Upon hearing Song Zhao's words, both Yun Shan and Xiao Fuzi fell silent.
With the Empress losing favor and Consort Chen already gaining prominence due to her pregnancy, if she were to be promoted to Noble Consort, her threat to Song Zhao would be no less than that of the former Empress.
They were both anxious, but then they saw Song Zhao smiling and saying, "This is excellent news. Consort Chen is already the highest-ranking consort, and her maternal family has made numerous military achievements in the previous dynasty. She has also received an auspicious sign of pregnancy. Our dynasty has never had a Noble Consort before, and if we were to confer the title, it would only be fitting for Consort Chen's exceptional qualities."
Yun Shan and Xiao Fuzi exchanged puzzled glances, unable to comprehend the situation.
Song Zhao then asked Xiao Fuzi, "When you went to the Bureau today to measure the clothes for Consort Chen, were you the only one who knew about it?"
Xiao Fuzi replied, "Not only me. When I asked about it, there were many palace maids passing by. However, I don't know if they heard or not."
Song Zhao chuckled and said, "If Consort Chen can truly be promoted to Noble Consort, it would be a momentous occasion. Such a joyful event shouldn't be kept secret, right? Find a few unfamiliar eunuchs and figure out a way to spread the news without leaving any traces."
After saying this, Song Zhao's smile receded slightly, and she instructed Xiao Fuzi, "Remember, inform all the newly-arrived consorts about this. As the main consort, I must not only think about myself but also consider the future of the newcomers. They all speak sweetly as if their words are coated in honey. Given this opportunity to curry favor with Consort Chen, perhaps their path in the palace will be much smoother if Consort Chen is pleased."
Upon hearing this, a flicker of understanding flashed in Xiao Fuzi's eyes, and she immediately grasped Song Zhao's intention.
"Don't worry, Your Majesty. I know what to do," Xiao Fuzi replied.
As Xiao Fuzi hurried to carry out her task, Song Zhao called her back and instructed, "Later, I will have Yun Shan select some jewelry from the treasury. Since Tong Changzai served me for the first time yesterday, it's customary to reward her. After you finish your task, come back and collect the jewelry, then go and deliver it to her."
"I understand," Xiao Fuzi acknowledged.
Once Xiao Fuzi left, Yun Shan massaged Song Zhao's slightly swollen legs, a result of her advanced pregnancy, and said, "Why doesn't Your Majesty allow me to deliver the reward? Is it because you're afraid others might think you're trying to win over Tong Changzai?"
Yun Shan was Song Zhao's personal maidservant, and once Song Zhao was conferred the title of consort, Yun Shan would gain the status of an aunt. Naturally, her position would be different from that of ordinary servants.
If Yun Shan personally delivered the reward to Rongyue, it would appear as if Song Zhao attached great importance to her, and others might suspect an ulterior motive.
However, Xiao Fuzi was assigned to serve Song Zhao only after she entered the palace, and others were unaware of the deeper connection between them.
They would not think that Song Zhao cared much about Rongyue's rise in favor.
Moreover, with everyone in the harem keeping a close eye on Song Zhao's belly, her favor was increasing day by day.
At this time, the closer Song Zhao was to Rongyue, the more harm it would cause her.
These were simple truths that anyone could understand.
Yet Yun Shan's ability to grasp them with a single statement impressed Song Zhao, who looked at her with lowered eyes and smiled, saying, "You've become even more perceptive of my thoughts lately."
Yun Shan also smiled, "I know I am foolish and clumsy, but Xiao Fuzi is clever. I will learn from him with all my heart."
She took a soft goose feather cushion and placed it on Song Zhao's waist to make her more comfortable.
"When I follow the mistress, every word and action of mine represents the mistress. I used to have a clumsy tongue and often said the wrong things without realizing it. There are many people in the palace who watch for the mistress's mistakes. Even if I can't assist the mistress, I certainly cannot burden you."
"What burden?" Song Zhao lightly stroked Yun Shan's forehead, speaking with great care, "It is thanks to your protection that I am safe and sound."
The young girl blushed and felt somewhat embarrassed, saying, "Then I will go to the treasury and pick some ordinary jewelry so that our gifts won't be too conspicuous."
Song Zhao smiled and nodded, letting her attend to it.
Later in the day, after Xiao Fuzi had taken care of everything and returned to the palace to report to Song Zhao, she said, "According to the mistress's instructions, the news has already spread. It has gone through several channels, and no one will know that it originated from our Changle Palace.
As for Consort Hui, when the servant went to deliver the gift to her, almost all the other concubines had already expressed their intentions. Our gift was placed in front of the gifts sent by Consort Chen and Consort Ying, and it appeared simple to the point of being perfunctory."
At that moment, Song Zhao was embroidering a bellyband for the child in her womb. After hearing Xiao Fuzi's report, she simply responded with a faint "Hmm."
Usually at this time, Xiao Fuzi would have already tactfully withdrawn.
But today, he stood by Song Zhao's side for a while without moving.
Song Zhao stopped her needlework and looked up at him, asking, "Is there something else?"
Xiao Fuzi scratched the back of his head and whispered, "When the servant went to deliver the gift to Consort Hui just now, she happened to be playing sandbag toss with the palace maids. She was focused on catching the sandbags and didn't pay attention to others. She accidentally bumped into Consort Hui. The servant reached out to help Consort Hui and happened to feel her pulse..."
"What's wrong with her?"
"Consort Hui... her pulse is weak and slippery, and there seems to be a slight reverse flow of qi and blood. People with this kind of pulse either have a serious illness or..."
Xiao Fuzi hesitated and swallowed the rest of his words for a long time.
Song Zhao said, "You know that before the new consorts enter the palace, they are carefully examined by the imperial physician. If they have a serious illness, they cannot enter the palace. So whatever you wanted to say with the rest of your words, just say it."
Only then did Xiao Fuzi say, "The servant speculates that Consort Hui must have taken a contraceptive drug..."
Upon hearing this, Song Zhao couldn't help but feel a bit uneasy.
Rongyue had just entered the palace, and Xiao Jingheng was hoping for more offspring, so the contraceptive drug was definitely not given by him.
Moreover, Rongyue was a very cautious person. Even if someone wanted to harm her, they wouldn't easily succeed.
Therefore...
This contraceptive drug must have been taken by herself.
Song Zhao didn't dwell too much on Rongyue's motives for doing this. She simply asked Xiao Fuzi, "If she really took that thing, how long will this kind of pulse continue?"
Xiao Fuzi said, "This item is most likely the Nine Cold Powder. It is made by combining nine ingredients with yin and cold properties, such as Dangmenzi, Linglingxiang, and Canzibu. Its medicinal effects are powerful, but they come and go quickly. If taken occasionally, the symptoms will last for at most a day and then disappear without a trace."
After speaking, he added with some concern, "But if these yin and cold ingredients are taken for a long time to prevent pregnancy, it may damage the body. In severe cases... it is likely impossible to conceive for the rest of one's life."
Song Zhao's gaze dimmed for a moment.
She knew well that Rongyue had a strong and stubborn personality. If she didn't like someone, she would never comply with their wishes.
However, Song Zhao didn't expect that Rongyue would resort to such self-damaging methods to silently resist.
Although Song Zhao felt that Rongyue's approach was inappropriate, she wouldn't try to persuade her.
Even though they were sisters, they were both women who had passed the age of marriage.
As adults, they had the right to choose their own paths in life.
Whether it was good or bad, warm or cold, they knew it best themselves, and there was no need for others to interfere.
So Song Zhao simply said, "Everyone has their own aspirations. Don't bother yourself with other people's affairs. If she doesn't want favor or offspring, just let her be. Pretend you don't know about this matter."
