Chapter 715 - 493: The An Family’s Shu Daughter

Chapter 715: Chapter 493: The An Family’s Shu Daughter

Lu Zhixue thought for a long time but couldn’t come up with the right words. Finally, she said, "Let’s have Han Jinyi take a look later. She’ll definitely know how to describe her."

"Hasn’t Han Jinyi seen her yet? Didn’t you all go to Shouci Palace together?" Song Yunzhao asked with a smile.

"No. Consort Shu said that with so many people in the palace, we can’t all swarm Shouci Palace and disturb the Empress Dowager’s peace. She told us to pay our respects at different times."

Lu Zhixue looked at Song Yunzhao, thinking, ’I know why. Since Yunzhao isn’t going to Shouci Palace anymore, Consort Shu doesn’t want her absence to be too conspicuous or for her to become a target. That’s why she made this decision. By staggering the visits, no one will keep track of when the Imperial Concubine goes and when she doesn’t.’

’Hmph. If Consort Shu had been this shrewd before Yun Zhao entered the palace, no other woman would have ever had the chance to win the Emperor’s favor.’

’Still, thinking back on Consort Shu’s old personality, it’s definitely for the best that Song Yunzhao is the one in favor.’

Song Yunzhao looked at Lu Zhixue with a completely straight face and said, "Tonight, I’ll have someone send Consort Shu some nourishing soup."

’She needs to stay healthy and live a long life to help share my burdens,’ she thought. ’I can’t let her sincere efforts go to waste.’

Lu Zhixue couldn’t stay any longer and rose to take her leave.

Song Yunzhao walked her out with a hearty laugh. Standing under the eaves of the corridor, she called out a reminder, "Remember what I said!"

"I know," Lu Zhixue replied. She draped her cloak over her shoulders and departed, her steps light and quick.

"Your Highness, please come inside. It’s cold out."

Xiangxue quickly lifted the door curtain, and Yun Zhao turned to return to the inner hall.

Once inside, Jiangxiang came to report on the matter of the Laba Festival. In previous years, when the Emperor was in the Capital City, he would always bestow Laba congee upon the courtiers to show his imperial favor.

But this year, His Majesty had gone on a military expedition. Should the congee still be bestowed for the Laba Festival?

"How can I, a mere Imperial Concubine, perform the duties of the Empress? I cannot bestow congee on the court ladies in my name." Song Yunzhao had no desire to take on such a thankless task, only to be impeached by the courtiers for it. "However, the Empress Dowager is still in the palace. Have Consort Shu go and ask for Her Majesty’s instructions."

’It doesn’t matter to me what the Empress Dowager decides. In any case, I will not do anything that oversteps my authority.’

Jiangxiang said, "I will make a trip to Cuiwei Palace at once."

Song Yunzhao nodded.

After Jiangxiang left, Nanny Yu arrived. This time, it was to discuss matters concerning the Palace Attendants’ year-end monthly stipends and clothing.

For the New Year, Palace Attendants were always gifted a new set of clothes, their monthly stipends were paid out early, and they received an additional monetary bonus. These were trivial matters, but they could not be neglected.

"Why are you asking me about this? In previous years, Consort Shu was in charge of these things," Song Yunzhao said, looking at Nanny Yu.

Nanny Yu explained, "Consort Shu has been very busy. Ever since Marchioness Gu En entered the palace, things have gotten much more complicated at Shouci Palace. Even Consort Zhuang has to go over and help from time to time."

Song Yunzhao frowned. "What could possibly be keeping them so busy?"

’It’s just a couple of extra people for meals and lodging. How much trouble could that possibly cause?’

"Your Highness, you have no idea. There’s so much going on. One moment the food isn’t to her taste, the next the tea isn’t to her liking. With the Empress Dowager there, Marchioness Gu En is truly... unrestrained. And then there’s that Miss An. Yesterday, An Pin had a bit of an argument with her, and what do you know? The Marchioness didn’t side with her own daughter, but instead favored the illegitimate one. Isn’t that bizarre?"

"Why did An Pin argue with her?" Song Yunzhao’s focus immediately sharpened on this point.

"Miss An took a liking to a coral bracelet on An Pin’s wrist. An Pin said it was a gift from the Empress Dowager and refused to give it to her. So Miss An went crying to Marchioness Gu En, who then ordered An Pin to give the bracelet to Miss An."

Song Yunzhao’s brow furrowed even deeper. "And the result?"

"An Pin naturally refused, and so they had a fight. In the end, the Empress Dowager took out another bracelet and gave it to Miss An to settle the matter. However, I heard that An Pin was so angry she went back to Huayang Palace and cried. I don’t know if that’s true or not."

Song Yunzhao’s brow tightened. "That is indeed strange. Have someone keep an eye on An Pin. See if she has any private contact with An Ling, or rather, observe how the two of them interact in private."

"Yes, My Lady," Nanny Yu replied. "My Lady, about the congee for the Laba Festival, how should it be distributed within the palace?"

This time, Yun Zhao couldn’t delegate the responsibility.

Song Yunzhao felt a headache coming on. With the way Marchioness Gu En and An Ling were behaving, who knew what kind of trouble they might stir up.

"Here’s what we’ll do. Have the Imperial Kitchen prepare the congee and distribute it to all the palaces when they come to collect their breakfast. I will not be bestowing any congee separately from my own palace. As for the Empress Dowager, I will go with the three concubines to pay our respects."

’I have to make an appearance on the Laba Festival, after all.’

Nanny Yu noted everything down, then added after a moment of thought, "Perhaps it would be best to have Mr. Xu send someone to the Imperial Kitchen. With someone from Taixi Hall keeping an eye on things, it will be easier to get to the bottom of it if something goes wrong. We just shouldn’t announce it publicly."

Song Yunzhao thought Nanny Yu’s idea was excellent. "Let’s do that. Have Anshun go see Xu Sixi and explain the situation clearly to him."

「In the blink of an eye, the Laba Festival arrived.」

Yun Zhao rose early and instructed Feng Ze to play with his younger brother. After dressing and preparing herself, she headed for Shouci Palace.

The path from Yaohua Palace went right by Cuiwei Palace, so she called on Consort Shu to go with her.

Upon seeing Yun Zhao, Consort Shu said, "My mother sent a letter yesterday. She said the heavy snow in the Capital City thankfully didn’t cause a disaster. Everyone outside is praising Lord Ji and Mr. Song for handling the situation so well."

Song Yunzhao smiled. "This year’s snow was heavy, but it didn’t last long, and the flakes weren’t particularly large. If it had been like that one snowstorm from a couple of years ago, the common people would have truly suffered."

"Isn’t that the truth? But I heard that as soon as they’re finished here, they’re being sent to the border city. Is that true?" Consort Shu asked curiously.

Yun Zhao actually hadn’t heard about this. She shook her head and asked, "Who did you hear that from? I haven’t received any news about it."

"My mother told me. It’s the rumor going around outside."

"Until an imperial edict is issued, it’s all just empty talk," Song Yunzhao said softly.

"That makes sense. The New Year is almost upon us. I wonder how things are in the border city."

Song Yunzhao froze for a moment. Other than a letter from Feng Yi a while ago confirming his safety, no other news had arrived. Yun Zhao knew the heavy snow had blocked the roads. She had written a reply to Feng Yi, but with nothing urgent to report, she hadn’t sent any more letters.

She was deeply worried, but the more anxious she felt, the more composed she appeared on the surface.

"No news is good news."

"Do you think His Majesty will be able to return before the New Year?"

Yun Zhao didn’t know. She hoped he would return after a great victory, but war wasn’t something where she could determine the outcome or the timing just by wishing for it.

"I don’t know either. I hope he can come back so we can all have a good New Year."

Consort Shu’s mood also grew somber. She collected herself and said, "Let’s not talk about this anymore. We’ve arrived. Let’s go in."

Song Yunzhao nodded, and she and Consort Shu stepped into Shouci Palace.

Shouci Palace was bustling with activity. Before they even entered the hall, they could hear laughter spilling out.

One voice in particular stood out—delicate, charming, and clear, like the song of an oriole or pearls scattering onto a jade plate. "Empress Dowager, I brewed this eight-treasure congee myself. Please, try it and see how it tastes. It’s a new recipe from the south, so the flavor is quite different from what you find in the Capital City."

Song Yunzhao entered the hall with an impassive expression, but Consort Shu, beside her, was already looking displeased.