ALL NOVEL
Chapter 1
The third year of Qiyuan, July.
This summer was much more sultry than previous years.
Song Zhao looked through the trellis window at the wilted flowers in the courtyard.
Steam rose from the lotus pond in the blazing sun, and even the cicadas in the branches seemed too lazy to chatter.
But her boudoir was very cool.
Song Zhao leaned lazily on the warm seat, her delicate fingers idly fiddling with the ice placed in front of her.
The icy mist lingered on her fingertips, then dissipated in a flash.
Her boudoir faced west, and in fact for the whole summer she had been living as if in a steamer.
It was only a few days ago, when the imperial decree for her to enter the palace as a concubine arrived at Duke of Protector's Mansion, that a steady stream of ice had been delivered to her boudoir.
"Squeak-"
Song Zhao instinctively glanced up when she heard the sound of the door being pushed open.
Maid Yun Shan walked in carrying a purple cloak, which she neatly placed in front of Song Zhao.
"Second young miss, the clothes for entering the palace have arrived."
It was a purple cloud brocade cloak embroidered with su, made of top-quality fabric and workmanship.
As an illegitimate daughter, Song Zhao had never even touched such fine things before.
Now she had been given them, yet she looked at them unhappily.
"Put them away for now. I'll wear what I have on when I enter the palace tomorrow."
Yun Shan glanced at the gray cloud-patterned shirt Song Zhao was wearing. The fabric was ordinary, the stitches crude, and the color drab. She felt uneasy,
"Second young miss, I know you're unhappy, but the imperial decree has been issued, everything has been settled, there's no room left to maneuver."
Seeing Song Zhao silently bow her head without speaking, Yun Shan picked up the clothes and held them against her to compare.
"Look, this color makes you look so spirited! A beautiful woman entering the palace for the first time has the chance to meet His Majesty. Master said you must seize this opportunity to make the emperor notice you with one glance. If you don't gain his favor at first sight, it will be hard to earn his indulgence afterwards."
Song Zhao was silent for a moment, then asked, "What time is it now?"
"Noon. Tomorrow you enter the palace, so Master and Madam are waiting for you in the main hall to bid farewell."
"Help me up and dress my hair."
Hearing this, Yun Shan's eyes flashed with joy. "Good! It's great that second young miss is willing to pull herself together!"
In her eyes, the fact that Song Zhao was willing to dress up meant she hadn't completely given up on herself.
Although the road into the palace would be arduous, it was still better than staying in the mansion.
Her young miss was so extraordinarily beautiful that as long as she showed her face to His Majesty, there was no reason she wouldn't gain his favor.
If she stayed in the mansion, who knew how much bullying she would continue to suffer from the madam and young miss.
As Yun Shan dressed Song Zhao's hair, Song Zhao took out a new box of powder from the drawer and handed it to her.
"My elder sister gave me this powder when she learned I was entering the palace. I'll use it today."
Song Zhao had very fair skin, smooth and translucent like beautiful jade.
With her heavenly appearance, even without any powder, just some rouge and lip color, she was already dazzlingly beautiful.
But today, Song Zhao had Yun Shan apply an extra layer of powder on her face.
Yun Shan said, "Actually second young miss looks best with her natural bare face."
Song Zhao looked at her exquisite features in the mirror and smiled without replying.
After dressing up, she went to the main hall where the whole family had been waiting for some time.
Sitting at the head was Duke of Protector Song Shicheng. To his left and right were his principal wife, Jiang, and eldest daughter Song Yue.
The three of them fixed their six eyes on Song Zhao, each with their own thoughts.
Song Zhao knelt down and bowed to the high seat.
"Daughter is late, making father, mother and elder sister wait. It is daughter's fault."
Song Shicheng beckoned her to rise. "I thought you were being stubborn again and didn't even want to see us this last time. Sit."
After she sat down, she heard Jiang sneer,
"You should know, letting you enter the palace is entirely for your own good. Your elder sister felt sorry for you and gave up her own spot to enter the palace, begging your father to send you to the palace. There is endless glory and wealth to enjoy in the palace, you've gained this advantage, so don't be ungrateful."
"Yes, daughter is most grateful to mother and elder sister." Song Zhao thanked them obediently. As she spoke, her fingers inadvertently scratched her cheek.
Elder sister Song Yue added, "Of this batch of new palace ladies, there are only four beauties. Although you only got a placeholder position because you're illegitimate, the imperial consorts are all friendly. I'm sure they won't make things difficult for you."
Song Zhao nodded. "Elder sister is absolutely right."
As she spoke, she didn't stop scratching her face, and it grew more intense.
Jiang frowned. "Everyone is talking to you, what are you scratching your ears and cheeks for?"
Hearing Jiang's reprimand, Song Zhao forced herself to stop scratching her inexplicably itchy face and put her hands down. But then Jiang cried out again,
"Oh! Your face..."
Everyone looked over.
Only then did they see Song Zhao's originally exquisite and beautiful face was now covered in swollen red rashes, a shocking sight!
Song Zhao wept piteously as they looked on in astonishment. She covered her face and asked in confusion,
"What happened to my face?"
Song Shicheng quickly said, "Don't touch it! Fetch Doctor Zhang here!"
While waiting for Doctor Zhang, everyone had moved from the main hall to the side hall. By now, Song Zhao had also seen her pustuled face in the bronze mirror.
A woman's fortune depended on her looks, and Song Zhao was originally so brightly beautiful, with innate charm.
Entering the palace tomorrow, she could have earned a good future relying on this face.
But now her ruined complexion meant everything was over.
She wept so sadly that anyone would feel pity. Jiang and daughter watched mockingly from the side, while Song Shicheng was very concerned about Song Zhao's condition.
To be precise, he cared about Song Zhao's face that could entrance all men in the world.
After all, he had hoped Song Zhao could gain imperial favor in the palace and do him credit.
Later, after Doctor Zhang examined her, he quickly found the cause of Song Zhao's facial swelling and rashes.
"My lord, this is an allergic reaction in second young miss."
"Allergic reaction?" Song Shicheng asked in puzzlement. "She's only allergic to peach blossoms. Since we've known about this condition, peach trees have been banned in Duke of Protector's Mansion. How could she have come into contact with peach blossoms in July?"
Doctor Zhang stroked his beard. "Since the reaction is only on her face, the pollen could not have been ingested through food. Perhaps it relates to second young miss's daily toiletries."
Following this lead, Song Shicheng had people investigate in detail.
Soon, the box of powder Song Yue had given to Song Zhao was presented to everyone.
After careful examination, Doctor Zhang said in alarm,
"My lord, peach blossom pollen has been mixed into this powder! And the pollen was ground extremely fine, very difficult to detect any problem without close inspection."
With this, the side hall immediately erupted into chaos.
Before Song Yue could even try to defend herself,
Song Zhao cried and accused her, "Elder sister, why are you so cruel to me?"