Chapter 85: Yuntai Distress 02

Chapter 85

The Cloud Terrace mentioned by the Empress was built by the Former Emperor for the devout belief in Buddhism of the Dowager Empress.

The Cloud Terrace consists of a total of 999 steps, making it the tallest structure in the palace.

According to the Former Emperor, this is called 'Reaching the Sky,' emphasizing that the closer one is to the heavens during the worship of Buddha, the more devout they become.

On top of the Cloud Terrace, there is a temple dedicated to the Bodhisattva with Ten Halls. It is a sacred place in the palace where incense is offered throughout the year and prayers for blessings are made.

However, due to the immense height of the Cloud Terrace and the lack of shortcuts to reach the top, even the Emperor himself would have to climb step by step if he wished to worship Buddha on the Cloud Terrace.

Over time, the lord of the palace grew lazy and stopped coming to this place to pray for blessings.

But the Empress was different.

Every fifteenth day of the month, she would personally ascend to the top, offering the peace talisman she had written herself to the Temple of the Bodhisattva with Ten Halls. It would be enveloped in the fragrance of incense throughout the night, and then she would personally retrieve it and entrust it to Xiao Jingheng to ensure the safety and auspiciousness of the emperor.

Xiao Jingheng found this task burdensome and repeatedly advised the Empress not to go through the trouble anymore.

However, the Empress continued to do so every month, stating that it was her way of expressing her affection for Xiao Jingheng and hoping for his well-being.

As a result, it became widely known throughout the palace that the Empress would ascend the Cloud Terrace on the fifteenth and sixteenth of each month.

But today was different.

The Empress was feeling unwell, and it had snowed the entire day yesterday. Although the palace attendants had cleared the snow, the Cloud Terrace was still covered in remnants of frozen snow, making it slippery and difficult to traverse.

A young palace maid stepped forward and said, "Your Majesty, shall I go and retrieve it for you?"

However, before she could finish speaking, Shuang Ruo reprimanded her, "The peace talisman was placed by the master. How can we, as servants, go and retrieve it? We must not tarnish the Empress's intentions."

Song Zhao, who had been standing by, listened to the implications in Shuang Ruo's words.

The Empress would definitely be unable to go in her weak state. If she were to go today and accidentally slip on the Cloud Terrace, Xiao Jingheng would surely hold someone accountable. Song Zhao couldn't just stand by and ignore the situation; otherwise, she would be at fault.

Shuang Ruo added that both palace maids and eunuchs were servants and should not be the ones to retrieve it.

Therefore, the most suitable person to retrieve the peace talisman on behalf of the Empress was Song Zhao alone.

She found herself caught in a dilemma. Going was not an option, but not going was also not an option.

After a moment of silence, she saw that the Empress was still determined to go, so she stepped in front of her and tentatively said, "Why don't I go and retrieve it for you?"

The Empress, of course, would not agree and replied, "The steps of the Cloud Terrace are steep, and it becomes even more slippery after the snow. How can I let you go? I will go by myself."

Hearing her words, Song Zhao realized that she couldn't go, but the Empress, the mistress of the harem, could take the risk?

With those words spoken, even if Song Zhao didn't want to go, she had no choice now.

"Respectfully to Consort Chen, the Empress has sent me to retrieve the protective talisman enshrined in the Temple of the Bodhisattva with Ten Halls."

"Hmph," Consort Chen sneered, her tone cold and menacing.

"You attach yourself to this palace, yet you still eagerly try to please the Empress? You really know how to play both sides!"

Song Zhao hurriedly said, "I didn't intend to please the Empress. It's just..."

She recounted in detail what had happened in the Phoenix Palace earlier to Consort Chen.

After finishing, she sighed helplessly and said, "I happened to get caught up in this matter. This Cloud Terrace is so high, and it snowed yesterday. Honestly, I'm very afraid too."

Consort Chen didn't pay any attention to Song Zhao's explanation at all.

She gently stroked her temple and rolled her eyes at Song Zhao, speaking in a sarcastic tone:

"Pay close attention to the path beneath your feet and you won't make any missteps. There's nothing to fear then. I noticed that your hands have developed frostbite from the cold chains that protect you on each side of the Cloud Terrace. It's as cold as ice in winter, so it's best not to touch them and risk freezing your delicate hands. It wouldn't be easy to serve as the Empress in the future!"

With a disgruntled hum, Consort Chen finished speaking and sullenly dropped the curtain of the palanquin, instructing the palace attendants to carry her away.

Although Consort Chen had always been this way, Song Zhao couldn't help but feel that there was something peculiar about her today.

Perhaps it was because Consort Chen mentioned it that Song Zhao climbed the steps without touching the iron chains that guarded the Cloud Terrace.

Although she didn't touch them, her gaze remained fixed on them.

When they reached the halfway point up the mountain, Song Zhao gradually slowed her pace. Yun Shan turned to look at her and asked, "What's the matter, Young Lady?"

Song Zhao stopped silently, leaned her body against Yun Shan, and casually grabbed one of the chains. With a little force, she pulled it downward.

With this simple tug, the connection of the chain instantly gave way, making a clanging sound as it fell.

The sound startled Yun Shan, who trembled and exclaimed, "Young Lady, be careful!"

She firmly supported Song Zhao and watched the loosened chain fall to the ground, her heart still pounding with fear. She said, "Fortunately, you didn't hold onto the chain, or else the force would have been applied to it. If the chain suddenly broke, you would have definitely fallen!"

Being at a high altitude, the biting cold wind continuously blew into Song Zhao's collar.

However, she was sweating profusely from the fright.

"There's a lucky cloud pattern on this chain. Only the mistress can touch it; palace attendants are not allowed. The maid we saw down below is someone who serves in the temple. She climbs the Cloud Terrace every day and has been trained to not feel tired. But the mistress in the palace doesn't do physical labor like the attendants. If someone gets tired climbing and grabs onto this chain, they might end up flying out and being smashed to pieces..."

Yun Shan was shocked upon hearing this and exclaimed anxiously, "The Empress wants to harm you!"

Song Zhao remained silent, looking at the steep steps behind her. Warm breath escaped her mouth, forming a mist in the air.

"It's Consort Chen who wants to save me."