Chapter 291 - 120: Leveraging Strength
A smile played on Qin Xiyue’s lips, but her eyes were dark and unreadable. She spoke softly, "I wasn’t heading to Qingyan Palace. I was simply looking for Feng Xiaoyuan, but she wasn’t in Yanqing Palace. Just then, I saw you approaching from afar and figured you knew where she was, so I came over to ask."
Han Jinyi thought, ’For Qin Xiyue to say that, she must have been tracking our movements. But this is all above board; there’s no reason to hide it. Everyone will find out sooner or later.’ So, with a frank expression, she said, "Your timing is unfortunate, Qin Wanyi. Feng Xiaoyuan has gone to Cuiwei Palace. You must have missed each other on the way."
Han Jinyi said this deliberately. Feng Yunjin went from Wangyou Palace to Cuiwei Palace, while Qin Xiyue came from Huayang Palace. One from the east, one from the west—they were on completely opposite paths. Unless someone was intentionally lying in wait at a specific time, it would be very difficult for them to cross paths.
The smile on Qin Xiyue’s face stiffened slightly. ’Feng Yunjin went to see Consort Lu?’
Han Jinyi was freezing and really didn’t want to stand around in the cold any longer. She smiled and said, "If Qin Wanyi has no other orders, I will take my leave."
Qin Xiyue could only nod, watching as Han Jinyi entered Liu Hua Palace.
She looked at Hua Ying and ordered, "Have someone invite An Fangyi to Huayang Palace."
Hua Ying acknowledged the order. Qin Xiyue departed first with her attendants, her wooden clogs making a CRUNCH, CRUNCH sound on the snow, which was especially clear in the early morning air.
Han Jinyi returned to the main hall and warmed herself by the brazier for a good while before she finally recovered from the cold. Now that she had moved into the main hall, it was much more spacious and grand than her previous residence at Qiulan Palace.
Her rank was originally lower than An Fangyi’s, but since the Emperor had granted her the main hall, she naturally had nothing to worry about. However, since she moved in, the relationship between her and An Fangyi had grown even colder.
The two of them hadn’t interacted much to begin with, but after this incident, An Fangyi’s attendants became extremely wary of Han Jinyi and her people.
Wenxia entered the hall, stomping her feet, and said, "Your Highness, An Fangyi just left Liu Hua Palace."
Han Jinyi’s head was slightly lowered. Hearing this, she looked up at Wenxia. "Why would she suddenly go out in this weather?"
"I saw a little palace maid enter Feishuang Hall. Her face was unfamiliar, and I couldn’t recall which palace she belongs to," Wenxia replied.
Han Jinyi’s gaze sharpened. "Did you have someone follow her?"
"I sent a little palace maid to follow from a distance," Wenxia said. Ever since they’d had a falling-out with An Fangyi’s people, the two sides had not been on good terms, so they paid close attention to each other’s movements.
Han Jinyi nodded. "I’m going to take a short nap. Wake me as soon as you have news."
Wenxia agreed and helped her mistress lie down to rest.
The gloomy, overcast sky cast a pall over everyone’s mood. If it snowed again, it would not be a good thing for the common people.
Feng Yi was in court discussing disaster relief with his ministers when the Right Minister stepped forward to speak about the matter of cotton-padded clothes. At that, the atmosphere in the court grew somewhat lively.
Grand Tutor Qin was providing grain for porridge, and now the Right Minister had come up with donating clothes. But when the Right Minister mentioned at the end that the idea had come from the concubines of the harem, the court fell instantly silent.
Feng Yi glanced at the Right Minister. Although the Right Minister emphatically praised Consort Lu for taking the lead on this matter, he also added Song Yunzhao and a few others later on. ’With Consort Lu’s mind, could she really have thought of this?’
Feng Yi was certain that Song Yunzhao must have been the one to devise the plan. ’Moreover, she knew to use Consort Lu to get the Right Minister to implement it. Her mind works quickly, and she’s quite adept at reading the situation.’
The Emperor paid no mind to the Right Minister’s little scheme. Song Nanzhen had once again been put in charge of disaster relief, so it wouldn’t be wise for Yun Zhao to be in the spotlight at this time. The father and daughter pair would be far too conspicuous.
However, the fact that Yun Zhao was willing to share his burdens warmed his heart.
After court was dismissed, Feng Yi didn’t return to the Imperial Study Room but headed directly for Wangyou Palace. In the moment it took Meng Jiuchang to register this, Zhang Maoquan had already bypassed him and followed after the Emperor.
Xu Sixi’s face was expressionless, but inwardly he spat, ’Bootlicker!’
They hurried all the way to Wangyou Palace, startling Nanny Yu and the others. Xiangxue was about to enter the bedchamber to wake her mistress.
Feng Yi stopped her and asked, "Why isn’t she up yet at this hour?"
Xiangxue quickly replied, "Your Majesty, my mistress was up discussing matters with Feng Xiaoyuan and the others until dawn. She only just went to sleep."
Feng Yi recalled what the Right Minister had said that morning, and his expression softened. "You may all withdraw."
Xiangxue glanced worriedly at the bedchamber before retreating with Nanny Yu.
Feng Yi removed his outer robes in the antechamber. Zhang Maoquan hurried over with a hand warmer. "Emperor, you should warm your hands first."
Feng Yi waved him away and stepped directly into the bedchamber.
The light in the bedchamber was dim. The olive-green bed curtains were drawn, and on a small table, white smoke curled gracefully from an incense burner, filling the air with the faint scent of calming incense.
He slowed his pace and walked over quietly. He lifted the bed curtain, casually hooking it onto a Jade Hook, and sat on the edge of the bed, gazing down at Yun Zhao’s sleeping face.
A rosy blush colored her fair, delicate face. Her eyes were shut tight, and her dark hair was fanned out across the pillow. A small booklet lay tossed on the little table by the bed. He picked it up casually and saw a few lines of messy handwriting scrawled inside.
Looking closer, he saw it was the amount of silver raised from the harem, along with the estimated quantity of cloth that could be bought. The cloth was specified as coarse fabric, because that way they could buy more to make clothes.
Following that were various jumbled words like "weaving workshops," "embroidery workshops," and "embroideresses." The handwriting was rather hasty. Noticing an ink smudge on the small table, he followed it with his eyes and spotted a fallen brush in the corner on the floor.
’She was thinking about how to do more with the limited silver, even as she was falling asleep, wasn’t she?’
Feng Yi’s hand tightened around the booklet. It was only at this moment that he realized he didn’t truly understand Yun Zhao. He had thought he understood her temperament perfectly, but now he felt he didn’t know her at all.
’As a Concubine, all she has to do is serve me well in the harem and keep me happy. She doesn’t need to concern herself with these matters at all, nor does she need to put so much thought into planning for disaster relief.’
’She was even willing to give the credit to Consort Lu just to get the Right Minister to act. Why would she do that?’
Feng Yi’s heart clenched.
Just then, the person in the bed stirred. An arm snaked out from under the brocade quilt, and she turned her head, falling back into a deep sleep.
Feng Yi reached out and tucked her arm back under the brocade quilt. Just as he was about to smooth the covers over her, the sleeping woman moved again, then suddenly turned her head to face him.
Their eyes met.
Song Yunzhao’s eyes were hazy with sleep as she asked subconsciously, "Emperor, what are you doing here?"
Feng Yi couldn’t help but smile at her dazed expression. "I came to see you."
Song Yunzhao felt like she was dreaming. ’The Emperor’s gaze is so gentle, as if he’s looking at someone he loves.’
’Sigh... It seems I can only get what I want in my dreams.’
Feng Yi had thought Song Yunzhao was awake, but who would have known that as soon as he finished speaking, she would instantly close her eyes and fall asleep again.
All that tenderness in Feng Yi’s heart... he felt as if it had all been poured into a flowing stream, gone and never to return.