The rain continued without signs of stopping until the second day when Xiao Jingheng went to attend the early morning court session.
It was mid-March, the time when rain was abundant during the return of southern spring in the capital city.
The wet and slippery roads made it unnecessary for Xiao Jingheng to pay respects to Consort Chen today, as he had promised.
However, in the end, Song Zhao still went.
Upon Xiao Jingheng's instructions, the empress dowager stayed in the Kun Ning Palace to rest and focus on nurturing her pregnancy, while the affairs of the harem were entrusted to Consort Chen alone.
Long desiring the position of the empress, Consort Chen now held such privileges, and naturally, she assumed the authority of the empress, scolding the concubines daily to establish her power.
"Regarding Concubine Liu's case, although it was announced that she died suddenly, you all know full well what she had done and how she met her end.
When the empress handled the affairs of the harem, she was always lenient and lacked proper rules. But now, if it were me, I would rule with strict discipline, instilling fear in people's hearts. Only through strict governance will they dare not make any mistakes or missteps."
She cast a proud and contemptuous gaze at everyone.
Seeing that everyone felt threatened and avoided direct eye contact, she became even more unbridled.
After lazily sighing, she lightly stroked her temples and sneered,
"All of you better behave yourselves and not invite trouble. Do you understand?"
Under her intimidating presence, everyone complied, not daring to utter a word of disagreement.
Once they all responded respectfully, Consort Chen theatrically declared,
"That's enough for today. You may leave now."
The other concubines were unwilling to stay even for a moment longer, fleeing as if their feet were coated in oil, faster than anyone else.
Only Song Zhao remained seated, motionless. After everyone had left, she stood up and stood respectfully in the hall, bowing to Consort Chen.
"Chen, I thank you."
Consort Chen did not respond to her words but instead instructed Qiu Lan, "Take some people and clean up the flower leaves in the courtyard that were dampened by the rain. I find it annoying to look at."
As the palace attendants all withdrew from the hall, leaving only the two of them, Consort Chen walked to Song Zhao's side and pretended to help her up.
"As a pregnant woman, there's no need for you to be so formal."
Speaking close to Song Zhao's ear, with a voice that only the two of them could hear, she coldly laughed and said,
"I can help you clear Emperor's suspicions about you, but you must remember what you promised me. Do you understand?"
Song Zhao immediately responded, "Consort, I am deeply grateful and will never forget your kindness."
"Tsk tsk, you have such a sweet tongue."
Consort Chen lightly caressed Song Zhao's cheek, and her gilded armor-clad fingertip slid inch by inch, finally stopping at the corner of Song Zhao's lips.
The gilded tip of the armor sparkled brightly but was exceptionally sharp. With a slight force from Consort Chen, it caused Song Zhao to wince in pain.
Seeing her reaction, Consort Chen raised her eyebrow triumphantly and said,
"Of course, you must remember. Otherwise, the poisoned wine that Concubine Liu drank would have been poured into your belly."
Her delicate and soft hand continued moving inch by inch,
Passing over Song Zhao's fair and slender neck and her ample and rounded chest,
Until it reached her slightly protruding abdomen, where it finally paused, gently caressing it.
After a moment, Consort Chen laughed heartily and said,
"Go back and take good care of yourself. I'm looking forward to you giving birth to a chubby little prince for the emperor."
*
This time, Song Zhao was able to escape the predicament thanks to the behind-the-scenes efforts of Consort Chen.
Ever since Qingyue revealed the evil deeds of Consort Shu, Song Zhao knew that her troubles were about to begin.
In the past, she was unjustly confined by Xiao Jingheng because of the matter with the Huzi grass (Chapter 30).
At that time, in order to protect herself, she secretly leaked the information to her family, implicating the servant girl Fu'er from the Li family, and that was how she managed to break free.
But now, Consort Shu admitted that she had placed the Huzi grass in Song Zhao's palace, which indirectly proved that Noble Consort Li had been framed in the past.
Song Zhao knew how suspicious Xiao Jingheng's mind was.
With this matter exposed, how could Xiao Jingheng not suspect her?
So, from the moment Qingyue was taken to the Judicial Department, Song Zhao had already gone to find Consort Chen.
She appeared like a desperate fool, without hiding anything, and explained the whole situation to Consort Chen clearly.
Consort Chen, half surprised and half mocking, said,
"Oh? I never expected you to have such great skills. I really underestimated you in the past. But... what do you mean by telling me all this now? Do you want me to help you? Hahaha~"
Consort Chen burst into laughter suddenly, shook her head after a while, and said, "How much do you weigh? Why should I help you? Aren't you afraid that I will personally tell the emperor about this matter?"
Song Zhao knelt in front of Consort Chen, with a dignified posture, and earnestly said,
"Because I completely trust you, Your Highness. Since I entered the palace, I have always relied on you for support in order to achieve my current status. I still hold the same belief, that no matter what I do, it is merely to stay alive."
She saw Consort Chen, though seemingly indifferent, sipping her tea without stopping her from speaking further, so she continued,
"I have never been an enemy to you, Your Highness. I am just a lowly concubine, with no family to rely on anymore. This life of mine, I'm afraid, has reached its peak of favor and affection. And the true enemy of Your Highness should be the empress, who has obstructed you in many ways!"
Sensing the dark and resentful look in Consort Chen's eyes,
Song Zhao lowered her voice and continued,
"The empress is devoid of talent, virtue, and beauty. What aspect of hers can compare to Your Highness? If Your Highness is willing to help me this time, I will be devoted to serving you in every matter from now on. Your enemies will be my enemies. Whatever Your Highness wants me to do, I will never utter a word of refusal!"
Originally, such conditions were not enough to entice Consort Chen,
She was a person full of self-confidence. Although she needed someone to deal with the empress, Consort Yun was already doing that behind the scenes, so Song Zhao seemed dispensable at this moment.
Consort Chen scrutinized Song Zhao and finally fixed her gaze on her small belly.
The flesh inside her belly was truly a treasure now.
Consort Chen lightly tapped the table with her slender fingers and pondered to herself,
The Empress and Consort Xiao are both ahead in terms of months compared to Song Zhao's pregnancy, but whether they will give birth to sons remains unknown.
If fate does not favor them and both of them give birth to princesses,
then even if the Empress can raise Consort Xiao's child, it would only be better than nothing, a futile effort.
But if at this moment, Song Zhao gives birth to a son,
wouldn't this child become a noble son?
As a noble son, his status would be superior, and Consort Chen naturally desires to raise him under her care.
After a moment of silence, Consort Chen finally spoke:
"Very well, if you want this palace to help you, you can. You said you would regard this palace's words as your guide, and you would do whatever this palace asks of you, is that correct?"
Song Zhao nodded vigorously, and Consort Chen's smile became sinister as she said:
"Excellent. This palace happens to have a task that you can assist with. After your child is born in the future, regardless of the methods you use, you must persuade the emperor to let this child be raised under this palace's care."
As she spoke, Consort Chen noticed that Song Zhao's expression was clearly panicked,
so she raised her voice even more, with a domineering tone:
"How about it? Can you do it?"
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