Chapter 68: Winter Snake Calamity, Part 1

Chapter 68: Winter Snake Calamity, Part 1

After the ashes in the incense burner had completely burned out, Song Zhao instructed Yunshan,

"Go and call Xiaofuzi. I have some questions for him."

At that time, Xiaofuzi was in the courtyard, helping Zhihua and Xiyin trim dead branches from the flowers, hastily wiping the dirt from his fingers onto his trousers upon hearing Song Zhao’s summons, earning Yunshan's disapproval for his untidiness.

"Why are you looking so disheveled?"

The little girl's face was full of disdain, but she still took a silk handkerchief to dust off the floating ash from the edge of his trousers.

Xiao Fuzi scratched his head sheepishly, staring at the spruce tree with a silly smile.

The spruce tree gave him a white look, saying irritably, "What are you laughing at, the young master is calling you!"

"Oh, right, right, I'm on my way!"

He hurried to the main hall, while Zhihua laughed and said to the spruce tree, "Sister Yunsong really cares about Xiao Fuzi. My hands and Xiying's are dirty too, but I didn't hear sister ask us anything?"

Yunsong's face turned red at this teasing, "I, I did not! He's going to see the young master, all dirty. I was afraid he'd be an eyesore!"

Having said this, she shyly lowered her head and started trimming the dead branches together with Zhihua and Xiying.

Meanwhile, Xiao Fuzi, who had entered the sleeping hall to reply to Song Zhao, couldn't help but smile.

Song Zhao looked him over and asked with a smile, "What's got you so happy? Share it with me."

Xiao Fuzi hurriedly restrained his smile, saying somewhat awkwardly, "Nothing, nothing. What does the young master require of this servant?"

Song Zhao took out a sachet given by Xiao Chang and handed it to him, "Take a look, is there anything amiss?"

Xiao Fuzi took the sachet and swiftly opened it,

He carefully examined the dried flowers and herbs inside, and after a long while, he said:

"To report back to the young master, it's all items for calming the mind and spirit, nothing is amiss."

Song Zhao fell silent for a moment, then hesitated, "What exactly are these ingredients? List them for me."

Xiao Fuzi replied, "Inside there's peppermint, velvet-furred tea, white orchid, Albizia bark, Snakeglow grass, Night Crawler vine..."

"Wait, did you say there's Snakeglow grass in here?"

Xiao Fuzi nodded in affirmation and deftly picked out a stalk of the herb to present to Song Zhao.

As soon as it was brought near, Song Zhao detected a strong, exotic fragrance,

"I recall this herb is used by snake catchers to lure snakes. Why is it in this sachet?"

Xiao Fuzi explained, "The unique scent emitted by Snakeglow grass indeed attracts snakes, causing them to become agitated and excited. However, this aroma is harmless to humans and actually has excellent calming properties.

Now that it's winter, the snakes have hibernated, and the effectiveness of the fragrances in this sachet will fade in two to three months. By the time spring arrives and snakes become active, the Snakeglow grass will no longer attract them, so the young master need not worry about this sachet drawing snakes."

Song Zhao pondered for a moment, her delicate fingers playing with the Snakeglow grass in front of her, and said with a cold laugh,

"Snakes outside the palace might hibernate, but with such bustle inside the palace, not even people sleep soundly, let alone those reptiles and beasts."

Saying this, she tossed the Snakeglow grass back into the pile of dried flowers and herbs, "This sachet is ultimately a gesture from Xiao Chang, so it wouldn't be right to just discard it. Take this sachet to the storeroom and keep it well in an airtight brocade box."

Xiao Fuzi never questioned the tasks assigned by Song Zhao,

Knowing only that if Song Zhao asked him to do something, his duty was to do it well.

After the noon rest, Song Zhao said she would visit the main hall to pay respects to Consort Yao, and took Xiao Fuzi with her.

After the two met, addressing each other as sisters, they chatted casually for a while before Song Zhao said with a smile,

"Yesterday, Her Majesty mentioned that the pearwood table in her sleeping hall seems a bit wobbly. My Xiao Fuzi is the best at fixing things, why not let him have a look for Her Majesty?"

"Then I'll be troubling you, sister."

Consort Yao led Xiao Fuzi to the desk, with Song Zhao following by her side, noticing from the corner of her eye that Yao had already adorned herself with the sachet Xiao Chang had given.

Consequently, Song Zhao stumbled towards her, brushing against Consort Yao's shoulder, who instinctively supported her,

"What happened to you?"

Song Zhao steadied herself, slightly embarrassed, "I was foolish, tripping over myself on flat ground, almost bumping into Her Majesty."

As she bumped into Consort Yao, her right hand grabbed and yanked the sachet from Yao's waist, tossing it to the ground.

Then she looked at the sachet and said, "Xiao Fuzi, pick up the sachet for Consort Yao."

As Xiao Fuzi bent to pick up the sachet, he purposefully gripped it tightly in his hand, leaving some of its scent on his palm.

After fixing the table for Consort Yao, Song Zhao returned to the western side hall with him and heard him report,

"To report back to the young master, Consort Yao's sachet is identical to yours, containing Snakeglow grass as well."

Hearing this, Song Zhao was somewhat puzzled.

She had thought Xiao Chang regarded her as an enemy, hence plotting some venomous scheme against her,

But Consort Yao had always been uninvolved and unoffended with Xiao Chang, so why would the sachet he gifted to Consort Yao also contain Snakeglow grass?

Or could it be...

That not just Consort Yao, but all the sachets Xiao Chang gave out were treated the same?

The thoughts of the women in this palace were becoming increasingly inscrutable to Song Zhao.

However, having these doubts was good for staying alert in advance.

With snow expected in two days, the Empress's court was likely to suspend formal greetings, and the palace concubines rarely ventured out.

So, no matter who Xiao Chang was targeting,

Tomorrow's joint visit to the Mei Garden for plum viewing was her best opportunity.

Xiao Fuzi seemed to sense what Song Zhao was worried about, and thus asked,

"Will the young master still go to appreciate the plum blossoms tomorrow?"

Song Zhao smiled at him and nodded gracefully,

"Of course, I will go. If everyone else goes and I alone do not, any strange incident at the Mei Garden tomorrow would surely be blamed on me, wouldn’t it?"

Winter days always dawned late.

The next day, while it was still dark, Song Zhao had already risen.

After washing up, she instructed Yunsong, "It looks very cold today, and we’re going to view plum blossoms. Fetch me some thicker undergarments and socks."

Song Zhao's choice of thicker undergarments and socks was not just for warmth,

After all, who knew if the hibernating snakes might suddenly awaken and bizarrely bite her from some hidden place?

Wearing thicker clothing on vulnerable parts was a precaution.

Just before leaving, Song Zhao said to Yunsong, "The maid's attire is too thin; you’d freeze following me."

Turning to Xiao Fuzi, she continued, "Let Xiao Fuzi accompany me today; his rougher skin and flesh won’t mind the cold."

Initially, Yunsong was reluctant, feeling that Xiao Fuzi, being a man, might be clumsy in serving and worried he wouldn't take good care of Song Zhao.

But unable to dissuade Song Zhao, Yunsong grudgingly agreed, then turned to Xiao Fuzi with a fierce look, half-scolding, half-warning,

"You must take good care of the young master. If she catches a cold and falls ill, see if I spare you!"

Xiao Fuzi, though scolded, still wore a face full of smiles,

"Rest assured, I will take complete care of the young master!"