Chapter 441 - 219: A Bad Feeling

Chapter 441: Chapter 219: A Bad Feeling

As this thought crossed Song Yunzhao’s mind, she couldn’t help but glance sideways at Princess Consort Wan. ’What kind of people did she invite? Is every single one of them determined to find fault with me?’

Princess Consort Wan noticed Song Yunzhao’s glance and looked back at her.

Their eyes met.

Song Yunzhao saw the flicker of suspicion in Princess Consort Wan’s eyes, which didn’t seem feigned. She silently averted her gaze.

Princess Consort Wan had no idea what madness had possessed the girl from the Marquis Yongjia Mansion. ’Who is she trying to embarrass by saying something like that right now?’

Just as she was about to speak, she heard her mother’s voice.

Mrs. Yao did not look pleased. Today’s tea party was hosted by her daughter. She had raised her daughter to be a bit arrogant. While in the palace, such a personality might have been a novelty for the Emperor, but now there was Song Zhaoyi, a beauty so delicate, alluring, and gorgeous. The Emperor hadn’t visited Roufu Palace in a very long time.

Of course, she worried for her daughter—worried she would be wronged, lose favor, and end up without even a child.

The illness before the new year had dragged on for months, worrying her sick.

Her daughter had only started to slowly recover after spring began. Now, at the traveling palace, she seemed much more spirited and was even hosting a tea party. Mrs. Yao was overjoyed, so how could she possibly stand by and watch someone provoke trouble at her daughter’s own gathering?

’With Song Zhaoyi’s fiery temper, if a scene broke out right here, wouldn’t her own daughter be the one to suffer and lose face?’

Mrs. Yao couldn’t let her daughter be at a disadvantage. In this kind of setting, her daughter couldn’t squabble with a young girl, as it would appear undignified. But she couldn’t just swallow the insult, either. So, she decided to join forces with Mrs. Han and directly target Marchioness Yongjia.

"Mrs. Han, you may not be aware, but Marchioness Yongjia’s daughter-in-law is quite close with Sixth Miss Huang." Mrs. Yao chuckled softly, but her eyes, empty of humor, were fixed on Huang Mingxiu. "So, tell me, Sixth Miss Huang, are you trying to speak out for your sister-in-law?"

As soon as she said this, some of the people around them understood, while others remained confused, not quite grasping her meaning. Inevitably, one of them asked, "Mrs. Yao, what do you mean by that?"

Marchioness Yongjia’s expression changed slightly. She immediately said, "Mrs. Yao, what are you implying? Mingxiu is just straightforward and perhaps a bit too frank. She simply saw that Song Zhaoyi hadn’t come over and assumed she didn’t enjoy these kinds of things. She truly meant nothing else by it."

Mrs. Yao couldn’t let Marchioness Yongjia excuse her daughter, which would only redirect Song Zhaoyi’s anger toward her own. Song Zhaoyi was carrying a royal heir, and under the scrutiny of all present, anyone who confronted her would be the one to suffer.

"Is that so? She is, after all, an educated young lady who was tutored to be sensible. Yet at her age, she still doesn’t know what can and cannot be said. Perhaps I should recommend a tutor to you, Marchioness, so Sixth Miss Huang can properly learn her etiquette. Song Zhaoyi is with child. Even an unmarried girl knows that a pregnant woman requires meticulous care. While brewing tea personally is an elegant affair, it requires standing for a long time. Furthermore, with so many people gathered, a bit of jostling is inevitable. If, by some chance, something were to happen... I ask everyone present, who could possibly bear that responsibility? Sixth Miss Huang?"

Every word from Mrs. Yao was like a public slap in the face to Huang Mingxiu. The young girl had never suffered such humiliation. Her eyes instantly welled with tears, and she hid behind Marchioness Yongjia, too ashamed to even lift her head.

Marchioness Yongjia was taken aback by Mrs. Yao’s aggressive stance. ’They all say Princess Consort Wan and Song Zhaoyi don’t get along, so why is Mrs. Yao attacking my family like an unchained rabid dog and refusing to let go?’

"Mrs. Yao, Mingxiu is just a young girl. She doesn’t harbor such complicated thoughts as you do. We cannot bear the weight of your accusations." Marchioness Yongjia detested these wives from scholarly families. Every single one was sharp-tongued, capable of arguing their case even when they were clearly in the wrong.

Song Yunzhao found the situation fascinating. ’I’ve gone from being the center of the drama to just another spectator. And to think, this whole dramatic mess started because of me. What a uniquely thrilling feeling.’

The crowd continued to whisper amongst themselves, until someone was heard saying, "Sixth Miss Huang’s sister-in-law and Song Zhaoyi are maternal cousins."

Only then did everyone recall the connections. The Young Madam of the Marquis Yongjia Mansion was the eldest legitimate daughter from the Dingnan Bo Mansion. Madam Ding Nanbo was this young lady’s—Chu Yuying’s—stepmother, and Song Zhaoyi was Madam Ding Nanbo’s biological niece.

What a tangled web of relationships; you really had to trace it out to make any sense of it.

Relationships between stepmothers and their legitimate stepdaughters were rarely harmonious to begin with. Moreover, when Madam Ding Nanbo married into the family as the new wife, Chu Yuying was no longer a child. Their relationship had always been strained, and it only deteriorated further after Madam Ding Nanbo gave birth to her own son.

This revelation inevitably led someone to bring up the old story of the Song Family’s arrival in Shangjing. The tale of how the Dingnan Bo Mansion sent beauties to the palace after Consort Chu’s death was dredged up once more. With that, people also recalled Chu Yuying’s petty attempts to sow discord among the young ladies of the Song Family.

Of course, this whole affair wouldn’t have become such widespread gossip if not for the falling-out between Song Zhaoyi and her sister. After all, Madam Ding Nanbo had originally chosen the older sister, but who would have guessed that the Emperor himself would personally select the younger one to stay in the palace?

’Wow,’ they thought, ’what a juicy piece of gossip this is.’

Although it wasn’t unheard of for a single clan to send multiple daughters to the palace selection, it was still a rare occurrence.

The Song Family had sent three daughters to the selection back then. Song Yexi was the legitimate daughter of the family’s eldest branch, and since the family had already split, it was perfectly reasonable for that branch to put forward one candidate.

However, the inside story of why Song Zhaoyi participated alongside her own full sister only came to light later, when her falling-out with her birth mother and sister was exposed.

Regardless of who was right or wrong, the fact remained that the Emperor had chosen the younger sister. Moreover, ever since entering the palace, Song Zhaoyi had been constantly in the spotlight, enjoying the Emperor’s exclusive favor. Even the great Consort Shu had suffered defeats at her hands, to say nothing of her being pregnant now.

People tend to side with the powerful. No one would dare call Song Zhaoyi unfilial now. Instead, they would only say that Mrs. Cai had been far too partial, breaking her daughter’s heart, and that Song Qinghan had betrayed their sisterly bond to frame her younger sibling.

And yet, at this precise moment, Huang Mingxiu had decided to speak out. How foolish was that?

What did Chu Yuying’s grudge against Song Zhaoyi have to do with her? In any case, the one losing face at this moment wasn’t Song Zhaoyi, nor was it the Young Madam of the Marquis Yongjia Mansion.

Song Yunzhao’s eyes darted from one person to the next. Just as she was preparing to speak, she heard a sudden cry of alarm. She looked over to see Huang Mingxiu abruptly clutch her face, shouting, "Mother, my face! My face is so itchy..."

Song Yunzhao was left speechless.

’I have a very bad feeling about this.’

She subconsciously glanced toward Qin Xiyue and An Shutong. One looked surprised; the other was completely expressionless.

Song Yunzhao listened as Princess Consort Wan ordered someone to fetch an Imperial Physician and had Huang Mingxiu moved to a side hall. Marchioness Yongjia accompanied her daughter, her face a mask of panic, while both Mrs. Han and Mrs. Yao looked grim.

The Imperial Physician arrived swiftly. Song Yunzhao remained in her seat, perfectly still, watching as a palace attendant escorted the physician into the hall.

Feng Yunjin finally found a moment to make her way to Yun Zhao’s side. She whispered, "I got a quick look just now. It seems Sixth Miss Huang has broken out in hives."

Hives?

Ah, Song Yunzhao understood. It was an allergic reaction.

’And if it’s an allergic reaction,’ she thought, ’then there must be a trigger.’