Chapter 42: The Calculating Xiao

Xiao Jingheng said yesterday that he would come to Yao Hua Palace today to have lunch.

After Song Zhao returned to the palace, she and Consort Yao busied themselves in the small kitchen.

Since Song Zhao was favored, the number of times Xiao Jingheng came to Yao Hua Palace recently increased significantly.

As the saying goes, "A glimpse of a face tells a lot", Consort Yao is the primary consort of Yao Hua Palace, she could always reap some benefits from Song Zhao's favor.

The two were busy chatting and laughing in the small kitchen.

Yun Shan came in, greeted them with a bow and said, "My lady, Xiao the Concubine has come to see you again."

A smile froze on Song Zhao’s face as she said helplessly:

"Go tell her to wait for me for a moment in the West Side Hall. I’ll be there shortly."

"Why bother with her?" Consort Yao's face darkened. "She seldom got close with you in the past. Now that she sees you have obtained the Emperor's favor, she comes to see you every day. Is she here to see you or to try her luck to meet the Emperor through you? Can you not see that?"

Song Zhao understood why Consort Yao got upset all of a sudden.

Xiao Jingheng would come to have lunch later. Originally only Consort Yao and her could serve him at the side. If Xiao the Concubine was also present, whose attention would Xiao Jingheng give?

As a tactful person who tried not to offend anyone, Song Zhao said,

"Since she’s already here, as fellow sisters I should not shut her out. Let me go see her, chat for a bit to get rid of her, so she won’t stay for lunch later."

Glancing at the exquisite dishes Consort Yao prepared on the kitchen counter, she smiled and said, "No one but you can cook so wonderfully, Consort. I alone cannot finish all this. How can I bear to share it with her?"

Only then did Consort Yao smile again. "If you like to eat it, I'll prepare more for you later."

When Song Zhao returned to the West Side Hall, Xiao the Concubine smiled and greeted her enthusiastically right away.

She behaved very intimately with Song Zhao, held her hand and led her to sit on the heated cushions.

"It's rare to see Sister in such good spirits today, even wanting to cook by yourself?"

Song Zhao said, "I had nothing to do, so I wanted to make a couple hometown dishes."

"Oh, then I’m fortunate to have a treat." After blurting that out, Xiao pretended to be embarrassed and asked, "But I’m intruding without even asking if Sister welcomes me. I took the liberty to invite myself over for lunch. Does Sister welcome me?"

Song Zhao smiled gently, "Why say that, Sister? Adding another pair of chopsticks is nothing. Consort would also love having more people around. Of course you're welcome."

"We’re kindred spirits. I love spending time with you~" Xiao sighed and said, "You don't know how much I suffered in Zhaochun Palace. Consort Hui has a child's temperament and is nice to get along with, but that Concubine Liu... Since I entered the palace, I've served His Majesty only once, while Concubine Liu has served three times. She would show contempt for me both openly and privately just because of that. Facing her every day really upsets me."

When it came to others’ gossip, Song Zhao of course wouldn’t chime in.

So she ignored it and changed the subject, "The Emperor’s birthday is coming up in a few days. What gift have you prepared for His Majesty, Sister?"

Xiao's words tripped up as she said, "I plan to perform a water sleeve dance at His Majesty’s birthday banquet. "

The Emperor’s birthday was also when all consorts and concubines showed their presence before His Majesty. Everyone would exhibit their best skills, especially new consorts and concubines who entered the palace last year like Song Zhao and Xiao.

Song Zhao had thoroughly investigated Xiao. Her specialty was singing, how could she possibly dance before His Majesty?

But Song Zhao chose not to expose her. She just smiled and said,

"Sister is graceful with captivating beauty. The water sleeve dance can best showcase feminine charm. I believe Sister will surely fascinate all of Jing City with one dance and earn a special look from His Majesty."

Xiao waved her hand. "I'm just a woman of humble origin. I cannot compare with you, beautiful enough to captivate people, who also bravely protected His Majesty in the imperial garden. It’s obvious that other than Empress, His Majesty favors you the most now. If I guessed correctly, His Majesty must have flipped your name plaque again last night to summon you?"

Song Zhao shyly said, "Sister, stop teasing me. His Sixth Highness came today. His Majesty should accompany him to Shoukang Palace tonight to visit Princess Dowager Jinggui together instead of doing that."

Xiao silently nodded, seemingly pondering something.

Sitting on the heated cushion, she felt something poking her thigh. After shifting her body, she found that it was a songbook pressed under her.

Just as Xiao picked up the songbook before opening it, Song Zhao panicked.

Unlike her usual calm and composed manner, she rashly tried to snatch the songbook. Xiao was swifter, dodged aside and jokingly said, "What's this? Look how nervous Sister became."

After flipping through the songbook, she said,

"This is the score for Kunqu Opera 'The Hairpin'? Sister enjoys singing?"

Song Zhao shook her head and sighed, “It’s not that I enjoy it. His Majesty mentioned to me the other day that he really likes this Kunqu piece ‘The Hairpin’. So I wanted to learn it to surprise him. But I have no talent at all, I couldn’t even find the right notes after practicing a few times...”

As Xiao listened, the light in her eyes flickered.

Kunqu Opera was exactly her strength.

Song Zhao didn’t know how to sing it, but she did!

If Xiao Jingheng really liked listening to Kunqu Opera, this could become her opportunity to advance.

Xiao pondered briefly then quickly returned the songbook to Song Zhao. She got up and said,

"I suddenly remembered I still have some matters to attend to in the palace. I'm afraid I can’t stay for lunch with Sister today. I’ll come find you another day."

"Sister is leaving already? Lunch is ready soon. Why don't you stay for lunch before you go?" Song Zhao called out while following behind Xiao.

Yet Xiao dashed out of Yao Hua Palace like a wild rabbit having fun.

Song Zhao stood under the cypress tree in the courtyard, gazing serenely at Xiao’s hurriedly retreating figure.

The thin rosy lips curved up beautifully as she silently uttered,

“Fool.”

About ten minutes after Xiao left, Xiao Jingheng arrived.

During the lunch with the three people, Consort Yao kept enthusiastically serving dishes to Xiao Jingheng.

Yet in the whole meal, Xiao Jingheng only looked at her twice and said one sentence to her,

“Consort Yao’s cooking skill has improved again.”

Just this one word of praise was enough to delight Consort Yao for a long time.

After lunch ended, Xiao Jingheng naturally went to the West Side Hall of Song Zhao’s residence to take a nap.

He kept his words. Still concerned about Song Zhao’s back contusion, he would come every day to apply medicine for her.

“I’ve seen your back contusion heal very well these days. It seems it’ll soon disappear without a trace. ”

“It’s all thanks to Your Majesty, isn’t it?” Song Zhao put on her outer garment and snuggled into Xiao Jingheng's arms, stroking the stubble on his chin with her fingertips. “Your Majesty takes such good care of me personally every day. I don’t know how to repay Your kindness.”

The girl in his arms had a tender voice, cool fingertips, and captivating eyes like silk threads. Every seemingly accidental touch was in fact blatant flirting.

“Oh?” Xiao Jingheng’s tone rose. He tilted her chin with one hand and smiled wickedly,

“Then let me tell you how you should repay me.”

As he said that, his warm palm slid past layers of obstacles and gently probed toward the tender spot.