Chapter 303 - 124: Black-Hearted Little Emperor (4)
After the two weddings at the Song Mansion, the end of the year was fast approaching. Song Yunzhao began to wonder about the arrangements for the New Year’s banquet. However, the Emperor was a man of his word; she knew he wouldn’t go back on a promise he made to her.
As the New Year approached, those outside the palace were also keeping a close eye on the court’s happenings.
When there was an Imperial Concubine, she would naturally preside over palace affairs. But now, with no Imperial Concubine and only the three concubines, who would host this year’s banquet?
Who would the Emperor choose?
It wasn’t just those outside; everyone inside the palace was speculating about it too.
Song Yunzhao was the calmest of all. She was just a Concubine; such a grand affair would never fall to her.
Besides, the book said that the Emperor would have the three concubines host it together this year.
Unexpectedly, something else happened before the Emperor issued his decree. Citing the Right Minister’s merits in disaster relief, the Emperor restored Consort Lu’s title. Consort Lu was once again Consort Shu.
Song Yunzhao remained expressionless. ’What a dog the Emperor is,’ she thought. ’To make the three concubines equal, he held his nose and restored Consort Lu’s title.’
She had helped orchestrate the initial demotion, so she had no problem accepting this outcome.
However, as soon as Consort Lu’s title was restored, some unpleasant rumors started circulating in the palace.
Specifically, that Consort Lu had lost her title because of Song Yunzhao in the first place. Now that the title was back, did it mean the Emperor was displeased with Song Jieyu? Was Song Jieyu about to fall out of favor?
Song Yunzhao was stunned. ’It’s a real waste these people aren’t writing screenplays,’ she thought. ’How did they even connect those two things?’
To show that her position was as solid as a mountain, Song Yunzhao didn’t send the Emperor one of her loving meals this time. Instead, she had Anshun go to Taiji Palace and invite the Emperor to Wangyou Palace.
It was a busy time of year, and the Emperor was spinning like a top. Song Yunzhao even had to make an appointment just to see him. ’I’m so lucky,’ she mused. ’To run into such a diligent and hardworking emperor right after I transmigrated.’
Feng Yi, thinking something had happened to Song Yunzhao, rushed over just in time for lunch. Meng Jiuchang trotted along behind him, periodically checking the hour, ready at any moment to urge the Emperor to leave.
Song Yunzhao had to hand it to him. Meng Jiuchang wasn’t the Grand Steward for nothing. He endured her glares, standing firm and unfazed.
He really had the air of a Grand Steward.
Although Feng Yi was busy, Song Yunzhao’s brand of nourishing, loving soups—delivered daily—made their presence felt, so his complexion was still quite good. After taking a seat and noticing Yun Zhao didn’t look very happy, he asked, "What’s wrong? Who’s upset you now?"
Meng Jiuchang listened from the side, clicking his tongue inwardly. ’With Song Jieyu’s personality,’ he thought, ’she’d dare to confront the three concubines head-on if she caught them slipping up. There’s no one she wouldn’t dare to challenge. Who could possibly give *her* any grief?’
’Truly, beauty is in the eye of the beholder. The Emperor dotes on Song Jieyu so much that if she were to trip and fall, in His Majesty’s eyes, it would be the stone’s fault. How could Song Jieyu ever be in the wrong?’
Song Yunzhao, of course, didn’t know about Meng Jiuchang’s inner monologue. Even if she did, she would have just given him a thumbs-up. ’He’s absolutely right,’ she’d think. ’That’s exactly how it is!’
She looked up at the Emperor and said with a perfectly straight face, "Well, everyone is saying that I have fallen out of favor, so I just wanted to see if it was true."
Meng Jiuchang: ...
’I really underestimated Song Jieyu’s audacity,’ he thought. ’Is that something you can just *test*?’
’This is the Emperor we’re talking about.’
’Song Jieyu is unbelievably audacious. His Majesty is sure to be angry this time.’
Just as he was thinking this, he heard His Majesty say, "Well? Tell me now, is it true?"
Hearing this, Meng Jiuchang wanted to slap himself hard across the face. ’Oh, my wise and mighty Majesty,’ he lamented internally, ’why does your personality completely change whenever you’re around Song Jieyu?’
Song Yunzhao’s strained expression finally broke. Like the sun appearing after a storm, she flashed a wide smile. "With the Emperor sitting right here, it’s clear those people are just talking nonsense. They just can’t stand to see me doing well. Consort Shu was able to have her title restored because the Right Minister performed a great service. What does that have to do with me falling out of favor? Nothing at all."
Feng Yi: ...
’Alright,’ he thought. ’This complaint is just a tiny bit more subtle than her usual ones.’
Meng Jiuchang hung his head. He knew it. How could someone like Song Jieyu ever change her ways? Just as he expected, she was lying in wait for His Majesty.
’Just listen to that,’ he thought. ’She lodges her complaint with such righteous indignation that it almost gives me the illusion that if Song Jieyu ever *did* fall out of favor, it would somehow be the Emperor’s fault.’
Pah!
’I must not think like that. I’d like to keep my head on my shoulders.’
Feng Yi’s eyes curved as he smiled. He truly hadn’t thought that far ahead. He placed some food in Yun Zhao’s bowl and explained to her in a soft voice, "The New Year’s banquet is coming up, and everyone inside and outside the court is watching. I plan to have the three concubines host it jointly, so it would be awkward if Consort Shu didn’t have her title."
Song Yunzhao understood. ’If their statuses aren’t equal, how can they tear each other apart?’
’He’s raising the stakes for Consort Shu. Knowing her personality, she’ll probably make sure Princess Consort Zhuang and Princess Consort Wan don’t have a very happy New Year.’
’This devious little emperor,’ she thought. ’I like him.’
Playing along with the Emperor, Song Yunzhao immediately said, "The Emperor makes a good point. The Right Minister achieved great merit this time, and Consort Shu also contributed to the disaster relief efforts. It is only right and proper that her title be restored."
Feng Yi: ...
’Why do I feel a little uncomfortable when Song Yunzhao is this cooperative?’ he wondered.
After a cheerful lunch, Feng Yi felt a little reluctant to leave. Life was just so comfortable in Wangyou Palace.
But a mountain of court affairs was waiting for him. How could he possibly afford to slack off in comfort?
He put on his greatcloak and looked back at Yun Zhao, reaching out to brush a stray lock of hair from her temple. "After the court’s business is sealed for the year in a few days, I will spend some proper time with you."
"I’ll hold you to that, Your Majesty." Song Yunzhao was delighted. If the Emperor spent time with her, her favored concubine persona would remain intact, and she could have a good New Year.
’My KPIs for this year aren’t just met—they’re exceeded!’
Overjoyed, Song Yunzhao stood on her tiptoes and quickly pecked the Emperor on the lips.
Feng Yi’s gaze froze for a moment before his arm wrapped around Song Yunzhao’s waist.
Meng Jiuchang immediately lowered his head. ’Goodness,’ he thought, ’Song Jieyu is far too bold!’
’The ones who can win the Emperor’s favor are truly no ordinary people!’
Watching the Emperor carry Song Jieyu into the bedchamber, Meng Jiuchang dutifully stood guard. He looked up at the sky, mentally calculating the time. ’Which minister was scheduled for an audience this afternoon again?’
Inside the bedchamber, Song Yunzhao, now pinned down, was also stunned. She just wanted to be a little mischievous; she hadn’t expected the Emperor to be so easily provoked.
Since the snow disaster, the Emperor had been maneuvering the Right Minister against Grand Tutor Qin. The Left Minister had wanted to watch the fire from the other shore, but the Emperor had shoved him into the water as well. Now, the Emperor was slowly and silently chipping away at the authority of the Left and Right Ministers. Both ministers knew it full well, but trapped in the vortex, they found it nearly impossible to extricate themselves.
With months of this political chess match between sovereign and ministers, the Emperor had no time to spare for the beauties of the harem. He had been abstinent for so long that when Song Yunzhao lit the fire, there was naturally no escape for her.
Afterward, Song Yunzhao thought to herself while rubbing her aching back, ’I guess the biggest benefit of this is that the rumors of me falling out of favor are now a complete joke.’
She, Song Jieyu, was still the most favored person in this harem!