Chapter 735 - 513: My Own Son Is Just So Handsome

Chapter 735: Chapter 513: My Own Son Is Just So Handsome

Song Yunzhao studied Consort Shu’s expression and asked hesitantly, "You suspect she’s faking it?"

"An Pin is somewhat different from the Empress Dowager, but not by much. When she first entered the palace, she may have appeared dutiful, but her actions always betrayed a hint of ambition," Consort Shu began.

Song Yunzhao smiled. "Well said, Consort Shu. Great minds think alike."

Consort Shu looked smug. Though she was known for being direct, her judgment of character was sharp. Otherwise, she never would have thrown in her lot with Song Yunzhao.

"I knew I wasn’t wrong. If she truly had no ambition, why would she have gotten involved with Qin Xiyue? But with the Empress Dowager’s backing, she’s also quick to seize an opportunity. When she saw Qin Xiyue barreling toward her own ruin, she made a quick exit after their falling out."

As Consort Shu spoke, she sighed wistfully. "Otherwise, she wouldn’t have been able to extricate herself so cleanly when Qin Xiyue met her downfall. But now, it seems she and the Empress Dowager are on bad terms. Have you heard?"

Song Yunzhao hadn’t heard, but she could guess what was happening. She mused, "An Pin and the Empress Dowager’s interests were once aligned. But before the year’s end, Duchess Gu En brought that daughter of a concubine from their mansion into the palace. If An Pin still can’t see the writing on the wall, she’d be wasting that clever head of hers."

Consort Shu burst out laughing at Yun Zhao’s words, nearly spitting out her tea.

’A clever head...’

Speaking of which, Consort Shu said, "The Empress Dowager really has a one-track mind. She just rushes ahead, completely ignoring the state of the Marquis Guen Mansion, singularly focused on propping up her family."

Song Yunzhao didn’t understand it either. She looked at Consort Shu, a true native of this ancient world, and asked humbly for her insight. "What do you suppose the Empress Dowager is thinking?"

Consort Shu actually gave it some serious thought before replying, "I can’t figure it out myself, but I asked my mother. I’ll tell you what she told me."

Song Yunzhao’s interest was piqued. She leaned forward slightly. The Right Minister’s Wife was a clever woman; her words were sure to have merit. "I’m all ears."

"My mother said the one thing the Emperor cannot tolerate is how the Marquis Guen Mansion abandoned him and his mother to protect themselves, back when they were suffering in the palace."

Song Yunzhao nodded. That was indeed the Emperor’s deepest wound, one he could never get over.

’You ran away when I needed you most, and now you’re back that I’m in power.’

’What was that saying again? "Yesterday you ignored me; today I’m out of your league."’

Feng Yi was holding onto that grudge.

"But the Empress Dowager might not see it that way. The Marquis and Duchess Gu’en would surely have cried to her, claiming they had no choice back then. They’d say their status was too low and their words carried no weight, so they were powerless to help. After all, the Marquis was just a Magistrate at the time—what could he have possibly done? They’re definitely clinging to that excuse to make the Empress Dowager’s heart soften."

Song Yunzhao nodded. ’That makes sense.’

"The bond between the Empress Dowager and the Emperor isn’t very deep. Since she can’t get the sense of fulfillment she desires as Empress Dowager from the Emperor, she’s bound to seek it elsewhere. Others might hesitate to act rashly out of consideration for His Majesty’s feelings, but not the Marquis Guen Mansion. They can only cling tightly to the Empress Dowager to secure their foothold in the Capital City."

"So, as my mother says, the Empress Dowager’s support for the Marquis Guen Mansion is really just her way of locking horns with the Emperor."

Song Yunzhao: ...

Hearing Consort Shu’s explanation, Yun Zhao had to admit the Right Minister’s Wife had a point.

’The Empress Dowager isn’t necessarily devoted to her family; she’s just using them in a tug-of-war against the Emperor.’

’In truth, the person the Empress Dowager loves most is herself. She just wants her son to dote on her, to placate her, and to let her bask in the full glory of her title.’

’But Feng Yi refuses to play along.’

’So, to make the Emperor concede, her only move is to prop up the Marquis Guen Mansion.’

’Unfortunately, there’s not a single capable person in the Marquis Guen Mansion; they can only rely on the Empress Dowager to climb the social ladder.’

’With nothing else of substance to offer, their only resort is marriage alliances.’

’Shove her nieces into the palace one by one, and as soon as the Emperor takes a liking to one and she gives birth to a Prince, won’t the Empress Dowager have her bargaining chip?’

’So, if An Shutong fails, they’ll just swap her out for another.’

’The logic is actually quite simple.’

Though Song Yunzhao might sound unfeeling, she actually valued emotional ties.

Her relationship with Mrs. Cai and Song Qinghan had become incredibly strained, but she never went out of her way to make things difficult for them afterward. At most, she simply drew a clear line in the sand.

She didn’t consider herself a good person, but she didn’t want to become a bad one either.

But clearly, whether it was the Marquis Guen Mansion or the Empress Dowager, their moral boundaries were very different from her own.

That was why Yun Zhao thought from a different angle and naturally couldn’t empathize with the Empress Dowager’s actions.

Seeing Yun Zhao’s indescribable expression, Consort Shu burst into laughter.

"This illness of An Pin’s, I suspect it has something to do with Zhao Ling’e moving into Huayang Palace." As she said this, Consort Shu showed no regret for her part in that decision.

Song Yunzhao looked at her. "When you had Zhao Ling’e move into Huayang Palace, I didn’t object. This was our joint decision."

Consort Shu’s eyes crinkled in a smile. "This illness of An Pin’s shows us that she’s grown estranged from the Empress Dowager. If she were still loyal to her, she’d have been thrilled to have Zhao Ling’e move into Huayang Palace. Why would she fall ill?"

"Good point," Song Yunzhao said, clapping her hands.

"Do you think I should try to win An Pin over?" Consort Shu asked Yun Zhao uncertainly. "The Empress Dowager is always so capricious, and from what I can see, Zhao Ling’e is no simple character herself. If those two get together, there’s no telling how much trouble they could stir up for us. If we could get An Pin on our side, it would be a great advantage."

Song Yunzhao shook her head. "An Pin has a mind of her own. We shouldn’t be too hasty. If she intends to seek refuge with us, she’ll find a way to make her intentions known. If she doesn’t, and you approach her, she might just turn around and sell you out to the Empress Dowager."

Consort Shu: ...

’That would be an awkward situation, to say the least.’

"Then let’s just wait and see," Consort Shu said, no longer in a rush. She could afford to be patient. "But since the woman is ill, I should still pay her a visit. I’m not busy, and it’ll be a good chance to get a look at this Beauty Zhao."

This time Song Yunzhao didn’t stop her, and Consort Shu left happily.

Feng Ze did not return for his meal, eating with Feng Yi in Taixi Hall instead. The father and son were now inseparable, and the courtiers had grown used to seeing the little shadow tailing the Emperor.

Feng Yun could already walk quite steadily, but the child was disinclined to move. He was the type to only move when prodded, a temperament completely opposite to his brother’s. Who he took after was a mystery.

He could entertain himself all day with a few Lu Ban Locks. Yun Zhao would look over the harem ledgers nearby, occasionally glancing over at him. She would see him sitting there quietly, the sunlight gracing his form, looking just like one of the child attendants by Guanyin’s side.

’My son is so handsome!’

An Pin’s illness unexpectedly dragged on for the better part of a month. Yun Zhao heard from Feng Yunjin that Beauty Zhao had been quite diligent, attempting to visit several times, but An Pin unfortunately refused to see her.

Over that time, Song Yunzhao noticed that Zhao Ling’e wasn’t doing anything out of the ordinary. She simply enjoyed visiting the other concubines, chatting with them, and strolling through the gardens. As a result, her reputation in the palace had quietly but quickly grown.

’Influencing things silently, like a gentle rain.’