Chapter 81: Chapter 48: Definitely Up to No Good
"You should have seen the look on Song Qinghan’s face. It was hilarious! She really thought she could gain some huge advantage just by dropping Consort Chu’s name. Well, this was a rude awakening. As if it’s so easy to curry favor with an Imperial Concubine." Song Yexi felt utterly vindicated. Remembering her past treatment at the Dingnan Bo Mansion made today’s events incredibly satisfying.
"Do you know who was behind it?" Song Yunzhao asked. ’This is a development that deviates from the original plot.’
"They’re saying a little palace maid from the tea room accidentally fell and spilled tea on the calligraphy sheets. Of course, it wasn’t just Song Qinghan’s that were ruined; the ones stacked with hers were also damaged. But hers was on top, so it was damaged the most."
"Someone who can order around a little palace maid from the tea room is no ordinary person," Song Yunzhao said.
Song Yexi was a little shaken. "You’re right. It’s a good thing we didn’t try to curry favor with her. My mother was right—you can’t just cozy up to someone like Consort Chu."
Song Yunzhao had a feeling this wasn’t over. She looked at Song Yexi and asked, "So the Housekeeper just let the matter drop like that?"
"That, I don’t know." Song Yexi shook her head. She had no connections in the palace, so how could she find out about such things? Seeing Song Yunzhao’s grave expression, she asked suspiciously, "You think there’s more to it?"
"It’s hard to say."
"Hard to say?"
Song Yunzhao met Song Yexi’s suspicious gaze and said with a smile, "Whoever can order around a palace maid in Zhichun Palace is either a concubine from an incredibly powerful family or one of the palace’s existing Concubines. No matter who it is, neither you nor I can afford to offend them."
’So, there’s no point in saying anything.’
Song Qinghan had no choice but to grit her teeth and swallow this loss. Even if she was indignant, there was nothing she could do unless she could find someone to back her up—and produce evidence.
The little palace maid had already admitted fault, and no major harm was done. At most, she’d receive a punishment, and her backer would protect her. She might be transferred out of Zhichun Palace to serve elsewhere, but if her backer was powerful enough, she probably wouldn’t even be moved.
Song Yexi didn’t know what to say. She looked at Song Yunzhao and said, "The way I see it, Song Qinghan has no choice but to accept it."
Song Yunzhao thought so too. The Song Family had no influence in the palace, so they couldn’t get justice for her.
Even if the Eldest Madam could pull some strings, her relationship with Mrs. Cai and Song Qinghan was mediocre at best. She wouldn’t waste a favor on them.
Song Yunzhao’s guess was correct. Song Qinghan fumed all night, but with no other options, she could only swallow her anger.
However, she now carried an air of resentment that wasn’t there when she first entered the palace. On the day of the chess assessment, she had the bad luck of being matched against Qin Xiyue. Her skills weren’t bad, but ’the female lead has plot armor,’ and Song Qinghan was narrowly defeated.
The Medical Woman came for Song Yunzhao’s follow-up appointment. Looking at the wound on her knee, she smiled and said, "It’s healed, but there might be a faint scar. Miss Song, if you keep applying the ointment, it will be completely gone in about half a year. This ointment is very effective; in fact, after just two or three months, you won’t even notice the scar unless you look very closely."
"That’s wonderful news." Song Yunzhao was quite pleased. ’Even if I’m a bit rough around the edges, I still care about my appearance.’
The Medical Woman left a jar of ointment and reminded her that when it ran out, she could send a little palace maid to the Imperial Hospital for more. With that, she took her leave.
Song Yunzhao brazenly saw her out. The truth was, she had been perfectly able to walk since the third day after her injury. But she didn’t want to attend the etiquette lessons and wanted to slack off for a few more days, so she had stayed cooped up in her room.
’That Medical Woman is a good person. She saw right through me but didn’t say a word.’
"Miss Song," a little palace maid said from the side, "since you’ve recovered, I must report to the Housekeeper. You’ll have to go to Qiushui Pavilion tomorrow."
"Of course. Thank you for making the trip," Song Yunzhao said with a smile. ’It’s one thing to want to slack off, but I can’t let anyone see through it.’
After the little palace maid left, Song Yunzhao stood by the window. It was quiet and empty outside; the other candidates were all at Qiushui Pavilion. She pushed open the door and stepped out, tilting her head back to look at the sky. The sunlight felt warm on her face, carrying the distinct scent of spring.
Summer was just around the corner, and the scenery in Jincui Garden would be even more beautiful then.
’Too bad I won’t have the chance to see it.’
Fearing a repeat of her previous encounter with Mr. Zhe Shan, Song Yunzhao decided against wandering through Jincui Garden alone. Instead, she took a slow walk around Zhichun Palace.
Zhichun Palace was actually quite large. Aside from the candidates’ living quarters, there was also a small garden. She didn’t go anywhere else, deciding just to take a stroll there.
The small garden was surrounded by covered walkways and interconnected by paved paths. It was dotted with decorative rockeries and adorned with blooming flowers. A stream flowed through it, and koi swam freely in the water. She sat on a gooseneck chair in the long corridor, watching the schools of koi swim by as birds chirped intermittently. ’It would be nice if life could always be like this.’
"Miss Song?"
Song Yunzhao was startled to hear someone call her name. Turning around, she saw a Housekeeper she had never met before. The woman’s expression was stern, and the way she looked at her made Song Yunzhao uncomfortable.
Observing her closely, Song Yunzhao noticed that this Housekeeper’s uniform and hair ornaments were far more ornate than those of the Housekeeper in Zhichun Palace.
"I am," Song Yunzhao replied without rising. She simply watched the newcomer with a cool gaze. "You look unfamiliar. I haven’t seen you in Zhichun Palace. Why are you calling for me?"
Song Yunzhao had a hunch this person might be from the harem, but it was only a guess, so she was testing the waters with her words.
"We heard Miss Song was injured," the Housekeeper said, taking a step forward. "My mistress was very concerned. Now that you seem to have fully recovered, she would like to invite you over for a chat."
’Oh, so I guessed right. But this woman is being evasive. She keeps saying ’my mistress’ but won’t say who her mistress is. This is clearly a deliberate attempt to mislead me.’
’She’s definitely up to no good.’
"The Housekeeper of Zhichun Palace has said that we candidates are not to take a single step outside without her permission. Please forgive me, madam, but I dare not violate the palace rules." Song Yunzhao rose, said her piece, and turned to leave.
’It’s best to avoid trouble like this. Only a fool would walk right into it.’
The Housekeeper might have expected a refusal, but she hadn’t anticipated that Song Yunzhao would simply turn and leave without asking any further questions.
Stunned for a moment, the Housekeeper hurried to catch up and blocked Song Yunzhao’s path. "Miss Song, I am merely following orders. I must ask you to come with me."
Song Yunzhao frowned slightly. She hadn’t expected this woman to be so persistent and forceful.
’What persona should I adopt now?’
’Should I make a scene or not?’
