Chapter 67: Helping You Meet Your End

Chapter 67: Helping You Meet Your End

Consort Chen had no intention of giving the empress any face.

Even the composed empress couldn't hide her visibly displeased expression.

Consort Yun seized the opportunity to express loyalty to the empress and criticized Consort Chen, saying,

"Consort Chen! Have you completely forgotten the rules? Coming late is one thing, but look at your attire. What are you trying to do? Do you want to overstep your bounds?"

"Heh?" Imperial Consort Chen sneered contemptuously, nonchalantly stroking the elaborate embroidery on her robe,

"Are you suggesting my peacock-patterned robe is presumptuous, or is it this string of floating cloud pearls around my neck?"

She leaned back lazily in her chair, her gaze leisurely falling on the Empress, and remarked indifferently,

"You may find these things rare, but in my palace, they are abundant. If Your Highness the Empress fancies them, I can send some to you."

It was always the Empress who rewarded the lower-ranked consorts with clothes and accessories,

When had it ever been a lower-ranked consort offering such to the Empress?

Yet, the Empress didn't point out this breach of protocol, still smiling,

"How could I accept items from you, sister? Besides, the peacock embroidery suits you charmingly, and the floating cloud pearls highlight your fair and radiant skin. These items are indeed most fitting for you, sister, so you should keep them."

Song Zhao, who had been living a leisurely life in the palace, always enjoyed watching the Empress and Imperial Consort Chen clash.

However, it must be said, compared to Imperial Consort Chen's blatant arrogance, the Empress's composed dignity seemed much more refined.

Her saying that the peacock and floating cloud pearls suited Imperial Consort Chen implied that,

No matter how arrogant or presumptuous she was, she could only use items imitating those of the central palace,

But replicas, after all, are just that – they may look similar but are ultimately inferior.

Imperial Consort Chen understood the Empress's implied message. After a brief contemplation, she unabashedly stared at the embroidery on the Empress's phoenix robe and said,

"Actually, I feel that certain things might suit me even better."

She didn't dare to be explicit with her words, and the Empress simply chose not to respond, letting her rant.

Consort Ying timely interjected, "You used to have an excuse for being late after serving the Emperor. What’s your reason today? Imperial Consort Chen, you seem to be taking advantage of the Empress's leniency and growing increasingly insolent!"

Imperial Consort Chen glanced at Consort Ying with indifference, "As the supervisor of the six palaces, don’t you even know who served the Emperor last night? I wonder how you manage to assist the Empress in overseeing the harem."

Consort Ying retorted, "What do you mean by that? Could it possibly have been you who served in the Emperor's chamber last night? The Emperor clearly chose Song Changzai's tablet, how could it be..."

"So what if it was?" Imperial Consort Chen laughed unrestrainedly, her beautiful phoenix eyes lifting, her tone provocative,

"Isn’t this something you should understand better than anyone? Haven’t you had the experience of being carried in a sedan to Chaoyang Palace, only to be sent back when the Emperor summoned me instead? You've played this role of returning without seeing the Emperor more than once or twice, why act so surprised now?"

Consort Ying, with her strong and fiery temperament due to her barbarian heritage,

Had previously offended Imperial Consort Chen with such a disposition when Consort Chen first gained favor.

Consequently, there was a time when every time Xiao Jingheng chose Consort Ying's tablet for the night, Imperial Consort Chen would interfere and cut short Consort Ying's favor.

Bringing up such a matter in public was embarrassing, and Consort Ying, red-faced and speechless, didn't know how to respond.

Amidst the tense and awkward atmosphere, the Empress intervened with a remark,

"The Emperor's favor can change; like when I had a heart attack, he left Imperial Consort Chen to accompany me." She looked at Song Zhao, "Song Changzai, don't take this matter to heart."

Song Zhao quickly replied, "I wouldn’t dare! Imperial Consort Chen has served the Emperor for a long time and naturally knows how to make him comfortable more than I do."

Imperial Consort Chen glanced at Song Zhao with a smile but said nothing.

After that, everyone fell into a sullen silence,

Suddenly, Xiao Changzai, who had been sitting quietly, stood up and bowed to the consorts, saying,

"While praying with the Empress, I specially made protective charm sachets for all the consorts."

Her maid Yinzhi brought out a bamboo basket containing many colorful sachets, each inscribed with scriptures.

As Xiao Changzai distributed the sachets, she added,

"I personally made these sachets and prayed over them, hoping they will bring peace and smoothness to all the consorts."

The consorts praised her upon receiving the sachets,

When Xiao Changzai presented the sachet to Imperial Consort Chen, Chen scrutinized her from head to toe, then signaled her attendant to accept the sachet, before coldly commenting,

"You've noticed."

After Xiao Changzai finished presenting the sachet, the empress suggested:

"It's winter, and most of the plum blossoms in the Plum Garden have bloomed. Tomorrow is the designated day for enjoying the plum blossoms in the palace. Sisters, don't come to pay respects to me in the palace. Tomorrow morning, let's go to the Plum Garden together to appreciate the plum blossoms."

All the concubines echoed, "Yes."

On the way back to the palace, Song Zhao heard someone calling her from behind,

When she turned around, she saw Ying Xiang, Consort Chen's maid.

"Conveying regards from Consort Chen, Her Ladyship said you handled yesterday's matter very well and wanted to reward the little lord with this."

Ying Xiang handed a letter to Song Zhao, and at a glance, she recognized the handwriting,

It was from Song Shicheng.

Song Zhao took the letter, showing great excitement,

"Concubines with lower status are not allowed to correspond with their families freely. In my three months in the palace, I have missed my family dearly. Consort Chen has treated me so thoughtfully; I must personally express my gratitude."

Ying Xiang said, "Her Ladyship knows that Song Changzai is concerned, but the weather has turned cold recently. Her Ladyship doesn't want Song Changzai to travel between the two palaces. If there's anything, I can convey it on his behalf."

Song Zhao understood that Consort Chen was trying to avoid suspicion from the empress regarding their relationship.

She responded, "Then please convey my thanks to the Consort."

After returning to her palace, Song Zhao opened the letter from Song Shicheng.

The large sheet of paper unfolded to reveal just sixteen characters:

[My daughter’s well-being comforts me greatly. Assist Imperial Consort Chen to gain a higher position.]

Each word reflected Song Shicheng's ambition.

He maintained a close private relationship with Imperial Consort Chen’s maternal family,

Urging Song Zhao to support Imperial Consort Chen would not only curry favor with Imperial Consort Chen's father but also benefit Song Zhao,

Ideally leading to her early promotion to a principal consort position, gaining influence in Xiao Jingheng’s eyes.

Only then would he consider his daughter truly worthwhile.

After reading the letter, Song Zhao burned it immediately.

Watching the ashes rise in the incense burner, her eyes reflected the flickering flames,

And she suddenly smiled.

This was her father, and of course, she would support him.

In helping him align closely with the Ning family, complicit in their schemes.

In aiding him to an early descent to the underworld, to endure the trials of the mountain of knives and the sea of fire,

And then to meet his unjustly deceased concubine, confessing his crimes with tears of blood.