Consort Zhao’s charming smile slid off her face and her expression froze slightly. She knew long ago that Feng Yuran refused to listen to her. That was why she wanted to get rid of Mo Xuetong and replace her with an obedient consort. That consort would obey her and work for her. Then, she would be able to control Feng Yuran. However, she did not expect Feng Yuran to embarrass her so in front of so many palace maids and eunuchs. She was furious.
However, she immediately realized that Emperor Zongwen was looking at her. She smiled at Emperor Zongwen and curtsied, saying, “Your Majesty, I heard that King Xuan was released, so I rushed over here in a hurry. I didn’t pick a suitable outfit and have offended Her Majesty. I will go to Tianfeng Palace to ask for Her Majesty’s pardon.”
She was totally acting like a dutiful consort.
Emperor Zongwen’s expression softened when he saw that Consort Zhao knew that she was in the wrong. He nodded with satisfaction.
Mo Xuetong did not intend to let Consort Zhao off though. She looked at the pleased smirk on Consort Zhao’s lips and turned around. She looked at Consort Zhao’s clothes innocently and said to Feng Yuran carefully, “Why does Consort Zhao have robes like this? Which servant made it for her? She doesn’t know the palace rules at all. Is she trying to get Consort Zhao into trouble?”
Consort Zhao was working with the He family and had once plotted against Mo Xuetong. As such, Mo Xuetong felt that there was no need to play nice. She knew that Consort Zhao would not be able to do anything today. As such, she would just strike directly lest Consort Zhao should try to do something to her again in the future, and others would still think that Consort Zhao was kind and gracious.
Mo Xuetong had spoken softly as if she were only conversing with Feng Yuran. However, the palace was very quiet and others immediately heard her. Emperor Zongwen was an intelligent man. He frowned when he heard what Mo Xuetong said and then looked at Consort Zhao thoughtfully. Even though he did not say anything, his expression was not as soft as before.
All the clothes in the palace were bespoke. No matter what, Consort Zhao would not be able to get a dress that was this bright red color. Only the Empress and the Empress Dowager could wear this color in the entire palace!
Even though Consort Zhao was still smiling, her eyes were cold and vicious. She gritted her teeth and swallowed the anger she felt. She looked at Mo Xuetong’s gentle and adorable smiling face and then, smiled warmly once more. She did not dare to say anything to Mo Xuetong directly in this place and could only curse Mo Xuetong secretly in her heart.
She pretended not to understand what Mo Xuetong meant and said, “Your Majesty, I will definitely find out who made these clothes for me. I will see if there is anyone else who wants to do harm to me. They know that I do not know the palace rules and tried to get me into trouble.”
Consort Zhao pushed the responsibility to someone else.
Mo Xuetong could not help but be in awe. This Consort Zhao was really unique. She managed to deflect the blame in just a few words.
However, was the Emperor someone who could be so easily tricked?! After all, there was a saying that a clever man might be fooled by his own cleverness!
Consort Zhao behaved as if everything had nothing to do with her and had managed to make everything sound good. In fact, that was the biggest loophole.
How could Consort Zhao be so gracious and calm given her status? She did not even look shocked. This proved that she was actually a scheming person who had other plots. She was the mistress of Mingyue Palace. Who would dare to pick this color for her if she had not requested it?
Furthermore, everyone in the palace and even the entire Great Qin knew that only the legal wife of the Emperor could wear bright red clothes. No matter how much the Emperor favored Consort Zhao, she was just a concubine. How could she not be aware of that! She was intentionally trying to find out how Emperor Zongwen felt about the whole situation and was here to find out what Feng Yuran was up to. Mo Xuetong did not know what her goals were, but there was something Mo Xuetong was sure about. Emperor Zongwen might not have noticed what Consort Zhao had done earlier, which was why he had not said anything. He probably did not feel very comfortable about it right now! The Empress had the support of the Ding General Manor. Their power was not something Consort Zhao, who had no backing, could contend with.
Consort Zhao had dealt with the situation calmly after being exposed. Was such a woman really someone who had been locked up inside the palace and was unaware of the secular world and its dealings?!
One would know that Emperor Zongwen was beginning to feel a little suspicious judging by the darkness in his eyes.
This was what Mo Xuetong needed to do. She still could not drag Consort Zhao down from her place but she just had to secretly make the Emperor grow wary of Consort Zhao. That was why she stepped behind Feng Yuran fearfully after saying her piece. It was as if she was frightened of Consort Zhao. She could not force Consort Zhao’s hand or the Emperor’s in front of him and could only give the impression that she was weak and harmless.
She muttered softly, “Consort Zhao, I, I did not mean that.”
Then, she flushed and snuck a look at Consort Zhao as if she were really afraid that Consort Zhao would be angry. Mo Xuetong twirled her handkerchief around her fingers shyly like a child. Emperor Zongwen’s expression softened when he saw that. Mo Xuetong was still a child, after all. She did not know anything and had just asked a simple question. It was not as if she really wanted to cause any harm.
However, Consort Zhao’s behavior was different from before. It was worth pondering over!
“Your Majesty, look at how adorable Consort Xuan is. I like her so much. However, she is so young and innocent. Can she really take charge of King Xuan’s Manor’s back courtyard? I heard that there are many women there. Will they bully Consort Xuan?” Consort Zhao covered her smile with her hands as if she did not care about Mo Xuetong’s slip of the tongue.
Emperor Zongwen glanced at Feng Yuran and then at Mo Xuetong, who acted like a shy and young girl. He nodded and thought that that made sense. Old Eight’s back courtyard was not a place that could be managed by anyone. There were all kinds of women there and they might cause trouble for the legal consort. He asked, “My dear Consort, what idea do you have?”
“I have an idea. The other manors all have second consorts and concubines. Even though there are many women in King Xuan’s Consort, none of them are great girls who can be brought out in public. Your Majesty, why don’t you bestow a second consort to King Xuan? She will be able to serve King Xuan and help Consort Xuan manage the back courtyard. Otherwise, the women in the back courtyard might bully Consort Xuan.”
Consort Zhao smiled happily.
A chill ran down Mo Xuetong’s spine. So this was what Consort Zhao was up to. She did not manage to get what she wanted at the Empress Dowager’s the other day, and now she was causing trouble at His Majesty’s. It seemed that the He family was definitely going to make one of their daughters King Xuan’s Second Consort.
“That’s a pretty good idea. Who do you think should be the Second Consort, my love?” Emperor Zongwen immediately agreed after giving the idea some thought. He felt that Anping was a little too young. However, his son insisted on marrying her and he had no choice but to agree. Now that he thought about it, Anping was not even 15 yet and was too young. It would be troublesome for her to manage the large back courtyard of King Xuan’s Manor. Furthermore, even though Anping was still a child, his son was now a man. There had to be someone who could serve him by his side.
As for the women already in Feng Yuran’s manor, the Emperor did not consider them at all.
“Your Majesty, I have a person in mind. There are a few girls who came with my maternal family to the capital during King Xuan’s wedding. First Miss He is both mine and Elder Sister’s niece. If she becomes King Xuan’s Second Consort, this will make our relationship even closer. Furthermore, she is a capable girl and can take care of His Highness and Consort Xuan. If Elder Sister were here, she would definitely be pleased with this match.”
Consort Zhao said with a smile.
She had indeed recommended He Yufen. A flash of anger appeared on Mo Xuetong’s soft cheeks. A cold, mocking smirk grew on her lips. However, just when Mo Xuetong was about to speak, Feng Yuran tugged on her hand, and the words halted at her lips.
“Consort Zhao, how do you know that my mother, who is in heaven, would definitely like that girl? If Consort Zhao really likes that girl, you don’t have to keep bringing up my mother to support you. If Mother likes something, she will definitely tell me in my dreams. Why will she tell you and not her biological son? It makes it seem as if you and my mother are closer than my mother and me.”
Feng Yuran laughed coldly and lashed out there and then. A devilish smile appeared on his handsome face as he spoke to Consort Zhao angrily.
Feng Yuran had never been a patient or kind person to outsiders. He was also Emperor Zongwen’s most favored son. As such, he would not allow Consort Zhao to keep mentioning his mother for her own benefit. He spoke loudly and brashly without any considerations for Consort Zhao.
No one else other than Mo Xuetong noticed the blood-thirsty look that flashed in his eyes. He had always suspected that Consort Zhao had something to do with his mother’s death. He had also never trusted the He family. If he could prove that they had something to do with his mother’s death, he would not let them off.
He would seek revenge for this debt of blood!
Mo Xuetong could sense the coldness that Feng Yuran emanated. She held his hand tightly and hope that she would be able to provide warmth to him. She had the same views as Feng Yuran about Consort Zhao. This woman was not a simple character. She was able to make the Minister of Works work for her in secret for so many years. The minister was under her control completely. She was not an ordinary character at all.
“Your Majesty, I was just… just thinking that if Elder Sister were around, she would definitely be willing…” Tears appeared in Consort Zhao’s eyes, but she tried her best to hold them back in. Mo Xuetong could not help but be in awe of Consort Zhao’s acting. The women in the palace were all impressive figures. She had spoken so weakly; it made it seem as if Feng Yuran was the one in the wrong.
Fortunately, Feng Yuran had never had a good reputation in the first place!
“Consort Zhao, you are not the Empress. Choosing a Second Consort for me should not be any of your business. Did you come so early today to talk about a Second Consort for me? It is such a pity because I do not want a Second Consort.” Feng Yuran said to Consort Zhao angrily. Then, he turned to bow to Emperor Zongwen casually and said, “Father, you don’t have to worry about me. I’ve seen too many crying and acting women here; I don’t want to see anything like this again. I’ve worked hard to make my back courtyard quiet and peaceful; do you want me to create a mess again?”
Feng Yuran sounded extremely rude and made it sound as if Emperor Zongwen wanted to see trouble in Feng Yuran’s back courtyard. He sounded completely like a scoundrel and this made Emperor Zongwen mad. He pointed at Feng Yuran and scolded. “Old Eight, you scoundrel, you… you…”
The Emperor was so angry that he could not even speak.
Consort Zhao pretended to cry then and went to press her hand at Emperor Zongwen’s chest. She consoled him. “Your Majesty, don’t be angry. King Xuan did not mean to make you angry. It was all my fault for not minding my own business. King Xuan, if you are angry, be angry at me. You can’t anger your father.”
Consort Zhao was no longer behaving coquettishly. Instead, she pretended to be virtuous. This changed happened so very quickly. Mo Xuetong smirked to herself and glanced at Feng Yuran from the corners of her eyes. She saw that there wasn’t a hint of annoyance in his handsome eyes at all and knew that he was up to something again. As such, she allowed the situation to progress and did what she should do.
Given the situation, she should, as Feng Yuran’s wife, step out and do something.
“Your Highness, don’t say anything else. He is your father!” Mo Xuetong urged as she stepped up and tugged on Feng Yuran’s robe.
Emperor Zongwen was very pleased with Mo Xuetong when he saw how gracious she was.
“Anping is so gracious. Anping, can you really manage the back courtyard by yourself? Should I send a virtuous woman to your manor? I heard First Miss He is kind and gentle. She will be able to help you if she enters your manor.” Emperor Zongwen tried to work on Mo Xuetong instead, ignoring his son.
Were they going to send that woman into their manor no matter what?
