Chapter 430 - 208: Song Yunzhao Goes Head-to-Head

Chapter 430: Chapter 208: Song Yunzhao Goes Head-to-Head

Han Jinyi and her two companions arrived quickly. For this trip to the traveling palace, Yun Zhao had specially asked Consort Shu to let the three of them lodge together. Thankfully, she had spoken to Consort Shu in advance. Otherwise, Princess Consort Zhuang would have split them up as she intended.

Song Yunzhao did not want a repeat of the incident with Ying Chun. ’It still makes me angry just thinking about it. Princess Consort Zhuang is becoming more and more aggressive, a far cry from her previous virtuous persona.’

When the three saw Yun Zhao and noted her healthy complexion, they finally breathed a slight sigh of relief.

Song Yunzhao led them to a pavilion to sit. It was surrounded by a lake on three sides, and the gentle breeze made it cool and pleasant—the perfect place to speak without fear of being overheard.

Xiangxue served tea and refreshments before leading the other servants away to stand guard at the pavilion’s entrance.

Feng Yunjin was the first to speak. "My mother submitted a request to enter the traveling palace, but she wasn’t allowed in."

Song Yunzhao was taken aback. "The Empress Dowager rejected it?"

Feng Yunjin nodded.

Han Jinyi looked at Yun Zhao and said angrily, "This is clearly aimed at us. The Empress Dowager certainly didn’t reject the requests when Princess Consort Zhuang and Qin Wan Yi wanted to see their families."

Lu Zhixue was still taking in the novelty of the traveling palace and hadn’t yet sent word to her family, so the Lu Family hadn’t submitted a request to visit. But that didn’t mean she was without an opinion on the matter. She looked directly at Song Yunzhao and said, "You fainted at the Empress Dowager’s banquet and were carried away by the Emperor. She’s furious and has nowhere to vent, so she’s taking it out on us."

Feng Yunjin glanced at Lu Zhixue and pressed a hand to her forehead.

"What, am I wrong? Besides, Yun Zhao is so smart she would’ve figured it out even if I hadn’t said anything. So it’s no big deal that I said it," Lu Zhixue retorted, unconcerned.

Han Jinyi knew this was just Lu Zhixue’s nature. "You have a point," she said. "It’s fine for us to talk this way since we’re all on the same side, but it’s best to be more restrained in public."

"I know that," Lu Zhixue huffed. She no longer acted recklessly like she used to. ’Thinking back on how I behaved when I first entered the palace... it was like I was having a fit. Unbelievable.’

"Zhixue is right. You were all dragged into this because of me." Yun Zhao was actually starting to grow fond of Lu Zhixue’s personality. ’Though her words can be too blunt and off-putting at times, she’s actually very easy to be around.’

"You can’t put it that way," Feng Yunjin said. "We never planned on joining forces with Princess Consort Zhuang and her cronies anyway. It was only a matter of time before they started targeting us."

’In the book, it’s true that Feng Yunjin never joined Princess Consort Zhuang’s faction,’ Song Yunzhao thought. ’But she did side with the heroine.’

’But things are different now. After all, they have me to rally behind.’

"After the Emperor carried me away that day, I imagine there have been quite a few rumors circulating these past two days?" Yun Zhao asked with a smile.

The expressions of the other three turned grim. Han Jinyi said, "Zhaoyi, you don’t need to concern yourself with what others think. They’re just jealous."

"But we can’t ignore it completely," Feng Yunjin disagreed. "It’s not impossible to salvage the situation."

"How could we possibly salvage this?" Lu Zhixue asked, staring at Feng Yunjin in astonishment. ’Song Yunzhao’s "Evil Concubine" title is practically glued to her head. How can she possibly clear her name now?’

Feng Yunjin said unhurriedly, "Why did Zhaoyi faint that day? Everything has a cause and effect, does it not?"

Lu Zhixue was stunned. ’Feng Yunjin is even bolder than I am! She’s trying to pin the blame on the Empress Dowager!’

Perhaps because Lu Zhixue’s expression was so transparent, the other three fell silent for a moment.

Lu Zhixue grew indignant. "What’s with those looks?"

"We just think this matter needs to be discussed thoroughly," Han Jinyi said hastily.

Lu Zhixue retorted, "What’s there to discuss? They keep provoking us, one incident after another. Are we supposed to just let them walk all over us? I saw that the Empress Dowager brought An Shutong along—I bet she hasn’t given up on her little ideas. The traveling palace is a much more convenient place to make a move than the imperial palace. If she really tries something, it’ll be impossible to defend against."

"Zhaoyi, what are you thinking?" Feng Yunjin asked, looking at Song Yunzhao. ’She must have had a reason for summoning us today.’

Yun Zhao said, "There’s an old saying: you can be a thief for a thousand days, but you can’t guard against a thief for a thousand days. Zhixue is right—we can’t defend forever."

Lu Zhixue lifted her chin smugly. "See? Zhaoyi agrees with me."

"Then what do you plan to do?" Feng Yunjin asked.

Song Yunzhao smiled. "Didn’t the Empress Dowager reject Mrs. Feng’s request to visit? Let’s start there."

Upon hearing this, Feng Yunjin quickly protested, "Don’t tell me you intend to confront the Empress Dowager directly. You can’t do that."

’That’s like an egg trying to break a stone!’

"Of course not," Yun Zhao said with a laugh. "I will ask the Emperor to intervene. What the Empress Dowager did was completely unreasonable. You all were wronged because of me, and I can’t just stand by and watch. Don’t worry about it; I have a way to handle it. I actually called you here today for something else."

"What is it?" Han Jinyi asked.

"I hear that the ladies of the various families outside the traveling palace are also holding endless banquets."

"That’s right," Feng Yunjin said. "Back in the capital, people were still somewhat reserved. But the trip to the traveling palace to escape the summer heat is meant for pleasure, so it’s no surprise that the families are taking turns hosting banquets."

"I want our families to take turns as well," Song Yunzhao said.

"Of course, that’s not a problem," Lu Zhixue chimed in.

But Feng Yunjin sensed it wasn’t that simple. "How exactly does Zhaoyi want to host them?"

Song Yunzhao smiled. "Simple. Whenever the Wang Family, the Qin Family, or any of their set host a banquet, we’ll host one too."

Feng Yunjin drew in a sharp breath. ’This is a direct confrontation, a head-on clash.’

Her brows knitted together slightly. "Zhaoyi, isn’t doing this a bit too blatant?"

’We don’t have enough power. We’ll be the ones to lose out.’

Yun Zhao said softly, "This is the only way to draw a clear line between the factions."

Feng Yunjin was stunned for a moment, and then, as if a fog had lifted, she understood Yun Zhao’s intention.

’The conflicts in the harem were heating up, but the allegiances in the outer court remained ambiguous. If Yun Zhao’s family, or the families of the concubines close to her, hosted a banquet on the same day as their rivals, then which event the other court ladies chose to attend would reveal their loyalties.’

’This was forcing everyone to choose a side.’

"Zhaoyi, isn’t this too risky?" Feng Yunjin asked, her face filled with worry. ’This move is too fast, too sudden, too dangerous.’

"What’s so risky? It’s just a banquet," Yun Zhao chuckled. "It’s not as if we’re holding a knife to their throats."

"But you’ll offend a lot of people this way."

"And if I don’t offend them, will they just let me be?"

’Of course they wouldn’t.’

Feng Yunjin sensed there was more to Zhaoyi’s plan, but she couldn’t quite grasp it yet. After a moment’s thought, she looked at Yun Zhao and said, "I heard the Wang Family is interested in a marriage alliance with the Ji Family."

"The Wang Family and the Ji Family?" Lu Zhixue exclaimed. "You mean Wang Yunhua and Ji Yunting?"

Han Jinyi was shocked as well. "That can’t be right. Wasn’t Ji Yunting posted to a position outside the capital? Would the Wang Family really let Wang Yunhua go with him and endure such hardship?"