Rongyue wholeheartedly cared for Song Zhao, but she was not as calm and didn't think of these winding things so quickly.
Now hearing Song Zhao's question, she also fell silent very quickly.
Song Zhao's eyes grew darker as she said coldly, "It seems the struggles in the palace have extended outside, and the consequences will be much greater."
Rongyue said, "I also thought too simplistically. How could being an 'imperial consort' be so easy? His Majesty is suspicious, and if this matter is not investigated clearly, sooner or later His Majesty will suspect those around him."
"At that time, if all the benefits fell to you alone, His Majesty might first believe you are the noble person who can help him transform bad luck into good fortune, but slowly, he will also suspect you of wanting to harm him..."
Following her words, Song Zhao continued, "If the matter of harming the emperor succeeds, then Prince Chengyu would naturally be the undisputed choice to inherit the throne. If this matter fails, I become the 'noble person', and my position in the harem will rise straight up. No matter how this is calculated, I am the beneficiary, so it's no wonder His Majesty would suspect me."
"This...we were extremely careful, yet we still fell into others' traps. But who could have done this?" Rongyue asked worriedly and puzzled, "How could that woman His Majesty favored just happen to be an assassin? The matrons check them before attending to His Majesty, so how did the dagger get in? The ship was heavily guarded, how could the assassin escape so easily?"
After a moment, she suddenly said, "Could it be Concubine Hui? She is His Majesty's chess piece in the harem. No matter how capable she is, her hands can't reach outside the palace!"
Song Zhao casually said, "Who did this, we don't need to worry about. There are many people investigating this matter for His Majesty. What I'm thinking now is how to remove the title of 'noble person' from my head first. I can't enjoy honor today and be convicted tomorrow. That would be a total loss."
After thinking for a while, Rongyue gently said, "Actually it's not difficult. Didn't Consort Yao also make merit by saving His Majesty?"
Song Zhao nodded slightly in agreement and said, "For me this benefit is a disaster, but falling onto others it may become good fortune. Sister Wan probably doesn't know about this yet?"
Rongyue said, "She has given up on His Majesty, even if she knew she would be too lazy to care."
Song Zhao was silent for a moment, then waved at Xiao Fuzi waiting at the door, "Xiao Fuzi, come here. I have something to tell you."
*
The next day, the news of Xiao Jingheng's assassination spread among the consorts.
Everyone went to see Xiao Jingheng, even Ning Wanshuang, who had always been at odds with him, also went.
However, she was indifferent to Xiao Jingheng, simply asked perfunctorily about his well-being, then hurriedly took her leave.
But the fact that she went to see Xiao Jingheng, and he had dismissed the other consorts to keep only her, in the eyes of the other consorts, she was likely to be favored again.
Thus, early next morning, the consorts all poured into Ning Wanshuang's palace to greet her.
Today Song Zhao used her pregnancy as an excuse for not coming.
Ning Wanshuang glanced at her empty seat and said in a sarcastic tone,
"Oh my, Imperial Consort Yi really is fortunate. That mottled imperial jade pendant she gave to His Majesty, didn't it save His Majesty's life? His Majesty treasures it, wearing it every day. Now it's good, that rotten jade saved His Majesty's life, Imperial Consort Yi has made another great contribution."
However, Rongyue said, "The Noble Consort is mistaken. Imperial Consort Yi happened to be lucky. If we speak of merit in saving His Majesty, it should be Consort Yao."
"Consort Yao? Hmph!" Ning Wanshuang let out a cold sneer, and unintentionally glanced at Consort Yao, saying,
"I don't know about that. What were you doing hiding in His Majesty's wardrobe in the middle of the night? Was it because you hadn't enjoyed imperial favor for too long, thinking that even just seeing His Majesty pleasuring other women could satisfy your cravings?"
Consort Yao blushed in embarrassment and timidly said, "This servant has no such intentions..."
Ning Wanshuang said, "Only you know the despicable thoughts you harbor. And what saving His Majesty did you do? The assassin was already running away when you pounced over messing things up. Not only were you slashed for no reason, you also delayed the guards from catching him.
If I say so, it still doesn't compare to Imperial Consort Yi. You don't know, that day in Suzhou when I accompanied His Majesty out with Imperial Consort Yi, we met a famous local diviner."
"Diviner?" Consort Yin chimed in, "Could it be Danyue?"
"Oh? Consort Yin also knows? That's right, it was him. That day he divined that His Majesty would encounter bloodshed and danger during this southern tour, but that he would meet a noble person to help transform bad luck into good fortune. Thinking about it now, that noble person must be referring to Imperial Consort Yi!"
After idly chatting for a while, seeming tired, Ning Wanshuang lazily yawned and casually said,
"In summary, whether it is Imperial Consort Yi or Consort Yao, whoever takes on the title of 'noble person' will soon be close to meteoric success. Alright, I'm tired after talking with you all for a while, you may all disperse now."
Ning Wanshuang's casual words, upon entering Consort Yao's ears, immediately changed her expression.
In order to perform meritoriously in front of Xiao Jingheng, Consort Yao's tendons in her right hand were severed by Qu Yanran, and the imperial physician said that even if she fully recovered, this right hand could never freely move again in the future.
For this matter Xiao Jingheng also rewarded her a lot.
But what use were those material things to her?
In the palace if a woman lacks imperial favor, she has no prospects for life.
That day after Consort Yao returned to her own palace, her maid Fu'er saw her dejected and complained on her behalf,
"This servant also feels injustice for my lady. It's clearly you who risked your life to protect His Majesty, yet now instead Imperial Consort Yi is taking advantage? She gave birth to a noble son, and now conceived again. If she becomes His Majesty's 'noble person', in the future how will my lady not have to look at her expression? She came out of my lady's palace. Now she is so arrogant while my lady..."
As she complained, seeing Consort Yao's expression turn, Fu'er hurriedly covered her own mouth,
"This servant has misspoken, please forgive me my lady..."
"Enough, why would I blame you? What you said is the truth. If others spoke about this, their words would likely be even harder to hear."
Looking at the pockmarks on her face in the bronze mirror, Consort Yao also felt extremely upset.
She had served Xiao Jingheng in the palace for five years, yet only made it to Consort.
Song Zhao came out of her palace, but now was about to become Imperial Consort. How could she not feel indignant?
"Who will get the title of 'noble person' is still uncertain! That diviner said His Majesty would get help from a noble person, so the noble person could be Imperial Consort Yi, or it could be me!"
Consort Yao took a deep breath, then looked towards Fu'er and asked, "I remember the Imperial Observatory also went on this southern tour?"
Fu'er nodded in agreement. Consort Yao then took out a stack of silver notes from her dressing table drawer and gave them to her,
"Take these silver notes to the Director."
Fu'er flipped through the thick stack of silver notes in surprise, "My lady, this is all the savings you've accumulated over the years. Giving it all to the Director, this is..."
"Compared to my future prospects, this is nothing. Give the silver notes to him, and pass my message."
Her words trailed off as Consort Yao beckoned Fu'er closer before whispering in her ear.
