Chapter 236 - 105: She Likes to Go Head-to-Head
He had been busy with court affairs all day and hadn’t even had a proper lunch. He had clashed with his courtiers over disaster relief, and by dinner, he was too angry to have an appetite. Now, with two mooncakes in his stomach, he was actually starting to feel a little hungry.
Zhang Maoquan was quick-witted this time. Before Meng Jiuchang could offer his services, he immediately brewed some tea and presented it with both hands.
Meng Jiuchang: ...
’I was careless.’
The Emperor took a sip of tea to moisten his throat, then looked up at Zhang Maoquan. "Where is the person who delivered the mooncakes?" he asked.
"Waiting outside the hall," Meng Jiuchang said with a smile.
"Have him return with a message: prepare dinner at Wangyou Palace."
"Yes." Zhang Maoquan was overjoyed. ’It worked! Song Jieyu will surely remember this favor.’
Song Yunzhao hadn’t expected to summon the Emperor just by sending over some mooncakes. She quickly sent someone to order a meal from the Imperial Kitchen, then hurried into her bedchamber to get ready again.
’What a hassle!’
She had assumed the Emperor would be busy with his duties and had already removed her makeup. Now, she had to go through the whole process all over again.
Xiangxue, however, didn’t mind the hassle. She was all smiles as she meticulously applied her mistress’s makeup. Outside, Nanny Yu led others in clearing the tables, and faint sounds drifted in.
Song Yunzhao was quite happy too. ’Ah, what a sweet sorrow. When others find out the Emperor skipped the Mid-Autumn banquet to spend the night at Wangyou Palace, I’ll never be able to shake this "favored concubine" label.’
’Just thinking about it makes me so happy.’
As Feng Yi stepped into Wangyou Palace, he was greeted by Song Yunzhao’s brilliant smile, brighter even than the full moon. It was enough to lift his spirits, which had been gloomy all day.
"What has you so happy?" Feng Yi asked with a smile, taking Song Yunzhao’s hand as they walked inside.
Song Yunzhao squeezed the Emperor’s hand in return, her voice full of delight. "Of course I’m happy. Every time I see you, Your Majesty, I am happy."
Her words made Feng Yi laugh.
Meng Jiuchang: ...
’He didn’t know how to feel about this.’
’The Emperor has been sullen all day, yet as soon as he arrived at Wangyou Palace, Song Jieyu made him laugh with just a few words.’
Song Yunzhao, oblivious to Meng Jiuchang’s thoughts, had water brought for the Emperor to wash his hands. Then, the two of them sat down at the dining table.
The Mid-Autumn Festival meal was incredibly lavish, a world of difference from what she’d had that morning. ’It really is different when the Emperor is here.’
On such a fine festival day, she had no intention of ruining the mood by complaining. ’After all, the Emperor’s mood is already bad enough today. I shouldn’t dig a hole for myself.’
There were also several plates of mooncakes on the table, which at a glance were clearly different from the ones Song Yunzhao had sent. The Emperor picked one up and took a bite. It had the same cloyingly sweet taste as in previous years, and he put it down with a look of disgust.
Seeing this, Song Yunzhao was inwardly amused but put on a serious expression. "Your Majesty, it seems I am more attentive to you than anyone. It looks to me like the Imperial Kitchen has grown too complacent."
’She wouldn’t make a formal complaint tonight, but that didn’t stop her from sowing a little trouble for the Imperial Kitchen.’
Feng Yi nodded with a straight face. "My dear concubine has a point."
Meng Jiuchang’s mouth twitched. ’How in the world did the Imperial Kitchen get on this one’s bad side? With Song Jieyu’s usual disposition, she would never say such a thing.’
Song Yunzhao’s face bloomed into a wide smile. "Your Majesty, please try this fermented rice wine duck. It’s marinated in rice wine and then steamed, so its flavor is quite different from ordinary duck."
Feng Yi picked up a piece and tasted it. The rice wine was sweet and fragrant. Steamed with the wine, the duck had a fresh, inviting aroma. It was so tender it fell off the bone, without the slightest hint of a gamy taste. It was indeed excellent.
Seeing the look on the Emperor’s face, Song Yunzhao asked, "It’s delicious, isn’t it?"
Feng Yi nodded. "You certainly know your food."
"Well, I have nothing better to do, so I just experiment."
Feng Yi’s mood relaxed. He placed some food in Song Yunzhao’s bowl. "You should eat too. You don’t have to just look after me."
Song Yunzhao nodded and ate the cold-tossed lotus root slices the Emperor had given her. ’He still remembers I like lotus root. Not bad, not bad at all.’
After eating a little, Feng Yi looked at Song Yunzhao. "Why did you come back so early? Wasn’t there a palace banquet today?"
Song Yunzhao glanced at the Emperor and said with a serious face, "There was, but I’m not very fond of banquets. And since you weren’t there, Your Majesty, I found it boring. After Lady Wanfei and Lady Lu took their leave, I came back as well."
Hearing this, Feng Yi’s gaze darkened. "Princess Consort Wan and Consort Lu left the banquet?"
"Yes, only Consort Zhuang remained to oversee the event." Song Yunzhao nodded, then looked at the Emperor and asked softly, "Your Majesty, are you displeased that I returned early?"
At her words, Feng Yi looked at Song Yunzhao. Seeing the apprehension in her eyes, he squeezed her hand. "No. If you don’t want to be there, then you come back. It’s not a big deal."
Song Yunzhao feigned a sigh of relief and said softly, "I only decided to come back after seeing Lady Wanfei and Lady Lu leave. You know... very few people in this palace like me. I feel uncomfortable there."
Feng Yi’s expression faltered at her words. He naturally understood why others disliked her. After a pause, he said, "There is no Empress in the palace. No one will make things difficult for you."
Song Yunzhao pouted inwardly. ’Easy for you to say. The three concubines may not be the Empress, but their rank is higher than mine. Don’t I still have to defer to them when I see them?’
’But since the Emperor said it was fine, what more could she say?’
’She’d been promoted to Jieyu in just a short time after entering the palace, so she figured there was no hope for another promotion this year. Hopefully, she could move up another rank next year and be named a Zhaoyi. Then she would be just one step away from the rank of Consort.’
’The very thought was exciting.’
’She had to keep working hard.’
Song Yunzhao changed the subject from harem matters, looking at the Emperor and asking softly, "Your Majesty, when will my father be able to return to the capital?"
Feng Yi looked at Song Yunzhao. "Are you worried about your father?"
Song Yunzhao put on a troubled expression. "I’m not afraid of you laughing, Your Majesty, but I am a little worried. My father isn’t very diplomatic as an official; otherwise, he wouldn’t have remained a County Magistrate for so many years without a promotion. With a matter as important as disaster relief, I’m afraid he’ll be too uncompromising and end up offending people."
Feng Yi’s lips twitched. "You can rest assured."
Song Yunzhao could tell the Emperor’s words held a deeper meaning and immediately pressed, "Your Majesty, has something happened?"
"Your father’s temperament is remarkably similar to yours."
Song Yunzhao was completely bewildered. ’How is that possible? I always prefer a direct confrontation, but my father isn’t like that.’
Since the Emperor said so, her father must have done something. She put on a surprised expression and said, "Your Majesty, you must be mistaken. My father’s temperament is much better than mine. Did someone file a malicious complaint against him? You must investigate this thoroughly."
If Song Yunzhao’s expression hadn’t been so earnest, Feng Yi would have thought she was joking. ’Song Nanzhen, the man who single-handedly turned the entire southern bureaucracy upside down, has a good temperament?’
Recalling the report sent back to the capital by the Minister of the Ministry of Justice, the Emperor found himself unable to face Song Yunzhao’s overly confident expression regarding her father.
Staring at the Emperor’s face, Song Yunzhao began to feel a little flustered. ’What on earth did my father do?’