"Ah!"
Yun Shan was startled and quickly took two steps back.
Since her reaction was quick, only a few snowflakes landed on her collar and didn't make their way inside.
"What is the Empress doing?"
Song Zhao smiled but remained silent, while Xiao Fuzi quickly understood what was happening and said:
"If a few snowflakes come into contact with the skin, a normal person would quickly move away due to the cold sensation and wouldn't give the snow a chance to enter the collar. If even cold objects are handled this way, how could the Emperor pour the hot sobering soup into Consort Hui's collar? She got burned, didn't she know how to avoid it?"
Yun Shan said, "Are you suggesting that Consort Hui took advantage of the Emperor's drunkenness, intentionally didn't dodge, and allowed the Emperor to 'accidentally' injure her with the sobering soup? But who would do such a thing? Even if she wanted to gain the Emperor's sympathy, it wouldn't be worth it to completely ruin her own body. Maybe... Consort Hui had a slow reaction?"
"Slow?" Song Zhao chuckled suddenly, "Didn't you see when I served her the soup? The temperature of that Buddha Jumps Over the Wall dish was similar to that of the sobering soup from that day. Look at Consort Hui's agile movements, does she look like someone with a slow reaction?"
Xiao Fuzi wondered, "I'm confused... What could be Consort Hui's motive for doing this? If she wanted to compete for favor, why would she intentionally burn herself?
With her family background, she doesn't need to feign ignorance and live peacefully in the palace. Once she becomes pregnant, the Emperor would give her a consort position out of respect for her maternal family. Moreover, from what I can see, she doesn't seem to like the Emperor..."
His question was also Song Zhao's question.
During her time in the palace, Song Zhao had encountered all sorts of people, but she couldn't figure out anything about Consort Hui.
To the point where all her speculations about Consort Hui were baseless.
However, Song Zhao firmly believed that Consort Hui was definitely not as innocent as she appeared.
Although she had suspicions, she couldn't confirm them.
For now, she could only be cautious around Consort Hui and take things one step at a time.
"Let Zhi Hua continue to keep an eye on her. Also, go and inform Rongyue to be more vigilant of Consort Hui in her daily life. If Consort Hui is truly someone who causes trouble, and she hides it so well that no one can see through her, she might become a more troublesome presence than the Empress in the future."
*
In this winter, the snow in the capital city continued endlessly.
They say auspicious snow brings a bountiful year, but when there is too much snow, it becomes a disaster.
Many thatched houses in the outskirts of the city collapsed under the weight of accumulated snow.
The impoverished commoners had nowhere to seek shelter from the bitter cold, and some even froze to death.
Upon hearing this news, Xiao Jingheng immediately opened the national treasury to provide relief for the disaster, constructing temporary shelters to accommodate the victims and ensuring they had three meals a day, so they could have peace of mind.
Due to this, the New Year's Eve banquet was also simplified.
Last year, Song Zhao was forbidden by Xiao Jingheng to leave and couldn't celebrate the New Year properly in the palace.
This year, it was her first time celebrating the New Year in the palace in an official and proper manner.
The regulations for this New Year's Eve banquet are similar to those of Xiao Jingheng's birthday banquet. The concubines are all gathered together, and the prince enters the feast. It's a family gathering at the end of the year, where they enjoy wine, talk, and dance to liven up the atmosphere. There isn't much novelty in it.
By the halfway point of the feast, all the concubines who were supposed to showcase their talents have performed, and it's time for everyone to present gifts to Xiao Jingheng.
Last year, Xiao Jingheng encountered some setbacks, so he has been cautious and avoided any mishaps. Thankfully, he has managed to stay safe throughout the year.
Therefore, this year, the concubines have put extra effort into congratulating him, and their prepared gifts are particularly thoughtful.
Various precious treasures are being presented, and most of the concubines started saving money three to four months in advance.
For example, Consort Yao, who is not favored and whose family was not influential in the previous dynasty, started saving money half a year ago, planning what to give to Xiao Jingheng to win his favor.
Song Zhao quietly observes as these concubines flutter around. She doesn't know whether to find them laughable or pitiable.
It's laughable because they actually believe that as long as they give him valuable gifts, Xiao Jingheng will pay more attention to them.
It's pitiable because the people in the capital are suffering and displaced due to the snow disaster, and the court has simplified everything, even the New Year's Eve banquet. Yet, these concubines are rushing to give Xiao Jingheng various expensive gifts. What's the difference between that and courting disaster?
Of course, there are clever people in the palace as well.
Among those who have already given their gifts are Consort Yin and the newly entered Concubine He. They have given Xiao Jingheng modest gifts.
And then there's Rongyue. Despite being a regular presence, she has actually given Xiao Jingheng a handle of Hetian jade ruyi.
Both the jade quality and craftsmanship of this item are excellent. It's impossible to acquire such a piece without spending more than a thousand taels of silver.
After receiving this gift, Xiao Jingheng's expression noticeably darkens.
But that's fine.
Xiao Jingheng's disgust is exactly what Rongyue had hoped for.
Later, when Song Zhao presents her gift, she gives Xiao Jingheng a jade pendant carved with a dragon pattern.
The dragon pattern on it is not very clear, and the jade color is not very transparent. It even contains some impurities.
Consort Yun chuckles and says, "What did Consort Yi give? It's not only that the jade is not transparent, but the carved dragon pattern is also crooked and twisted. If the emperor were to wear this, it would seem rather plebeian."
She looks down upon Song Zhao and adds with a smile, "Considering that you are now in a position of honor as a consort, your monthly allowance is quite substantial. But how is it that when giving a gift to the emperor, you are so careless?"
Song Zhao responds calmly with a gentle smile,
"Sister, naturally, I can't compare to you in wealth and status. My family can't provide support, and just last month, the capital experienced a snow disaster. Seeing those suffering and displaced commoners is truly pitiful. The emperor himself is deeply concerned and unable to eat properly due to this matter.
Therefore, I have given all the monthly silver I have saved over these past few months to the Ministry of Revenue, asking them to use it for disaster relief. It's a small effort to contribute to the well-being of the affected people."
