Chapter 541 - 319: Giving Song Yunzhao Something to Do

Chapter 541: Chapter 319: Giving Song Yunzhao Something to Do

Song Yunzhao moved into her new palace without holding a celebratory banquet, settling in with very little fanfare.

Feng Yi had wanted to hold a banquet to liven things up.

Song Yunzhao refused. She didn’t even plan to hold a banquet for Feng Ze’s one-hundred-day celebration, which led to a difference of opinion with Feng Yi.

Song Yunzhao said, "We’ll have to hold a banquet for his first birthday, and that’s only a few months away. Besides, he’s so little. Banquets are for the adults to show off; for a child, it’s just an ordeal. I don’t need that kind of glory. I just want my son to be safe and healthy." Seeing that Feng Yi still felt his son was being wronged, she added, "Besides, you’re about to issue a decree giving me authority over the harem. At a time like this, I think it’s better to cause less trouble, not more."

Feng Yi was ultimately persuaded. In his mind, Yun Zhao was being considerate of him, but he still felt that she and their son were making a sacrifice.

"This is hard on you," Feng Yi said with a sigh.

Song Yunzhao didn’t feel it was hard at all. ’Holding a banquet would be hard,’ she thought. ’Toiling all day just to face the Empress Dowager’s displeasure and the concubines’ resentment? Why bother?’

Although she didn’t follow the path of pretending to be a pig to eat the tiger, she wasn’t a reckless fool who would draw all sorts of animosity to herself.

"If the Emperor truly feels I’ve been wronged, then spend the Qixi Festival with our son and me."

Feng Yi agreed.

The Qixi Festival in the palace lacked much of its usual ceremony. If there were an Empress to organize a banquet, it would be a different matter. But without an Empress, Consort Shu had no interest, Princess Consort Wan didn’t meddle in affairs, and Yun Zhao had no desire to stand out. Thus, the Qixi Festival passed quietly.

However, everyone in the palace knew that the Emperor had spent the night of the Qixi Festival at Yaohua Palace.

After the Qixi Festival, the Emperor did indeed issue a decree for Yun Zhao and the two other concubines to share authority over the harem. He also ordered a review of the palace attendants’ rosters, stipulating that those who had reached a certain age, had serious illnesses, or had made mistakes were to be dismissed from the palace.

This time, the palace was thrown into turmoil.

Being granted the title of Ming Fei was one thing, and moving into Yaohua Palace was still tolerable. But for authority over the harem to be placed in Song Yunzhao’s hands—that, the Empress Dowager could not endure.

So what if the three concubines were to manage the harem together? That Princess Consort Wan was a total pushover, so useless you couldn’t get a peep out of her even if you hit her with a stick. She was completely worthless.

Consort Shu was competitive, but her relationship with Song Yunzhao was also complicated. Otherwise, why would Consort Shu have been so diligent in overseeing Wangyou Palace on the day Song Yunzhao gave birth?

The Empress Dowager was so angry her chest ached. She leaned against a soft pillow, gasping for breath.

Nanny Yao hastily tried to soothe her, while Yourong and Miao Rui didn’t dare to breathe too loudly. The two attendants could only look at each other with helpless expressions.

The Emperor had given authority over the harem to the three concubines. Princess Consort Wan was clearly just a figurehead; she never involved herself in affairs. The relationship between Consort Shu and Ming Fei was also inscrutable. On top of that, the moment Ming Fei came into power, she wanted to dismiss palace attendants.

Who couldn’t see what was happening? The Emperor was trying to establish Ming Fei’s authority!

It was a mystery how Consort Shu could swallow this, showing no reaction at all. It was truly strange. 𝒻𝘳ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝒷𝘯ℴ𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝑐ℴ𝑚

"...I’m afraid the Emperor has long intended to clean up the harem, but simply lacked a suitable opportunity. Your Majesty the Empress Dowager, think about it. For Ming Fei to take on this task right after coming into power isn’t necessarily a good thing. I fear the Emperor is intentionally using Ming Fei for this job. It’s a task that will offend people. How many pairs of eyes are watching from inside and outside the palace? If she truly dares to be ruthless, she will make countless enemies."

The Empress Dowager snorted coldly. "With the Emperor backing her, what does she have to fear? I’d say she’s feeling quite pleased with herself right now."

"Fortune and misfortune are intertwined. She has the Emperor’s support now, but what if one day she doesn’t? The political climate in this harem can change in an instant. Ming Fei might not be smiling forever. The more enemies she makes now, the more people will be there to push her down when she falls. Why should Your Majesty be angry? You just have to wait and see." At this point, Nanny Yao added, "The selection of new concubines next year is only a few months away. Why should Your Majesty challenge Ming Fei at this juncture? It would only displease the Emperor, which would be a greater loss than a gain."

The Empress Dowager couldn’t swallow her anger. The thought of Song Yunzhao’s triumphant face made her grind her teeth in fury.

"I can’t just let her be so smug," the Empress Dowager said to Nanny Yao. "The palace staff is a tangled mess of connections. It won’t be easy for her to sort it out. You go find a few senior attendants and have them lead the way in making some trouble."

At least it would give Song Yunzhao something to deal with.

Otherwise, this resentment was suffocating.

Nanny Yao nodded at her words. "Rest assured, Your Majesty. This old servant knows what to do."

The Empress Dowager sighed softly. "And send a message to Gu’en Houfu. Tell them not to get involved in this matter. They should just wait for next year’s selection."

Nanny Yao agreed. Seeing the weariness on the Empress Dowager’s face, she wanted to offer a few words of counsel but didn’t know how. When it came to matters concerning Gu’en Houfu, Her Majesty was always very stubborn.

’Perhaps because her relationship with the Emperor has grown distant, the Empress Dowager has become increasingly dependent on her maiden family. Now, she’s single-mindedly determined for Gu’en Houfu to produce an Empress.’

Nanny Yao worried. ’This won’t be easy. That Ming Fei is no simple character.’

’From her pregnancy, through childbirth, and to the end of her confinement—a period of almost a year—the Emperor didn’t touch any other concubine. With that kind of skill, none of the late Emperor’s favored concubines could have managed it.’

’Nanny Yao didn’t know how Ming Fei had done it. This was the Emperor, after all. Even when a concubine in a great noble family outside the palace became pregnant, wouldn’t the master of the house still visit other women?’

’But the Emperor hadn’t budged at all.’

’Ming Fei’s methods are truly extraordinary. Nanny Yao feared that even if Miss An was successfully chosen for the palace next year, she would be no match for this woman.’

’Nanny Yao was filled with worries. She felt the Empress Dowager should try to mend her relationship with the Emperor. If she did, perhaps the Emperor might show Miss An some favor out of consideration for their relationship after she enters the palace next year.’

’Moreover, she had a feeling that Miss An had no intention of entering the palace. With several months still to go before the selection, who knew what other trouble might arise.’

Nanny Yao didn’t dare mention any of these thoughts to the Empress Dowager. She could only keep them bottled up inside. Since Her Majesty was determined to proceed this way, she, as a servant, could only obey.

Meanwhile, Song Yunzhao’s first visitor was Consort Shu.

The moment Consort Shu entered, she began sizing up Yaohua Palace. She saw that everything, inside and out, was completely different. When Imperial Concubine Chu was alive, Yaohua Palace might not have been described as dazzlingly brilliant, but she had certainly maintained the full pomp and circumstance befitting an Imperial Concubine.

But Song Yunzhao’s style was different. The furnishings seemed little changed from her time at Wangyou Palace. If one had to point out a difference, it was that the decorations in the outer hall met the standards for her rank of concubine, while the inner chambers were largely the same as before.

Tsk. ’She really doesn’t know how to enjoy life.’

Song Yunzhao welcomed Consort Shu in, saying as they walked, "I was planning to visit you tomorrow, Elder Sister Shu. I’ve troubled you to make the trip here first instead."

Consort Shu’s eyes fell on Feng Ze lying on the large couch by the window. She walked straight over, saying, "With all the commotion you’ve caused by moving palaces, I suppose I had to come and pay my respects to the new boss."

That sarcastic tone was exactly what one would expect from Consort Shu.