When Song Zhao heard this, she slowed her pace and said somewhat awkwardly:
"Since His Majesty has Consort Chen to serve him, I will take my leave first."
She turned to leave, but Jiang Deshun hurriedly stopped her,
"Lady Song has misunderstood. Today His Majesty has invited you to dine with him. Even if Consort Chen comes, His Majesty has specifically reminded this servant to bring you directly to the hall when you arrive. If Lady Song leaves like this, His Majesty will surely blame this servant for being incompetent..."
Song Zhao was silent for a moment before nodding, "I understand. His Majesty is considering me and does not want me to feel neglected. If I leave now, it would be somewhat ungrateful.
Jiang Deshun laughed heartily, "Lady Song, what are you saying? Please, this way."
Outside the main hall, Jiang Deshun knocked on the door three times. Xiao Jingheng’s low and appealing voice immediately responded from inside,
"Enter."
Jiang Deshun bowed and pushed open the door, gesturing for Song Zhao to enter.
Clutching the food box in her hand, she slowly stepped inside. She saw Xiao Jingheng and Consort Chen sitting at the dining table, having already started their meal.
Standing far away, she curtsied to both of them,
"This concubine pays her respects to His Majesty and Consort Chen. May Consort remain in good health and His Majesty live for ten thousand years."
It was only then that Xiao Jingheng’s gaze fell upon Song Zhao. Just as he was about to say "rise,"
Consort Chen picked up a piece of seared beef with her chopsticks and brought it close to Xiao Jingheng’s mouth coquettishly,
"Your Majesty, this seared beef must be eaten while hot. It won't taste as good when it gets cold."
Xiao Jingheng ate the beef and said to Consort Chen, "The consort is thoughtful."
Only then did he say to Song Zhao, "There is no need to stand on ceremony, take a seat."
Consort Chen laughed awkwardly, "Oh my, this concubine is muddled. I was so focused on letting His Majesty enjoy his meal that I forgot my sister was still standing there."
She got up and pulled back the chair next to her, raising her brows at Song Zhao,
"Sister, do take a seat. His Majesty was just talking to me about you."
At that moment, Consort Chen’s smile looked more like a sharp blade in Song Zhao’s eyes.
And Xiao Jingheng's earlier attitude had made the distinction clear as black and white.
The seared beef that Consort Chen fed him represented her standing in Xiao Jingheng’s heart,
And when he told Song Zhao to take a seat represented her standing.
Consort Chen had emerged victorious.
But this was also to be expected.
Song Zhao neatly sat down across from Consort Chen and Xiao Jingheng.
Watching Consort Chen and Xiao Jingheng chatting pleasantly, she was like an outsider.
In fact, during their conversation, Xiao Jingheng did try to involve Song Zhao, deliberately bringing up topics for her. But Consort Chen cleverly hijacked them every time, not giving Song Zhao a chance to cut in.
Later, when Xiao Jingheng noticed the food box next to Song Zhao’s hand, he asked:
"What have you brought?"
"This concubine has personally made jujube red sugar cakes and pastries. Your Majesty has been exhausted from worrying about the flooding in the southern region recently, and I could not help much. So I made some fortifying food to nourish Your Majesty’s energy and blood, hoping that Your Majesty would not find them distasteful."
Song Zhao spoke as she opened the box and took out the pastries.
She was completely oblivious to the subtle change in Consort Chen's expression.
Xiao Jingheng glanced at Consort Chen’s slightly furrowed brows before looking at Song Zhao, who was carefully setting out the food. He thought, this woman really doesn’t have any tact.
She made nourishing cakes to calm the liver and reduce internal heat, while Consort Chen fed him seared beef that easily aggravates his fiery temperament.
Wasn't this clearly saying that Consort Chen did not know how to take care of him?
Such thoughtless words could only have come from Song Zhao in the entire rear palace.
Song Zhao respectfully served the cakes to Xiao Jingheng and Consort Chen,
"Please have a taste, Your Majesty and Consort Chen, see if they suit your palates."
After the food had been inspected and approved by the imperial kitchen attendant, Xiao Jingheng tried a piece.
Knowing that praising Song Zhao now would only intensify Consort Chen’s jealousy, he just plainly said:
"Not bad."
Consort Chen smiled after tasting it, "His Majesty does not like sweets. Sister’s kind intentions were wasted. But this concubine finds these jujube sugar cakes quite delightful."
Xiao Jingheng said, "I remember you like using azalea flowers in your food. No wonder you like the taste."
"His Majesty always treats this concubine so wonderfully, even remembering such trivial preferences of mine. But just speaking of this dish, no one in the palace can compare with Lady Song’s skills."
Consort Chen smiled gently and turned to Song Zhao,
"Would it be possible for sister to make some more to be delivered to my palace as well?"
Song Zhao quickly replied, "Consort Chen looking favorably upon this concubine’s skills is this concubine’s fortune. How could this concubine find it inconvenient?"
Consort Chen said, "Then I will have to trouble sister."
Xiao Jingheng watched the exchange between the two concubines closely.
Although Consort Chen's status was higher than Song Zhao's, they were both imperial consorts. Such a chore of making pastries was rather demeaning to say.
In the entire rear palace, the only one who could order other consorts to serve her was the Empress alone. It was clearly improper for Consort Chen to ask this of Song Zhao.
But Song Zhao did not show any reluctance over this matter at all.
And that was precisely why Xiao Jingheng found her even more endearing.
So that afternoon, after finishing his government duties, Xiao Jingheng specially visited Song Zhao at the Yaohua Palace.
He pulled Song Zhao into his embrace, caressing her smooth tender cheeks with one hand, dotingly asking:
"Consort Chen bullied you today. But you seem completely unbothered. Do you feel wronged in your heart?"
Song Zhao smiled and shook her head. "Why would I? All the imperial consorts serve Your Majesty, so we are like sisters. Consort Chen likes the food I make. Making it for her is no trouble at all, and she appreciates my cooking skills. Why would my heart feel wronged?"
Hearing this, Xiao Jingheng held her even tighter and reverently kissed her forehead,
"Having you by my side is my blessing."
Xiao Jingheng had seen too much drama over favor and jealousy in the palace. Someone as uncompetitive and considerate as Song Zhao was rare indeed.
For the emperor’s woman, background, looks, charm were not the most important. Recognizing the time and situation, knowing when to advance and when to retreat, that was how one could endure.
But if one truly loved someone deeply, how could they not care or be jealous at all?
Xiao Jingheng had originally wanted to stay and accompany Song Zhao for a while longer, but Song Zhao said:
"Your Majesty still has memorials to review. Please return to the palace earlier. This concubine still has to make pastries for Consort Chen and deliver them swiftly."
That’s right. The pastries had to be sent over while the iron was hot.
After Xiao Jingheng left, Song Zhao locked herself in the small kitchen.
In the darkness of the night, candle flames flickered. Her beautiful face appeared bright then dimmed following the jumps of the flame.
Judging from her expression, she seemed to be in good spirits.
Humming a tune, she poured the osmanthus honey bestowed by Consort Yun into the flour all at once and kneaded the dough together.
Xiao Jingheng did not like sweets, but Song Zhao had long known of Consort Chen’s fondness for using azalea flowers in her cuisine.
Today in the imperial garden, she had deliberately let Rong Xiang overhear that she was going to the Chaoyang Palace for the afternoon meal. Consort Chen hated having her favor taken the most. Knowing this news, how could she restrain herself?
Consort Chen going meant she wanted to intimidate Song Zhao.
So when she saw Song Zhao ingratiating Xiao Jingheng by sending over pastries, the best intimidation would be to make Song Zhao do the same for her.
But Consort Chen did not know that such an intimidation was actually the result Song Zhao wanted most right now.
Once the pastries were sent and eaten by Consort Chen, she would likely "conceive” just like Song Zhao did.
Consort Chen longed so desperately to have her own child. This time, Song Zhao would fulfill her wish. Consort Chen would probably laugh herself awake from dreams tonight.
Thinking of this, Song Zhao truly could not help feeling happy for Consort Chen, which was why the smile on her face never faded.
