Chapter 540 - 318: Song Yunzhao Truly Had Her Eyes Opened

Chapter 540: Chapter 318: Song Yunzhao Truly Had Her Eyes Opened

After the Eldest Prince’s full moon banquet, even more rumors about Ming Fei and the Empress Dowager circulated outside the palace. No matter the details, their discord was practically set in stone.

Before this wave of rumors outside the palace had even subsided, news spread that the Emperor was ordering a major renovation of Yaohua Palace and that Ming Fei would soon be moving in.

In an instant, Song Yunzhao was once again the center of attention.

After reviewing the blueprints for Yaohua Palace, Yun Zhao felt there was nothing to change. The layouts of all the palaces were basically identical, leaving little room for modification. The only real customizations possible were in the interior decor.

As a concubine of her rank, there were specific standards she had to adhere to, leaving little room for personal touches. Besides, she didn’t place much importance on such things. Nanny Yu and the others had served her for years and knew her tastes well. Her primary concern was her son’s living quarters.

He was still so little, and when he started learning to walk, she wanted to be sure he wouldn’t bump into anything. Thus, some small details required careful attention. When selecting furniture, she tried to choose pieces without sharp corners. For any that were unavoidable, she instructed the Palace Attendants to sew padded cloth covers to wrap around them.

Meng Jiuchang brought dozens of candidates for her to inspect. After two days of interviews, she narrowed the selection down to five or six people. From that group, she finally chose two Chief Palace Maids for personal service, Jin Ling and Cui Xue, and a eunuch named Little Anzi. He appeared quite clever, and after a few days of discreet observation, Yun Zhao confirmed that he was not only clever but also very composed.

Nanny Qi remained the wet nurse, and Song Yunzhao put her in charge of these new servants, tasking them with looking after Feng Ze’s daily needs.

With these additions, Xiangxue and the others were visibly more relaxed. Under their guidance, Jin Ling and Cui Xue learned the ropes of caring for the Eldest Prince very quickly. Little Anzi also began to shadow Anshun, learning from him.

With Nanny Yu and Zhang Maoquan at Wangyou Palace, the newcomers wouldn’t be able to stir up any trouble. Song Yunzhao began to ponder what Feng Yi had said to her. ’How to approach this is crucial.’

However, she hadn’t moved into Yaohua Palace yet, so Feng Yi’s decree would not be issued for the time being. She still had time to think and prepare.

Before that, she received a letter from the Eldest Madam, informing her that Song Buran had returned to the Capital City. This meant the wedding would be held very soon.

Song Yunzhao couldn’t leave the palace to offer congratulations in person, but a gift was essential.

Furthermore, there was the critical ceremony of presenting the betrothal gifts. The most prominent of these would certainly have to come from her, Ming Fei. After much deliberation, she decided to send a Jade Ruyi.

A Ruyi has always been an excellent gift, but one from the Imperial Palace carried even greater symbolic weight.

Song Buran still needed to report for his post, so Yunzhao had Zhang Maoquan make the trip to deliver the gift, ensuring it wouldn’t delay the auspicious day chosen for the betrothal ceremony.

To Yunzhao’s surprise, Feng Yi had bestowed a mansion upon the Song Family. It was located not far from the Imperial Palace—in the terms of a later era, it was prime real estate. While it couldn’t compare to the estates of the old, established families, its location was, in one key aspect, superior to that of the Marquis Wuxin Mansion.

Song Yunzhao chuckled. ’Feng Yi really understands these things, doesn’t he?’

She had no desire to get involved in Song Qinghan’s affairs, but Song Qinghan was, at the end of the day, a daughter of the Song family. If the Marquis Wuxin Mansion was allowed to publicly humiliate the Song Family, would that reflect well on Yunzhao?

And so, some matters were inextricably linked. Even if Song Yunzhao wasn’t directly associated with Song Qinghan and her mother, if the Song family’s reputation was tarnished because of them—if the family lost face—it would reflect poorly on her.

The awarded mansion was quite spacious. Knowing that his older sister-in-law and his own daughter were on excellent terms, Song Nanzhen took the initiative and invited the first branch of the family to move in, allocating the East Courtyard to them.

Mrs. Cai was displeased, but she didn’t dare cause a scene at this juncture, so she was left to stew in her anger.

Aunt Che, however, was quite shrewd. Because an illegitimate son from the first branch was studying at the same academy as Song Jinxuan’s husband, she had used the connection to grow quite close with the first branch over the past two years. She was always discreet, careful not to provoke Mrs. Cai, and had successfully established the relationship.

The first branch moving into the Marquis Mansion was therefore good news for Aunt Che. With the Eldest Madam present, there would finally be someone to keep Mrs. Cai in check, which meant her own life as a concubine would become a little easier.

The Eldest Madam, for her part, had repeatedly declined the offer. It wasn’t until Song Nanzhen personally wrote a letter to his elder brother and had a talk with Song Buran that things changed. Finally, the Eldest Master sent a letter from Yucheng, settling the matter.

Since the Eldest Master was not posted in the Capital City, he instructed the Eldest Madam to take the children and move into the Marquis Mansion so they would have support. Once he returned to the capital, the family would move back to their old home.

With the third branch now occupying the imperially bestowed mansion, the old Song family residence in the Capital City would be temporarily occupied by the first branch. As for the second branch, if they were to come to the capital, a decision on whether they would stay at the Marquis Mansion or the old residence could be made at that time.

The Eldest Master’s letter was the final word, and so the matter was settled.

Song Yunzhao just smiled when she heard the news. The Eldest Madam was surely desperate to live separately from Mrs. Cai, but her own father feared that without the Eldest Madam’s restraining presence, Mrs. Cai would cause trouble behind his back while he was too busy to oversee the household.

He must have pleaded with his elder brother in the letter, asking him to persuade his wife to move into the Marquis Mansion. Otherwise, her uncle would never have added the promise that his family would move back to their old home upon his return to the capital.

The renovations at Yaohua Palace proceeded smoothly. The Empress Dowager, however, was quite displeased about Song Yunzhao moving in and specially summoned Feng Yi for a talk.

Yaohua Palace was the designated residence for an Imperial Concubine. Song Yunzhao merely held the rank of concubine, so how could she possibly live there?

But Feng Yi didn’t back down. He simply said, "Ming Fei gave birth to the Eldest Prince. For that reason alone, she is qualified to live there."

Mother and son parted on bad terms. However, the Empress Dowager was already thinking about An Shutong and the concubine selection next year and didn’t want a complete falling out with the Emperor. Thus, the matter was quietly dropped.

Yaohua Palace was undergoing a complete overhaul. From the plaster on the walls to the final coat of paint, everything inside and out was being redone. Even the flowers and trees in the courtyard were being replanted according to Yunzhao’s tastes.

Just before Feng Ze’s hundred-day celebration, Song Yunzhao moved into her new residence with great fanfare.

By this time, Song Buran had already left the capital with his new wife to take up his post. He had been assigned to a new location, one slightly better than his previous one.

Song Yunzhao never interfered in such matters. She knew a man like Song Buran had his own career path. If he needed her help, he would surely ask the Eldest Madam to send word to the palace.

However, the fact that this new post was in a slightly better location was likely out of consideration for Princess Duanjing’s health. Princess Fuke must have pulled some strings.

Song Yunzhao chose the day before the Qixi Festival to make her move. First, the contents of her storerooms were transferred, and the procession of cart after cart rolling down the palace roads drew a great deal of attention.

Song Yunzhao herself was surprised by how many possessions she had. In just a few short years, she had amassed items she’d commissioned from the Six Departments as well as the Emperor’s regular gifts for festivals and seasonal changes. While all the concubines received such festival gifts, the majority of her belongings were private presents from Feng Yi.

The items were numerous and miscellaneous, ranging from valuable gold and silver jewelry and various ornaments to inexpensive round fans and wood carvings, as well as trinkets he brought back for her from his excursions outside the palace.

Song Yunzhao had always considered herself rather poor. It wasn’t until she was moving that she realized she had unknowingly embarked on the road to riches.

Now that she had a son—the Emperor’s first son—all his stipends and provisions were of the highest standard, and they were all sent to her to manage.

’So giving birth to a son not only raises your rank, but it’s also a secret path to wealth.’

It was a real eye-opener for Song Yunzhao.

’After all, it’s my first time at this. I’m inexperienced.’