Chapter 746 - 523: This Pie, It’s So Big and Round

Chapter 746: Chapter 523: This Pie, It’s So Big and Round

Zhao Liangren’s heart pounded like a drum. Her face was deathly pale as she sat kneeling on the bed like a puppet, cold sweat trickling down her cheeks.

Song Yunzhao watched her and thought, ’She has so little nerve, yet she still got involved with Zhao Ling’e. Now she’s scared herself into this state. She has no one to blame but herself.’

"I will give you a chance. As long as you tell me everything, I will let bygones be bygones. In the future, should His Majesty grant promotions throughout the harem, I will not hold back your advancement. If you can perform a meritorious deed, I will report it to His Majesty truthfully. However, if you insist on being foolish, then you will have to face the consequences alone."

"I’ll talk! I’ll talk!" Zhao Liangren had been terrified recently. She had nightmares every night and could never rest peacefully, constantly afraid that the Imperial Concubine would suddenly send her guards to drag her away and dispose of her.

With a pale face, Zhao Liangren shot a quick glance at the Imperial Concubine before immediately lowering her head. Only then did she say softly, "Lady Zhao came to see me that day. She said that I was confined because of her, and... and she felt deeply guilty about it. So... so she told me to endure it for a little longer. She said that once she gained power, she would be sure to compensate me."

Song Yunzhao thought, ’What a pie-in-the-sky promise.’

’If it were only those few words, Zhao Liangren wouldn’t have scared herself this badly,’ Song Yunzhao thought. "And?"

"And... and... Lady Zhao said that the Dragon Boat Festival is not far off. She said she would find a way to persuade the three concubines to hold a dragon boat race in Jincui Garden. When that time comes, the Empress Dowager and all the harem’s concubines will go to Jincui Garden, and His Majesty... His Majesty will surely go to watch. On that day, she wants me to lend her a hand..." As she finished, Zhao Liangren’s voice suddenly grew shrill. "Imperial Consort, it’s not that I’m refusing to tell you—Lady Zhao hasn’t yet said how I’m supposed to help her! I am hiding nothing else from you!"

Now that the secret she’d been hiding deep inside was out in the open, Zhao Liangren felt a wave of relief wash over her. The heavy stone that had been weighing on her heart was gone, and some color returned to her cheeks.

Song Yunzhao was honestly quite surprised after hearing what Zhao Liangren had to say.

’Zhao Ling’e is certainly confident. Is she that certain she can persuade the three concubines?’

’But in the end, wouldn’t the three concubines have to consult with me?’

’In other words, Zhao Ling’e is confident she can use the three concubines to persuade me?’

Hah.

’Even Qin Xiyue isn’t that confident. This Zhao Ling’e really has a high opinion of herself.’

Song Yunzhao looked at Zhao Liangren’s state. ’One really shouldn’t do things that weigh on the conscience,’ she mused. ’Otherwise, you end up like Zhao Liangren, scaring yourself half to death.’

’To have so little nerve, yet still dare to get involved in something wicked.’

"I understand the matter now. Since you’ve been so forthright, I will not make things difficult for you. Consider this your chance to atone for your mistake. Focus on getting better. A minor illness like this should clear up in a few days."

Zhao Liangren was in a daze. She even forgot to bow as the Imperial Concubine left. ’Is it... over? Just like that?’

’The Imperial Concubine isn’t taking her anger out on me?’

Zhao Liangren collapsed onto the bed, covered her face with her handkerchief, and began to cry. She had finally survived the ordeal.

’How could I have been so blind back then? What possessed me to follow Lady Zhao?’

After leaving Qingyan Palace, Yun Zhao strolled along the palace path. Before long, she saw Lu Zhixue and Noble Lady Qin picking flowers in a garden. The two of them approached to pay their respects as soon as they saw her.

Yun Zhao smiled at Lu Zhixue. "It seems our Lu Fenyi is in high spirits today. Are you taking those back to arrange?"

Lu Zhixue pouted. "I don’t have the patience for that. It’s Noble Lady Qin who’s skilled at flower arranging. I just thought it looked fun and decided to tag along."

Song Yunzhao turned to Noble Lady Qin, who blushed faintly and said softly, "My mother was fond of it, and I just picked up the basics from her."

"That’s wonderful. It’s a way to pass the time and enjoy the flowers. Plus, they look beautiful when you put them in your room." Song Yunzhao then sat down to join them.

This was Noble Lady Qin’s first time arranging flowers with the Imperial Concubine, and she was understandably nervous.

Yun Zhao smiled and asked her, "Do you need any other flowers? I can go cut some for you."

Lu Zhixue said, "I know where to find them. I’ll take you."

Noble Lady Qin smiled, her lips pressed together, and watched the two of them go to a nearby thicket to cut more flowers. She carefully sorted the stems, trimming them first, then had a Palace Attendant fetch some vases and set them out.

Lu Zhixue accompanied Yun Zhao to the flower patch. As they were cutting flowers, she asked in a low voice, "Imperial Consort, how is Zhao Liangren?"

Song Yunzhao looked at Lu Zhixue with a smile. "Oh? So concerned about her? Since when did you two become so close?"

Lu Zhixue’s expression soured. "I just pity her for being such a fool. Honestly, what was she thinking? She had a perfectly good life. Why get mixed up in this kind of business?"

Song Yunzhao’s smile grew wider. "You have a point there."

Lu Zhixue: ...

’I feel like Song Yunzhao is laughing at me.’

’After all, I was just as brainless back then.’

’The stupid things you do really can’t be erased, no matter how much time passes.’

How depressing.

Once her laughter subsided, Yun Zhao explained, "She’s just sick with worry. She was terrified of being implicated when Zhao Ling’e was punished."

"That serves her right. Can’t she see that Lady Zhao is bad news? She’s barely been in the palace, yet her reputation is already rivaling The Bodhisattva Guanyin. The more someone like that smiles, the more viciously they’ll tear you apart. Instead of staying away, she actually dared to get involved. It’s only because you’re so kind-hearted, Imperial Consort. Otherwise, she’d have been skinned alive by now."

Lu Zhixue suddenly sighed as she spoke. "I just don’t get it. Why bother?"

Song Yunzhao scoffed. ’Why wouldn’t they bother to fight for it?’

’If they win the Emperor’s favor, the Zhao Family can soar to the heavens. The Zhao Family has a much stronger foundation than the Song Family. If they also gain His Majesty’s trust, they can move from Linfeng and establish a firm foothold in the Capital City.’

At this thought, Song Yunzhao’s eyes flickered. She suddenly recalled something. ’The Zhao Family sent Zhao Ling’e to the palace for the selection. Logically, after entering the palace, Zhao Ling’e should have laid low for a while to get the lay of the land before making any moves.’

’But she started stirring up trouble the moment she arrived. That’s highly unusual.’

’Such urgency... there must be a reason.’

’Could it be that the Zhao Family has run into some kind of trouble?’

’I was just thinking about the Zhao Family relocating to the Capital City. Could this be related?’

Song Yunzhao’s heart skipped a beat. She felt she had just grasped something important, but then it slipped through her fingers. The feeling was agonizing.

Lu Zhixue saw Yun Zhao staring into space and, assuming she was still angry, tried to console her. "Zhao Ling’e brought this on herself. Now the Zhao Family will have to keep their heads down back in Linfeng. I heard Mr. Zhao even submitted a formal apology to the throne. They’re so good at putting on a show. But what do you expect from a distinguished family of scholars? They just know how these things are done. We can’t compare."

’I’m far too straightforward. If I really went up against Zhao Ling’e, she’d devour me without leaving a single bone behind.’

’Thank goodness I sided with Song Yunzhao.’

Song Yunzhao suddenly grabbed Lu Zhixue’s arm. "What did you just say? They have to keep their heads down in Linfeng?"

"Yes. Is that wrong?" Lu Zhixue asked, looking at Yun Zhao.

’Of course it’s wrong,’ Song Yunzhao thought. ’So that’s it!’