Chapter 122: Breguet 03

Chapter 122

At the same time, in Yonghe Palace.

Consort Ning sat upright at the head seat, looking down condescendingly at Song Zhao who was kneeling below and paying her respects.

Only after letting her keep her obeisance for a good while did Consort Ning say:

“Everyone has gone to the Empress Dowager’s Palace to pray blessings for the empress’s belly. Why have you not gone?”

Song Zhao solemnly said: “This concubine shares the same heart and virtues with Her Majesty. Whoever does not get along with Her Majesty is not getting along with this concubine.”

Consort Ning sneered coldly: “You don’t get along with her? Hmph, I saw that you’ve been going to her palace very diligently these past few days!”

Song Zhao quickly said: “If this concubine does not go, how can I probe the circumstances of the empress’s pregnancy this time!”

She lowered her voice, her tone mocking: “Esteemed Consort need not worry, the empress has a very difficult pregnancy this time, there will definitely be a time when she suffers!”

Consort Ning knew that Song Zhao had come to declare her loyalty.

She also did not know whether to say this woman was clever or stupid.

The Ning family had great power in the previous dynasty, so Consort Ning did have the capital to be willful and overbearing in front of Xiao Jingheng.

But Song Zhao was merely a lowly concubine without a prominent maternal background. She had only gained a little favor from Xiao Jingheng, yet she dared to publicly oppose the empress?

Originally, after learning of Xi Ying’s death, Consort Ning had suspected Song Zhao.

But after this matter, she was even more certain that Song Zhao was a complete fool. Her doubts towards her were also dismissed.

As such, Consort Ning did not make things difficult for her anymore. “You may rise and sit.”

After Song Zhao gave thanks and sat down, Consort Ning asked again: “Ever since I left the hot springs villa, that cheap woman Consort Shu must have been very smug right?”

Song Zhao awkwardly nodded: “She kept insisting it was Esteemed Consort who wanted to harm her. In front of His Majesty she wept tears of grievance, looking utterly pitiable. His Majesty felt distressed and accompanied her closely for several days. In fact, Esteemed Consort and this concubine both know that this whole matter was clearly Consort Shu deliberately causing trouble to frame Esteemed Consort! Only this concubine regrets being incompetent, also unable to think of a way to make His Majesty see the truth. I could only watch powerlessly as Esteemed Consort fell into dire straits yet was of no help whatsoever...”

Song Zhao mentioning Xiao Jingheng’s pity towards Consort Shu was meant to provoke Consort Ning.

And Consort Ning reacted just as Song Zhao had anticipated.

Her neck was stretched taut and one could faintly see the veins bulging from anger beneath her fair skin, indicating she was extremely furious.

"That cheap woman! If this consort ever lets her have a single peaceful day again, then I am not a daughter of the Ning family!"

Consort Ning was still fuming with rage. She impatiently dismissed Song Zhao so she could leave.

After returning to her palace, Song Zhao ignored everything else and went straight to bed for a nap.

Alone on the heated couch, the gaze in Song Zhao’s eyes gradually darkened as she clenched the Tian Ji secret order in her hand:

Naturally, it was Xiao Jingyan who told her where the secret order was hidden.

And everything today had also completely been within Song Zhao’s calculations.

The Empress Dowager was not close to the consorts and seldom allowed consorts to enter Xian Shou Palace.

Therefore, after returning from the hot springs villa this time, Song Zhao also did not go to the Empress Dowager, deliberately avoiding suspicion.

Then through insinuations, she got Xiao Jingheng to change the blessing ceremony's location from Yuntai to the Empress Dowager’s palace.

This way, the number of people who had gone to the Empress Dowager’s palace increased sharply.

On the contrary, Song Zhao had not gone at all.

If the secret order was discovered missing in the future, no one would suspect her.

By doing so:

Firstly, she could prove her own innocence.

Secondly, by not going to bless the empress, Consort Ning would further believe she was a fool and no longer dwell on whether there were shady dealings behind Xi Ying’s death.

Thirdly, because Xiao Jingheng thought she was sick due to him, he would naturally feel guilty and dote on her in every possible way.

The eve of the new year was in another two days.

By then, passing the Tian Ji secret order to Prince An would be akin to sending this harbinger of ill fortune away.

After carefully hiding away the Tian Ji secret order, Song Zhao originally planned to rest.

But she had just lain down when she vaguely heard a commotion outside.

Feeling strange, she had just gotten up, intending to go out and take a look when Yun Shan rushed in flusteredly:

"Young Miss, something's happened!"

She seemed badly frightened, panting for breath between words:

Song Zhao said firmly: “Speak slowly. What happened outside?”

"Somehow, Feng Luan Palace suddenly sprung a leak! Her Majesty the Empress seems to still be trapped inside. It’s chaos out there now!"

This news was like a sudden clap of thunder, blasting by Song Zhao's ears without warning.

She did not have the time to react with surprise, only throwing on a cloak before hurriedly running outside...