I Was Supposed to Be the Villainous Consort

Chapter 371: Chapter 149: What Switch Did the Emperor Flip?

Night slowly fell. Song Yunzhao was writing a letter home. Her family must have already heard about her promotion due to the pregnancy. In her letter, she didn’t mention what happened after the Empress Dowager returned to the palace, only that all was well.

’Now that there’s an Empress Dowager in the palace, I can’t act as freely as I used to.’

Furthermore, she decided that from now on, she would formally entrust communication with the Xie family to her eldest aunt. The Xie family’s influence had grown due to their outstanding performance during two disasters last year. Not only had they broken into the Capital City’s market, but Xie Jinshu was also a very sharp person, and the family had taken the opportunity to establish roots in those disaster-stricken areas.

The Xie family was developing even more smoothly than in the book. She’d heard that Xie Jinshu’s older brother didn’t pass the exam this time. The book said he became an Advanced Scholar, but she couldn’t quite remember which year’s examination it was. With the Xie family’s development currently even better than in the book, she wondered if its members could remain as united as before.

However, Xie Jinshu and Xie Linlang shared a deep bond as siblings. As long as the two of them joined forces, they wouldn’t have to worry about being taken advantage of.

Song Yunzhao couldn’t remember the exact details from the book, only vaguely recalling that the Xie family had also experienced a brief period of division. Since the issue was resolved in the book, she figured that now, with Xie Jinshu’s contributions to the family being even greater, there probably wouldn’t be a problem.

She had written two new stories, tucked them inside a book to be taken out, and would ask her eldest aunt to help deliver them. For these stories, Song Yunzhao had changed her strategy, writing about the lives of a young master and a fair lady after their marriage.

Every family had its own drama, and clashes between mothers-in-law and daughters-in-law were a common theme. ’Although my relationship with the Empress Dowager can’t really be considered that of a mother-in-law and daughter-in-law, that might not be the case in the future. I have to be prepared.’

’Besides, married life isn’t just about conflicts with one’s mother-in-law. There’s also the matter of who gets the Emperor’s affection. Now *that’s* the important thing.’

’The book said the Emperor was a mysophobe, but that didn’t stop the Empress Dowager from bringing An Shutong into the palace ahead of schedule. In the book, this woman’s schemes were so effective she nearly got the heroine killed. She looks delicate and gentle, but she’s absolutely ruthless when she makes a move.’

After she finished the letter and sealed it for Anshun to send out, Zhang Maoquan scurried in. He said with a smile, "Your Highness, the Emperor says he will be joining you for dinner tonight. He sent this servant to inform you in advance."

’I was made a Zhaoyi today,’ Song Yunzhao thought. ’Because I’m pregnant and he doesn’t want to tire me out, we’re skipping the investiture ceremony for now. The official announcement is that it will be held after I give birth. But I’m aiming for the rank of concubine, so we can just hold the ceremony for that rank directly when the time comes.’

Since there was no investiture ceremony, Feng Yi would naturally join her for dinner. It was his way of making it up to her.

Song Yunzhao smiled at Zhang Maoquan. "Thank you, Chief Steward Zhang. Did the Emperor have any other instructions?"

Zhang Maoquan quickly replied, "It’s all part of my duties. If you need anything, Your Highness, just give the word. The Emperor had no other messages for me to relay. If you have no other orders, then I will take a trip to the Imperial Kitchen and check on your menu."

Song Yunzhao found this a little strange. "To have the meals brought from the Imperial Kitchen, you can just send Xiangxue or one of the others. There’s no need to trouble you, Chief Steward Zhang."

"Your Highness is carrying His Highness’s child. Your meals are of the utmost importance. The Emperor is very concerned about your diet, so he has specially assigned two master chefs and seven or eight eunuchs from the Imperial Kitchen to serve you exclusively. Whatever you’d like to eat, whatever you’re craving, just tell me."

Song Yunzhao was taken aback. "The Emperor specially assigned master chefs just for me?"

"Yes. The way the Emperor treats you is truly one of a kind." Zhang Maoquan’s face was all smiles, his eyes sparkling. ’I really picked the right person back then.’

Song Yunzhao was both surprised and touched. She had been thinking of bringing this matter up with Feng Yi herself. Previously, with the Empress Dowager absent from the palace, only the three concubines had enough influence to interfere with the kitchen. If something were to happen to her, the three of them would be implicated together, making it difficult for the true culprit to hide.

But with Shouci Palace now in the picture, things were different. The Empress Dowager’s meal provisions were on a scale even greater than the Empress’s, second only to the Emperor’s. The kitchen would need to add a significant number of staff just for Shouci Palace, and with more people, it would become much easier for someone to cause trouble.

She had wanted to set up a small kitchen in Wangyou Palace, but since none of the three high-ranking concubines had one, she certainly didn’t have the status for it. Now that the Empress Dowager had returned and wasn’t even using a private kitchen, there was no way Song Yunzhao could bring it up.

Therefore, for her own safety, she had to be especially careful about the Imperial Kitchen.

She never expected the Emperor to have already thought of it before she even had a chance to say anything.

In any case, the news warmed her heart and made her very happy.

Seeing how happy Song Zhaoyi was, Zhang Maoquan didn’t disturb her any further and quietly withdrew. He headed first to Taiji Palace to report to the Emperor. ’Song Zhaoyi is so happy,’ he thought. ’The Emperor will definitely be pleased to know.’

It was a chance to earn favor with the Emperor, and he couldn’t let it pass.

As soon as Zhang Maoquan left, Nanny Yu entered holding a register. "Your Highness, this is the list of congratulatory gifts from the various palaces. Please take a look."

Song Yunzhao took it and flipped through the pages casually. Everyone had sent basically the same things—safe gifts that were unlikely to cause any trouble. The only one who sent food was Consort Shu.

The Empress Dowager, Princess Consort Zhuang, and Qin Xiyue had all been careful to avoid any suspicion.

Her eyes fell on the words "Huayang Palace." Qin Xiyue had sent a Jade Buddha of a Hundred Sons and a Thousand Grandsons. It was a truly extravagant gift. Song Yunzhao certainly didn’t have anything like it in her own private treasury; to give such a present, one would have to spend a great deal of Silver to have it commissioned from the Six Departments.

To have sent it so quickly, she clearly didn’t have time to commission it from the Six Departments. It must have been something Qin Xiyue already owned.

’But how did she bring it into the palace?’

Then she remembered that concubines were allowed to meet with their families. Perhaps Mrs. Qin had brought it in for her.

In any case, Song Yunzhao instructed Nanny Yu to store the Jade Buddha carefully. She herself had no use for it, nor did she hope to, but since it was a gift from the heroine of the story, it was best to be cautious.

Perhaps she was overthinking things, but it was always better to be safe than sorry.

She had Nanny Yu put the register away, as it would be needed as a reference when she sent return gifts in the future.

"His Majesty, the Emperor, has arrived!"

Song Yunzhao raised an eyebrow. ’Since when does the Emperor’s arrival at Wangyou Palace warrant a formal announcement like this?’

She rose and started walking toward the entrance. Before she had even stepped out of the main hall, she saw Feng Yi striding in, followed by Meng Jiuchang leading a retinue of eunuchs. Each one was holding something, and the sight was so dazzling it made her blink.

"I greet you, Your Majesty," Song Yunzhao said, quickly regaining her composure and stepping forward to curtsy.

Feng Yi caught her arm, preventing her from bowing, and pulled her to his side. "I heard you had many visitors today," he asked. "Are you tired?"

Song Yunzhao glanced at Feng Yi. ’I’m just pregnant. Why does it seem like a switch has been flipped in the Emperor’s head? Is something so trivial really worth his concern?’

’This isn’t like him at all.’

"Everyone came with good intentions to congratulate me. I was too happy to feel tired," Song Yunzhao replied with a smile.

Feng Yi looked at Song Yunzhao and spoke unhurriedly. "That makes sense. Since everyone has congratulated my beloved concubine, I certainly can’t be outdone. Meng Jiuchang, bring the gifts forward."