Chapter 176: Live With the Wives 02

Chapter 176

No matter what Consort Hui said,

the Empress was certainly unwilling for her to move in with Song Zhao. The other consorts had the same thoughts.

Everyone knew Song Zhao was currently favored and doted on. Plus Consort Hui was young and had just started serving the emperor's bed, so she was fresh and new to Xiao Jingheng. He might favor and dote on her more.

If they lived together, wouldn't that make it easier for them to gang up and compete for favor in the future?

In fact, it wasn't just the others who didn't want it, even Song Zhao herself didn't want to live with Consort Hui.

No one knew what these palace women really thought in private.

Rather than keeping this unstable element by her side to become a hidden danger in the future,

she might as well not accept her from the start.

That was what Song Zhao thought, but she said:

"Sister Consort Hui, don't cry. Sister just wants to live with me, it's not that big of a deal."

Her eyes were gentle and smiling as she looked at the Empress,

"Why doesn't the Empress just grant her request? As it happens, I live alone in Changle Palace, and when I'm free I always feel bored."

The consorts were already unhappy with what Consort Hui said.

Now that even Song Zhao spoke like this, they became more vigilant.

First, Consort Chen disagreed, "You want her to live with you? Who lives in the main hall, and who lives in the side hall? How to differentiate status? Don't tell me at night you two will wrap yourselves in blankets and sleep in one bed?"

Consort Yun also said, "This is too improper. Let me ask, if in the future everyone says they are afraid to live alone and asks the Empress to rearrange the palaces, wouldn't the harem become chaotic? I could also say I'm afraid of the dark and simply move in with Consort Yin."

"Don't you dare come." Consort Yin glanced at Consort Yun with disdain. "I don't have that interest. To sleep with you in one bed, just thinking about it makes me shudder." for new novels

Consort Yun shot her a white-eyed glare in return.

"Hmph, who do you think you are, you Hu barbarian, some delicious tidbit?"

Seeing they were about to start arguing, the Empress sternly said,

"Enough, be quiet."

When everyone calmed down, she looked at Song Zhao and Consort Hui and said,

"The harem has its rules, it's not something I can do whatever I want. Consort Hui, just keep living on your own. If you're afraid, have more palace maids keep night watch in the corridor."

but Xiao Jingheng had spoken, implicitly and explicitly showing care for her, so she couldn't decline either.

She could only say, "The Emperor's intentions are good. But Sister Consort and I are both consorts. If we live together, Sister Consort entered the palace earlier, so she should rightly have the main hall. It wouldn't be right to inconvenience her."

But Xiao Jingheng appeared indifferent to this.

"I'm having her move to keep you company and liven things up. How could she take your main hall? Guests follow the host's arrangements, naturally she should take the side hall."

Things having reached this point, Song Zhao could not say anything more, she could only force a smile and agree.

That night, Consort Hui moved over from Chunzhen Palace.

She seemed extremely delighted, pulling Song Zhao's hand while bouncing and skipping as she said, "This is great, Sister Song! Living together from now on, we'll have company!"

Smacking her lips greedily like a gluttonous cat, she whispered, "Sister Song's snacks are the tastiest, hehe~"

Song Zhao smiled. "If you like them, feel free to come over any time. I can't give Sister much else, but there's always enough snacks."

"Okay! Thank you Sister Song!"

Consort Hui seemed to live just to open her mouth. If she got one delicious bite, her whole day brightened.

She happily frolicked in the courtyard,

but accidentally tripped and took a hard fall.

Song Zhao stood in the corridor berating the palace maid. "How could you serve your mistress like this? Not even following to support her, what if she got hurt?"

But Rui'er was nonchalant, slowly walking over to Consort Hui while muttering,

"My mistress always loves playing around like this, she's not afraid of bumps and scrapes."

Later, Consort Hui even got up herself, laughing as she brushed off the dust saying she was fine.

Then Song Zhao understood.

No wonder Concubine Liu had dared to bully her before.

Even her personal palace maid didn't take good care of her, assuming her easygoing personality. How much the less would others?

Song Zhao said, "I see Sister only has two palace maids attending her? That was fine before serving the emperor's bed, but now that she's a proper young mistress, she should have a clever girl attending her. Zhihua, come here."

Zhihua bowed respectfully to Song Zhao and Consort Hui.

Song Zhao introduced, "This is Zhihua, a very capable maid of mine. From now on, let her attend Sister, alright?"

"Okay!" Consort Hui happily said sweetly, "Thank you Sister Song~"