Chapter 750 - 527: Tired of Living?

Chapter 750: Chapter 527: Tired of Living?

Song Yunzhao didn’t open the letter. She simply held it between her fingers, staring at it for a good while before coming to a conclusion. ’Zhao Ling’e must be writing home for help.’

She was asking the Zhao Family to come up with a plan. The Zhao Family had no influence in the harem, but they could still make moves in the imperial court.

’In that case, they’ll probably target the Song Family.’

Song Yunzhao tsked. ’What does a villainess like me need a conscience for?’ She raised her voice and called for Zhang Maoquan. "Take this letter to Taixi Hall. Just say I don’t know how to handle it and that I’m asking His Majesty to make a ruling." ℯ

’Making the Emperor take the fall for me. Perfect.’

’I’m still a good person!’

Song Yunzhao felt much better.

Zhang Maoquan glanced at the writing on the envelope and quickly averted his eyes. ’Interesting,’ he thought.

’Lady Zhao offended the Imperial Consort, but Her Ladyship is still too kind. If it were anyone else, not a single letter would be growing wings to fly out of this palace.’

When Zhang Maoquan arrived at Taixi Hall, Meng Jiuchang was out delivering an imperial edict. Xu Sixi, who was so busy he was running off his feet, saw him and came trotting over. "My, what wind blew you here, Brother Zhang? If you needed something, you could have just sent word. Why trouble yourself to make a personal trip?"

Xu Sixi used to want to lock horns with Zhang Maoquan. He had nearly celebrated with gongs and drums when the Emperor sent Zhang Maoquan to serve the Imperial Concubine.

’Zhang Maoquan had been kicked out of Taixi Hall. Weren’t my own glory days about to begin?’

’But who could have known? Their Emperor treated the Imperial Concubine like the apple of his eye. If she wanted the stars, he wouldn’t just give her the moon instead. Even when the Imperial Concubine wanted nothing, the Emperor would still go pluck the stars and deliver them himself, even asking if she had a favorite color.’

’With the Emperor treating the Imperial Concubine this way, everyone from Yaohua Palace walked with their backs straight. How could he possibly hold his head high in front of Zhang Maoquan?’

’He worked like a dog in Taixi Hall, thinking he could finally turn his fortunes around, but who knew that in the end, he’d still be a step below Zhang Maoquan.’

He was kicking himself now, regretting it with every fiber of his being.

’If he had known the Imperial Concubine was this capable, he would have kicked Zhang Maoquan aside and rushed to curry favor with her himself back then.’

’Hindsight is 20/20.’

Zhang Maoquan was no longer as confrontational with Xu Sixi as he used to be. ’That bastard is pettier than the eye of a needle,’ he thought. ’But if I want to get news from Taixi Hall, I can’t go around him.’

He had to swallow his pride and get on good terms with him. As the saying goes, a distant magistrate is no match for the official on-site. For his master’s sake, he would lower his head.

With both of them taking a step back, their relationship achieved a rare state of harmony.

At least they were warm and friendly when they met, not at all like two people who’d held a grudge for over a decade.

"Her Ladyship asked me to deliver something to His Majesty. Is His Majesty available right now?" Zhang Maoquan didn’t say what it was, keeping his hand hidden in his sleeve, revealing nothing.

How could Xu Sixi not be aware of Zhang Maoquan’s little games? But he was shrewd enough to neither look nor ask, simply saying in a low voice, "You’ll have to wait. His Majesty is with someone at the moment."

"Who is it?" Zhang Maoquan asked casually, not actually expecting an answer.

"Duke Qin."

Zhang Maoquan blinked. ’Duke Qin?’

’Her Ladyship sent word to the Duchess of Qin, but the Duchess hasn’t even come to the palace yet. And now the Emperor is meeting with Duke Qin first?’

"Is something going on?" Zhang Maoquan couldn’t resist probing further.

Xu Sixi shook his head. "That, I don’t know. But Duke Qin seemed to be in good spirits when he went in for his audience."

’Good spirits. That means he didn’t offend His Majesty. He wasn’t here to be reprimanded.’

Zhang Maoquan smiled, his eyes narrowing slightly. "I’ll buy you a drink next time you’re free."

"I’m not sure I’ll be free anytime soon. We’ll see. Things are busy here with the Emperor, and Manager Meng is gone all day long, so I have to be on standby from dawn till dusk." Xu Sixi’s legs had gotten thinner from all the running around. Looking at Zhang Maoquan’s increasingly round face, he felt another pang of jealousy.

As the two were talking, they soon heard sounds from within. The doors to the hall opened, and Duke Qin strode out.

Seizing the opportunity, Zhang Maoquan immediately shoved past Xu Sixi and darted over the threshold into the main hall in a flash.

Xu Sixi was left speechless.

’He was fighting the urge to call him a son of a bitch!’

’The man had no integrity.’

’One minute he’s offering to buy me a drink, the next he’s shoving past me to get through the door.’

’That bastard. He really didn’t have any respect for me at all.’

Zhang Maoquan paid no mind to what Xu Sixi was thinking. After entering the hall and bowing, he presented the letter and said, "Her Ladyship said to ask for Your Majesty’s ruling. She was truly at a loss as to how this letter should be handled."

Feng Yi glanced at Zhang Maoquan, then looked down at the letter in his hand. He tsked. This was a bit of a headache.

’Zhaozhao must not want Zhao Ling’e’s letter to leave the palace, but she also doesn’t want to be the one to stop it. At the same time, she’s probably afraid of delaying her own plans, so she sent it here to me.’

Feng Yi smiled. He looked at Zhang Maoquan and said, "Go back and tell the Imperial Concubine that I will have someone deliver this letter to the Zhao Mansion."

After Zhao Ling’e had entered the palace, a branch of the Zhao Family’s main lineage had broken off and settled in the Capital City.

This point alone showed that Yun Zhao’s earlier speculation had been quite sound.

Zhang Maoquan bowed in assent. "If Your Majesty has no other commands, this servant will take his leave."

"Wait. Tell the Imperial Concubine I will join her for dinner."

"Yes."

After Zhang Maoquan left, Feng Yi still didn’t open the letter. He simply called for Xu Sixi. "Have someone deliver this letter to the Zhao Mansion."

Xu Sixi blinked in surprise. "Your Majesty, which Zhao Mansion?"

’There are plenty of families named Zhao in the Capital City. What if it gets sent to the wrong one?’

Feng Yi looked at Xu Sixi. ’When it comes to shrewdness, he’s really no match for Meng Jiuchang or Zhang Maoquan. He’s a bit dim-witted, but at least he’s loyal.’ He then said, "The Zhao Mansion from Linfeng. Understood?"

Xu Sixi was speechless.

"This servant understands."

’That bastard Zhang Maoquan! If he had just given me a little hint outside the hall, would I have made such a mistake?’

’The next time he offers to buy me a drink, I’m definitely picking the most expensive bottle!’

When Yun Zhao received word that the letter had been sent to the Zhao Family, she knew Feng Yi must have a plan, so she put the matter aside.

It was only when she heard Zhang Maoquan mention that Feng Yi had met with Duke Qin that she remembered. ’Why hasn’t He Lan Yun sent word?’

’I sent a message asking her to come for a visit. She hasn’t run into some kind of trouble, has she?’

"Zhang Maoquan, make a trip to the Duke Qin Mansion," Song Yunzhao said, feeling a little uneasy.

Zhang Maoquan had anticipated this trip. ’Her Ladyship was busy before and hadn’t thought about the Duchess of Qin,’ he mused. ’Now that I’ve mentioned Duke Qin, of course she would remember.’

He took his waist-token, left the palace, and headed straight for the Duke Qin Mansion.

No sooner had Zhang Maoquan departed than Feng Yunjin arrived.

"Your Ladyship, have you heard? Something’s happened to the Heir of Marquis Guangxiang."

’Chu Donghui?’

Song Yunzhao had not heard. "What happened?"

Feng Yunjin lowered her voice. "Mr. Chu was ordered to travel south to Huizhou. On his way back to the Capital City, he was attacked by bandits. He was gravely injured, and it is unknown whether he will live or die."

’Huh?’

Song Yunzhao was baffled. "Bandits? Mr. Chu would surely have an official escort on his return to the Capital. Would common bandits dare to attack an official convoy?"

’They must have a death wish.’

’These aren’t lawless times.’

"The news came from the Treasure Pearl Building. They say Ling Yunhe was also there."

’Ling Yunhe?’

’What does this have to do with Ling Yunhe?’

’No, that’s not right. How did Ling Yunhe get mixed up with Chu Donghui? The two of them don’t even run in the same circles, do they?’