“What do you mean by this?”
Xiao Jingheng was shocked beyond compare, “Why did you take off your imperial consort’s attire and return the imperial seal and insignia? Are you trying to sever ties with Us forever?”
Ning Wanshuang gave a light laugh, but didn’t even look at him. She said calmly as still water:
“Your Majesty promotes Mohism and allows people to be equal. Amongst commoners, if a wife is unwilling and hearts grow distant, husband and wife may separate with divorce, called heli. ”
She looked up, her tears stopped abruptly, and gazed at Xiao Jingheng with utmost determination,
“Today, Wan’er and Xiao Lang, only hope to part ways peacefully.”
“You’re insane! How dare you be so impudent!”
Xiao Jingheng was so shocked that he stammered over his words. He lunged forward and grabbed Ning Wanshuang’s chin forcefully, forcing her to look him in the eye,
“I’m the Emperor, not a commoner! You’re my consort, if I don’t release you, you have no right in this lifetime to leave my side!”
Ning Wanshuang struggled futilely, so she just closed her eyes indifferently.
Her expression was icy, devoid of any warmth, so icy it made people afraid.
Her jade skin seemed to have scalded Xiao Jingheng’s hand.
He abruptly let go of Ning Wanshuang, with disbelief across his face. He shook his head and stumbled several steps back until he hit the corner of the table, only then did he regain some composure.
“Tonight we both drank too much. Whatever nonsense you’re spouting, I’ll assume it’s the alcohol talking. It’s late, Consort should rest early.”
Having said that, he turned around and fled like he couldn’t get away fast enough.
*
At the same time, in Song Zhao’s residence.
“I think it looks perfect.”
Rongyue had made a new belly wrap for Cheng Yu. She was now comparing it against the child’s current size.
The belly wrap fit Cheng Yu’s proportions just right, not too big or small.
“This is just perfect. It would be uncomfortable if it was any bigger.”
Song Zhao laughed, “Children change so quickly at this age. Sister, you made a well-fitted belly wrap, but he’ll outgrow it in just a few days. It’d be better to make it a little bigger, so Cheng Yu can wear it longer before you have to make another. That way your efforts aren’t wasted.”
“If it gets small, I can make him a new one. Making it too big would just be loose and saggy when he wears it. Our little Cheng Yu wouldn’t be comfortable, would he?”
Rongyue gently stroked the child’s soft, dense hair, her smile grew even warmer. “Isn’t that right, little Cheng Yu?”
The child gurgled and laughed at her, as if in agreement.
Song Zhao pretended to be helpless, “Alright, I can’t argue against both of you.”
Rongyue took her hand and changed the subject,
“Zhao’er, the Empress will return to the palace tomorrow. We should also set off for Hangzhou. Hangzhou is my family home. My father was recently honored for his achievements, perhaps that’s why His Majesty is bringing me along on this southern tour. But I’m glad, since you’ve never been to Hangzhou before, I can show you all around.”
Her voice lowered, “With the Empress gone, His Majesty intends to elevate Consort Ning to Imperial Noble Consort. Then timed with your birthday, when His Majesty learns of your joyous news, I expect he’ll grant you the title of Consort at the very least.”
Song Zhao said, “There’s no precedent of granting a promotion just because a consort is pregnant. Let’s wait and see.”
“Ma... Mama~~”
While they were talking, a tender childish voice suddenly rang out from Song Zhao’s arms.
Rongyue excitedly said, “Was that...did the child just call you Mama?”
[It's universally true that babies' first words are Mama, Papa. The Ancient Chinese dictionary Guangya·Shixing states: "Mama, means mother;" "Papa, means father." It doesn't make sense for some ancient child to defy nature and say "mother", "consort mother", "lady", or other oddly formal and era-specific terms for their mother.]
Song Zhao also couldn’t believe her ears.
She held Cheng Yu tighter and the mischievous child shouted loudly two more times,
“Mama, Mama!”
“There there, Mother is here,”
Song Zhao happily responded, smiling radiantly,
“Sister, did you hear? My heart just melted hearing him call me.”
“How could I not hear? Look at you, smiling so wide your mouth can barely close.”
Rongyue stroked the child’s soft, delicate cheeks. Thinking of something, her eyes suddenly turned misty. She blinked rapidly a few times to hold back her tears.
“How wonderful. An eight month old baby already speaking, he must be so clever.”
Just then, Xiao Fuzi rushed in to report,
“Consort, the Consort Ning and His Majesty had a fight.”
“What did they fight over?”
“I couldn’t get the full details. I only know His Majesty smashed bowls and chopsticks in Consort Ning's place. Consort Ning presented the imperial seal and insignia, and even said outrageous things about divorcing His Majesty. His Majesty was furious and stormed off...”
Song Zhao’s heart tightened. She was at a loss for words.
Rongyue just sneered coldly, “Looks like this is over her family. It’s not so easy to get over the murder of one’s own father. Someone as proud as Consort Ning, doing something so outrageous now, with her father and brothers dead and rejected by His Majesty, how could she stand to stay alive and be ridiculed?”
Xiao Fuzi agreed, “That’s right. I heard Consort Ning locked herself in her room and won’t let anyone serve her. They both drank heavily. If you say the alcohol brought out her sorrows and she acted rashly in the moment, that makes sense too.”
Cheng Yu had just learned to call Song Zhao, and kept happily shouting “Mama” repeatedly in her arms.
Song Zhao looked down at the dimples rising on Cheng Yu’s cheeks, and thoughts of the day Ning Wanshuang risked herself to save Cheng Yu flashed through her mind.
She didn't know why, but she just felt uneasy.
After some time, she handed Cheng Yu to the wet nurse and tidied her clothes. "I'll go take a look."
"What are you going for?" Rongyue stopped her, "Don't be confused, Zhao’er. With the Empress out of favor, Consort Ning has also offended His Majesty. You're the only one flourishing in the harem right now. At a time like this, why bother with her?"
Song Zhao said, "If not for her saving Cheng Yu that day, how could I have a mother and child reunion to enjoy today? Besides, she and His Majesty are estranged now. I doubt their relationship can be mended in the future. I only want to check on her, not to persuade His Majesty to reconcile with her. It won't cause any trouble."
"Zhao’er!" Rongyue still didn't let go. Her tone became more solemn, "Don't blame me for being meddlesome. In the depths of the palace, with the Empress gone, Consort Ning is your biggest obstacle. If you want to go further, you have to be ruthless and wish for her swift death. Only when she's dead can you eliminate an enemy."
Rongyue's advice was logical and in Song Zhao's best interest.
But honestly, did she need to say all this?
In the past, this was exactly Song Zhao's own thinking -
Watching those women struggle against each other, undermining each other one by one,
She only needed to keep her sleeves clean as an observer, and reap the rewards.
But after so long in the palace, Song Zhao increasingly felt things in the harem intrigue weren't so simple.
After a long silence, she finally said to Rongyue:
"My enemies aren't these women of the harem, nor should they be. The root of the harem's conflicts lie with His Majesty. How far I can go in the future depends entirely on how long I can hold His Majesty's heart, not on how many cold corpses pile up in the harem."
Song Zhao insisted on going. Rongyue couldn't persuade her further.
She could only let go reluctantly and shake her head helplessly.
Song Zhao's residence wasn't too far from Ning Wanshuang's.
When she arrived, she saw Liu Yue and Kang Yubin pacing anxiously outside the door.
Seeing her, they quickly paid respects,
"Greetings Consort."
Song Zhao asked, "Where is Consort Ning?"
Liu Yue's face was full of grief, "Mistress locked herself in and said she was tired and resting. She hasn't made a peep inside. No matter how we call, Mistress doesn't respond. We're at a loss..."
Song Zhao looked at the bolted door. She vaguely felt something was off and urged, "Xiao Fuzi, break down the door!"
