Chapter 640 - 418: What a Beautiful Dream

Chapter 640: Chapter 418: What a Beautiful Dream

Word soon reached Consort Shu that the Empress Dowager did not intend to leave for the summer retreat this year. The consort could hardly believe her ears.

If the Empress Dowager wasn’t going, how could she?

In a fit of rage, Consort Shu smashed things all over the floor of her hall, then stormed over to see Song Yunzhao.

"The Empress Dowager isn’t going to the summer retreat? She’s staying in the palace?" Song Yunzhao was also taken aback.

"Yes! Isn’t it strange?" Consort Shu’s anger flared hotter. "The summer is unbearable. I’m afraid her health won’t hold up if she stays in the palace. And when the time comes, if the Empress Dowager falls ill, I’m sure it will somehow be our fault."

Song Yunzhao frowned in deep thought. ’I thought the Empress Dowager might go to Jincui Garden, but I never expected her not to leave the palace at all, choosing to endure the summer here.’

If the Empress Dowager was staying in the palace for the summer, then she and her son couldn’t escape to Jincui Garden either. This soured her mood as well.

For a rare moment, she felt a sense of solidarity with Consort Shu.

Neither of them looked pleased. Consort Shu looked at Song Yunzhao. "You have to think of something. If we really have to stay in the palace, this summer is going to be miserable."

Song Yunzhao shook her head. "What can I do?"

’It’s not like I can hold a knife to the Empress Dowager’s throat and force her to go.’

The two of them sighed in unison.

"What kind of mess is this?" Consort Shu said, looking dejected. "I was looking forward to having fun at the traveling palace this year. I was even going to have someone prepare a painted barge to spend a night on the lake."

Song Yunzhao looked at Consort Shu. ’She sure knows how to dream.’

"Why do you think the Empress Dowager doesn’t want to go?" Consort Shu couldn’t figure it out. "She went last year, so why not this year?"

She refused to believe there wasn’t a reason.

’Claiming she’s unwell and unfit for a long journey...’

The Imperial Hospital gives the Empress Dowager a wellness check every three days, and they’ve never said she was unwell.

Song Yunzhao shook her head slightly. "With so little to go on, I can’t guess the reason."

That’s what she said, but Song Yunzhao suspected it was all for the Emperor. The Empress Dowager must have guessed the Emperor would follow last year’s example. If the Emperor didn’t go to the traveling palace, An Shutong would have no chance of seeing His Majesty for months. Winning his favor would be nothing but a dream.

So, she had to stay.

After all, if the Empress Dowager stayed in the palace, the Emperor certainly couldn’t abandon his own mother to go on a summer retreat by himself.

’I have to admit, the Empress Dowager’s move is indeed effective.’

However, she couldn’t say this to Consort Shu. After all, she, Song Yunzhao, was the one who currently held the Emperor’s favor.

After venting to Yun Zhao, Consort Shu asked her to relay a message to the Emperor. She then returned to Cuiwei Palace in a foul mood. The thought of not escaping the palace for the summer and having to endure the sweltering heat left her with no trace of happiness.

’If we really aren’t going, we’ll need a lot of ice this year. I wonder if the palace’s allotment will even be enough.’

Consort Shu had to deal with these matters, and the thought gave her an even bigger headache.

Song Yunzhao was also feeling annoyed. If the Empress Dowager wasn’t going to the summer retreat, she couldn’t go to Jincui Garden either. The thought of the stifling summer in the palace made her feel suffocated, so she decided to go out for a walk.

Feng Ze wasn’t around, so Yun Zhao left Yaohua Palace with Xiangxue and Shizhu. As she ambled along the palace path, passing palace attendants would see her from a distance, curtsy, and step aside.

Yun Zhao headed toward the Imperial Garden. The sun was shifting west, and its rays were no longer so scorching. A gentle breeze felt quite pleasant against her skin.

She hadn’t gone far when she saw someone approaching from the distance. As they drew closer, she realized it was An Fangyi.

An Fangyi was also startled to see Song Yunzhao, but she quickly recovered and came forward to offer a salutation. "I greet you, Lady Ming."

An Fangyi had entered the palace before Song Yunzhao, yet now she had to bow before her. The feeling in her heart was indescribable.

Not to mention the past unpleasantness between her and Lady Ming over the matter of Han Jinyi.

"An Fangyi, there is no need for such ceremony. Please rise." Song Yunzhao’s impression of An Fangyi was neutral. ’I can never quite figure out this woman’s relationship with Qin Xiyue. You could say they aren’t close, but they are sometimes seen together. You could say they are close, but they are rarely seen visiting each other.’

’But in the book, An Fangyi and Qin Xiyue were indeed in league with each other. That, combined with the previous incident with Han Jinyi, makes my thoughts about her unusually complicated.’

"Thank you, Your Ladyship," An Fangyi said as she rose.

Song Yunzhao studied her closely. A golden step-shaking hairpin, intricately crafted with coiled silk and kingfisher feathers, adorned her chignon, making her face glow with radiance. A pair of jade gourds the size of a thumbnail dangled from her ears, adding a touch of gentleness. Dressed in a pale turquoise palace gown, she looked particularly beautiful against the setting sun.

’As expected, there are no ugly women in this harem. Every single one is a Beauty.’

"It’s rare to see Lady Ming out for a stroll in the garden. The weather is lovely today; it’s a good day for a walk."

Song Yunzhao was slightly surprised to hear this. ’An Fangyi’s temperament seems much more amiable than before. She was never one to bow down to others easily.’

’When she first entered the palace, she clashed head-on with the three concubines and never once bowed her head.’

"You’re right, An Fangyi. The weather is so nice, I decided to come out for a casual stroll," Song Yunzhao replied. "And where might you be headed?"

"I also saw that the weather was fine and came out for some fresh air. I didn’t expect to run into Your Ladyship."

"What a coincidence."

Song Yunzhao had no desire to exchange false pleasantries with An Fangyi and was about to take her leave when An Fangyi spoke. "I have heard that the Empress Dowager is unwell and will not be going to the traveling palace for the summer retreat this year. May I ask Your Ladyship if this is true?"

Song Yunzhao’s eyebrow twitched slightly. She feigned surprise. "Where did you hear this news? I have not heard anything about it."

’Consort Shu just brought me the news. Logically, no one else in the harem should know yet. How did An Fangyi find out so quickly?’

"It was a coincidence. One of my attendants went to the Laundry Bureau to pick up some clothes and happened to run into a palace attendant from Shouci Palace, so she overheard a few words," An Fangyi said. "The Empress Dowager is getting on in years. It is natural for us to worry when she is unwell."

’An Fangyi is worried about the Empress Dowager?’

’What a joke. I’ve never seen her trying to be filial to the Empress Dowager on any normal day, yet now she’s suddenly so concerned.’

Song Yunzhao said impassively, "If the Empress Dowager knew of your filial piety, An Fangyi, she would surely be very pleased."

An Fangyi glanced at Lady Ming, then said, "I’ll take those as words of blessing from Your Ladyship. I will not disturb your peace any longer. I shall take my leave."

An Fangyi curtsied and left. Yun Zhao watched her retreating back, then slowly retracted her gaze.

’What on earth did she mean by that?’

’She wouldn’t have said something like that for no reason.’

’Could it be that something is genuinely wrong with the Empress Dowager’s health?’

But the records from the Imperial Hospital showed nothing unusual. A seed of vigilance was planted in Song Yunzhao’s heart. She casually beckoned Shizhu over and instructed her in a low voice, "Go and find out who An Fangyi has been in close contact with recently."

’Everything happens for a reason. There must be a trail to follow.’

With this matter weighing on her mind, Song Yunzhao lost her interest in strolling through the garden and decided to head back. Before she even reached Yaohua Palace, she saw Feng Yi in the distance, walking toward her hand-in-hand with Feng Ze.

She was just about to go and greet them when someone suddenly darted out from an intersecting path, blocking the Emperor’s way.