Chapter 446 - 224: What a Valuable Face

Chapter 446: Chapter 224: What a Valuable Face

Such thuggish excuses might fool others, but not Song Yunzhao.

Chen Ran was just a steward. Even if she was a steward from the Grand Tutor Mansion, how could she exert influence inside the traveling palace?

Could she have done it without someone backing her?

This master and servant pair were certainly in perfect sync.

Ever since entering the palace, Song Yunzhao had been schemed against by the novel’s protagonist more times than she could count. But every time, she had managed to escape unscathed, never giving her rival anything to use against her.

Perhaps it was the original novel’s world-will constantly trying to save its protagonist, attempting to wrench the plot back on course. Song Yunzhao hadn’t wanted to confront the protagonist when she lacked the power, fearing she would suffer a great loss. But now, she thought differently.

The collapse of the plot had also brought out the protagonist’s hidden dark side.

She slowly walked up to Qin Wan Yi, and their eyes met.

The atmosphere instantly grew tense.

Mrs. Qin stepped out from the crowd, her face taut. She took a step forward and said, "This was all the private doing of a household servant. It has nothing to do with Wanyi. Song Zhaoyi, if you take your anger out on Wanyi, you are being far too tyrannical."

Hearing this, Song Yunzhao turned her head to look at Mrs. Qin. "So according to you, Madam, if your servant had succeeded in framing me this time, then my child and I would have deserved to die? It would have been our own fault for not having the ability to protect ourselves, is that what you’re saying?"

Mrs. Qin’s face darkened. "Song Zhaoyi, I said no such thing."

"But that’s what you meant, isn’t it?"

"Song Zhaoyi." Qin Xiyue shifted her feet slightly. "Chen Ran did wrong this time. We will not object to however you wish to punish her. That should be enough, shouldn’t it?"

"Listen to how reluctant you sound. What do you mean, ’that should be enough’? You make it sound like I, the victim, am some kind of tyrant, while you, the aggressors, are innocent bystanders. How laughable."

Song Yunzhao reached out, picked up the teapot from the table, and before anyone could react, poured the entire pot of tea directly over Qin Xiyue’s head.

"Wanyi!"

"My Lady!"

The sudden turn of events left everyone stunned. Song Yunzhao slammed the teapot on the ground, and it instantly shattered into pieces. She sneered at Qin Xiyue. "What an innocent and kind Qin Wan Yi you are. Since your Qin Family, from master to servant, insists on calling me tyrannical, wouldn’t I be failing to live up to that label if I didn’t act the part?"

After speaking, Song Yunzhao turned to Zhang Maoquan. "Chief Steward Zhang, I’ll have to trouble you to take Chen Ran to the front hall and hand her over to His Majesty. As for who is right and who is wrong, what is true and what is false, and how this matter should be judged and handled, I will listen only to His Majesty."

Qin Xiyue hadn’t reacted at all. By the time she thought to dodge, the pot of still-warm tea was already pouring down over her head. The tea fell like a curtain before her eyes, and her pride was smashed to the ground along with it.

Hearing Song Yunzhao’s words, her heart trembled. ’Handed over to His Majesty?’

"Song Zhaoyi, you’ve already humiliated me to this extent. What more do you want?"

"Qin Xiyue, for what your Qin Family did today in framing me, I, Song Yunzhao, will never forget it. What, is your face more precious than the lives of me and my child? What a valuable face it is. I just wonder if His Majesty will acknowledge its worth!"

Countless people stood there, and even Mrs. Qin seemed to have lost her voice. Watching the chaotic scene unfold, everyone was utterly stunned by Song Yunzhao.

’How could she dare?’

She really dared!

Song Yunzhao walked over to Princess Consort Wan and said with a smile, "Lady Wanfei, look at your tea party today. It’s been ruined by a bunch of scoundrels. Such a fine table of tea, what a shame."

Princess Consort Wan: ...

’Compared to your ruthlessness, a table of tea is nothing.’

"It’s... It’s just a table of tea, it’s nothing. Song Zhaoyi has been wronged today. It was my failure as a hostess." Princess Consort Wan took a deep breath. Indeed, Song Yunzhao was not at fault for today’s events. She only hated that Qin Wan Yi had used her tea party to scheme and stir up trouble. ’Does she really think I’m just some useless decoration?’

"I will make it up to Lady Wanfei another day. For now, I’ll take my leave."

Having said her piece, Song Yunzhao walked to Zhang Maoquan’s side. She looked down at Chen Ran, Nanny Chen, and the half-dead Lanxiang beside them, her voice cold. "Don’t let them die! Grand Tutor Qin is truly impressive. A mere steward from his mansion can reach into the traveling palace to plot against a concubine and an imperial heir."

Upon hearing this, Mrs. Qin’s vision went black, and she nearly fainted. How could they possibly bear such an accusation!

Song Yunzhao left directly with her people. Sunlight fell on her back as she departed. Staring through the blazing sun, the crowd’s dazed and muddled thoughts slowly began to settle.

Zhang Maoquan had his men drag the people away. Qin Xiyue tried to intervene, but Zhang Maoquan didn’t dare pay her any mind. He had a group of eunuchs haul the prisoners away and scurried off.

The tea party could not continue. After such a major incident, Princess Consort Wan’s reputation was in tatters. She gave Mrs. Qin and Qin Xiyue a deep look before finally saying, "I have been a poor hostess today, I hope you ladies can forgive me. It is getting late, please return early."

Princess Consort Wan said nothing about holding another banquet to make up for it. ’In this lifetime, she never wanted to host another damn banquet again.’

Mrs. Yao saw that her daughter looked unwell. Worried, she quickly hurried after her.

As she passed Mrs. Qin, Mrs. Yao turned her head and said through suppressed anger, "The Yao family will remember the lesson the Qin Family has taught us today. Mrs. Qin, we will meet again!"

’This isn’t over!’

Having had her fill of the drama, Consort Shu slowly rose to her feet. Without a glance at anyone, she left directly with her mother.

’What a bunch of idiots. With the precious treasure Song Yunzhao is carrying in her belly, forget just fifty strokes of the cane—even if the woman had been beaten to death, what would that matter in the Emperor’s eyes? Besides, that Palace Attendant was asking for death, she more than deserved it.’

’Princess Consort Zhuang wanted to play both sides. And look where it got her. She tried to hunt a fox, but ended up getting sprayed. That’ll be enough to keep her fuming for days.’

Princess Consort Zhuang couldn’t stay any longer either. Mrs. Wang, who had been silent until now, saw she was leaving and hurried through the crowd to catch up.

Once they were a good distance away, Mrs. Wang said in a low voice, "Why did you have to get involved in today’s mess? Now look at what’s happened."

Princess Consort Zhuang was already furious. Hearing her own mother blame her, she suppressed her rage until she was back in her own palace, where she finally burst out, "I really underestimated Qin Xiyue. She’s quite capable, isn’t she?"

Mrs. Wang said worriedly, "I’m afraid this matter won’t end well. That Song Zhaoyi is so audacious and reckless. Is there no one in this palace who can control her? You’re one of the three highest-ranking concubines, can’t you keep her in line?"

Hearing her mother’s words, the resentment Princess Consort Zhuang had been holding back for so long finally erupted. "If I had one in my belly, I’d be just as daring!"

The Emperor wouldn’t even touch her. How was she supposed to get pregnant?

Mrs. Wang, however, had no idea that her daughter had yet to receive the Emperor’s favor. She complained, "You entered the palace years before she did, so why has there been no news from your belly? If your womb is so disappointing, won’t that woman be even more arrogant once she gives birth?"