No matter what, Song Shicheng owed his life to the favor he received from Song Zhao in front of Xiao Jingheng.
Song Zhao cherished this favor deeply.
After returning to the palace, Song Zhao personally made some exquisite and delicious snacks and brought them to the Office of the Imperial Secretariat as a gift for Xiao Jingheng.
Xiao Jingheng tasted one and praised Song Zhao's craftsmanship, saying, "If I didn't have to meet with the court officials later, I would have shared this whole tray with my beloved consort."
Song Zhao took a piece of sweet pastry and fed it to Xiao Jingheng, smiling playfully, "If we eat all these sweet pastries, we might get tired of them~"
"How could I ever get tired of your affection?" Xiao Jingheng replied, taking the sweet pastry into his mouth and deliberately brushing Song Zhao's finger with his lips, teasingly.
Song Zhao lightly tapped Xiao Jingheng's handsome nose with her fingertip, and they both became more ambiguous in their words and actions.
"Your Majesty hasn't come to dine in the consort's palace for a long time," Song Zhao complained, pouting.
"Tonight, I have a discussion with the officials from the Military Strategy Department, but tomorrow night, I will come to your palace," Xiao Jingheng said, embracing Song Zhao's slender waist and laughing openly.
"No, I don't want that! Your Majesty hasn't tasted the consort's cooking for a long time. If you have a light dinner, you won't eat enough. Let the consort prepare a grand feast, and we won't stop until we've had a full table. If Your Majesty is free tomorrow, why not come to the consort's palace for lunch? That way, the consort's efforts won't be wasted," Song Zhao coquettishly protested.
"Hahaha, my lady is becoming more and more willful," Xiao Jingheng chuckled and pinched her waist, making Song Zhao ticklish in his arms. He agreed, "Alright, I'll do as you wish."
Later, when the court officials were about to arrive, Song Zhao took her leave first.
As for why she insisted on having Xiao Jingheng come to the consort's palace for lunch, there was definitely a deeper meaning behind it.
The former Duke Huguo's mansion had now fallen, and not even a single servant remained.
If Song Shicheng died tonight in that mansion, his body would turn cold without anyone noticing.
The court required him to depart for the North Cold River at noon tomorrow, so that's when his demise would be discovered.
Once he died, the news had to be reported to the court as soon as possible.
Calculating the time, by the time this news reached Jiang Deshun and he informed Xiao Jingheng, it should be exactly at six in the afternoon, when Xiao Jingheng was having lunch.
Song Zhao needed to hear the news together with Xiao Jingheng.
Only then could she perform an impeccable act before Xiao Jingheng!
*
On the way back to the palace that day, Song Zhao's attention was drawn to a blue paper kite flying in the sky above the Imperial Garden.
Privately, she wondered when the women in the palace had the leisure to fly kites in the Imperial Garden.
As she walked towards the spot where the kite was tied, she approached and heard the tender voice of Consort Hui.
"Fly higher! A little higher!"
Consort Hui pulled the kite string up and down, and her laughter tinkled like silver bells. Her eyes narrowed into slits from her amusement.
Somehow, when Song Zhao saw how happy she was, she couldn't help but laugh along.
In Consort Hui, she seemed to see her mother when she was still alive, carefree and worry-free.
She should have had a life like this, free from scheming and calculations...
"Sister Song!" Consort Hui caught sight of her and immediately waved happily, "Would you like to fly kites with me? It's so much fun~"
Song Zhao smiled and returned her greeting, "Consort Hui, what has brought you such good spirits today?"
"Hehe~ After my birthday next month, I will be turning fourteen~ When I was at home, my mother told me that one month before my birthday, I should write my wishes on a kite. It's called 'Communicating with the Heavens.' We need to let the heavens know our wishes in advance so they can come true," Consort Hui explained.
A gust of wind blew, causing the kite to soar even higher.
Consort Hui pointed at it with increasing joy, her eyes filled with pure innocence untouched by the treacherous harem, saying, "Sister Song, look! Wow~~ I can barely see it anymore!"
Sometimes Song Zhao couldn't tell whether Consort Hui's innocence was genuine or fake.
After all, she had such a privileged background, with a family wealth comparable to the national treasury. She had been well-fed and clothed since childhood, and her family didn't care about her pursuing an official career or competing for anything on behalf of the family.
For someone like her, the most important thing was to live a happy life on her own terms.
Song Zhao responded, "The kite is flying so high; the heavens must have seen your wishes, Consort Hui. They will surely come true."
"I think so too!" Consort Hui pouted, counting on her fingers, "My wish is for my father, mother, and older brother to come to the palace and see me. I miss them so much..."
In one moment, Consort Hui was full of joy, but after uttering those words, her deer-like eyes were filled with tears.
Song Zhao took out a handkerchief and gently wiped away her tears, comforting her like an older sister, "Consort Hui's sincerity will move the heavens, and the heavens will grant Consort Hui's wish."
Consort Hui's father held a low official position, merely a titular title without any real responsibilities. If she wanted to see her parents, it would have to wait until she became pregnant and gave birth to an imperial heir.
Song Zhao said she would get her wish because Consort Hui would soon come of age and be eligible to enter the emperor's bedchamber.
But when she did, she would be under the scrutiny of countless eyes in the harem.
At that time, the real storms of bloodshed would come crashing down upon her.
May she be safe and well through it all.
*
The next day at noon, Song Zhao prepared a table full of delicious delicacies, and Xiao Jingheng arrived as expected after the morning court session.
After Song Zhao and Xiao Jingheng held hands and took their seats, they chatted leisurely while enjoying their meal, looking just like an ordinary couple from the common folk, blissful and content.
After a while, Song Zhao noticed a bird fluttering aimlessly against the lattice window, though Xiao Jingheng didn't pay it much attention. It was only visible to Song Zhao, who knew it was the secret signal between her and Xiao Fuzi.
Whenever Xiao Fuzi saw Jiang Deshun rushing to Yao Hua Palace, he would send out such a signal to Song Zhao.
Setting down her chopsticks, Song Zhao smiled calmly and said, "There's also a jade beef soup, which the Emperor likes. I've been simmering it since early morning, and it's just right now. Please wait a moment, Your Majesty, while I fetch it."
Xiao Jingheng replied, "These little tasks should be handled by the palace servants."
Song Zhao refused, "How can serving the emperor be a trivial matter? This concubine has to do it herself in order to see the emperor enjoy the delicious food and feel happy in her heart~"
She happily glided to the small kitchen like a lively little rabbit.
Before long, Jiang Deshun hurried over.
Usually, Xiao Jingheng and the concubines would not be disturbed during their meals, so when Jiang Deshun came with an unpleasant expression today, Xiao Jingheng asked him, "What's the matter?"
Jiang Deshun looked around and saw that Song Zhao was not in the hall, so he hesitated and said:
"Reporting to Your Majesty... Mr. Song, he...last night at his residence...committed suicide by hanging himself!" (Emphasized)
'Crash!'
As Jiang Deshun's words fell,
There came the crisp sound of a porcelain bowl shattering on the ground from outside the door.
