Song Zhao hurriedly kneeled down, bowing respectfully and saying, "I apologize for my momentary slip of the tongue, Consort Chen, please forgive me."
"It's not a big deal that you slipped up for a moment, but I fear that if you ever gain power, your arrogance will know no bounds," Consort Chen said sharply, her gaze scanning Song Zhao from head to toe with a mocking smile. "What's this? The Empress Dowager and the Emperor have been ignoring you lately, and now you suddenly remember us, your sisters? We can't compare to your mother, who has such a prestigious background. She greedily snatches thousands of taels of silver like it's nothing, without even batting an eye."
Song Zhao lowered her head and bit her lip, feeling somewhat wronged. She said, "I understand your admonishment, but I have no knowledge of my mother's actions, and I would never do anything like her. Please, Consort Chen..."
"Put away your foxy charms. Just looking at you makes me sick," Consort Chen slammed her chopsticks on the table with force, her voice filled with thinly veiled anger. "Jiang committed actions that have troubled the Emperor, and if he's unhappy, I naturally can't have things my way. If you want me to overlook this..."
She raised an eyebrow and glanced at the cold, hard floor paved with jade, sneering, "Kneel there. Show your sincerity and serve us while kneeling. If I sense your sincerity, I will naturally let bygones be bygones and treat you as a sister in the future."
Regardless of their rank, all concubines of Xiao Jingheng were considered his consorts as long as they were registered.
Apart from the Empress, who was his legal wife, no one had the right to make other consorts kneel and serve.
Consort Chen's actions were indeed presumptuous,
but that was just her nature, and such acts of provocation were nothing new to her.
Noble Consort Xiao felt that this matter was inappropriate, but she was insignificant and dared not speak up. She could only watch as Song Zhao signaled her with her eyes, asking her to yield to Consort Chen.
Consort Shu spoke up, advising, "Consort Chen, Song Zhao is, after all, a legitimate consort. What you are doing seems a bit..."
Before she could finish her sentence, Consort Chen's sharp gaze fell on her,
with just one glance, Consort Shu dared not speak any further.
However, no one had anticipated that just when everyone thought Song Zhao would be caught in a dilemma, she unexpectedly knelt down in front of Consort Chen and respectfully said, "I am willing to serve Consort Chen, it is an honor for me to serve you during meals."
Consort Chen was momentarily stunned, but quickly covered her face and smiled, saying, "Then I will trouble you, Song Zhao."
This kind of humiliation made Noble Consort Xiao feel heartbroken for Song Zhao.
So when Song Zhao was about to serve her, she honestly said that she was already full and didn't need anything.
Consort Chen laughed and said, "Noble Consort Xiao can now eat two people's portions with just one mouth. It's no big deal if you go hungry, but it would be a problem if the heir to the throne goes hungry."
Noble Consort Xiao replied, "Thank you for your kindness. I have been having some indigestion lately, and the imperial physician advised me to eat smaller meals more frequently."
"Well, then you won't have the privilege anymore," Consort Chen said while looking at a Hawthorn Pastry in front of her. "I must say, this Hawthorn Pastry looks quite delicious."
Understanding her intention, Song Zhao immediately knelt down and picked up a piece of Hawthorn Pastry, placing it on Consort Chen's plate.
But Consort Chen deliberately shook the plate, causing the Hawthorn Pastry to roll off the corner of her robe and fall to the ground.
Immediately, she grew irritated and asked, "Did you do that on purpose?"
Anyone could see that Consort Chen was deliberately provoking Song Zhao. Song Zhao was timid and weak, unable to resist. With tears in her eyes, she softly said, "I accidentally dirtied Your Majesty's clothes. I beg for Your Majesty's forgiveness."
Consort Chen replied, "If I'm willing to overlook it, then it's fine."
She intentionally flicked the fallen Osmanthus Pastry with her toe and said, "You must pick up this pastry from the ground and eat it immediately. Then we shall consider the matter settled."
Song Zhao felt extremely embarrassed. She tightly pursed her thin lips, bowed her head, and remained silent. Tears, as big as pearls, fell one by one.
Consort Shu couldn't help but advise, "Consort Chen, why do you have to make things difficult for her? We are all sisters here, you..."
"It's your choice if you want to treat her as a sister, but don't drag me into it," Consort Chen glanced at Song Zhao with impatience and said, "So, are you going to eat it or not?"
Song Zhao hesitantly reached out her hand towards the Osmanthus Pastry, picked it up, and choked out, "I... comply with your orders."
After saying that, she clenched her teeth, closed her eyes, and brought the Osmanthus Pastry to her mouth.
"The Emperor has arrived!"
Xiao Jingheng's sudden arrival relieved Song Zhao from her predicament.
Consort Chen anxiously looked towards the corridor bridge and saw Xiao Jingheng walking towards the Lotus Heart Pavilion with a solemn expression.
Immediately, she stood up with Consort Shu and Noble Consort Xiao, and respectfully greeted, "May the Emperor be blessed and secure."
However, Xiao Jingheng ignored them as if he hadn't seen them at all. He walked straight to Song Zhao, helped her up, and forcefully snatched the Osmanthus Pastry from her hand, throwing it into the lake.
Consort Chen forced a smile and said, "Why is the Emperor in such high spirits today..."
"If I hadn't come, I wouldn't have seen how you treat other concubines behind my back!" Xiao Jingheng rebuked Consort Chen harshly while wiping away Song Zhao's tears.
Consort Chen's heart skipped a beat from being yelled at by him. Xiao Jingheng rarely scolded her, even though she had been disrespectful to the Empress on multiple occasions, he had never been this angry before.
She hurriedly explained, "Your Majesty, you've misunderstood. Song Zhao was having a meal with us, and when the pastry fell on the ground, she insisted on picking it up and eating it. I've already advised her, but it was her own..."
"Are you saying I'm blind!?" Xiao Jingheng angrily interrupted her, startling Consort Chen.
Song Zhao tugged at Xiao Jingheng's sleeve, tears in her eyes, and pleaded, "Your Majesty, it's not Consort Chen's fault. It was my own..."
"Enough," Xiao Jingheng held her hand, "You are naturally reserved and gentle. You always tolerate everything. It's because of this that everyone takes advantage of you."
His words were clearly meant for Consort Chen to hear. Consort Chen couldn't bear to hear Xiao Jingheng defending Song Zhao like this because, in her eyes, she had always been the one enduring for Song Zhao's sake, enduring her husband's affection being given to other women.
She felt wronged in her heart.
In a fit of anger, she questioned Xiao Jingheng, "Am I mistaken, Your Majesty? Did you say that Song Zhao endures for someone?"
"I said she endures for you!" Xiao Jingheng didn't give Consort Chen any face, answering her questions one after another.
"Why were the people from the Tianji Bureau able to uncover Jiang's affairs so quickly? Did you think that I, the Emperor, knew nothing about it? Initially, I had no intention of investigating this matter. Does Consort Chen want me to thoroughly investigate and find out who, despite being far away in Sichuan and Shaanxi, still meddles in the affairs of the capital?"
Upon hearing these words, Consort Chen became thoroughly panicked.
She had thought that her plan was foolproof, but she never expected that everything would be exposed under Xiao Jingheng's watchful eyes.
With flushed eyes and lowered head, she dared not speak any further.
Xiao Jingheng paid her no attention. Instead, he protected Song Zhao and solemnly addressed the crowd:
"In the past few days, Song has been trying to find all of you, but each one of you has been avoiding her. Do you think I would vent my anger on her because of Jiang's actions, and that's why you all are so afraid to face her?
Then, today, I will make it clear to you all. Jiang is Jiang, and Zhao is Zhao. Zhao knows nothing about Jiang's mistakes. I am not a tyrant, and I will not implicate Zhao in this matter."
Xiao Jingheng could clearly see the grievances Song Zhao had suffered today.
His attitude would determine how the other concubines treated Song Zhao. If Jiang was punished and Song Zhao had to endure humiliation even at the Warm Springs Villa, wouldn't she face even more mistreatment in the palace?
Therefore, he called Jiang Deshun forward and instructed him:
"You will immediately convey my decree to the palace. Inform the Empress and the Six Palaces. From this day forth, Zhao of the Jin clan shall be honored as a noblewoman."
"Your servant obeys!"
Jiang Deshun promptly responded, leaving Consort Chen and the others dumbfounded.
No matter what, they could never have imagined that Xiao Jingheng, who had clearly abandoned Song Zhao, would suddenly elevate her status.
Song Zhao also appeared fearful, "Your Majesty, I..."
"No need to say anything. You can shoulder this position," Xiao Jingheng interrupted the words of refusal from Song Zhao. Then, he solemnly addressed the crowd:
"As for today's matter, I don't wish to pursue it further. If in the future, I witness high-ranking consorts arbitrarily mistreating and insulting low-ranking consorts, don't blame me for showing no mercy!"
With that, he held Song Zhao's hand and left.
Consort Chen was left sitting on the ground, as if her soul had been drained from her body...
