I Was Supposed to Be the Villainous Consort

Chapter 332: Chapter 132: A Cold Face for Her, a Warm Heart for the Emperor

Song Yunzhao looked at Princess Zhenbei and shook her head. "The County Princess was able to figure it out on her own. Otherwise, my advice would have been useless. You don’t need to thank me for this, Your Highness. Given my friendship with the County Princess, I did it because I wanted to. I wasn’t trying to make the Prince Manor indebted to me. This was a private matter between the County Princess and me, so please don’t take it to heart."

Princess Zhenbei was taken aback. She hadn’t expected Song Jieyu to say such a thing.

’I haven’t even secured my footing in the palace yet,’ Song Yunzhao thought. ’If I get tied up with Princess Zhenbei, it won’t be a good thing for me.’

’I’m afraid Princess Zhenbei thinks the same way, which would explain her previous attitude.’

Seeing Song Jieyu’s attitude, Princess Zhenbei understood. She immediately downed the wine in her cup and left with a smile.

Song Yunzhao didn’t watch Princess Zhenbei’s retreating figure. She just mulled over the princess consort’s personality. ’How on earth did a woman like her raise the two cannon fodder children from the book?’

’That Princess Consort really has it rough. She’s middle-aged and still has to suffer such a heavy blow from her own children. Fortunately, He Lan Yun has seen the error of her ways and returned to the right path. I imagine she won’t make such mistakes so easily again.’

’As for the He Lan Princely Heir, that’s beyond my control. Whether he can escape his fate as cannon fodder will depend on how helpful his sister, He Lan Yun, can be.’

No matter how reluctant she was, Song Yunzhao still had to pick up her wine cup and make her rounds with the three concubines.

As always, Consort Shu huffed when she saw her. "Well, well. Song Jieyu actually remembers me."

Song Yunzhao...

’Why does she sound like a scorned wife trapped in her chambers?’ The thought instantly sobered her up, and the slight buzz from the alcohol vanished without a trace.

"Countless people wish to toast Your Grace. This concubine couldn’t even squeeze through the crowd, so I had to settle for the next best thing and wait for them to disperse before coming over."

Consort Shu shot Song Yunzhao a glare.

Song Yunzhao raised her cup. "May Your Grace continue to be as beautiful as a flower in the new year, and may all your wishes come true."

Consort Shu drank the wine in her cup reluctantly. ’Being as beautiful as a flower is a given,’ she thought, ’but with Song Yunzhao around, it’ll be difficult for all my wishes to come true.’

Consort Shu didn’t make things difficult for Song Yunzhao. After finishing the toast, Song Yunzhao went to Princess Consort Zhuang.

Princess Consort Zhuang’s attitude towards her was even warmer and more amicable. She downed the wine in one go without a single unpleasant word, acting much more magnanimously than Consort Shu.

Finally, she reached Princess Consort Wan. Princess Consort Wan’s expression was indifferent as she said, "I cannot hold my liquor and have had quite a bit to drink tonight. I appreciate the kind gesture, Song Jieyu."

Song Yunzhao didn’t press the issue. She said a few auspicious words and left. Of course, she didn’t drink the wine in her cup either.

’Princess Consort Wan didn’t give me any face. Am I supposed to just suck up to her?’

When she returned from the area of the three concubines, Han Jinyi and the others came to offer toasts. Even though Song Yunzhao only took a small sip from each cup, she was still feeling a bit dizzy after making the rounds.

Xiangxue followed closely behind her mistress. Shizhu quietly brought over a small cup of sobering tea, which Song Yunzhao practically gulped down in one go. ’That taste was... really something else.’

The sobering tea had barely settled in her stomach when Qin Xiyue approached. "This concubine would like to toast Song Jieyu. I hope that in the new year, all will go as you wish."

Song Yunzhao looked up at Qin Xiyue. She had a smile on her face that seemed completely sincere, but her eyes held a glimmer so deep it was impossible to read.

’The protagonist is the protagonist, after all. Even when we’re fighting to the death in private, she can still come over and toast me with a perfectly righteous expression. If it were me, I probably wouldn’t bother.’

"How thoughtful of you, Qin Wanyi. I wish you peace and joy in the new year," Song Yunzhao replied with a smile, raising her cup slightly. "I’ve had too much to drink today and really can’t take much more. I’ll just take a small sip, I hope Wanyi can understand."

"As you wish, Concubine." Qin Xiyue drained the wine in her cup and turned to leave.

Song Yunzhao sat down, steadying herself with Xiangxue’s hand. Her head was buzzing. She pinched herself hard. ’I can’t make a fool of myself in front of all these people.’

The hall was bustling with noise and excitement. Song Yunzhao saw the famous Left and Right Ministers; the Left Minister looked stern, while the Right Minister was all smiles. She saw Lord Han, who had been promoted to Left Imperial Censor, and Lord Yang, the Minister of the Ministry of Imperial Stables. This last one was Song Jinxuan’s father-in-law.

She also saw the trembling Grand Tutor Qin. He was seated at the banquet, and the Emperor himself came before him to pour him a cup of wine.

Grand Tutor Qin was the first and only person for whom the Emperor personally poured wine.

This singular honor made everyone look at Qin Xiyue differently. In comparison, Song Yunzhao fell somewhat short. So what if the Emperor doted on her? Her family background was no match for Qin Wanyi’s.

Besides, Qin Wanyi had also been promoted after entering the palace. In the long run, it was still uncertain who would emerge victorious.

Song Yunzhao watched Qin Xiyue chatting and laughing happily with the noble women. ’She has long since lost the calm, composed, and self-possessed demeanor described in the book. Perhaps it’s because her enemy—me—is too formidable, forcing her to lower her stance now and pave the way for her future.’