I Was Supposed to Be the Villainous Consort

Chapter 335: Chapter 132: Chilling Her Face, Warming the Emperor’s Heart

’If you have to follow a template to be a favored concubine, how can you not fall out of favor once the Emperor gets bored?’

’Even in modern times, married couples have to work on their relationships to resist outside temptations. It’s even more true now, in an era where having concubines is legal—especially for someone like the Emperor, whose number of partners can skyrocket.’

Song Yunzhao had her own ideas. Being the Emperor’s favored concubine was different from just being the Emperor’s woman.

Feng Yi leaned against the pillows, half-embracing Yun Zhao against his chest. He toyed with her fingertips and spoke slowly, "Your father’s contributions to the disaster relief are well-known, and word has spread that the people want to erect a Merit Stele for him. Grand Tutor Qin likely has his own plans. Qin Wan Yi is probably acting on his instructions."

Song Yunzhao immediately feigned indignation. "So it was just crocodile tears. I knew it was strange that she suddenly wanted to team up with me." Then, her tone shifted. "Your Majesty, does that mean all the concubines in the palace who donated silver this time can have their names carved on the stele?"

"The Merit Stele is only so big. It’s not just for people in the palace. Many officials and merchants from outside also donated silver and grain. The names will be recorded according to the amount of their donation."

Song Yunzhao tilted her head to look at the Emperor. "In that case, I’m afraid there won’t be many spots for those of us in the palace."

’No wonder the Emperor only named a few of them last time. He had this planned all along.’

"Of course." Feng Yi found it amusing to watch Yun Zhao’s wide eyes darting about. "I imagine things didn’t go too smoothly when you were asking the other concubines to donate silver, did they?"

Song Yunzhao nodded. "It couldn’t be helped. Not everyone is well-off."

’It was true that concubines received a monthly stipend, but their expenses were also high. She was only able to live so comfortably because the Emperor supplemented her allowance from time to time, she had extra income from her novels, her father had given her a considerable sum when she first entered the palace, and she had that silver from Xie Linlang.’

’For the other concubines, unless their families provided for them, life was truly a struggle.’

’Under those circumstances, asking them to fork over silver for a donation was a tall order. To be frank, the less wealthy ones genuinely had no money to spare. As for the rich ones who were at odds with her and Consort Shu, they would probably just make a token gesture.’

’Like Princess Consort Zhuang and Princess Consort Wan.’

’Since Consort Shu had been the one to spearhead the effort, there was no way Princess Consort Zhuang and Princess Consort Wan would do anything to boost her prestige. So, neither of them donated much silver.’

’Once they find out their names could have been on the Merit Stele, they’ll probably be kicking themselves.’

’Speaking of which, Consort Shu had really lucked out by being associated with her again. Their relationship wasn’t great, but whenever they worked together, their fortunes seemed to improve nonstop. It was bizarre.’

’Could this be the "two negatives make a positive" effect of two cannon-fodder characters teaming up?’

The thought made her chuckle, and she started wriggling around in the Emperor’s embrace until he firmly held her still.

Song Yunzhao froze.

’She immediately stopped moving. She didn’t want to work overtime tonight.’

Feng Yi was both exasperated and amused by her meek act. "Don’t get involved in this yourself," he said. "I’ll have Consort Shu take the lead."

’Huh?’

’Song Yunzhao was genuinely stunned. Was she not doing a good enough job as his personal problem-solver?’

’Was the Emperor looking for a replacement?’

Perhaps Song Yunzhao’s confusion was too obvious, because Feng Yi explained, "Since Grand Tutor Qin knows about this, he’ll likely try to interfere. If you’re the one leading this, your father will probably be put in a very difficult position at court."

’Song Yunzhao understood. Her father was no match for Grand Tutor Qin.’

"Besides, Consort Shu was the one who took charge of this from the start, so it’s better if she handles it. It’s just... she’ll inevitably have to receive a larger share of the credit."

The thought made Feng Yi a bit displeased. It was clearly Yun Zhao’s idea, her strategy, yet now the greatest share of the credit had to be given away.

’Ultimately, it was because he still wasn’t powerful enough. He couldn’t fully protect her yet.’

’In the end, she was the one who had to be wronged.’

’Song Yunzhao’s eyes darted about as she watched the Emperor, her feelings a tangled mess. The Emperor was actually thinking of her well-being?’

’Was this the kind of treatment a problem-solver was supposed to get?’

’Surely not?’

’Why was the Emperor suddenly being so good to her?’

’Could it be that he has a guilty conscience about something? Like maybe he wants to visit one of the other concubines?’

At that thought, Song Yunzhao grew anxious.

’That would not do.’

Even though she didn’t want to work ’overtime,’ for the sake of her future happiness, Song Yunzhao took the initiative and pounced on the Emperor.

Feng Yi: ?

’Was she really this moved over such a small thing?’

’Just a moment ago, she looked completely exhausted and unwilling to move. Where did she suddenly find this energy?’

Song Yunzhao had a beautiful plan: drain the Emperor of all his energy so he wouldn’t have time to visit anyone else. The only problem was her own pitiful stamina. She couldn’t even make it through the night before she conked out first.

Feng Yi lay beside her, holding her in his arms. He only managed to doze off for a short while as dawn approached before he heard Meng Jiuchang’s call to rise.

On the first day of the New Year, he had to rise before dawn. The Emperor needed to eat vegetarian dumplings to pray for peace and purity in the new year. After eating the dumplings, as the sky began to lighten, the Emperor would bathe, change into his ceremonial robes, and proceed to Taiji Palace for the opening seal ceremony, where he would accept laudatory memorials from all the officials.

Then, the Emperor would bestow upon them pouches filled with gold and silver. Afterward, the officials would gather in the square of Taiji Palace to offer New Year’s greetings to the Emperor. Simultaneously, officials from all over the country would bow toward the capital, completing the grand New Year celebration.

With that, the Emperor’s New Year’s rituals for the imperial court were complete. But he had to immediately return to the harem to begin the celebrations there. The Emperor was required to lead the "three thousand beauties" of his harem through a complex series of formal bows and prostrations, participate in a grand family banquet, and thus officially, and busily, begin the new year.

On the first day of the New Year, the Emperor was very busy.

Song Yunzhao was busy, too.

She vaguely heard someone’s call to rise, but her eyelids were too heavy to lift. When she felt the person holding her start to get up, she remembered what day it was and forced her eyes open.

"Sleep a while longer. The harem’s business can wait." Feng Yi felt a pang of guilt seeing Yun Zhao in this state. He really had overdone it last night.

How could Song Yunzhao pass up such a perfect opportunity to win his favor? She hugged the Emperor’s arm, her voice full of sweet coquetry. "This is our first New Year together. I want to be with you, and I want Your Majesty to be with me."

Feng Yi scooped Yun Zhao up into his arms. "Then you’d better get up quickly. Time waits for no one."

’She was insisting on being strong-willed, and Feng Yi decided to let her. It was the first time someone had cared this much about him, wanting to experience every new thing by his side.’

Song Yunzhao gritted her teeth and had Xiangxue bring her a cloth soaked in cold water. The moment it touched her face, she was wide awake.

Feng Yi’s hand was still halfway to her face, not fast enough to stop her. He didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.

He reached out and pulled her up. "You silly girl."

Song Yunzhao was speechless.

’She’d lived two lives, and this was the first time anyone had ever called her silly!’

But seeing the moved look on the Emperor’s face, Song Yunzhao decided it was worth it.

’After all, wasn’t she trying so hard precisely to solidify her position?’

’A cold face for a moment, but it warmed the Emperor’s heart.’

Song Yunzhao immediately jumped up and threw her arms around the Emperor’s waist, heedless of Meng Jiuchang and the other attendants. She grinned and said, "Does Your Majesty not like me when I’m a little silly?"

’From now on, she and the Emperor would be entering phase two of their relationship.’

’Time to activate her exclusive "I like you" mode!’