Chapter 139: Dead Toffee

Chapter 139

When the concubines in the palace heard Consort Chen's words, subtle changes appeared on their faces.

She's here to make decisions for the Empress?

She is merely in charge of managing the six palaces. Without the Empress relinquishing power, she would be powerless even if she held a chicken feather.

They had assumed the Empress would be annoyed, but she responded gently:

"Why would I be unhappy? Whether it's you helping me or Concubine Ying helping me, it's all very good."

She deliberately stroked her slightly protruding belly and added:

"I'm pregnant now and it's inconvenient for me to exhaust my mind and body. In the future, affairs of the rear palace will have to trouble my younger sister to handle more."

Consort Chen scoffed: "Empress, don't worry, your subject will fulfill the responsibilities that the head of the six palaces should bear!"

The Empress also laughed. "It's good that my younger sister has this determination. Coincidentally, there is something right now that requires my younger sister to handle. It's early spring now, and summer will probably come very soon."

She paused and looked towards Song Zhao, "I've been thinking that although the peach blossoms at Zhongsi Gate are beautiful, Imperial Concubine Song has reactions to the peach pollen. I'm thinking those peach trees should be removed as soon as possible to avoid any incidents."

Facing the Empress's sudden concern, Song Zhao seemed somewhat at a loss.

She first stood up to thank the Empress for her grace, then said: "This concubine usually does not go to Zhongsi Gate often. Her Imperial Majesty the Empress and Her Ladyship Consort Chen do not need to worry about this concubine's trivial matters."

The Empress said: "That won't do. Qingliang Stage is near Zhongsi Gate. Everyone often goes there to listen to operas in the summer. You can't avoid going there just for the sake of a few peach trees. The flowers are dead, but people are alive. You can't let your relationship with the imperial consorts grow distant just because of a few peach trees."

Her face was all smiles without any hint of the daggers hidden behind. She said to Consort Chen again: "What do you think? Can you handle this matter well?"

Song Zhao understood clearly in her heart that the Empress wanting to cut down the peach trees at Zhongsi Gate now was definitely not for her own good.

Everyone in the palace knew that the peach trees at Zhongsi Gate were planted by the late emperor for Consort Yu!

Consort Yu was Prince Rui's birth mother, and Prince Rui was the force most dissatisfied with the Ning family in the previous dynasty.

If Consort Chen really moved those peach trees away, it would be openly offending Consort Yu and let Prince Rui watch for faults in their Ning family closely.

Consort Chen naturally understood this logic too. She was used to being rampant and never put anyone in her eyes. She immediately answered the Empress:

"This is not a difficult matter. Your subject will handle it properly for Her Majesty the Empress."

Such cold words were truly unbelievable to Prince Rui!

He asked Xiao Jingheng emotionally:

"My Imperial Brother fears the Nings so much that things have become like this?"

"You are insolent!" Xiao Jingheng erupted in great anger, and hostility flared between the two brothers instantly.

Jiang Deshun quickly persuaded: "Oh dear Prince, no matter how heartbroken you are, you cannot speak to His Majesty like this!"

In the end, Prince Rui no longer paid Xiao Jingheng any heed and left without even asking to withdraw.

*

Consort Yu's funeral arrangements were done very hastily. The palace mourned for two days before everything returned to normal.

Xiao Jingheng did not reprimand Consort Chen or blame the Empress. Perhaps feeling guilty towards Prince Rui, he even raised his princely title. Thus, Prince Rui became the one with the highest status among all the princes.

That day, when Song Zhao returned from paying respects at Consort Yu's memorial tablet, Xiao Fuzi asked her:

"Consort Chen has caused great disaster this time, yet His Majesty did not even scold her once. It's clear she has gained even greater favor than before after receiving his affection."

Song Zhao gave a cold laugh and lowered her voice to say:

"This disaster is one that His Majesty allowed her to cause. Why would His Majesty reprimand her?"

Xiao Fuzi did not understand what Song Zhao meant, but seeing that she did not want to continue speaking, he did not pursue the question further.

After returning to the palace, seeing him lost in thought about this matter, she gave him a pointer: "I'll ask you, when His Majesty restored Consort Chen's title and granted her authority to manage the six palaces, which department would have informed the Empress first about this?"

Xiao Fuzi said: "Naturally, they would have notified Her Majesty the Empress first."

Song Zhao smiled. "So do you now understand why Consort Yu died such an unjust death at this time?"

Xiao Fuzi pondered for a long time before suddenly slapping his thigh and exclaiming in realization:

"I see! So it's because..."

"Shhh." Song Zhao placed her forefinger on her lips and gestured for Xiao Fuzi to be silent. "We cannot discuss His Majesty's affairs. Go get busy with your own matters."