“It should be the eldest daughter of the Duke of Jin Manor, Jiang Rumin. There are rumors circulating that this eldest daughter is narrow-minded and vulgar, but according to my investigation, she has gained this bad reputation due to false accusations.”
Shen Yue paused, then added, “On the contrary, her widely praised younger sister is merely a reputation without substance, definitely not the true Phoenix Woman.”
Hearing this, Jun Li Luo became somewhat curious. “How so?”
He had just heard Song Yun Chu cursing and complaining in her heart, clearly indicating that Song Yun Chu knew who the Phoenix Woman was and held no favorable opinion of her.
Seventeen years ago, the wife and concubine of the Duke of Jin gave birth on the same day, both delivering baby girls within half an hour of each other. During that time, colorful auspicious clouds appeared in the sky, and hundreds of birds flew together—a rare and auspicious sign. A Wandering Taoist passing by observed the celestial phenomena and declared that the Phoenix Woman had descended to bring blessings to the Tianqi Kingdom.
For the following three years, many regions of the Tianqi Kingdom experienced bountiful harvests, and disasters were significantly reduced compared to previous years. The Late Emperor was overjoyed and decided to have the two daughters of the Duke of Jin Manor marry into the royal family, betrothing them to the First Prince and the Second Prince respectively.
Now both young ladies have reached marriageable age, but the two princes they were betrothed to have long perished in the struggle for the throne, their graves now overgrown with grass several feet high.
This outcome was largely due to Song Yun Chu’s scheming.
As the final victor who ascended the throne, Jun Li Luo naturally didn’t want the Phoenix Woman to end up with another family.
He didn’t believe in the legend of the Phoenix Woman’s descent. In his view, bountiful harvests or disasters were acts of heaven, and blessings weren’t necessarily brought by any particular person. Perhaps the Jiang sisters simply happened to be born at that opportune time. But—since the common people believed the Phoenix Woman could bring blessings, he would comply with public opinion and bring the Phoenix Woman to his side.
However, he occasionally overheard palace discussions claiming that the eldest Jiang daughter had extremely poor character, and that there was only one Phoenix Woman—the second daughter. The eldest daughter was merely born on the same day and had simply benefited from the association.
Finding the matter suspicious, he ordered Shen Yue to investigate personally.
“The eldest Jiang daughter treats people kindly and has privately aided many disaster victims. She prefers to keep her good deeds quiet, showing her gentle and reserved nature. Meanwhile, the second Jiang daughter’s reputation is largely built on word-of-mouth praise. In private, she is extremely wasteful and ostentatious, and she flatters those above while stepping on those below—somewhat two-faced. How could such behavior… belong to the Phoenix Woman?”
Hearing this, Song Yun Chu nearby couldn’t help but raise an eyebrow.
[Here comes the classic cliché of dog-blood novels. All the male supporting characters know the female lead’s good character, only the male lead is blind, treating the malicious female supporting character like treasure. If he would just learn from the dog emperor and send someone to observe the female lead for a while, he wouldn’t always be calling her a venomous woman.]
[That stupid author wrote the male lead as accomplished in both literary and military arts, good at everything except recognizing the female lead’s true nature. The female lead too—talented, beautiful like a flower, but completely incapable of standing on her own, always remaining a foolish love-struck idiot.]
Recalling the original novel’s synopsis, Song Yun Chu couldn’t help but despise the author.
[The eldest daughter of the Duke of Jin, Jiang Rumin, possessed exceptional medical skills and peerless beauty.
By chance, she was betrothed to her dream lover Prince Yi, yet Prince Yi’s gaze always followed her half-sister Jiang Yuxi.
She never imagined that the man she adored would leave her covered in wounds.
After he personally forced her to drink abortion medicine, heartbroken, she chose to leave.]
Upon learning that she carried his child in her womb, he was heartbroken and resolved to win her back.
She was wounded, he was remorseful. She fled, he pursued.
PS: Domineering, charismatic male lead VS innocent, naive female lead. The male lead faces an arduous journey to win back his wife, with a happy ending. Rest assured and enjoy!]
[Such a cliché plot and character archetypes, and now I have to become part of their play? How ridiculous.]
[My fate is inextricably linked to that dog emperor’s. At this stage, the dog emperor is merely curious about the Phoenix Woman. Later, when his love-starved heart since childhood feels Jiang Rumin’s warmth, he will compete with Prince Yi for her, and afterward, he will become increasingly twisted… This hateful man does have his pitiable side. Should I select a virtuous and gentle empress for him to cure his loneliness and desolation? That might also secure me a peaceful end.]
While lost in thought, Song Yun Chu sipped her tea, unaware that Jun Li Luo, who had been conversing with Shen Yue, paused and turned his gaze toward her.
He had guessed correctly.
Over these days of listening to Song Yun Chu’s inner thoughts, though many terms were unfamiliar, he could vaguely discern one thing—Song Yun Chu seemed to possess the ability to perceive the future.
He had the strange ability to eavesdrop on Song Yun Chu’s thoughts. If he was an anomaly, then Song Yun Chu was the second, and her ability was even more formidable than his.
She could actually sense the future outcomes of those connected to her.
The “original work” Song Yun Chu mentioned several times was likely a celestial book recording everyone’s destinies. This book existed only in Song Yun Chu’s mind, and unless she brought it up voluntarily, no one else could learn its contents.
Prince Yi, Jun Tianyi, was the youngest brother from the Late Emperor’s generation—his young imperial uncle, only three years older than him.
The Phoenix Woman was Jiang Rumin, the eldest daughter of the Duke of Jin. The Phoenix Woman would overcome numerous obstacles to become Jun Tianyi’s wife, while he, Jun Li Luo, was nothing but an overreaching usurper who would eventually suffer utter defeat. Song Yun Chu would also be dragged into this entanglement, meeting a tragic end.
Song Yun Chu, attempting to avoid this misfortune, actually considered selecting a virtuous and gentle empress for him… No wonder this scoundrel had been less arrogant and domineering lately.
Was the tragic fate of Song Yun Chu in the “original work” related to treason? Her current restraint was aimed at living longer.
Even if Song Yun Chu had no rebellious intentions now, it didn’t guarantee future loyalty. He hadn’t forgotten how insolent she had been before. However, the most pressing matter at hand wasn’t dealing with Song Yun Chu, but with the Phoenix Woman, Jiang Rumin.
He had originally planned to have the Phoenix Woman enter the palace as a mere figurehead, but now he had to reconsider. It was hard to believe that a ruler of a nation would lose control over a woman, but since it was part of Song Yun Chu’s foresight, he had to take it somewhat seriously. This woman who could influence his future… could not be allowed to remain.
“Yun Chu, let’s skip archery practice. Accompoy me for a stroll outside the palace.”
As he spoke, Jun Li Luo lightly patted Song Yun Chu’s shoulder.
Song Yun Chu turned to look at him. “Now?”
[Is the dog emperor that eager to see the Phoenix Woman? From Shen Yue’s account, the dog emperor probably already has some fondness for Jiang Rumin.]
【Should I try to prevent him from meeting her? But he’s already set his mind on meeting the Phoenix Woman. Even if they don’t meet today, they’ll meet another day. I probably can’t stop them from getting acquainted. It would be better to find a way to make him dislike the Phoenix Woman instead.】
“Right, I’ll leave the palace now.” A faint smile touched Jun Li Luo’s lips as he turned to change his clothes.
Song Yun Chu, this time I shall grant your wish and sever all possibilities with Jiang Rumin.