The next day, the guards of the Cold Palace had all been replaced, and the Queen Mother's lady-in-waiting Auntie Qingzhu had also been ordered to enter the Cold Palace to meet with Song Zhao.
"My lady, please be at ease. The Queen Mother has ordered you to temporarily reside in the Cold Palace. When the Emperor's anger subsides, the Queen Mother will plead your case herself. There are many doubts about this incident, and the Emperor does not fully believe it either.
The Emperor sent Prince An to Jiangnan this time, first to stabilize the hearts of the people, and second to have Prince An investigate the breach of the Chidong Dam. To be frank, the Emperor still cares about you in his heart. Otherwise, even if the Queen Mother pleaded otherwise, if the Emperor was determined to have you killed, you would not have survived until today."
Song Zhao's expression was tranquil as she slightly nodded her head, "I know the depth of the Emperor's affection for me, and that the Queen Mother did this to protect me. Given the situation at that time, being put in the Cold Palace was the only way I could stay alive."
She then eagerly asked, "I saw the Queen Mother looking very ill that day. Has her condition worsened?"
Qingzhu sighed, "Ever since the fourth prince passed away, the Queen Mother has had tuberculosis. Over the years her condition has waxed and waned. It is difficult to cure completely. Now the imperial doctors are doing their utmost, and the Emperor has also summoned Imperial Physician Yu to regularly enter the palace and treat the Queen Mother, hoping that she will recover soon."
Song Zhao said sympathetically, "I have imposed on Auntie to take good care of the Queen Mother. The Queen Mother treated me like her own daughter, yet I cannot attend to her during this time, it is very unfilial of me."
Qingzhu said, "I will relay my lady's feelings to the Queen Mother. The Cold Palace is a prohibited area, so I cannot stay here long either. Please take good care of yourself, my lady."
At lunch time, the guard who came to deliver the meal, Qin Tai, also paid his respects to Song Zhao with utmost humility, not treating her as a deposed concubine at all.
"This humble official, Qin Tai, pays my respects to my lady. From now on, I will be responsible for delivering all meals to my lady."
Lowering his voice, he added: "Please rest assured my lady, this food has been verified safe three times before being brought to you."
Song Zhao nodded her head, "Thank you for your trouble."
She then took out a letter from her sleeve and handed it to Qin Tai, "I must also trouble you to find a way to pass this letter to Tong, Concubine Tong of the Zhaochun Palace."
Qin Tai took the letter and tucked it close to him, cupping his fist he saluted, "Whatever my lady asks is Prince An's order. This humble official will do his utmost for my lady!"
*
Ever since Song Zhao entered the Cold Palace, the situation in the palace became clearer.
Imperial Noble Consort Ning Wanshuang was out of favor. Along with the entire Odhu clan, Consort Yin had offended the emperor over the missing crown prince incident. She was also shunned by Xiao Jingheng.
Among those still holding the consort titles, there were only Consort Yun and Consort Yao left.
Moreover, Consort Yun had the most seniority amongst the consorts, so when the consorts came to pay their respects, they went to her Changchun Palace.
She was elated with joy and felt that she was close to ascending to the position of Empress. Everyday she deliberately wore clothes in shades of fuchsia, crimson and ochre to stand out over the others and make herself seem more prestigious.
When the consorts came to pay their respects today and saw Rongyue, she was also drastically different than before.
She was usually a casually dressed person who never wore any make up. Although naturally beautiful, without cosmetics she looked quite simple and plain without drawing any attention.
But today her make up and outfit made her exceptionally eye-catching.
Consort Yao spoke first, "Concubine Tong looks exceptionally charming today."
Rongyue smiled lightly, "I recently received new brocade as an imperial reward from His Majesty, and made some new clothes. The colors are rather loud and I tried to tone it down with some rouge and lip color. I must have made my sisters laugh."
Concubine Li said coldly, "I wondered why you spent so long getting ready in your palace chambers today. So it turns out you were carefully dolling yourself up. It hasn't even been half a year since our Empress passed away. We are still grieving, yet you are in the mood to dress up."
Rongyue did not respond, but instead stood up and saluted Consort Yun, "Please forgive me Consort Yun. Concubine Li spoke thoughtlessly, she did not mean to mock you. Please do not take offense."
Everyone looked towards Consort Yun and saw her expression darken. Concubine Li panicked and quickly apologized to Consort Yun,
"Please forgive me, Your Ladyship, I did not mean it that way..."
"Then what did you mean?" Consort Yun glanced at her impatiently, "If you truly wish to commemorate our late Empress, it is not about superficial matters. Concubine Li, since you care so deeply about our late Empress, I shall reward you with copying one hundred volumes of Buddhist sutras while kneeling at the Anhua Palace, so that your grief may have an outlet."
"Please forgive me Your Ladyship, this concubine knows her mistake!"
"This is a reward, not a punishment, what mistakes have you made? Go on now. Return after you have finished copying."
Concubine Li was punished to copy one hundred volumes of Buddhist sutras while kneeling at the Anhua Palace. She would probably have to stay there for three or four days before being allowed to return to the Zhaochun Palace.
She shared living quarters with Consort Hui. It was common knowledge around the palace that Concubine Li had been very attentive towards the currently pregnant Consort Hui.
Everyone knew that if Consort Hui successfully bore a son this time, she would be promoted to Noble Consort to fill one of the vacant consort positions. Concubine Li had been currying favor from Consort Hui, so Consort Yun was already unhappy. Hence her “reward” for Concubine Li was not unexpected.
In fact, ever since Song Zhao entered the Cold Palace, Xiao Jingheng had not visited any of his consorts for over a month.
Although he did not say it explicitly, it was obvious to perceptive observers that he still cared about Song Zhao in his heart.
Recently, it had become difficult for the consorts to get a chance to see Xiao Jingheng. He only occasionally went to Consort Hui's palace because she was pregnant.
That day, after accompanying the pregnant Consort Hui for her evening meal, Xiao Jingheng was about to leave the Zhaochun Palace when he happened to run into Rongyue who had just rushed back.
"Slow down, don't damage the flowers."
Rongyue called out to her palace maids who were carrying pot after pot of red plum blossoms into the courtyard.
She was completely absorbed in arranging the flowers and plants, only absentmindedly calling out in greeting when the palace maids announced the Emperor's arrival, "Ten thousand blessings to His Majesty."
Only then did she realize that Xiao Jingheng was silently watching her nearby.
Rongyue was frightened. She quickly knelt down to greet him,
"This concubine pays her respects to His Majesty, may His Majesty live for ten thousand years in good health."
Her flowing cloud brocade robe shimmered under the moonlight, very eye-catching.
But compared to her exquisite features, these material things were just icing on the cake.
Xiao Jingheng was used to seeing Rongyue without makeup. Now seeing her touched up with cosmetics and red lips, he couldn't help but stare blankly, temporarily spellbound by her beauty.
"Rise."
Xiao Jingheng slowly walked forwards and casually toyed with the red plum branches in the pot,
"I remember you like early spring flowers, why did you suddenly bring back these plum blossoms?"
Rongyue said, "I was thinking that Consort Hui is pregnant, and now in the winter red plum blossoms are auspicious and meaningful. Consort Hui also likes them. So I brought some back to place in the courtyard to bring her some joy."
