Song Yunzhao noticed something was off about the way Consort Shu was looking at her, but she paid it no mind. After all, Consort Shu had never looked at her in a way that *wasn't* off.
"I'm not against stepping in, but what's in it for me?" Consort Shu asked, looking at Song Yunzhao.
Song Yunzhao stared at her, feigning astonishment. "But aren't you the one who stands to gain the most, Your Ladyship? First, if you successfully put a stop to this, Consort Zhuang won't be able to use the matter to curry favor with the Empress Dowager and one-up you. Second, life isn't easy for the concubines. You'd be saving them a sum of silver, and they would naturally be grateful. You'd win popular support. Finally, with such influence in the harem, you wouldn't be isolated and helpless if someone tried to cause trouble for you in the future."
