I Was Supposed to Be the Villainous Consort

Chapter 341: Chapter 134: The Emperor Has Made Great Progress

"The Merit Stele was a spontaneous effort by the common people, but a stele can only be so large, so there’s a limit to how many names can be carved on it. It wasn’t just the harem that donated silver and supplies this time. Many courtiers and merchants from outside the palace contributed as well. I hear the number of spots reserved for the harem is quite small."

Consort Shu breathed a small sigh of relief. "Even so, they can leave anyone out but me. I was the one who initiated this whole thing, after all."

She felt a twinge of guilt. It had been Song Yunzhao who proposed it, but she certainly wouldn’t wrong her. Yun Zhao’s share was guaranteed.

Besides, she wouldn’t dare give her less. Song Yunzhao was someone who would actually dare to make a scene.

"Your Highness is right. This servant has also heard that the spots are determined by the amount of silver donated."

"Then what’s there to fight about?" Consort Shu instantly relaxed. She had donated the most in the entire harem. The thought delighted her, and looking at Nanny Wen, she said, "Princess Consort Zhuang and Princess Consort Wan must be regretting it with all their might. I advised them to do more good deeds, but those two insisted on working against me. Well, now they’ve dug their own graves."

Consort Shu was in high spirits. The more she thought about it, the more pleased she became. ’The first round of the new year has gone so smoothly. This year is sure to be filled with good fortune.’

"Indeed. Princess Consort Zhuang and Princess Consort Wan must be full of regret. Their expressions were already sour at the banquet tonight. With this news on top of it, they must be truly miserable," Nanny Wen said with a smile.

A smile played on Consort Shu’s lips. "By the way, have you found out where this rumor started?"

"It’s almost impossible to find out. With so many people coming and going from the harem, anyone could have spread it." Nanny Wen sighed. "The lax security at the palace gates makes it easy for the concubines to contact their families, but the flip side is that it’s difficult to get to the bottom of things like this."

Consort Shu sneered. "It doesn’t matter that there’s no proof. A little thought is all it takes to guess who’s behind this. If it wasn’t Princess Consort Zhuang and Princess Consort Wan, then it was definitely Qin Wan Yi."

"Your Highness means...?"

"From this disaster relief effort, Song Yunzhao’s father and Grand Tutor Qin only gained nominal prestige, while my father was the only one to receive tangible benefits. And it was Grand Tutor Qin who made the first move against us. The Qin Family would never take that lying down. With the Merit Stele now in play, how could Qin Wan Yi possibly do nothing?"

Then, with a hint of smugness, Consort Shu added, "I’ve been fighting Princess Consort Zhuang and Princess Consort Wan for years. I’ve consistently had the upper hand recently, so of course they’re getting restless. It’s only to be expected that they’d try to muddy the waters over the Merit Stele."

"Your Highness, are we simply going to let them get away with it?" Nanny Wen asked, frowning.

"Of course not." Consort Shu couldn’t swallow this insult. "My head feels foggy today. How could I possibly come up with a good plan? We’ll discuss it tomorrow."

"Your Highness has had a long day. Allow me to help you to bed."

Leaning on Nanny Wen’s arm, Consort Shu entered the bedchamber. After lying down, she added slowly, "Song Yunzhao isn’t one to take a loss lying down. Keep an eye on Wangyou Palace and see if there’s any activity."

’If Song Yunzhao makes a move, I’ll be happy to watch the drama unfold. I might even give her a little push.’

Nanny Wen acknowledged the order and blew out the lamps in the bedchamber, leaving only a single small lamp lit in the corner. The room instantly fell silent.

Consort Shu closed her eyes and quickly fell asleep, dreaming that if things continued like this, the rank of Imperial Concubine might not be far off.

「In Wangyou Palace.」

Song Yunzhao received a message from the Emperor. Urgent memorials had been delivered to the palace, so he wouldn’t be coming over that night.

Song Yunzhao was stunned for a long moment. ’The Emperor isn’t coming to Wangyou Palace, so be it. But he actually sent someone to let me know?’

’Hey, this is a huge step forward!’

Not even the Empress dared to ask about the Emperor’s whereabouts, and Song Yunzhao would never be so bold as to test those waters. But since the Emperor himself had sent word, the dynamic had shifted.

Song Yunzhao was thrilled. This wasn’t just about a message; it proved that her importance and standing in the Emperor’s heart had changed.

’Before, the Emperor only saw me as a favored concubine, a convenient tool for cleaning up the harem’s messes. But now, it feels like he’s starting to see me as one of his own people.’

’My efforts these past few months haven’t been in vain.’ Song Yunzhao slept soundly that night.

「In Taiji Palace.」

Feng Yi lay alone on the Dragon Bed. For the first time, he felt it was far too empty, and he found himself tossing and turning, unable to sleep.

The urgent memorial had come from the traveling palace. It said the Empress Dowager was ill.

Feng Yi scoffed. ’I have my own spies in the traveling palace. If the Empress Dowager were truly ill, I would have heard about it long before now.’

’The Empress Dowager can’t contain herself any longer. She’s sending me a message.’

Sleep eluded Feng Yi now. The thought of the Empress Dowager inevitably dragged his mind back to the days before he was Emperor—to her disapproval of him, to how she had used him as a stepping stone without a second thought in her bid to regain favor.

He remembered the mocking smiles and disdainful looks from the late Emperor’s Empress and Imperial Concubine. Back then, he had wished the earth would open up and swallow him whole. But his status was low and his words carried no weight. He was unloved by his Imperial Father. Even when the Empress and the Imperial Concubine humiliated him, he could do nothing but stand there and endure it.