Chapter 22: Virtue and Grace

Chapter 22: Virtue and Grace

Xiao Jingheng might have left, but the fire Song Zhao ignited in his heart was now fully ablaze.

Having his advances rebuffed at Song Zhao's, he naturally sought someone else to quench his desires.

Thus, Song Zhao asked Spruce to summon Xiying.

Ever since the incident where Song Zhao had Xiying's finger cut off, Xiying had been extremely fearful of her.

She dared not be negligent in her daily duties and was even more cautious when attending to Song Zhao privately.

Seeing Song Zhao now, Xiying lowered her head, her eyes flickering nervously.

Song Zhao teased with a smile, "What are you afraid of? I won’t eat you. Lift your head."

Xiying slowly raised her head, looking at Song Zhao timidly, "What, what would you like me to do, Mistress?"

Song Zhao instructed, "Tomorrow when you go to respond to Chenfei, tell her that the emperor originally planned to stay with me tonight, but I persistently advised him to visit her instead. Understand?"

"As you command!"

Xiying nodded vigorously, and Song Zhao casually waved her hand, dismissing her.

Spruce asked, "How does Mistress know the emperor will visit Chenfei tonight?"

Song Zhao said with a cold laugh, "Who he chooses to visit is his prerogative. How could I, a mere consort, influence his decisions? My intention is simply to make Chenfei believe that I am on her side. That’s enough."

*

Deep into the night, the lights in Fengluan Palace shone brightly.

The Empress sat on a warm seat, needle and thread in hand, carefully embroidering a pattern onto a bright yellow fabric.

It was a lifelike five-clawed golden dragon. Each scale on the dragon’s body required the technique of fast and repeated embroidery seven or eight times to achieve a shimmering effect from a distance.

It was evident that the Empress had put in significant effort to embroider this dragon.

So absorbed was she in her embroidery that she didn’t even hear her head maid, Shuangruo, entering the room.

"Long live the Empress."

Shuangruo greeted the Empress, placing two more candles on the desk to brighten the area for better lighting.

"Needlework requires great focus, Your Majesty should be careful not to strain your eyes."

The Empress nodded with a smile, her hands continuing their work, "The Emperor's birthday is in a month. My recent heart ailment delayed my progress, so I must work faster now."

Shuangruo said, "Your Majesty started preparing this robe right after New Year's Eve, spending eight months on it. The golden dragon amid clouds pattern is intricate, and Your Majesty refuses assistance, which worries me."

"These efforts are my heartfelt gesture to the Emperor. If he is comfortable, I am happy. I don't find it burdensome."

After finishing an inch of embroidery, the Empress asked, "Do you have something to report?"

"Your Majesty, the Emperor has just demoted Lady Li to a common consort and penalized her half a year's salary."

"Oh?" The Empress momentarily stopped her embroidery, "Wasn't she quite favored by the Emperor? Why was she suddenly demoted?"

Shuangruo explained, "Lady Li was too flamboyant and spoke without thinking. She offended Consort Shu recently and didn’t realize the extent. I heard she committed an act of deceiving the Emperor, but the exact details are unknown as the palace staff are tight-lipped."

The Empress, with an indifferent expression, resumed her needlework, "I could have defended her when she offended Consort Shu, but offending the Emperor is beyond my help. She must fend for herself now."

"Your Majesty, the Emperor has arrived!"

A palace attendant announced hastily, bringing a smile to the Empress's face.

She quickly handed the unfinished robe to Shuangruo for safekeeping, adjusted her makeup and hair in the mirror, and hurried to the main hall to welcome him.

As she arrived, Xiao Jingheng was just stepping through the palace gate.

The Empress knelt and greeted, "Long live the Emperor, may you enjoy boundless prosperity."

Xiao Jingheng offered his arm to help her up, "How are you feeling today?"

The Empress smiled gently, "Thank you for your concern, Your Majesty. I am feeling much better."

She reached for the purple jade teapot to pour tea for Xiao Jingheng but was stopped by him,

"Each time I visit your palace, you busily attend to me. Such tasks can be done by the servants. You are the Empress and needn't do this."

Yet, the Empress insisted, "It's no trouble. Serving the Emperor is my duty, and I dare not neglect my role as a wife."

Saying so, she herself poured tea for Xiao Jingheng and placed a soft cushion behind him to make him more comfortable.

After that, she began instructing Shuangruo and the others to prepare some snacks and refreshments.

Xiao Jingheng silently observed her efforts, not feeling touched but rather irked.

The Empress was too rigid in her role as the principal wife, gracious and composed with the concubines, but overly attentive to him,

It was precisely because of this that they lost much of the intimacy and fun that couples share.

When the Empress finally sat down opposite Xiao Jingheng after busying herself, he said to her,

"I just demoted Lady Li of Yaohua Palace to a common consort and penalized her salary. As the head of the harem, I thought it necessary to inform you."

Although concubines are not supposed to inquire about affairs in front of the Emperor, the Empress, already aware of Lady Li's demotion, had to feign ignorance in front of Xiao Jingheng.

"Oh? Weren't you fond of Lady Li? Why such a sudden decision?"

Xiao Jingheng replied, "She lacks proper decorum."

The Empress commented, "Lady Li might be a bit impulsive, but she doesn’t seem malicious. Your Majesty's demotion is a severe punishment, but penalizing her salary for half a year means she will struggle through the winter and festive season without her allowance. It must be hard for her."

Xiao Jingheng raised an eyebrow, his left hand under the table idly playing with a ring on his thumb, and after a moment, he asked,

"What do you suggest, then?"

The Empress, always known for her virtue and kindness, spoke as a wise and accommodating wife:

"How about reducing her salary for three months? A minor punishment to serve as a major lesson?"

Xiao Jingheng nodded in agreement, responding indifferently, "Then let it be as you suggest."

After this exchange, Shuangruo led the palace staff to serve the late-night snacks,

These were all dishes Xiao Jingheng enjoyed, and the Empress, aware of his preferences, had them prepared daily so they could be served immediately upon his arrival.

"Your Majesty, you mentioned enjoying the shredded chicken and swallow nest soup last time. I've improved it by adding fish maw and bamboo fungus. Would you like to try?"

The Empress brought a steaming bowl of soup to Xiao Jingheng,

But he didn’t even reach for it, "I've had enough at dinner and am not hungry now. You should eat. I won’t disturb your rest and will take my leave."

With that, he rose and left, not even waiting for the Empress's farewell.

Shuangruo helped the stunned Empress up from the cold floor, whispering, "Your Majesty, why bother speaking up for Lady Li who has offended the Emperor?"

The Empress herself was puzzled,

She had advised Xiao Jingheng to be lenient with Lady Li, intending to showcase her virtue and grace. Why did this upset him?

But she forgot one thing:

Xiao Jingheng had only told her that he demoted Lady Li and penalized her salary, but not the amount.

Since he hadn't mentioned it, how did the Empress come to know the exact details?