Chapter 320 - 129: The Delightful Song Yunzhao
Song Yunzhao’s gaze shifted as she stood and picked up the warmed wine. Looking at the Emperor, she said, "Let me offer you a toast. I buried this jar of wine when I first moved into Wangyou Palace. It’s no Jade Brew, just a simple gesture from my heart."
Lu Zhixue gazed at Song Yunzhao. Her usually vibrant face held a rare gentleness, and her eyes seemed to ripple softly. This was a different Song Yunzhao from the one she usually saw.
’Such a delicate, sweet beauty. Even setting the Emperor aside, she’s still a pleasure to look at.’
Lu Zhixue’s expression stiffened at the thought. ’Ugh, how could I think something like that?’
Feng Yi raised his cup and drained it in one go. He looked at Song Yunzhao, his eyes filled with deep affection. "My dear’s heartfelt sincerity is something I will naturally treasure."
A constant smile on her face, Song Yunzhao wondered, ’Is he drunk already? We just started.’
Song Yunzhao feigned a shy expression and turned to pour wine for Han Jinyi and the other two. They quickly stood to refuse, but Song Yunzhao laughed and said, "Today, I am the host. Please, sit. This cup is a toast to the friendship we’ve built in the months since we entered the palace together."
Han Jinyi was on the best terms with Song Yunzhao, so she drank the wine with genuine conviction.
Feng Yunjin had never clashed with Song Yunzhao either, and they had grown closer over the past few months, so she also drank her wine with pleasure.
Only Lu Zhixue found the wine hard to swallow. ’Why do her words sound like they’re aimed at me?’
’What friendship do I have with Song Yunzhao? The camaraderie of war?’
She really couldn’t stomach it. But with the Emperor here backing Song Yunzhao, she had to drink it whether she wanted to or not. She didn’t have the nerve that Song Yunzhao did—to throw a fit and storm off at a moment’s notice.
Song Yunzhao was at a complete loss watching Lu Zhixue’s expression. ’I have no idea what she’s imagining, but her face is a veritable rainbow of emotions.’
Feng Yi reached out, picked up a piece of the soy-braised duck that Yun Zhao loved, and placed it in her small bowl. He then looked at the other women and said, "During the snow disaster, your willingness to donate silver to aid the people shows your kind hearts. Come next spring, the refugees will erect a Merit Stele, and all of your names will be on it."
The three women were both shocked and overjoyed. It was such an incredible windfall, they could hardly believe it.
If their names were truly on the Merit Stele, it would be an excellent thing for their reputations. In other words, as long as they didn’t commit some unforgivable crime in the palace, their positions would basically be secure.
Feng Yi seemed not to notice their expressions. He turned to Yun Zhao and, seeing her surprise, smiled. "I only just learned of this myself. Your father performed great service in the disaster relief, and the people are grateful to him, so they proposed to erect a Merit Stele for him. Your father submitted a memorial, saying that everyone who contributed money and effort for the people should be carved onto it. I agreed."
So it was because of Mr. Song’s proposal. Feng Yunjin and the other two were a little surprised, but on second thought, it made sense.
Because of this great news, the three of them tactfully took their leave after lunch, not wanting to disturb the Emperor and Song Jieyu.
After seeing the others off, Song Yunzhao returned to find the Emperor had gone into the bedchamber. She followed him in and saw him leaning against a soft pillow, flipping through a book. She walked over, sat down next to him, and said softly, "You deliberately mentioned this in front of Han Guipin and the others. Was it to make them remember they owe this favor to me?"
Feng Yi reached out, pulled Yun Zhao into his arms, and toyed with her fingertips. After a long moment, he said, "They did indeed benefit because of you."
’The Empress Dowager is returning to the palace after the New Year. There’s no suitable opportunity to promote Yun Zhao’s rank right now, so the only thing to do is to bolster her influence and find her allies.’
’He knew Han Guipin had always been on good terms with her. Feng Xiaoyuan had grown closer to Yun Zhao after the incident with Lu Pin. As for Lu Pin... the less said, the better.’
’In the past, he wouldn’t have wasted a moment’s thought on Yun Zhao’s situation in the harem. All that mattered was that she did what he wanted.’
’But after spending so much time with her, his feelings had changed without him even realizing.’
’He himself had put Yun Zhao at odds with the rest of the harem; now he had to put in more effort to ensure her safety.’
’He now found he couldn’t stand to see her suffer any injustice.’
’It was his mess to clean up.’
Of course, the Emperor couldn’t say to Yun Zhao, "I didn’t have good intentions toward you at first, so now I can only do my best to make it up to you."
He had felt a warmth from Yun Zhao that he had never received before, and thus he grew attached and wanted to protect her.
Song Yunzhao didn’t read that much into it. She simply figured the Emperor was preparing for the Empress Dowager’s imminent return. He wanted to increase her political weight, giving her the ability to contend with the Empress Dowager.