Chapter 320: Cherish the Person Before You, Pork Kidney Tonic Soup
Zhao Minghong said, "The Princess Consort was acquainted with Madam Song in their youth. They grew apart after Madam Song’s health declined. I came to pay respects on behalf of their past friendship."
Tao Wanxin, dressed in simple and fitting attire, nodded. "That is so."
Su Fengyue’s gaze fell upon Tao Wanxin. His cloudy eyes shifted to her belly, and he sighed. "Thank you, Princess Consort, for remembering Yue’er."
At the sound of his voice and the name "Yue’er,"...
Tao Wanxin froze completely.
These days, life in the Prince Mansion had been peaceful for Princess Yong. After the precedent set by concubine Du, no one dared to cross her.
She took the nourishing pills Ji Qingwu had prepared for her every day, and she had even gained some weight. The color had returned to her cheeks.
Whenever Prince Yong saw her, his spirits, weighed down by the Emperor’s grave illness, would lift.
But now, Tao Wanxin’s face was deathly pale, as white as the funeral banners in the mourning hall.
Zhao Minghong noticed something was amiss and asked, "Princess Consort?"
Tao Wanxin stood frozen, her hand trembling beneath her sleeve.
"Wanyin?"
Zhao Minghong frowned and touched her wrist, which finally brought her back to her senses.
He asked in a low voice, "Are you feeling unwell?"
Tao Wanxin gazed at the memorial tablet before her, avoiding looking in Prime Minister Su’s direction. ’Maybe I misheard,’ she thought. ’After all, it’s been so many years... I can’t be sure...’
She said softly, "I’m fine."
But her face remained visibly pale. Prince Yong had the immediate urge to take Tao Wanxin home, but remembering the purpose of his visit, he suppressed it and walked toward the entrance.
Tao Wanxin stepped forward and placed a white flower on the memorial altar.
She had heard long ago that Su Daiyue had fallen ill.
A few days ago, Song Wei had caused a scene at the clinic. She had wanted to intervene and help Ji Qingwu, but Prince Yong found out and refused to let her leave the Prince Mansion. He even had people watch her, forbidding her from going out.
Firstly, he feared her pregnancy was unstable. Secondly, he said Ji Qingwu was of the Wei Family and forbid her from concerning herself with outsiders.
Just as they were arguing, news that Princess Hua Chang had arrived reached the Prince Mansion.
They had given each other the silent treatment for several days over the matter.
Today, Prince Yong had returned from the palace looking solemn and said he was taking her out, but she never expected they would be coming to the Song family to offer condolences.
Seeing Song Wei looking so devastated as he leaned against the coffin, Tao Wanxin felt a pang of sorrow. ’What’s more important than cherishing the one you have?’
At this thought, Tao Wanxin suddenly wondered if she had been too unreasonable these past few days.
She glanced toward the entrance and saw that Zhao Minghong had already joined Su Fengyue. Unsure what they were discussing, she found a quiet corner to stand in.
At the entrance to the mourning hall.
Zhao Minghong clasped his hands behind his back. "Prime Minister Su, I have an urgent matter to discuss with you."
Su Fengyue replied impassively, "Whatever it is, Your Highness, please speak freely."
Zhao Minghong glanced around and frowned. "This is not a suitable place to talk. Why don’t we go to my mansion?"
Su Fengyue said, "Your Highness should know that it is inappropriate for me to be in close contact with you at this time. It would arouse suspicion of factionalism."
Hearing his sanctimonious refusal, Prince Yong’s expression soured.
But despite his sullen expression, his words were conciliatory.
"You jest, Prime Minister Su. Everyone knows you are the one managing affairs at court. Who in the entire imperial court can compare to you?"
There was a hint of a smile in Su Fengyue’s eyes, but his tone was one of feigned alarm. "Your Highness, you mustn’t say such things. The Emperor is still in the palace. His Majesty is a virtuous man protected by heaven; he could wake at any moment."
Zhao Minghong lowered his voice. "I went to Zhaoyang Hall today. The truth is..."
Su Fengyue’s eyes darted downward, a clear sign he was listening intently.
Zhao Minghong said, "In truth, my Imperial Brother has already passed away. The news should be announced tomorrow or the day after. Prime Minister Su should make preparations."
"The little prince is still young. After some thought, I feel that I, as his imperial uncle, ought to do something for him."
Upon hearing this, Su Fengyue shook his head and turned to leave. The hands Zhao Minghong had held behind his back now fell to his sides.
But just as he was about to pass Prince Yong, he said in a voice only the two of them could hear, "Your Highness, come to my mansion at 1:00 AM to talk."
Prince Yong gave a slight nod, then looked up. "Princess Consort, let us return to the mansion."
Tao Wanxin came over at his call. As she passed the entrance, she couldn’t avoid walking past Su Fengyue. The moment she was in front of him, her heart began to pound, her breath caught in her throat, and her head spun. She was about to collapse.
Zhao Minghong strode over, catching her and steadying her by the waist.
In a tone that was part reprimand, part gentle persuasion, he said, "What’s the rush? You must be more careful in your condition."
Prince Yong and his wife left the Song Mansion.
The white-bearded official from earlier scurried forward. "Prime Minister, was Prince Yong trying to cause you trouble?"
He had been watching from the side; Prince Yong had worn such a sour expression.
"Cause me trouble?" Unlike the deferential attitude he had maintained before Prince Yong, Su Fengyue scoffed. "He wouldn’t dare."
The official’s eyes narrowed in a vicious sneer. "Some prince. He’s nothing but a useless, decorative oaf. And the Princess Consort he married is just damaged goods."
Su Fengyue shot him a glare. "Watch your mouth."
But the expression on his face betrayed his true thoughts. His eyes were filled with smug satisfaction.
’No matter how high and mighty these imperial relatives are, they all have to crawl to my feet now, begging for my help.’
’To think that I, a mere commoner, have reached such a high position... After all the bitterness and hardship, after suffering countless insults, I despise these people born into wealth and privilege more than anything.’
’My "good friend" Wei Zhengze is the same. If he weren’t part of the Wei Family, how could he have had so many chances to advance?’
’But even with all he had, there were still things he could never obtain.’
Su Fengyue walked to the memorial altar. Just as he reached out to touch the tablet, Song Wei rushed forward, snatched it away, and clutched it tightly to his chest.
With so many people watching, Su Fengyue had no desire to argue with his crazed, erratic son-in-law.
He glanced at the moon in the sky. "Old Liu, you watch things here for a while. I have to return to my mansion."
"Rest assured, Prime Minister. With me here, nothing will go wrong."
*
Ji Qingwu entered Su Fengyue’s courtyard without any trouble.
Hanzhang must have been the most capable servant in the front courtyard; all the other servants they passed lowered their heads and moved aside.
Ji Qingwu held her head high, perfectly capturing an air of arrogant pride.
Once they were inside, Wei Tongyou set down the soup tureen with a look of disgust. "What is this soup? It’s been stinking up the whole way here. The smell is awful."
Ji Qingwu sniffed. "Du Zhong Baji Replenishing Soup."
Wei Tongyou, who had never heard of such a thing, asked doubtfully, "A soup this rank can be nourishing? Won’t drinking it make you vomit up your dinner?"
Ji Qingwu explained, "It’s rank because of the pig kidneys. It’s less for nourishing the body and more for... nourishing the kidneys."
With a grimace, Wei Tongyou hurried into the adjoining washroom to clean her hands.
Ji Qingwu began observing the room’s furnishings, trying to guess where a hidden compartment might be.
Just then, a knock came at the door.