Chapter 740 - 518: The Imperial Consort with No Weaknesses

Chapter 740: Chapter 518: The Imperial Consort with No Weaknesses

Zhao Ling’e had always known her beauty was a sharp weapon. Her talent, combined with her beauty, was doubly potent.

In Linfeng, this had never failed her; she had never known defeat.

But the person she faced was not one of those people from Linfeng. It was the inscrutable Consort Ming—a woman who disliked flaunting her status, interacting with other harem concubines, or even making frequent public appearances.

Such a person lived in Yaohua Palace, and unless she gave her approval, no one dared to get close.

Now, the Emperor only ever went to Yaohua Palace. The Imperial Concubine didn’t leave even the slightest opening for anyone else. What else could she do?

She could only find another way.

But this path wasn’t smooth for her either. She had just managed to tear open a small crack, but now it had been blocked. Not only that, but there were subtle signs that she herself was about to be dragged out into the open.

Zhao Liangren was just from a minor branch of the Zhao family and held no favor in the palace. Zhao Ling’e had thought using her wouldn’t attract any attention. Who would have thought the Imperial Concubine would find her out so quickly?

For the first time, Zhao Ling’e found the situation so tricky.

At this moment, she recalled her visit to An Pin when she first arrived at Huayang Palace. She had assumed that given her family background and the Empress Dowager’s attitude toward her, An Pin would at least try to be on friendly terms, or perhaps even treat her with more warmth.

But that hadn’t happened.

An Pin didn’t see her.

She even felt that An Pin was distancing herself. The feeling was subtle; An Pin hadn’t said or done anything obvious, but Zhao Ling’e could still sense the rejection.

To test An Pin, she later made several consecutive visits to Shouci Palace to pay her respects to the Empress Dowager. She even managed to get the Empress Dowager to specially summon her for a chat.

But An Pin still made no move.

This was highly illogical.

She had been in the palace for some time now and had already learned the truth about Qin Xiyue’s forced suicide from Zhao Liangren. While not the complete opposite of what she’d heard outside the palace, it was still significantly different.

"Northern Qin and Southern Zhao" both held great prestige among the scholars. Her grandfather and Grand Tutor Qin used to correspond frequently, but they lost contact after the Grand Tutor retired and returned to his hometown.

Later, when news spread that Qin Xiyue had been ordered to commit suicide, the Qin Family’s prospects in the Capital City were completely ruined. As a result, her grandfather’s plans to use the Qin Family to advance further had to be abandoned.

If not for that, she wouldn’t have entered the selection.

Thinking of these things, Zhao Ling’e couldn’t help but frown.

She knew of the Imperial Concubine’s great renown, but she had never taken it to heart.

’No matter the dynasty, which ruler doesn’t have a few favored concubines?’

’Even the most beautiful woman will bore the Emperor after a few years. A fresh, beautiful face will always steal away the Emperor’s attention and affection.’

But she never would have imagined that after entering the palace, she wouldn’t even get to see the Emperor.

If you can’t see the Emperor, it doesn’t matter if you have a thousand tricks up your sleeve; there’s no one to use them on.

’The Imperial Concubine...’

’What on earth is her secret, to make the Emperor treat her this way?’

The Imperial Concubine was never seen proactively seeking favor at Taixi Hall, nor was she seen suppressing other concubines, let alone using vicious methods to punish them.

She just lived quietly in Yaohua Palace, and whenever the Emperor entered the harem, he would invariably go to Yaohua Palace.

Zhao Ling’e’s brow furrowed even tighter. Her Zhao Family was considered a respectable and upstanding one, but both her grandfather and father had several concubines. She had never seen either of them treat any single woman the way the Emperor treated the Imperial Concubine.

This was a blind spot in Zhao Ling’e’s knowledge; she had never encountered a man who, while surrounded by a bevy of beauties, loved only a single flower.

’Aren’t all men greedy for beauty, power, and fame?’

’Other men could be described as greedy, but the Emperor already possessed the four seas and ruled all under heaven.’

Zhao Ling’e couldn’t figure out the secret to the Imperial Concubine’s favor, but since the Imperial Concubine had discovered her little scheme, the only thing to do now was to clean up her mess immediately.

’As for Zhao Liangren, she’ll just have to suffer a little this time.’

’Fortunately, the Imperial Concubine only confined her to her quarters and exposed their connection.’

’Although this would be somewhat inconvenient, it wasn’t a major obstacle.’

***

On her end, Yun Zhao had no idea what Zhao Ling’e was thinking. She had just received a message from Meng Jiuchang: the Emperor was coming for dinner.

The two hadn’t seen each other in several days, so an elated Song Yunzhao sent someone to relay a message to the Imperial Kitchen.

The entire Yaohua Palace seemed to burst into life. Palace Attendants bustled about, each with a smile on their face. The wet nurse was playing with Feng Yun in the courtyard, where a thick rattan mat had been laid out on the clean stone slabs.

The mat was huge, big enough for him to crawl and tumble all over.

Yun Zhao watched her son through the window, an irrepressible smile gracing her eyes and brows.

’If it weren’t for this whole affair with Zhao Ling’e, her life right now would be just too perfect.’

’The Emperor’s exclusive affection, an obedient son, harmony with the three concubines, and a thriving career.’

’Sigh, I’m just that outstanding.’

’No weaknesses.’

Feng Yi arrived as the thin twilight settled, and saw Yun Zhao leaning against a window under the eaves, smiling. Her eyes twinkled like stars in the night sky, and the smile playing on her lips was light and triumphant.

He wondered what she was thinking about that made her so happy.

Following her gaze, he saw Feng Yun sitting on the rattan mat, clutching a round toy made of huanghuali wood. A crisp jingle of a silver bell sounded whenever it was shaken. The toy was hollowed out, revealing an intricately carved silver bell inside, which he was trying to pry out, but couldn’t, no matter what he did.

Feng Yun was just staring at the sphere with an expression of deep-seated animosity.

The expressions on the mother and son were polar opposites. Feng Yi couldn’t help but laugh out loud.

Song Yunzhao was startled by the sound of Feng Yi’s voice. Looking up, she saw him standing around a corner, which happened to be in her blind spot, hence why she hadn’t noticed him.

Yun Zhao lifted the hem of her skirt and ran out. She was already in high spirits, and seeing Feng Yi made her even happier. Without a second thought, she rushed out of the hall, down the steps, and threw herself into Feng Yi’s arms.

Feng Yi hurried forward a few steps to catch her, pulling her into his embrace. Perhaps because Yun Zhao’s joy was so genuine and abundant, a wide smile spread across his face uncontrollably.

"You’re free today?" Yun Zhao looked up at him from his embrace, her hands still wrapped around his waist, her bright eyes twinkling.

Feng Yi’s arms tightened slightly around Yun Zhao. "This happy?"

"Of course I am! They say love can level mountains and seas. Between Your Majesty and I are layers of palace walls, and now you have crossed them to meet me. How could I not be happy?"

Feng Yi: ...

He suddenly swept Yun Zhao up and spun her around in a circle.

Yun Zhao cried out in surprise, her silver bell-like laughter carrying far from Yaohua Palace.

The Palace Attendants had long since made themselves scarce, knowing better than to stick around when the Imperial Concubine rushed out to embrace the Emperor.

Just as Yun Zhao was about to say something more, Feng Yun’s voice came from the side. "Father Emperor, hold! Hold!!"

’I forgot my son was here!’

Yun Zhao quickly pushed Feng Yi away. Feng Yi just smiled, strode over to his son, and lifted him high into the air, tossing him up.

Feng Yun laughed too. It was rare for him to show such strong emotion.

Yun Zhao suddenly thought of her older son and asked, "Where’s Ze’er?"

Feng Yi said without batting an eye, "His tutor left him homework. He’s doing it with his study companions."

Song Yunzhao let out a meaningful "Oh."

’Feng Yi must have thought his son would be in the way, so he found something for him to do to keep him at Taixi Hall.’

’Tsk, men.’