Chapter 34: The Benevolent Consort

Chapter 34: The Benevolent Consort

Song Zhao woke up in the evening of that day.

When she woke up, she heard the rustling of paper nearby. She slightly opened her eyes and glanced in the direction of the sound.

She saw Xiao Jingheng sitting at a small table not far away, reviewing documents while keeping watch over her.

Song Zhao withdrew her gaze and, looking through the window, saw the sky dyed red by the sunset. She thought that having been unconscious for only a couple of hours was insufficient for someone pretending to be weak and pitiable.

So, she decided to close her eyes again and went back to sleep.

When she woke up again, the sky had completely darkened, approaching the hour of midnight.

Xiao Jingheng was still seated at the small table, his elbow resting on it, his left hand supporting his forehead, and his eyes slightly closed, appearing to be asleep.

Song Zhao watched the flickering candlelight casting a dim, warm glow on his face, making him look even more handsome and distinguished.

With so many women in the palace, even when the Empress had a heart attack, Xiao Jingheng had never stayed by her side this long.

This indicated that her decision to poison herself was not a mistake.

“Cough, cough..."

Her weak cough woke the lightly sleeping Xiao Jingheng,

Seeing Song Zhao awake, he quickly got up and sat beside her, looking at her with a face full of concern,

“You’re finally awake. How do you feel? Is there any discomfort?”

Song Zhao shook her head in a daze, then suddenly, as if remembering something terrifying, sat up in bed and flung herself into Xiao Jingheng’s arms, tightly wrapping her arms around his slender waist. Her voice trembled as she spoke:

"Your Majesty... someone wants to kill me!"

"Don't be afraid, I am here to protect you, no one will dare harm you again."

Emperor Xiao Jingheng’s broad palm gently stroked Song Zhao’s back, his voice tender, "The poison in you was not deep, the imperial physician has already removed the remaining toxins. You'll be fine. As for the person who harmed you, I have ordered her execution. You have been wronged this time."

Nestled in Xiao Jingheng's arms, Song Zhao took a deep breath, then asked timidly, "Who wanted to harm me?"

"Lady Li," Xiao Jingheng instinctively held Song Zhao tighter, "The arsenic in your food was her doing."

"Lady Li?" Song Zhao suddenly looked up, her eyes filled with shock, "Why would she want to harm me? I've never offended her..."

Xiao Jingheng gazed at Song Zhao's unadorned yet stunning face, couldn't help but gently caress her smooth cheek, saying,

"A man innocent of wrongdoing may yet be guilty of possessing a jade. Lady Li was jealous of you and wanted to eliminate you. She plotted against Consort Shu and her child, intending to frame you. When she saw that I was determined to investigate, she decided to kill you to silence you."

Hearing this, Song Zhao was stunned for a long moment before regaining her composure.

Clutching the fabric over her heart, she said with fear and grievance,

"I never harmed Lady Li, why would she treat me this way? And if she despised me, why take it out on Consort Shu? The little prince was due in just two months... Thinking about it makes my heart ache terribly."

Her voice was calm when speaking of herself, but upon mentioning Consort Shu and her child, tears fell like broken strings of pearls.

Emperor Xiao Jingheng, while wiping her tears, comforted her:

"Don't cry, you're weak. Being overly sad will only hurt yourself."

Song Zhao nodded with tears, "I thank Your Majesty for clearing my name and for believing in me."

Xiao Jingheng remained silent for a moment upon hearing her words, giving only a slight nod in response.

He didn’t fully trust Song Zhao; in fact, he didn’t completely trust anyone, relying only on the facts before him.

Song Zhao, too, knew when to stop, not being overly dramatic.

Knowing that Xiao Jingheng was also distressed about the loss of his child, she began to console him,

"Your Majesty says I’ve lost weight, but aren’t you the same?"

Her tender fingers gently traced Xiao Jingheng’s cheek as she spoke with compassion,

"I know Your Majesty is also troubled about the little prince. My aunt used to say that departed loved ones will meet us again soon. Both Your Majesty and Consort Shu are still young. Once Consort Shu’s health is restored, I believe there will soon be good news. By then, the little prince will come back to meet Your Majesty."

Xiao Jingheng nodded in agreement, holding Song Zhao’s hand more tightly,

"You too must recover quickly. Don’t make me worry, understand?"

‘Knock, knock, knock’

A few very light knocks came from the door, and Jiang Deshun’s voice was heard outside,

"Your Majesty, I have something to report."

"Come in and speak."

Jiang Deshun entered, bowing to Xiao Jingheng and Song Zhao, and said,

"Your Majesty, Li Clan is causing a commotion in the secret cell. Upon hearing this, Minister Li has also sent someone to speak to Your Majesty."

Xiao Jingheng’s brows furrowed, and he asked sternly, “What does he have to say?”

"Lord Li said that Lady Li made a grave mistake and regretted it deeply, blaming his poor parenting. He has requested a year's suspension of his salary, asking for Your Majesty’s mercy to allow Lady Li a complete corpse."

Xiao Jingheng replied, "Tell Li Heng that his daughter committed a crime that could implicate the entire family. I have already shown leniency by not pursuing the Li family. He should be grateful and behave."

Listening, Song Zhao realized that even in his anger, Xiao Jingheng did not send any harsh message back to the Li family, indicating his wariness of them.

Since his ascension four years ago, his power base was not yet strong, and many were veterans from the previous dynasty, not to be offended lightly.

Moreover, it was August, and the crucial grain transportation in September was managed by Li Heng, Lady Li’s father and the head of river transport. Offending him at this critical juncture could lead to serious problems if he acted spitefully in his duties.

As the emperor, Xiao Jingheng needed to maintain his dignity. Even if he was wary of Li Heng, he couldn't simply agree to all his requests.

Therefore, someone needed to give him a way out.

Thus, Song Zhao timidly said, "Your Majesty... Lady Li made a grave mistake in a moment of misjudgment. Though she deserves punishment by law, I knew her well and do not wish to see her end with a severed head. If possible, I ask Your Majesty to spare her this final dignity as a woman and leave her body intact."

As expected, upon hearing this, Xiao Jingheng replied,

"She caused you such harm, yet you wish to forgive her?"

"But in the end, she didn't succeed in harming me, it's Consort Shu who suffered..." Song Zhao paused, then added, "Your Majesty, I also wish to see her again, to ask why she did this to me."

Xiao Jingheng, after a moment of silence, nodded in agreement, "She owes you an apology. Well, since you pleaded for her, I will grant her the mercy of taking her own life."

"I am deeply grateful to Your Majesty."

Seeing Song Zhao attempting to rise and bow, Emperor Xiao Jingheng quickly pressed her back down,

"You are good in every way, just too kind, so kind it pains my heart."

Saying this, he leaned down and placed a burning kiss on her forehead.

Recognizing the situation, Jiang Deshun tactfully made his exit, assisting in closing the palace gates.