Song Yunzhao had been secretly observing the Emperor's expression the whole time. After she finished speaking, she saw that he wasn't angry. Instead, he looked torn between laughter and exasperation, and the heavy weight on her heart instantly lightened.
The Emperor wasn't angry, which meant that as far as he was concerned, the situation was tipping in her favor—at least for now.
But it was hard to say just how much. The main issue was the Emperor's so-called "obsession with cleanliness." It likely stemmed from the deep-seated trauma the late Emperor had left him with. On top of that, none of the concubines in the harem were women he had chosen himself; most were daughters of courtiers who had been forced upon him. This made him inherently wary and resentful, which was why he could refrain from favoring them with his attention.
It was hard to say what he would do once he held full power in his own hands, but for now, Yun Zhao felt she had a significant advantage.
