I Was Supposed to Be the Villainous Consort

Chapter 358: Chapter 138: Repudiating the Wife

An Fangyi slept restlessly all night, lying awake with her eyes open until dawn.

In the main hall, Han Jinyi also slept poorly. Although events were unfolding more or less as expected, the fierce conflict between Consort Shu and Princess Consort Zhuang had planted the seeds of future trouble.

The welcome banquet and gifts had been completely disrupted. Once the Empress Dowager returned to the palace, if Princess Consort Zhuang were to say something to her, it would be impossible to predict what the Empress Dowager might do.

The atmosphere in the palace was somber the next day. Consort Shu seemed completely oblivious, and Song Yunzhao carried on as usual. Only the others were fraught with anxiety.

On the third day, Consort Shu suddenly hosted a tea banquet, inviting many people, but Song Yunzhao was not on the list.

Song Yunzhao had no particular reaction.

’It’s not like I wanted to go, anyway.’

This time, Consort Shu specifically invited Princess Consort Zhuang and Princess Consort Wan. Princess Consort Wan, still not recovered from her illness, declined again. Princess Consort Zhuang also didn’t attend, clearly still furious with Consort Shu from their last encounter and refusing to give her face.

After a moment’s hesitation, Qin Xiyue decided to attend. Almost everyone else who received an invitation was there.

Consort Shu’s purpose was direct, and she spoke bluntly, which was very much in line with her character. She addressed the crowd, "For the Empress Dowager’s return to the palace, it is enough for each of your palaces to show your sincerity in your own way. The Imperial Kitchen will naturally prepare the welcome banquet, so you need not trouble yourselves. As for gifts, each of you should prepare your own."

When she said this, everyone looked at each other in dismay. Consort Shu’s intentions were the complete opposite of Princess Consort Zhuang’s, and the two had just had a major falling out over it yesterday. Although they were happy inside, no one dared to be the first to voice their agreement.

Feng Yunjin and Han Jinyi sat together. They exchanged a look but remained silent.

Fan Qingru drew a sharp breath. ’What kind of mess is this? What are we in the eyes of these high-ranking concubines? Are we just objects that anyone can come and kick around?’

Her chest ached with anger, but Fan Qingru didn’t dare show it. Her expression was exceedingly grim.

Consort Shu wasn’t hypocritical like Princess Consort Zhuang, who needed everyone to flatter her while she feigned modesty.

She didn’t care what others thought of her or how they saw her. After she finished speaking, she added, "I am also acting out of goodwill. Not all of the concubines in the palace are well-off. I don’t care whether you appreciate it or not; I just don’t want the Empress Dowager to bear the reputation of mistreating her concubines. Alright, if there’s nothing else, you’re all dismissed."

Qin Xiyue looked up at Consort Shu. ’That line about thinking of the Empress Dowager was delivered with such righteousness. Words like that really don’t seem like something she would say.’

Swinging her handkerchief, Consort Shu sashayed into the inner hall, leaving the group to stare at each other. Feng Yunjin and Han Jinyi were the first to react, getting up to leave immediately. Fan Qingru, her face still dark, paid no mind to anyone else and followed after them.

Qin Xiyue had been about to say something, but seeing how quickly they all left, the words caught in her throat. ’What was there left to say?’

The others were of the lowest rank. With Qin Wan Yi still standing there, it would have been improper for them to leave. They waited until she departed before scattering one by one.

In an instant, Cuiwei Palace fell silent, with only the sweeping Palace Attendants left to tidy up, their movements swift and light.

When Song Yunzhao heard about Consort Shu’s move, she had to give her a thumbs-up. ’She must have been afraid that her argument with Princess Consort Zhuang wasn’t effective enough, so she held another banquet to make her stance clear. This time, Princess Consort Zhuang is probably going to be apoplectic with rage.’

The Emperor hadn’t even brought the Empress Dowager back to the palace yet, and the people inside were already in a complete uproar from their infighting. It was quite amusing.

After this farce, the plans of Princess Consort Zhuang and Qin Xiyue had once again fallen through. Song Yunzhao picked up her storybook again, calculating the time of the Empress Dowager’s return.

Before she could get a specific date for the Empress Dowager’s return, she received a letter from the First Madam.

Song Yunzhao was a little surprised. The First Madam was a prudent person and wouldn’t send her a letter unless something important had happened.

Unfolding the letter, Song Yunzhao’s eyes scanned it quickly. She had barely read the beginning when she almost burst out laughing. Song Qinghan had caused a scene at the Marquis Wuxin Mansion and returned to her maternal home. Mrs. Cai wanted to go to the Marquis Mansion to demand justice and had asked the First Madam to go with her to present a stronger front.

The First Madam wrote that the mother of Xu Anxing’s illegitimate son was not an easy person to deal with. She was already pregnant and had used the opportunity of Song Qinghan punishing her to deliberately fall and start bleeding. Now, neither Marchioness Wu Xin nor Xu Anxing could sit still. They both heaped blame on Song Qinghan. Xu Anxing was especially protective of that Yan Liu, utterly humiliating Song Qinghan.

Under these circumstances, the First Madam had to step in. Song Qinghan was, after all, a daughter of the Song Family. If she was bullied like this by the Marquis Wuxin Mansion, how would the other daughters of the Song Family fare with their in-laws?

Although Song Yunzhao disliked Song Qinghan and felt no sympathy for her plight at the Marquis Wuxin Mansion, she wouldn’t stop the First Madam from intervening since it affected the other family members. In any case, she herself would not be sticking her neck out for Song Qinghan.

The First Madam’s plan was to "keep the child and get rid of the mother." Once Yan Liu gave birth, she should be sold off immediately. Only then could they prevent future trouble and allow Song Qinghan to truly establish her footing in the Marquis Mansion.

While Song Yunzhao felt this move was a bit inhumane, Yan Liu had brought this disaster upon herself with her arrogance. She wasn’t even a proper concubine yet, just a low-ranking concubine, and she already dared to act this way. If she were truly elevated to the status of concubine, who knew how much more audacious she would become.

But the Marquis Wuxin Mansion was protecting Yan Liu. Marchioness Wu Xin was somewhat hesitant, but Xu Anxing rejected the idea outright. He even declared that if they insisted on punishing Yan Liu, he would divorce his wife!

Song Yunzhao was speechless.

The First Madam was now caught in a dilemma, which was why she was writing to ask Yun Zhao for advice.

Song Yunzhao knew what the First Madam’s dilemma was. If they insisted on dealing with Yan Liu, Xu Anxing would divorce his wife. Would Song Qinghan be willing to separate from Xu Anxing?

Back then, she knew the Marquis Wuxin Mansion was a pit of fire, yet she still chose to jump in. It was unlikely she would agree to a separation.

The Song Family was probably in a complete mess dealing with Song Qinghan’s affairs. Song Yunzhao shook her head. ’I’m afraid Aunt will be disappointed. Song Qinghan won’t agree to a separation.’

She had no intention of getting involved in this matter. After reading this section, she continued down the letter and learned that Song Buchang and the others had all gone south to join Song Jinxuan and her husband.

It seemed the academy the Yang Family found for Yang Shu was indeed a good one; even Song Bu Yue had actually gone.

Song Bu Yue had left the capital to study, Ji Yunting had been assigned to a post outside the capital, He Lan Yun had escaped her cannon fodder fate, and Song Jinxuan had also married safely. The paths of many people from the book had completely changed.

Especially Ji Yunting and Song Bu Yue—the changes in their lives had nothing to do with her; they were entirely of their own accord. Song Yunzhao fell into deep thought. ’The power of the plot will gradually weaken as more of the plot is subverted.’

’If Qin Xiyue knew that Ji Yunting has been posted outside the capital, I wonder what she would think. After all, he is the white moonlight of her heart.’

With so many people’s fates having changed, Song Yunzhao’s confidence surged. ’Perhaps dealing with the cruel, unreasonable, and willful Empress Dowager from the book might not be a lost cause after all.’