Chapter 20: Lee’s Demotion

Chapter 20

Song Zhao was adept at calculating the opportune moment.

Her performance last night had greatly pleased Xiao Jingheng. Additionally, being the first concubine to reject sharing the bed with him, Xiao Jingheng couldn't help but be curious and decided to visit Yaohua Palace.

Song Zhao had long been aware of the time it took to travel from Chaoyang Palace to Yaohua Palace, having spent a month within the palace. That's why she had Yun Shan delay informing Yao Consort for an additional quarter of an hour.

She anticipated that Yao Consort would be afraid of taking responsibility and come to check on her, as well as knowing that Noble Consort Li would follow and criticize her. She even predicted that Xiao Jingheng would arrive just in time to witness Noble Consort Li's tantrum.

Every detail was interconnected, without the slightest deviation.

Yao Consort and Noble Consort Li hurriedly bowed towards the main gate, while Song Zhao, propping up her frail body, rose from the bed and spoke with them:

"I respectfully greet the Emperor and wish him good health."

After Xiao Jingheng entered, he noticed Song Zhao coughing and his gaze fell entirely on her.

At this moment, Song Zhao was dressed in a plain sleeping gown, her knees slightly bent, exuding a delicate and weak demeanor.

With her naturally fair complexion and the flush brought on by her high fever, her cheeks had a rosy tint, giving her a slightly intoxicated appearance.

Sensing Xiao Jingheng's gaze upon her, Song Zhao's body swayed slightly, fully embodying fragility. Her slender and feeble figure resembled a drifting waterweed, evoking even more pity.

Xiao Jingheng hastened his steps towards her and held her hand.

"Why is your hand so hot?"

As he spoke, he attempted to touch her forehead, but Song Zhao covered her mouth and nose, taking a step back to evade him.

"Your Majesty... this concubine is unfit to be in your presence while ill. It would be even more sinful to pass on my illness to Your Majesty. Please take care of your dragon body and refrain from..."

"Stop talking." Xiao Jingheng held onto Song Zhao's hand and didn't let go. On the contrary, he exerted a hidden force, pulling the delicate and willowy young girl into his embrace.

He used the back of his hand to feel Song Zhao's forehead and discovered that her fever was severe, causing him to feel even more distressed and self-reproachful.

Supporting Song Zhao to sit on the couch, he then called out towards the entrance:

But today, he broke his promise.

In that case, hadn't Noble Consort Li slapped him in the face?

Xiao Jingheng glanced at Noble Consort Li with a cold tone, "Is your illness not yet healed?"

Noble Consort Li thought that Xiao Jingheng liked women who acted pitiful and weak like Song Zhao, so she continued to pretend, "Your Majesty, cough... since I was young, I have always been weak. This cold has persisted for seven or eight days and hasn't improved... cough..."

"Oh? But when you were talking to Song Zhao just now, you seemed quite confident," Xiao Jingheng said with anger. "Living under the same roof as Song Zhao, you have already started to bring trouble upon her. As a woman, you display such fierce jealousy. I wonder how your father taught you in the past."

Noble Consort Li hurriedly defended herself, "Your Majesty, please understand! The matter of Song Zhao catching a cold has nothing to do with me. If you don't believe me, you can ask her!"

Song Zhao weakly pursed her lips and nodded, "I'm sick because of my weak constitution. It really has nothing to do with Noble Consort Li... Noble Consort Li has always been... very good to me. Your Majesty, please don't blame Noble Consort Li."

Xiao Jingheng, in his ears, heard Song Zhao's words defending Noble Consort Li as nothing more than her kind-heartedness.

He raised his hand and interrupted Song Zhao, "I only believe what I see and hear."

Noble Consort Li was completely panicked and fell to her knees with a loud thud, kowtowing repeatedly like crushing garlic.

"Your Majesty, please understand! Your Majesty, please understand! I really didn't do it, really didn't!"

"Just now, you claimed that your illness hadn't fully recovered. How come you can now respond so smoothly, without even a single cough?" Xiao Jingheng suddenly straightened his back, his dignified posture highlighting his imperial authority. "Did your father never teach you the consequences of deceiving and betraying the emperor?"

With this, Noble Consort Li had no room left to argue.

After all, she had just lied in front of Xiao Jingheng.

She had been sheltered and pampered since childhood, never having witnessed the might of the emperor. Now, she was so frightened that her soul seemed to have left her body, her head thudding against the ground, repeatedly apologizing, acknowledging her mistake.

Seeing her forehead bloodied, Xiao Jingheng, devoid of any tender feelings, remarked:

"In consideration of the fact that your father was a meritorious official, today's punishment serves as a warning to you, so that you may learn your lesson.

Issue the decree immediately, demoting Noble Consort Li to the rank of a common attendant and reducing her stipend for six months. If you fail to restrain yourself in the future, I will have no choice but to send you out of the palace and let your father personally educate you."