Chapter 733 - 511: Unknowingly Courting Death

Chapter 733: Chapter 511: Unknowingly Courting Death

Song Yunzhao explained the current living arrangements in the various palace residences to Feng Yi. This was something Feng Yi was genuinely unaware of, as he almost never concerned himself with the affairs of the harem.

Previously, the three concubines were in charge. Later, the responsibility was handed to Yun Zhao, but in reality, she still had the three concubines manage things.

The factions in the palace were now clearly defined. Qingyan Palace, Lin Hua Palace, and Qingyun Palace were mostly occupied by concubines Feng Yi had no memory of. These women were either losers from the power struggles when the three concubines first entered the palace, or they were women who had entered with Yun Zhao and failed to make any waves.

In short, the concubines of these three palaces were basically living a life of retirement—raising dogs, teasing birds, and strolling through the gardens.

As for the other three palaces—Yanqing Palace, Liu Hua Palace, and Yihua Palace—they housed most of the harem’s mainstays. Feng Yunjin and her two companions were the most prominent among them, but there were also concubines like Du Wanneng and Noble Lady Qin who had gradually allied themselves with that faction.

Their main characteristic was being quiet and diligent; they did whatever was asked of them.

An Shutong resided in Huayang Palace. Princess Consort Zhuang’s Zhaoyang Palace had once been home to Xu Mingying, but she was now gone, so Mingguang Hall was vacant once more.

The remaining palaces were Consort Shu’s Cuiwei Palace and Princess Consort Wan’s Roufu Palace, neither of which had housed other concubines. Finally, there was Yun Zhao’s Yaohua Palace, as well as Wangyou Palace, where she had once lived.

With so many new concubines chosen this time, assigning them to palaces would require some careful thought.

Yun Zhao carefully explained everything to the Emperor once through. She wouldn’t involve herself in the rest; the initial conferment of ranks was the Emperor’s responsibility, and assigning the palaces could be left for the three concubines to discuss.

Feng Yi could sense Yun Zhao’s aversion to the matter, so after listening, he simply acknowledged it and didn’t bring it up again.

The next day, the entire harem was restless. Everyone was clearly waiting for the imperial decree announcing the initial ranks.

First thing in the morning, Yun Zhao sent Feng Ze off to his studies. Feng Ze’s lessons started rather early, so he couldn’t have breakfast with his younger brother. When Yun Zhao had ample time, she would eat with him, but if time was short, she would have Feng Ze eat by himself before heading to class.

After sending Feng Ze on his way, Feng Yun woke up, and Yun Zhao had breakfast with him.

They had just finished breakfast when Consort Shu arrived in a hurry. As soon as she saw Yun Zhao, she asked, "Why hasn’t the decree been issued yet?"

"Normally, the Emperor issues his decrees after the morning court session ends."

Yun Zhao handed Feng Yun to his nanny to be taken out to play. Consort Shu teased him for a bit, but unfortunately, Feng Yun was not like Feng Ze and showed no intention of playing along.

Consort Shu didn’t mind, finding Feng Yun’s little stoic face rather amusing.

After the nanny carried Feng Yun away, Consort Shu looked at Yun Zhao. "According to custom, the decree should have been announced by now. The morning court session at Taixi Hall has already ended, so why is there still no news?"

Song Yunzhao didn’t know either. "Perhaps the Emperor was delayed by some business," she said. "Let’s just wait. It’s not a big deal."

"That’s true," Consort Shu said with a light chuckle. ’They might not think it’s a big deal, but I’m afraid the new concubines over at Zhichun Palace are about to start jumping out of their skin.’ "If the decree doesn’t come down, it’s hard to arrange the palaces. I’m just worried the schedule will be too tight, and we’ll end up being blamed."

The "blame" she feared would come from Shouci Palace.

Song Yunzhao replied, "What does the Emperor’s delayed decree have to do with you? If anyone is displeased, they can go see His Majesty and ask for clarification themselves."

Consort Shu understood Yun Zhao’s implication. Reassured, she stood up to take her leave. "I’ll go discuss the palace arrangements with Princess Consort Zhuang again."

Song Yunzhao didn’t try to keep her, simply rising to see Consort Shu out.

Consort Shu had come and gone in a flash. Yun Zhao summoned Zhang Maoquan and asked, "Is the Emperor very busy at the moment?"

Zhang Maoquan replied, "This servant has just returned from Taixi Hall. The Emperor is reviewing memorials and appears to be very busy."

’He has to review memorials every day,’ she thought. ’Unless there was some urgent eight-hundred-li dispatch, Feng Yi wouldn’t just ignore the initial conferment of ranks to review memorials first.’

The wait dragged on for the better part of the day. A decree was finally issued at 1:00 PM.

This news sent the entire harem into an uproar.

For this entire batch of new concubines, the Emperor had only conferred two ranks: Chosen Lady or Beauty.

Xiao Qiuzhuo, Qiao Jinyun, and Zhao Ling’e, who came from more prominent families, were named Beauties. All the others, with lesser family backgrounds, were named Chosen Ladies.

Forget the rest of the harem; even Yun Zhao was stunned.

Throughout all of history, both in records and in reality, this was the first time she had ever encountered such a bizarre event. No emperor had ever done anything like it.

’What’s the difference between this and selling in bulk?’

The more Yun Zhao thought about it, the more hilarious it seemed, but she couldn’t laugh out loud in front of everyone. Holding it in was actually quite uncomfortable.

Meanwhile, in Shouci Palace, the Empress Dowager was so stunned she was speechless for a long moment.

Nanny Yao sighed to herself. ’The Emperor is clearly furious,’ she thought. ’He can’t express it openly, so he’s determined to vent his anger this way.’

’Honestly, haven’t all these new concubines been turned into a laughingstock?’

’Such a strange affair has never happened before, not in this dynasty, nor in any previous one.’

The Empress Dowager was so enraged she nearly choked. An Shutong, hearing the news, rushed over and began patting the Empress Dowager’s back and rubbing her chest to help her catch her breath. Once she had, An Shutong let out a long sigh of her own and said softly, "Aunt, why must you put yourself through this?"

The Empress Dowager’s face was ashen with rage. She turned to An Shutong and fumed, "I knew it! The Emperor did this on purpose! He’s trying to slap me in the face! He just doesn’t want me to have my way! He’s completely devoted to protecting that Imperial Concubine!"

An Shutong thought, ’You know the Emperor protects the Imperial Concubine, so why do you insist on fighting him?’

’The Emperor not only detests Shouci Palace now, he won’t even spare me a glance when he sees me.’

An Shutong truly couldn’t understand. Her aunt was the Empress Dowager, the woman most envied by every other woman in the world, so why did she insist on competing with her own son for dominance?

Unfortunately, a couple of years ago, she hadn’t been able to see things clearly. She didn’t understand. She had thought the Empress Dowager had her best interests at heart, that her plans were thoughtful and her methods brilliant, so she had single-mindedly charged forward, following her aunt’s lead.

Looking back now, she realized she had been digging her own grave without even knowing it.

"Aunt, your health should be your priority now. Don’t concern yourself with these other, unimportant matters. Do you really want His Majesty to become completely estranged from you, his own mother?" An Shutong decided to try persuading her one last time. If the Empress Dowager still refused to change, she would absolutely never get involved again and would be sure to keep her distance.

"Now even you’re saying such things?" The Empress Dowager’s expression grew even more grim.

An Shutong dropped to her knees with a THUD. She looked up at the Empress Dowager and said, enunciating each word, "Aunt, look at me. What dignity do I have left to speak of? I am your own flesh-and-blood niece, but how does the Emperor treat me?"

If the Emperor truly valued the Empress Dowager, he would not be giving her the cold shoulder.

"Aunt, the Emperor made his attitude clear from the very beginning. I’ve finally come to understand that now. From this day forward, I just want to live a quiet and peaceful life. You should stop this, too." An Shutong’s eyes reddened as she spoke.

"Are you just going to abandon your family?" The Empress Dowager could hardly believe her ears.

An Shutong gave a helpless smile. "I’m afraid if I continue to act so foolishly, not only will I be unable to help our family, I will end up dragging them down with me."

Her own mother was ready to shove a daughter from a concubine into the palace, having already decided she had lost the Emperor’s favor and was ready to give up on her. Why on earth should she still care about that family?

She finally understood His Majesty’s loathing for the Gu’en Houfu.

She recalled how, all those years ago, the Gu’en Houfu had abandoned her aunt and cousin in the palace for the sake of self-preservation. Those had been her cousin’s most difficult days, yet he was cast aside by his own mother’s family.

How could he not have been heartbroken?

How could he not hold a grudge?

She understood that feeling deeply now.