Yun Shan thought for a while and said, "Concubine He was originally arranged to live in Zhong Cui Palace together with the Ru clan, if not for what happened tonight, Ru clan would have been conferred as Consort tomorrow, and become the mistress of Zhong Cui Palace. Naturally she would overwhelm Concubine He. I think Concubine He did this deliberately to set a trap for Ru clan."
Song Zhao smiled coldly without saying anything.
She only thought in her heart:
These new beauties who have just entered the palace, I wonder how many are frugal lamps.
Ru Naren is ferocious but dull-witted, while Concubine He is like needles in cotton,
As for Concubine Li, she is the younger sister of the former Concubine Li. The sisters must have learned the same kind of thinking. I'm afraid she is not someone to feel assured about either.
But no matter how they make trouble,
In Song Zhao’s eyes, they are just some petty squabbling of children, only worth watching for amusement.
The letter Song Zhao had Yun Shan deliver to Rongyue earlier did not contain any urgent wish to meet with Rongyue at all.
Anyway, now that she has entered the palace, there are still many days ahead, there is no rush for the moment.
The letter only mentioned one thing, which was to ask Rongyue to cooperate with her in putting on a good show, to first suppress Ru Naren, the most valued of the new beauties, and make her suffer a loss.
This afternoon, after Yun Shan had delivered jasmine to all the new beauties in Crimson Snow Pavilion, she did not leave Crimson Snow Pavilion.
She had been hiding in Rongyue’s room all along.
At night, Yun Shan pretended to be Rongyue, deliberately letting Ru Naren see her limping out of the palace.
With Ru Naren’s temperament, she would surely kick up a fuss.
When the noise grew loud enough to alert others, they would come to see that in Crimson Snow Pavilion, every mistress and servant was present and no one was missing.
In the end, the only one to suffer greatly would be Ru Naren.
The next day, the conferment ceremony for the new beauties would be held in the Empress's palace.
Although the Empress no longer held any real power now, as long as Xiao Jingfeng did not depose her, she would still be the mistress of the inner palace, and the concubines would still have to show her due courtesy.
Song Zhao had not seen her for quite a few days either.
Seeing her today, facing the group of newcomers, she was still the same as when Song Zhao had first entered the palace and met her for the first time.
She was so benevolent and tranquil, every gesture showing the air of a mother of the nation.
Who could have imagined that a person like this actually had a heart more venomous than snakes and scorpions?
After greeting and settling down the newly entered concubines and consorts, they could go pay respects to the higher ranked consorts and concubines in the palace.
Rongyue and Concubine Li both lived in Consort Hui's Zhaochun Palace, so the two of them came together to greet Song Zhao.
Song Zhao only exchanged some polite superficial words with them.
Rongyue finished the courtesies properly then sat quietly, while Concubine Li was very assiduous, flattering Song Zhao a lot.
"In the past, my elder sister often mentioned you in her letters, saying that you entered the palace together with her, and were the most beautiful of all the beauties selected for the draft. But in this concubine's opinion, how can it be limited to just the few drafted into the palace? Consort Song Zhao, your beauty is unparalleled. Even looking throughout the entire capital, I'm afraid no one more beautiful than you can be found."
Her mouth was as sweet as honey, trying to flatter Song Zhao in every possible way, for no other reason than wanting to declare her allegiance to Song Zhao.
Song Zhao saw through her intentions, so she looked at her with a smile and said,
"In private, your elder sister actually has so many extravagant praises for me? No wonder that when we entered the palace together back then, she opposed me in overt and covert ways at every turn, causing me no end of trouble."
She gently stroked her cheek, joking, "Now that I think about it, sometimes being beautiful is not always a good thing."
Hearing this, Concubine Li immediately became uneasy.
"My elder sister didn't know any better. If she has offended Consort in any way, I apologize on her behalf."
She was about to get up and bow to ask for forgiveness. Song Zhao pressed her hand to gesture for her to remain seated,
"Because your elder sister didn't know any better, His Majesty had her executed. I see that you are quite sensible. I believe you will surely obtain a good future in the palace."
With just a few casual words from Song Zhao, Concubine Li broke out in a cold sweat.
She had originally still been fawning over Song Zhao with a smiling face, but now didn't even dare look at her bright smile, and could only sit obediently in her seat, well-behaved.
After chatting idly for a few more sentences, Song Zhao said, "All right, it's getting late, you still have to hurry to pay respects to Consort Yao. I won't keep you here any longer."
Concubine Li was the first to stand up, flustered as she bowed to Song Zhao, wanting to flee.
When she and Rongyue reached the doorway, they happened to bump into Yun Shan coming in carrying a box of inkstick.
The three ran into each other, and Concubine Li couldn't avoid collision, bumping into Yun Shan and scattering ink all over the floor.
Looking at the ink stains on the floor, Yun Shan said in distress, "Why are you two young misses in such a panicked rush? This is high quality inkstick. Our Lady had just freshly ground it to send to His Majesty, such thoughtful intention, only to have you mess it up."
Hearing this, Concubine Li immediately disclaimed responsibility,
"Consort, please discern clearly, this concubine did not bump into her, it was...it was Concubine Li who accidentally knocked into her."
Rongyue also did not explain, bowing to ask for forgiveness, "This concubine has made an unintentional mistake, please forgive me, Consort."
Seeing Rongyue admitting it just like that, Concubine Li thought she was a pushover. She immediately adopted a condescending tone,
"Our Lady had such good intentions, yet you just had to spoil it. Do you think you can gloss over it with just 'it was unintentional'?"
However, Song Zhao did not blame her.
"It doesn't matter, the inkstick and inkstone are still here, I can just grind more ink, that's all."
Rongyue said, "Since it was this concubine's fault, this concubine should make amends for it. If Consort does not despise me, please allow this concubine to stay and grind the ink for you."
Song Zhao was silent for a moment, then nodded gently, "Since you are sincere, then stay."
Hearing this, Concubine Li sneered at Rongyue. She turned to Song Zhao and said,
"Then this concubine shall take her leave first."
She thought Rongyue had offended Song Zhao right after paying respects to her for the first time, and thought she had caught her in an embarrassing situation.
Little did she know that right after she had just left, Song Zhao ordered Yun Shan to close the palace door. She intimately beckoned Rongyue to sit by her side.
The two held hands, their eyes brimming with tears even as they smiled,
"Sister Rongyue, long time no see, I hope you have been well?"
