Free Web NovelChapter 124: Chapter 60: Taking Revenge on the Spot
Feng Yi looked up with interest upon hearing this. "What has Wangyou Palace done about it?"
"Anshun, the Chief Eunuch of Wangyou Palace, paid a visit to the Clothing Bureau but was sent away. Since then, there’s been no further action from Wangyou Palace."
Feng Yi raised a slight eyebrow. "Let’s wait and see."
Hearing that His Majesty had no intention of intervening, Zhang Maoquan suppressed his disappointment and replied, "Yes, Your Majesty."
When no further words came from the Emperor, Zhang Maoquan bowed and slowly backed out of the room. He mulled over His Majesty’s true attitude toward Wangyou Palace.
’He won’t intervene even after she’s been wronged like this?’
’Did I guess wrong? Is his treatment of Wangyou Palace no different from any other?’
Zhang Maoquan grumbled to himself, deciding it was best to wait and see.
Another two days passed in the blink of an eye. The conferment ceremony was just around the corner, yet there was still no word from the Clothing Bureau.
When Song Yunzhao learned what had happened, she understood Nanny Yu’s plan and smiled to herself. ’This one is quite the master angler. It’s good that she can remain so composed. As long as they are loyal and never betray me, it seems I’ve really found a treasure.’
Things weren’t calm at the Clothing Bureau, either. Since Wangyou Palace housed a Noble Consort, protocol dictated that ceremonial robes for the harem be delivered in order of rank, from highest to lowest. They could make things difficult for Wangyou Palace in private, but they wouldn’t dare bypass a Noble Consort to deliver robes to lower-ranking concubines first.
The two sides seemed to be locked in a stalemate.
Han Jinyi came to speak with Yun Zhao and brought up the matter. "Everyone in the palace is watching this unfold."
Song Yunzhao was a little surprised. "Why are they watching? Who spread the news about this?"
Han Jinyi scoffed. "Who else? Lu Zhixue."
Song Yunzhao said, "That sounds like a stupid thing she would do. The Clothing Bureau would have been desperate to keep this quiet, but she went and spilled everything."
Han Jinyi smiled at her words. "How can you be so composed? Anyone else would have likely given in to the Clothing Bureau by now."
Song Yunzhao looked at Han Jinyi and asked, "Tell me, why do you think the Clothing Bureau is targeting me like this?"
"Is it because of what happened with Beauty Zhen?"
"Not entirely," Song Yunzhao said slowly. "The incident with Beauty Zhen was just a pretext. Someone is definitely trying to force me to submit, to make me lose face among the newly arrived concubines. If I yield this time, it will be very difficult to stand tall again in the future."
Han Jinyi hadn’t expected Song Yunzhao to have thought it through so clearly. She sighed. "I thought so too. But thinking it and doing it are two different things. It takes real courage to actually follow through."
Everyone knew what was going on, but not everyone dared to offend the Clothing Bureau.
The Clothing Bureau was in charge of all the clothing and accessories in the harem. If they decided to play some tricks in the future, one would have no choice but to suffer in silence.
"The weak fear the strong, the strong fear the aggressive, and the aggressive fear the desperate. These people just pick on the weakest targets. They dared to make a move because they see my family background is humble and think I’m an easy target." Song Yunzhao’s expression was calm as she spoke. "But they’ve underestimated me."
Han Jinyi recalled what Yun Zhao had done at Zhichun Palace and nodded in agreement. "So, what’s your plan?"
"What plan is there to have? Do you think the Clothing Bureau would actually dare to bypass me and deliver the robes to someone else? If they do, they must have a death wish. If they dare to try it, I dare to raise hell. We’ll see who has the bigger fist."
Han Jinyi: ...
’My apologies, I’ll see myself out!’
She’d forgotten that Yun Zhao was the type to rise to a challenge—a tough nut to crack. The person who could make her suffer a loss hadn’t even been born yet.
On second thought, she said to Yun Zhao, "If you really do that, I’m afraid it will damage your reputation. They’re probably hoping to ruin your name. You must think this through."
"When has my reputation ever been good?"
Han Jinyi fell silent. ’This woman is so ruthless, she’d even drag her own name through the mud. I’ve lost!’
Seeing the look on Han Jinyi’s face, Song Yunzhao chuckled. "Don’t worry. Think about it. They’re deliberately setting a trap for me, using my reputation to manipulate me. If I fall for it, then I’ll truly be finished. Relax, I know what I’m doing."
’There’s an Emperor watching like a hawk, just wishing he could purge the Six Departments. If these people actually give me an opening, I can turn right around and use them to distinguish myself in His Majesty’s eyes.’
’Unfortunately, they’re probably not willing to give me that ladder.’ ƒrēewebnovel.com
’Sigh. What a bunch of cowards.’
Han Jinyi saw an actual look of regret on Song Yunzhao’s face and, for a moment, didn’t know who she should feel sorry for.
"I was really worried for nothing. Knowing you have a plan puts my mind at ease." Han Jinyi had come to remind Yun Zhao precisely because she was worried she would make a mistake.
"Jinyi, thank you," Song Yunzhao said sincerely. Her friendship with Han Jinyi was good, but it wasn’t so close that they would share their deepest secrets.
