Chapter 10: No Vulnerability

Chapter 10: No Vulnerability

"Ahhh!!!"

Xiyin screamed and staggered backwards.

Yun Shan raised her hand and slapped Xiyin,

"What are you screaming for? Be careful not to alarm my lady!"

"Yun Shan, don't hit her." Song Zhao said with a smile, rising to her feet and slowly approaching Xiyin, who looked back in shock and fear.

"What's the matter? Did this gift frighten you?"

She glanced down at the severed finger lying quietly on the floor and then gently stroked Xiyin's disheveled hair, speaking in a very tender tone:

"Your own family, what's there to be afraid of? Have you forgotten that your brother's right index finger has a brown birthmark? When he was lost as a child, it was this birthmark that helped your parents find him, wasn’t it?"

Xiyin, still in shock, stared wide-eyed at the finger on the ground for a long time,

and upon recognizing the birthmark on the severed finger as identical to her brother’s, her knees weakened, and she collapsed to the floor like a heap of mud.

Song Zhao's gaze was sharp as she looked down at her, then she said to Yun Shan:

"Help her up, the floor is cold."

Yun Shan approached Xiyin, who was so frightened that she shrank back continuously, retreating to the corner of the room. Trembling, she managed to say:

"What, what have you done to my brother? He’s only twelve... Why must you be so cruel!?"

Song Zhao leisurely walked over to her, and Yun Shan brought a chair for her to sit.

Once seated, Song Zhao leaned down, hooked her finger under Xiyin’s chin with gentle force, forcing her to look up and meet her eyes,

"I don’t know how much Consort Chen has offered you to spy on my every move. But I know, her father is the Commander of the Imperial Guards and also serves as the Governor of Sichuan and Shaanxi. Her entire family is in that region, so she certainly wouldn't threaten you with your family’s life. But I am different."

Her slender fingers slowly moved upwards, her nails gliding over Xiyin's swollen cheek,

"My father is the Duke of the State, residing in the capital. Coincidentally, your family also lives in the capital. Ah..."

Pointing at her chin with her left hand, Song Zhao's beautiful eyes narrowed slightly as if recalling something, then continued:

"I believe they live in Nongzhuang Hutong, right? Tsk tsk, what if that place suddenly caught fire? What then would be the best course of action?"

Terrified, Xiyin hastily pleaded, "Please spare me, my lady! I realize my mistake, I beg for a chance!"

Song Zhao gently caressed the bruise on Xiyin's cheek, smiling warmly, "Does it hurt? Today, Consort Chen made a fruitless trip and only gave you a slap, consider yourself lucky."

In fact, the so-called 'struggle for favor' was nothing but a trap set by Song Zhao.

She intentionally let Xiyin overhear her secret plan with Yun Shan, and then secretly sent Yun Shan to follow her, to see whom she would report to.

Today, Consort Chen, after receiving a tip-off from Xiyin, rushed to the northeast corner of the Imperial Garden, only to end up feeding mosquitoes all evening without catching a glimpse of Song Zhao.

In a fit of rage, Consort Chen slapped Xiyin and ordered her to continue monitoring Song Zhao’s every move,

warning that if there was another blunder, she would not be spared.

At this moment, Song Zhao's hand stroking Xiyin's cheek was warm, but Xiyin felt a chill seeping from Song Zhao's palm into her heart.

After a while, Song Zhao gently patted her cheek, her smile widening,

"Don’t suspect those whom you employ; don’t employ those whom you suspect. This time, I'm giving you a chance. After this incident, you should know what should be done and what should not, right?"

Xiyin nodded frantically, watching as Yun Shan handed Song Zhao a jade bracelet, identical to the one given to Zhihua.

Holding the bracelet, Song Zhao compared it against Xiyin's wrist, "You and Zhihua both serve me. What she has, you will also have. I don’t know how much silver Consort Chen paid you for your services. However, you just need to understand one thing: what Consort Chen can offer you, I can offer the same, or even more. Haven’t you always said that for a servant, choosing the right master is the most important?"

As she spoke, Song Zhao gently wrapped the jade bracelet around Xiyin's wrist.

Then, patting her hand, she smiled and raised an eyebrow at her,

"Now, have you made your choice?"

Did Xiyin really have a choice?

At this point, her only option was to wholeheartedly serve Song Zhao. Otherwise, the lives of her entire family would be at risk.

Thus, after Song Zhao finished speaking, Xiyin immediately knelt down and kowtowed in gratitude,

"Thank you for your mercy, my lady! From now on, I will be utterly loyal to you and follow your lead!"

Song Zhao returned to her seat, picked up her teacup for a small sip, and asked in a light tone:

"What did Consort Chen want you to do by my side?"

Xiyin replied, "Consort Chen gave me some silver to monitor your every move and report back to her in detail about your daily activities."

While speaking, she suddenly lowered her voice, "Not just you. I’ve heard that people planted by Consort Chen are with all the new ladies who recently entered the palace..."

It wasn’t unusual for a favored consort to plant spies around newcomers to consolidate her position and favor.

Song Zhao responded nonchalantly to Xiyin,

"Continue to take the silver Consort Chen gives you. Tell her whatever she wants to know about my actions. But you know what should be said and what shouldn’t. You’re smart enough not to need me to teach you, right?"

Xiyin nodded vigorously, and Song Zhao added, "I am tired. You may leave now."

As she spoke, she casually glanced at the floor, "Take your brother's finger with you."

Xiyin picked up the severed finger with trembling hands, bowed respectfully to Song Zhao, and then hastily left.

Yun Shan, seeing how easily Song Zhao let Xiyin off, was somewhat displeased,

"My lady is too kind-hearted. For someone so duplicitous, she deserved a harsher lesson."

Song Zhao scoffed lightly, opening her palm and admiring her slender fingers in the candlelight,

"Isn’t the crimson blood on her brother’s severed finger enough of a lesson? Regardless, Consort Chen would have planted a spy by my side. If not Xiyin, she would send someone else.

Better to keep Xiyin around. For most, family is their Achilles' heel. With her family's lives in my hands, she’ll surely know how to keep her mouth shut."

Yun Shan commented, "My lady always thinks ahead. Like you said, your father is your support in the palace, but also your vulnerability, you..."

She stopped mid-sentence upon noticing a subtle twitch in Song Zhao's brow and chose not to continue.

Song Zhao remained silent for a moment, memories of her mother being beaten to death by the Jiang family flashing through her mind. She recalled how Song Shicheng witnessed it all but remained silent and indifferent.

Her eyes darkened, her jaw tensed, and she uttered heavily,

"I have no vulnerabilities."

Having said that, she blew out the candle in front of her.