I Was Supposed to Be the Villainous Consort

Chapter 350: Chapter 136: Lightning Strike (4)

Song Yunzhao figured it wouldn’t be long now. If the Emperor said so, he would have to depart within a few days. "Is Your Majesty going personally?"

Feng Yi nodded slightly. "Ordinarily, I would just send the Ministry of Rites. However, after what happened today, it is better that I go myself."

Song Yunzhao understood. The Emperor was going to go head-to-head with the Empress Dowager.

’He really is the male lead, daring to think and daring to act.’

"In that case, I wish Your Majesty a smooth and successful journey," Song Yunzhao said with a smile.

Feng Yi held Yun Zhao’s hand, saying nothing. He knew she understood what he meant, but there were some things that couldn’t be spoken aloud, even if she was aware of them.

"The eaves of Shouci Palace will be under repair for the next few days. You should just stay in Wangyou Palace and read your storybooks."

Song Yunzhao understood the Emperor’s meaning and turned her head to look at him. ’This is going in a strange direction. Shouldn’t the Emperor be deploying me, his trash-disposal unit, to drag down everyone involved in this? Why is he keeping me cooped up in Wangyou Palace instead?’

Feng Yi saw the suspicion in Yun Zhao’s eyes and was momentarily at a loss for words. According to his original plan, he should have let Yun Zhao step forward, but now he was reluctant.

’How can fine porcelain clash with a clay pot? If she gets hurt, who will be to blame?’

’As for what he was thinking before... that’s not important. That was then, and this is now.’

After giving his instructions, Feng Yi rose to leave. The matter with Shouci Palace was not yet resolved. Before he left, he looked at Yun Zhao, seemingly on the verge of speaking, but in the end, he said nothing and turned away.

Song Yunzhao was baffled. ’Why did the Emperor look at me like I’m some naive child? This is so weird.’

Song Yunzhao knew this was a dangerous matter and decided to follow the Emperor’s advice to remain secluded in her palace. She received no news from Feng Yunjin that day, which made her slightly uneasy. However, she considered Feng Yunjin’s character. ’If it were something major, she would definitely have come to find me.’ With that thought, she was able to fall asleep for the time being.

The next morning, she rose and summoned Xiangxue. "What’s the situation at Shouci Palace?"

Xiangxue and the others had been keeping a close watch. The moment her mistress asked, she replied, "Last night, Manager Meng took away quite a few people. I heard that all the concubines who visited Shouci Palace recently were questioned. I sent Shizhu to Yanqing Palace, and Feng Xiaoyuan was also summoned. Fortunately, she’s all right and has already returned."

Song Yunzhao nodded slightly. "And the others?"

"None of the concubines who went to Shouci Palace met with any misfortune. However, a few palace attendants were taken away and never returned. One of Feng Xiaoyuan’s own palace attendants is also missing."

Song Yunzhao fell silent, pondering. ’My guess yesterday was right. Someone close to Feng Yunjin must have been bought.’

’No wonder the Emperor told me not to interfere. There must have been testimony intended to incriminate me. But because I warned Feng Yunjin ahead of time, she must have reacted immediately. The plot was stopped with her and couldn’t be traced back to me.’

That was not a pleasant thought.

"What about Princess Consort Zhuang?"

"The gates of Zhaoyang Palace are shut tight. I was only able to find out that two people from Consort Zhuang’s side have disappeared," Xiangxue said, shaking her head. She didn’t know any more details.

Princess Consort Zhuang had been established in the palace for many years; the affairs of Zhaoyang Palace were not something Xiangxue could easily pry into.

Song Yunzhao nodded. "Is there any news from Princess Consort Wan or Consort Shu?"

"Everything is business as usual for Lady Shufei. As for Lady Wanfei, she claims to be ill, and Roufu Palace did indeed summon an Imperial Physician to examine her," Xiangxue replied.

Song Yunzhao chuckled. ’It seems Princess Consort Wan doesn’t have much nerve. Princess Consort Zhuang is carrying on as usual, yet she’s suddenly taken ill.’

"Keep an eye on what’s happening outside, and be careful."

"Rest assured, Mistress."

Song Yunzhao thought again of the storybooks the Emperor had mentioned. She was in no mood to read them now. Her mind was consumed with the Empress Dowager, who had caused such a massive uproar before she had even returned to the palace.

Suddenly, she called Xiangxue back. "Do you know what’s happening with Qin Wanyi?"

Xiangxue paused for a moment, then said, "I will go and inquire at once."

Xiangxue left and returned swiftly. She looked at her mistress and said, "I’ve asked. Qin Wanyi is also ill, claiming she caught a chill in the rain and was frightened. However, a palace attendant from Huayang Palace also didn’t return after being questioned. The specific details are still unclear."

Song Yunzhao mused on this. It wasn’t just people from Shouci Palace who had been dealt with by the Emperor. It seemed that while the concubines involved were unharmed, their attendants had paid the price. They had died for their masters.

’So, from this, it’s clear that Princess Consort Zhuang and Qin Xiyue were likely the masterminds. Princess Consort Wan was probably just an accomplice. Feng Yunjin was the target of the scheme, and Consort Shu avoided the disaster by not getting involved. I stayed far away from it all. Thankfully, Feng Yunjin reacted quickly, so I wasn’t dragged down either.’

As the eaves of Shouci Palace were repaired, the incident was officially concluded as an accident. But that was not the truth.

Because the Empress Dowager was involved, Feng Yi, despite his fury, chose to preserve the Royal Family’s dignity. He didn’t want to escalate the matter and give the courtiers an opportunity for impeachment.

Having to swallow this injustice was a bitter pill. It wasn’t just the Emperor who found it hard to stomach; Song Yunzhao felt it was a bitter pill to swallow as well.

"Mistress, Han Guipin has arrived."

Song Yunzhao looked at Qingfeng and said, "Show her in."

"Yes." Qingfeng bowed and withdrew, quickly leading Han Guipin into the hall.

"I greet you, Concubine," Han Jinyi said, stepping forward to curtsy.

"Please, have a seat," Song Yunzhao said with a smile. "There are no outsiders here; there’s no need for such formalities."

Han Jinyi forced a smile as she took her seat. Once seated, she lowered her voice and said, "The palace attendant who was with Feng Yunjin was beaten to death."

"Was it only her?" Song Yunzhao asked coldly.

Han Jinyi shook her head. "No. All of those who were summoned for questioning and never returned..."

Song Yunzhao saw Han Jinyi’s face turn pale. It was frightening, yes, but this wasn’t some future era that valued equality. This was a dynasty, a time and place where a single word could decide life or death.

"The incident at Shouci Palace was no small matter. For those involved, the fact that their entire clans weren’t exterminated is already an act of Your Majesty’s mercy. We cannot ask for more."

"I know, I’m just feeling a lingering fear. I went to visit Yun Jin earlier, and she was shaken as well. She seemed quite listless. She asked me to give you a message: don’t worry about her, and she won’t be visiting for the next few days to avoid drawing attention," Han Jinyi said.

Song Yunzhao nodded. "This matter should be over, unless the Empress Dowager decides to use it as a pretext for something else when she returns to the palace."

"So it really was related to the Empress Dowager?" Han Jinyi covered her mouth, her face growing even paler.

Song Yunzhao said, "There is no proof. It’s just a guess."

Han Jinyi knew Yun Zhao’s temperament. She wouldn’t voice something unless she was fairly certain. Though she called it a guess, it was likely close to the truth.

If the Empress Dowager was involved, the look on Han Jinyi’s face wasn’t just pale; it was catastrophic.