I Was Supposed to Be the Villainous Consort

Chapter 170: Chapter 74: I’m Ruthless Enough to Even Sabotage Myself

When they heard this, all eyes on the scene fell on Song Yunzhao.

Song Yunzhao: ...

’Don’t look at me. It’s pointless.’

’That’s right. When I decide to be vicious, I don’t even spare myself!’

Someone gasped, breaking the tense silence.

The smile vanished from Princess Consort Wan’s face. She had never seen someone so ruthless.

’I can’t compare.’

’Truly, I can’t compare.’

Princess Consort Zhuang’s eyes, however, lit up. She looked at Consort Shu and said, "Consort Shu, Consort Song dares to go. I wonder about you..."

"Princess Consort Zhuang!" Consort Shu cut her off, her expression turning foul. "She’s nothing but a lowly Noble Consort. Is my station something she can even compare to?"

"You can’t say that. When a prince breaks the law, he is punished the same as a commoner. His Majesty has always been just. If he knew of this matter, he would certainly handle it impartially. Consort Shu, don’t you agree?"

Consort Shu was no fool. It was obvious that Princess Consort Zhuang was trying to use Song Yunzhao to cause trouble for her.

"What is going on?"

Feng Yi had rushed over as soon as he received the news. Seeing Song Yunzhao standing there safe and sound, he breathed a small sigh of relief.

He knew full well that with her fiery personality, she wouldn’t easily suffer a loss, but he still couldn’t help but worry, even setting aside state affairs to hurry over.

Sure enough, Song Yunzhao looked fine. Her small frame stood ramrod straight, a posture he found quite familiar—the scene at the Three Yuan Building was still fresh in his memory. Across from her, Consort Shu’s face was pale, looking as if she might faint at any moment.

Song Yunzhao hadn’t expected the Emperor to come. No one had.

Everyone hurriedly bowed in greeting. "Greetings, Your Majesty."

Song Yunzhao’s eyes, however, darted. Especially when her gaze swept over Consort Shu and Qin Xiyue, she suddenly realized this was a golden opportunity. So, she viciously twisted the inside of her own arm. ’Damn, that hurts!’

The searing pain made her eyes redden instantly, and tears streamed out. She let out a loud cry, "Your Majesty, if you had come any later, this concubine would have been forced to her death!"

Song Yunzhao pushed through the crowd and threw herself into Feng Yi’s arms. Ignoring what anyone else might think, she launched into a verbal barrage.

"Your Majesty, Consort Shu was going to have me beaten to death! You must seek justice for me! This empire is Your Majesty’s, not her Lu Family’s! I am the Emperor’s woman. If I am to be punished, it must be by Your Majesty’s personal decree. Consort Shu isn’t the Empress, what right does she have to condemn me without even getting the facts straight! She disregards palace rules, scorns Imperial Authority, and falsely accuses me. I cannot bear such a trumped-up charge! Your Majesty, if you had been even a moment later, you would never have seen me again. I was scared to death!"

Everyone present: ...

Even with their noble births and worldly experience, they had never seen someone dare to complain while clinging to the Emperor’s neck.

’Audacious!’

’Simply too audacious!’

Never mind the women of the harem; even Feng Yi was stunned.

He could feel Song Yunzhao’s small body genuinely trembling. She clung to his arm tightly, like a drowning person finding a piece of driftwood. He was her only hope of survival.

Feng Yi instinctively hugged Song Yunzhao back, lowered his head, and said softly, "Don’t be afraid, don’t be afraid. I am here."

Song Yunzhao cried even more pitifully and trembled more violently. "Your Majesty, Consort Shu wants to beat me to death! It’s terrifying! In my entire life, no one has ever said they would beat me to death. What did I do wrong for her to want to kill me..."

Hearing Yun Zhao mention the words "beat to death" again and again, Feng Yi looked up at Consort Shu. "Consort Shu, why did you want to have Consort Song beaten to death?"

Consort Shu’s face paled. "Your Majesty, that’s not true! How could I possibly do such a thing..."

"Your Majesty, this servant can testify! Lady Shufei was indeed ordering our mistress to be caned to death. If not for the timely arrival of Consort Zhuang and Lady Wanfei, our mistress would have likely... Please, Your Majesty, seek justice for our mistress!" Xiangxue knelt and said loudly.

"That’s utter nonsense!" Consort Shu was flustered. She hurried forward. "Your Majesty, I did not! I truly did not! Consort Song was disrespectful to me. I only wanted to punish her a little, I never wanted her life! It’s these wicked servants who are framing me! I beg Your Majesty to seek justice for me."

"Replying to Your Majesty, when Consort Zhuang and Lady Wanfei arrived, Lady Shufei was shouting for people to beat our mistress. Both of them heard it and can testify for our mistress." Anshun stepped forward, knelt, and replied with his head bowed low, seemingly trembling with fear as he spoke.

Song Yunzhao was now nestled in the Emperor’s embrace. He didn’t push her away, and in her heart, she knew her gamble had paid off.

’How could the Emperor push me away? After all, I’m the harem-cleaning machine he picked out himself. I’ve served up such a perfect opportunity on a silver platter; how could the Emperor not seize it?’