No matter what Consort Hui said,
the Empress was certainly unwilling for her to move in with Song Zhao. The other consorts had the same thoughts.
Everyone knew Song Zhao was currently favored and doted on. Plus Consort Hui was young and had just started serving the emperor's bed, so she was fresh and new to Xiao Jingheng. He might favor and dote on her more.
If they lived together, wouldn't that make it easier for them to gang up and compete for favor in the future?
In fact, it wasn't just the others who didn't want it, even Song Zhao herself didn't want to live with Consort Hui.
No one knew what these palace women really thought in private.
Rather than keeping this unstable element by her side to become a hidden danger in the future,
she might as well not accept her from the start.
That was what Song Zhao thought, but she said:
"Sister Consort Hui, don't cry. Sister just wants to live with me, it's not that big of a deal."
Her eyes were gentle and smiling as she looked at the Empress,
"Why doesn't the Empress just grant her request? As it happens, I live alone in Changle Palace, and when I'm free I always feel bored."
The consorts were already unhappy with what Consort Hui said.
Now that even Song Zhao spoke like this, they became more vigilant.
First, Consort Chen disagreed, "You want her to live with you? Who lives in the main hall, and who lives in the side hall? How to differentiate status? Don't tell me at night you two will wrap yourselves in blankets and sleep in one bed?"
Consort Yun also said, "This is too improper. Let me ask, if in the future everyone says they are afraid to live alone and asks the Empress to rearrange the palaces, wouldn't the harem become chaotic? I could also say I'm afraid of the dark and simply move in with Consort Yin."
"Don't you dare come." Consort Yin glanced at Consort Yun with disdain. "I don't have that interest. To sleep with you in one bed, just thinking about it makes me shudder."
Consort Yun shot her a white-eyed glare in return.
"Hmph, who do you think you are, you Hu barbarian, some delicious tidbit?"
Seeing they were about to start arguing, the Empress sternly said,
"Enough, be quiet."
When everyone calmed down, she looked at Song Zhao and Consort Hui and said,
"The harem has its rules, it's not something I can do whatever I want. Consort Hui, just keep living on your own. If you're afraid, have more palace maids keep night watch in the corridor."
Consort Hui pouted. "But..."
"It's settled. You're all dismissed."
The Empress decisively dashed Consort Hui's hopes, which worked out for Song Zhao after all.
On their way out, Song Zhao saw Consort Hui was still sobbing softly, so she went up to comfort her,
"Sister, don't cry anymore. If you cry and make your eyes swell, it'll make the Emperor laugh."
Consort Hui pursed her lips and wiped her tears aggrievedly.
"The sisters all doted on me before, they didn't fuss no matter what I said, and were always giving me tasty treats. I don't know why today they've all changed..."
Song Zhao didn't know if Consort Hui really didn't understand or was just pretending to be naive.
She had served the emperor's bed, she was no longer the child who only knew to fill her stomach and posed no threat to anyone.
But Song Zhao didn't spell it out for her, only saying,
"Sister is overthinking, everyone still treats you the same as before. It's just there's never been a precedent for this, it involves the harem's rules, so of course it seems especially serious. Don't be upset, hurry back to rest."
Song Zhao thought this little storm would pass uneventfully.
It wasn't until evening meal time, when Xiao Jingheng came to her palace to accompany her, that she realized this matter was far from over.
At the time, the two of them were dining. Xiao Jingheng suddenly mentioned what had happened that morning in the Empress's palace.
"I heard Consort Hui said she wanted to move in with you this morning and got the displeasure of the joint consorts?"
Song Zhao said, "It's not that they were displeased, just that everyone observes the rules and persuaded Sister Consort a bit, which upset her."
Xiao Jingheng suddenly put down his chopsticks and grasped Song Zhao's hand.
"I don't care what she thinks. But I remember you told me before you felt stifled living alone in the palace. Today when Consort Hui said she wanted to live with you, it reminded me. She's innocent and carefree, without so many twists and turns in her thinking, and you two can chat together. I think having her keep you company to liven things up wouldn't be bad."
Hearing this, Song Zhao smiled gently,
"I didn't expect the Emperor to take such care over a casual remark I made."
Song Zhao had told Xiao Jingheng she felt stifled living alone in the palace.
But anyone could tell those were coy words hinting that she wanted Xiao Jingheng to accompany her more often.
She didn't expect Xiao Jingheng to use it as a pretext to force Consort Hui into her palace!
Song Zhao was unhappy,
but Xiao Jingheng had spoken, implicitly and explicitly showing care for her, so she couldn't decline either.
She could only say, "The Emperor's intentions are good. But Sister Consort and I are both consorts. If we live together, Sister Consort entered the palace earlier, so she should rightly have the main hall. It wouldn't be right to inconvenience her."
But Xiao Jingheng appeared indifferent to this.
"I'm having her move to keep you company and liven things up. How could she take your main hall? Guests follow the host's arrangements, naturally she should take the side hall."
Things having reached this point, Song Zhao could not say anything more, she could only force a smile and agree.
That night, Consort Hui moved over from Chunzhen Palace.
She seemed extremely delighted, pulling Song Zhao's hand while bouncing and skipping as she said, "This is great, Sister Song! Living together from now on, we'll have company!"
Smacking her lips greedily like a gluttonous cat, she whispered, "Sister Song's snacks are the tastiest, hehe~"
Song Zhao smiled. "If you like them, feel free to come over any time. I can't give Sister much else, but there's always enough snacks."
"Okay! Thank you Sister Song!"
Consort Hui seemed to live just to open her mouth. If she got one delicious bite, her whole day brightened.
She happily frolicked in the courtyard,
but accidentally tripped and took a hard fall.
Song Zhao stood in the corridor berating the palace maid. "How could you serve your mistress like this? Not even following to support her, what if she got hurt?"
But Rui'er was nonchalant, slowly walking over to Consort Hui while muttering,
"My mistress always loves playing around like this, she's not afraid of bumps and scrapes."
Later, Consort Hui even got up herself, laughing as she brushed off the dust saying she was fine.
Then Song Zhao understood.
No wonder Concubine Liu had dared to bully her before.
Even her personal palace maid didn't take good care of her, assuming her easygoing personality. How much the less would others?
Song Zhao said, "I see Sister only has two palace maids attending her? That was fine before serving the emperor's bed, but now that she's a proper young mistress, she should have a clever girl attending her. Zhihua, come here."
Zhihua bowed respectfully to Song Zhao and Consort Hui.
Song Zhao introduced, "This is Zhihua, a very capable maid of mine. From now on, let her attend Sister, alright?"
"Okay!" Consort Hui happily said sweetly, "Thank you Sister Song~"
