Consort Chen intended to leave with her entourage,
Her bold move was a direct challenge to the Empress's authority.
If the Empress allowed this to happen, how would she maintain her dignity as the chief consort in the future?
Thus, with rare anger in her voice, the Empress exclaimed,
"Halt her! Without my imperial decree, no one can take Noble Consort Xiao away today!"
Led by Yan Jiude, the head eunuch in charge of the Feng Luan Palace, a group of palace maids quickly blocked Consort Chen's path at the door.
Tensions escalated between the two sides, reaching a point of imminent conflict.
Watching from the sidelines, Song Zhao secretly hoped they would start fighting, even going as far as to wish for the palace roof to be torn off for some excitement.
Most of the other consorts shared her sentiment.
Only Consort Hui, frightened, hid behind Song Zhao and timidly cried out,
"Sister Xiao is pregnant. Please be careful not to harm her in the chaos!"
As the situation grew increasingly uncontrollable and on the verge of spiraling out of control,
Jiang Deshun fortuitously arrived.
Seeing the "commotion" at the entrance of the main hall, he was also startled.
The Empress, upon noticing him, did not want him to whisper anything to Noble Consort Xiao,
So she quickly regained her composure, put on a smile, and said, "We ordered Consort Chen and you all to go outside and sweep the grounds. Why are you blocking the door? Step aside, it's a mess!"
Consort Chen, of course, had no interest in engaging with the Empress.
She even rolled her eyes disdainfully at her and, with a smirk at the corner of her mouth, said,
"Didn't you hear what the Empress said? Clear the way quickly."
In this manner, the two groups awkwardly dispersed.
Having served in the court for many years, Jiang Deshun had long become astute and could see through the situation.
However, he chose not to expose it. He bowed and greeted the consorts before saying,
"Reporting to the Empress, it is the Emperor's decree that Consort Chen is the foster mother of the heir in Noble Consort Xiao's womb."
The Empress clenched her hand tightly beneath the phoenix-shaped table, but she pretended to be at ease, smiling and saying,
"If that's the case, let Consort Chen bring Noble Consort Xiao back to her palace. It's good for them to have each other's company."
Song Zhao, after witnessing this performance, could only marvel at their acting skills.
This way, it would not be Consort Chen openly snatching someone, but rather the magnanimity of the Empress.
When this matter reached Noble Consort Xiao's ears, it would naturally be seen in a favorable light.
However, Consort Chen couldn't be bothered with the Empress.
After giving her a scornful look and a contemptuous smile, she said,
"Then let's bring Noble Consort Xiao back to my palace."
Once Jiang Deshun and Consort Chen left, the Empress's expression immediately soured.
Anyone could see her displeasure.
She no longer had the mood to continue conversing with the others and dismissed them with a wave of her hand.
After watching the drama unfold, Song Zhao returned to her palace with nothing to do and asked Xiao Fuzi to bring her pen and paper, wanting to practice calligraphy.
As Xiao Fuzi served her tea by her side, he whispered softly,
"The Empress has achieved her wish. This time, the Empress's plan has failed. Noble Consort Xiao's child will be raised by Consort Chen in the future, making the Empress restless. As long as no one in the harem becomes too powerful, no one will focus solely on the Empress. It is not only about not allowing the Empress to gain too much power, but also about ensuring the safety of Noble Consort Xiao and her child."
Song Zhao wrote with a focused mind and casually replied, "It is not just about preventing the Empress from becoming too powerful. I have more concerns for Noble Consort Xiao and her child. Only by having Consort Chen raise the child can we ensure the safety of Noble Consort Xiao and her child."
Xiao Fuzi pondered for a moment and nodded, saying, "The Emperor wants Consort Chen to be the foster mother of Noble Consort Xiao's child. Given Consort Chen's temperament, she will definitely bring Noble Consort Xiao back to her side like a bodhisattva, fearing any mishaps. If Noble Consort Xiao resides in Consort Chen's palace, it would be difficult for anyone to have ill intentions towards her."
He marveled at Song Zhao's strategies and for the first time saw her warmth towards the concubines in the harem.
"Noble Consort Xiao and the Empress have grown close, and the Empress is willing to protect her. They have developed a deep bond," he said.
"A bond?" Song Zhao lightly chuckled, "I didn't enter the palace to make friends. What kind of bond do I have with her? Have you forgotten how she got that scar on her face?"
She put down her brush and gracefully moved her wrist, saying, "I simply cannot bear to see anyone plotting against a child. Women in the harem can fight all they want, but innocent children should be spared."
Song Zhao fell into silence and looked at her delicate and fair fingers, feeling a sense of melancholy. She sighed, "Since entering the palace, my hands have been stained with much blood. By doing this, I hope to accumulate blessings and merits for the child in my womb."
As they were speaking, Yun Shan reported from outside the door, "Empress, Consort Shu has come to see you."
Upon hearing this, Song Zhao's eyes flickered, but she didn't show much reaction and pretended to be delighted, saying, "Please, come in."
She was originally going to greet Consort Shu at the door.
As soon as Consort Shu entered, she held Song Zhao's hand and dispensed with formalities. After they both sat on the warm seat, she began to show concern and care for Song Zhao.
"Seeing my sister's radiant complexion, I'm sure you will give birth to a little prince for the Emperor this time," Consort Shu said with a shy smile.
Song Zhao blushed and shook her head, saying, "It's only been a few months. How can we know the gender?"
Consort Shu chuckled and said, "My sister is blessed. I'm sure you will have a boy with a single try."
Then she sighed, "Ah, it's a pity that your due date is a bit later than the Empress and Noble Consort Xiao. Otherwise, if you could give birth to a precious son, you would have hope of being honored as a consort in the future."
Song Zhao replied, "I am already content with being a concubine. I dare not even think of anything more. Besides, now that the four consorts in the harem are complete, there is no place for me."
While talking to Consort Shu, Song Zhao caught a glimpse of a sachet hanging at her waist.
The sachet was embroidered with the pattern of a qilin embracing the sun, and Consort Shu seemed to wear it almost every day, praying for safety.
Song Zhao calmly picked up her brush and continued writing while conversing with Consort Shu.
Listening to Consort Shu, she said, "Look at how the Emperor treats Consort Chen. First, he restored her title, then bestowed upon her the authority over the six palaces. Yesterday, he even wanted to have Consort Xiao's child raised by her. Our dynasty still doesn't have a Noble Consort. Sister, with your intelligence, how far do you think Consort Chen is from becoming a Noble Consort?"
She continued, with a helpless smile. "Hehe, if she becomes a Noble Consort, won't that position of Consort be left vacant?"
At that moment, Xiao Fuzi was still by their side, attending to them.
Song Zhao handed him the completed written scriptures and said, "These Buddhist scriptures are done. Help me deliver them to the Empress Dowager. Consort Shu and I have some private matters to discuss."
Xiao Fuzi respectfully took the scroll and bowed before leaving.
Only when she was alone with Consort Shu, Song Zhao worriedly said, "If she becomes a Noble Consort, wouldn't that mean she looks down upon everyone else? Who knows how she would mistreat us?"
Consort Shu sighed, "Isn't that the truth? But it all depends on the Emperor's intentions. What can we do?"
She fell silent for a moment, leaning slightly closer to Song Zhao, deliberately lowering her voice as she said,
"But if Noble Consort Xiao gives birth to a daughter, or if something were to happen to her during this pregnancy... She is currently residing in Consort Chen's palace, so if anything were to go wrong, Consort Chen would undoubtedly be implicated. I can see it now, by that time, Consort Chen won't even have a chance to become a Noble Consort. She might not even be able to keep her current status as a consort!"
