I Was Supposed to Be the Villainous Consort

Chapter 352: Chapter 137: Instigating the Two Concubines to Fight (Part 2)

Han Jinyi didn’t stay long. After a bit of idle chat with Song Yunzhao, she rose to leave. Song Yunzhao saw her to the palace entrance before turning back.

Nanny Yu then came forward and said, "My Lady, I had someone go take a look. The Six Departments have already begun repairs on Shouci Palace."

Song Yunzhao smiled. "They’re moving quite fast this time."

"They don’t have a choice. Even if they’re unhappy, they wouldn’t dare cut corners on something His Majesty has decreed," Nanny Yu replied with a smile.

"About how long will the repairs take?" Song Yunzhao asked.

Nanny Yu shook her head. "I didn’t ask, but based on the Six Departments’ usual pace, it will take five or six days at least."

"That’s not fast at all. The Empress Dowager will be returning to the palace soon. If the repairs take that long, how long will the preparations inside be delayed?"

A large section of the eaves had collapsed. It wasn’t just the exterior that needed to be fixed; the interior did too. Afterward, the walls had to be painted and the rooms scented with incense. All of this takes time.

"That will depend on how the Six Departments handle it. However, Palace Supervisor Yan always has her own way of doing things. I imagine she’ll find a way," Nanny Yu said.

’Song Yunzhao knew that in real history, the relationship between the Six Departments and the Palace Justice Department was different from in the book she’d read. In the book, the Palace Justice Department supervised the Six Departments, but historically, the Six Departments and the Palace Justice Department each had their own separate duties.’

’But now, the author had just mashed them all together. Both the Palace Justice Department and the Six Departments had been merged into a single entity.’

’Thinking of Palace Supervisor Yan Yu, Song Yunzhao remembered her first impression: this was not an easy person to get along with. It wasn’t just that she was adaptable, able to be both yielding and unbending, but that she operated according to her own set of principles. People like that were hard to influence from the outside, and it was difficult for others to threaten her position.’

’For now, however, she and Yan Yu had no conflicts of interest, nor any personal disputes. One could say they were coexisting peacefully. As for the future, she would just have to wait and see.’

"Any word from Lady Shufei?"

"It’s strange. After such a major incident, Cuiwei Palace has been surprisingly quiet, not making a single move," Nanny Yu said with a smile.

Song Yunzhao chuckled. "Consort Shu suffered quite a few losses last year. She’s gotten smarter. Besides, this matter involves the Empress Dowager. Consort Shu must have her own plans."

"You’re right, My Lady." Nanny Yu nodded with a smile. "Should we continue to keep an eye on things at Shouci Palace?"

"Pull them back. There’s no need to watch anymore." Song Yunzhao shook her head. "Consort Shu is staying out of it, and both Princess Consort Wan and Qin Wan Yi are ill. That only leaves Princess Consort Zhuang. I’m sure she won’t let anyone else handle the affairs of Shouci Palace."

’If she wants to use the Empress Dowager to suppress me, Princess Consort Zhuang certainly won’t ignore what’s happening at Shouci Palace. All the trouble she goes to now is just to earn favor with the Empress Dowager later.’

Nanny Yu’s expression soured at her words. She said softly, "Consort Zhuang is targeting you, My Lady."

Song Yunzhao gave a faint smile. "There’s nothing to fear. Princess Consort Zhuang has her scheme all worked out, but whether she gets what she wants is another matter entirely."

’Someone with the Empress Dowager’s disposition isn’t easily swayed or bought. People like her always prioritize their own interests. They can smile at you one day and stick a knife in your back the next.’

’Working with someone like that is no different from trying to bargain with a tiger for its hide.’

As expected, the situation with Shouci Palace caused considerable dispute in the imperial court. Fortunately, the Emperor made a swift decision, issuing an edict to personally escort the Empress Dowager back. Since the Emperor himself was going to the traveling palace, what could the Left and Right Ministers possibly say?

The night before his departure, the Emperor came to stay the night at Wangyou Palace. They didn’t do anything intimate; she could sense he wasn’t in a good mood, as if he were suppressing something.

’She understood. It was the same way she felt every time she saw Mrs. Cai—unable to get away, unable to break free, yet forced to constantly fight. After so many years, it was a kind of frustration that most people couldn’t comprehend.’

Early that morning, Song Yunzhao rose to see Feng Yi off. Before he left, she reached out to hug him. "I’ll be waiting for you to come back."

’She still remembered the look the Emperor gave her. For a moment, he seemed like a stranger.’

With the Emperor gone, the atmosphere in the harem palpably shifted. Qin Xiyue, who had been recuperating, was now fully recovered and had spent the last two days making the rounds in the harem. Yun Zhao had to admire her diligence.

Princess Consort Wan was another story. Still not fully recovered, the gates to her Roufu Palace remained shut, a clear sign that she wanted nothing to do with anything.

Princess Consort Zhuang, on the other hand, was unusually active. Not only was she keeping a close eye on the renovations at Shouci Palace, but she also hosted a tea party, inviting all the women of the harem. Yun Zhao declined, citing she was unwell.

Consort Shu did not attend, and Princess Consort Wan was still recuperating. Lu Zhixue didn’t even bother with an excuse, merely stating that she had no particular fondness for tea and wouldn’t want to spoil Princess Consort Zhuang’s elegant gathering. Han Jinyi and Feng Yunjin, lacking Lu Zhixue’s sharp personality, found it difficult to refuse and had to attend.