When Song Zhao returned to Yao Hua Palace, her original intention was to go directly to the West Side Hall. However, she heard a crisp sound resembling the shattering of a bowl coming from the main hall.
She took off her cloak and handed it to Yun Shan, saying, "I'll go and see what's going on."
When she arrived at the main hall, she saw Consort Yao reprimanding a young palace maid. Upon seeing Song Zhao, Consort Yao's temper slightly subsided, and she coldly instructed the palace maid, "What are you standing there for? Quickly clean up the broken porcelain pieces."
With a smile, Song Zhao approached and greeted Consort Yao respectfully, saying, "Did the servants not perform their duties well and offend Your Ladyship?"
Consort Yao, with a hint of mockery in her tone, replied, "What does it matter if they perform their duties well or not? Those who serve in the palace must satisfy the Emperor to be considered the top priority."
Song Zhao silently rejected Consort Yao's words and asked in confusion, "I'm sorry, Your Ladyship, but I don't understand your meaning."
Consort Yao, with a somewhat mocking tone, said, "It doesn't matter if you don't understand. Go to your storage and pick some gifts. Follow me to Zhaochun Palace to congratulate Noble Consort Xiao."
Song Zhao puzzledly asked, "Noble Consort Xiao?"
"Oh... isn't she the one who was locked in the secret dungeon?" Consort Yao sighed and explained to Song Zhao, "Before Xiao Shi was moved to the Cold Palace, the palace attendants had to examine her to ensure she didn't bring any dirty items inside. However, during the examination, Xiao Shi became very agitated and kept insisting that she was innocent and wanted to see the Emperor. Somehow, she became so agitated that she fainted."
She hasn't been sent to the Cold Palace yet, so she cannot be considered a deposed concubine. The servant who was taking her to the Cold Palace was afraid that something might happen to her, so a physician was called. The result of the examination was quite something..."
Consort Yao wrinkled the handkerchief in her hand and said resentfully, "She unexpectedly became pregnant at this time! As soon as the Emperor heard about it, he immediately issued an edict to move her back to Zhaochun Palace. The physician said that her excessive emotional agitation would be harmful to the fetus, so the Emperor granted her the status of a noble consort on the spot."
As she spoke, Consort Yao unconsciously protected her flat abdomen with her hand and said spitefully, "It's all because of my incompetence. I had to watch someone with such malicious intentions conceive an imperial heir!"
After hearing Consort Yao's account of the whole incident, Song Zhao felt a slight unease. She thought to herself that Xiao Shi was indeed fortunate.
But this incident could also be considered a good thing. Xiao Shi's disfigured appearance prevented Xiao Jingheng from favoring her, and her background was not considered good either. Allowing her to give birth to Xiao Jingheng's first child as an esteemed son was much better than the Empress or Consort Chen giving birth to a son first.
"What did the Emperor say about the incident at the Plum Garden?" Song Zhao asked.
Consort Yao sneered, "What else could the Emperor say? No one else was injured, just one palace maid died. It's not a catastrophic event. According to the rumors in the court, the Emperor has classified it as an accident and has nothing to do with Noble Consort Xiao."
Consort Yao was straightforward in character. The reason she was so angry was that she felt Xiao Shi had done something wicked in the palace, but because she became pregnant, everything was forgiven and Consort Yao felt frustrated in her heart.
So Song Zhao advised her, "Noble Consort, don't be upset. Since the Emperor said it was an accident, then it can only be an accident. Let's go congratulate Noble Consort Xiao quickly."
As they made their way to Zhaochun Palace, they caught sight from a distance of Xiao Jingheng coming out of the palace and boarding a sedan.
He must have just visited Noble Consort Xiao, with a smile on his face and looking very happy.
Consort Yao couldn't help but clench her fists and murmured softly, "Look at how happy the Emperor is. Even if Lady Chen was bitten by a snake yesterday, the Emperor would still have to wait for the child in Noble Consort Xiao's belly to be born before he can hold her responsible."
Her voice gradually faded, unable to conceal her disappointment. "It's clear that having an heir in the palace is more important than anything else."
Song Zhao lowered her voice and reminded her, "Noble Consort, we must not gossip about the Emperor."
Hearing this, Consort Yao refrained from saying anything further and waited until the sedan was far away before entering Zhaochun Palace with Song Zhao.
In fact, it was not uncommon for Xiao Jingheng to be happy.
He had lost two children in a row, so this pregnancy of Noble Consort Xiao was undoubtedly more precious.
If the heavens were merciful to Noble Consort Xiao and allowed her to give birth to a child, even without his favor, her status as the mother of a noble son would make her eligible for promotion to a concubine or even a consort.
When Song Zhao and Consort Yao arrived in Noble Consort Xiao's chamber, almost all the consorts and concubines were already present, except for Lady Chen and Concubine Liu.
It was evident that the Empress was particularly concerned about Noble Consort Xiao.
The Empress sat in front of Noble Consort Xiao's bed, holding her hand with a gentle smile on her face, giving her various instructions to take care of herself.
Noble Consort Xiao was still anxious and kept insisting to the Empress that she had nothing to do with the snake incident in the Plum Garden.
The Empress gently patted her hand and reassured her, "The Emperor said it was an accident, so it was an accident. We all trust you, so you don't have to worry too much. The most important thing now is to take care of your health and give birth to a child for the royal family, understand?"
Consort Shu also approached Noble Consort Xiao and told her many taboos during pregnancy, rambling on and on. Then she gently touched her belly and sighed, "I lost my child, so you must protect this pregnancy."
"Consort Chen has arrived."
With a sharp and shrill announcement from the palace servant, Consort Chen strode into the hall.
She had a stern expression on her face and walked with such confidence that it was intimidating to look at her.
Upon seeing her, Concubine Liu immediately shrank to the side of the bed, trembling against the cold white wall.
The Empress stood up and stood in front of her, blocking Consort Chen from approaching.
"Consort Chen, the Emperor has already said that yesterday's incident was purely an accident, so you..."
"I heard that Noble Consort Xiao is pregnant? Congratulations to you," Consort Chen interrupted the Empress without even looking at her, and bypassed her to stand above Noble Consort Xiao, who was trembling on the bed. "You must take good care of yourself. Keeping this heaven-sent blessing is what truly matters."
After speaking, the sharp phoenix eyes turned towards the Empress. "Shouldn't the Empress know better than anyone else that this matter is not an accident?"
Her gaze was disdainful as she looked down upon the Empress and coldly laughed, saying:
"The Empress is truly considering the prosperity of the nation. Knowing her own frailty and inability to bear children, at the news of Noble Consort Xiao's pregnancy, she hurriedly rushed over. How about it? Do you suddenly not feel cold, even without your personal maid by your side?"
These words were cutting, causing the Empress's face to change instantly.
Consort Yin stepped forward and spoke up for the Empress, saying, "Consort Chen, you've gone too far!"
Consort Chen glanced at her and said, "Is it wrong for me to be concerned about the Empress?"
Consort Chen's stature was slightly taller than the Empress's, and as she spoke, she inclined her head slightly closer to the Empress's ear.
There was a sinister smile on her face as she whispered something that only the two of them could hear:
"Since you dare to make a move on the first day, don't blame me for going all out on the fifteenth day.
We still have a long time in the palace, you and I, and there will be more battles to come!"
After finishing her words, Consort Chen didn't even spare a glance at the Empress's pale and defeated face.
She swiftly turned around, pushing aside the concubines blocking her way. Despite her usual domineering demeanor, she left in such a grand manner.
