Chapter 519 - 297: Song Yunzhao Is Not Only Jealous and Domineering, but Also Afraid of Death

Chapter 519: Chapter 297: Song Yunzhao Is Not Only Jealous and Domineering, but Also Afraid of Death

The Capital City had been quite lively lately. Whether it was the Beauties bestowed upon the homes of courtiers or the marriage alliance between the Princess Mansion and the Song Family, these were the topics on everyone’s lips.

Especially with the story of Song Zhaoyi’s bold act of expelling the Beauty from the palace spreading through every street and alley, her reputation was now immutable. The word "jealous" was practically branded on her forehead, shining brightly.

What else could Song Yunzhao do? There was nothing she could do about it.

’This result wasn’t what I wanted, but the outcome is good for me. I can’t just take the good and reject the bad. The world doesn’t work in a way where I get to have all the good things.’

You win some, you lose some.

The Mid-Autumn Palace Banquet was held as scheduled. Yun Zhao attended, her pregnant belly prominent. Consort Shu and Princess Consort Wan jointly managed the affair. Song Yunzhao participated, and with the Eldest Madam keeping Mrs. Cai in check, no trouble was stirred. Still, it was plain to see that the relationship between mother and daughter was exceedingly cold.

Song Yunzhao didn’t care what others thought; she would continue to do things her own way. As for making peace with Mrs. Cai? That was impossible, not even in her next life.

’I hate it most when people say, "It’s all in the past," or "She’s your mother, after all." Pah! If you haven’t experienced my suffering, don’t you dare preach kindness to me. If you like this kind of mother so much, I’ll send her to your house. Do you want her?’

’If you actually dared to take her, I’d have to admit you’ve got guts!’

The Empress Dowager did not attend the Mid-Autumn Palace Banquet, reportedly because she was unwell. Feng Yi sent an Imperial Physician to check her pulse. As a mere Zhaoyi, it wasn’t Song Yunzhao’s place to go show her filial respect, so she only made a token, concerned inquiry in front of the Emperor.

Feng Yi did not make an appearance at the harem banquet either. He was in Taixi Hall, hosting a banquet for his officials. With no Empress in the harem, his presence wasn’t required.

Song Yunzhao’s pregnant belly drew the most attention. She had always been a cautious person, so she had Xiangxue and Shizhu attending to her personally, while Anshun and Zhang Maoquan were stationed nearby, ready to rush over at a moment’s notice.

Consort Shu was displeased by this display. ’Is she saying she doesn’t trust me?’

Song Yunzhao replied breezily, "Of course I trust you to manage the banquet, Lady Shufei. It’s just that banquets are so crowded, with so many people around. What if Your Ladyship gets tied up and can’t look after me?"

Consort Shu thought about it and had to agree, so she said nothing more.

After this incident, she was certain of one thing: Song Yunzhao was not only jealous and domineering, but also terrified of death.

At the Mid-Autumn banquet, what drew the most attention was Yun Zhao’s pregnancy. For a long time afterward, her belly remained the center of attention at every major banquet in the Capital City.

Rumor had it that people were now placing bets on whether she would have a boy or a girl.

Song Yunzhao was speechless.

’These people really have too much time on their hands.’

In the blink of an eye, He Lan Yun’s wedding day arrived. Song Yunzhao had Nanny Yu deliver the trousseau gift she had long prepared: a white jade inlaid with gold Ruyi. She hoped He Lan Yun could live a life of ease and contentment, escape the pitfall of being a cannon-fodder supporting character, and live happily with Cao Jitong.

Not long after He Lan Yun’s wedding, winter set in. The weather grew colder by the day, and Yun Zhao didn’t set foot outside Wangyou Palace. At times like this, she was especially grateful that there was no Empress in the harem, which meant she didn’t have to go and pay her respects every single day.

She was also grateful that, for various reasons, a routine of going to Shouci Palace to pay respects to the Empress Dowager had never been established after her return. Otherwise, things would be unbearable now.

There was one other thing. After winter began, An Shutong left the palace, having been taken back by the Gu’en Houfu.

Xie Linlang’s wedding day was also approaching, and Song Yunzhao prepared a trousseau gift for her too. Xie Linlang didn’t lack money; what she lacked was a strong backing. So, Yunzhao prepared a full set of jewelry for her, each piece bearing the imperial crest. That way, if she wore them to any occasion, anyone wanting to bully her would have to think twice upon seeing the insignia.

The days flew by after the twelfth lunar month began, and in a flash, it was Xie Linlang’s wedding day. In the palace, Yun Zhao kept an eye on the time, wondering if the wedding was going smoothly. ’On such a joyous occasion, Madam Ji shouldn’t cause any trouble,’ she hoped.

For Xie Linlang’s bridal homecoming banquet, it was held at the Xie family’s new residence in the Capital City. The Eldest Madam, as well as Second Young Master Song and his wife, were specially invited. Third Master Song also made an appearance after leaving his office, but he only stayed for a short while before departing.

The Ministry of Revenue was swamped at year’s end. If it weren’t for his consideration of Miss Xie’s close friendship with his niece, Song Nanzhen would never have had the time to make an appearance. He was currently a prime target for the Imperial Censors, a regular name on the lists for impeachment.

Only after becoming Chief of Staff did Song Nanzhen realize just how difficult it was to be a court official.

As the year’s end approached, the Ministry of Revenue’s annual tax collection was nearing completion. Gold, silver, grain, and silks were steadily flowing into storage. The National Treasury’s vaults were now far more plentiful than they had been during Cao Dingwen’s time.

The officials of the Ministry of Revenue cataloged and filed the records, carefully tallied the receipts, coordinated the transfers with local governments, and finally submitted a summary report to the Emperor. Once that was done, their great task would be complete.

Song Nanzhen had made it through his first year in office smoothly.

The end of the year was the most relaxed time for the Three Judicial Departments. No one would submit cases involving murder, theft, or capital punishment at this time. The New Year was a time for celebration, so even if such cases were to be reported, they would have to wait until after the first month.

The Ministry of Personnel held its evaluations in the spring, so the end of the year was even more relaxed. The Ministry of War should have been busier, but after Prince Zhenbei’s triumphant return, it was also in a semi-holiday state.

The busiest ministry at year’s end was the Ministry of Rites. Palace banquets were frequent during the New Year, and ancestral sacrifices also had to be held. The entire set of ceremonies had to be prepared for the Emperor. Fortunately, with no Empress, the procedures involving the harem were much simpler.

As a Zhaoyi, Song Yunzhao had the Empress Dowager and the two senior concubines above her to handle matters. She just had to focus on eating, drinking, and taking care of herself, staying indoors to preserve her health. The New Year’s banquets came one after another. Citing the cumbersomeness of her pregnancy, she refused to attend any banquet the Empress Dowager was not at. For those the Empress Dowager did attend, she would simply make an appearance before excusing herself to leave.

With everyone watching Song Yunzhao stand there with her large belly and pale complexion, even the Empress Dowager found it difficult to give her a hard time in public. She could only mutter a few sarcastic remarks under her breath and tell her to get lost.

Yun Zhao would promptly scurry off. Compared to her own well-being, the Empress Dowager’s harmless barbs meant nothing. She paid them no mind whatsoever.

At times like these, the Eldest Madam would always wear a worried expression, while Mrs. Cai’s face remained wooden. In the eyes of the crowd, this meant Mrs. Cai, the birth mother, cared less than the Eldest Madam, her aunt-by-marriage. No wonder Song Zhaoyi was closer to the Eldest Madam. Mrs. Cai really didn’t look the part of a mother. People thought that even if she was only pretending, she should at least put on an act.

But Mrs. Cai simply refused to pretend, and in this, Song Yunzhao was exactly like her. It made others sigh and remark that they were truly mother and daughter after all.

Song Yunzhao was delighted when she heard this. ’This is for the best.’ she thought. ’This way, Mrs. Cai and I can maintain our current relationship. If she were to get any ideas, I’m afraid even this strained peace couldn’t be maintained.’

’The Eldest Madam really is formidable,’ she mused. ’Using Song Qinghan as leverage is enough to keep Mrs. Cai in line.’

Throughout the New Year festivities, Feng Yi was so busy he barely had a moment’s rest. The Emperor had far more banquets to attend than there were in the harem. Because Yun Zhao had entered the final stages of her pregnancy and seemed more fragile than before, Feng Yi couldn’t help but worry. Despite his hectic schedule, he stayed at Wangyou Palace nearly every night to look after her.

The Empress Dowager was naturally displeased when she found out. She cited imperial protocol to dissuade the Emperor, arguing that there was no precedent for an emperor to stay overnight with a pregnant concubine. If word of this got out, how would he maintain his dignity?