“Brother Yun Ting, be careful!”
“He, the Heir Apparent, stop!”
Song Yunzhao’s steps that were about to rush forward immediately halted, and she thanked Xie Jinshu, “Thank you, Third Young Master. If not for you, I might have been injured.”
Xie Jinshu quickly took a step back and waved his hand, “It was just a small effort, Third Young Lady. Please don’t take it to heart.”
Xie Linlang rushed over to examine Yun Zhao. Seeing that she was indeed unharmed, she said, “If you had been injured, how would I explain it to Third Master? I never expected people in Jing City to act so arrogantly. Before the person even arrives, plates and bowls come first to greet us.”
Song Yunzhao was amused and patted Xie Linlang’s hand, “Life is unpredictable, like sausages wrapped in intestines. You’ll get used to it.”
Xie Linlang was confused. What kind of strange saying was that? But it sounded quite interesting.
At this moment, Xie Jinshu had returned and said to his sister and Song Yunzhao, “I found out what happened. The conflict today is between He Lan Yue, the heir apparent of Zhenbei Prince Manor, and Ji Yunting, the eldest son of Prime Minister’s Manor. The one who threw the teacup earlier was Ming’an County Princess from Zhenbei Prince Manor, and the one who told them to stop later was the eldest daughter of Grand Tutor’s Manor.”
Xie Linlang fell silent for a moment, then gritted her teeth and said, “We can’t afford to offend any of them.”
Xie Jinshu sighed softly and turned to look at Song Yunzhao. It seemed they wouldn’t be able to seek justice for this.
Their family was merely merchants—wealthy but without influence. Such noble families were to be avoided at all costs, not provoked.
Although Third Young Lady Song’s ancestors had some reputation for integrity, by Third Master Song’s generation, the family had declined. Master Song currently held only a fifth-rank official position, which was nothing compared to these noble families.
“Third Young Lady, fortunately you weren’t injured. Why don’t I escort you back first?” Xie Jinshu feared this hot-tempered young lady might confront them regardless of the consequences and thought it best to take her away first.
After all, this was someone who dared to challenge Third Madam to a duel.
Upon hearing this, Song Yunzhao snapped out of her thoughts. She had been recalling the plot from the book. When reading the novel, the story began after entering the palace, so she hadn’t immediately understood what was happening.
After sorting through the details, she extracted a few sentences from the female lead’s memories after entering the palace. It went something like this: If only she had prevented the conflict between He Lan Yue and Ji Yunting at Sanyuan Restaurant before entering the palace for the selection, if only she had mustered the courage to confess her feelings to Ji Yunting, perhaps everything would have been different.
The female lead recalled this during her struggles in the harem, before gaining Your Majesty’s exclusive favor, and after losing favor due to Song Qinghan’s schemes, thus reminiscing about the past with regret.
So… was she now witnessing the love triangle that the female lead regretted most?
How could she leave at such an exciting moment?
Song Yunzhao looked seriously at Xie Jinshu and said, “Third Young Master, don’t worry. We’re just here to listen to storytelling.”
Xie Jinshu understood that Song Yunzhao didn’t want to leave, but she also showed no intention of confronting anyone. He felt somewhat troubled and glanced at his sister.
Xie Linlang naturally had no intention of leaving either—how could she miss such excitement? She said to her brother, “Second Brother, don’t worry. Yun Zhao and I are just watching.”
Xie Jinshu had no choice but to stay close to protect them, instructing someone to summon Song Yunzhao’s guards to stand watch.
Noticing Xie Jinshu’s actions, Song Yunzhao couldn’t help but smile. No wonder Xie Linlang achieved her desires in the book.
In that brief moment of distraction, a sharp voice pierced through: “Qin Xiyue, stop right there!”
Song Yunzhao’s eyes instantly lit up!
As the words faded, a girl in a purple ruqun strode out with a tense expression. Her features were picturesque—dark hair, snow-white skin, and a tear mole beneath the corner of her eye…
Song Yunzhao knew this must be the female lead from the book, as the heroine possessed exactly such a tear mole.
The pursuing girl wore red as fiery as flames, her delicate beauty tinged with heroic spirit. Beneath long eyelashes, her pitch-black eyes blazed with fury, perfectly matching her crimson attire.
“He Lanyun, what more do you want?”
Hearing this name, Song Yunzhao recognized her as the Ming’an County Princess Xie Jinshu had mentioned earlier.
“Qin Xiyue, you did this on purpose today, didn’t you?”
“I came only to listen to storytelling, not to witness the County Princess confess her feelings to Young Master Ji.”
“Do you think I don’t know you harbor ill intentions toward Brother Yun Ting…”
“Ming An!”
“County Princess, please mind your words!”
Song Yunzhao finally saw the legendary Ji Yunting. Just as described in the book, he was noble and reserved, with jade-like fair skin and an erect, graceful posture—truly resembling “snow-clad moonlight over distant mountains,” worthy of being the female lead’s white moonlight.
His looks indeed lived up to his reputation.
The man accompanying Ji Yunting wore a blue cloud-patterned robe, his ink-black hair tied high with a golden crown. With sharp brow bones, a straight nose, and thin lips, he exuded an aloof severity.
This was undoubtedly He Lan Yue, the heir of Zhenbei Prince Manor and He Lanyun’s biological brother.
“Brother, how can you still defend Qin Xiyue? Are you even my brother?” He Lanyun glared at her sibling before turning to Ji Yunting. “Brother Yun Ting, would you break Yun’er’s heart too?”
Ji Yunting’s gaze lingered not on He Lanyun but on Qin Xiyue, cool and detached. Song Yunzhao couldn’t decipher his feelings toward the heroine.
He Lan Yue ignored his sister, noticing Ji Yunting’s focus. His face darkened as he stepped forward, deliberately blocking Ji Yunting’s line of sight.
Song Yunzhao: …
How intriguing.
He Lanyun, completely overlooked, seemed on the verge of erupting.
Sure enough, she turned to Qin Xiyue with scorn. “You’re truly skilled—stringing along my brother and Brother Yun Ting simultaneously! How dare you two-time without fear of drowning? Let them hear you choose: which one do you actually fancy?”
Qin Xiyue’s expression shifted instantly. Her eyes held contempt as she lifted her chin slightly. “Marriage matters have always followed matchmakers’ advice and parental orders. Xiyue dare not decide for herself.”
The thick sarcasm was like a slap across He Lanyun’s face.
The female lead’s sarcastic skills were practically maxing out the hostility meter. No wonder she regretted it later when recalling the incident. At this moment, she only cared about saving face and suppressing He Lanyun’s arrogance, completely disregarding matters of the heart.
Ah, the impulsiveness of youth.
Provoked by Qin Xiyue’s relentless taunts, He Lanyun could no longer contain her fury. With one forceful shove, she sent Qin Xiyue stumbling backward.
Song Yunzhao had been enjoying the drama like a casual spectator when, completely caught off guard, she saw the violently pushed Qin Xiyue staggering directly toward her.
“Yun Zhao, watch out!”
“Third Young Lady, move away!”
Song Yunzhao was fuming. Was she, as the cannon fodder supporting character, truly destined to be mere collateral damage?
Among all these spectators, why did Qin Xiyue have to crash into her?
My fate is mine to command, not heaven’s to decide. I don’t care if you’re the female lead or I’m cannon fodder.
With lightning reflexes, Song Yunzhao grabbed a nearby chair and held it in front of herself. Qin Xiyue landed squarely on the seat with a thud.
The entire Sanyuan Restaurant fell into stunned silence.
Was such a move even possible?
Shouldn’t a normal person have opened their arms to catch her?
Well, she was caught alright—but with a chair.
It was utterly absurd.
Today’s update complete. Mwah.