That day, the Empress and Song Zhao parted unhappily,
to the point that she, as the Empress, was instead oppressed by Song Zhao's aura.
The Empress should have been annoyed,
but when Shuang Ruo entered to serve the Empress after Song Zhao left, she saw the Empress sitting leisurely on the phoenix chair,
a calm smile lingering at the corners of her mouth, her hand playing with a string of honey wax Buddhist beads.
Shuang Ruo did not understand, "The Yi Consort offended you, why didn't the Empress use your status as the Empress to punish her?"
"Offended? Who saw it?"
The Empress raised her eyebrows at Shuang Ruo and said slowly, "She was only favored as a consort today, she's still the Emperor's favorite. While I have aroused the doubts of the Emperor and Empress Dowager, if I quarrel with her now, who do you think will suffer?"
Shuang Ruo thought about it and said, "Speaking of today's events, I really don't understand... before, you were worried that the Yi Consort would think the plum garden incident was done by you, and take the opportunity to retaliate against you. So you asked me to apply for leave from the Emperor, saying that you were unwell and might not even be able to attend the New Year's Eve banquet. But today the Yi Consort was favored, why did you give her such great face and personally hold the ceremony?"
The Empress sneered, "If I didn't come, she would always have doubts in her heart. I came and acted out a play with her to make her even more convinced that this was done by me. That way, the more she suspects me, the easier it will be for those lurking in the dark watching her to slander her easily."
Shuang Ruo suddenly realized, and quickly said, "So just now... did the Empress deliberately keep the Yi Consort to make things clearer to her, just to make the Yi Consort even more convinced that all these things that are unfavorable to the Crown Prince were done by you, so that she focuses on dealing with you and overlooks other things?"
The Empress laughed quite smugly, unconsciously straightening her back and sitting more properly.
"As the mother of the world, I have to weigh the six palaces. There are many intricacies in this. Although the Noble Consort is arrogant, she is just a talisman for the Emperor to restrain the Ning family. To be blunt, she can't compare to the useless embroidered pillow. On the contrary, this Song Zhao is my biggest threat."
She took a breath, lowered her eyes and fixed them on the complex phoenix patterns on the sleeves of her phoenix robe, her smile becoming more and more sinister,
"So what if she has the favor of the Emperor? She's the birth mother of the noble son, so what? No matter how arrogant she is, as long as she falls, I, the birth mother, will of course take good care of her child, so she won't feel cold down in the Yellow Springs."
"How will she feel cold?" Shuang Ruo covered her mouth and chuckled, "The Empress's status is so noble, if the Yi Consort's child can be raised under your knees, it would be a great blessing that their mother and child couldn't gain in several lifetimes!"
"Haha~" The Empress was pleased by Shuang Ruo's words. She waved her sleeves to help her up, and added,
"Then let's prepare for me to pray to the Buddha. I have to pray to all the gods and Buddhas in the sky to bestow this boundless blessing on her as soon as possible."
*
The next day.
Song Zhao had just been ranked among the four consorts, so Chang Le Palace should have been very lively with people coming and going to congratulate her.
But because of the sudden change in weather today, it was gloomy and cold,
so most of the higher-ranking concubines just sent people to bring congratulatory gifts to Song Zhao,
and among the new consorts who entered the palace, only Consort He and Consort Kang came to congratulate Song Zhao in person.
After finishing lunch, Song Zhao had originally planned to rest for a while,
but at this moment, Consort Hui came with Li Changzai and Tong Changzai.
The three of them originally lived in Zhaochun Palace, so it was common for them to come and go together.
As soon as they met, Consort Hui was very intimate with Song Zhao.
She gave Song Zhao a fire fox fur collar.
The fur was bright and glossy, thick and warm, perfect for keeping out the winter cold.
"Sister Song praised the scarf I wore last time and said she liked it very much. As soon as I saw it, I knew Sister Song would definitely like it too. So when I wrote home, I asked my father to send me another one to the palace."
As Consort Hui spoke, she fumbled with the fire fox fur collar in her hand and tried to wrap it around Song Zhao's neck.
Song Zhao did not refuse her and let her stand on tiptoe in front of her to arrange the scarf.
After it was tied, Consort Hui was even more delighted, chuckling like a child, happily saying:
"Sister Song is beautiful, this charming red really suits sister the most! Does sister like it?"
Song Zhao nodded gently with a smile. "Since you gave it to me, of course I like it very much."
To show intimacy, Song Zhao gently pinched Consort Hui's smiling, dimpled cheeks.
Later, Rongyue and Li Changzai also gave gifts to Song Zhao. Song Zhao quickly let Xiaofuzi collect them, saying that she was very happy,
and added: "Look at me, all of you have been here for half a day, only caring about talking with you and forgot to invite you in. It’s making my sisters stand in the corridor blowing wind. Come on, let's talk inside. Yunshan, bring the newly supplied Dongjiang Chuyun Xian from the Internal Service Department, and make Consort Hui a cup of hot milk tea, her favorite."
Everyone entered the main hall laughing and talking.
As soon as they entered the door and sat down, Li Changzai said:
"It’s really warm in the Yi Consort’s palace!"
Song Zhao smiled, "There is a child being raised in the palace, of course I have to worry about everything for him - fearing that he will be cold or hot. It really gives me a headache."
Consort Hui said, "Sister Song, is Chengyu asleep? I haven't seen him for a long time."
Song Zhao looked at her with a smile, "He just fell asleep. But his nap is only half an hour. When he wakes up later, I’ll have the wet nurse bring him over for you to coax him, okay?"
Consort Hui nodded again and again, also smiling happily.
After chatting for a while, the chill they brought in from outside had been completely dispelled by the warmth inside the hall. Instead, it became quite hot.
Rongyue waved her kerchief to wipe away the thin sweat on her temples, and casually said:
"When we went out, we noticed the temperature had dropped, so we specifically went back and changed into thicker clothes to pay respects to Consort. I didn't expect it to be so warm in Consort’s palace."
Song Zhao saw that her flushed face was red, so she said, "If you feel hot, you can take off your outer garment. We are all sisters here, no need to stand on ceremony in my palace."
Rongyue quickly said, "Then I’m being rude."
She eagerly took off her outer garment. Li Changzai next to her was also unbearably hot and echoed Rongyue, also undoing the big button on her padded jacket.
Consort Hui on the other hand...
She was drinking cow's milk hotter than tea, and her clothes were no thinner than Rongyue and theirs.
But not only did she not take off her clothes, she didn't even want to take off the fox fur scarf wrapped around her own neck.
Seeing Consort Hui with sweaty bangs stuck to her skin, Rongyue asked caringly, "Doesn't Consort Hui feel hot? See, you're sweating. Why don't you take off your outer clothes too?"
"Ah? No... not hot. I've always been afraid of the cold. Sister Song’s palace is just right for me!"
Consort Hui stuttered, looked awkward, pursed her lips and shook her head.
