Chapter 266 - 114: Clash (2)
Song Yunzhao was amused. ’Qin Xiyue sure moves fast. Just as you’d expect from an ambitious female lead.’
"Did the Palace Justice Department say when they’ll be sending people over?" Song Yunzhao understood the implications. Her relationship with Qin Xiyue was average at best. She couldn’t possibly accept the people left over after Huayang Palace had taken their pick.
Besides, her rank was higher than Qin Xiyue’s. If the Palace Justice Department actually dared to have her choose from Qin Xiyue’s rejects, they would be deliberately slighting her.
The Palace Supervisor was a sensible person.
"The Palace Supervisor said that the shortage of attendants at Wangyou Palace was her own oversight. Once she has chosen some candidates, she will personally come to Wangyou Palace to let you select from them as an apology." Nanny Yu relayed the message, but her expression was anything but pleased.
Song Yunzhao figured Nanny Yu and the Palace Supervisor must have clashed. ’Judging by the outcome,’ she thought, ’Wangyou Palace won.’
"I don’t mind waiting a few days." Song Yunzhao chuckled. "However, Nanny, have someone send a message back to the Palace Supervisor. Just say I want two palace attendants with clean backgrounds and skill in needlework."
’She had no desire to make an enemy of the entire Six Departments. That would just be asking for trouble.’
The Palace Supervisor’s attitude had been reasonable, so she was willing to give the woman a way to save face.
Whether the Palace Supervisor would take that chance gracefully, however, remained to be seen.
Upon hearing this, Xiangxue said, "I’ll go. If we send someone else, they might not explain it clearly."
Song Yunzhao nodded. "Then you’d best be off. Remember to be polite."
"Yes, Your Grace." Xiangxue reached the covered walkway, opened her umbrella, and headed out again. This time, her mood was much better than before.
’With her mistress giving such instructions, she must have another move planned. If the Palace Justice Department doesn’t know what’s good for them this time, they’re probably in for it.’
The rain gradually subsided. Shizhu put away the autumn clothes in the wardrobe, while the summer garments had to be sorted and organized. A few palace maids scrambled about, cataloging everything in a register. Once the weather improved, the clothes would have to be aired out in the sun before being packed away in chests for storage.
Song Yunzhao had no patience for such trivial matters, so she went to her study to continue writing her copy of *The Peony Pavilion*. She had been working on it sporadically for days. Through sheer effort, she had managed to recall many of the forgotten lyrics, but some parts she truly couldn’t remember. For those, she had no choice but to fill in the gaps with her own rhyming verses, which made the task far more difficult.
’I’m not much of a scholar,’ she thought. ’No matter how I look at it, the parts I’ve patched up just fall short.’ But it would have to do. After signing it with Mr. Tang’s name, Song Yunzhao let out a long sigh.
She checked it over from beginning to end and, seeing no major issues, placed the booklet into a brocade box and sealed it. She would wait for better weather tomorrow to have it sent out of the palace, using the opportunity to gather some information as well.
She ate lunch alone and took a nap. After she awoke, a personal attendant of Han Jinyi came by to announce that Feng Xiaoyuan wished to visit along with Han Xiaoyi.
Song Yunzhao had nothing better to do, so she readily agreed. ’In the book, Feng Yunjin was Qin Xiyue’s strategist, but the two of them haven’t teamed up yet. If there’s a cornerstone I can poach, I’m certainly going to try.’
Feng Yunjin had made a good impression on her so far. During the incident with Lu Zhixue, Feng Yunjin had known full well about the grudge between her and Lu Zhixue, yet she still came to plead on Lu Zhixue’s behalf to repay a family favor, unafraid of causing offense. It showed that she was a person of principle and morals.
So who would have thought that when they arrived, Song Yunzhao would see Lu Zhixue trailing behind them. She was speechless.
She was starting to find Lu Zhixue truly baffling. ’Why does she always tag along with other people to my palace?’
’Does she have to horn in on every conversation?’
Lu Zhixue saw Song Yunzhao’s surprised expression and felt a little embarrassed, but if there was one thing she’d learned from her encounters with Song Yunzhao, it was how to be thick-skinned. She took the initiative to explain, "I was just out for a stroll and happened to run into Yun Jin and Jinyi."
What could Song Yunzhao say? It wasn’t as if she could just throw her out.
’What kind of relationship did she even have with Lu Zhixue?’
’It was just so bizarre.’
Inviting the three of them to sit, she explained that she had already decided to host a tea-brewing session around the stove. The weather was absolutely perfect for it.
Song Yunzhao had someone fetch the necessary equipment she had requested from the Imperial Kitchen for the occasion. The charcoal in the small clay stove was lit, and a copper pot was placed upon it. Soon, the SIZZLE of boiling water could be heard as white steam slowly billowed from the spout. The table was laden with all sorts of snacks—pastries, fruits, and melon seeds, everything one could want.
She had also set up a grilling rack with a fine mesh over another small brazier. When she placed some melon seeds on it, a fragrant aroma quickly filled the air. The four of them scrambled to knock the seeds off the rack; any slower and they would have burned.
The sight of their own clumsiness made them all laugh. Lu Zhixue cracked open one of the seeds she had roasted herself and thought it tasted exceptionally delicious.