Chapter 703 - 481: Poisoned

Chapter 703: Chapter 481: Poisoned

Song Buran had once cut down a court official with a single strike, making him infamous throughout the Southern Land. Everyone knew he was a madman—who would dare risk their own life to test if Mr. Song’s blade could really take their head?

Before Song Buran even arrived in Huizhou, tales of his deeds had already spread far and wide. The powerful clans that had originally planned to put up a desperate resistance now found themselves growing fearful.

Song Buran had thought things would proceed more smoothly. With Ding Xian’s covert assistance and his own fearsome reputation preceding him, he was well-positioned. However, he hadn’t expected Mrs. Zhao to complicate matters.

He hadn’t quite understood Mrs. Zhao’s motives before, but a letter from the Imperial Concubine finally made everything clear.

Since the Zhao Family had such intentions, this was likely not a decision made overnight. They had probably been plotting ever since he was first commanded by imperial decree to travel south.

Ding Xian’s matter had occurred last year, yet the Zhao Family was still able to stir up trouble this year, forcing the Ding family couple to take a desperate gamble and drag the Song Family down with them.

Song Buran’s expression grew even colder. The Imperial Concubine’s worries were not unfounded. He truly needed to investigate Mrs. Zhao thoroughly.

***

Here in the Capital City, with the metropolitan examination fast approaching, Song Yunzhao recalled that a whole drove of young men from the Song Family would be participating this year. She wondered how many of them would pass, and couldn’t help but feel her own heart grow heavy with worry.

Things weren’t peaceful outside the palace, either. Someone had spread the news that several young masters from the Song Family would be sitting for the examination, and now the Capital City was abuzz with all kinds of gossip.

There were even rumors circulating that the Song Family was about to produce another Song Buran. ’Could someone like my eldest cousin really be produced so easily?’

Clearly, someone was deliberately putting the Song family’s young masters on a spit to be roasted.

Song Yunzhao was so angry she smashed a teacup in her palace. The Song Family’s current prosperity was like oil sizzling over a blazing fire; countless people were green with envy. As for whoever was plotting against them from the shadows, she had no idea which of the men from the Old Song Family had incurred this debt, but they must have offended someone at court.

Those old scoundrels at court couldn’t touch Song Nanzhen, nor could they get to Song Buran, who was far away in the south. All they could do was take out their frustrations on the Song family’s younger generation.

When Feng Yi returned, Song Yunzhao immediately began to complain. "How can people be like this? I’m so angry I could just die! This is clearly deliberate. They want the Song Family to be utterly humiliated."

Feng Yi, however, didn’t seem very concerned. Looking at Yun Zhao, he said, "Why are you getting so impatient? A few years ago, when Song Buran sat for his exam, you faced an even greater ordeal, and I don’t recall you being this worked up."

Hearing Feng Yi’s teasing tone, Song Yunzhao thought, ’How can that be the same?’

’A few years ago, I was the one stirring the pot, creating chaos to my own advantage. I knew what I was doing.’

’This time is different.’

The thought made her pause, and she looked up at Feng Yi.

Feng Yi reached out and gently pinched her cheek. "If they can’t even withstand a small storm like this, then even if they pass, they’ll still need several more years of tempering. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing. Think of it as a trial for them."

Song Yunzhao understood what Feng Yi meant. True gold, after all, does not fear the crucible.

"You’re right. My worry is making me irrational." Song Yunzhao sank into Feng Yi’s embrace. "Fine, I won’t interfere. We’ll see what they can do on their own. I’m just afraid they’ll mess up. If it were just me being embarrassed, that would be one thing—we’re family, after all. But the Emperor holds the Song Family in such high regard. I’m afraid they’ll disgrace Your Majesty. If that happens, how could I ever face you again?"

Feng Yi chuckled. "You have a point. Tomorrow, send a letter to the Song Family. Tell them that anyone who fails will be sent back to the academy to continue their studies."

Song Yunzhao: ...

"Is that really a good idea? Most of the other young lords in the Capital City their age are already married, and quite a few are fathers by now. They’re already several years behind. If this is delayed any further, who would want to marry them!"

Feng Yi burst out laughing. "Then they had better do well on the exam."

Song Yunzhao fell silent.

’That’s a ruthless move from the Emperor.’

But Song Yunzhao wasn’t having it. She knew Song Buyue wasn’t in a good state of mind. Too much had happened involving him this year, and she worried he wouldn’t be able to focus. Now, with this added pressure, what if he failed? If he had to wait another three years to get married, Mrs. Cai would truly go mad with worry.

Besides, among all the Song family candidates, only Song Buyue had failed the previous Autumn Examination. This time, he had to pass the hurdle of the Autumn Examination first, and then the hurdle of the special metropolitan examination granted by the Emperor. He had one more trial than the others, which was an even greater test of his mental fortitude.

Song Yunzhao refused to budge. Feng Yi continued to tease her, but she pretended not to hear. Finally, when she’d had enough, a surge of boldness born from exasperation took over. She pushed Feng Yi back into the bed curtains and silenced him.

Feng Yi: ...

’Ever since Feng Yun was born,’ he thought, ’Yun Zhao’s attention has been entirely on our son, and she’s paid much less attention to me. But now, it seems she’s suddenly figured out the secret...’

After a laborious night, Song Yunzhao resolved never to provoke Feng Yi again. She wouldn’t worry about the Song Family’s affairs anymore, either. The Emperor was right: if they couldn’t even overcome a small hurdle like this, they would never amount to much in the future.

After seeing the Emperor off, she fell back into bed for a nap. When she awoke, she could faintly hear the wet nurse laughing and talking with Feng Yun out on the veranda.

She called for Xiangxue and a few other maids, who helped her wash up and change. Then she had a late breakfast.

Just as she had finished getting ready, and before she could even lay eyes on her son, Feng Yunjin arrived, looking rather unwell. Forgetting about her son for a moment, Song Yunzhao had her come in immediately. "What’s wrong?" she asked.

Sunlight filtered through the treetops, casting dappled light onto the veranda. A shifting pattern of light and shadow flickered across the window lattice.

Feng Yunjin sat within that play of light and shadow, her back to the window, and said in a low voice, "This morning, Noble Lady Qin of Zhixue Palace suddenly vomited blood. It’s said she was poisoned."

Song Yunzhao was shocked. "Poisoned? Who poisoned her?"

Ever since the incident with Qin Xiyue and Xu Mingying, the palace concubines had been on their absolute best behavior.

Furthermore, Feng Yi was completely devoted to matters of the state. He now cared only for the great enterprise of his Dynasty and couldn’t be bothered with so many beauties. As a result, the women of the harem were not only terrified by the self-destruction of Qin Xiyue and Xu Mingying, but they also never even caught a glimpse of the Emperor. How could they possibly vie for his favor if they never even saw him?

They couldn’t even catch a glimpse of the Emperor—what was there to fight for?

So, for a poisoning to occur at a time like this, wasn’t it simply baffling?

"Consort Shu and Consort Zhuang are already at Yihua Palace with the Imperial Physicians. I figured the news would reach you eventually, so I came to report it to you first," Feng Yunjin said.

Song Yunzhao couldn’t make sense of it. "There has to be a motive for a poisoning, doesn’t there? What did Lu Zhixue say?"

"She’s completely bewildered and has no idea what happened. When she saw Noble Lady Qin vomit blood right in front of her, she was so frightened that she fainted."

Song Yunzhao: ...

’That paper tiger. She seems so intimidating, but she gets scared that easily.’

"Since Consort Shu and Consort Zhuang have already gone, I won’t go over myself." Song Yunzhao said to Feng Yunjin, "Go back and relay a message to them for me. Tell them they must get to the bottom of why Noble Lady Qin vomited blood."

Feng Yunjin assented and rose. "I will go and relay your message to the two consorts now."

Song Yunzhao nodded. She had been so caught up in her surprise that she had only just now thought to ask, "Noble Lady Qin’s life isn’t in danger, is it?"

She wasn’t very familiar with Qin Xiaoyin, but since she lived with Lu Zhixue, she had seen her on a few occasions.

She also knew that Qin Xiaoyin was on good terms with Du Wanneng, and that the two of them visited each other often.