Chapter 36

Concubine Li died.

Xiao Jingheng removed her name from the imperial concubines' registry and sent her corpse back to her maternal home.

It was as if she had never existed in the palace.

When going to pay respects to the Empress, it was inevitable to hear others talk about her a bit.

Consort Yun said, "I didn't expect her to be so vicious. Plotting against Concubine Song was bad enough, but she even targeted Consort Shu's belly!"

While eating pastries, Consort Hui said, "But I feel Sister Li was usually quite polite and friendly with us all. She didn't seem like a bad person."

"What do you understand?" Consort Yin impatiently glanced at Consort Hui, then suddenly changed her tone with a smile, "The milk candy puffs today were made by my palace and sent to greet the Empress. The Empress is treating everyone with them now. If you like them, I’ll have some more sent to you later."

"Hehe, thanks Sister Consort Yin!” Consort Hui replied as she ate another large piece.

Of them all, only Consort Hui was different when paying respects to the Empress.

While others talked, she just kept eating.

Day after day, Song Zhao watched as Consort Hui seemed to have grown another size around the waist after just over a month in the palace.

Everyone knew Xiao Jingheng didn’t like women who were too plump. Yet the consorts kept sending tasty things for Consort Hui,

Their intentions were clear. They wanted to fatten her up quickly before she could gain the Emperor’s favor.

That way, by the time she was sent to Xiao Jingheng’s bed, she would just be a mascot and no threat to the other consorts. Lost in thought, Song Zhao suddenly heard Consort Yin call her name, “Concubine Song, didn’t you hear? That Li tried to harm you but yesterday you still went to see her off on her final journey. Aren’t you worried about misfortune rubbing off?”

After a slight pause, Song Zhao replied, “This concubine merely wanted to ask her why she plotted against me.”

“So did you get to the bottom of it?”

Song Zhao helplessly shook her head, “She refused to say anything. She only admitted to poisoning my food but wouldn’t confess to harming Consort Shu and her child even until death.”

As she spoke, she secretly observed the subtle expressions on the consorts’ faces.

Song Zhao had her suspicions about Consort Shu’s miscarriage.

Although all evidence pointed to Concubine Li, only Song Zhao knew that she had deliberately arranged it to frame Li.

Regardless of whether Concubine Li was actually responsible, to protect herself, Song Zhao had to push Li into the fire pit.

But if the real culprit was someone else lurking unseen, then their intentions ran deeper than she could fathom.

Glancing around, everyone seemed undisguised. Only Consort Yun impatiently remarked,

“The Ministries of Justice and Punishment did a thorough joint investigation. The evidence was clear and damning. No matter how strongly she denied it, Li was powerless.”

“Let's not talk more of this,” the Empress admonished, fingering her rosary. “Li was full of evil schemes and deserved her fate. Let her serve as a warning to you all. I don’t want to see anyone else harboring crooked thoughts."

"Yes, we shall abide by the Empress's teachings," the consorts chorused.

Only one voice differed, coming from Consort Chen.

“The Empress governs this harem poorly for such disasters to happen, yet instead scolds others?”

It was clear Consort Chen deliberately provoked the Empress,

Yet the Empress seemed undisturbed, as if she hadn’t even heard her. She continued speaking,

“Consort Shu is still recovering so I’ve permitted her to rest and needn’t come pay respects for now. The pain of losing her child grieves her soul more than her injuries. Those of you who have time should visit her more to provide some comfort.”

Consort Chen let out a cold sneer, “The Empress truly knows how to handle people. But before, that Li openly went around claiming she was the Empress’s confidante. Now that she has created such chaos, it’s hard not to wonder how much of this involves the Empress.”

“Consort Chen! You go too far!” Unable to listen further, Consort Yun leapt to the Empress’ defense. “The Empress is the only proper authority in this harem. We should all be her subordinates. What is the meaning of your words? Surely you don’t plan on forming factions and cliques in the harem?”

Consort Chen raised a slender arched brow and coldly laughed. “Oh my, the owner hasn’t made a sound yet her dog is already barking.” Consort Yun, “You-!”

Consort Chen stood up leisurely and yawned, “This concubine is tired. Empress, please continue lecturing them. I’m leaving.”

Without even bowing, she then sashayed out with her slender waist.

Consort Yun cursed at her retreating back before comforting the Empress, “Don’t take it to heart, Empress. Consort Chen’s insolence will bring its own retribution!”

Song Zhao kept silent throughout, watching their performance unfold before the Empress.

If Consort Yun and Consort Chen hadn’t previously joined forces to poison her, she wouldn’t have figured out that they had long been colluding secretly.

On the surface, Consort Chen opposed the Empress fiercely while Consort Yun defended her at every turn.

But in truth, Consort Yun was just a chess piece planted by Consort Chen at the Empress’ side.

For several days after, Xiao Jingheng did not summon Song Zhao and only had her accompany him for a meal at Chángyáng Palace one day.

When Yun Shan went to the Attendants’ Office to investigate and returned, her face was full of bewilderment.

“My lady, guess who the Emperor has been summoning to serve him these days?”

Song Zhao casually pruned a potted green vine. “No need to guess. Consort Chen hasn’t paid respects to the Empress for five days already. If not for the Emperor’s daily summons, she wouldn’t dare be so bold.”

Yun Shan said, “But I don’t understand. Previously, the Emperor wronged you and you were poisoned by Li. Logically, to make up for it, the Emperor should be keeping your company. Even if he won’t come to you, Consort Shu was the one who miscarried, not Consort Chen. What is the meaning of him constantly summoning Consort Chen?”

Song Zhao smiled, snapping off some unruly branches and leaves on the vine. “Everyone only thinks about poor Consort Shu for losing her child, but no one considers that the Emperor also lost a child. She weeps inconsolably day and night. He may have been willing to comfort her for a day or two but not forever. How much patience can a man have? Over time, he would still grow weary.

When a man is in low spirits, he likes amusement. And besides being illiterate, Consort Chen is adept at singing, dancing, playing the zither and pipa. Otherwise how do you think she maintained exclusive favor for so many years? Surely you didn’t think she relied solely on her family background without any charms of her own?”

Yun Shan nodded hesitantly in comprehension. She quickly suggested, “Since that’s so, the next time my lady sees the Emperor, you could also...”

Song Zhao raised her hand to stop Yun Shan’s words. “I won’t do what others have already done. Even done perfectly well, it would still carry shadows of others.”

After a brief pause, she used a silver spoon to scoop some fragrant powder into the incense burner and lit it.

Deeply inhaling the ethereal scent as it rose, she smiled serenely,

“If I make my move, I will only do what no one has ever done before and let them become my shadow.”