Chapter 743 - 520: Beauty Zhao Complains

Chapter 743: Chapter 520: Beauty Zhao Complains

"So clueless?"

Zhao Ling’e heard the dissatisfaction laced in the Emperor’s icy tone, and her heart sank. She composed herself, then slowly raised her head, her eyes filled with a clear righteousness as she said, "Your Majesty, although Zhao Liangren has been in the palace for many years, I heard her say she has lived in Qingyan Palace for nine years. In all that time, she has rarely stepped outside its gates and truly knows little of the world outside. She did not mean to offend the Imperial Consort. I pray Your Majesty sees the truth of the matter."

’Zhao Ling’e may not have had many scenes in the book,’ Song Yunzhao thought, ’but she was still a formidable woman who managed to get her daughter into the position of Crown Princess Consort.’

’Back then, even the protagonist, Qin Xiyue, had to be cautious for a while after entering the palace. But this one is quite bold, daring to badmouth me right to my face.’

’What does she mean, Zhao Liangren "knows little of the world outside"?’

’Isn’t she just complaining to the Emperor in a roundabout way that my punishment of Zhao Liangren was too harsh?’

Song Yunzhao was so angry she had to laugh. She looked at Zhao Ling’e and said, "If Zhao Liangren knows so little of the outside world, how did she hear the rumors from the Laundry Bureau?"

Hearing the Imperial Concubine’s question, Zhao Ling’e actually breathed a sigh of relief. She had been worried the Imperial Concubine wouldn’t speak, which would have made it difficult for her to counter. She immediately replied, "To answer the Imperial Consort, it was merely a palace attendant from Yu Jin Hall who overheard a few words and went back to repeat them to Zhao Liangren."

’Is she trying to make a palace attendant from Yu Jin Hall the scapegoat for Zhao Liangren?’

’Zhao Ling’e is truly ruthless. What have those attendants done to deserve this?’

Yun Zhao’s anger truly flared. Her gaze was chilling as she stared at Zhao Ling’e and shouted, "Someone, attend me!"

Zhao Ling’e was startled by the Imperial Concubine’s shout, and her expression changed slightly.

She instinctively looked toward the Emperor, only to see him gazing at the Imperial Concubine with a worried expression. For a moment, she couldn’t comprehend the meaning behind his look.

’Why would he look worried?’

’The Imperial Concubine is angry. Shouldn’t the Emperor be pitying me, the innocent one?’

"This servant is here! What are the Imperial Consort’s orders?" Zhang Maoquan shot out like a phantom, dropping to his knees and speaking loudly.

’When the Imperial Consort gets angry, it’s up to a trusted confidant like him to build up the momentum.’

"Didn’t you hear Beauty Zhao? The rumors from Yu Jin Hall were all the doing of its palace attendants and have nothing to do with Zhao Liangren. Immediately relay my orders: Beauty Zhao’s words are reasonable, and I am deeply convinced. Arrest all palace attendants of Yu Jin Hall. Since these attendants are so ill-mannered, select new ones who know the rules and send them to Zhao Liangren, lest any more troublemakers cause her grief!"

"Yes, this servant will go at once." Zhang Maoquan boomed his assent, then glanced at Beauty Zhao. "Her Ladyship the Beauty is truly so considerate of Zhao Liangren. Such ill-mannered attendants should indeed be dealt with according to the rules."

’Zhang Maoquan knew exactly what the Imperial Consort meant. Wasn’t the point to let everyone in the harem know that the attendants of Yu Jin Hall were being punished because of what Beauty Zhao had said?’

’Whose fault were the rumors from Yu Jin Hall, really?’

’Was there anyone in the entire palace who didn’t know?’

’Beauty Zhao pushed the attendants of Yu Jin Hall out to take the fall for Zhao Liangren. After this, which palace attendant would dare to serve her loyally?’

’What a perfect takedown, without spilling a drop of blood!’

’The Imperial Consort is magnificent!’

Zhang Maoquan turned on his heel and left. He had to handle this matter perfectly, making sure everyone in the harem knew the story crystal clear. He would make a real name for Beauty Zhao!

"Imperial Consort, that’s not what I meant! Please, withdraw your order!" This time, the color truly drained from Zhao Ling’e’s face. If Chief Steward Zhang actually went through with this, her life in the palace would become impossible.

Song Yunzhao sneered. "What’s this? Beauty Zhao, you say one thing, then you say it’s not what you meant. Do you really think I can’t do anything to you? Zhao Liangren has always been well-behaved and kept to herself in the palace. For her to suddenly do something like this... do you really think I don’t know who she’s working for? I was merely being lenient because she has always been dutiful!"

Zhao Ling’e’s heart trembled. She knew the Imperial Concubine was using her to establish dominance, and begging her would be useless. She immediately turned to the Emperor, her eyes welling with tears as she choked out, "Your Majesty, I beg you to stand up for me! The Imperial Consort misunderstands me. I truly did not have such intentions. Please, Your Majesty, see the truth!"

’A beauty in tears—truly a pitiful sight.’

Song Yunzhao knew Zhao Ling’e wasn’t easy to deal with, but she never expected her to go over her head and appeal directly to the Emperor. Wasn’t this just like stomping her face into the ground?

’What a piece of work, this Zhao Ling’e!’

’I really underestimated her!’

Song Yunzhao also turned to Feng Yi, feigning extreme anger as she declared loudly, "On the day I was named Imperial Concubine, Your Majesty said that I would manage the affairs of the harem. There is nothing improper in my actions today. Beauty Zhao’s words and actions are inconsistent, and she dares to twist right and wrong in my presence. She has no regard for palace discipline!"

Feng Yi’s expression had already soured the moment Zhao Ling’e bypassed Yun Zhao to complain directly to him. Now, seeing Yun Zhao genuinely furious, his mood soured even further.

He was just about to speak when he heard Yun Zhao let out a cold laugh. "A mere Beauty. I wonder who gave her the courage to act so brazenly. It seems there’s no point in me being an Imperial Concubine. If that’s the case, I will take my leave."

Song Yunzhao turned and left just like that, storming away as if her heels were on fire, leaving Feng Yi stunned.

’Wait... you’re just leaving? I haven’t even taken a side yet!’

’Aren’t I, the Emperor, the most wronged person here?’

’Who did I offend to deserve this?’

’How many emperors in all of history have been as chaste as I am?’

’And yet a giant pot of blame still falls on me from the sky. Is it because I haven’t been to Imperial Awakening Temple to burn incense lately?’

Fuming, Song Yunzhao strode briskly down the palace path. Once she rounded a corner, her pace slowed.

She could faintly hear the sound of Feng Yi’s angry voice. Tsk. ’Zhao Ling’e wants to fight me? Her little tricks won’t work here. Before she could even set her board, I flipped the whole table on her.’

’Speaking of which, Zhao Ling’e is much more daring in her words and actions than Qin Xiyue was. Back then, Qin Xiyue had to live with her tail between her legs.’

’Such a naive youngster, doesn’t know her own limits.’

’An old hand like me will have to teach her a lesson on how to behave.’

’If you want to climb by stepping on others, you’d better make sure your own soles are tough enough, lest you end up getting pierced yourself.’

After returning to Yaohua Palace, Song Yunzhao went to bathe and change. Just as she stepped out of the bathing chamber, she saw Feng Yi had returned.

The two of them met, staring at each other wide-eyed.

Seeing that Yun Zhao was in the mood for a bath, Feng Yi instantly understood. She was playing tricks again, deliberately trying to provoke him.

’What rotten luck,’ Song Yunzhao thought. ’If I’d just had another thirty seconds, I could have made it into the bedroom.’

Before Feng Yi could put on a stern face and scold her, Song Yunzhao threw herself at him, hugging his waist and cooing, "Your Majesty, did you put her in her place for me?"

’I don’t know if Yun Zhao has calmed down,’ Feng Yi thought, ’but I was so scared I could barely breathe.’