TSNCWEM Chapter 76

Since the Emperor had arrived at this hour, it was clear that he hadn’t eaten yet.

Song Yunzhao immediately ordered an extra set of tableware, then hesitated before looking at him and asking, “Should I have the kitchen add a few more dishes?”

Because the Emperor had come unexpectedly, only her personal meal portion was prepared.

Since she was watching her weight and the hot weather had diminished her appetite, she hadn’t ordered anything extra.

As a result, dinner looked rather light.

“You eat this for dinner?” Feng Yi approached and glanced at the table.

On the table sat two round flat cakes, a bowl of Qingfeng rice[mfn]It’s a special cold dish[/mfn], a dish of Yusi tripe, steamed chicken, stir-fried greens, and a bowl of mushroom soup.

“In this heat, I prefer a lighter dinner. I can’t eat anything too greasy.” Song Yunzhao pulled the Emperor to his seat and pointed at the bowl of Qingfeng rice. “This dish takes quite a bit of effort. First, the crystal rice is steamed, then blended with longan powder, ground borneol, and milk curd, before being placed into a golden pot and lowered into an ice pool to chill completely. It’s the perfect refreshing meal for hot weather. Your Majesty should give it a try.”

“I’ve had it before,” Feng Yi replied with a chuckle, “but you knowing about it—now that’s impressive.”

“Of course! With nothing better to do, what else is there but to indulge in food and entertainment?” Song Yunzhao scooped some rice into a bowl and placed it before the Emperor.

Feng Yi picked up the bowl, took a bite, and raised an eyebrow. “It has a slight sourness to it?”

“I asked the kitchen to add a bit of hawthorn juice.”

“That’s an interesting twist.” Feng Yi enjoyed the sweet-and-sour flavor—it was quite appetizing.

Song Yunzhao liked it too. After finishing their meal, Feng Yi had a chessboard brought over to play a game against her.

Song Yunzhao: …

It seemed the Emperor was aiming for a peaceful evening—going so far as to play chess.

Song Yunzhao had never systematically studied chess. Her playstyle was completely unstructured—she would place a piece here, make a random move there, like throwing wild punches, which left Feng Yi utterly frustrated.

By the time the game ended, Feng Yi was completely done. Without a word, he took Yunzhao’s hand and led her outside for a walk, calling it a digestive stroll.

Song Yunzhao could clearly see his expression of distaste, but she pretended not to notice.

Poor chess skills?

Perfect.

Who had time to play chess all night?

Now, Feng Yi would probably never ask her to play again—what a relief.

Without any attendants following them, the two strolled slowly along the pathways of Wangyou Palace. After walking for a while, Feng Yi turned his head to look at Song Yunzhao.

Sensing his gaze, Song Yunzhao lifted her eyes. Under the moonlight, his expression was hidden by the shadow, making it hard to read.

“Your Majesty?” Song Yunzhao sensed he had something on his mind.

Feng Yi gently squeezed her fingertips, then said, “You don’t need to dwell too much on what happened yesterday.”

Song Yunzhao was certain that this wasn’t what he originally intended to say. But since he had said it, she responded, “How could I not dwell on it? Consort Lu lost her title because of me—she will surely target me in the future. Your Majesty must protect me.”

Consort Lu surely despised her now. Their future confrontations would be fierce—exactly the kind of drama the Emperor wanted to see. But Yunzhao still needed to play her part, reminding him that she needed his protection.

“You? Are you capable of suffering a loss?” Feng Yi laughed.

“Yesterday, I was lucky. Otherwise, the outcome might have been completely different.” Song Yunzhao lowered her gaze slightly. “If Your Majesty had arrived just a little later… If Consort Zhuang hadn’t stopped Consort Lu… I might have really…”

“Enough!” Feng Yi cut her off sharply. “Never say things like that again.”

It was a bad omen!

Song Yunzhao smiled lightly. The Emperor’s grip on her hand tightened slightly—at least he still had some conscience.

Even if she was just another pawn, he understood that pawns needed to be well maintained.

After walking a full circle, they returned to Wangyou Palace, where Song Yunzhao noticed Meng Jiuchang waiting outside the hall.

Seeing them, he immediately stepped forward to offer his greetings.

Feng Yi looked at Meng Jiuchang with a slight frown—coming at this hour meant it probably wasn’t good news.

Meng Jiuchang lowered his head and spoke quietly. “Your Majesty, Consort Lu has fallen ill from excessive fright. The attendants from Cuiwei Palace are waiting outside.”

Song Yunzhao stared at Meng Jiuchang, but he kept his head down.

This was an attempt to interfere.

“Steward Meng, His Majesty isn’t a physician. If Consort Lu is sick, the imperial doctors should treat her. What could His Majesty do for her?”

Meng Jiuchang heard Song Jieyu’s remark and knew he had just offended her. He quickly smiled and said, “Jieyu is right. But since Cuiwei Palace has requested an audience with His Majesty, how could I dare to withhold the message?”

His response carried a subtle jab at Song Yunzhao, who recalled that the novel had described Meng Jiuchang as cunning—and it seemed to be true.

If Zhang Maoquan had been here, things might have gone differently.

And this so-called “excessive fright”?

Anyone unaware of the situation might have thought Song Yunzhao had tried to kill Consort Lu yesterday.

“Steward Meng is certainly diligent—there’s nothing wrong with that. However, I’m truly confused. How exactly did Consort Lu suffer excessive fright? Wasn’t it me who nearly got beaten to death yesterday? If anyone should be traumatized, shouldn’t it be me? I really can’t understand how Consort Lu became so terrified. Why don’t you explain it to me?”

Meng Jiuchang: …

After throwing her sharp words at Meng Jiuchang, Song Yunzhao turned to Feng Yi, her face full of indignation. “Your Majesty should hurry and go. If I stop you, forget excessive fright—who knows what crime will be pinned on me tomorrow?”

She felt her grievances weren’t quite emphasized enough, so she deliberately acted upset, letting her emotions show as she flung her sleeves and stormed off.

Meng Jiuchang: …

He had never seen a concubine act this boldly before—even the three imperial consorts weren’t this fearless.

Feng Yi watched as Song Yunzhao not only confronted Meng Jiuchang but dragged him into it as well. Her temper seemed to be growing.

He reached out and grabbed Song Yunzhao’s arm. “Where are you running off to?”

This time, Song Yunzhao didn’t shake off his hand. She simply kept her expression cold as she looked at Meng Jiuchang. “I am merely being sensible.”

Feng Yi lowered his gaze to observe Song Yunzhao. She wasn’t looking at him—her head tilted slightly downward, lips pressed together tightly, her expression both angry and aggrieved.

“I never said I was going,” Feng Yi remarked. “Are you deciding for me now?”

“Your Majesty, you mustn’t say that. Chief Meng is still here—if word gets out, I’ll be buried under a mountain of impeachment petitions.”

Meng Jiuchang: …

Not only had Song Jieyu indirectly called him a gossiper, but she had done it so skillfully that he couldn’t retaliate.

Feng Yi barely managed to hold back a laugh, keeping his expression firm as he turned to Meng Jiuchang. “Summon the head physician to Cuiwei Palace—ensure that Consort Lu receives proper treatment and is not neglected.”

Meng Jiuchang suppressed his surprise—he hadn’t expected His Majesty to truly refuse to go.

At this moment, he regretted accepting favors to advocate for Consort Lu.

“Understood.” Meng Jiuchang dared not say anything further. He bowed deeply before hurrying off to relay the Emperor’s decree.

Once Meng Jiuchang was gone, Feng Yi looked at Yunzhao and chuckled. “Still angry?”

Song Yunzhao hesitated, then remained silent, standing still with her gaze lowered.

In a cold tone, she said, “Consort Lu inviting Your Majesty over is a direct challenge to me. She knows you’re here, she knows I suffered injustice yesterday, yet she still pulls this move. I don’t want Your Majesty to go. If you do, where does that leave me? Besides, I’m not wrong—you aren’t a physician. Can you treat her illness?”

Feng Yi could hear the barely contained anger in Yunzhao’s words.

Of course, he understood Consort Lu’s motives.

And in truth, he had never planned to visit Cuiwei Palace—he had simply been using Yunzhao to suppress Minister Lu and his daughter’s arrogance.

Still, hearing her words now, he felt a rare flicker of guilt.

“I know. That’s why I didn’t go.” Feng Yi looked at Yunzhao.

Song Yunzhao held back a laugh internally.

Was it because of her words that he didn’t go?

Of course not.

The Emperor had merely used her reasoning as an excuse to rein in Consort Lu’s influence.

Another day of flawless performance.

Yunzhao took the chance to cling to his arm, her face lighting up with a smile. “That’s because Your Majesty knows my words make sense. You are truly a wise ruler.”

Feng Yi chuckled, taking her hand and leading her back into the hall.

That night, thanks to the drama surrounding Consort Lu, Yunzhao had no interest in spending the night with the Emperor, and he clearly wasn’t in the mood either.

After washing up, they simply blew out the lanterns and slept.

The next morning, Feng Yi rose early for court, and Song Yunzhao got up to assist him.

Since she hadn’t exerted herself the previous night, she had to make up for it in the morning—playing her part as the dutiful wife.

But dressing the Emperor was an entirely different challenge.

The many layers of his dragon robes nearly made her question her existence.

Feng Yi laughed outright, calling Meng Jiuchang forward to assist him instead. He turned to Yunzhao and said, “I told you—you don’t need to trouble yourself.”

Song Yunzhao put on a flustered expression, pretending to be embarrassed.

“I only wanted to show my devotion, but I was simply too clumsy. I must have made a fool of myself before Your Majesty.”

Feng Yi thought about it—she truly wasn’t very nimble.

Whenever he stayed in other palaces, the three imperial consorts at least managed to assist with dressing properly.

“If you’re so devoted, what use do I have for Meng Jiuchang and the others? I think you should leave them a meal to eat at least.”

Meng Jiuchang: …

“Jieyu, please have mercy.” Meng Jiuchang quickly forced a smile.

Alright, he understood now—this concubine was not to be underestimated.

Song Yunzhao responded with a fake smile. “Steward Meng really enjoys making jokes.”

Meng Jiuchang sighed inwardly.

From now on, if he ever had to deal with matters involving Wangyou Palace, he would have to be extra cautious.

Of course, many concubines had once acted arrogantly in the palace, but their endings were never particularly good.

Song Jieyu was undeniably beautiful, and the Emperor was clearly still enamored with her. But no matter how stunning a woman was, her prime would eventually pass—and when that time came, he wondered if she would still be this bold.

After seeing the Emperor off, Song Yunzhao no longer felt sleepy and decided to head to the study.

She hadn’t had time to read the letter First Madam had brought from Xie Linlang yesterday, so she took it out now.

Unfolding the letter, she read through it and smiled. Preparations for Romance of the Western Chamber were nearly complete. Surprisingly, Xie Jinshu had purchased an entire opera house, along with the original troupe that had performed there.

This caught her off guard—she hadn’t expected Xie Jinshu to go this far.

From what Xie Linlang mentioned in the letter, if the troupe were to tour various cities as planned, then owning a stable opera company was absolutely necessary.

One troupe wouldn’t be enough—Xie Jinshu was still searching for skilled performers.

During this era, opera performers were far less respected than in later times.

They were considered low-class, had little to no social status, and most children in opera troupes had either been sold by impoverished families or picked up as orphans and trained from childhood.

Like floating weeds, they had no freedom in life.

Given her current status, Song Yunzhao could only sigh—there wasn’t much she could do for them.

Still, everything was progressing as planned. Once Romance of the Western Chamber premiered at the opera house and became wildly popular, that was when she would start profiting.

She estimated that within a month, she would start seeing results—she was looking forward to it.

After reading the letter, she burned it, then poured a cup of tea over the ashes before calling for someone to take the porcelain basin away for cleaning.

She wasn’t in a rush to write a new play—she wanted to observe the market reaction first.

Leaving the study, she strolled slowly along the corridor. The cool morning breeze carried refreshing air, helping clear her slightly muddled mind.

She found a chair, sat down, and began pondering her next moves.

Something about Qin Xiyue’s silence unsettled her.

The heroine was far too quiet, making Song Yunzhao anxious. But Qin Xiyue never left any openings, so there was nothing to grasp onto.

Waiting passively like this was frustrating.

She sighed—it was irritating.

“Master, it’s time for breakfast.” Shi Zhu walked over with a smile.

Song Yunzhao got up. “Isn’t it early?”

“The summer mornings are brighter sooner. It’s already the hour of the dragon[mfn]7-9 am[/mfn],” Shi Zhu replied.

Song Yunzhao paused. Indeed, it wasn’t early anymore. She returned to have breakfast, and soon after, Han Jinyi arrived.

Upon seeing Song Yunzhao, Han Jinyi bowed in greeting. “I pay my respects to Jieyu.”

“Come now, stand up.” Song Yunzhao helped her up. “Are you going to be formal with me now?”

Han Jinyi laughed. “Etiquette must be followed.”

Song Yunzhao called for tea, then looked at Han Jinyi. “When we’re alone, we don’t need all these formalities. I even have to exert effort to help you up—let’s conserve our strength.”

Han Jinyi smiled helplessly. “That won’t do. Next time, you don’t have to help me—I’ll stand on my own.”

Song Yunzhao shook her head with a smile. “Yesterday, you had something to say, didn’t you?”

Han Jinyi nodded. “I did, but yesterday was your big day, and there were too many people around, so I didn’t mention it.”

“What is it?” Song Yunzhao asked.

At that moment, Xiang Xue arrived with tea, placed the cups down, and quietly stepped aside.

Han Jinyi steadied herself for a moment. Once Xiang Xue left, she looked at Song Yunzhao and spoke softly, “I received word from my family—Minister Lu’s protégé has been transferred to Yucheng.”

Song Yunzhao frowned. “Really?”

Han Jinyi nodded. “The official documents have been issued. Otherwise, my mother wouldn’t have sent word. Don’t worry—regarding the Song family, my mother will notify First Madam.”

Now that Han Jinyi had sided with Yunzhao, if the Song family were implicated in trouble, she would be affected as well.

Song Yunzhao let out a cold chuckle. “How fortunate to be favored by Minister Lu.”

Hearing that tone, Han Jinyi knew Yunzhao was angry. She considered her words carefully before saying, “We can’t intervene in political matters, but I wanted to tell you so that you can caution your family—make sure they don’t make a mistake and give people an excuse to target them.”

Song Yunzhao recalled Madam Song’s words from the previous day. She thought to herself—Madam Song truly had the composure of a household matriarch. If she hadn’t spoken with Yunzhao yesterday, she might have been panicking now.

Looking at Han Jinyi, Song Yunzhao said, “My Uncle has always been prudent and incorruptible. My Father holds a minor position with little influence—I’m not concerned about them.”

“That’s good.” Han Jinyi sighed in relief. “As long as your family remains stable, your position in the palace will be secure. Now that you’re basking in favor, if you receive even better news, things will be even smoother.”

Song Yunzhao noticed Han Jinyi’s gaze drifting to her stomach. For a moment, she wasn’t sure how to respond, so she simply offered an awkward smile to brush it off.

Pregnancy was unpredictable. While bearing a child was a shortcut to promotion, for her, it was merely a bonus.

What she needed was for the Emperor to truly prioritize her—that was the only way to solidify her status.

Han Jinyi didn’t dwell on the subject. Instead, she said, “I was feeling unwell that day and decided to rest—who would have thought you’d end up facing off against Consort Lu in the imperial garden? Luckily, you’re unharmed.”

“It was bound to happen sooner or later. Consort Lu has disliked me for a long time—she was always looking for an opportunity to target me.” Song Yunzhao continued, “Besides, even if you had been there, if you tried to speak up for me, you might have suffered Consort Lu’s retaliation. With so many people present, who would dare openly intervene? I appreciate your concern, but in situations like this, it’s best not to make unnecessary sacrifices.”

Han Jinyi felt a mix of emotions—she hadn’t expected Yunzhao to be so considerate. “Now that you’re Jieyu, your rank is higher than An Fangyi’s. I noticed that even An Fangyi, who rarely leaves her palace, has been going out frequently these past couple of days. You’ve truly become the center of attention in the harem.”

An Fangyi?

If Han Jinyi hadn’t mentioned her, Song Yunzhao wouldn’t have thought about her at all. “Now that I think about it, An Fangyi wasn’t present that day.”

“Yes. I’ve lived in the same palace as her for a long time, and she rarely leaves. Seeing her suddenly moving around these days makes me feel that your double promotion has really shaken people.”

“When Beauty Zhen had her incident, An Fangyi was involved,” Song Yunzhao noted.

Han Jinyi thought for a moment before nodding. “I hadn’t considered that before, but now that you mention it, it is strange. An Fangyi never meddles in palace affairs.”

“How does she treat you?” Song Yunzhao asked.

“She ranks higher than me, but she has never made things difficult for me. She doesn’t require me to greet her regularly. We coexist peacefully,” Han Jinyi replied.

Song Yunzhao nodded. “That’s good.”

“Last night, Lu Zhixue visited me.”

“Lu Zhixue?” Song Yunzhao was surprised.

“Yes, I wasn’t expecting it either. After everything she’s been through, she seems to have changed quite a bit,” Han Jinyi sighed.

The noblewomen of the capital all had some degree of interaction. Before entering the palace, Lu Zhixue had never been so aggressive—but when it came to Yunzhao, they had constantly clashed.

“When you run headfirst into a wall, you finally learn to stop.” Song Yunzhao’s tone was indifferent. “Did she come to complain? She has always been close to Noble Concubine Qin—shouldn’t she have gone to her instead?”

Hearing this, Han Jinyi’s expression turned a little strange. “That should have been the case, but Lu Zhixue didn’t mention Noble Concubine Qin at all when she spoke to me. It seems there’s some conflict between them.”

“You weren’t there that day,” Song Yunzhao continued, “but when Consort Zhuang asked Noble Concubine Qin about Lu Zhixue sending me a congratulatory gift, she claimed she knew nothing about it. With so many people present, even if she truly didn’t know, she should have said something in Lu Zhixue’s defense—but she didn’t.”

Han Jinyi’s smile faded. She knew Yunzhao wouldn’t lie to her, but she hadn’t expected Qin Xiyue to act this way.

“She wasn’t like this before.” Han Jinyi sighed. “Ever since entering the palace, everyone has changed. No wonder Lu Zhixue came to me—she must have found out and was upset.”

“Whether she’s upset or not has nothing to do with me,” Song Yunzhao said. “Just be careful when dealing with Noble Concubine Qin.”

“I haven’t interacted much with her since coming to the palace. I’m closer to you, but I’ve grown distant from them.” Han Jinyi smiled. “As long as we can, we should interact. If not, keeping a peaceful distance is best.”

She wasn’t someone easily pushed around.

“Oh?” Song Yunzhao suddenly recalled, “Lu Zhixue asked Feng Xiao Yuan to send me a message last time. Why didn’t she seek her help this time?”

Han Jinyi shook her head. “I don’t know.”

Song Yunzhao felt that something wasn’t right. The events were moving in a completely different direction than in the novel, giving her a sense of unease.

Seeing her silent, Han Jinyi thought for a moment before suggesting, “Should I talk to Feng Xiao Yuan and see what I can find out?”

Song Yunzhao shook her head. “No need. Feng Xiao Yuan is clever. If Lu Zhixue didn’t approach her this time, then their deal must have been a one-time exchange.”

Han Jinyi understood—perhaps Feng Xiao Yuan had owed Lu Zhixue a favor, or maybe her family had owed Lu’s family. This incident was simply repaying a debt.

Now that the favor was settled, there was no need for further involvement.

Han Jinyi sighed lightly.

In the past, they had at least pretended to be cordial—but now, it was clear that everyone had their own agendas.

“I’ve heard that some ministers have begun discussing the selection of an Empress.”

“An Empress?” Song Yunzhao was startled.

This event did occur in the novel, but it was supposed to happen later—only after Qin Xiyue and the three imperial consorts had grown so antagonistic that court officials used the Empress position as a way to curb Qin Xiyue’s influence.

At that time, Grand Tutor Qin—still vigorous despite his age—backed his daughter, leading to a standoff between the three consorts’ families and the Qin faction.

The Emperor had used their power struggle to weaken all sides, gradually consolidating more control over court affairs.

But right now, things were different.

Song Yunzhao didn’t have any family members in court to support her.

Suddenly, she felt a cold sweat forming.

If the Song family had no presence in court, then the Emperor couldn’t play his divide-and-rule strategy.

That meant her opposition wasn’t just Qin Xiyue—but the three consort families plus Grand Tutor Qin’s faction.

She hadn’t realized this before.

And now the weight of it hit her all at once.

Seeing her unsettled expression, Han Jinyi asked with concern, “Yunzhao, are you alright? Are you feeling unwell?”

Song Yunzhao shook her head, her gaze falling on Han Jinyi.

That’s right—the Song family might not hold power, but there was still the Minister of Justice.

According to Han Jinyi’s words, her family was friendly toward the Song family, and they would warn them of potential dangers.

Thinking further, Song Yunzhao remembered something from the novel—the Minister of Judicial Review, Jinyi’s father, had a crisis at one point.

But the details weren’t clear in her memory.

The book had only briefly mentioned it, but now, it could become a key opportunity for her to form alliances.

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