Chapter 18: Refusing the Imperial Bedchamber

Chapter 18: Refusing the Imperial Bedchamber

Song Zhao rose to her feet, thanking the Noble Consort, who said: "It's not really about you. I just can't stand the way the Empress fawns over the Emperor.

The Empress is adept at pleasing the Emperor. Being out of favor herself, she is eager to send young and beautiful women to the Emperor's side every day, to garner a reputation for being virtuous.

With the rash on your face not subsiding in the past few days, the Empress obviously regarded you as expendable, constantly urging the Emperor to visit Lady Li, who shares your quarters. I just couldn't stand it and had to secretly help you."

Song Zhao clearly discerned the mix of truth and falsehood in the Noble Consort's words.

However, since the olive branch was extended, there was no reason for Song Zhao not to accept it,

"I am deeply grateful for the Noble Consort's care. Being new to the palace and without support, I would be honored to visit the Noble Consort's palace more often and serve at your side, if you would not disdain it."

Her words unmistakably conveyed an offer of allegiance to the Noble Consort,

The Noble Consort contemplated in silence for a moment, considering that there were many unsavory tasks in the palace unfit for her direct involvement, necessitating a well-controlled pawn.

Song Zhao was a perfect fit.

"Her status as a concubine of humble origin meant that even if she gained favor, her rank would never be too high, and her saying such things also indicated that she was not particularly intelligent."

"Beautiful, but without family background or brains, such a person is most suitable to be used."

"Thus, a rare smile appeared on Chen Fei's face as she said, 'I live alone in Yonghe Palace, and I often lack someone to talk to and relieve my boredom. If you're willing to visit me often, it would make the palace seem less lonely and dreary, and I would certainly welcome it.'"

"Song Zhao, overjoyed, hurriedly responded, 'Your Highness jests. How could your palace be dreary when the Emperor favors you so? I am deeply grateful that Your Highness, despite my humble origins, is willing to give me the opportunity to accompany you.'"

"Chen Fei, accustomed to flattery, did not respond to the compliment and simply said indifferently, 'Enough, you look weak and ill. Don’t linger here in the draft, go back now.'"

"On the way back to her palace, Yun Shan was silent and brooding."

"Seeing her preoccupied, Song Zhao asked, 'What’s on your mind? Speak up.'"

"Yun Shan finally said, 'My lady... are you really deciding to align yourself with Noble Consort Chen? We’ve heard before entering the palace that the Emperor favors her the most and that she is famously jealous and domineering. Compared to her, the Empress seems kinder and, at least, wouldn’t plot against you...'"

"Song Zhao said, 'As a mere concubine, even if I secretly align with her, she won’t let me openly challenge the Empress. And since you said she’s jealous, she will surely plot against those in favor."

"I must first be of use to her, so she will think of plotting against me last. I need time to avoid her sharp edges, lest I become her target before I have firmly established myself in the Emperor's favor.'"

"Yun Shan thought for a moment, finding Song Zhao's reasoning quite sound and nodded in semi-understanding, then said:"

"'Didn’t the Emperor say yesterday that he would summon you again tonight? We should hurry back, take your medicine, and sweat it out to feel better.'"

"'I won’t serve tonight,' Song Zhao said, looking straight ahead with an unwavering expression."

"Yun Shan, surprised, said, 'Not go? My lady, are you worried the Emperor won’t choose you because you’re ill? But what if he really does choose you? We should be prepared in advance.'"

"Song Zhao calmly stated, 'When I say I won’t go, it means whether or not the servant from the Bureau of Ceremonies comes, I will not attend. If they don’t come tonight, so be it. But if they do, you go and pass on my message. Say I have caught a chill and developed a high fever, fearing to pass my illness to the Emperor, I cannot serve.'"

"Yun Shan’s eyes widened as she exclaimed, 'How can this be done? When the Emperor chooses your card, it’s as good as an imperial decree. If you don’t go, it’s defiance of his command!'"

"Hearing this, Song Zhao chuckled as if she had heard an amusing joke, 'Is there anyone in the harem who dares to defy the Emperor? Then let me be the first, to make him remember me. Besides, my defiance is out of concern for his well-being. Don’t worry about anything else, just do as I say.'"

"As night fell and the hour for dinner approached, someone from the Bureau of Ceremonies indeed arrived."

"Today, the chief of the Bureau, Zhang Jiugui himself, led the Luánmíng Chéng'ēn sedan to Yao Hua Palace, which clearly showed how much Xiao Jingheng cared for Song Zhao."

As Yunspruce went to greet him, he noticed Zhang Jiugui limping, as if he had been spanked.

Yunspruce thought to himself that his young master had guessed right; Zhang Jiugui must have been spanked for neglecting the young master yesterday.

Seeing Yunspruce, Zhang Jiugui immediately smiled and stepped forward, saying, "Where is Master Song? Great news! The Emperor has summoned Master Song again today! Being summoned two days in a row is an honor previously only granted to Consort Chen."

Though it sounded like great news, Yunspruce couldn’t hide his worry and failed to share the joy.

"Eunuch, you may not know, but my young master has caught a cold and is currently bedridden with a high fever. The young master, fearing to pass the illness to the Emperor, regrets that he cannot serve in the royal chamber today."

Zhang Jiugui's face changed upon hearing this, "He was fine when he returned yesterday. How did he fall ill? Is it serious? Have you called for the imperial physician?"

Yunspruce shook his head, "The young master is frail and caught the cold after getting drenched in yesterday's rain. This morning, he fell ill. He didn’t want to make a fuss and forbade us from summoning the physician, insisting that drinking ginger tea and sweating it out would suffice. I couldn’t persuade him otherwise."

Zhang Jiugui was still in pain from being beaten yesterday.

If Xiao Jingheng knew that Song Zhao fell ill because of the rain, and that it was he who escorted Song Zhao home yesterday, Xiao Jingheng would inevitably blame him. He feared for his own safety.

Fortunately, he had been cautious yesterday. After escorting Song Zhao home, he didn’t leave immediately but peeked through the door crack and seemed to witness a quarrel between Lady Li and Song Zhao.

To clear himself, he immediately said to Yunspruce:

"I saw everything yesterday. It was Lady Li who took Master Song’s umbrella, making him stand in the rain! That must be how Master Song caught the cold!"

Hearing this, Yunspruce had a clearer picture.

Everything was as Song Zhao had anticipated; Zhang Jiugui had indeed seen everything.

Following Song Zhao’s instructions, she said, "Eunuch, please don’t spread rumors. My young master has never had a dispute with Lady Li!"

At this point, Zhang Jiugui, in his self-defense, disregarded what Yunspruce said. He planned to tell Xiao Jingheng about the quarrel between Lady Li and Song Zhao and how she snatched Song Zhao's umbrella, leaving him in the rain, all to clear his own name.

Waving his whisk, Zhang Jiugui hurriedly said, "I saw everything yesterday, there's no use hiding it. Take good care of Master Song, I must report this to the Emperor immediately!"