ALL NOVEL
Chapter 86
Afterwards when Song Zhao and Yun Shan climbed up Cloud Terrace again, they were even more careful.
Master and servant leaned against the cliff, taking one step at a time only after making sure their footing was secure before daring to go on.
After ascending Cloud Terrace and entering the Temple of the Bodhisattva with Ten Halls, Song Zhao kneeled and paid respects to the Buddha statues. She then took the peace talisman placed before the Buddhist shrine and carefully wrapped it in a silk handkerchief before putting it in her belt.
As they were leaving, she said to the palace maid servicing this place:
“The protective chains on both sides of Cloud Terrace are broken. Please arrange for someone to fix them quickly, so that no one gets injured.”
The palace maid repeatedly acknowledged, but her face was full of puzzlement as she muttered:
“They were just re-secured last month, how could they break in just a few days?”
Song Zhao didn’t say anything more after hearing this.
On the way down the mountain, a sentence Consort Chen had said kept running through Song Zhao's mind:
"The protective chains on both sides of Cloud Terrace are as cold as ice blocks in winter. One would avoid touching them if possible, lest your delicate hands freeze and cause trouble for the Empress later!"
If Consort Chen hadn't made that seemingly out-of-place remark, Song Zhao would likely be in mortal peril right now.
After safely descending from Cloud Terrace, Yun Shan heaved a long sigh of relief,
"Such treacherous terrain. Her Majesty has to ascend Cloud Terrace twice every month, I thought it was just more tiring, didn't expect this place could easily cost someone their life with a slight carelessness."
Song Zhao gave a cold laugh. “It has to be this way for her to show how good she is to the Emperor, right?" "If she is willing to sacrifice her life just to make the Emperor feel she is good, my humble opinion is such hard-earned feelings might as well be foregone."
On this matter, Yun Shan saw things more clearly than the Empress.
The consorts were all attentive towards Xiao Jingheng, but the Empress’ attention went a bit overboard.
When attention went beyond propriety, she was no longer a wife but more like a mother.
No wonder Xiao Jingheng still treated her with due courtesy and deference, yet with little marital affection between them.
Walking about ten zhang away from Cloud Terrace, Yun Shan looked back with lingering fear at the chains hanging on the cliff and couldn’t help gasping,
“It was truly dangerous just now. If Consort Chen didn't happen to sarcastically mention those chains when making fun of young miss, I'm afraid young miss would have been in danger after grabbing them."
"She didn't happen to mention it," Song Zhao said heavily. "She said it deliberately for me to hear."
"Deliberately? Is young miss saying Consort Chen already knew there was a problem with the chains beforehand?"
Song Zhao didn't reply, staring straight ahead as she walked.
Yun Shan pondered for a long while before suddenly realizing, "Or rather, those chains were..."
Song Zhao glanced at Yun Shan.
There were ears in the palace walls, even the winds had the ability to eavesdrop.
Yun Shan got the hint and immediately shut her mouth.
In fact the whole matter was already quite clear now.
Consort Chen thought the Empress tried to harm her during the snake incident in Plum Garden, so she racked her brains on getting back at the Empress.
It was common knowledge in the palace that the Empress ascended Cloud Terrace on the fifteenth and sixteenth every month.
So if Consort Chen wanted to harm the Empress, the most straightforward method was sabotaging the chains at Cloud Terrace.
This method was very simple, it was also brainless. If discovered it could easily lead back to her. But that was indeed Consort Chen's usual style...
Besides, Consort Chen wasn't Buddhist. Why would her sedan chair somehow end up going to Cloud Terrace?
She was probably hiding nearby all along, wanting to watch the Empress fall to her death with her own eyes to resolve the hatred in her heart.
The accident in the whole matter was Song Zhao's sudden appearance.
After Song Zhao returned the peace talisman to the Empress, they exchanged a few pleasantries and she withdrew.
Upon leaving the Empress's palace she didn't return straight back, but took a detour to Consort Chen’s palace instead.
When she arrived, Consort Chen was watching a play so she waited quietly at the side for around half a shichen.
After the performers left, Song Zhao immediately went to the center front of the hall and knelt down in front of Consort Chen without hesitation, bowing deeply to her,
"This concubine gives thanks to Consort Chen."
Even with Consort Chen's usually disdainful appearance looking down on everyone, she still rolled her eyes at Song Zhao and said,
"What are you thanking this consort for? I didn't do anything, if you want to thank someone then thank yourself!"
Of course Consort Chen had to pretend not to understand what Song Zhao meant.
Otherwise wouldn't it imply admission to damaging the Cloud Terrace chains?
Song Zhao understood Consort Chen's meaning, she simply said,
"This concubine has chilblains on her hands that get worse in the cold. If not for Consort Chen's reminder today, this concubine would surely grab the icy chains to climb up Cloud Terrace. By then my hands would be numb from the cold, I’m afraid even getting dressed and eating would pose difficulties."
Consort Chen was silent for a while before indicating for Song Zhao to stand. Smirking coldly she said,
"You kept your hands intact, hope you know who else you should now serve with them, understand?"
Song Zhao nodded repeatedly respectfully and said, "This concubine has attained her current standing solely through Consort Chen's guidance all this while. Consort Chen has shown this concubine great benevolence that this concubine will surely not forget her roots."
Consort Chen stared fixedly at Song Zhao's flawless beautiful face. Whenever alone with her, Consort Chen quietly marveled at this stunning woman.
Especially upon seeing Xiao Jingheng's scorching, ardent looks directed at Song Zhao, how she wished she could peel the skin off Song Zhao's face.
But of course such an enviable woman was also the one who saved her life...
Consort Chen's eyes narrowed, filled with piercing brilliance flashing vicious daggers at Song Zhao. Then hatefully and with utmost disgust she said,
"You certainly should not forget your roots. Otherwise I was able to recommend you to the Emperor's bed, I can also get you buried deep underground at Concubine Mausoleum! Yingxiang, escort her out!"
That day Song Zhao was chased out of Yonghe Palace by Consort Chen in the end. Yet she didn't find it upsetting at all. Rather, she inwardly felt Consort Chen was stupid to the point of being hard to resent.
Compared to those in the rear court backstabbing each other in the shadows, someone like Consort Chen who wore her heart on her sleeve was actually seemingly less detestable.
Upon returning to Yao Hua Palace, Song Zhao simply tidied up some luggage and placed the travel bag she was bringing along at the bedside, intending to organize things later.
However Xiao Jingheng arrived unexpectedly at this time.
As usual he didn't send anyone to announce him, surprising Song Zhao.
At the moment Song Zhao was busy fiddling with the travel bag by her bed. Seeing Xiao Jingheng's arrival, she immediately became somewhat flustered and covered the bag with her quilt. Then she went forward to greet Xiao Jingheng with a curtsy.
"Ten thousand blessings to the Emperor."
Seeing these suspicious actions, Xiao Jingheng expressionlessly helped Song Zhao up while pulling her towards the bed,
"Hiding some nice stuff? Won't even let Zhen see?"
"No...no, just some things this concubine needs to bring along for the Hot Spring Mountain Villa." Song Zhao stammered with shifty eyes, making Xiao Jingheng more certain something was amiss.
He suddenly flipped off the quilt, knocking the packed travel bag onto the ground too.
Xiao Jingheng bent down to retrieve the bag, just about to open it to investigate when he saw Song Zhao nervously biting her lips with a red face, shyly saying:
"It's just ordinary daily items inside, Your Majesty please don't look..."