Zhi Hua and Xi Ying had been serving by Song Zhao's side for nearly a month now.
Zhi Hua was diligent in her work and seldom complained, making her quite conscientious.
However, Xi Ying was always lazy, avoiding work and often trying to be clever by assigning all the dirty and tiring tasks to Zhi Hua.
Song Zhao noticed all of this but never said anything to her.
At this moment, as she entered the bedroom to clean the flower vase, Song Zhao glanced at her with a sidelong look. The cloth merely went through the motions on the outer wall of the vase, not even wiping off the dirt from the flower mud at the bottle's mouth.
Just as Song Zhao was about to reprimand her, Yun Shan hurriedly rushed back.
Upon seeing Xi Ying present, Yun Shan deliberately said, "Xi Ying, I noticed that the grass in the flower garden outside has grown wild. Go and trim it."
Xi Ying reluctantly agreed and as she was leaving, Yun Shan reminded her, "Close the door. I need to speak with the young mistress."
Xi Ying's eyes wandered lazily as she closed the door slowly.
After she left, Yun Shan said to Song Zhao, "Young mistress, we have obtained some information. The palace staff accepted our money and revealed that tomorrow evening, the Emperor will pay respects to the Empress Dowager. On his way back, he will pass through the northeast corner of the imperial garden."
Song Zhao closed the book she had been reading on the desk and pondered, her expression filled with worry. "Since that's the case, we need to prepare quickly. When I entered the palace, didn't I bring a crimson-purple cloud brocade cloak embroidered with Su embroidery? I heard the Emperor likes that color. Fetch it and make the necessary arrangements. Tomorrow, I will wear it to 'accidentally' encounter the Emperor."
Yun Shan, dexterous in her movements, immediately rummaged through the wardrobe and found the garment. She compared it to Song Zhao's figure, saying, "This garment complements the young mistress's slender figure, coupled with her graceful dancing, the Emperor will surely be enchanted."
"Ah..." Song Zhao sighed, shaking her head helplessly. "Originally, I didn't want to contend for anything. But as you can see, if the women in the palace don't receive favor, their lives are worse off than servants. After a month in the palace, the Emperor hasn't shown any intention of summoning me. If I don't put in some effort, I'm afraid there won't be a place for me in this harem."
The master and servant pondered for a while, devising a plan to capture the Emperor's heart in one fell swoop.
To present herself in the best condition, Song Zhao had refrained from eating or drinking since the previous night. When she became excessively thirsty, she moistened her lips with a damp cloth, claiming that it was necessary to expel the moisture from her body and make her facial features appear more defined.
By the next evening, a resplendently dressed Song Zhao secretly slipped out of the palace while Consort Yao and Noble Consort Li were having their meals.
When the master and servant returned, the sky had already turned completely dark.
Coincidentally, they ran into Noble Consort Li strolling in the courtyard. Seeing how Song Zhao's attire today was strikingly different from her usual simplicity, she asked, "Where did you go?"
Song Zhao replied, "Yesterday, during the audience, when I was chatting casually with Consort Hui, we happened to mention that my mother is also from the Jiangsu-Zhejiang region, just like Consort Hui's maternal family."
Consort Hui said that there was a snack from her maternal family called "Onion Dumpling Stew" that she liked very much, but the palace chefs couldn't make it. When I was a concubine in my previous home, I learned this dish from my mother. So Consort Hui invited me to her palace and asked me to show off my skills by making the hometown snack she had been longing for.
All the women in the palace were vying for favor, except for Consort Hui, who was young and spent her days indulging in food, drink, and entertainment.
Noble Consort Li, who ranked below Consort Hui, didn't dare to gossip about Consort Hui. Instead, she began to pick on Song Zhao.
"If you want to cook, then cook. Why are you dressed like this? It's not like your usual attire," Noble Consort Li remarked.
Blushing, Song Zhao smiled and looked a little embarrassed as she glanced at herself and said, "It was the Empress who said that the eczema on my face has persisted for a long time, perhaps due to my mood. The Empress said that when a woman dresses up and feels happy herself, her mood improves. So I tried to dress up a bit."
Noble Consort Li had never paid any attention to Song Zhao before.
She had a better background, a higher rank, and more favor than Song Zhao. She had no need to be wary of her.
But today, with just a slight change in appearance, Song Zhao's whole demeanor changed, despite her facial blemishes.
Noble Consort Li didn't want anyone to take away the favor she had fought so hard to gain, so she cleared her throat and reprimanded, "Your clothes are overly flashy and exude a vulgar air. The Emperor dislikes women who dress like this. I'll give you a piece of advice for your own good: don't wear these clothes anymore."
Song Zhao nodded and smiled, saying, "Thank you for your advice, sister."
Back in her own room, Yun Shan exclaimed in anger, "What did Noble Consort Li say? She just can't stand to see you doing well! What does she mean the Emperor doesn't like it? If the Emperor truly didn't like it, would she dress up like a butterfly every day?"
Song Zhao couldn't be bothered with the foolish and brainless Noble Consort Li, so she didn't respond to Yun Shan's words.
Just then, Zhi Hua passed by the door, and Song Zhao called her, "Zhi Hua, have you seen Xi Ying?"
Zhi Hua stood outside the door and replied, "Little Mistress just left a while ago. She said she was going to the Imperial Household Department to get some spices and left. When she came back just now, I don't know if she had a conflict with the people from the Imperial Household Department, but her eyes were red, her left cheek was swollen, and there was blood at the corner of her mouth... It looks like she was slapped..."
Song Zhao said, "If my master is not favored, it means you all are suffering with me. Today, my maternal family sent some gold, silver, and delicate items to the palace. I thought of two things that would suit you all very well, so I wanted to keep them for you."
After about the time it takes to burn an incense stick, Zhi Hua finally brought Xi Ying from her chamber.
The red swelling on Xi Ying's face was very prominent, clearly the result of a slap.
Song Zhao pretended not to see and smiled, saying, "Today, my maternal family sent some gold, silver, and delicate items to the palace. You all work hard to serve me, so I thought of two things that would be suitable for you. I wanted to give them to you as gifts."
With that, Yun Shan handed two small and exquisite jewelry boxes to Zhi Hua and Xi Ying.
After expressing their thanks, Xi Ying seemed preoccupied and didn't pay much attention to the gifts.
Zhi Hua joyously said, "Thank you, Young Mistress. May I open and have a look?"
Song Zhao smiled and replied, "Of course."
Zhi Hua opened the brocade box and took out a jade bracelet from inside. She was overjoyed and immediately put it on her wrist, expressing her gratitude to Song Zhao repeatedly.
Song Zhao said, "I'm glad you like the gift. Also, I noticed that the bedding you sleep on is already worn out, and the household management department neglects its duties. So, I have instructed Yun Shan to replace it with new ones for you. Would you like to go and see if you like them?"
Zhi Hua became even happier upon hearing this and thanked Song Zhao multiple times before leaving with joy.
After she left, Song Zhao smiled as he observed Xi Ying and asked, "What's the matter? Aren't you happy with the gift I gave you?"
Xi Ying pursed her lips and replied, "I dare not be dissatisfied."
Song Zhao said, "Then, open it and see if it suits your taste."
Xi Ying slowly opened the jewelry box in her hands but let out a startled cry when she saw what was inside. She was so frightened that the jewelry box fell to the ground.
As the jewelry box fell, a bloody finger rolled out from inside!
Witnessing this scene sent shivers down people's spines, making their hair stand on end.