Chapter 510 - 288: This Damned, Ill-Fated Relationship

Chapter 510: Chapter 288: This Damned, Ill-Fated Relationship

Song Yunzhao went inside the bed curtains to rest, gazing up at the canopy. It had been newly replaced after her return and was embroidered with incredibly lifelike twin lotus flowers on a single stalk.

The more she had loved it then, the more ironic it seemed now.

She should have treated Feng Yi as the Emperor, but being with him always felt so wonderful that she had unwittingly crossed a line.

’It’s as if I’ve really started to see Feng Yi as my other half. That’s why I’m so angry, so resentful... so disappointed.’

Just as she was lost in thought, she heard a sound from outside. Familiar footsteps drew near. Song Yunzhao reflexively closed her eyes. She really didn’t want to see Feng Yi right now.

’I haven’t sorted out my thoughts yet. I’m afraid I’ll lose control if I see him and say or do something I shouldn’t.’

So, she decided to just keep her eyes closed and pretend to be asleep.

Her back was to the entrance of the bed, and she felt the curtain being lifted. The edge of the bed dipped slightly as someone sat down.

Song Yunzhao was deeply irritated. ’I wish Feng Yi would just disappear right now.’

But a moment later, a hand rested on her forehead. Feng Yi’s palm was cool as it gently touched her skin. Song Yunzhao heard him ask Xiangxue what she had been doing all day to have gone to bed without even eating dinner.

Only then did Yun Zhao realize she was a little hungry. ’I was so furious I completely forgot about eating.’

"The Zhaoyi is with child. How could you let her play cards all afternoon? All that mental strain can’t be good for her."

Feng Yi’s voice was stern, but he kept it low. Song Yunzhao knew he was trying not to wake her.

’Why do people get caught in the mire of love?’

’It’s because of the kindness of others. Sometimes, you can’t help but drown in it.’

’Feng Yi has always been so good to me. Without realizing it, I slowly let my guard down and drew closer to him.’

Fearing that Xiangxue and the others would take the blame, Song Yunzhao immediately pretended to have just woken up. Forcibly suppressing her thoughts, she turned over. She avoided looking at Feng Yi’s face, fixing her gaze on his chest as she squeezed out a smile. "Your Majesty, you’re here. I must have dozed off. Xiangxue, why didn’t you wake me?"

Xiangxue hurried forward to apologize. Song Yunzhao used the moment to sit up, finally lifting her head to look at Feng Yi. "Has Your Majesty had dinner?"

Feng Yi felt that something was off with Yun Zhao. Her face was the same, her lips curved into a familiar smile, and her tone of voice was normal, but he could just sense that something was different.

"What’s wrong? Are you unhappy?" Feng Yi asked, looking at Yun Zhao with suspicion.

Song Yunzhao was speechless.

’Does Feng Yi have the nose of a bloodhound or something? I’m putting on such a good act, how can he still sense it?’

’Has my acting gotten worse?’

This concerned her life’s work. Song Yunzhao immediately rallied one hundred and twenty percent of her energy.

"Of course I’m not unhappy, I’m just a little groggy from my nap," Song Yunzhao said with a sweet smile. She slipped on her shoes, stood, and pulled Feng Yi by the hand, leading him outside. "If Your Majesty hasn’t eaten, let’s have dinner together. I’m hungry now."

Hearing that Yun Zhao was hungry, Feng Yi gave her another look and decided he was probably overthinking things. She seemed the same as always. Perhaps she was just tired from playing cards.

"I’ll have a little something with you."

"Your Majesty has eaten already?"

"I had a bite in the front hall. Did you have fun today?"

Song Yunzhao let out a bright laugh. "It was so much fun! Your Majesty, you should have seen Wang Zhaorong—her card skills are terrible. Her face was covered in paper slips from losing! She owes us a meal now, so we’ll have to make sure she treats us later."

As Song Yunzhao chattered on about the amusing card game, Feng Yi’s tense expression gradually softened. It seemed he really had been overthinking things.

For the next few days, Feng Yi was very busy and didn’t stay the night at Wangyou Palace. However, he generally came over to have lunch with Yun Zhao.

Song Yunzhao had assumed that after a few days, the Emperor would surely bring up the matter of the new Beauties entering the palace. But he never said a word, which only made her more frustrated.

She didn’t want to be the one to ask, so they were at an impasse.

Seeing him come to eat with her every day would have made her ecstatic before, but now she just felt that Feng Yi was acting out of a guilty conscience.

’Everything just seems to rub me the wrong way now. I look at everything and just feel angry.’

Song Yunzhao decided this couldn’t go on. She stopped stewing in Wangyou Palace and took Xiangxue and a few other attendants to the Imperial Garden for a walk to get some fresh air.

Xiangxue knew her mistress had been unhappy for the past few days, but as a servant, she would never dare to inquire about His Majesty’s affairs. After much hesitation, she decided against bringing up the topic of the new Beauties.

’This sort of thing is bound to happen more and more in the future. Her Ladyship will have to get used to it sooner or later. How could the Emperor possibly devote himself to just one person? There’s no precedent for that in all of history.’

But Xiangxue didn’t know how to broach the subject to console her, and bottling it up put her in low spirits as well.

Song Yunzhao followed the palace path forward. As she passed Roufu Palace, she noticed its gates were closed. Princess Consort Wan had always been a homebody, so she thought nothing of it.

Beyond Roufu Palace, Changle Palace was visible in the distance. It was the palace reserved for the Empress.

Changle Palace was the largest residence in the entire harem. Its colorful glazed tiles gleamed dazzlingly under the sun. Even though the palace was currently uninhabited, it was still kept spotlessly clean.

Song Yunzhao stared at it for a moment before turning to walk on.

’Every woman in the palace yearns for that residence. I’m no exception.’

After passing Changle Palace, the gates of Zhaoyang Palace came into view. Although Wang Zhaorong had been demoted from the rank of *Fei*, the Emperor hadn’t made her move out of Zhaoyang Palace’s main hall. Song Yunzhao decided not to go in and disturb her.

Continuing along the path led to Qin Xiyue’s Huayang Palace. Behind it was Qingyun Palace, though she could no longer recall who even lived there anymore.

She stepped onto a long, covered walkway that offered a view of a small bridge over a flowing stream, a rockery, and a fishpond. Feeling a bit tired after walking for so long, she found a pavilion and sat down, leaning back in a gooseneck chair to watch the koi in the pond below.

’It must be nice to be an ornamental fish. At least you don’t end up on a dinner plate.’

Hearing footsteps approach, Yun Zhao glanced back casually. To her surprise, Qin Xiyue was standing just outside the pavilion, a look of astonishment on her face as well.

Song Yunzhao raised an eyebrow slightly. She hadn’t seen Qin Xiyue in a very long time; the encounter felt almost surreal.

Qin Xiyue stepped into the pavilion and approached, bending her knees in a curtsy. "This concubine greets Song Zhaoyi."

"Qin Wanyi, there is no need for such ceremony. Please rise," Song Yunzhao said coolly. ’I just wanted to take a walk. Who would have thought I’d run into her?’

’What accursed fate.’

’This is exactly why I hate going out.’

"I didn’t expect to encounter Song Zhaoyi here. I hope you don’t mind my sudden intrusion," Qin Xiyue said with a smile as she rose.

"Anyone can come to this garden. What is there to mind? Qin Wanyi needn’t be so cautious." Song Yunzhao disliked Qin Xiyue’s passive-aggressive tone. ’Anyone who didn’t know better would hear that and think I was some kind of tyrant who polices who can and cannot walk in the gardens.’

Qin Xiyue’s gaze swept over Song Yunzhao’s stomach. The sight of her slightly rounded belly was a jarring eyesore.