Yun Shan stared at Song Zhao for a long time. She always felt that her young missus was very different from when she was in the mansion in the past. Even more beautiful and more composed.
"What are you looking at?" Song Zhao asked.
"Your servant suddenly realized that the silver hairpin that the young missus usually wears seems to have not been seen for several days now."
Song Zhao gently stroked her hair bun and said lightly, "It must have been lost somewhere."
Yun Shan quickly said, "Then I will send someone to look for it carefully. That hairpin was given to the young missus by Master Song Shicheng. The young missus wore it specially when she entered the palace, saying that she wanted to leave a memento. It must not be lost."
"No need." Song Zhao shook her head. "In such a huge imperial palace, looking for a hairpin would be like looking for a needle in the ocean. There is mourning in the palace, everything should be low-key, just forget it."
"Oh." Yun Shan pouted her lips. “What a pity... But with so many rewards bestowed upon the young missus by His Majesty, she can’t possibly wear them all every day anyway."
Song Zhao smiled without responding.
The reason why she wanted to bring the silver hairpin into the palace was not because Song Shicheng had given it to her and she wanted to bring it as a keepsake.
That father of hers should just die. How could she have the leisure to miss him?
The reason she brought the hairpin into the palace was that the head of the hairpin was hollow and could hold things inside.
Before entering the palace, Song Zhao had hidden a small amount of arsenic in the hollow hairpin head. She had planned that after gaining favor and arousing others' jealousy, she would poison herself to make Xiao Jingheng feel pity for her.
It was just a coincidence that Concubine Li had rushed to her unprovoked, which worked in her favor.
The next day, after paying respects to the Empress, Song Zhao went with Consort Yao to visit Consort Shu.
Consort Shu was still very depressed. She didn't greet the guests and just lay on the couch holding a small baby sling embroidered with a qilin.
It was made by her own hands for her unborn little prince, but now only the sling remained while the person was gone.
Consort Yao persuaded Consort Shu for a bit, but every mention of the matter of the little prince made Consort Shu's tears flow like broken beads, unable to stop.
When the two of them left Consort Shu's palace, Consort Yao whispered to Song Zhao,
"It's no wonder that Consort Shu cries so sadly. A perfectly healthy seven-month pregnancy ended just like that. Who could bear such a blow?"
Song Zhao responded with an empathetic sigh and then asked, "I heard that when Noble Consort Chen was six months pregnant, she also had a miscarriage. It seems she fell by accident?"
A trace of ridicule flashed across the corner of Consort Yao's mouth. "She deserved it."
Noticing Song Zhao's gaze falling on her, she quickly hid her smile and changed the subject,
"It will be His Majesty’s birthday celebration in a couple of days. I still have to go to the Court Music Division to practice the zither with Madam Jiao. You should go back to your palace first."
After seeing off Consort Yao, Song Zhao happened to meet Yun Shan and Xiao Fuzi at the palace gate on her way back.
Xiao Fuzi was covered in dust and limping along, apparently supported back by Yun Shan.
Song Zhao hurriedly asked, "What happened?"
As the three returned to the palace, Yun Shan recounted the incident in lingering fear,
"The artificial mountain in the southeast corner of the imperial garden, some loose rocks on it fell down. They almost smashed me. Fortunately Xiao Fuzi pulled me away just in time. I'm fine, but he sprained his ankle."
Song Zhao looked at Xiao Fuzi with concern. "Are you okay?"
Xiao Fuzi waved his hand with a smile. "Compared to the hardships I suffered in Xin Zhe prison in the past, a sprained ankle is nothing. I can just apply some safflower oil myself. But this matter should be reported to the Imperial Household Department quickly for them to reinforce the artificial mountain properly, in case it injures you nobles in the future."
Xiao Fuzi and Yun Shan discussed quickly reporting this matter, but Song Zhao thought for a moment and said,
"The trivial affairs within the imperial harem are all handled by Noble Consort Yin on behalf of the Empress. If you report this blindly to the Imperial Household Department, it may make Noble Consort Yin feel like we are overstepping our bounds. After all, people from the department inspect the palace daily. They will discover this sooner or later. Let's just pretend we don't know about this.”
That night, Xiao Jingheng still chose Consort Chen to spend the night with.
But after night fell, Zhang Jiugui from the Attendant's Room personally came to inform Song Zhao,
"Lady Song, His Majesty invites you to share lunch with him at Chaoyang Palace tomorrow noon."
Song Zhao happily accepted the invitation. After Zhang Jiugui left, she began preparing for the lunch meeting.
Last time when Xiao Jingheng had a meal at her place, there was a bamboo shoot ham soup that he seemed to particularly enjoy. So Song Zhao told Yun Shan to prepare the ingredients in advance. She would make it herself to bring to Xiao Jingheng tomorrow.
In the process, she deliberately instructed,
"The soup stock should be cooked with fresh mushrooms, tea tree mushrooms and cordyceps hanging in it to make the flavor fuller. Extract the mushroom broth in advance, then soak some sweet potato vermicelli in it to infuse the flavor.”
Yun Shan was a bit puzzled. “It’s just a soup, mostly for rinsing the mouth after the main course. Sweet potato vermicelli is especially bloating. Why add that?”
Song Zhao said, “It will float transparently on top, just for decoration. Whether His Majesty eats it or not is up to him. Just do as I say.”
The next day at lunch time, Song Zhao brought the bamboo shoot ham soup to Chaoyang Palace. Sure enough, Xiao Jingheng particularly enjoyed this dish.
After the meal he asked for two more bowls to be served. The flavorful soup with delicious vermicelli provoked his appetite, making him reluctant to stop eating.
The ancestors had set a rule of “no more than three bowls” when dining, lest the emperor favor and overindulge in a particular dish, allowing ill-intentioned people a chance to take advantage and plot to harm him.
So normally the consorts would dissuade His Majesty at this time. Xiao Jingheng had been persuaded many times. When the palace servants moved to serve a third bowl, he reflexively glanced at Song Zhao.
But he saw the silly girl resting her cheek on hand, sweetly smiling at him.
Xiao Jingheng pinched her cute little nose and asked, "What are you smiling about staring at me?"
Song Zhao said, "I'm happy that Your Majesty enjoys the dish I made."
Xiao Jingheng laughed out loud. “I enjoy having you by my side. Not like the Empress with her many rules, or Consort Chen with her endless words. Just a quiet meal together is extremely nice."
How could it not be nice? When others dine with him, they either care about his health or try their best to curry favor.
While Song Zhao was very simple. She simply wanted Xiao Jingheng to eat more.
After downing most of the big bowl of soup, the bloating sweet potato vermicelli filled Xiao Jingheng up.
Song Zhao waited on him to rinse his mouth. "Your Majesty, please take a nap? You still have memorials to review in the afternoon.”
How could Xiao Jingheng fall asleep in this stuffed state?
He smiled and said, "I was a bit gluttonous just now. Will you take a walk with me around to aid my digestion?”
Song Zhao nodded in agreement. Jiang Deshun spoke up offering advice,
"The chrysanthemums in the Imperial Garden are in full glorious bloom now. Perhaps His Majesty would like to enjoy them?"
When autumn arrives, all flowers wither except for the chrysanthemums still embracing fragrance on the branches.
Jiang Deshun could only suggest Xiao Jingheng appreciate chrysanthemums. What else could he suggest, appreciating the fallen petals and withered flowers carpeting the ground?
And the best place to admire chrysanthemums in the palace was right behind the artificial mountain in the southeast corner of the Imperial Garden.
