Zhang Jiugui that monkey spirit, after dropping these words, limped and ran away.
When Noble Consort Li's ornamented palanquin arrived just now, she eagerly stood at the door to watch.
When Yun Shan and Zhang Jiugui were talking at the palace gate, their voices were extremely low, like whispering. Others could not hear what they said.
Noble Consort Li only saw Zhang Jiugui leave. She was still thinking that he had heard Song Zhao was ill, so he hurried back to report to Xiao Jingheng and took down Song Zhao's green plaque in passing.
After all, when she caught a cold, had not the Steward's Office taken down her green plaque?
This was good. She stood in front of Yun Shan, blocking her way, and said with a flattering laugh:
"What? Your young master is ill, and you still want to serve by her side? To have sweet dreams?"
Yun Shan did not plan to pay attention to Noble Consort Li. She hurriedly bowed and wanted to leave.
But Noble Consort Li suddenly lost her temper and slapped Yun Shan.
Yun Shan covered her red cheeks and looked at Noble Consort Li. Noble Consort Li looked at people arrogantly down her nose.
"Maids following a daughter of a concubine do not understand etiquette! I am a Noble Consort, and Song Zhao is just an Imperial Concubine. When I speak to her, she must listen to me respectfully. Who do you think you are?"
Yun Shan felt wronged in her heart, but what could she do?
The status in the harem was like the official titles in the previous dynasty. The higher rank could oppress people.
No matter how wronged she felt, she had to endure it, otherwise it would implicate Song Zhao.
"Noble Consort Li, please restrain your anger. This slave knows her mistake. This slave does not mean to slight Noble Consort Li. I was just anxious because my young miss is ill and wanted to hurry back to attend to her."
"Humph! It's just a cold, it won't kill anyone. Hasn't she pretended to be weak and pitiful to gain sympathy in front of the Empress all day today?"
Noble Consort Li said, pushing Yun Shan, "Go back and tell your young miss that I hate pretenders the most! Tell her to restrain herself! Get lost!"
Yun Shan endured her tears and nodded obediently before leaving.
When she returned to the door of the West Side Palace, she quickly wiped away the tears from the corners of her eyes, took a deep breath to adjust her emotions until her expression appeared normal, then she pushed open the door and went in.
She replied to Song Zhao, "Young miss, I have told Old Zhang as you instructed. You guessed right. The shadow swaying in front of the palace gate last night was indeed him."
Song Zhao lay on the couch, very weakly nodding her head.
Yun Shan touched her forehead. She was clearly burning up more severely than in the afternoon. Yun Shan anxiously said, "Young miss, why don't we ask the Imperial Physician? Letting the fever go on like this is not a solution."
Song Zhao casually said, "No need for us to ask. The Imperial Physician will come by himself later." Then feeling a little thirsty, she looked at Yun Shan and said, "Go get me... What happened to your face?"
Only then did she notice that Yun Shan's left cheek was slightly swollen, as if she had been beaten.
Yun Shan hurriedly turned her head away, avoiding Song Zhao's eyes, stammering, "It's... it's nothing. I just bumped into something myself..."
"Nonsense. With eyes on your head, how could you bump your face walking on flat ground?" Song Zhao's dark eyes narrowed as she asked, "Was it Noble Consort Li?"
Seeing that she could not hide it, Yun Shan told Song Zhao what had happened in the courtyard.
In her words, she did not mention her grievances, but persuaded Song Zhao, "Young miss, don't take it to heart. Noble Consort Li is just jealous that you receive favor. That's why she says such sour words."
"She can't spit out ivory from her dog mouth. Let her say whatever she wants. I won't quibble with a mad dog." Song Zhao gently stroked Yun Shan's cheeks and said distressingly, "But she should not have hit you."
Yun Shan pursed her lips and shook her head. "This slave is fine. Young miss does not need to worry about this slave. For slaves, where is there no beatings and scoldings? But young miss's health is most important. Let this slave get you a cup of warm water to wet your throat."
After bringing the water back, Yun Shan supported Song Zhao up. Song Zhao only drank a sip, then said:
"Noble Consort Li has been in the palace for a month and must have offended many people. I did not intend to deal with her, just let her rise and fall on her own. But since she is asking for death herself, why don't I fulfill her?"
She glanced out the window. It was dinner time now. The palace maids were sending a stream of food to the main hall.
The main resident of the main hall was Consort Yao, the main consort of Yao Hua Palace.
She liked liveliness. Usually at lunch or dinner, she would have Song Zhao and Noble Consort Li eat together with her.
Song Zhao thought for a moment, then told Yun Shan, "Go and tell Consort Mother that I am feeling very uncomfortable and afraid of passing the sickness to her and Noble Consort Li, so I won't go for dinner today." She paused, then added, "Go after a quarter hour."
Yun Shan thought that even if Song Zhao did not go for dinner, Consort Yao would not ask her anything.
And it looked like dinner was just about to start in the main hall. Going after a quarter hour, Consort Yao and Noble Consort Li would have finished eating. Was there any need to make a trip?
But since her mistress told her to do so, there must be reason behind it. So she did not ask. After accompanying Song Zhao for a quarter hour in the West Side Palace, she went to the main hall.
Sure enough, when she arrived, Consort Yao and Noble Consort Li were almost finished with their meal.
Yun Shan said, "Consort Mother Yao, ten thousand blessings. Noble Consort Li, ten thousand blessings. My young miss is severely ill and afraid of passing the sickness to you two young misses, so she will not join you for dinner today."
Upon hearing this, Noble Consort Li gave a cold snort, "If she doesn't want to come then don't come. No one invited her. She thinks so highly of herself?"
But Consort Yao's heart sank.
After all, Song Zhao was one of her palace's residents. If she did not even ask about Song Zhao, and something untoward really happened, she would inevitably be scolded.
So she pretended to show concern, "This Consort thought Imperial Concubine Song was better. Is she more severely ill?"
She took a silk handkerchief to wipe her mouth, got up and said, "This Consort will go take a look at her."
Since Consort Yao wanted to see Song Zhao, Noble Consort Li naturally could not miss this opportunity to see Song Zhao make a fool of herself. She eagerly followed along.
The two of them entered the West Side Palace. Consort Yao sat by Song Zhao's couch, held her hand and asked with concern,
"Poor child. Such a spirited young lady burning up like this? Why didn't you let this Consort know so I could have sent someone to summon the Imperial Physician to take a look?"
"Cough cough..." Song Zhao weakly propped herself up and respectfully said, "Thank you for Consort Mother's care. This concubine's condition is not serious. Sleeping will make me better."
Noble Consort Li had also caught a cold these past two days. From start to finish, Consort Yao did not ask about her at all. Thinking about this, she felt even more certain that Song Zhao was deliberately pretending to be pitiful to gain sympathy.
Glancing at Yun Shan standing to the side, and seeing a seemingly smiling expression on Yun Shan's face, she became even more convinced of her speculation.
So disregarding Consort Yao's presence, she lost her temper at Song Zhao,
"What are you pretending for? When others are sick, you pretend to be sick too. But when you catch a cold, you act as if you have a terminal illness?"
Yun Shan explained, "Noble Consort, you should not say that. Everyone has a different constitution. My young miss has been frail and sickly since she was home. She..."
"What qualifies a slave to interrupt when the mistress is speaking?"
Noble Consort Li glared at Yun Shan, cutting off her words. Then she continued, "Your mistress is just a daughter of a concubine. She was also unloved at home. If she was frail and sickly, how could she live to over ten years at home? How is it that she could live at home, but once she entered the palace, she can't stand the wind or sun?"
Consort Yao felt Noble Consort Li's words were offensive, so she advised, "As fellows under the same roof, Noble Consort Li, you shouldn't be so harsh with your words."
Hearing that Noble Consort Li showed signs of stopping, Song Zhao deliberately coughed twice, pretending to be even weaker.
"Cough cough... Noble Consort misunderstands me. If I have unknowingly done something to displease you, please tell me so I can correct it."
Song Zhao pretended to be so weak she could barely support herself, as if she might cough up blood at any moment. This made Noble Consort Li even more furious. She scolded:
"Are you done? If you're really so ill you're about to die, go summon the Imperial Physician! You don't call the Imperial Physician because you're afraid he will expose that you're not actually that severe! Who are you pretending to be pitiful for? Don't think you can..."
"The Emperor arrives!"
Noble Consort Li had just cursed halfway when she was cut off by the inner attendant's announcement from outside the door.
Upon hearing this, Song Zhao laughed in her heart:
Of course she was pretending to be pitiful for Xiao Jingheng to see.
And look, the spectator had arrived right on cue.
