Chapter 131: Chapter 62: Clearly Summoned to Be a Target
Song Yunzhao had thought that a man like Xu Sixi, with so many years of experience in the palace, would be smart. If he had just offered a few placating words, she wouldn’t have pressed the matter.
But after waiting a moment, all she saw was him glaring at her, his anger palpable. In the end, it was clear he didn’t take her seriously, so she simply flicked her sleeve and walked away.
She could see that Zhang Maoquan and he were clearly at odds. Now that Zhang Maoquan was more or less on her side, she could absolutely leverage one against the other.
Making Xu Sixi suffer a setback was equivalent to letting Zhang Maoquan feel vindicated. Afterward, Zhang Maoquan would surely be more attentive to her matters. At this thought, Song Yunzhao decided it was well worth it.
Of the three Grand Stewards of the imperial court, Meng Jiuchang was the head. She had never considered forming a connection with him, so between Xu Sixi and Zhang Maoquan, she could only choose one. ’It has to be Zhang Maoquan, of course.’
Zhang Maoquan grinned at Xu Sixi, baring his teeth. "Old Xu, looking down on people will get you nowhere."
Xu Sixi stared at Zhang Maoquan’s beaming face, wishing he could just spit on him. Seeing that rascal walk off, shaking his head smugly, he was so angry he stomped his foot.
’She’s just a Little Imperial Concubine with an ordinary family background. It’s not easy to climb the ranks in this harem. There are plenty of beautiful women here; looks aren’t what get you to the Empress’s throne in the end!’
Xu Sixi had now committed Song Yunzhao to memory. With a dark expression, he turned and walked away.
Zhang Maoquan hurried to catch up with Song Yunzhao and said with a smile, "High-ranking Consort, please wait a moment. This servant will go inside and announce you."
"Thank you for your trouble, Chief Steward Zhang," Song Yunzhao said with a nod.
"Not at all, it is what this servant ought to do." To Zhang Maoquan, Consort Song now looked like a piece of glittering gold. As long as he could make Xu Sixi suffer, he was happy.
Zhang Maoquan pushed open the door to the hall, walked in quickly, and stepped forward to bow. "Emperor, Consort Song has arrived."
The one attending the Emperor was Meng Jiuchang. He was startled for a moment at the announcement and looked up at Zhang Maoquan. He had been away on an errand earlier and was unaware that His Majesty had instructed Zhang Maoquan to summon Consort Song for accompaniment.
"Let her in," the Emperor said without looking up.
"Yes."
Zhang Maoquan pretended not to see the unpleasant look on Meng Jiuchang’s face. Although Meng Jiuchang was their leader, it didn’t mean he was afraid of him. ’Giving me a look like that... does he think I don’t get it?’
’One day, the position of First Chief Steward in service to His Majesty will be mine!’
"High-ranking Consort, please enter." Zhang Maoquan’s face was one big smile.
Only then did Song Yunzhao step into the hall. This was a side hall in Taiji Palace, the Emperor’s Imperial Study Room, where he typically handled his memorials and other official business.
She entered with her head lowered, not daring to look around. After a few steps, she curtsied. "This concubine greets the Emperor. Long live Your Majesty."
Feng Yi, his brows furrowed as he stared at a memorial, replied casually, "Rise."
"Thank you, Your Majesty," Song Yunzhao said as she rose.
She raised her head slightly and saw the Emperor engrossed in his memorials, the furrow between his brows deep enough to squash a fly. Standing beside him was a relatively unfamiliar face. ’To be standing in that spot, he must be the Emperor’s number one man, Meng Jiuchang.’
’I have some impression of this Meng Jiuchang. Tsk, he’s not an easy person to deal with. Still, any side character who manages to survive to the end must be capable.’
’Right now, this man intrigued her even more than the Emperor.’
Song Yunzhao waited for a moment. Seeing that the Emperor had no intention of speaking, she wondered if he was deliberately giving her the cold shoulder or was simply too absorbed in his duties. ’What a waste of the magnificent outfit I wore today. I might as well be casting flirtatious glances at a blind man!’
’Hah! Even a blind man ought to have his sight restored for three seconds just to get a look at me.’
’Since I’m here to accompany him, I should naturally play the part of a beautiful scholar’s companion.’
’If the mountain won’t come to me, I must go to the mountain.’
Ignoring Meng Jiuchang’s peculiar stare, Song Yunzhao walked right up to the desk. As if it were the most natural thing in the world, she picked up an ink stick and began to grind it. ’Grinding ink requires skill,’ she thought. ’The speed has to be steady. Go too fast and the ink will splatter. If I splash ink on the Emperor’s face, I can forget about accompanying him. I’d have done myself in.’
The corner of Meng Jiuchang’s mouth twitched. ’This Consort Song isn’t just beautiful,’ he thought, ’her nerve is something else.’
’When Lady Shufei or the others came to accompany the Emperor, none of them were ever this bold.’
Meng Jiuchang debated whether he should intervene, but seeing that His Majesty showed no sign of speaking, he hesitated for a moment before deciding to keep quiet. He would just have to wait and see.
The moment Song Yunzhao made her move, Feng Yi noticed. He was surprised at first, then turned his head to look at her. The sight left him momentarily stunned.
Song Yunzhao was already a radiant beauty, but at this moment, she was exceptionally lovely—a delicate and bewitching sight beyond compare. Her jade-like face carried a faint blush, and the corners of her eyes were tinged with a soft crimson, giving her a tender, rosy appearance that made her eyes seem dewy and bright. A jade-white gown accentuated her graceful, willow-thin waist, and a white jade jinyin pendant adorned her skirt.
