According to what Kang Yubin said,
Noble Consort Xiao's death was purely an accident.
Ever since Noble Consort Xiao gave birth to the little prince who suffered from ichthyosis, although Xiao Jingheng didn't show anything on the surface, the fact that the child was not allowed to be fed with jade milk and still didn't have a name even though he was nearly a month old showed that he was not favored by the Emperor.
The servants in the palace were accustomed to fawning on the powerful and bullying the meek,
so gradually, the servants attending Noble Consort Xiao also became lazy,
and just went through the motions when doing their daily chores.
Noble Consort Xiao had lost favor, so even if she scolded those servants, she couldn't intimidate them. If she offended them again, they would make more trouble for her in secret, which would be even worse.
So she could only swallow the grievance for the sake of her child, and do everything herself.
Every day before the fourth watch, she would get up and hurry to the sweet spring well in the east of the Imperial Garden to carry buckets of water back to the palace.
But this morning, she accidentally fell into the well,
and that place was so remote that there wasn't even anyone around at that early hour.
She went there to fetch water to save her child's life,
but unexpectedly, she lost her own life in that well instead.
After listening to Kang Yubin’s whole story, Song Zhao felt stifled and nauseated,
while Consort Chen said angrily:
“Those lowly servants dare to pick and choose whom to serve? How preposterous! No wonder I've always said those cheap slaves can never be fully tamed.”
Hearing Consort Chen’s words, Kang Yubin’s expression clearly showed that he was somewhat unhappy,
but Consort Chen just gave him a dismissive glance,
“Go pass on my words, all the servants attending Zhaochun Palace are to be halved their salary for half a year! The eunuchs are to be thrown to work at the fourth warehouse, and palace maids will not be allowed to retire even after reaching 25 years old. Let’s see if they still dare to mistreat their masters!”
Kang Yubin assented and took his leave,
just as he ran into Xiao Yinzi at the palace gate.
Xiao Yinzi came to deliver Xiao Jingheng’s order at this time, of course.
After giving proper greetings to Consort Chen, he said:
“Reporting to Consort Chen, you must have already heard about what happened with Noble Consort Xiao. His Majesty is tied up with government affairs and cannot take care of everything, so it is His Majesty’s wish that you handle the afterlife matters of Noble Consort Xiao at your discretion.”
From Xiao Yinzi's tone, Song Zhao sensed some strangeness,
but Consort Chen didn’t think there was anything wrong. Instead, she asked:
“What happened to Noble Consort Xiao is indeed very pitiful. She should be buried with full honors. However, what about the Crown Prince’s side...”
Xiao Yinzi quickly said, “His Majesty said all these matters are left to Consort Chen to handle as you wish. Just follow the precedents in everything.”
Consort Chen was silent for a moment, then said faintly: “I see, you may leave.”
As soon as Xiao Yinzi had stepped out of the palace door, she looked at Song Zhao and said somewhat helplessly:
“Follow precedents? When my Father-in-law's Consort Jing gave birth to the Fourth Prince, she died from a difficult labor afterwards. The Fourth Prince was born sickly, so Father-in-law sent him to recuperate at the Summer Retreat Manor. And what happened afterward? He didn't live past two years old and died prematurely.”
Indeed. And it was precisely because of this that Xiao Jingheng asked Consort Chen to follow precedents and handle this matter.
If Consort Chen were also to send the little prince to recuperate at the Summer Retreat Manor, given the little prince’s current illness, he probably wouldn’t even make it past six months.
When the infant dies prematurely, and it was Consort Chen’s idea to send him there, what would it have to do with Xiao Jingheng?
It was obvious that Xiao Jingheng didn’t want to keep that ill-fated child alive,
yet Consort Chen somehow failed to see through this level of reasoning. Instead, she worriedly said:
“After all, it’s still His Majesty’s child. How could we just leave it at that? No, we need to plan this properly.”
She raised her hand to summon two palace maids and ordered them:
“Go gather all the imperial consorts and concubines and tell them I have matters to discuss with them.”
While waiting for them to come back, Song Zhao quietly instructed Xiao Fuzi:
“It’s time for me to take the medicine to protect the fetus. Consort Chen wants to talk to us now so I probably can’t slip away for the moment. Since Chang Le Palace is not far, go get it for me.”
Xiao Fuzi took her leave. Soon after, the imperial consorts and concubines arrived back successively.
When everyone had gathered, Consort Chen cut straight to the chase:
“Noble Consort Xiao unfortunately passed away. Her child still needs to be taken care of by someone. I and Imperial Concubine Yi have our own pregnancies to tend to, so we can’t raise the child close by. As for Imperial Concubine Hui, she’s still childish. I won’t consider her.
Among the rest, Consort Yin, Consort Yun, and Consort Yao, discuss among yourselves and give me a definite answer on who will be the child’s foster mother.”
As soon as Consort Chen finished speaking, the others immediately showed reluctance on their faces.
Consort Yao spoke first: “This concubine cannot do it. Consort Chen knows I’m muddle-headed. Also, you have to take special care of Noble Consort Xiao’s child, I’m afraid I’m not up to such an important task.”
Consort Yin then said: “Wasn’t there precedent for this in the previous dynasty? Since the birth mother can’t raise him herself, and the child is ill, then just send him to the Summer Retreat Manor.”
Her voice grew smaller and smaller, and she muttered under her breath at the end:
“His Majesty doesn’t care for him anyway. Who would want to take on such an ill-omened thing at this time?”
As Xiao Jingheng was currently furious with Consort Yun over the matter of choosing the Empress, she certainly wouldn't dare provoke Xiao Jingheng’s taboo at this moment either. So she also echoed Consort Yin’s words:
“I also think Consort Yin makes sense. Why don’t we just...”
“Alright, enough!”
Consort Chen irritably cut her off, and impartially threw each of them a dirty look. She complained resentfully:
“All you think about is yourselves, yet still dare to shamelessly say you’re afraid of ill omens? As if His Majesty would especially favor you if you don’t raise this child. Just look at what a mess you all are.”
Having finished venting, she heaved a short sigh. Pressing her fingertips to her temple, she knitted her delicate brows and said:
“Fine, just send the child to the Summer Retreat Manor. Instruct the manors to arrange two imperial physicians to carefully attend to him. We’ll leave his fate to Heaven.”
