Chapter 685 - 463: Nepotism

Chapter 685: Chapter 463: Nepotism

Consort Shu was managing palace affairs. When she heard that An Shutong wished to see her, she hesitated for a moment before having her brought in.

"Greetings, my lady," An Shutong said, entering the hall and performing a curtsy.

Consort Shu waved her hand. "No need for such formalities. Please, sit. An Xiaoyi, why have you come so suddenly? Is something the matter?"

An Shutong nodded with a serious expression. "I do have something to report to you, my lady. You previously asked me about Qin Wan Yi’s activities after she entered the garden. There was one detail I’d overlooked, but now that I’ve remembered it, I think it might be useful."

At the mention of Qin Xiyue, Consort Shu’s expression turned serious. "Let’s hear it."

"I was cooling off in the garden today when I suddenly remembered something. After she arrived at the garden, Qin Wan Yi claimed to have a weak constitution and used her own silver to pay the kitchen to stew a bowl of bird’s nest soup for her daily."

"Are you suggesting she used this as a way to contact people in the kitchen?"

"I have no proof. It’s only a guess."

’It’s not impossible,’ Consort Shu thought. All other avenues had been investigated without yielding any anomalies. ’But if she was using the Imperial Kitchen as a channel, it would have been very difficult to discover.’

After all, with so many masters in the garden, quite a few of them privately paid the kitchen staff with silver for extra services.

"You’ve been very thoughtful. I’ll have someone look into it." With this new information, Consort Shu’s mood improved greatly, and she looked upon An Shutong a bit more favorably. "I’ve been so busy with matters concerning the palace attendants lately that I haven’t been able to pay my respects to the Empress Dowager. How has her health been?"

"The Empress Dowager doesn’t do well in the summer heat, so she doesn’t go out. However, several of the consorts have the Imperial Hospital check her pulse every other day and prescribe nourishing tonics. For now, her health is stable," An Shutong reported earnestly.

"Then I am relieved," Consort Shu said.

An Shutong exchanged a few more pleasantries with Consort Shu before tactfully rising to take her leave.

After An Shutong left, Consort Shu said to Nanny Wen, "Do you think she really just remembered, or did she intentionally wait until now to tell me?"

"I can’t say for sure," Nanny Wen replied after a moment’s thought. "But An Xiaoyi moved to Changsheng Courtyard, which clearly indicates she’s had a falling out with Qin Wan Yi. She would definitely enjoy seeing her stumble, so it’s possible she truly did just remember."

Consort Shu nodded. "That’s what I was thinking as well. Let’s investigate the kitchen first."

"Yes, my lady," Nanny Wen replied.

That very night, Consort Shu’s people found a lead. Following the trail, they uncovered one of Qin Xiyue’s hidden contacts: a junior steward in the Imperial Kitchen who was in charge of the storeroom. He rarely appeared in public and had an unfamiliar face, making it no surprise he had remained undiscovered.

Song Yunzhao was having a meal with Feng Yi and Feng Ze when she received this news.

They were both surprised, not expecting the breakthrough to come from there.

Feng Ze was eager to go play with Yue Guanlan and Yang Weiqing, so he didn’t dawdle over his food. Once he was finished, he looked up expectantly at his father and mother.

Feng Yi and Yun Zhao had no choice but to finish eating before they could talk. Once the meal was over, Feng Ze bowed to them and asked to be excused, then scampered off.

"With a tutor, he’s certainly learning his manners," Song Yunzhao said with a smile.

Feng Ze was so mischievous that Feng Yi had to find him a tutor ahead of schedule to teach him etiquette and decorum. The tutor, a very stern old scholar from the Hanlin Academy, finally managed to rein in the little monkey.

After Feng Yi found him a tutor, Song Yunzhao had made it known that if the boy was disobedient, the tutor had her full permission to discipline him according to the rules. She would not be soft-hearted or interfere.

Otherwise, the tutor, wary of her reputation as a favored concubine, might have felt hesitant to discipline him properly.

The results after half a month were delightful. Yue Guanlan and Yang Weiqing had been learning alongside him, and both the Yue and Yang Families had sent notes to the palace to express their gratitude.

’Teaching was a specialized skill—a task best left to the professionals.’

After Feng Ze left, Feng Yi sent Zhang Maoquan to find out the details. Meanwhile, he and Yun Zhao played a game of chess to help their food settle.

Yun Zhao then remembered the matter of Princess Fuke. She looked at him and asked, "The Princess refused the bribe and set a fine example. I imagine Your Majesty’s new policies will be implemented more smoothly now."

Feng Yi placed a stone on the board before speaking. "Jiangnan is prosperous, but its powerful families are deeply entrenched. Pushing for new policies there won’t be easy. It requires someone capable and renowned to keep those great clans in line." He paused, looking up at Yun Zhao. "This is an excellent opportunity. I intend to have your cousin go and gain some experience. His temperament makes him a perfect fit for a subordinate role. If he weren’t so young, he could even lead the mission."

A worried look crossed Song Yunzhao’s face. "Of course I’m happy that the Emperor thinks so highly of my cousin, but I’m afraid the courtiers will accuse Your Majesty of nepotism."

’Her cousin was truly capable, but with her, a favored concubine, as his cousin, it was unavoidable. People would only acknowledge half of his talent; the other half would be dismissed as a result of his connections to her.’

’Of course, she couldn’t deny that it was also because of her that the Emperor had noticed his talents in the first place.’

"I am not bound by convention in my appointments," Feng Yi said, his voice laced with scorn. "The talented will be promoted. If others believe they are capable, they may recommend themselves. But this is a thankless task that will make enemies. The great clans want nothing to do with it. Who among them would willingly wade into that filth?"

Hearing Feng Yi speak this way, Song Yunzhao’s heart ached for him. She offered a comforting word. "The Emperor is a wise and brilliant monarch. To cut through this quagmire, you will naturally have to infringe upon the interests of many. It would be stranger if they didn’t resist with all their might. But, I have to say this upfront: you must assign my cousin several highly skilled guards. Otherwise, I’m truly afraid he’ll lose his life there."

Feng Yi chuckled. "Don’t worry, I have a plan." He knew if Song Bu Yue lost his life in Jiangnan on this assignment, Yun Zhao, with her temperament, would be devastated.

"I’ve already had Wang Ke compile a list of all the powerful clans in the south, detailing each family’s background and origins. With that in hand, he’ll have the foundation he needs to act."

Song Yunzhao was taken aback. "By doing this, isn’t the Emperor just handing him the credit on a silver platter? If my cousin still fails to handle it well, he would be truly unworthy of your high esteem."

"That’s not the right way to look at it. Even with this information, he still needs the skill and courage to act on it."

Song Yunzhao was delighted. ’If Bu Yue can return after earning great merit,’ she thought, ’he might be able to secure a position as an official in the capital when his post is reviewed.’

’He’s a young talent, and the Emperor is making an exception to appoint him. Even if a few people make sour remarks, they won’t be able to erase his accomplishments.’

"Are you that happy?" Feng Yi teased, seeing how her eyes crinkled with delight.

Song Yunzhao abandoned the game, rising to sit beside Feng Yi. "I’m touched. You do so much for me... I don’t know how I could ever repay you."

"You silly girl," Feng Yi said, amused. "What repayment could I possibly need? Just stay by my side. That’s more than enough." He was the Emperor, ruler of all he surveyed, but Yun Zhao was the only person with whom he could truly speak his mind.

Before Yun Zhao could finish basking in her warm feelings, Zhang Maoquan returned.

"Your Majesty, my lady, that junior steward from the kitchen is indeed connected to Qin Wan Yi. Years ago, when he first entered the palace, he offended someone and nearly lost his life. Grand Tutor Qin happened to be passing by and saved him. From that day forward, he worked for the Grand Tutor. After the Grand Tutor retired to his hometown, the man started taking orders from Qin Wan Yi. He’s always remained well-hidden, so he was never discovered. His name also wasn’t on the list of people to be sent out of the palace."