Chapter 780: Earth-Shattering Gossip

The pasture was located just outside the traveling palace. Yun Zhao had specially asked Feng Yi for permission, so everyone could come ride whenever they wanted.

Guards protected the area, and eunuchs were in attendance, so their safety was naturally guaranteed.

When the news got out, the entire traveling palace was abuzz. This meant that for the remainder of the summer retreat, the women could go riding whenever they pleased.

Yun Zhao then sectioned off a part of the pasture for the accompanying noble women and their daughters to come ride. She also set a date for a race, sending the traveling palace and its surroundings into a frenzy. The racecourse became even more lively, with a constant stream of people coming and going.

Feng Yi had originally planned to inspect the border after the horse race, but Yun Zhao disagreed.

Ever since the horse race was mentioned at the palace banquet, she had been secretly observing Zhao Ling’e’s expression. ‘That woman is definitely scheming for a way to use this to steal the spotlight,’ she thought. ‘Why would I ever give her the chance?’

It takes a woman to know one, after all.

Under the current circumstances, Zhao Ling’e had no opportunities to approach the Emperor. If he were to appear at the racecourse, however, it would be the perfect chance.

How could she possibly pass that up?

Yun Zhao didn’t want Feng Yi to have any contact with Zhao Ling’e. Even though she knew he had no such intentions, the very idea of giving Zhao Ling’e the illusion of a chance was enough to make her unhappy.

Feng Yi had thought Yun Zhao was worried about matters of state. When she finished explaining her real reason, he fell silent.

Yun Zhao tilted her head up to look at him, her expression defiant, as if to say, ‘And what of it?’

Feng Yi didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. He reached out and pinched her cheek. ‘She’s been keeping a much closer eye on me lately,’ he thought. But he was happy about it.

So, Feng Yi decided to depart early. But Yun Zhao wouldn’t let him announce it; she insisted he leave in secret.

Like a common thief.

Feng Yi’s expression was truly a sight to behold. ‘Is there some reason I can’t be seen in public?’ he wondered.

Yun Zhao declared righteously, “I just want to see the look on Zhao Ling’e’s face when she finds out you’re not going to be there.”

Knowing she was planning to tease someone, Feng Yi smiled and agreed. “Alright. As you wish.”

And so, like a common thief, Feng Yi took Feng Ze and left in the middle of the night.

When Yun Zhao found out, she was speechless. ‘He didn’t really need to leave in the dead of night,’ she thought.

With Feng Yi gone, Yun Zhao let loose, taking Feng Yun with her to the racecourse.

With the Emperor away, she was in charge. The Empress Dowager wasn’t even leaving her rooms, claiming to be unwell and in need of rest. Duchess Gu En had visited a few times, but seeing that the Empress Dowager indeed looked unwell, she didn’t pry.

Yun Zhao couldn’t be bothered with the Empress Dowager’s health. As long as the older woman didn’t cause her any trouble, they could coexist in peace.

Feng Yun developed a rare interest in horseback riding, and the three concubines loved to dote on him.

Because of Feng Yun, Princess Consort Wan began going out more. What’s more, Feng Yun quite enjoyed spending time with her, which left Consort Shu and Princess Consort Zhuang feeling a bit put out.

Yun Zhao was delighted. She left her son in Princess Consort Wan’s care while she raced against Consort Shu and Princess Consort Zhuang on the field. With gradual practice, her riding skills improved noticeably.

Although the pasture was divided into sections, Yun Zhao wasn’t a stickler for rules. She hadn’t put up any fences, so when the palace concubines came out to ride, they would often run into their own family members. She never stopped them.

Song Yexi and Xie Linlang often came to see her. This time, Ji Yunting had gone with the Emperor, and Yue Shao had been chosen to go as well. Both women were beaming with joy.

Due to the need for secrecy, they naturally kept this information to themselves.

“It’s a good thing my sister-in-law didn’t come this time,” Song Yexi said with a smile. “Otherwise, my elder brother would still have had to go with the Emperor on his inspection tour, and he wouldn’t have been able to keep her company.”

At that, Yun Zhao turned her head and asked, “Is the Princess’s health any better?”

Princess Duanjing’s constitution had always been frail. After giving birth, it took a long period of recuperation before she felt better. Still, she’s prone to illness with the slightest change in weather if she isn’t careful.

Her mother-in-law dotes on her like a precious jewel and didn’t let her come this time, as the long journey would have been too arduous.

“My sister-in-law wrote to say she’s recovered and we shouldn’t worry,” Song Yexi said, though she sounded a little melancholy. A congenital weakness like that was difficult to cure; all one could do was carefully manage it.

Song Yunzhao had only met Princess Duanjing a few times. She seemed a gentle and serene person, a perfect complement to her eldest cousin. The couple had a good relationship; the only issue was the Princess’s health. While perhaps not so frail that a strong gust of wind could knock her over, she wasn’t far from it.

“She just needs to be looked after carefully,” Yun Zhao said. “In our family, the Princess is living a comfortable and carefree life, so her body will slowly recuperate.” Yun Zhao knew that childbirth had taken a heavy toll on the Princess’s already weak constitution. The strain was severe because she was so frail to begin with, and carrying a child to term had drained her vital energy.

There was no other way to recover from such depletion besides slow, careful recuperation.

Song Yexi nodded. “She’s much better this year. Last year, she couldn’t even take a single step out of her rooms. My brother scrutinized her meal plan every single day. The way he’s been studying medicine on his own, I think he’s practically a doctor by now.”

Yun Zhao smiled. “It’s truly hard to imagine someone with my eldest cousin’s personality doing something like that. But it’s wonderful. A harmonious marriage is the foundation of a happy home.”

Hearing this, Xie Linlang chimed in, “It wasn’t easy for the Princess to conceive back then, and Princess Fuke had even advised her to wait a few years before trying for a child. But the Princess secretly stopped taking her contraceptive. Her husband didn’t know about it, and by the time he found out, she was already pregnant. I heard he was absolutely furious.”

This was the first Yun Zhao was hearing of this. She looked at Song Yexi. “Really?”

Song Yexi sighed. “Neither of them makes things easy. I suppose the Princess must really love my brother. Plus, with everyone saying she was barren, she probably felt she had something to prove.”

Yun Zhao: …

‘That’s the kind of thing that could have cost her her life,’ Yun Zhao thought. ‘I never realized Princess Duanjing had such a fierce side to her.’

“When my brother said there was no rush to have children, she must have misunderstood and thought he believed she was barren,” Song Yexi said, covering her face. It wasn’t really her place to be telling Yun Zhao these things; after all, it was a private matter between her brother and his wife.

“And you know my brother’s personality—he’s not one for words. My sister-in-law, on the other hand, is always perfectly composed on the surface. They were both lost in their own assumptions and had no idea the other had completely misunderstood. That’s how the whole fiasco came about.”

‘What kind of convoluted guessing game is this?’ Song Yunzhao thought.

“Well, at least the outcome was good,” Yun Zhao said. “Good people are rewarded in the end.”

Song Yexi’s expression turned glum. “You should have seen it. After my sister-in-law was found to be pregnant, my brother had all of her attendants flogged. It made her think he was unhappy about the pregnancy, and she was on the verge of asking for a divorce.”

‘What a bombshell!’

“Really?” Yun Zhao’s interest was piqued. “Your cousin’s approach was all wrong. Even if he was going to punish them, he should have done it discreetly. Doing it so openly was just a way to humiliate the Princess, wasn’t it?”

‘Such a clueless man. He deserved to be divorced!’

“Exactly!” Song Yexi griped, then looked at Xie Linlang. “It was Linlang who told me things couldn’t go on like that, that the young couple would likely go their separate ways. That’s why I rushed south overnight to save my brother’s marriage.”

Yun Zhao: …

‘I knew it,’ she thought. ‘Linlang, the story’s omnipotent supporting character, shines wherever you put her.’