Three days passed by in the blink of an eye.
Today was the day His Majesty would return to the Capital City from the Hot Spring Mountain Villa.
Early in the morning, the convoy set out from the Hot Spring Mountain Villa towards the imperial city.
There had been no snowfall in the Capital City for over a dozen days, and the accumulated snow in the suburbs had already melted.
Therefore, there was no need to take the Main Street for His Majesty's return trip, instead taking a winding mountain route to save some mileage.
Midway they rested for a night, and the next morning at dawn His Majesty arrived back at the palace.
The main body of troops entered through Wu Gate. The Empress and a host of consorts waited in attendance to greet them early on.
When Xiao Jingheng and the others got out of the palanquin, the Empress, with joy spread all over her face, was the first to step forward and greet them,
"Your Majesty has been away for over a month, Your Lady misses you dearly."
Xiao Jingheng gently replied, "Is everything well in the palace?"
The Empress nodded repeatedly, "With Your Majesty's great fortune's protection, of course all is good."
Xiao Jingheng squeezed the Empress's hand tightly, "The Empress works hard."
Today the Empress was exceptionally busy.
After greeting Xiao Jingheng, she went to pay her respects to the Empress Dowager, "Empress Dowager, was your body able to bear the journey? Your Lady prepared an incense of repose early this morning in your palace, best for alleviating bodily fatigue. I will send Empress Dowager to your palace later and give you a good shoulder and nape massage, beating your back to relax you."
The Empress Dowager smiled and said: "The Empress is kind, but managing the affairs of the consorts must already take up much of your time. Now that the Emperor has returned, you should accompany His Majesty well in your palace. As for me..."
As the Empress Dowager turned to look at Song Zhao standing to the side, she continued, "I'll just trouble Noble Consort Song to attend me."
Song Zhao quickly replied, "It is my good fortune to be able to serve Empress Dowager, where is there any trouble in this? Empress Dowager jests."
"This is good too, Noble Consort Song is gentle and considerate, best at understanding people's thoughts." The Empress looked towards Song Zhao, also laughing as she spoke, "This palace has yet to congratulate you, now having become a Noble Consort. You must attend His Majesty and Empress Dowager even better in the future, do you understand?"
With hands clasped respectfully in greeting, Song Zhao reverently replied, "Your Lady's teachings are understood."
Later, after Song Zhao had returned to her palace, the palace's servants delivered the rewards for her investiture.
Gold and silver treasures, silk gauzes, jade ornaments; in total twenty four carts worth of twelve categories of gifts arrived, making it dazzling to behold, almost blinding people with their magnificence.
Seeing it, Consort Yao felt very envious, unable to help exclaiming emotionally:
"These rewards almost match what I received when I was conferred consort! Showing His Majesty's genuine affection for you. After little sister's trip to the Hot Spring Mountain Villa, his favor for you surpasses even before. It seems it won't be long before you will advance to Consort with your own palace. Then you would have to move out from my Jade Flower Palace!"
Song Zhao quickly replied, "Your Lady speaks such heart-piercing words, listening makes me very uncomfortable!"
She held Consort Yao's hand, showing particular intimacy as she said:
"Since entering the palace, I have been Your Lady's, no matter what position I gain, I remain willing to stay together with you. Only if you tire of me and want to drive me away will I leave."
Consort Yao laughed and said, "You are skilled in sweet talk, ever since Noble Consort Li's passing, I have always hoped you would keep me company. When you went to the Hot Spring Mountain Villa, my days were quite lonely too."
Of the rewards Xiao Jingheng had given to Song Zhao, Song Zhao selected the best pieces and added them to Consort Yao's gifts, saying it was to thank her for all these years of care and understanding.
Giving gifts dispels pettiness. Consort Yao originally felt somewhat jealous regarding Song Zhao's sudden favor. But with these flowing gifts, most of her jealousy dispersed.
Later she even pulled Song Zhao and incessantly pressed her for details:
"Tell me quickly, how exactly did Consort Ning offend His Majesty? Hahaha~ Her bearing when she was chased back, not uttering a word but completely shamefaced! It was truly gratifying!"
Consort Ning was unpopular with and disliked by the people,
now that she had fallen from grace, naturally others were keen to bring out her faults.
Yet Song Zhao did not relish such idle gossip about others behind their backs, giving an excuse to steer the conversation away, instead asking:
"While I was away from the palace, was everything fine?"
Consort Yao replied: "Nothing much different from before. Just that with the snow stopping and warmer weather half a month ago, the Empress also didn't call upon us. We got to enjoy ourselves in leisure."
Just as they were speaking, the Empress's head eunuch Yan Jiude arrived:
"Give my greetings to Consort Yao and Noble Consort Song. The Empress has directed that beginning tomorrow, the ritual greetings between the Six Palaces will resume. Consort Yao and Noble Consort Song must not be late in attendance."
Early next morning, Song Zhao and Consort Yao went together to Vermilion Bird Palace.
As they saw Consort Yin still ignoring everyone while Consort Yun curried favor with the Empress as always, Consort Hui eating without end,
everything was seemingly unchanged from before Song Zhao's departure.
The only difference was, the seat of the most senior among the four consorts, previously occupied by Consort Ning, was currently filled by Consort Yin.
Everyone thought that Consort Ning who cared most about face would surely not come today.
But just as the Empress was about to speak to those present, the eunuchs outside announced:
"Consort Ning is here!"
Over ten pairs of eyes in the palace turned towards the entrance.
Originally, Song Zhao imagined that when she next met Consort Ning after returning to the palace, Consort Ning would appear somewhat dispirited.
Yet looking at her today, still dressed in majestic red robes with shining pearls and jewels, turned out lavishly as grandly as before.
And as aloof as always, she did not spare the Empress so much as a glance upon reaching the palace floor, directly making for the seat beside Consort Yin.
Before anyone could react, Consort Ning coldly rained a resounding slap upon Consort Yin out of the blue.
Not one to be easily provoked, Consort Yin slammed the table and angrily yelled at Consort Ning:
"What right have you to hit me?"
Consort Ning's entire face was filled with disdain. From on high, she sized up Consort Yin top to bottom, then sneered and said:
"You even dared sit in my seat, isn't that asking for a beating yourself?"
This time, the Empress did not indulge Consort Ning. She sternly admonished:
"Audacious Consort Ning! Such unruliness will not do in my palace! Have you forgotten His Majesty stripped you of your title? Amongst the four consorts, only you are without title. Consort Yin assists me in managing the affairs of the six palaces, naturally she sits in the foremost seat most befitting of her status!"
In contrast to the Empress's anger, Consort Ning was indifferent to the point of scorn,
merely laughing mockingly as she retorted:
"Does Her Ladyship say Consort Yin deserves this seat? As a barbarian, how can she be deserving!"
"You..."
"What, you?" Consort Ning suddenly glared at Consort Yin, raising her imposing aura as she berated:
"Have you forgotten how your own father Ada Kehan surrendered to the court? Over ten years ago, my father lead thirty thousand crack troops and routed your hundred thousand cavalry!
Back then, when your father knelt pleading my father to spare his life, you were still suckling at your mother's breasts! You were sent as tribute into the palace, be clear on your own status."
Consort Ning's words repeatedly prodded Consort Yin's sore spots.
In an instant, Consort Yin's morale plummeted as her eyes darted around uneasily while she lowered her head.
Consort Ning gave a cold laugh, then lifted her chin and forced her to meet her gaze, fiercely saying:
"You wish to vie with me? Do you even know how much you're still worth after being flayed layer by layer!?"
