Chapter 591 - 369: Of Course, the Empress Dowager Wouldn’t Let Song Yunzhao Have Her Way

Chapter 591: Chapter 369: Of Course, the Empress Dowager Wouldn’t Let Song Yunzhao Have Her Way

After Princess Consort Wan left, Song Yunzhao mulled it over for a while. She figured that Yao Zongjing must be too deeply involved in the matter to extricate himself easily, which was why Mrs. Yao had come to the palace to ask her daughter for help.

’However, this affair is no longer a simple dispute between Baozhuang Building and the Six Departments. It’s clearly the Emperor’s opportunity to clean up the court,’ she realized. ’Therefore, neither I nor Princess Consort Wan can actually help.’ Song Yunzhao would never hold Feng Yi back, and as for Princess Consort Wan, she probably couldn’t help even if she wanted to.

After Princess Consort Wan returned to her quarters, she wrote a letter to be sent home. With the Six Departments in chaos, palace staff needed permission from the three concubines and a token to leave the palace. Yun Zhao didn’t make things difficult. Consort Shu asked a few questions, but in the end, didn’t create any trouble either.

Nanny Sun left the palace herself. This time, she sought an audience not with Mrs. Yao, but with Mr. Yao.

Placing the letter directly into Mr. Yao’s hands, Nanny Sun lowered her head and said in a low voice, "Her Highness says this is all she can do. Please, Your Excellency, think carefully before you act."

After saying her piece, Nanny Sun did not wait for Mr. Yao to read the letter or write a reply, but took her leave and returned to the palace.

Yao Zongjing opened the letter. After reading his daughter’s words, his expression changed several times before he fell into a dejected silence.

A few days later, Song Yunzhao received news that Yao Zongjing had submitted a memorial to the throne, pleading guilty.

’It’s better to sever an arm than to lose one’s life.’

Yao Zongjing was implicated in many matters, a lot of which were closely tied to the Six Departments and the Inner Workshop. Because his attitude in pleading guilty was good and the details he confessed were thorough, he helped the Emperor pry open the final barrier of the Six Departments and the Inner Workshop, which was considered a meritorious service.

However, his merits did not offset his crimes. The Emperor still demoted Yao Zongjing and appointed him to a post in a remote region. If he wished to return to the Capital City, it would only be possible if the Emperor himself recalled him, or if his political achievements were truly outstanding.

Princess Consort Wan fell ill for a short time. Song Yunzhao heard that Mrs. Yao wanted to enter the palace to bid farewell before leaving the capital, but Princess Consort Wan refused to see her.

With Yao Zongjing’s departure from the capital, the matter of the Six Departments and the Inner Workshop was finally settled.

The Six Departments used to be managed by the Six Great Palace Attendants, with the Palace Justice Department providing oversight. After this incident, Feng Yi added the position of General Manager to the Six Departments to oversee both the Six Departments and the Inner Workshop. The newly appointed General Manager of the Six Departments, Fan Deshi, was exceedingly cautious in his work, showing none of the arrogance of his predecessor.

All of the Six Great Palace Attendants were replaced; only Yan Yu of the Palace Justice Department remained.

Song Yunzhao tsked. ’This Yan Gongzheng is truly something else. We’ve crossed paths several times, and I know she’s a cautious and meticulous woman. To have survived this incident without being dragged down means she is truly upright and clean.’

Summer arrived right on schedule, and the weather grew steadily hotter.

Feng Yi had eradicated the great cancer within the Six Departments and the Inner Workshop. A sense of order was restored both inside and outside the court, and the atmosphere in the court was much better than before. His authority as Emperor had grown even greater.

Once the court’s affairs were settled, the Emperor began visiting the harem more frequently, and a restless energy started to stir among the concubines.

Song Yunzhao remained as steady as a mountain. ’If the enemy doesn’t move, I don’t move.’

Feng Yi had been so busy lately that he had no time to linger in the harem. He barely had time to see his son, let alone the other Beauties.

He had been busy for months and couldn’t even remember the names of the Beauties who had recently entered the palace. When he did enter the harem, he made a beeline for Yaohua Palace. His routine was as fixed as a straight line between two points.

Song Yunzhao’s nightlife had been quite rich these past few days, and her complexion had become rosy. She was discussing the annual summer retreat with Feng Yi.

They hadn’t gone on a summer retreat last year, and Feng Yi had no plans to go this year either. He was swamped with court affairs and had no time for sightseeing. However, the Empress Dowager had recently noticed he had a bit more free time and was trying to push An Shutong on him.

In just five or six days, she had An Shutong deliver soup to Taixi Hall three times. Feng Yi was utterly fed up.

Therefore, he decided to send the Empress Dowager to the traveling palace for the summer retreat. And while he was at it, he would send all the harem’s beauties to serve the Empress Dowager and fulfill his filial duty for him.

Song Yunzhao was speechless.

"Am I going too?" Song Yunzhao asked playfully.

Feng Yi replied with a straight face, "My dear concubine should remain in the palace to manage the affairs of the harem. The Six Palaces are vast and cannot be without a leader."

Song Yunzhao laughed and fell into his arms. ’I’d love to see the look on the Empress Dowager’s face when she hears this news.’

The Emperor issued an order to send the Empress Dowager to the traveling palace for the summer retreat. When the news broke, everyone was excited, scrambling for a chance to go. But when they later learned that the Emperor was staying in the capital, they all wished they could shrink into quails.

Song Yunzhao didn’t want to be separated from Feng Yi, but to her surprise, Consort Shu and Princess Consort Wan came to her, requesting to go on the retreat.

’There’s no favor to be won by staying in the capital anyway,’ they reasoned. ’It’s hot and stuffy here. It can’t compare to the freedom of the traveling palace.’

Consort Shu’s stated reason was quite grand: Princess Consort Wan was still recovering from her recent illness and could go to the traveling palace to relax and recuperate, so she would accompany her.

The pawn, Princess Consort Wan: ...

’Fine, I want to go too.’

Song Yunzhao naturally agreed. ’It’s better if everyone goes. With only the three of us left in the palace, life will be wonderfully peaceful.’

The three concubines reached an agreement, and Feng Yi naturally consented. Then, on second thought, he stuffed all the concubines who hadn’t gone on the summer retreat two years ago into the group as well. Except for a few who were too unwell for the long journey, he basically rounded them all up and packed them off to the traveling palace.

The Empress Dowager was, of course, very displeased. But the Emperor kept insisting that court affairs were his priority and that Beiming had been making restless moves recently. What more could the Empress Dowager say?

Holding back her anger, the Empress Dowager tried to keep An Shutong behind. "This Dowager is going to the traveling palace and cannot rest easy about the Emperor. Let An Xiaoyi stay behind to look after the Emperor on my behalf." ℯℯ𝘭.𝘤ℴ𝘮

Feng Yi naturally refused. However, the Empress Dowager then said that if An Shutong didn’t stay, she wouldn’t go to the traveling palace for the summer retreat either.

This was a threat.

Feng Yi’s expression immediately darkened. He looked up at the Empress Dowager, truly unable to comprehend her thinking. ’Is Gu’en Houfu really that important?’

’If Gu’en Houfu had any promising descendants, it would be one thing. But as it is, there isn’t a single capable one among them. All they know is how to walk dogs, play with birds, hoard wealth, and indulge in women. And with that, they expect me to promote them? Just looking at them is an eyesore. Use them? What for? As decoration?’

’I’m afraid they wouldn’t even make good decorations; they’d only cause trouble for me.’

The Empress Dowager met her son’s cold gaze and pressed her lips together. How could she not be anxious? When Shutong had entered the palace, she was only granted the rank of Xiaoyi. In the Empress Dowager’s mind, she should have been made a Consort; if not a Consort, then at least a Zhaoyi. But the Emperor had refused, leading to an unpleasant quarrel between mother and son. Fortunately, An Shutong was ultimately made a Xiaoyi, the highest rank among the newcomers, which at least allowed the Empress Dowager to feel she had saved face.

Immediately after, the Emperor got busy dealing with the Six Departments, working nonstop for several months. It was difficult even for those in Yaohua Palace to see him, so the Empress Dowager could only continue to wait.

’Now the Emperor wants Shutong to accompany me to the traveling palace for the summer retreat, but he himself isn’t going. Doesn’t that mean she won’t be able to see him for another two months?’

The Empress Dowager was naturally unwilling. ’Good heavens, everyone else is going to the traveling palace, while the Emperor is only keeping a few sickly concubines who can’t travel, along with Song Yunzhao and her son. His little scheme is utterly transparent.’

’I certainly can’t let Song Yunzhao get her way!’