Chapter 106: Chapter 56: I Don’t Know If I Should Say This
Hearing Consort Shu’s words, Song Yunzhao breathed a small sigh of relief. ’Yes, just like that. Find fault with me, put me down, send me out of the palace.’
Feng Yi watched Song Yunzhao’s visible relief, and a strange sense of vexation welled up inside him.
’Hah, so she wants to leave the palace?’
’Using my name as a banner and she still thinks she can get away so easily? She can dream on.’
The Emperor said nothing, but his eyes seemed to casually sweep over Princess Consort Zhuang.
Princess Consort Zhuang caught the Emperor’s glance and chuckled. She looked at Consort Shu and said, "Consort Shu, it’s precisely because all the sisters in the palace are the same that I think it would be more interesting to have someone different. It will liven things up. Your Majesty, I am extremely fond of Miss Song. I think we should let her stay."
She glanced at Consort Shu before continuing, "Besides, a little friction between sisters is hardly a major issue. When I was at home, I often bickered with my own sisters. We’d get upset with each other from time to time, but what’s the big deal?"
The smile on Song Yunzhao’s face gradually faded.
After hearing this, Consort Shu, Lu Min, glanced at Princess Consort Zhuang, Wang Yunyi. Her gaze then shifted to Yao Yirong. "Princess Consort Wan, what do you think?"
Yao Yirong sized up Song Yunzhao. She was dressed in a clashing red and green ensemble, yet it somehow only accentuated her unique beauty. Naturally, Yao Yirong didn’t want such a striking woman entering the harem.
However, Song Yunzhao’s father was only a minor official with no real power. Even if she entered the harem on her looks alone, she wouldn’t pose much of a threat to them.
What truly made her anxious was that while everyone assumed she had received the Emperor’s favor, who would believe she was still a virgin? His Majesty honored her publicly but refused to touch her, leaving her in a state of constant agitation.
’Song Yunzhao doesn’t look like the quiet type. It might be good to have her selected. This harem needs a good shake-up. Only when things are in motion will I have an opportunity.’
’With that in mind,’ she looked at Consort Shu. ’Consort Shu’s father is the Right Minister, so she’s always acted high and mighty, thinking her background is superior. I’d be more than happy to see someone give her a bit of trouble.’
"Princess Consort Zhuang is right. I also think we could use a few more sisters in the harem to liven things up."
Hearing Princess Consort Wan’s words, Consort Shu’s expression stiffened. For someone with Yao Yirong’s temperament to agree to let another woman enter the palace, she had to wonder if Yao Yirong and Wang Yunyi had planned this beforehand.
Feng Yi sat unperturbed, completely unconcerned with how his concubines were sparring. His gaze rested impassively on Song Yunzhao.
He saw that while she appeared calm on the surface, a fiery glint flashed in her eyes. ’She doesn’t want to stay?’
’Then why did she join the selection in the first place?’
’He recalled what he’d discovered about the Song Family. Was it all just to spite her sister and mother? If that were the case, shouldn’t she be hoping to be chosen? Wouldn’t she gain even more prestige once she became a concubine?’
Feng Yi had thought he had Song Yunzhao’s petty schemes all figured out, but now, looking at the young woman, she was proving to be different from what he’d expected.
’Why she entered the selection no longer mattered. What mattered was that he had taken an interest in her, and therefore, she had to stay.’
With Princess Consort Zhuang and Princess Consort Wan joining forces, Consort Shu alone was no match for them. And so, it was decided that Song Yunzhao would remain in the palace.
Song Yunzhao: ...
’I have a certain four-letter word on the tip of my tongue, but I don’t know if I should say it.’
She was the only one from her row who had been chosen. Dazed and annoyed, she headed for the side hall, a joyous smile plastered on her face. ’How did this happen?’
’I managed to salvage my reputation during the selection, but I’m clearly an unlucky troublemaker. It’s obvious I’m not a person who’ll keep to herself. How could I still be chosen?’
’Did they actually choose me *because* I’m a troublemaker?’
’No, that can’t be it.’
’But then why?’
’I really couldn’t figure it out. The female lead was definitely chosen. The Emperor has already selected his garbage disposal unit, so what value is there in keeping me?’
’If the Emperor didn’t want to keep me, all he had to do was open his noble mouth and say the word. But no, he just had to play mute and act inhuman. It’s infuriating!’
She tried to catch his eye, to send him a meaningful look, but the man simply wouldn’t look her way. She was starting to suspect he was doing it on purpose.
When you’re being stared at, you can usually feel it.
’She was sure the Emperor was just pretending not to notice.’
Filled with simmering frustration, Song Yunzhao stomped heavily toward the side hall.
A palace maid led the way, opening the hall doors and curtsying. "Miss Song, please enter."
"Thank you." Song Yunzhao forced a smile and stepped inside.
The hall was already filled with people. Song Yunzhao was familiar with most of them, though there were also a few concubines she recognized by sight but had never interacted with. The moment she stepped inside, she saw the expressions on several faces change instantly.
