Chapter 12

After two days, at noon one day, Song Zhao saw Noble Consort Li jumping up and down under the blazing sun. She was drenched in sweat.

The palace maids stood aside, none daring to dissuade her. Song Zhao asked Lian Er,

"What is wrong with your mistress? Isn't she afraid of ruining her complexion under such a scorching sun?"

Lian Er said, "My young mistress craves coolness in summer. She uses too much ice at night and didn't cover up well, so she caught a chill. When a noble consort is ill, she cannot serve in the bedroom, so the Attendant's Office hung up her green plaque. The Imperial Physician said sweating more could speed her recovery, so my young mistress insisted on standing under the sun..."

"The Noble Consort has fainted! Quick, summon the Imperial Physician!"

Just as they were speaking, Noble Consort Li collapsed from exhaustion.

The palace maids swarmed over to check on her. Song Zhao stood outside the crowd to watch the commotion.

She saw that Noble Consort Li was nearly spent, yet still held Lian Er's hand to instruct her,

"Re...remember to inform His Majesty that I fainted. His Majesty will be worried for me and come see me."

Song Zhao gave a cold laugh to herself, thinking inwardly, "Foolish woman." She didn't even bother with her and went back to her own chambers.

It wasn't that she didn't care at all for Noble Consort Li. In the afternoon, she personally brewed a bowl of mung bean soup to dispel the heat and brought it over.

Noble Consort Li had no appetite and refused to drink it. Song Zhao persuaded her,

"Sister, there is no need to be so impatient. This is just an ordinary chill. Medication and nursing for seven to eight days will have you fully recovered. Why torture yourself standing under the sun at noon?"

"What do you understand?" Noble Consort Li snapped at her, then asked Lian Er instead, "Did you inform the Inner Court? Does His Majesty know I fainted?"

Lian Er said, "I reported it twice, my lady."

Noble Consort Li heaved a long sigh of relief and nodded contentedly. But soon she thought of something else and suddenly rose from bed to head for her dressing table, muttering as she went,

"When His Majesty arrives later, he mustn't see me looking so haggard. Lian Er, come do my makeup!" Seeing her like this, Song Zhao didn't feel pity, only ridicule.

She thought to herself that if all the women vying for favor were of this quality, life would be rather dull.

Later, Noble Consort Li did indeed receive good news after getting dressed up. An unfamiliar little eunuch from the Attendant's Office came to give her joyful news,

"Congratulations, Noble Consort. The phoenix-calling sedan chair is on its way to Yao Hua Palace. Please get ready."

Noble Consort Li was overjoyed. Upon hearing this news, her illness vanished by more than half.

She straightened her back and headed to the courtyard, beaming.

After half a stick of incense, the phoenix-calling sedan chair did indeed stop outside Yao Hua Palace.

The one receiving her today was Zhang Jiugui, Steward of the Attendant's Office.

According to protocol, only when a consort spent her first night in attendance would the Steward of the Attendant's Office personally escort her.

Afterwards, unless there was an imperial favorite with a special edict, no one else would receive this treatment.

Noble Consort Li was even more delighted. She came up and chatted smilingly with Zhang Jiugui, "Steward Zhang, what brings you here?"

Zhang Jiugui gave her a perfunctory smile. "Is the Noble Consort feeling better?"

Noble Consort Li said, "Much better, thank you for your concern."

Seeing no one had come to receive her, she simply lifted the sedan curtain herself to get in.

"Ah, my lady, wait." Zhang Jiugui stopped her and closed the sedan curtain. "His Majesty did not summon you tonight."

"Not me?" Shock filled Noble Consort Li's eyes. She pointed at the little eunuch who had come earlier to announce the summons and said, "How could it not be me? This gentleman clearly said His Majesty summoned me tonight."

"Foolish thing!" Zhang Jiugui kicked the little eunuch. He quickly explained to Noble Consort Li with an apologetic smile, "That dimwit just arrived at the Attendant's Office and mixed up protocol."

Then he turned to Song Zhao, who was watching the spectacle, bowed with hands clasped, and respectfully said, "Congratulations, Song Zhao. His Majesty summoned your plaque tonight."

At his words, all eyes turned to Song Zhao.

Noble Consort Li was so angry her teeth hurt. Her eyes seemed to bleed.

Song Zhao pointed to herself in puzzlement. "Me?"

Zhang Jiugui gestured for her to come. "My lady, don't just stand there. Please." Upon hearing the news, Yun Shan was overjoyed.

"My lady! You didn't mishear. His Majesty summoned your plaque!"

But just after a sentence of joy, she became conflicted. "Steward Zhang, that gentleman announced wrongly just now. My lady heard this sudden news and didn't have time to dress up. Could you wait a moment for this slave to help..."

"Wait?" Zhang Jiugui waved his hand looking very troubled. "The summons have protocols that cannot be delayed. I hope Song Zhao does not make things difficult for this slave."

Yun Shan thought that while the swelling on her mistress's face had gone down, the rash still remained. She had to apply some powder to conceal it. Otherwise, going to serve like this would leave a terrible impression on His Majesty.

But Zhang Jiugui was urging insistently, and Song Zhao said, "The steward is right, protocols cannot be broken. I will go with you now."

Noble Consort Li watched as Song Zhao with her pockmarked face entered the phoenix-calling sedan chair, and was so angry she nearly tore apart the silk handkerchief she was twisting.

"With that face, is she going to scare His Majesty to death?"

Whether she would scare His Majesty to death was uncertain, but anyone could see that Noble Consort Li was nearly scared to death now.

Once in the phoenix-calling sedan chair, the puzzlement on Song Zhao's face disappeared, replaced by composure and calm once more.

She heard Zhang Jiugui whispering outside the sedan, "Today, Song Zhao has a rare chance to serve thanks to Consort Chen's efforts to secure it for you. You must treasure it well!"

Song Zhao said, "Please convey my thanks to Consort Chen for giving me this opportunity."

Zhang Jiugui laughed. "This slave only serves his masters. There is no need to thank me. It's just rare for Consort Chen to care about another consort's affairs. It shows she thinks highly of you."

"I understand Consort Chen's good intentions. I will certainly not fail to meet her expectations."

In her mind, it was clear as a mirror.

The Attendant's Office did things flawlessly. How could they have announced wrongly?

This mixup today was clearly arranged by Consort Chen on purpose.

Firstly, it was to slap Noble Consort Li's face in front of everyone and make her lose face.

Secondly, the mistaken announcement meant Song Zhao had no time to dress up in advance.

By the time she entered Chaoyang Palace barefaced, if Xiao Jingheng saw those unattractive pockmarks, he might be repulsed and send her straight back. It would be a complete return to Zhao.

Consort Chen had schemed left and right. In this move, she oppressed Noble Consort Li, openly gave Song Zhao a chance, and secretly humiliated Song Zhao in the presence of the emperor. It was hitting three birds with one stone.

Little did she know, she thought herself a praying mantis stalking the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind.

The seemingly exploited Song Zhao was actually the craftiest oriole seizing the opportunity in this game.