Chapter 730 - 508: A Justifiable Complaint

Chapter 730: Chapter 508: A Justifiable Complaint

Feng Yi turned his head to look at Yun Zhao, who had already withdrawn her hand and was now gazing toward the hall entrance with a smile.

Feng Yi gave Yun Zhao a deep look.

Yun Zhao felt a little unnerved.

The selection process was simple: the candidates entered the hall, were questioned, their family backgrounds were reviewed, and finally, their appearance and bearing were assessed.

Song Yunzhao sat beside Feng Yi, putting on the airs of a favored concubine but showing no intention of speaking. Meng Jiuchang called the first group of concubines into the hall.

The Empress Dowager turned to the Emperor. "What do you think?"

Feng Yi gave them a cursory glance, then turned to look at Yun Zhao.

Yun Zhao refused to look at him.

The Empress Dowager: ...

Consort Shu found the situation amusing but kept her expression perfectly composed. She wouldn’t give the Empress Dowager any reason to reprimand her—that would be utterly mortifying.

The Empress Dowager held the roster and scanned it. The concubines then came forward one by one to curtsy and introduce themselves.

Song Yunzhao listened quietly. When it was Xiao Qiuzhuo’s turn—the daughter of a high-ranking commander—the Empress Dowager’s expression softened. She asked a few gentle questions, nodded in satisfaction, and selected her.

This time, the Empress Dowager didn’t consult the Emperor. She knew if she asked, he would just tell her to send the girl away.

The Empress Dowager didn’t want to upset herself. She had already chosen her preferred candidates and simply selected them outright. ’Surely the Emperor won’t contradict me in front of everyone?’

Feng Yi did not, in fact, object. His expression, however, was icy, showing no joy at the selection of new concubines.

Song Yunzhao glanced at Xiao Qiuzhuo. She was a girl with a round, endearing face—the kind of auspicious features that elders always favored.

It was no surprise the Empress Dowager had taken a liking to her.

When the second group of concubines entered, Consort Shu did her part to keep things moving. She questioned a slim girl in green robes, whose face was like a hibiscus blossom. She was from the Duke Cao Mansion, a family Yun Zhao didn’t know.

There were too many powerful and titled families in the Capital City. Having grown up in Nanyu, she had entered the palace not long after arriving and knew very little about the city’s nobility.

For instance, the reason Yun Zhao knew nothing of the Duke Cao Mansion was that the Marchioness of Cao had never appeared at any palace banquets.

Not all marchionesses were invited to palace banquets. Families with unremarkable elders and an unaccomplished younger generation—those who made no contribution to the court and simply lived off their ancestors’ legacy—would not receive such an honor, despite holding a title.

The Duke Cao Mansion was exactly that kind of family. After inheriting his title, Duke Cao became completely complacent. His sons lacked any ambition, and it was clear that without some effort, their title would be revoked after three generations. That was why they had pushed their daughter, Qiao Jinyun, forward for the selection.

Consort Shu selected her.

Consort Shu had mentioned this Miss Qiao to her once. She was a pitiful figure. If she weren’t chosen to stay in the palace, her father and brothers would surely marry her off for some political or financial gain. And given the current state of the Duke Cao Mansion, what good match could she possibly hope for?

The Marchioness of Cao had begged the Left Minister’s Wife for help, who in turn had asked Consort Shu to ensure Qiao Jinyun was selected. All she wanted was for her daughter to be able to live a peaceful life.

Recalling this, Song Yunzhao took a closer look at Qiao Jinyun. The girl seemed to have a cold and distant demeanor.

The Empress Dowager then selected several other exceptionally beautiful girls. ’She’s collected every type of beauty, from the slender to the curvaceous,’ Song Yunzhao thought wryly.

Time trickled by. Just as Yun Zhao was starting to get restless, she heard the name Zhao Ling’e.

She lifted her head slightly to look.

Her hair was as black as ink, her waist enviably slender. Her delicate frame seemed almost too frail for her clothes, yet her features were exquisitely striking, her entire bearing one of glamorous elegance.

To use a more modern phrase, she was the perfect blend of innocence and allure.

A beauty like that was, without a doubt, a man’s favorite.

Song Yunzhao withdrew her gaze and turned her head slightly to look at Feng Yi.

Feng Yi almost instinctively straightened his back, his eyes going unfocused as he stared blankly toward the hall entrance.

A flicker of amusement crossed Song Yunzhao’s eyes. With a faint smile playing on her lips, she slowly turned back and looked toward Zhao Ling’e.

’I’m quite curious to see how this Miss Zhao will react.’

Zhao Ling’e only lifted her head when the Empress Dowager addressed her. Otherwise, she kept her head slightly bowed, appearing perfectly decorous.

Song Yunzhao could even feel the Empress Dowager looking at her, but she didn’t look back.

’The Empress Dowager just wants to see my reaction, doesn’t she?’

’Well, I refuse to give her the satisfaction.’

The moment Yun Zhao turned away, Feng Yi retracted his gaze. He turned slightly toward the Empress Dowager, about to declare the selection over, but she spoke first. "She will stay."

Feng Yi: ...

’I’m not the least bit surprised,’ Song Yunzhao thought.

Zhao Ling’e’s group was among the last of the concubines. After another hour, the selection was finally over.

The Empress Dowager had selected a fair number of women, but only a few had left an impression on Yun Zhao.

The moment it was over, Feng Yi rose to leave, taking Yun Zhao with him.

The Empress Dowager was visibly displeased. However, given her recent argument with the Emperor, she didn’t openly show her annoyance at being slighted by him now.

Instead, she ordered Consort Shu, "Compile a register of the selected concubines and send it to Taixi Hall."

Consort Shu complied. ’I didn’t expect the Empress Dowager to choose so many,’ she thought. ’Well, this is just great. The harem is going to be completely full now.’

Song Yunzhao hitched a ride back with the Emperor. The Imperial Carriage was much more spacious and comfortable than her sedan chair, and the journey was faster.

Feng Yi turned to look at Yun Zhao and said thoughtfully, "Don’t take what happened today to heart."

"Which matter does the Emperor mean? Quite a lot has happened today," Song Yunzhao said pointedly.

Feng Yi squeezed her hand and sighed. "Must you insist on being upset with me?"

"Look at that. The new women haven’t even been officially titled, and Your Majesty is already accusing me of a crime."

Feng Yi let out an exasperated laugh. He knew Yun Zhao was genuinely upset, so he tried to soothe her. "I didn’t expect the Empress Dowager to select so many, either. If I had known, I would have had Meng Jiuchang inquire ahead of time."

"The Empress Dowager is currently cross with Your Majesty. Even if Manager Meng had asked, he wouldn’t have been able to stop her today. Could Your Majesty really have made a scene with the Empress Dowager in front of all those concubines?"

Of course, that was impossible. Feng Yi arguing with the Empress Dowager in Shouci Palace was a private matter between mother and son. If it were to be laid bare for all to see, what would become of the imperial family’s dignity?

The Empress Dowager knew this full well, which was why she acted so boldly.

Feng Yi’s expression darkened.

Seeing his mood, Song Yunzhao leaned gently against his shoulder and decided the best defense was a good offense. "I can overlook the other women, but as for that Miss Zhao... Last year, when my eldest cousin went to Nanyu to implement the new policies, the Zhao Family repeatedly tried to obstruct him behind the scenes. They even encouraged Ding Xian’s wife to come to the Capital City under the false pretense of a marriage alliance, all to drag the Song Family down. I’m the type to hold a grudge."

Feng Yi couldn’t help but turn his head to look at her. She made her complaint with such righteous indignation, yet she conveniently failed to mention that this Miss Zhao was also the most stunning of all the concubines.

He pulled her into his arms and said with a laugh, "What I love most about you is that jealous little streak."

Song Yunzhao was not pleased. "My complaint is perfectly justified and based on facts. The Zhao Family plotted against mine, so am I not allowed to be angry? How is that just a ’jealous streak’?"