Later, whenever Song Zhao had free time, she would go to visit Concubine Xiao.
She didn't do much, just accompanied her to chat and comforted her, hoping that she wouldn't bottle everything up inside.
Others who saw this thought that Song Zhao was really stupid.
Concubine Xiao's appearance was ruined. It was obvious that she could no longer gain favor. They didn't understand why Song Zhao cared so much about her.
But Song Zhao knew that it was exactly people like Concubine Xiao, who had been pushed to the edge, who were more likely to react desperately and do shocking things.
Regarding the incident of her ruined appearance, Song Zhao made Concubine Xiao think it was Consort Chen who had tampered with her pipa. Concubine Xiao might go after Consort Chen, but she could also go after Song Zhao.
After all, Concubine Xiao had served as her scapegoat. Of course she felt resentful.
Song Zhao didn’t want to provoke such troubles. She didn’t want her schemes to eventually scheme herself.
That was why she was particularly caring towards Concubine Xiao.
She wanted to be a ray of light in Concubine Xiao’s hopeless situation, so that Concubine Xiao wouldn’t resent her.
At the end of the month, the palace received a tribute of mammary orange from Lingnan.
Lingnan was far away from the capital. Mammary orange was expensive. Transporting it required very harsh conditions.
Plus this was a bad harvest year. There weren’t many fruits of good quality either. So when they were delivered to the palace, there was less than two dou left. (Less than 20 catties)
The Empress Dowager loved mammary oranges the most. So one dou was delivered to her.
The rest were distributed to the concubines based on precedence in previous years. The Empress and Consort Chen received the most. Concubines Ying, Yun and Shu also received some. But the lower ranking concubines didn’t get any.
However, there were exceptions.
For example, although Song Zhao was only a Secondary Consort, she also received some.
The Imperial Household Department kept records of imperial favors. Song Zhao couldn’t possibly hide this.
But she handled things very well, sharing the mammary oranges with all the consorts and concubines in the palace, so it didn’t arouse too much jealousy.
When she went to visit Concubine Xiao that day, she peeled oranges for Concubine Xiao while saying, “Judge Chu’s medical treatment seems to have reduced the scars on your face a lot these past days.”
She handed the peeled orange slices to Concubine Xiao, and added, “Winter is coming in a few days. I heard the plum blossoms have sprouted in the Plum Garden. Midwinter’s Day next month is when the rear palace appreciates plum blossoms. Why don’t you go too, Sister?”
“Why would I go?” Concubine Xiao took the orange slices but had no appetite to eat them. She absentmindedly put them on the plate and lamented, “Everyone appreciates the flowers. If I go like this, looking like a ruined flower, I’d just spoil the fun.”
“Her Majesty the Empress is arriving~”
The palace maid had just made the announcement when the Empress had already entered the bedchamber.
Song Zhao and Concubine Xiao hurried to curtsy. The Empress was very kind and told them to rise. Then she looked at Song Zhao and said,
“You’ve been accompanying Concubine Xiao these days. It shows your sincerity in treating people. In fact, I should have come earlier. But knowing she was unwilling to see anyone then, I didn’t insist. Yet I was concerned about her in my heart, always asking the imperial physician about her condition.”
As she spoke, she gently caressed Concubine Xiao’s cheek, “You’re much better now. Remember to watch your diet so your scars can heal well.”
Concubine Xiao bowed and said, “Thank you, Empress, for your care.”
Afterwards, as the three were seated, the Empress kept asking about Concubine Xiao’s condition while Song Zhao sat respectfully to one side.
Watching the Empress’ kind demeanor, she truly deserved to be called ‘Mother of the Nation’.
No matter who encountered difficulties in the harem, she cared a lot about them, as if treating everyone like her own sisters.
But Song Zhao still couldn’t tell if this was the Empress’ true nature, or just a facade she put on.
Just like what the Empress had said earlier, on the surface it was harmless, but on second thoughts:
She said Song Zhao had been sincerely accompanying Concubine Xiao every day, and she knew Concubine Xiao didn’t want to see anyone because of her injured face, that was why she hadn’t come.
Wasn’t that implying Song Zhao was going overboard in her caring, forcing the injured Concubine Xiao against her wish? Thankfully Concubine Xiao wasn’t very smart. Otherwise, with a little thought about the Empress’ words, Song Zhao’s days of accompanying her would become a crime instead.
The Empress held Concubine Xiao’s hand and persuaded, “I know your heart cannot be happy with the injury on your face. But once you entered the palace, His Majesty and I, as well as many sisters in the harem, we have all become your family. Who would look down on their own family member? You’ve been confining yourself in your residence, overthinking makes it worse for you. If you really can’t feel at ease, you can join me in Buddhist rituals in the future. When comprehending Buddhist teachings, your heart can also find peace.”
With the Empress speaking like this, what else could Concubine Xiao say?
She hadn’t paid her respects to the Empress for over half a month. That was already improper of her. If she rejected the Empress’ goodwill again, she would have no standing left in the palace.
So in the following days, although Concubine Xiao still didn’t go greet the Empress, after the consorts and concubines had their daily audience, she would go to the Empress alone to chant scriptures and worship Buddha with her.
In recent days, Consort Chen laid low. Song Zhao once again became the most favored in the palace.
Xiao Jingheng still hadn’t gotten over his fondness for Song Zhao. He still cherished her like a rare treasure.
Just now, after noon there was news from the Attendants’ Office again that Xiao Jingheng had drawn Song Zhao’s name plaque for the night.
But unlike previous times, when the sedan chair arrived at Yao Hua Palace that night to fetch Song Zhao for the imperial favor, the chief eunuch leading the sedan chair was Zhang Jiugui instead.
He was the manager of the Attendants’ Office. Usually he would only lead the sedan chair on a consort’s first night serving the emperor, or if Xiao Jingheng had special instructions.
So Song Zhao asked him, “Why did you come today, Sir?”
Zhang Jiugui smiled obsequiously with hunched shoulders and said, “I happened to have time today, so I wanted to escort the young mistress personally.”
After speaking, he took out a hairpin from his clothes and presented it to Song Zhao, “This hairpin was bestowed on you by Consort Chen. The xanthoxylum fruit tassels carved on it look exquisitely lifelike. With your fair complexion, it would definitely look good on you.”
As soon as Song Zhao took the hairpin in her hand, she understood what was going on.
Zhang Jiugui was Consort Chen’s man. His words represented Consort Chen’s intentions.
As for the xanthoxylum flower tassels, Song Zhao had long learned about the preferences of the consorts and concubines. She knew xanthoxylum flowers were Consort Chen’s favorite flowers.
She had heard that it was because Consort Chen once danced under the xanthoxylum trees when they were in full blossom, drunk on the sunset glow, that she managed to capture Xiao Jingheng’s heart from then on.
And now, Consort Chen was letting Song Zhao wear the hairpin with xanthoxylum flower pendant when attending the emperor, in hopes that Xiao Jingheng would see it and be reminded of their past sweet memories together.
Ever since that incident, Xiao Jingheng had not seen Consort Chen for almost a month.
Song Zhao thought Consort Chen must have double intentions in sending over the hairpin at this time.
The first intention was naturally wanting to regain the holy favor.
The second intention was actually testing Song Zhao herself.
If Xiao Jingheng still showed no intention of reconciling with Consort Chen after seeing the hairpin today, then it meant Song Zhao already held quite some status in Xiao Jingheng’s heart.
By then Consort Chen would definitely become wary against her, even plotting against her.
In a very brief moment, Song Zhao quickly ran through her thoughts. Then pretending to be oblivious, she smiled and inserted the hairpin into her coiffure. She told Zhang Jiugui, “Please thank Consort Chen that I really like this hairpin. I will definitely go to thank Her Ladyship personally tomorrow.”
