Chapter 502 - 280: The Empress Dowager’s Maiden Family Is Truly Impressive

Chapter 502: Chapter 280: The Empress Dowager’s Maiden Family Is Truly Impressive

"What are you doing?" Feng Yi didn’t quite understand. ’What is she hiding from?’

Song Yunzhao said without turning back, "He Lan Yun is marrying Duke Qin. I’m just trying to see what this legendary ’block of wood’ looks like." ℴ

"A block of wood?" Feng Yi glanced over. ’What block of wood?’

"That’s right. He Lan Yun said Duke Qin is a total block of wood—incredibly boring." Song Yunzhao watched Duke Qin, one hand full of bags while his other arm was injured, still patiently shopping. ’I’d love to have a block of wood like that myself.’

’Sigh, too bad. No hope for that in this life.’

Feng Yi gave Yun Zhao a suspicious glance. ’He had no idea what sort of nonsense these women chattered about when they gathered. Cao Jitong might be a bit taciturn and quiet, but that didn’t make him a block of wood, did it?’

’At least, when it was time to talk, Cao Jitong had plenty to say.’

"What do you think?" Feng Yi asked thoughtfully, wondering if Song Yunzhao would complain behind his back that *he* was a block of wood.

’On second thought, he was indeed much better than Cao Jitong. At least he was quite proactive when he was with Yun Zhao.’

’As for other people, he’d rather be a block of wood.’

’Huh?’

With this thought, the way Feng Yi looked at Cao Jitong became a little strange.

Song Yunzhao watched their backs as they walked further and further away. ’This isn’t what He Lan Yun complained about at all. He’s even shopping with her while injured. It seems my initial guess had some merit. Cao Jitong must like He Lan Yun.’

’He Lan Yun has probably figured it out by now, too. And with such an enviable Immortal Mother-in-law, her future days are sure to be very comfortable.’

Thinking this, Song Yunzhao felt a surge of delight. ’Another cannon fodder character has changed their fate. That’s something worth celebrating.’

’Her biggest worry now is Xie Linlang. I’ll just have to wait and see. Hopefully, Ji Yunting, that top-tier supporting male lead, won’t do anything truly without a bottom line. If he really goes too far, I won’t just stand by and watch; I will definitely help Xie Linlang.’

Meng Jiuchang followed from a distance with a strange expression. ’Song Zhaoyi’s behavior was truly an eye-opener for him yet again. But the Emperor wasn’t even angry. Any ordinary man wouldn’t be willing to hide in a corner, right?’

’What’s more, this was His Majesty.’

Song Yunzhao, of course, was unaware of Meng Jiuchang’s consternation. She waited until He Lan Yun and Cao Jitong were far away before stepping out with Feng Yi.

Feng Yi looked at her. "Since we ran into them, you could have just said hello. Why did you hide?"

Song Yunzhao looked at Feng Yi. ’If it were just her, she certainly wouldn’t have hidden. But wasn’t there an Emperor right next to her?’

’The moment he showed his face, he might startle Cao Jitong. Wouldn’t that ruin the young, engaged couple’s mood for shopping?’

’But she couldn’t say it like that.’

Song Yunzhao hugged Feng Yi’s arm and said sweetly, "Duke Qin is so old-fashioned. If he saw Your Majesty out shopping with me, he’d surely have his opinions. Besides, someone as proper and stiff as him would surely perform a full formal bow upon seeing Your Majesty. How could we continue our stroll then?"

Feng Yi understood. ’Yun Zhao was complaining that Cao Jitong lacked tact and had a stiff, straightforward personality.’

’In his opinion, a personality like Cao Jitong’s was actually quite good. He completed his assigned tasks well and wouldn’t ask a bunch of annoying questions. He was a very convenient subordinate to have.’

He smiled without saying anything, took Yun Zhao’s hand, and asked, "Do you want to check out that jewelry shop over there?"

"No." Yun Zhao wasn’t interested. ’Even if she bought jewelry here, she couldn’t wear it back in the palace. If she gifted it to her family, it wouldn’t have the palace insignia, making it just ordinary jewelry. And they weren’t short on that.’

Hearing Yun Zhao’s crisp and decisive words, Feng Yi was, for once, at a loss for words. "Then what do you want to see?"

"Let’s just walk back down the street." In truth, Song Yunzhao didn’t need anything. She just wanted Feng Yi to accompany her out for a breath of fresh air.

’After spending so much time in the palace, wearing a mask for so long, she felt like she was losing her humanity.’

Feng Yi didn’t say anything either, simply walking slowly down the street with Yun Zhao.

Meng Jiuchang thought, ’Song Zhaoyi must have a screw loose. What’s so great about walking on the street? Which master in the palace doesn’t love gold, silver, jewelry, and fine silks? But this one... Tsk tsk, she’s different.’

’Or maybe, she’s only different in front of the Emperor.’

As they walked, a clamor of noise reached them. They had unexpectedly arrived outside Gu’en Houfu.

Because of the Empress Dowager’s favor, Duchess Gu En’s birthday banquet was a very lively affair, with an endless stream of guests arriving.

Moreover, the current Empress Dowager was in good health, was the Emperor’s birth mother, and had kept An Shutong by her side for many years. Though nothing had been said publicly, everyone knew what Gu’en Houfu and the Empress Dowager intended—they wanted Miss An to ascend to the position of Empress.

With the Empress’s throne vacant and the Empress Dowager alive and well, the chances of this succeeding were quite high. Thus, ever since the Empress Dowager’s return to the palace, Gu’en Houfu had become the place to be in the Capital City.

For this trip to the traveling palace to escape the summer heat, Gu’en Houfu’s residence was also magnificent and imposing. Two stone lions guarded the entrance, and the estate alone took up half the street.

The Empress Dowager’s family certainly had prestige.

Remembering that An Shutong lived here, Song Yunzhao grabbed Feng Yi and turned to leave without a second thought. ’This is the woman who can go head-to-head with the female lead all the way to the finale.’

Feng Yi watched her decisive retreat and let her lead him away. As they walked, he deliberately teased, "And here I thought you were going to pop in for a cup of tea."

"I’d love to, but aren’t I worried I’d get thrown out?" Since Song Yunzhao was not on good terms with the Empress Dowager, she saw no point in pretending in front of Feng Yi and decided to just be blunt.

Hearing this, Meng Jiuchang thought to himself, ’Song Zhaoyi at least has some self-awareness. Ever since gaining the Emperor’s favor, she has monopolized him. It isn’t just Gu’en Houfu that wants to beat her; plenty of people do.’

Feng Yi heard the playful, easygoing words from Yun Zhao’s lips, but the expression on her face was not nearly as light. Deep in her eyes, there was a trace of solemnity.

Yun Zhao felt Feng Yi’s grip on her hand tighten slightly and turned her head to look at him.

Feng Yi lowered his gaze slightly to meet hers. Their eyes locked, and he said slowly, "Don’t worry."

’Don’t worry about what?’

Song Yunzhao gave a faint smile. "I’m not worried at all. With Your Majesty here, I’m not afraid of anything."

Though she said that, Yun Zhao gently squeezed the Emperor’s hand in return.

’This was a perfect example of saying one thing and meaning another. It was up to the Emperor’s perceptiveness now.’

’With his intelligence, how could he not understand?’

’In this world, if a man truly holds you in his heart, he will always be thoughtful in every way, protecting you from heartache.’

’If he doesn’t hold you in his heart, why would he care whether you’re heartbroken or not?’

’At least for now, Feng Yi cared about her feelings, and that was enough.’

’Never mind an Emperor; even among ordinary men, how many could promise a lifetime together?’

’One has to be realistic. Don’t be greedy for a lifetime of devotion. Just protect what’s in front of you now and worry about the future later.’

’The Empress Dowager’s high-profile actions were clearly meant to bolster the prestige of Gu’en Houfu. When all was said and done, her dagger was still aimed at the Empress’s throne.’

Song Yunzhao sneered inwardly. ’Then bring it on.’