Free Web NovelChapter 190: Chapter 81: What Exactly Happened?
Having made her report and curried some favor, Song Yunzhao returned to Wangyou Palace. If the Minister of the Ministry of Justice was willing to cooperate, then tomorrow’s court session would surely be quite lively.
Before she even reached Wangyou Palace, she saw Princess Consort Wan from the neighboring palace, who was just coming out for a stroll.
’What a coincidence?’
Song Yunzhao didn’t believe it for a second.
"Greetings, Lady Wanfei." Song Yunzhao stepped forward and curtsied.
Princess Consort Wan looked at Song Yunzhao, her eyes sweeping over the food box held by the maid behind her, and said lightly, "Song Jieyu, you are quite thoughtful."
’No matter how I hear it, that sounds sarcastic. Isn’t she just mocking me for running to Taiji Palace so often?’
Song Yunzhao’s smile was positively radiant. "The Emperor said the soup I prepared was very much to his liking. Since the Emperor enjoys it, I must naturally do my best."
’I’m just using the Emperor as a shield. It’s not like Princess Consort Wan can go and verify it with him.’
Hearing Song Yunzhao’s blunt, almost boastful words, Princess Consort Wan was suddenly at a loss for how to respond. Among the people she usually associated with, who was as straightforward as this? Didn’t everyone speak with a bit more restraint?
Looking at Princess Consort Wan’s constipated expression, Song Yunzhao thought, ’The only way to deal with someone who prides herself on being a cool, aloof, artistic intellectual is to take a direct approach. If you try to play their game of beating around the bush, you’d just be doing exactly what they want.’
’Competing on their turf is a surefire way to lose. I would never be that foolish.’
’If they want to cause trouble for me, they’ll have to play on my court.’
With that in mind, a glint appeared in Song Yunzhao’s eyes. She smiled at Princess Consort Wan and said, "Is Your Ladyship heading to the Imperial Garden?"
Princess Consort Wan nodded vaguely, her expression sour.
Song Yunzhao’s smile immediately grew several degrees warmer. "I was just thinking of going for a walk myself. I wonder if Your Ladyship would allow me to accompany you?"
Princess Consort Wan looked suspiciously at the incredibly thick-skinned Song Yunzhao. ’How could I possibly say no when she asks like that?’
’I don’t want to, but if I refuse, won’t I just be giving people ammunition for gossip?’
Suppressing her irritation, Princess Consort Wan agreed.
Song Yunzhao immediately fell into step with Princess Consort Wan, saying as they walked, "I have always admired Your Ladyship’s immense talent. To be able to walk with you today is truly my good fortune."
Princess Consort Wan glanced at Song Yunzhao and said slowly, "Song Jieyu, there’s no need to be so modest."
Hearing this, Song Yunzhao sneered internally but feigned a nonchalant air. "I merely have a pretty face. When it comes to scholarly talents, I naturally cannot compare to Your Ladyship. While serving in the imperial court, I have also heard the Emperor praise Your Ladyship’s profound knowledge."
Princess Consort Wan’s steps faltered slightly, but she quickly put on an expression of indifference and said, "Is that so?"
"How would I dare to speak nonsense? At the imperial court, I also saw the Heart Sutra that Your Ladyship personally copied to pray for His Majesty’s blessing. That elegant, small-script calligraphy is something I could never hope to achieve." ’Well, I saw it in the book,’ Song Yunzhao thought, ’which still counts as seeing it.’
Hearing Song Yunzhao’s words, Princess Consort Wan’s heart stirred. She had indeed personally copied the Heart Sutra for the Emperor. If Song Yunzhao hadn’t seen it, how would she know about this?
’To have seen it in the Emperor’s presence, His Majesty must have displayed it somewhere prominent.’
Princess Consort Wan felt her mood improve immensely, and her view of Song Yunzhao became a little more favorable. "Calligraphy is a skill that takes work. Song Jieyu, you just need to practice more when you have the time."
Song Yunzhao used calligraphy as a way to chat with Princess Consort Wan, coaxing her into a good mood. As the conversation grew and they became more familiar, she let a sentence slip as if by accident, "Today, on my way back from Taiji Palace, I happened to overhear some people talking about a... Self-blame Edict? I don’t understand these things. Your Ladyship, what is a Self-blame Edict?"
Princess Consort Wan glanced at Song Yunzhao and, instead of answering, asked, "Who did you hear this from?"
"Lots of people. So many people come and go serving at Taiji Palace, I can’t quite remember who said it. I heard His Majesty was furious, and some people were saying the courtiers are useless and shirking their duties. Your Ladyship, what on earth is a Self-blame Edict? It sounds so frightening."
Princess Consort Wan was initially suspicious of Song Yunzhao’s words, but then she remembered that Song Yunzhao hadn’t grown up in the Capital City and her father was just a sixth-rank official. How would she know about these things?
’She must be asking me because she thinks I’m so knowledgeable.’ Thinking of this, Princess Consort Wan looked at Song Yunzhao and said, "It’s best for Song Jieyu not to inquire about matters of the imperial court. You wouldn’t want to bring trouble upon yourself."
Hearing Princess Consort Wan’s words, Song Yunzhao put on a confused yet stubborn expression. "It’s something everyone knows. Can that really bring trouble upon oneself?" ’The message has been delivered; I don’t care what Princess Consort Wan says now.’
Princess Consort Wan glanced at Song Yunzhao. The words sounded right, but she couldn’t shake the feeling that something was off. For the moment, though, she couldn’t put her finger on what it was.
In the time it took to speak, they arrived at the Imperial Garden. A summer garden was at its most beautiful, full of vibrant colors, but Princess Consort Wan felt a knot of frustration in her chest. Looking at the flowers didn’t soothe her in the slightest. When she turned and saw Song Yunzhao’s cheerful expression, she only felt even more stifled.
"Huh? Consort Zhuang?" Song Yunzhao watched Princess Consort Wan sit down in a stone pavilion to rest. She had no desire to listen to any more of the "artsy young woman’s" strange ramblings, so she decided to continue admiring the flowers, planning to make a graceful exit in another fifteen minutes. But unexpectedly, she ran into Princess Consort Zhuang. "I greet you, Consort Zhuang."
Princess Consort Zhuang smiled upon seeing Song Yunzhao, her tone warm and friendly as she spoke. "Song Jieyu, it’s rare to see you in the Imperial Garden. What brings you here today?"
’The last time this one came to the Imperial Garden,’ Princess Consort Zhuang thought, ’Consort Lu lost her title. I hope nothing happens today, and no one else ends up unlucky.’
Song Yunzhao gave Princess Consort Zhuang a big smile. "I was on my way back from Taiji Palace and happened to run into Lady Wanfei, who was coming to enjoy the scenery, so we came over together."
Princess Consort Zhuang raised a slight eyebrow, ignoring the part about Taiji Palace as her focus landed on a single name. "Princess Consort Wan? What a coincidence indeed."
’I don’t believe a word of it. Those two, one more of a homebody than the other, just happened to bump into each other so coincidentally?’
As she spoke, Princess Consort Zhuang arrived before the stone pavilion and, sure enough, saw Princess Consort Wan.
Princess Consort Wan also saw Princess Consort Zhuang chatting and laughing with Song Yunzhao. She had found it strange last time, and seeing it again now, that strangeness was even more pronounced.
’Princess Consort Zhuang and Song Yunzhao seem to be quite close. Last time, when Consort Lu was stripped of her title, Princess Consort Zhuang played an indispensable role. Could it be that these two have secretly joined forces?’
At this thought, Princess Consort Wan’s expression turned somewhat solemn.
On the other side, seeing Princess Consort Wan’s face tighten the moment she saw her, Princess Consort Zhuang also began to wonder. ’Could Princess Consort Wan be trying to win over Song Yunzhao behind my back?’
’Otherwise, with her personality, would she come out for a stroll in the garden at this time, and with Song Yunzhao of all people?’
’No matter how I think about it, it’s strange.’
’Now that Song Yunzhao has been promoted to Jieyu and is in the spotlight, I’ve had the thought of winning her over. What’s so strange about Princess Consort Wan having the same idea?’
With this thought, Princess Consort Zhuang decided not to leave. She went straight into the stone pavilion and sat down.
The atmosphere immediately became delicate. Song Yunzhao lifted her skirt and also entered the pavilion. Before she could even sit down, she heard Princess Consort Wan speak: "Princess Consort Zhuang, where are you coming from? You don’t look too well. Who angered you?"
Song Yunzhao looked at the somewhat sharp-tongued Princess Consort Wan, surprised that she would use such an impolite tone with Princess Consort Zhuang.
Meanwhile, hearing Princess Consort Wan’s words, Princess Consort Zhuang felt even more certain that she had a guilty conscience. She said, "Princess Consort Wan, what you say is truly strange. Could it be that someone angered you, and that’s why you came for a stroll in the garden?"
Song Yunzhao looked completely lost. ’Had something happened between these two that I don’t know about? Why is the air suddenly so thick with gunpowder?’
’I swear to the heavens, I haven’t even started sowing discord yet.’
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