I Was Supposed to Be the Villainous Consort

Chapter 329: Chapter 131: Who Can’t Learn to Be Passive-Aggressive (Part 2)

When drama starts to brew, everyone gets a taste. No one is safe from the splash.

Princess Consort Wan looked up at Song Yunzhao. "Song Jieyu, there is no need to bring others into this. Princess Consort Zhuang simply wants to know your own thoughts."

Song Yunzhao looked at Princess Consort Wan, her face a mask of surprise. "A moment ago, it was Princess Consort Zhuang who was asking me a question. Why must you waste your breath on me, Princess Consort Wan?"

’You can’t even keep your own mouth shut, yet you’re trying to police me? How about you get yourself in order first.’

Princess Consort Wan: ...

The noble women: ...

’I really don’t have a hidden talent for being virtuous and demure,’ Song Yunzhao sighed to herself. ’These people are forcing me to put on the airs of a favored concubine. What else can I do?’

’But give the people what they want, of course.’

"Song Jieyu, Princess Consort Wan means well. Why must you misinterpret her?" Qin Xiyue interjected in a soft, placating tone, putting on an air of someone acting for Song Yunzhao’s own good.

Song Yunzhao turned to Qin Xiyue. "I find your words baffling, Qin Wanyi. Why don’t you explain just how I’ve misinterpreted Princess Consort Wan’s good intentions? The word ’misinterpret’... to think it could be used in such a way is truly an eye-opener for me. It seems my own knowledge is too shallow for me to comprehend."

Qin Xiyue had deliberately used rhetorical tricks to obscure the issue. Her accusation couldn’t stand up to scrutiny, so how could she possibly explain it?

She couldn’t.

Lu Zhixue couldn’t stand the sight of Qin Xiyue’s hypocritical face. Having learned a painful lesson from her in the past, she immediately spoke up. "Qin Wanyi, you say she misinterpreted, but I also failed to see how Song Jieyu misinterpreted Princess Consort Wan’s words. It seems I, too, am poorly educated. Perhaps you could enlighten us, Qin Wanyi."

Feng Yunjin buried her face in her hands. ’This girl is a lost cause.’

’Song Jieyu has the confidence to confront the three concubines, but what do you have?’

’Are you trying to be cannon fodder?’

’This is going to end badly!’

Sure enough, the thought had barely crossed Feng Yunjin’s mind when Qin Xiyue said, "Lu Pin, you are mistaken. The Lantern Festival is a grand celebration with the people, an event watched by thousands. Princess Consort Wan only spoke up because she wants to know the truth of the matter, so that arrangements can be made in advance."

Lu Zhixue glanced at Feng Yunjin, then said with feigned surprise, "Has Qin Wanyi already received an imperial decree that Princess Consort Wan will be in charge of the Lantern Festival arrangements?"

’Princess Consort Wan is only one of the three concubines. Besides, I’ve never heard of the three of them being in charge of anything for the Lantern Festival in previous years. Qin Xiyue always uses this kind of puffed-up authority to intimidate people.’

’But she wasn’t the same brainless girl she used to be. Song Yunzhao is cunning from head to toe; just by learning a little from her, she had more than enough to handle this.’

’Besides, she had benefited from Song Yunzhao’s recent success with the monument. It was only right that she help hold the line. Her rank was too low and her standing too new to challenge the three concubines directly, but was she supposed to be afraid of Qin Xiyue?’

’Her rank might be lower than Qin Xiyue’s, but with Song Yunzhao as her backstop, she was sure Song Yunzhao wouldn’t just stand by and watch Qin Xiyue walk all over her.’

The moment Lu Zhixue’s words fell, the hall went silent. That was a rather pointed accusation.

The smile on Qin Xiyue’s face faltered slightly. She looked at Lu Zhixue and said, "Lu Pin, why must you say such things to humiliate me? It was just a casual remark."

Lu Zhixue scoffed. "You have a fine sense of humor, Qin Wanyi. How is that humiliating? I was also just making a casual remark."

’Anyone can learn to be passive-aggressive!’

Song Yunzhao was quite surprised. ’Did Lu Zhixue finally get all the water out of her brain over the New Year? With her wits about her like this, she’s starting to resemble the version of herself from the book.’

’Nicely done!’

’They say even a hero needs help. My sincerity must have finally touched Lu Zhixue. Look at her now, charging into the fray on my behalf.’

Han Jinyi lowered her head and bit her lip, struggling to keep from laughing out loud where others might see. It was surprisingly difficult.

’Feng Yunjin must have had her work cut out for her, getting Lu Zhixue to this point.’

Seeing things were getting out of hand, Princess Consort Zhuang immediately stepped in to defuse the tension with a laugh. "The appointed hour is almost upon us, and the Emperor will be arriving soon. Let us all prepare." Then she turned to Song Yunzhao, her smile suddenly intimate and gentle. "I hear the lanterns at your Wangyou Palace are exceptionally beautiful, Song Jieyu. Did you have the Shanggong Bureau make them specially for you? I must visit another day to feast my eyes on them."

Song Yunzhao could feel the gazes of the other noble women fall upon her. To be able to command the people of the Six Departments was a rare feat among the imperial concubines.

That crowd from the Six Departments was notoriously difficult to deal with. Their power was deeply entrenched and not easily challenged.

’Princess Consort Zhuang really knows how to stir up trouble,’ she thought. Feigning surprise, she retorted, "Wherever did you hear such a thing, Princess Consort Zhuang? I am but a lowly Concubine. How could I possibly have the Shanggong Bureau make lanterns especially for me? I simply hang whatever lanterns the Six Departments send to my palace. Now that you mention it, I’ll have to take a closer look when I get back to see what’s so different about them."

’After all the ’black heart silver’ the Six Departments have squeezed out of me over the past six months, what’s the big deal about them giving me a few unique lanterns? I haven’t even flaunted them. I never even mentioned it to the Emperor. Feng Yi certainly didn’t notice anything different about my lanterns. I can’t believe Princess Consort Zhuang actually found out.’