Noble Consort Chu has died!
The sky was about to fall on Dingnan Earl Manor!
The Emperor was overwhelmed with grief and suspended court sessions for three days.
Deeply moved, Dingnan Earl Manor decided to send another daughter to the palace. However, after searching high and low, the Chu family found no eligible young women and thus turned their attention to their in-laws.
The wife of Dingnan Earl was the biological sister of Third Madam Song. She immediately wrote a letter, urging her younger sister to bring her niece to the capital as quickly as possible.
When Song Yunzhao received the news, she spat out a mouthful of tea and pinched herself hard. The sharp pain instantly brought her back to reality.
After transmigrating for fourteen years, was the plot finally beginning to unfold?
Was she, the villainess supporting character, about to march toward her doom?
And yet… she felt a surge of excitement.
Jiangxiang cautiously observed her young lady. Seeing the fluctuating expressions on her face, she assumed her lady was grieving again and gently comforted her, “Young Lady, you needn’t worry. This time, Madam surely won’t be able to suppress you from participating in the selection. The Master won’t allow it either.”
Jiangxiang felt deeply sorry for her young lady. Ever since the Third Young Lady was born, Madam had never treated her well. Although she was a legitimate daughter, her life was only slightly better than that of the Second Young Lady, who was born of a concubine, and far inferior to the Eldest Young Lady.
As her maidservants, their hearts were breaking, let alone the young lady herself.
Song Yunzhao gave a faint smile and said softly to Jiangxiang, “I know you care for me, but don’t say such things outside. We must avoid giving others a handle against us.”
Jiangxiang thought she was grieving, but in truth, she felt no sorrow at all. Since Cai Shi had never treated her as a daughter, she naturally wouldn’t regard her as a mother either. If it weren’t for the oppressive filial piety norms of ancient times that left her with little room to maneuver, she would have long since found a way to establish her own independence.
After over a decade of cautious preparation, she had finally seized this opportunity—a perfect chance to break free.
“Young Lady, what should we do now?” Although Jiangxiang tried to console her young lady verbally, she was inwardly frantic with worry. What if Madam insisted on not taking the young lady to the capital and to Dingnan Earl Manor?
The golden opportunity to enter the palace for the selection would be lost!
“What should we do?” Song Yunzhao chuckled lightly. “Jiangxiang, quietly pass the news to Mama Zhao, who serves the Eldest Madam in the main branch.”
Jiangxiang’s eyes lit up. “Right! How could I have been so foolish as to not think of this? I’ll go at once.”
The Eldest Madam was sharp-eyed and would never let such a good opportunity slip by. As long as she stepped forward to compete—if only to outshine the four unmarried daughters of the main branch—Third Madam would surely have to bring their young lady along.
Jiangxiang hurried off. Song Yunzhao’s bright eyes sparkled, and she let out a delighted laugh.
In the original story, her birth mother, Third Madam Song, Cai Shi, had secretly taken her beloved eldest daughter, Song Qinghan, to the capital without informing the other two branches of the Song family, hoping to gain an advantage. She had completely left out her third daughter. However, the Eldest Madam’s father was the Vice Minister of Rites and, being in the capital, was naturally well-informed. Before Cai Shi even arrived in the capital, the Eldest Madam had already received a letter from the Jiang family and immediately set off with the four legitimate and illegitimate daughters of the main branch in pursuit.
The outcome, of course, was a huge commotion. The Eldest Madam, relying on sheer audacity, managed to squeeze her way onto Dingnan Earl Manor’s ship. This time, Song Yunzhao intended to ride this east wind—she was determined to participate in the selection. It was the opportunity she had been waiting for over a decade.
“Young Lady, Young Lady! Yinzhu from Madam’s courtyard has come with a message. Madam wants you to go over at once.” Qiancao lifted the curtain and rushed in to deliver the news.
Song Yunzhao rose unhurriedly, her plain-colored jacket and skirt appearing rather austere—hardly the opulent style befitting a legitimate daughter. She made no attempt to change her attire and strode directly outward.
Halfway there, she heard someone call her name. Turning, she saw Song Jinxuan catching up to her.
“Third Sister, are you also heading to Mother’s place?”
Song Jinxuan was the second young lady, born of a concubine—Consort Che. Favored by the master, Consort Che had elevated status, and the son and daughter she bore enjoyed considerable prestige as well.
Song Yunzhao gave a faint nod, showing no intention of engaging further.
Consort Che and Song Jinxuan were a cunning pair. Knowing that Cai Shi disliked Song Yunzhao, whenever Consort Che sought to challenge Cai Shi, she would use Song Yunzhao as a pawn. Song Jinxuan and her birth mother performed in perfect harmony. Three years prior, Song Yunzhao had struck back fiercely, humiliating the mother and daughter so thoroughly that they no longer dared target her lightly.
Song Jinxuan seemed oblivious to Song Yunzhao’s indifference and said with a smile, “I wonder what matter Mother has summoned us for.”
Song Yunzhao couldn’t be bothered to respond and walked ahead without even a glance.
Seeing Song Yunzhao’s demeanor, Song Jinxuan’s expression stiffened slightly. Who does she think she’s looking down on? She’s nothing but a child the mistress despises. Though she thought it, she dared not voice it aloud. Gritting her teeth, she hurried after her.
Entering Cai Shi’s courtyard, they found the garden in full bloom, meticulously maintained. Two young maids, their hair newly grown out, stood beneath the eaves and quickly lifted the door curtain upon their arrival.
Song Yunzhao paused under the corridor eaves before entering, already hearing the cheerful laughter of her eldest sister, Song Qinghan, and the faint, affectionate tones of Cai Shi. As if hearing nothing, she stepped directly inside.
Song Jinxuan knew Song Yunzhao had an eccentric temperament—blunt and reckless. Though the mistress disliked her, if Song Yunzhao felt wronged, she would always find a way to complain to their father. Over time, despite Cai Shi’s enduring aversion, she had to avoid leaving obvious grounds for criticism.
The moment Song Yunzhao entered, Cai Shi’s smile vanished. Her legitimate elder sister, Song Qinghan, however, said cheerfully, “Third Sister is here.”
Song Yunzhao paid her respects to Cai Shi, nodded to Song Qinghan, and then promptly took a seat.
Cai Shi felt a surge of irritation at the sight. This daughter of mine is nothing but a debt collector.
Song Jinxuan obediently followed Song Yunzhao’s lead, greeting the others demurely before quietly seating herself. Her eyes briefly swept over Song Qinghan and Cai Shi before she lowered her head in silence.
Cai Shi regarded the two with a stern expression and declared, “Tomorrow, I will take your eldest sister to the capital. The two of you will remain at home and must not breach any rules. If anyone invites you out, decline all such requests. Await my return before taking any action.”
Song Jinxuan was taken aback. The mistress is taking Eldest Sister to the capital? So suddenly?
She instinctively glanced at Song Yunzhao, only to find her utterly unperturbed, not even blinking. A wave of frustration rose within her.
The mistress and Song Qinghan are so delighted—something favorable must be happening. Yet clearly, the mistress has no intention of including me.
This won’t do.
A thought flashing through her mind, Song Jinxuan promptly spoke up, “Mother, the journey to the capital is long and arduous. With only Eldest Sister attending to you, she may grow weary. Why not allow me to accompany you? I could fulfill my filial duties by your side and share some of Eldest Sister’s burdens.”
Song Jinxuan had never been to the capital in her life, but she knew her stepmother’s family was based there. Although her maternal grandfather was only a sixth-rank official, he served as a chief clerk in the Department of Military Personnel—a position with genuine authority.
Song Qinghan lifted her eyelids and spoke softly, “I appreciate your kindness, Second Sister, but I heard Consort Che has fallen ill from heatstroke again. At this time, you should focus more on caring for her. Besides, with maids and matrons accompanying me on the journey, I won’t be overly burdened. There’s no need for you to worry.”
Song Yunzhao remained expressionless as she sat there. Cai Shi met her daughter’s sullen face and found it utterly grating—the more she looked, the more displeased she grew.
Just who was the mother here?
As she was about to scold her, clamorous noises erupted from outside. Before she could speak, she heard her sister-in-law Jiang Shi’s voice drifting in, and instantly, a sense of foreboding washed over her.