Consort Chen had no intention of giving any face to the Empress.
Even the composed Empress couldn't hide the visible change in her expression, which turned unpleasant.
Consort Yun seized the opportunity to express her loyalty to the Empress and criticized Consort Chen sharply, saying:
"Consort Chen! Have you completely forgotten your manners? It's one thing to arrive late for the greeting, but just look at your attire. What are you trying to do? Do you want to overstep your bounds?"
"Heh." Consort Chen sneered contemptuously, casually caressing the intricate embroidery on her cloak.
"Are you saying that the peacock pattern on my garments is presumptuous, or perhaps the string of cloud-shaped pearls around my neck is presumptuous?"
Leaning back lazily against the chair, she leisurely gazed at the Empress and said nonchalantly:
"You may find these things precious, but they are merely commonplace in my palace. If the Empress wishes, I can send some to you as well."
Traditionally, it was the Empress who rewarded lower-ranking consorts with gifts for their clothing and expenses.
Where was the logic in lower-ranking consorts rewarding the Empress?
However, the Empress didn't dwell on Consort Chen's mistake and continued to smile, saying:
"How can I accept your gifts, Sister? Moreover, I see that the peacock embroidery on your garments complements your delicate beauty, and the cloud-shaped pearls around your neck accentuate your fair and radiant complexion. These things are truly most suitable for you, Sister. You should keep them."
Song Zhao enjoyed a leisurely life in the palace, and her favorite pastime was witnessing the Empress and Consort Chen clash.
However, it must be said that compared to Consort Chen's arrogance and ostentation, the Empress's composure and dignity appeared much more refined.
By saying that the peacock pattern and cloud-shaped pearls were most suitable for Consort Chen, the Empress was implicitly telling her:
No matter how domineering and presumptuous you are, you can only rely on these imitations of the imperial palace's treasures.
But imitations were imitations after all, no matter how close they resembled the real thing, they could never compare.
Consort Chen also understood the Empress's underlying meaning. After a brief contemplation, she saw the Empress unabashedly staring at the embroidery on her phoenix robe and said:
"In fact, I think there might be some things that are more suitable for me."
She dared not speak her mind directly, and the Empress simply ignored her words, allowing her to go mad.
Consort Yin interjected at the right moment and said, "You had a reason for arriving late after serving the Emperor in the past, but what does it mean to come late without any reason today? Consort Chen, it seems that you are taking advantage of the Empress's leniency and becoming more and more insolent!"
Consort Chen glanced indifferently at Consort Yin and replied, "You oversee the affairs of the six palaces, but do you even know who attended to the Emperor last night? Do you know how you helped the Empress manage the affairs of the harem?"
Consort Yin asked, "What do you mean by that? The Emperor was clearly playing cards with Song Zhao last night. How could it be...?"
"So what?" Consort Chen laughed wantonly, her beautiful phoenix eyes looking upward provocatively.
"If others can't figure it out, can't you? You're the one who had sedan chairs carried all the way to the gate of Chaoyang Palace but was then sent back to rest when the Emperor summoned me. You've played out this scene many times before, so why are you so surprised now?"
Consort Yin, with her strong and assertive personality inherited from her Hu ancestry, [Note: "Hu" refers to a group of ethnic minorities in ancient China.]
Once upon a time, when Consort Yin offended Consort Chen with her temperament, she fell out of favor.
During that time, whenever Xiao Jingheng turned over the cards to choose Consort Yin for the night, Consort Chen would interfere and snatch away Consort Yin's favor.
Bringing up this matter in public would be embarrassing, and Consort Yin was left speechless, her face turning red with embarrassment.
In the midst of the tense and awkward atmosphere, the Empress offered some advice,
"The Emperor's heart can change too. For example, when I had a heart ailment last time, didn't the Emperor leave Consort Chen to accompany me?" She looked at Song Zhao and continued, "Song Zhao, don't take this matter to heart."
Song Zhao immediately replied, "I dare not! Consort Chen has served the Emperor for a long time and naturally knows how to make him comfortable."
Consort Chen smiled faintly upon hearing Song Zhao's words but remained silent.
Afterward, everyone fell into a silent and subdued state.
Suddenly, Concubine Xiao, who had been sitting quietly all along, stood up and bowed to the concubines, saying,
"When I and the Empress were offering prayers to the Buddha, I specially made protective sachets for each of you."
Her maid, Yinzhi, brought out a bamboo-woven basket containing sachets of various colors, with scriptures transcribed on them.
Concubine Xiao distributed the sachets to everyone and said,
"I personally made these sachets and burned incense while praying, hoping to bring peace and smoothness to all of you."
The ladies praised the sachets when they received them.
When Concubine Xiao approached Consort Chen with the sachet, Consort Chen looked her up and down, then signaled to Yingxiang, who was by her side, to accept the sachet. She spoke in a cold tone,
"You are considerate."
After Concubine Xiao finished distributing the sachets, the Empress suggested,
"It's winter now, and the plum blossoms in the Plum Garden are blooming. Tomorrow is the designated day for admiring the plum blossoms in the palace. Sisters, there's no need to come to my palace to pay respects. Tomorrow morning, let's go to the Plum Garden together to enjoy the blossoms."
The concubines replied in unison, "Yes."
On the way back to the palace, Song Zhao heard someone calling her from behind.
She turned around and saw Yingxiang, who was by Consort Chen's side.
"Convey my regards to Song Zhao," Consort Chen said, "She handled yesterday's matter very well. I want to reward her with this."
Yingxiang handed a letter to Song Zhao, and at a glance, she recognized the handwriting on it.
It was from Song Shicheng.
Song Zhao eagerly accepted the letter, showing great excitement.
"As lower-ranking concubines, we are not allowed to have correspondence with our families. I have been in the palace for three months and have missed my family dearly. Consort Chen has treated me with such care, so I must personally express my gratitude," Song Zhao said.
Yingxiang replied, "Consort Chen knows that Song Zhao is grateful, but the weather has turned colder recently, and Consort Chen doesn't want Song Zhao to shuttle between the two palaces. If there's anything, I can convey the message on behalf of Song Zhao."
Song Zhao understood that Consort Chen was afraid of the Empress detecting any suspiciousness between them, so she deliberately wanted to avoid suspicion.
In response, Song Zhao said, "Then, please thank Consort Chen on my behalf, Aunt."
After returning to the palace, Song Zhao finally opened the letter from Song Shicheng.
Upon unfolding the large sheet of paper, she saw only sixteen words written on it:
[My daughter, are you well? I am greatly relieved. Support Consort Chen and strive for promotion.]
Every word in this document reflects Song Shicheng's ambition.
He had a close relationship with Consort Chen's maternal family in secret,
so that Song Zhao could support Consort Chen. Firstly, this would help ingratiate himself with Consort Chen's father, and secondly, it would benefit Song Zhao himself.
Ideally, he would rise to the position of a chief palace attendant as soon as possible and have a say in front of Xiao Jingheng.
Finally, he would consider that he hadn't raised his daughter in vain.
After reading the letter, Song Zhao casually set it on fire.
She watched the ashes rise and swirl in the censer, with a flicker of starlight in her eyes,
and suddenly, she smiled.
He was her father, after all, and she naturally had to support him.
Support him in colluding with the Ning family, causing trouble together,
support him in going down to the depths of hell as soon as possible, experiencing all the trials and tribulations,
and then going to see his deceased concubine, shedding blood with every word, kowtowing and admitting guilt!
