I Was Supposed to Be the Villainous Consort

’With a personality like that, no wonder even a mere Talented Person dared to use her. And after suffering a loss, she still hasn’t learned her lesson. Still, for her to be a guest at Wangyou Palace, her relationship with Yun Zhao must have eased.’

’That’s rather strange, too. By all rights, their personalities shouldn’t be compatible at all.’

Feng Yi’s mind raced. Then, with a solemn expression, he said, "This matter was already decided before I arrived."

His meaning was clear: the outcome was already set, so they could place their bets without worrying about favoritism.

Han Jinyi sided with Yun Zhao without hesitation.

Feng Yunjin, however, wavered. She saw how lonely Lu Zhixue looked all by herself. ’We’ll probably lose,’ she thought, but still decided to side with Lu Zhixue. ’It’s the New Year, after all. I’ll just do it to make Lu Pin happy.’

Feng Yi gave Feng Yunjin a rare, second glance. Yun Zhao had mentioned her a few times. ’To think Feng Bidada’s boisterous personality could produce a daughter with such a perceptive and thoughtful heart.’

Feng Yunjin kept her head slightly bowed, as if she hadn’t noticed the Emperor’s gaze.

With both Han Jinyi and Feng Yunjin having chosen sides, Lu Zhixue spoke up again. "You still haven’t placed your bets."

"Bets?" Feng Yi tilted his head, looking at Yun Zhao.

Yun Zhao nodded earnestly. "Yes. Lu Pin and I have a wager. She said that if I lose, I have to make tea for her."

The Emperor nodded slightly. ’A rare moment of cleverness from Lu Pin.’

Hearing Yun Zhao only mention her own stake in the bet, Lu Zhixue gritted her teeth and added, "Emperor, Song Jieyu said that if I lose, I have to be her little soldier for a month and do whatever she tells me to do."

Feng Yi: ...

’She never stops losing to Song Yunzhao, yet she still eagerly walks right into her traps.’

"The wager is set," Feng Yi announced. "Since both parties have agreed willingly, there are no objections."

Song Yunzhao thought, ’The Emperor really knows how to play along. He phrased that perfectly.’

Lu Zhixue wasn’t the least bit surprised to hear the Emperor say that. ’If he didn’t, he wouldn’t be *Song Yunzhao’s* emperor.’ Though angry, she also felt it was to be expected. The frustration was stuck in her throat, leaving her fuming.

Han Jinyi immediately said, "I’ll wager a rare old book. If I win, I’ll keep it. If I lose, I’ll give it away."

Feng Yunjin was at a bit of a loss. After some thought, she said, "I don’t have anything valuable to wager. How about this: if I lose, I will serve the Concubine alongside Lu Pin for a month. If I am fortunate enough to win, I’ll ask the Concubine to go to the trouble of personally brewing me a cup of tea."

Lu Zhixue looked at Feng Yunjin, so moved that tears almost welled up in her eyes. ’Now *this* is a true sister,’ she thought, ’sharing blessings and hardships together!’

Feng Yunjin felt she had no choice. ’Lu Zhixue is too proud. If she were the only one to lose so badly, who knows how long she would sulk.’

’To keep the peace, I’m willing to yield a little. Besides, Song Jieyu surely won’t let me suffer a loss for nothing.’

Song Yunzhao truly admired Feng Yunjin. ’She has a magnanimity that I lack. When I see a good quality in others that I don’t possess, I cherish it all the more—especially when that person is one of my own.’

"Then it’s settled," Song Yunzhao declared. With Feng Yunjin acting as a bond, their little group of four could now weather small storms without easily capsizing.

All four of them turned to look at the Emperor. What was the final result?

Feng Yi glanced at Meng Jiuchang out of the corner of his eye. Meng Jiuchang immediately stepped forward and said with a smile, "In response to Your Ladyships’ question, Lady Wanfei and Consort Zhuang went to Taiji Palace to petition, but the Emperor has declared that this year will follow the precedent set last year."

Following last year’s precedent... There was no luncheon last year, which meant it was canceled!

Song Yunzhao immediately beamed. "Han Guipin and I win! You two have to honor the bet!"

Feng Yunjin said with a smile, "Yes, this concubine will willingly await the Concubine’s call."

Although Lu Zhixue didn’t look pleased, she still said readily, "So I have to be a little soldier? Fine. I’ll await the Concubine’s command."

Han Jinyi watched Lu Zhixue with a smile. ’You should have known this would happen. And you even dragged Feng Yunjin down with you. Still,’ she mused, ’it adds a bit of festive entertainment for the New Year.’

The atmosphere in the hall was quite cheerful. Seeing that the noon hour was approaching, Feng Yi invited the three of them to stay for a meal.

Song Yunzhao had Anshun pass the word to the Imperial Kitchen. Han Jinyi and the other two were a bit surprised and were about to decline, but Yun Zhao had already made the arrangements before they could. The three of them exchanged glances.

Although Song Yunzhao didn’t know what the Emperor was up to, she knew he never did anything without a reason. ’He must have a purpose. All I need to do now is play along.’

Song Yunzhao immediately began to exercise her authority, ordering Lu Zhixue and Feng Yunjin to set the table. Lu Zhixue’s awkwardness instantly vanished. She grabbed Feng Yunjin and headed out, saying as she went, "I knew it! The Concubine was so insistent we stay, just so she could have this moment."

She even suspected the Emperor had deliberately paved the way for Song Yunzhao, just to give her an opportunity to boss her around.

Feng Yunjin wasn’t familiar with the customs of Wangyou Palace, so she first asked Xiangxue and the others. Only then did she lead Lu Zhixue in setting the table with practiced ease. She then said with a smile, "You see? Even though we lost the bet, we get to dine with the Emperor. Imagine what people will say when we walk out of here."

Lu Zhixue froze. It would, of course, be a great honor. Since entering the palace, neither of them had ever dined at the same table as the Emperor.

Feng Yunjin said no more, pulling Lu Zhixue along as they bustled about their tasks.

Meanwhile, Song Yunzhao wasn’t idle either. She took Han Jinyi to dig up a jug of wine she had hidden under a tree. She had buried this Golden Spring Wine right after moving into Wangyou Palace. It had been a spur-of-the-moment decision, but she never expected it would come in handy now.

Finding wine vessels, opening the jug, and warming the wine, the two of them were as busy as bees. When Lu Zhixue saw that Song Yunzhao had even dug up her buried wine, she felt that a lot of sincere effort was being put into this meal, and her mood brightened instantly.

It’s always a pleasant feeling to be valued by others.

Feng Yunjin, watching from the side, saw Lu Zhixue’s spirits instantly soar. She glanced at the wine in Song Jieyu’s hands and couldn’t help but smile as well.

’Song Jieyu has a knack for that,’ she thought. ’She can make people happy so subtly.’

’She’s so full of life that everyone around her seems to become more relaxed and carefree, too.’

A feast of delicacies covered the table. The Emperor sat at the head, with Yun Zhao on his left and Han Jinyi on his right. However, as Han Jinyi took her seat, she subtly shifted her chair a little closer to Lu Zhixue.

Lu Zhixue: ...

She pretended not to notice.

Feng Xiaoyuan sat beside Lu Zhixue, and next to her was Yun Zhao.

Yun Zhao hadn’t thought anything of it while she was busy, but now that she was seated, a single glance at the scene left her momentarily speechless. ’This picture should be titled "The Emperor and His Concubines".’

Seeing how Han Jinyi and the others were each more nervous than the last, she, in contrast, suddenly relaxed.

’Whatever grand performance the Emperor is staging, I can’t be the one to drop the ball.’