I Was Supposed to Be the Villainous Consort

Song Yunzhao returned to Wangyou Palace, not expecting the Emperor to be there. The sudden, pleasant surprise had her practically running into the hall.

Feng Yi turned at the sound of footsteps to see Song Yunzhao come rushing in. Before he could even speak, she said, "Emperor! What are you doing here at this hour? If I’d known you were coming, I wouldn’t have gone to Cuiwei Palace."

Feng Yi reached out to help Song Yunzhao take off her cloak, and Xiangxue quickly stepped forward to take it from him.

Feng Yi took Song Yunzhao’s hand. "You didn’t bring a hand warmer?"

"I stayed at Cuiwei Palace a little too long, and the coals in my hand warmer went out," Song Yunzhao said, placing her hand in the Emperor’s palm.

Feng Yi cupped her hand to warm it. "Since when are you and Consort Lu on good enough terms to sit down for tea?"

Hearing the Emperor’s teasing tone, Song Yunzhao barely resisted the urge to roll her eyes. "I’d like to know that myself."

Feng Yi chuckled. "As if you don’t know."

Song Yunzhao looked up at the Emperor. "I’m not some all-knowing Divine Calculator. How could I possibly know?"

Feng Yi pulled her down to sit beside him. "Did Consort Lu ask you about the cloth and cotton situation?"

"Oh? So *you’re* the Divine Calculator."

Feng Yi: ...

Having landed a jab on the Emperor, Song Yunzhao decided not to press her luck. She quickly added, "Consort Lu did ask me about it, but what can I do? I’m just a woman—can I really tell merchants whether or not to sell their cloth?"

Hearing her words, Feng Yi knew Consort Lu hadn’t explained things clearly. ’It seems Chancellor Lu was trying to use his daughter to pry some ideas out of Yun Zhao.’

"The shops are indeed not selling cloth. Well, it’s not that they won’t sell, but that the price Chancellor Lu is offering is too low."

Song Yunzhao froze. ’That’s what’s happening?’

’Consort Lu didn’t mention that.’

"Chancellor Lu wants to claim credit for the relief effort, but since he can’t raise any more disaster silver, he’s trying to strong-arm them on the price," Feng Yi explained, giving Yun Zhao a meaningful look.

Song Yunzhao: ...

’There are things I want to say that I really shouldn’t!’

’How is what Chancellor Lu is doing any different from being a robber?’

’Shops have their own operating costs. People now don’t have the modern mindset that it’s fine to just donate goods because human lives are more valuable than property. But you can’t think like that here. Here, you could say human life is the cheapest thing there is. It’s cruel, but it’s the truth.’

Seeing Yun Zhao’s mood sour, Feng Yi knew she was likely upset by this. ’After the snowstorm hit, she had immediately taken out her personal silver for disaster relief. She has such a soft and kind heart.’

"If Chancellor Lu does this, isn’t he afraid of being impeached by the Left Minister’s people?" Song Yunzhao asked. "And what about Grand Tutor Qin? He’s also vying for credit and watching like a hungry tiger."

"Desperate times call for desperate measures. The Left Minister won’t intervene for the time being."

Any reckoning would have to wait until this was all over. By then, the Right Minister would have earned merit for handling the disaster. Even if the Left Minister were to impeach him, the most it would accomplish is having his merits and demerits cancel each other out.

’Thank goodness I’m not involved in court politics,’ Song Yunzhao thought. ’I’d be dead before I even knew what happened. You can’t even begin to count all the schemes these people have.’

"So what happens now?" Song Yunzhao asked, looking at the Emperor.

Feng Yi knew Song Yunzhao was concerned about this matter, so he told her, "Your father has already started leading the disaster victims to clear the collapsed houses and prepare to rebuild."

Song Yunzhao was taken aback. ’Huh? I guess father and daughter really do think alike.’

"The weather is freezing. We can’t just let the people sleep out in the open. They’ll freeze to death if they stay idle. It’s better to have them clearing snow and repairing houses than to let them freeze. If they keep moving, they won’t feel the cold as much."

"Then where do the victims sleep at night?"

"They’ve put up sheds. They’re only temporary, but at least it’s a place to take shelter."

’I was just thinking about the work-for-relief programs from the future, and my father is already implementing one?’

’I’ve really underestimated the survival instincts of people from this era. When pushed to the brink, humans can come up with any solution.’

’Then there’s no need to worry. As long as they have food and a place to stay, they’ll make it through the winter.’

’Life might be hard and difficult, but at least there’s hope.’

’I’m just an ordinary person. I don’t have the wisdom of a great statesman, nor do I have the incredible, world-altering powers of the protagonists from other transmigration stories. I can only do my small part. Achieving this result is already a pleasant surprise.’

’It’s best not to be too greedy.’

Seeing Song Yunzhao’s face bloom into a smile, Feng Yi’s mood brightened as well.

’He had never imagined that one day, there would be someone by his side with whom he felt the impulse to share these matters.’

’But when he spoke to Yun Zhao, she didn’t just listen. She had her own opinions and sometimes even offered him excellent advice. She engaged with what he said, and that was what made him happiest.’