Free Web NovelChapter 191: Chapter 82: Don’t Get Yourself into Trouble
Song Yunzhao’s thoughts raced. She realized this was a golden opportunity. ’The three concubines must not be allowed to team up,’ she thought. ’Otherwise, I’ll be in for a rough time.’
She felt that the three concubines all had a hand in this matter of the Self-blame Edict. When it came down to it, she was their ultimate target.
Princess Consort Zhuang and Princess Consort Wan had exchanged a few barbs when the former noticed Song Yunzhao, head slightly bowed, seemingly lost in thought. In that moment, she lost the will to continue bickering with Princess Consort Wan.
Furious with Princess Consort Zhuang and unwilling to continue the charade, Princess Consort Wan simply stood up and left.
Once Princess Consort Wan was gone, Princess Consort Zhuang looked at Song Yunzhao and asked, "Song Jieyu, you’ve heard about the Self-blame Edict, haven’t you?"
Song Yunzhao hadn’t expected Princess Consort Zhuang to bring it up first. She nodded openly and said with some embarrassment, "I don’t quite understand the Self-blame Edict, so I asked Lady Wanfei a few questions. But Her Ladyship scolded me for being nosy. I truly don’t know what I did wrong."
"Oh? Princess Consort Wan went a little too far." Princess Consort Zhuang looked at Song Yunzhao. "What are your thoughts on the matter, Song Jieyu?"
Song Yunzhao put on a troubled expression. "I’m afraid I don’t know how to answer that, Your Ladyship. However, I did notice the Emperor seems to be in a foul mood, and the palace attendants outside are all talking about it. I just find it a bit strange, that’s all. There are some things I can’t quite figure out."
"Tell me. What is it you can’t figure out?"
Song Yunzhao looked at Princess Consort Zhuang, her expression one of pure curiosity. "Your Ladyship, you mentioned the courtiers are pressuring the Emperor to issue a Self-blame Edict. But if he issues it and the floods in the south still don’t stop, wouldn’t that prove this wasn’t his fault? And if it isn’t the Emperor’s fault, does that mean it’s the courtiers’ fault? But if it’s the courtiers’ fault, yet they’re the ones forcing the Emperor to issue the edict... how do you think this whole affair will be resolved?"
Princess Consort Zhuang perceived that Song Yunzhao was only speaking casually out of simple curiosity, but her heart skipped a beat.
Song Yunzhao sighed softly. "These are just my idle ramblings. Please don’t pay them any mind, Your Ladyship."
Princess Consort Zhuang suppressed the turmoil in her heart and looked at Song Yunzhao. "You should go back and rest as well. Don’t mention the Self-blame Edict to anyone else. It’s not a good thing to talk about, and it could bring you trouble."
Song Yunzhao’s face filled with gratitude. "Thank you for the warning, Your Ladyship."
With that, Princess Consort Zhuang departed in a hurry. She had to write a letter to her father. ’Have we been too hasty with this matter?’ she wondered.
Song Yunzhao watched Princess Consort Zhuang’s retreating figure, the smile never leaving her face. Lifting the hem of her skirt, she left the stone pavilion and walked toward her Wangyou Palace.
***
「Taiji Palace.」
A thick stack of books and official documents about past floods was piled before Feng Yi. He flipped through them one by one, his expression growing ever darker.
Before ascending the throne, he had been the most overlooked and least favored prince. His studies in the palace were limited to useless subjects meant only to cultivate his temperament. The Empress and the Imperial Concubine, meanwhile, hired the best tutors to teach their own sons the art of governing a state. He, on the other hand, could only read more books on his own in secret. There was no renowned master to guide him.
Since his ascension, the courtiers had controlled the government, intent only on deceiving him. They would never explain the intricacies of these matters to him; they would much rather he remain ignorant. He, a prince like a blank sheet of paper, had become the Emperor. He had to learn everything, do everything, and struggle against his own courtiers. In just a few short years, despite his diligence, there was still so much he hadn’t learned.
He knew that managing floods was difficult, that river channels often changed course, and that constructed dams could be washed away. He knew that the disaster silver wouldn’t all be used on the victims. But he never imagined that post-disaster reconstruction would involve so many hidden schemes.
The sky grew darker. Taiji Palace was brilliantly lit, but the Emperor’s heart felt as if it had plunged into hell. There was still so much he needed to learn.
The thought made Feng Yi agitated. He shot to his feet and strode outside.
With Meng Jiuchang absent, Zhang Maoquan immediately shoved Xu Sixi aside to follow. Xu Sixi stumbled and nearly fell. By the time he regained his footing, the Emperor was already far in the distance. He was so furious he almost cursed aloud. ’That dog Zhang Maoquan is becoming less and less human.’
Zhang Maoquan could keenly sense the Emperor’s terrible mood. He followed cautiously behind, and when the Emperor’s pace slowed, he glanced at the direction. ’Well, what do you know. Isn’t this the way to Wangyou Palace?’
Feng Yi stood at a fork in the road. A gust of wind blew past, gradually clearing his head.
He looked up at the stars. The night sky was dense with them, a dazzling display, yet his own path forward was shrouded in darkness.
’Everyone says it’s wonderful to be emperor, but you only know the truth of it once you’re actually on the throne.’
Seeing that the Emperor had stopped walking, Zhang Maoquan’s mind turned. He took a small step forward and said softly, "Your Majesty, the Lady would be overjoyed if she knew you were going to see her now."
Feng Yi glanced at Zhang Maoquan. The eunuch kept his head bowed, not daring to look up, his heart pounding with tension. When he saw the Emperor lift his foot to walk again, he finally breathed a sigh of relief.
Song Yunzhao had just finished her evening meal and was rinsing her mouth when she heard the announcement of the Emperor’s arrival. She quickly spat out the mouthwash, wiped her lips, and hurried out to greet him.
When Song Yunzhao stepped out of the hall, she saw the Emperor standing with his hands clasped behind his back. His face was obscured, silhouetted against the moonlight, but his entire being radiated a heavy, suppressed aura. Her heart sank slightly.
"I greet Your Majesty," Song Yunzhao said, stepping forward to offer her respects.
"Rise." Feng Yi looked at Song Yunzhao. He saw she was wearing a simple, narrow-sleeved long dress, her hair casually pinned up with just a jade hairpin. It was the look of someone who had rushed out to greet him without a moment to prepare.
Seeing her like this, Feng Yi actually felt some of his tension ease. He reached out and helped her to her feet.
Song Yunzhao took the Emperor’s hand as she rose. She didn’t let go, instead intertwining her fingers with his. Looking up at him, she asked with concern, "Your Majesty, you’ve come so late. Have you eaten dinner yet?"
Though she asked the Emperor, her eyes flickered toward Zhang Maoquan.
Zhang Maoquan tensed and immediately stepped forward. "My Lady, His Majesty came to see you the moment he finished his official duties."
A joyful expression instantly appeared on Song Yunzhao’s face. She chided the Emperor playfully, "Even if Your Majesty wished to see me, you must take care of yourself first." Without giving him a chance to speak, she immediately ordered a palace attendant to fetch a meal from the Imperial Kitchen. "Have the kitchen add a bowl of cold noodles. It’s perfect for this hot weather."
Song Yunzhao’s voice was clear and crisp, her smile radiant. Her eyes sparkled like stars in the sky. Looking at her, Feng Yi couldn’t help but feel his mood lighten.
Song Yunzhao led the Emperor by the hand to a rattan chair in the courtyard. Xiangxue and Shizhu lit incense nearby to repel the mosquitos.
The rattan chair was a loveseat Song Yunzhao had specially commissioned. As they sat nestled together, the short distance between them created an especially intimate atmosphere.
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