Chapter 490 - 268: Having to Take the Blame

Chapter 490: Chapter 268: Having to Take the Blame

Mrs. Wang’s face went pale when she heard her daughter’s words.

Princess Consort Zhuang turned her head away, unable to look, but her heart ached terribly.

’She would rather come and pressure me than let my younger sister suffer.’

’I can never escape this cage of a harem. What is the point of all my desperate fighting, scheming, and plotting?’

At that moment, Princess Consort Zhuang felt a wave of despair wash over her.

She had entered the palace for the glory of her family, but instead of protecting her, they constantly dragged her down.

Mrs. Wang wanted to say more, but seeing her daughter’s expression, she forced herself to swallow her words. After a long moment, she said, "I know you’ve been wronged, my dear, but there’s nothing to be done."

Princess Consort Zhuang had heard those words too many times. It was the same thing her mother had cried and said to her when she was sent to the palace.

And so, her heart had softened, and she had agreed to enter the palace.

Princess Consort Zhuang pressed her lips together, watching her mother’s red-rimmed eyes stream with tears. She couldn’t stop herself from adding, "In this harem, I may be one of the three highest-ranking concubines, but the only one the Emperor truly dotes on is Song Zhaoyi. She’s pregnant now. Once she gives birth, she’s bound to be promoted. When that happens, do you really think she’ll still be beneath me?"

The mere thought of Song Yunzhao brought a look of disgust to Mrs. Wang’s face. "She’s nothing but a pretty face. Without it, someone of her low birth would never have achieved her current status. At the end of the day, she’s just a vixen. In a couple of years, when the Emperor grows tired of her and she has no family backing, what will become of her?"

"Mother!" Princess Consort Zhuang stared at her. "As long as she gives birth to the Emperor’s eldest son, her life of wealth and splendor is guaranteed."

Mrs. Wang opened and closed her mouth, finally saying after a long pause, "Just because she’s pregnant doesn’t mean she’ll successfully give birth. She might not be so lucky."

Princess Consort Zhuang’s brow twitched. "Don’t you dare say such things. I’d like to live a few more years."

Did Princess Consort Zhuang want Song Yunzhao to have a smooth delivery?

Of course not.

But as for taking action herself... while she might have considered it in the past, now she truly didn’t dare.

The Emperor’s protection of Song Yunzhao was too thorough. Even her meals now came from the Emperor’s personal kitchen, and Zhang Maoquan himself had been sent to serve her. She lacked the means to do anything without being discovered.

Princess Consort Zhuang didn’t dare act herself, so she pinned her hopes on the Empress Dowager.

But for some reason, the Empress Dowager had suddenly backed down, even sending An Shutong back to the Song Family. She knew the Empress Dowager wasn’t one to retreat so easily, and this new development left Princess Consort Zhuang feeling deeply unsettled.

So, under these circumstances, how could Princess Consort Zhuang dare to make any rash moves?

’It’s best to strike when the waters are muddied. Right now, everyone is on their best behavior. This traveling palace is so transparent you can see everything at a glance. What can I do? What do I dare to do? Nothing. I dare do nothing.’

She was already living a stifled, cautious existence, and now her own family was here to cause her more trouble.

Mrs. Wang saw from her daughter’s expression that further words were useless. She rose to leave. "If we can’t save your father," she said on her way out, "our entire family is finished. And when that happens, it will be of no benefit to you either."

...

’If this weren’t my own mother, I’d have her thrown out.’

’Still, she pressures me!’

After Mrs. Wang left, Princess Consort Zhuang sat for a long time, her face ashen. A vicious glint appeared in her eyes. She summoned Nanny Zhao and ordered, "Go to the Wang residence. Tell Wang Yunhua that if she refuses to marry and something truly happens to the Wang Family, she will be its ruin. After that, I, her older sister, will wash my hands of her."

’The only reason Mother and my sister are so fearless is because they think they still have me in the palace. I’m one of the three highest-ranking concubines, their ultimate fallback.’

’If I hadn’t schemed against that person, leading to Ji Yunting rescuing them, how would he have gotten injured? If he hadn’t been injured, wouldn’t this marriage have gone off without a hitch?’

’In the end, this is all my own doing!’

Nanny Zhao left for the Wang residence. Princess Consort Zhuang could well imagine her sister’s reaction, but this time, she didn’t care.

’Then there’s Ji Yunting saying he wants to marry Xie Linlang. Xie Linlang is a mere merchant’s daughter. How could Madam Ji possibly let her become his official wife? The most she’ll do to appease Ji Yunting is allow her to enter the family as a concubine!’

’If Yun Hua marries him as the principal wife and Xie Linlang is just a concubine, Xie Linlang will have to live under my sister’s thumb. Then even Song Yunzhao would have to be warier of me. That would be good for me too; I’d gain some leverage over Song Yunzhao.’

’As for Ji Yunting’s injury, I suspect it might not even be real.’ ℯ

’Ji Yunting was against this marriage alliance from the beginning. This is probably just an excuse to trick Madam Ji and force her hand.’

’Saying he wants to marry Xie Linlang is just another deliberate ploy to make Madam Ji give in.’

The more she thought about it, the more convinced she became.

’In any case, this marriage cannot be called off.’

With this in mind, Princess Consort Zhuang summoned Rouge. She wrote a letter herself and gave it to the maid, instructing her to deliver it personally into Yun Hua’s hands, wait for her to read it, and then bring it back to be burned.

Rouge took the letter and slipped out of the traveling palace.

Over in her quarters, Yun Zhao received the news and frowned. ’What is Princess Consort Zhuang up to? She’s sent her people out twice now. It seems Wang Yunhua is really kicking up a fuss.’

’How could I possibly miss out on such good drama?’ She sent Anshun to gather more information—a little reconnaissance on the enemy.

The sky gradually darkened, and Yun Zhao had her meal prepared. But before she could even take a single bite, she heard that Feng Yi was in the front palace, flying into a thunderous rage.

Zhang Maoquan’s face was pale as he looked at her. "Manager Meng says the Emperor summons you, Your Ladyship, but he didn’t say why."

Song Yunzhao was bewildered. ’Feng Yi is furious. What does he want with me right now?’

’What good can I do?’

Glancing at the freshly served meal on the table, she had Nanny Yu pack it into food boxes and ordered attendants to carry them as they followed her to the front palace.

Zhang Maoquan led the way with two eunuchs carrying lanterns. Nanny Yu and Xiangxue followed behind her, trailed by two more palace attendants carrying the food boxes. The large procession made its way toward the front.

The layout of the traveling palace was different from the Imperial Palace, and this was Yun Zhao’s first time in the section where the Emperor conducted official business. She entered through a side door. Walking down the long corridor, she could vaguely make out a large crowd of people kneeling before the front hall—a rather intimidating sight.

She glanced again. ’Why does that figure look so familiar? Is that... my father?’

Song Yunzhao ducked slightly behind a pillar to get a better look. The distance was considerable and the palace lanterns were dim; she couldn’t be certain.

She lowered her head slightly. ’With all the goodwill I’ve built up with the Emperor, he would never make my father kneel on purpose. There can only be one explanation: he’s been implicated in something.’

’Is there trouble at the Ministry of Revenue again?’

’That old fox, the Minister of Revenue... I’ve never met anyone so slippery.’

’It’s really a raw deal for my father, having to work under him. When trouble arises, Dad always has to take the fall.’

’But is our family such an easy scapegoat?’

Song Yunzhao steadied herself and then continued on.

Her large procession made it impossible to arrive unnoticed. Song Yunzhao kept her eyes fixed forward, pretending she didn’t see the ministers’ appraising stares as she walked straight past them.

Song Nanzhen watched her, his mind blank.

’Zhaozhao? What is she doing here?’