Chapter 742 - 519: The Clash of Song and Zhao

Chapter 742: Chapter 519: The Clash of Song and Zhao

Under the cover of night, a woman in a simple brocade palace dress gracefully stepped out. Beneath the moonlight, her shoulders looked as if carved, her waist was as slender as a silk ribbon, her brows were like kingfisher feathers, and her skin was as white as snow.

Her long, dark hair was styled in a side-swept cloud bun, with a plum blossom step-shaking hairpin dangling beside her ear. The hairpin swayed with the gentle movement of her hips, enhancing her beauty in the moonlight.

This person was none other than Zhao Ling’e.

After her initial surprise, Song Yunzhao decided it wasn’t entirely unexpected.

She gave the other woman a look that was not quite a smile, then refused to look at her again, turning her head to gaze only at Feng Yi.

Feng Yi: ...

’Talk about getting caught in the crossfire,’ he thought as Yun Zhao pinched his palm.

Feng Yi didn’t even have time to register who the woman was; he was too afraid the jealous fit brewing beside him would boil over.

In all honesty, he hadn’t had a beauty present herself to him like this in years, so Yun Zhao hadn’t had any opportunity to get jealous.

For it to happen so suddenly, catching him completely off guard, made Feng Yi a little frantic.

He gripped Yun Zhao’s hand tightly and said, almost without thinking, "This has nothing to do with me."

Song Yunzhao: ?

Zhao Ling’e: !

’What did the Emperor just say?’

"Your Majesty, what a thing to say," Song Yunzhao said with a stern face, feigning anger. "I’m not some man-eating tiger. Talk like that, and by tomorrow, the harem will be buzzing with rumors that I’m unreasonable and monopolizing you."

Feng Yi looked at Yun Zhao, a little bewildered. ’Huh? This isn’t her usual playbook.’

’If this were in the past, wouldn’t Yun Zhao have already made a show of her dominance?’

’Why is she taking a step back now?’

Feng Yi vaguely sensed something was amiss. He didn’t let go of Yun Zhao’s hand when she tried to pull it free; instead, he gripped it even tighter and played along. "Utter nonsense. Who would dare to spout such lies? It’s simply that I only want to be with you."

Song Yunzhao raised an eyebrow at Feng Yi. ’Oh? He knows how to play along. This attitude of his is commendable.’

She was putting on this entire show for Zhao Ling’e.

Beauties like Zhao Ling’e, who possess an ethereal air and are blessed with both talent and looks, tend to be exceedingly proud.

They refuse to believe anything they don’t see with their own eyes.

’Trying to steal my man?’

’She’ll need a few more years of practice for that.’

Song Yunzhao huffed. "The Emperor is just trying to humor me." With that, she finally turned to Zhao Ling’e. "And who are you? The eunuchs already cleared this path. Why are you still here?"

Seeing the way the Imperial Concubine and the Emperor interacted, Zhao Ling’e froze as if struck by lightning. ’How can this be?’

’The Emperor is the supreme ruler. Shouldn’t the Imperial Concubine be deferential and serve His Majesty with the utmost diligence when attending to him?’

’How can she be so willful?’

Hearing the Imperial Concubine’s question, Zhao Ling’e composed herself, took a quiet breath, and then spoke. "I am from Yu Jin Hall in Qingyan Palace. I did not encounter any eunuchs clearing the path on my way. I have disturbed the Imperial Consort and Your Majesty. I beg Your Grace’s forgiveness."

’Oh?’

Song Yunzhao glanced at Zhao Ling’e and said with displeasure, "The Emperor is right here, yet Beauty Zhao, you only ask for *my* forgiveness. Where does that leave His Majesty?"

’Yun Zhao had outgrown such petty, divisive tricks long ago. And Zhao Ling’e was trying to pull one on her? Is this how she played her games in Linfeng?’

’And I thought she was supposed to be so clever.’

Feng Yi remained silent, simply watching Yun Zhao’s performance.

However, he now understood Zhao Ling’e’s little ploy from Yun Zhao’s words, and his expression darkened.

"I was merely flustered and misspoke. Please, Your Majesty and Your Grace, forgive me." Sweat broke out on Zhao Ling’e’s palms. She had only been testing the waters, not expecting the Imperial Concubine would dare to do this right in front of the Emperor.

It had completely subverted her expectations, catching her so off guard that she nearly fell into her own trap.

Zhao Ling’e gritted her teeth, dropped to her knees, and kowtowed in apology. As her forehead touched the ground, the cold sensation made her clench her fists tightly.

’In her entire life, she had never suffered such humiliation.’

"Merely flustered? It seems the etiquette Beauty Zhao learned in Zhichun Palace amounts to nothing much." Song Yunzhao snorted, then turned to Feng Yi. She gave him a wink, but her tone was perfectly serious as she said, "Your Majesty, when I first left Zhichun Palace, I was the very model of propriety, not daring to make the slightest misstep. Wouldn’t you agree?"

’Did she really?’ Feng Yi wondered.

’Back in the day, Song Yunzhao was so audacious she could have flown to the sky without wings. She was never afraid of making a scene. She could just place a hand on her hip and set the entire harem on fire.’

Thinking about it, Feng Yi suddenly felt a little nostalgic for the old Yun Zhao, the one who would explode at the slightest provocation.

’Tsk, is there something wrong with me? Do I actually enjoy it when she’s mad at me?’

After being like an old married couple for so long, a sudden tiff like this felt refreshingly new.

Feng Yi nodded in agreement with Yun Zhao. "Of course. Your etiquette was the very best."

Zhao Ling’e: ...

’Don’t think that just because I’m new to the palace, I haven’t heard about the Imperial Concubine’s past. The *best* etiquette?’

Zhao Ling’e could hardly believe her ears. This was the very definition of calling black white.

Song Yunzhao watched the expressions flicker across Zhao Ling’e’s face. Suddenly recalling what she had said earlier, she turned to Feng Yi with a mischievous look.

Seeing Yun Zhao’s smile, Feng Yi suddenly shivered. He had a feeling *that* side of her was about to make an appearance.

"Your Majesty has been so busy with state affairs recently, you’re not yet aware of what’s been happening in the harem."

Song Yunzhao delivered this line with an utterly coquettish flair, her voice dripping with so much sugar it could cause cavities. Feng Yi’s face stiffened as he struggled to keep from laughing.

Seeing this, Song Yunzhao reached out and pinched his waist.

Feng Yi immediately said, "Is that so? My dear concubine, do tell me all the details."

Song Yunzhao shot him a look.

Feng Yi took in that glance, finding it peerlessly charming and tender, yet laced with a hint of playfulness. The spot on his waist where she had pinched him actually seemed to tingle. He wished he could whisk her back to Yaohua Palace right then and there, but his Zhaozhao still wanted to continue her performance, so he had no choice but to play along.

"A while ago, the palace was rife with rumors that caused a great deal of unrest. As the Imperial Concubine, even though I don’t normally handle daily affairs and rely heavily on the three concubines for help, I have to step in when something like this occurs."

Feng Yi’s expression grew serious as he listened. ’This happened?’

He looked down at Yun Zhao, his gaze intense. ’Why didn’t she tell me? For these rumors to make her angry, they must have been aimed at her.’

’Yun Zhao never made things difficult for others over trivial, harmless matters.’

Seeing Feng Yi’s expression change in an instant, Yun Zhao let her sleeve overlap with his. Under its cover, she hooked her finger around his and gave him a wink.

She thought, ’At this moment, my eyes must be more dazzling than any kohl-rimmed starlet’s.’

Caught between annoyance and amusement, Feng Yi shot Yun Zhao a glare.

Yun Zhao wore a smile, but her tone was calm and steady. "I had Zhang Maoquan investigate and discovered that the rumors started with Zhao Liangren. When questioned, Zhao Liangren claimed she had only overheard them from someone in the Laundry Bureau and had been indiscreet enough to repeat a bit of idle gossip."

Feng Yi’s eyes flashed with annoyance. ’What does she mean, "indiscreet"?’

’It would be one thing for a newly-arrived concubine to be so thoughtless, but Zhao Liangren?’

’If that’s the case, she’s lived in the palace all these years for nothing!’