Free Web NovelChapter 115: Chapter 58: The Emperor Just Can’t Stand to See Me Doing Well
If she had gone late, not only would she have had no choice, but there wouldn’t have been enough food either.
Nanny Yu was very capable. ’I’ll give her a ninety on this first test,’ Song Yunzhao thought. ’A perfect hundred might make her arrogant.’
In the outer hall, Yulu was setting out the evening meal. When Song Yunzhao walked out, she saw four dishes and a soup laid out on the table: Velveted Chicken Slices, Duck Stew with Bird’s Nest, Crispy Sautéed Fish Fillets, a Ruyi Vegetable Medley, and a Ham and Bamboo Shoot Soup.
The fish was crispy and fragrant on the outside, yet tender and savory within. The bird’s nest and duck complemented each other perfectly. The Ruyi Medley was a stir-fry of mixed seasonal vegetables, delightfully crisp and tasty. The culinary skill of the Imperial Kitchen was truly impressive; Song Yunzhao ate with great satisfaction.
Nanny Yu only hurried back after the meal was finished.
Song Yunzhao was sipping her after-dinner tea. Seeing the nanny, she smiled and said, "Nanny, what is it? You look troubled."
Nanny Yu hesitated for a moment before replying, "I heard that Lady Shufei has suffered a relapse of an old ailment, and His Majesty has gone to Cuiwei Palace."
Song Yunzhao was taken aback for a second, but then it clicked. ’Oh, so this is Consort Shu’s way of intimidating us newcomers.’
’How utterly predictable.’
Nanny Yu had expected Song Yunzhao to be angry or upset, so she was relieved to see her mistress’s expression remain unchanged. Her composure was reassuring. "My Lady," she said, "the official conferment of titles hasn’t been announced yet. You needn’t be anxious. With your beauty, you certainly won’t fall behind the others." freeweɓnovel.cѳm
But Song Yunzhao truly wasn’t anxious in the least. ’So what if the Emperor went to her? It must be terribly frustrating for Consort Shu, being able to look but not touch.’
"Don’t worry, Nanny, I’m not in a rush." Song Yunzhao then looked at Nanny Yu. "After the official conferment, will we be able to see our families?"
’Even if I can’t leave the palace to go home, I should be able to see my family after the ceremony.’
Assuming Song Yunzhao was homesick, Nanny Yu smiled and said, "Yes, you can see your family after the official conferment. When the time comes, My Lady just needs to draw up a list of who she wishes to see."
Song Yunzhao was taken aback. "I can see anyone?"
"As long as the request isn’t too outrageous, yes."
Song Yunzhao grew thoughtful, and her mood suddenly brightened. She said to Nanny Yu, "You should get some rest, Nanny. I’m fine here."
Nanny Yu smiled and took her leave. How could she possibly rest? She still had to gather information about the other palaces.
Although new consorts were only supposed to attend the Emperor after their official conferment, exceptions were not unheard of. Her mistress didn’t seem concerned, but Nanny Yu couldn’t let someone else get a leg up on her.
Song Yunzhao was so composed because she knew what a piece of work the Emperor was. ’He only likes to look at beauties; he doesn’t actually sleep with them.’
Not feeling sleepy, she went to her small study and began writing her stories. ’Since I can see my family, I can keep my writing business going,’ she mused. ’After all, who would complain about making too much money?’
Inspiration struck, and Song Yunzhao wrote until just after midnight before finally setting down her pen to rest. She looked at the thick stack of papers with a great sense of accomplishment.
’This is all precious money,’ she thought happily.
The next morning, right after breakfast, Han Jinyi came to visit.
Song Yunzhao was delighted to see her and invited her inside. After they both sat down, she asked, "Jinyi, how are things on your end?"
"I’m in Qiulan Palace, which is part of Liu Hua Palace. You just take the path west of Wangyou Palace and head straight north to get there." Han Jinyi gestured as she spoke. "I only just realized on my way over—right next to you is Lady Wanfei’s Roufu Palace. Behind Wangyou Palace is Yihua Palace, and behind Roufu Palace and to the right of Yihua Palace is Yaohua Palace, where Consort Chu used to live."
Song Yunzhao hadn’t really paid attention to her neighbors. Hearing Han Jinyi’s description, she suddenly felt as if she’d been dropped right into a den of enemies.
’Being neighbors with Lu Zhixue is truly disheartening.’
Seeing the look on Song Yunzhao’s face, Han Jinyi didn’t quite know what to say, so she changed the subject. "Guess who I’m sharing Liu Hua Palace with?"
Song Yunzhao tried to recall the plot of the book. ’Who was it that lived in Liu Hua Palace again?’
She couldn’t remember right away, so she asked, "Who?"
"An Fangyi," Han Jinyi said. "The daughter of Duke Dingguo."
Song Yunzhao looked at Han Jinyi in surprise. "Then you have some truly terrible luck."
Han Jinyi nodded slightly. "Tell me about it."
"She didn’t give you any trouble yesterday, did she?" Song Yunzhao asked with concern.
Han Jinyi shook her head. "My rank is lower than hers, so I’m supposed to go and pay my respects. However, I sent a palace attendant to deliver a message, and she wouldn’t see me."
She then looked at Song Yunzhao. "I’m surprised you know about An Fangyi, considering your family hasn’t been in the Capital City for long."
Song Yunzhao felt a pang of guilt. ’Of course, it wasn’t the Song Family who found out. I read it in the book.’
"Speaking of which, I met An Fangyi once before she entered the palace," Han Jinyi said with a sigh. "I was young then, and we barely spoke. Who would have thought we’d meet again in a situation like this."
