Chapter 301

Xiao Jingheng's sadness deepened after the Empress's death, and he had not visited any concubines in the past two months.

Song Zhao was one who escaped this “disaster” unscathed.

Her pregnancy progressed day by day, and Cheng Yu was also clever, already able to say some simple phrases.

Xiao Jingheng was very fond of the precious Cheng Yu, and he increasingly cherished Song Zhao.

He came to Changle Palace almost every other day to chat with Song Zhao and play with Cheng Yu,

as if only by doing so could he temporarily forget the pain of losing his wife.

Sometimes to save trouble, Xiao Jingheng also brought memorials to Changle Palace to review.

This day was the same as usual. Xiao Jingheng sat at the desk reviewing memorials while Song Zhao held Cheng Yu and accompanied him.

But looking at it, Xiao Jingheng's expression was very solemn when reviewing the memorials today.

"Is this Saqigebu thinking I'm muddled?"

He suddenly lashed out, heavily throwing an unreviewed memorial on the table.

This frightened Cheng Yu and the child cried incessantly.

Song Zhao comforted him for a while, and felt that Xiao Jingheng was in a bad mood, and it would be annoying for the child to stay here making a fuss. Moreover, if he was frightened again by Xiao Jingheng's irritable behavior, it would be even worse.

So Song Zhao called the wet nurse to take Cheng Yu away to coax him,

then went to Xiao Jingheng's side and gently massaged his shoulders and neck, "Ada Khagan has always been law-abiding and rarely submits memorials to the Emperor. Why did he provoke such anger from Your Majesty today?"

Xiao Jingheng said unpleasantly: "He requested to cede the thirteen Khorchin guards under him to the court."

Song Zhao said, "That is good news. Hasn't Your Majesty always disliked Ada for harboring his own troops?"

Xiao Jingheng shook his head coldly, "But he chose this time to do such things, clearly wanting to curry favor with the Qi dynasty. What can be the reason? When the Empress was alive, Saqigebu held the little military power in his hands tighter than anyone else. Now that the Empress has passed away, he is extremely fawning. How do we know if he doesn't want to establish a reputation for loyalty in the previous dynasty through this, in preparation for Yingfei to make further moves in the future?"

As he spoke, he pointed to a pile of memorials on the left, "And these, Consort Yun's father is far away in Jizhou, but he can also pull strings with the Minister of Revenue to speak up for Consort Yun. Even the usually honest and content Consort Yao, her family has also begun to ingratiate themselves in the previous dynasty. The Empress has been dead for just two months, and they are already so impatient, eagerly colluding with the previous dynasty and the harem!"

Xiao Jingheng angrily threw all the memorials onto the floor.

Song Zhao signaled Yun Shan, who came forward to pick up the memorials and hand them to Song Zhao, and Song Zhao placed them back on the desk, then instructed:

"This concubine has some private words to say to Your Majesty, you may withdraw for now."

After dismissing the palace servants, Song Zhao massaged Xiao Jingheng’s somewhat stiff and tense temples, and gently said:

"In fact, Your Majesty need not be so angry. Now that the harem is without a mistress, it is inevitable that others will have improper thoughts. This does not mean that the several sisters with consort titles harbor such thoughts. After all, what their families do is not something they can control. For any family, having a daughter become an imperial consort is the greatest glory and help, a great benefit. It is inevitable that some people will be muddled. " Song Zhao first trivialized the impure intentions of the three remaining consorts' families, then did not exclude herself either, instead saying:

"Forgive this concubine for speaking bluntly, if this concubine's father were still alive, I'm afraid he would also inevitably run around the previous dynasty for this concubine's future. "

Hearing her words, Xiao Jingheng held her hand and sat down with her in the warm seats.

He looked at Song Zhao with burning eyes,

"You alone in the palace dare to speak such truths to me. Everyone covets the position of Empress, yet everyone pretends to be indifferent, which annoys me the most."

"Everyone?" Song Zhao smiled coquettishly, "Then Your Majesty must not include this concubine. This concubine just can't understand, what is so good about being Empress? In my opinion, the nobler the status, the heavier the burden on one's shoulders. It is better to enjoy Your Majesty's favor, have children to warm your knees, and be a favored concubine, more carefree."

Xiao Jingheng laughed, "That is because you can enjoy my favor, and are never greedy for anything. My Zhao'er is naturally different from others."

He stroked Song Zhao's flawless beautiful face,

as if caressing a rare piece of uncarved jade, cherishing it.

At this moment, Jiang Deshun came in to report,

"Your Majesty, the Deputy Director of the Imperial Observatory seeks an audience."

Xiao Jingheng nodded to indicate for him to bring the man in. Song Zhao tactfully said: "Your Majesty has matters to discuss with the Deputy Director, so perhaps this concubine should first withdraw to the inner chambers to avoid the meeting?"

Xiao Jingheng waved his hand and said, "No need, the Imperial Observatory will not come to discuss state affairs, don't bother yourself. Also, I want you to meet this Deputy Director too."

At that time, Song Zhao was still wondering, what was there for her, a woman, to meet an outsider male official for?

But the moment the Deputy Director bowed and entered, she was also quite surprised.

The man...

was that "diviner" Tan Yuezhi from Suzhou!

Tan Yuezhi was dressed in court attire, quite different from his former ethereal style.

He stood below the hall, paying respects to Xiao Jingheng with utmost propriety,

"This humble official Tan Yuezhi, Deputy Director of the Imperial Observatory, knocks to ask after Your Imperial Majesty's well-being."

Xiao Jingheng took a sip of tea and slowly said, "Is it comfortable working in the palace?"

Tan Yuezhi replied, "Thanks to Your Imperial Majesty's great fortune, all is well."

In her heart, Song Zhao was a little confused.

According to reason, Tan Yuezhi was used to wandering freely, and was hailed as almost a deity by the commoners in Suzhou. With the lower half of his life free of worries about food and drink and unrestrained, why would such a person willingly enter the palace to take up office?

As she looked at Tan Yuezhi doubtfully, Tan Yuezhi also looked at her,

"This humble official pays respects to Imperial Concubine Yi. During Your Imperial Majesty's southern tour this time, this humble official had divined that Your Imperial Majesty would encounter a noble person who would transform disaster into good fortune. I did not expect that Your Imperial Majesty's noble person had already met this humble official that very day. Please forgive this humble official's poor judgment, unable to discern."

With his first words he placed a high hat on Song Zhao's head. Naturally Song Zhao would not acknowledge it.

She also smiled, "Master Tan's calculations are profound and meticulous, how could he be poor of judgment? The reason Master did not discern that day is because this concubine is not Your Imperial Majesty's noble person. The true noble person is Consort Yao sister, who saved the imperial carriage. When there is time in the future, this concubine and Consort Yao will visit the Imperial Observatory to have our fortunes told, and will let Master meet her then."

With one sentence, she completely blocked Tan Yuezhi's flattery. Tan Yuezhi was rendered speechless for a moment, and smiled awkwardly without saying anything more.

Later Xiao Jingheng asked him, "What did you come looking for Us for?"

Tan Yuezhi's expression suddenly became solemn. He cupped his fists and said,

"Reporting to Your Imperial Majesty, this humble official's divination indicated that there will soon be flooding disasters in Jiangnan, harming the common people. I implore Your Imperial Majesty to make preparations early."