"There is no need for formalities, please rise."
Xiao Jingheng got straight to the point and asked, "Regarding the matter of celestial patterns, Wei Supervisor spoke vaguely that day. When I wanted to ask him to calculate it again, I learned that he had an accident and died. Since this is the case, you can replace him and calculate whether Noble Consort Song's star chart truly clashes with the Empress's, as he claimed."
As the deputy of the Astronomy Bureau, Li Yun naturally had a close relationship with Wei Zhengde.
He couldn't possibly not know that Wei Zhengde died mysteriously at this critical juncture because he offended someone he shouldn't have.
And it was very likely that this person was the Emperor!
As such, how could Li Yun dare to speak recklessly anymore?
He was so frightened that his body shook uncontrollably as he stammered, "Y-Your Majesty, please wait a moment while this humble official calculates."
He took out a compass and pretended to calculate ceremoniously in the hall.
After a while, he seemed to have calculated something odd, and his eyebrows flashed with momentary astonishment. He was so shocked that he knelt on the ground,
"Reporting to Your Majesty, according to this humble official's calculations, there is no conflicting energy between the Heavenly Treasury Star and the Sun Star, and recent celestial patterns show nothing amiss..."
"Oh?" Xiao Jingheng asked solemnly, "Why is your statement completely different from Wei Supervisor's a few days ago?"
Li Yun quickly replied, "P-Perhaps Wei Supervisor looked at it wrongly when he was divining! Your Majesty, what you don't know is that Wei Supervisor was extremely fond of wine, and would always have wine by his side even when on duty. Maybe the alcohol damaged his health and clouded his mind. That's why he was somewhat delusional."
Xiao Jingheng was very satisfied with this statement.
He nodded, "I see. Wei Supervisor was indeed extremely fond of wine, and in the end lost his life due to drunkenness. It serves him right. The Astronomy Bureau allowing such an unvirtuous and incompetent person to occupy the Supervisor position for so long is truly preposterous."
After a short pause, he deliberately asked again, "Let me ask you, in your opinion, does Noble Consort Song still need to be under house arrest?"
"No need, no need! The celestial patterns show no harm. Noble Consort Song does not need to be confined," Li Yun answered so quickly as if someone behind him was rushing his life.
The Empress silently let out the breath she had been holding.
Xiao Jingheng then looked towards Song Zhao and gently said, "Since this is the case, release Noble Consort Song from confinement."
He then deliberately asked the Empress again, "Does the Empress think My decision is good?"
How could the Empress dare to disagree anymore?
She only said, "Since it was Supervisor Wei's mistake while on duty, it's only right to restore Noble Consort Song's freedom. It's just unfortunate for her to be confined to her palace and miss the New Year's Eve feast all because of some drunken rambling. She was truly wronged."
Song Zhao immediately got up and gave thanks, "This concubine gives thanks to Your Majesty and the Empress."
In contests between masters, the common tactic is to stop after scoring a point.
With just a few words, the Empress has shifted all the blame onto the dead Supervisor Wei and cleared her own suspicions thoroughly.
Xiao Jingheng also did not investigate further, but promoted Li Yun to become the new supervisor of the Astronomy Bureau, which served as a warning to the Empress.
Only Consort Ning failed to grasp the situation and kept saying,
"Does Your Majesty think this matter was Supervisor Wei's idea alone? If no one instigated him, why would a minor official dare to splash dirt on me and Noble Consort Song?"
Of course her questions would get no response from Xiao Jingheng.
In the end, the Empress is still the Empress. And now pregnant, she is the pillar of the harem. Even if she flipped the harem upside down now, Xiao Jingheng would only turn a blind eye instead of investigating deeply.
But Xiao Jingheng did compensate Song Zhao.
After releasing her from confinement, all kinds of exquisite and luxurious rewards were sent to Yao Palace by the internal affairs department like flowing water. Nothing less than the best would be presented to Song Zhao.
Song Zhao gave thanks for imperial favor and accepted everything readily.
Although she did not care for material things herself, having money by her side would still be indispensable for managing internal affairs in the future
In the following days, Song Zhao acted as if nothing had happened, and would still visit the Empress as usual.
The Empress said to her, "Consort Ning believes this was my doing and must have said a lot of nonsense to you. Yet you pay it no mind and still keep intimate terms with me?"
Song Zhao smiled and said, "Since entering the palace, this concubine has enjoyed much favor from the Empress. How could I think this matter would be under your orders? Also, I witnessed the great fire of Phoenix Pavilion with my own eyes. I would blame myself for being an ill-fated star who brought danger onto the Empress. That would be my sin."
Shuang Ruo chimed in from the side, "People say whatever is on one's mind is how they see others. Noble Consort Song is kind-hearted, so of course she wouldn't come up with those conjectures or be disrespectful to the Empress. But as for Consort Ning...her mind is full of malice, so she assumes everyone else is like her too. She..."
"Shuang Ruo! Do not speak ill of your mistress," the Empress sharply reprimanded Shuang Ruo to stop her.
But if the Empress hadn't instructed Shuang Ruo beforehand, as someone who followed etiquette, how could she dare to interrupt when her mistresses were speaking?
The mistress and servant enjoyed putting on an act while Song Zhao simply watched the show.
After the show finished, she went to the Empress Dowager's palace to accompany her in Buddhist practices.
She had been coming every day in recent days to accompany the Empress Dowager in praying for blessings for the Empress and Noble Consort Xiao's unborn imperial children.
The Empress Dowager was extremely fond of Song Zhao and praised her frequently without reservation, "My child, you have the kindest heart and never get involved in the disputes within the harem. You are just like your mother was. Selfishly, I also hope that someday you can bear a child for the Emperor. That would be even better."
As she gazed at Song Zhao's flat belly, she sighed. "The Emperor also favors you greatly. Why is there still no news?"
Song Zhao shyly replied, "Such matters should follow the will of heaven. This concubine cannot possibly force what isn't willing to come."
But how would the Empress Dowager know whether she was already pregnant?
After returning to the palace that day, Xiao Fuzi came to check Song Zhao's pulse.
He was extremely cautious, checking again and again. Finally, he firmly stated:
"Mistress, you truly have a one month pregnancy! Although this slave's medical skills are lacking, I am sure of this."
Upon hearing this news, Song Zhao's expression remained indifferent as usual. She did not show the typical elation like other people when hearing they were pregnant, as if they had obtained a precious treasure.
"I understand. Keep this a secret for now and don't tell anyone," she instructed.
Xiao Fuzi said, "Yes, Mistress should start adhering to dietary prohibitions soon."
Song Zhao smilingly nodded, then dismissed Xiao Fuzi.
In fact, after returning from the hot springs villa, Song Zhao's menstruation had been late. She had already asked Xiao Fuzi to check her pulse then.
She had known about her pregnancy early on, so even without Prince An's help that day, she still had the means to resolve the confinement predicament.
But using the pregnancy news to exchange for lifting the confinement was too much of a loss.
In the palace, whoever has a child can usually obtain some benefits for themselves.
So Song Zhao was waiting for the right opportunity to announce this news in order to maximize the gains.
For instance -
to be conferred as an Imperial Concubine directly and become a female master of her own palace.
Only then could she openly raise her own child under her care in the future.
"There is no need for formalities, please rise."
Xiao Jingheng got straight to the point and asked, "Regarding the matter of celestial patterns, Wei Supervisor spoke vaguely that day. When I wanted to ask him to calculate it again, I learned that he had an accident and died. Since this is the case, you can replace him and calculate whether Noble Consort Song's star chart truly clashes with the Empress's, as he claimed."
As the deputy of the Astronomy Bureau, Li Yun naturally had a close relationship with Wei Zhengde.
He couldn't possibly not know that Wei Zhengde died mysteriously at this critical juncture because he offended someone he shouldn't have.
And it was very likely that this person was the Emperor!
As such, how could Li Yun dare to speak recklessly anymore?
He was so frightened that his body shook uncontrollably as he stammered, "Y-Your Majesty, please wait a moment while this humble official calculates."
He took out a compass and pretended to calculate ceremoniously in the hall.
After a while, he seemed to have calculated something odd, and his eyebrows flashed with momentary astonishment. He was so shocked that he knelt on the ground,
"Reporting to Your Majesty, according to this humble official's calculations, there is no conflicting energy between the Heavenly Treasury Star and the Sun Star, and recent celestial patterns show nothing amiss..."
"Oh?" Xiao Jingheng asked solemnly, "Why is your statement completely different from Wei Supervisor's a few days ago?"
Li Yun quickly replied, "P-Perhaps Wei Supervisor looked at it wrongly when he was divining! Your Majesty, what you don't know is that Wei Supervisor was extremely fond of wine, and would always have wine by his side even when on duty. Maybe the alcohol damaged his health and clouded his mind. That's why he was somewhat delusional."
Xiao Jingheng was very satisfied with this statement.
He nodded, "I see. Wei Supervisor was indeed extremely fond of wine, and in the end lost his life due to drunkenness. It serves him right. The Astronomy Bureau allowing such an unvirtuous and incompetent person to occupy the Supervisor position for so long is truly preposterous."
After a short pause, he deliberately asked again, "Let me ask you, in your opinion, does Noble Consort Song still need to be under house arrest?"
"No need, no need! The celestial patterns show no harm. Noble Consort Song does not need to be confined," Li Yun answered so quickly as if someone behind him was rushing his life.
The Empress silently let out the breath she had been holding.
Xiao Jingheng then looked towards Song Zhao and gently said, "Since this is the case, release Noble Consort Song from confinement."
He then deliberately asked the Empress again, "Does the Empress think My decision is good?"
How could the Empress dare to disagree anymore?
She only said, "Since it was Supervisor Wei's mistake while on duty, it's only right to restore Noble Consort Song's freedom. It's just unfortunate for her to be confined to her palace and miss the New Year's Eve feast all because of some drunken rambling. She was truly wronged."
Song Zhao immediately got up and gave thanks, "This concubine gives thanks to Your Majesty and the Empress."
In contests between masters, the common tactic is to stop after scoring a point.
With just a few words, the Empress has shifted all the blame onto the dead Supervisor Wei and cleared her own suspicions thoroughly.
Xiao Jingheng also did not investigate further, but promoted Li Yun to become the new supervisor of the Astronomy Bureau, which served as a warning to the Empress.
Only Consort Ning failed to grasp the situation and kept saying,
"Does Your Majesty think this matter was Supervisor Wei's idea alone? If no one instigated him, why would a minor official dare to splash dirt on me and Noble Consort Song?"
Of course her questions would get no response from Xiao Jingheng.
In the end, the Empress is still the Empress. And now pregnant, she is the pillar of the harem. Even if she flipped the harem upside down now, Xiao Jingheng would only turn a blind eye instead of investigating deeply.
But Xiao Jingheng did compensate Song Zhao.
After releasing her from confinement, all kinds of exquisite and luxurious rewards were sent to Yao Palace by the internal affairs department like flowing water. Nothing less than the best would be presented to Song Zhao.
Song Zhao gave thanks for imperial favor and accepted everything readily.
Although she did not care for material things herself, having money by her side would still be indispensable for managing internal affairs in the future
In the following days, Song Zhao acted as if nothing had happened, and would still visit the Empress as usual.
The Empress said to her, "Consort Ning believes this was my doing and must have said a lot of nonsense to you. Yet you pay it no mind and still keep intimate terms with me?"
Song Zhao smiled and said, "Since entering the palace, this concubine has enjoyed much favor from the Empress. How could I think this matter would be under your orders? Also, I witnessed the great fire of Phoenix Pavilion with my own eyes. I would blame myself for being an ill-fated star who brought danger onto the Empress. That would be my sin."
Shuang Ruo chimed in from the side, "People say whatever is on one's mind is how they see others. Noble Consort Song is kind-hearted, so of course she wouldn't come up with those conjectures or be disrespectful to the Empress. But as for Consort Ning...her mind is full of malice, so she assumes everyone else is like her too. She..."
"Shuang Ruo! Do not speak ill of your mistress," the Empress sharply reprimanded Shuang Ruo to stop her.
But if the Empress hadn't instructed Shuang Ruo beforehand, as someone who followed etiquette, how could she dare to interrupt when her mistresses were speaking?
The mistress and servant enjoyed putting on an act while Song Zhao simply watched the show.
After the show finished, she went to the Empress Dowager's palace to accompany her in Buddhist practices.
She had been coming every day in recent days to accompany the Empress Dowager in praying for blessings for the Empress and Noble Consort Xiao's unborn imperial children.
The Empress Dowager was extremely fond of Song Zhao and praised her frequently without reservation, "My child, you have the kindest heart and never get involved in the disputes within the harem. You are just like your mother was. Selfishly, I also hope that someday you can bear a child for the Emperor. That would be even better."
As she gazed at Song Zhao's flat belly, she sighed. "The Emperor also favors you greatly. Why is there still no news?"
Song Zhao shyly replied, "Such matters should follow the will of heaven. This concubine cannot possibly force what isn't willing to come."
But how would the Empress Dowager know whether she was already pregnant?
After returning to the palace that day, Xiao Fuzi came to check Song Zhao's pulse.
He was extremely cautious, checking again and again. Finally, he firmly stated:
"Mistress, you truly have a one month pregnancy! Although this slave's medical skills are lacking, I am sure of this."
Upon hearing this news, Song Zhao's expression remained indifferent as usual. She did not show the typical elation like other people when hearing they were pregnant, as if they had obtained a precious treasure.
"I understand. Keep this a secret for now and don't tell anyone," she instructed.
Xiao Fuzi said, "Yes, Mistress should start adhering to dietary prohibitions soon."
Song Zhao smilingly nodded, then dismissed Xiao Fuzi.
In fact, after returning from the hot springs villa, Song Zhao's menstruation had been late. She had already asked Xiao Fuzi to check her pulse then.
She had known about her pregnancy early on, so even without Prince An's help that day, she still had the means to resolve the confinement predicament.
But using the pregnancy news to exchange for lifting the confinement was too much of a loss.
In the palace, whoever has a child can usually obtain some benefits for themselves.
So Song Zhao was waiting for the right opportunity to announce this news in order to maximize the gains.
For instance -
to be conferred as an Imperial Concubine directly and become a female master of her own palace.
Only then could she openly raise her own child under her care in the future.
