Chapter 19: Calculating Lee

Chapter 19

Zhang Jiugui that monkey spirit, after dropping these words, limped and ran away.

When Noble Consort Li's ornamented palanquin arrived just now, she eagerly stood at the door to watch.

When Yun Shan and Zhang Jiugui were talking at the palace gate, their voices were extremely low, like whispering. Others could not hear what they said. T/his chapter is updated by nov(ê(l)biin.co/m

Noble Consort Li only saw Zhang Jiugui leave. She was still thinking that he had heard Song Zhao was ill, so he hurried back to report to Xiao Jingheng and took down Song Zhao's green plaque in passing.

After all, when she caught a cold, had not the Steward's Office taken down her green plaque?

This was good. She stood in front of Yun Shan, blocking her way, and said with a flattering laugh:

"What? Your young master is ill, and you still want to serve by her side? To have sweet dreams?"

Yun Shan did not plan to pay attention to Noble Consort Li. She hurriedly bowed and wanted to leave.

But Noble Consort Li suddenly lost her temper and slapped Yun Shan.

Yun Shan covered her red cheeks and looked at Noble Consort Li. Noble Consort Li looked at people arrogantly down her nose.

"Maids following a daughter of a concubine do not understand etiquette! I am a Noble Consort, and Song Zhao is just an Imperial Concubine. When I speak to her, she must listen to me respectfully. Who do you think you are?"

Yun Shan felt wronged in her heart, but what could she do?

The status in the harem was like the official titles in the previous dynasty. The higher rank could oppress people.

No matter how wronged she felt, she had to endure it, otherwise it would implicate Song Zhao.

"Noble Consort Li, please restrain your anger. This slave knows her mistake. This slave does not mean to slight Noble Consort Li. I was just anxious because my young miss is ill and wanted to hurry back to attend to her."

"Humph! It's just a cold, it won't kill anyone. Hasn't she pretended to be weak and pitiful to gain sympathy in front of the Empress all day today?"

Noble Consort Li said, pushing Yun Shan, "Go back and tell your young miss that I hate pretenders the most! Tell her to restrain herself! Get lost!"

Yun Shan endured her tears and nodded obediently before leaving.

When she returned to the door of the West Side Palace, she quickly wiped away the tears from the corners of her eyes, took a deep breath to adjust her emotions until her expression appeared normal, then she pushed open the door and went in.

She replied to Song Zhao, "Young miss, I have told Old Zhang as you instructed. You guessed right. The shadow swaying in front of the palace gate last night was indeed him."

Song Zhao lay on the couch, very weakly nodding her head.

Yun Shan touched her forehead. She was clearly burning up more severely than in the afternoon. Yun Shan anxiously said, "Young miss, why don't we ask the Imperial Physician? Letting the fever go on like this is not a solution."

She took a silk handkerchief to wipe her mouth, got up and said, "This Consort will go take a look at her."

Since Consort Yao wanted to see Song Zhao, Noble Consort Li naturally could not miss this opportunity to see Song Zhao make a fool of herself. She eagerly followed along.

The two of them entered the West Side Palace. Consort Yao sat by Song Zhao's couch, held her hand and asked with concern,

"Poor child. Such a spirited young lady burning up like this? Why didn't you let this Consort know so I could have sent someone to summon the Imperial Physician to take a look?"

"Cough cough..." Song Zhao weakly propped herself up and respectfully said, "Thank you for Consort Mother's care. This concubine's condition is not serious. Sleeping will make me better."

Noble Consort Li had also caught a cold these past two days. From start to finish, Consort Yao did not ask about her at all. Thinking about this, she felt even more certain that Song Zhao was deliberately pretending to be pitiful to gain sympathy.

Glancing at Yun Shan standing to the side, and seeing a seemingly smiling expression on Yun Shan's face, she became even more convinced of her speculation.

So disregarding Consort Yao's presence, she lost her temper at Song Zhao,

"What are you pretending for? When others are sick, you pretend to be sick too. But when you catch a cold, you act as if you have a terminal illness?"

Yun Shan explained, "Noble Consort, you should not say that. Everyone has a different constitution. My young miss has been frail and sickly since she was home. She..."

"What qualifies a slave to interrupt when the mistress is speaking?"

Noble Consort Li glared at Yun Shan, cutting off her words. Then she continued, "Your mistress is just a daughter of a concubine. She was also unloved at home. If she was frail and sickly, how could she live to over ten years at home? How is it that she could live at home, but once she entered the palace, she can't stand the wind or sun?"

Consort Yao felt Noble Consort Li's words were offensive, so she advised, "As fellows under the same roof, Noble Consort Li, you shouldn't be so harsh with your words."

Hearing that Noble Consort Li showed signs of stopping, Song Zhao deliberately coughed twice, pretending to be even weaker.

"Cough cough... Noble Consort misunderstands me. If I have unknowingly done something to displease you, please tell me so I can correct it."

Song Zhao pretended to be so weak she could barely support herself, as if she might cough up blood at any moment. This made Noble Consort Li even more furious. She scolded:

"Are you done? If you're really so ill you're about to die, go summon the Imperial Physician! You don't call the Imperial Physician because you're afraid he will expose that you're not actually that severe! Who are you pretending to be pitiful for? Don't think you can..."

"The Emperor arrives!"

Noble Consort Li had just cursed halfway when she was cut off by the inner attendant's announcement from outside the door.

Upon hearing this, Song Zhao laughed in her heart:

Of course she was pretending to be pitiful for Xiao Jingheng to see.

And look, the spectator had arrived right on cue.