Yun Shan heard the commotion coming from the courtyard. When she came out from the wing room, she saw Song Zhao standing alone in the heavy rain. Yun Shan hurriedly took an umbrella and ran to Song Zhao's side. She held the umbrella over Song Zhao while helping wipe the rainwater off her bangs.
"My lady, what are you doing? Why are you standing in the rain like this?"
She saw Noble Consort Li slam the door to the east wing palace shut. Yun Shan asked again, "Did Noble Consort Li make you stand here?"
"No, it's got nothing to do with her," Song Zhao held the umbrella handle and glanced at the palace gate as she spoke to Yun Shan. "I'm a little tired. Let's go in first and talk."
Back in the room, Yun Shan helped Song Zhao change into her night clothes and brought hot water to wash up.
Song Zhao sat quietly as if lost in thought.
But just as Yun Shan turned around to fetch a towel, Song Zhao suddenly pushed open the window, allowing the cold wind and rainwater to rush in, soaking her again.
Yun Shan was so frightened she was stunned. "My lady, what are you doing? You'll catch a cold if you get drenched like this!"
She ran up to close the window but was stopped by Song Zhao. "I must catch this cold today. Not only that, I need to develop a high fever to make myself sick."
"My lady! You've just been favored today. Concubines who are ill cannot serve the emperor. You're..."
"It's not serving I want, but His Majesty's exclusive favor."
The raindrops kept hitting Song Zhao's beautiful face, setting off her beauty like a peony blossoming in a storm.
Although the petals were wet, the roots remained upright.
Once her upper body was drenched again, Song Zhao closed the lattice window herself.
She took the towel from Yun Shan's hand and started drying her wet hair while speaking plainly, "From the moment His Majesty had Jiang Deshun personally escort me out of Chaoyang Palace, I knew I couldn't avoid punishment for Zhang Jiugui's negligence.
To offset his crimes, Zhang Jiugui will definitely try to find a way through me. He knows I have the emperor's favor so he'll likely dutifully tell His Majesty about my situation after returning to the palace.
Just now when Noble Consort Li reprimanded me in the courtyard, I saw a figure slipping by the palace gate from the corner of my eye. I guessed it was Zhang Jiugui spying.
If it really was him, it'd be even better for him to see Noble Consort Li mistreating me like that and report it to His Majesty. This way, when I fall ill tomorrow, His Majesty can see what his favor has brought me and feel guilty and remorseful.
If Zhang Jiugui didn't see anything, it doesn't matter. His Majesty wanted me to wait until the rain stopped before leaving tonight, but I insisted on following protocol and came back in the rain, thus catching my illness."
After hearing this, Yun Shan was even more puzzled. "But what's the point of getting sick? When Noble Consort Li caught a cold, His Majesty didn't pay her any attention."
Song Zhao sneered. "Her illness was her own stupidity. But my sickness is because of His Majesty. It's just a common cold, no big deal, but an illness caught for a man will make him empathize and feel heartache down to his bones."
After a night of torment, Song Zhao did catch a cold and developed a high fever the next morning, as expected.
It was her first time serving the emperor, so she had to pay respects to the Empress no matter what.
Today during greetings, the other concubines saw that the red rashes on her face had faded. Although still a little sickly, her beauty remained exceptional, inevitably stirring some vigilance in them.
Consort Yun insinuated, "Song Zhao is so gorgeous. With such beauty, it's a pity she only got the title of Promise. She's really done an injustice, poor girl."
Consort Yin chimed in, "You've been sick for so long without getting better despite all the medicine. Yet one visit to His Majesty and you recovered swiftly? It seems the dragon's aura in Chaoyang Palace really nourishes, the saying is evidently true."
"Cough, cough..." Song Zhao coughed lightly twice and got up to politely reply, "This concubine's persistent illness has finally been cured, entirely thanks to the meticulous care from all the noble consorts. I will forever remember my sisters' kindness in my heart and never dare to forget."
Neither Consort Yun nor Consort Yin called for her to rise. They just glanced at her standing respectfully.
It was the Empress who gently said, "We're all family, there's no need for such formal greetings between sisters. Please sit."
"This concubine is most grateful to Her Majesty the Empress."
After Song Zhao sat down, Consort Chen said, "Oh my, now that you've served the emperor, all the new concubines have received his favor. This really calls for celebration."
She gently stroked her hair and tilted her head, seeming to smile yet not smile as she looked to the Empress on the phoenix throne. "When I was favored in the past, His Majesty spent four or five out of every ten days by my side. As I recall, Her Majesty often advised His Majesty to favor all equally. Her Majesty must be very happy now, right?"
The Empress looked at her with gentle eyes and gave a tranquil smile. "It brings me joy when everyone is favored. A harmonious harem brings His Majesty peace. Naturally I'm delighted."
The corners of Consort Chen's eyebrows lifted and her smile grew even more smug. "Yes, though if I remember correctly, it's been two or three months since His Majesty last summoned Her Majesty to serve him, right? Of course, Her Majesty has a chronic illness that prevents her from such strenuous activities."
The Empress' smile instantly froze at these words.
"Consort Shu pays her respects to Her Majesty the Empress."
The palace maid's announcement broke the awkward atmosphere.
Like everyone else, Song Zhao turned her gaze to the doorway.
She saw Consort Shu wearing a wide, ornately embroidered cape with extravagant pearls and ornaments. Her left hand held her waist while her right cradled her very swollen belly. Four palace maids surrounded her, taking care to prevent any mishaps.
Consort Shu stood below the hall, seeming to want to bow to the Empress. The Empress quickly said, "In your condition, such etiquette is unnecessary. Qing Yue, help your mistress sit."
After Consort Shu sat down, she smiled and said, "It's been nearly a month since I've paid respects to Her Majesty in this summer heat. Today it finally cooled after last night's rain, so I hurried over."
The Empress said, "Given your pregnancy, I'd already permitted you need not come pay respects, yet you insist on perfect etiquette without the slightest carelessness."
"My respect for Her Majesty comes from the bottom of my heart, so of course I cannot be the slightest bit negligent," Consort Shu said loudly, intentionally glancing at Consort Chen triumphantly. "Unlike some who, emboldened by a few days of favor, can't even distinguish between proper hierarchy."
Consort Yun always looked down on Consort Chen's arrogance from favoritism. Hearing Consort Shu bring up the topic, she chimed in, "So what if she was favored for a few days? For us consorts and imperial concubines, the most important thing is to continue the emperor's lineage. Consort Shu's pregnancy is about six months along now, right?"
Consort Shu stroked her belly and smiled in agreement, "That's right."
"Then you must be extra careful and watch your every move, especially avoiding falls and bumps." Consort Yun said, then smiled and asked Consort Chen, "Wouldn't you agree, Consort Chen?"
