xue replied with a smile.
Song Yunzhao nodded slightly. This Emperor’s harem was indeed small. According to the book, after several rounds of selections in later years, the palace would become crowded with beauties, and only then would the halls feel cramped.
“Let’s keep it at Wangyou Palace,” Song Yunzhao decided. She didn’t want to bother with the hassle, and in another hall, who knew if Consort Shu, Consort Zhuang, or Consort Wan’s people might be around? It would make speaking inconvenient, especially when she planned to mock Cai Shi. That would hinder her performance.
“I’ll go relay the message.”
“Go ahead.”
After Xiang Xue left, Song Yunzhao lost her desire to nap and went to the study. She took out the storybook she had been working on late into the night, which contained hooks she had set for the Emperor.
One of the storybooks was titled The Tale of Concubine Yun. It included traces of her own personality, giving the Emperor a sense of familiarity and room for imagination. The male lead in the story also shared a few pitiful traits with the Emperor, which would create a sense of empathy. She wrote about how concubine Yun and the male lead met, got to know each other, and fell in love.
The Emperor didn’t know how to fall in love? No problem—she’d teach him through her storybooks!
Didn’t he enjoy reading her storybooks?
She was giving him this learning opportunity—no thanks necessary.
Each book would teach him a little about flirting skills. She estimated that after writing five, six, seven, or eight books, she’d have the Emperor fully trained.
By then, wouldn’t she be the one enjoying the fruits of victory? Writing storybooks not only earned her money but also provided free romance. Who knew, she might even end up with the most powerful husband in the world. It couldn’t get any better.
The more Song Yunzhao thought about it, the more pleased she became. How had she come up with the idea of writing storybooks to make money in the first place?
She was truly a clever little fox.
This good mood lasted until the day she met her family. She woke up early, washed up, and chose a summer outfit newly delivered by the Department of Wardrobe—a crimson floor-length gown embroidered with branching flowers in gold and silver threads. The cuffs and hem were adorned with sea and cloud patterns, and she wore a light, sheer golden shawl over it.
Xiang Xue lightly brushed her eyebrows and used the technique taught by her mistress to carefully outline her features. Her face resembled a lotus flower, her brows like willow leaves, and her black hair was styled into a high, elegant bun adorned with pearls and jade, making Song Yunzhao look regal and noble—completely different from her days at the Song family.
When Cai Shi entered the palace and saw Song Yunzhao for the first time, she was stunned. She had never seen Song Yunzhao dressed so magnificently and was momentarily speechless.
Song Yunzhao sat on the throne, her gaze lowered as she swept her eyes over Cai Shi’s face, then looked at Song Qinghan’s complexion, darker than the bottom of a pot, feeling utterly satisfied.
Once, they had ordered her around, insulted her, and belittled her at will. They could never have imagined this day would come.
After spending over a decade at the Song residence, the humiliation Cai Shi had inflicted upon her was finally something she could repay with pride today.
It’s payback time….thanks Ana 💕