Xiao Jingheng had left, but the fire in his heart that Song Zhao had stirred up was now burning brightly.
With the fire stoked, being rejected by Song Zhao only made him want to go extinguish it elsewhere.
So Song Zhao had Yun Shan summon Xi Ying.
Ever since the incident where Song Zhao had Xi Ying's finger cut off, Xi Ying had been terrified of her.
In her daily tasks, she didn't dare be negligent anymore. And when privately serving Song Zhao, she was even more careful not to make the slightest mistake.
Seeing Song Zhao now, she kept her head low, eyes shifting about nervously.
Song Zhao laughed and joked, "What are you afraid of? Am I going to eat you? Raise your head."
Xi Ying slowly lifted her head and looked at Song Zhao apprehensively. "W-What are my lady's instructions?"
Song Zhao said, "Tomorrow when you go give a reply to Consort Chen, tell her that tonight the Emperor originally wanted to stay here with me, but I kept persuading him to go see her instead. Understand?"
"This servant obeys!"
Xi Ying nodded profusely. Song Zhao casually waved her off to leave.
Yun Shan asked, "My lady, how did you know the Emperor would go see Consort Chen tonight?"
Song Zhao coldly laughed. "Whoever he wants to see, he'll see. How could someone as insignificant as me sway his thoughts? I'm only doing this to let Consort Chen know that I'm on her side. That's enough."
*
Late into the night, lights filled Feng Luan Palace.
The Empress sat on a heated cushion, a needle and thread in hand. She was carefully embroidering a lifelike five-clawed golden dragon on the yellow fabric.
Each scale on the dragon's body had to be embroidered seven or eight times with a flying needle technique to achieve that shimmering texture when viewed from afar.
It was clear the Empress had put in great effort to embroider this dragon.
She was so focused on her embroidery that she didn't even hear her head palace maid Frost Like enter.
"Ten thousand blessings to the Empress."
Frost Like bowed to the Empress and set two candle stands on the table to better illuminate her work.
"Embroidery takes the most concentration. Your Majesty must be careful with your eyes."
The Empress nodded with a smile but her hands kept moving. "The Emperor's birthday is in a month. My illness recently delayed my progress so I must hurry with my work."
Frost Like said, "Your Majesty started this robe the day after New Year's Eve and has spent eight months on it already. The detailed golden dragon motif isn't easy. And you refuse to let anyone help. This servant truly worries for you."
The Empress continued her stitching. "This is my heartfelt gift for the Emperor. His comfort brings me joy. I don't feel it's hard work at all."
After finishing an inch of trim, she asked, "Did you come to see me about something?"
"Reporting to Your Majesty, the Emperor just demoted Noble Consort Li to be a perpetual attendant and halved her allowance for six months."
"Oh?" The Empress's hands stilled. "Wasn't he quite fond of her? Why the sudden decision?"
Frost Like said, "Li didn't know her place. She was too ostentatious and spoke without thinking. The other day at greeting, she offended Consort Shu. I heard she committed some offense against the Emperor this time, which is why he punished her. Those in the imperial presence won't say more. This servant doesn't know the details."
The Empress's expression was calm as she resumed her needlework. "Last time she offended Consort Shu, I could still speak for her. But offending the Emperor, there's nothing I can do. Let her rely on her own blessings."
"Empress, the Emperor is here!" A palace maid urgently announced from outside before the Empress's joy showed on her face.
She quickly handed her unfinished robe to Frost Like to put away. After tidying up, she went to the main hall to greet him.
Just as she entered, Xiao Jingheng had arrived.
The Empress bowed down, "Ten thousand blessings to the Emperor."
Xiao Jingheng grabbed her arm to help her rise. "Is your health better today?"
The Empress smiled gently. "Thank you for your concern, Your Majesty. Much improved."
She took the purple jade teapot to pour him tea, but he stopped her.
"Every time I come, you busy yourself with serving me. Leave that to the servants. You're the Empress, there's no need."
But the Empress said, "It's no trouble. Serving Your Majesty is my duty. I dare not neglect my wifely duties."
She insisted on pouring him a cup and getting a soft cushion for his comfort.
Then she began ordering Frost Like to prepare tea and night snacks.
Xiao Jingheng watched her efforts silently, feeling not touched but annoyed.
The Empress was too intent on following the rules befitting a proper wife―magnanimous to the concubines but solicitous toward him. As a result, they had lost much of the intimacy between husband and wife.
By the time the Empress finally sat down across from him, Xiao Jingheng said,
"Just now, I demoted Li of Yao Hua Palace to be a perpetual attendant and halved her allowance. I'm informing you as head of the harem."
The consorts were not allowed to inquire about court news. Although the Empress already knew of Li's demotion, she still had to pretend ignorance before Xiao Jingheng.
"Oh? Wasn't Your Majesty quite fond of Li? Why the sudden decision?"
Xiao Jingheng said, "She didn't know her place."
The Empress said, "Li is somewhat rash but she didn't seem ill-intentioned. Lowering her status can be considered a harsh punishment. But halving her allowance for six months means she'll have nothing during the winter and holidays. That would be difficult for her."
Xiao Jingheng raised his brow at her. His left hand under the table slowly rubbed his thumb ring. After some time he said,
"What does the Empress think should be done then?"
As expected of the virtuous and wise Empress, she said,
"Perhaps halving her allowance for three months as a minor punishment to warn her severely?"
Xiao Jingheng nodded. "We'll do as you proposed."
At that moment, Frost Like brought in the night snacks, all Xiao Jingheng's favorites, as the Empress knew his tastes well and had them prepared daily in case of his visits.
"Your Majesty, last time you said you liked this chicken shreds swallow's nest soup. I tweaked the recipe by adding gelatin and bamboo shoots. Please try it."
The Empress brought him a steaming bowl but Xiao Jingheng didn't even take it.
"I've eaten my fill at dinner. I'm not hungry now. You eat it yourself. I won't disturb your rest. I'm leaving."
With that, he swept out his sleeves and left without even acknowledging the Empress's bows.
Frost Like helped the stunned Empress up from the icy floor, whispering, "Why did Your Majesty speak for Li when she offended the Emperor?"
The Empress wondered too. She was trying to display her wisdom and virtue by advising leniency for Li. Why did it upset Xiao Jingheng instead?
But she forgot one thing:
Xiao Jingheng had only told her he demoted Li to be a perpetual attendant and halved her allowance. But he never said how much allowance he cut.
Since he didn't specify, how did the Empress know the precise details?
