Chapter 311 - 126: Hurtful, an Eyesore, and Heartbreaking
’What right did a mother like that have to be called a mother?’
’Just like Mrs. Cai, who saw her own flesh and blood as a thorn in her side, what right did she have to share in her daughter’s glory? Why should she be filial to her?’
’Filial piety meant being both dutiful and obedient. In her dreams!’
"Emperor, when the Empress Dowager returns to the palace, which palace will she reside in?"
Feng Yi heard the muffled sound of Song Yunzhao’s voice and chuckled, letting her out from his embrace. "Shouci Palace, of course."
Song Yunzhao was very pleased. In the book, the Empress Dowager also lived in Shouci Palace. This meant her Wangyou Palace and Shouci Palace were on a perfect diagonal from each other. She was in the southeast corner of the Imperial Palace, while the Empress Dowager would be in the northwest corner. They were as far apart as possible, both horizontally and vertically.
’It was absolutely perfect.’
During the late Emperor’s reign, there was no Empress Dowager to preside over him, so no palace in the harem was designated for one. The late Emperor was a lecherous man, and his own concubines were already overflowing the harem. How could he possibly leave a whole palace vacant?
Shouci Palace was a palace that Feng Yi had specifically ordered cleared out after his ascension. He had personally inscribed the plaque with "Shouci Palace" and had it hung. To the outside world, everyone praised the kind mother and filial son, but Song Yunzhao suspected that the "Ci" (Kindness) in Shouci was likely the Emperor’s way of mocking the Empress Dowager.
’A kind mother... a kind mother. The Empress Dowager was not kind to the Emperor, yet he chose this word for her palace’s name. Isn’t that hilarious?’
Zhaozhao the sycophant immediately came online. With a face full of smiles, she said, "Shouci Palace is very quiet, and it’s both spacious and secluded. It won’t disturb the Empress Dowager’s Buddhist worship and will allow her to live comfortably. Your Majesty, your filial piety toward the Empress Dowager deeply moves this concubine."
Feng Yi was speechless.
’There’s no need to be so insincere,’ he thought. Song Yunzhao’s large, sparkling eyes clearly showed she already knew about his poor relationship with his mother.
To have his subtle intentions framed in such a noble and upright manner... even Feng Yi, who considered himself thick-skinned, found it hard to withstand such flattery.
Song Yunzhao thought, ’If I’m going to play the good person, I must do it perfectly so no one can find fault.’ So she said to the Emperor, "Your Majesty, Shouci Palace has been uninhabited for a long time. It not only needs cleaning, but the furnishings and utensils all need to be selected. If you have the time, this concubine could accompany you to choose them. When the Empress Dowager returns to the palace, she will surely be very moved."
’Whether the Empress Dowager is moved or not is irrelevant. The main thing is to put on a show for the courtiers, so they can’t find any flaws in the Emperor’s filial piety.’
Feng Yi thought this was indeed a brilliant idea—a way to gain a great reputation with minimal effort. He immediately agreed.
It was an act that required no effort, time, or thought, yet could earn him a good name. He was more than willing to play along.
"Zhaozhao is right. We’ll do as you say."
Song Yunzhao rolled her eyes internally. ’Now I’m the Emperor’s considerate, beloved little Zhaozhao again.’
「The next day at court.」
The Emperor did indeed announce publicly that due to the cold weather before the new year, the Empress Dowager was too advanced in age to be suitable for a long journey. He thus rejected the courtiers’ proposal. In the next breath, however, the Emperor declared that to welcome the Empress Dowager back to the palace after the new year, he, as her son, would personally prepare everything for Shouci Palace.
The Emperor first refused, then took a step back. No matter how thick-skinned the courtiers were, they couldn’t press the matter further at this point. They had no choice but to hold their noses and praise the Emperor’s supreme filial piety, and so the matter of the Empress Dowager’s return was shelved.
Grand Tutor Qin lowered his gaze and said nothing. At his age, attending court was an arduous affair, but he could not yet collapse. He gritted his teeth and endured it every day.
Hearing the Emperor’s words today, successfully postponing the Empress Dowager’s return, he sighed internally. ’The Emperor has truly grown up. He is no longer the person who could be easily fooled when he first ascended the throne.’
After this matter, there was no other major business at court. The Emperor ordered the "sealing of the brushes," and everyone prepared to go home for the new year.
The courtiers, all smiles, returned to their respective homes. After a whole year of hard work, they could finally relax.
The Emperor was happy too. With the brushes sealed for a few days, he wouldn’t have to look at the courtiers’ faces. It was simply too relaxing.
Thus, the Emperor, with great fanfare, took Song Yunzhao to open the storehouses and begin preparing Shouci Palace. When the news reached the harem, Princess Consort Zhuang’s composure cracked.
There were three high-ranking concubines in the harem, so why did the Emperor only take Song Yunzhao?
Princess Consort Wan’s expression was also ugly. She had thought that once the brushes were sealed and the Emperor had time, he would surely come to her palace for a visit. Who would have thought he would take Song Yunzhao to prepare Shouci Palace for the Empress Dowager instead? What did that make her, Princess Consort Wan?
Only Consort Shu was remarkably calm. She wasn’t the least bit angry and was even in the mood to hum a little tune while sipping her tea.
Watching Princess Consort Zhuang and Princess Consort Wan arrive together to discuss the matter with her, she thought, ’What is there to discuss? Song Yunzhao is jealous by nature. Even when the Emperor had no time, she would seize every possible moment to monopolize him. Now that the Emperor finally has time, would she let anyone else get a finger in?’
’They must be dreaming.’
Consort Shu was quite philosophical about it. Anyway, whenever the Emperor came to her, it was either to drink tea or play chess. He would never truly favor her and let her bear him a son or daughter.
Over the years, she had seen through it all. The Emperor was extremely wary of her father; how could he possibly let her have a child?
’That being the case, as long as I can keep my rank as a concubine, it doesn’t matter if the Emperor comes or not. When he does come, I still have to put on a smiling face to entertain him. I get no real benefits and just waste my smiles. Why bother?’
’Princess Consort Zhuang is one thing, but Princess Consort Wan must be taking this quite hard.’
Consort Shu’s father was the Right Minister, a man of high position and great power.
The fathers of Princess Consort Zhuang and Princess Consort Wan were both Assistant Prime Ministers. Relatively speaking, the Emperor would certainly not be as wary of them as he was of her father. Therefore, she had always believed that those two concubines possessed the Emperor’s genuine favor.
’Princess Consort Zhuang is a hypocrite, but Princess Consort Wan at least has some genuine feelings.’
’What a pity. A beautiful, brazen Song Yunzhao, with a skull as hard as iron, appeared out of nowhere and turned the entire harem upside down. And the Emperor is convinced that this troublemaker is the wronged party, wanting nothing more than to protect her in the palm of his hand.’
’In any case, I don’t want to get involved anymore. It’s an eyesore, it’s heartbreaking, and it hurts people. Why should I go looking for trouble for myself?’
"Consort Shu, can you really just watch as that arrogant Song Jieyu tramples all over us?" Princess Consort Wan demanded, unable to suppress her anger.
Princess Consort Zhuang sighed from the side. "Indeed. The Emperor’s actions have truly broken our hearts. If this continues, I’m afraid there will be no place left for us in this palace."
Consort Shu looked at the two of them, listening to their every word fanning the flames. She sneered internally. ’I used to be so stupid, believing whatever anyone said, always rushing in first. And now they’re still trying to coax me like that old fool. Can’t I have grown at all?’
’This is infuriating!’