Chapter 748 - 525: Beating a Drowning Dog

Chapter 748: Chapter 525: Beating a Drowning Dog

Feng Yi approached on light feet, but just as he drew near, Yun Zhao suddenly turned her head to look at him.

Their eyes met. Song Yunzhao blinked, then rose to stand before him. "You’re back early. I thought I’d have to wait a while longer."

"I just finished with my work. Did something happen here?" Feng Yi asked, taking Yun Zhao’s hand and leading her into the hall.

"Something did come up," Song Yunzhao said with a smile. "I just thought of it, but I don’t know if my guess is correct. I wanted to tell you and have you help me decide what to do."

’This is strange,’ Feng Yi thought. ’Yun Zhao is always so decisive; it’s rare for her to be so uncertain.’ He said, "Tell me about it."

Song Yunzhao gathered her thoughts and carefully explained her suspicions to Feng Yi. She concluded, "Because this matter involves last year’s implementation of the new policy, and also the Zhao Family’s malicious act of trying to drag the Song Family down with them, it touches on a personal grudge. I’m worried my perspective is too subjective, so I wanted to ask you to help me look at it."

At first, Feng Yi treated it as a joke. After all, just two days ago, Zhao Ling’e had tried to undermine Yun Zhao. It was possible Yun Zhao’s resentment was making her biased.

But as he listened, his expression grew increasingly serious. ’That’s right,’ he thought. ’There’s one thing I never considered: Zhao Ling’e moved very quickly after entering the palace. At the time, I thought she was just impatient for success. But looking back now, I feel Yun Zhao’s suspicions might be correct.’

It wasn’t that Zhao Ling’e was in a hurry, but that Mrs. Zhao was very much in a hurry.

Feng Yi’s expression darkened. He looked at Yun Zhao and said, "Last year, Ding Xian submitted a memorial pleading for his punishment. One point he mentioned was that the sea bandits were remarkably well-informed, which caused his naval campaigns against them to fail several times. The new policy was implemented last year, and it just so happened that during the sea bandit affair, the Zhao Family got leverage over Ding Xian. Later, Song Buran and Ji Yunting joined forces to resolve the situation in Huizhou..."

Hearing this, Song Yunzhao exchanged a look with Feng Yi. She said softly, "My cousin must have mentioned Linfeng, right?"

Feng Yi shook his head. "Linfeng is some distance from Huizhou. Perhaps for that very reason, some things were overlooked."

Song Yunzhao frowned slightly. ’For Zhao Ling’e’s daughter to become the Crown Princess Consort, it must mean that the Zhao Family is, to some extent, clean.’

’But "clean" doesn’t mean completely spotless.’

Song Yunzhao said softly, "It seems we still need to send someone to investigate Linfeng."

Feng Yi patted Yun Zhao’s hand. "Don’t worry. I’ll have someone see to it."

"The Zhao Family has eyes and ears everywhere. You must be careful."

"Of course." Feng Yi’s expression grew grim. ’If the Zhao Family is truly involved in this, then it’s no surprise they were in such a rush to push Zhao Ling’e forward.’

Feng Yi stayed for lunch with Yun Zhao and their son before hurrying back to Taixi Hall.

Yun Zhao napped with her son. Feng Yun had excellent sleeping habits. His older brother, at that age, would never sleep on schedule. He wouldn’t even think of sleeping until he had burned off all his energy.

Feng Yun, however, was perfectly quiet. After his meal and a little time to digest, he would obediently take his afternoon nap.

Yun Zhao gazed at his little face, and her heart melted.

Feng Ze’s lessons seemed to be increasing lately. She didn’t know what Feng Yi was thinking; Feng Ze used to come back for a meal every day, but now he was often nowhere to be seen.

She rarely interfered with Feng Yi’s methods for educating the children, especially not the "hell mode" training reserved for the Crown Prince. Feng Ze’s tutors were all renowned Confucian scholars, and since she didn’t understand the Crown Prince’s curriculum, she stayed out of it as much as possible.

Lost in thought, Yun Zhao eventually drifted off to sleep. A spring breeze rustled the window lattice. Lying on their sides, the mother and son’s faces looked nearly identical.

Nanny Yu stood guard outside the hall, instructing the palace attendants to move quietly.

Xiangxue and Shizhu were rushed off their feet. Zhang Maoquan was nowhere to be found, leaving Shunzi behind to await orders.

「Meanwhile, in Huayang Palace.」

An Shutong swallowed the last of her medicine. It was so bitter her brow remained furrowed for a long moment before finally relaxing.

"My Lady, the Imperial Physician said you won’t have to take any more medicine after this dose," Mu Qing said with a smile.

An Shutong had been taking medicine intermittently ever since her last illness. Perhaps because she was consumed by worry, her condition had repeatedly flared up and subsided.

After Zhao Ling’e’s demotion, it was as if a great weight had been lifted from her mind. She felt refreshed and revitalized, and her illness began to slowly fade.

An Shutong was in an excellent mood. No one wants to be tethered to a medicine bowl, and she felt as if she had been pickled by the taste of it all.

"Any news from over there?" An Shutong asked, lifting her chin slightly and gesturing toward the West Hall.

Mu Qing shook her head. "They’re much more subdued now. Lady Zhao’s attendant, Suhua, used to be so arrogant, but now she acts like she wishes she could tuck her tail between her legs."

"Has she stopped going to Shouci Palace?" An Shutong asked.

"She went once yesterday. I don’t know what Suhua brought over, but when she returned, I saw her carrying a brocade box. It must have been a gift from the Empress Dowager." As she spoke, Mu Qing watched her lady with trepidation, afraid the news would upset her again.

An Shutong’s expression was placid. ’Demoted three ranks... Of course Zhao Ling’e has to cling desperately to the Empress Dowager. Otherwise, she’ll likely never have a chance to recover her standing.’

"And what of Yaohua Palace?" An Shutong asked softly.

Mu Qing instinctively lowered her voice. "After that day, the Imperial Consort has been acting as usual. But I heard that when Zhao Liangren fell gravely ill, the Imperial Consort paid her a visit. After the visit, Zhao Liangren’s condition improved significantly."

An Shutong listened, her gaze growing deep. ’Zhao Liangren must have been terrified of being implicated by Zhao Ling’e. That’s why she couldn’t eat or sleep, and her health deteriorated.’

’The Imperial Concubine is so clever. A spiritual ailment requires a spiritual cure. She resolved the sickness in Zhao Liangren’s heart.’

’She shattered the alliance between Zhao Liangren and Zhao Ling’e without making a single overt move. The Imperial Concubine... she seems quiet, but when she acts, she shows her true strength.’

An Shutong’s expression turned listless again. ’My life right now is even worse than Zhao Liangren’s.’

’At least the Imperial Concubine personally pulled Zhao Liangren from Zhao Ling’e’s ship. When will I be able to get off the Empress Dowager’s ship?’

An Shutong’s gaze drifted toward Yingxue Hall. ’I’m afraid this will still have to fall to Zhao Ling’e.’

She lowered her gaze, only looking up at Mu Qing after a long moment. "Now that Lady Zhao’s rank has been lowered, her food, clothing, and expenses must all follow a concubine’s allowance. Keep an eye on this and make sure there are no mistakes."

An Shutong didn’t want to wait any longer. She decided to go on the offensive.

She was well-practiced in kicking someone when they were down. She had done the same thing in Qin Xiyue’s case.

’I just wonder how Zhao Ling’e will compare to Qin Xiyue.’

’I’ll start by testing the waters a bit.’

Within a few days of An Shutong making her move, news reached Consort Shu.

She and Princess Consort Zhuang currently managed the daily affairs of the harem. Princess Consort Zhuang had been busy with the concubines’ summer wardrobes for the past few days and naturally had no time for other matters, so Consort Shu was the first to hear the news.

When she saw it, she was delighted.