Cai Shi shook her head. “Your third sister has a difficult temperament. If you go and provoke trouble, it might implicate you.”
Though she said this, what Cai Shi truly worried about was her younger daughter’s excessively beautiful face. If her elder daughter appeared alongside her, would anyone even notice the elder one in others’ eyes?
She herself had a dignified and elegant appearance, and her husband was a refined gentleman. How, then, had they ended up with a daughter like Song Yunzhao, whose face was so bewitching it was downright irritating?
Consort Che had relied on that fox-like face to compete with her for so many years, and Cai Shi was thoroughly sick of it.
Hearing her mother’s words, Song Qinghan did not insist. It might be better for her to go alone first and get a clear understanding of the situation at the Count’s Mansion.
Early the next morning, Cai Shi indeed took only Song Qinghan and set out.
Soon, Song Yunzhao received the news—brought by Song Jinxuan.
“Third Sister, I may be a concubine-born daughter, so it’s understandable if Mother doesn’t take me. But you are her own flesh and blood! How could she leave you behind when visiting relatives at the Count’s Mansion?” Song Jinxuan was furious. Who wouldn’t want to seize such an opportunity to rise swiftly in the selection?
If she were chosen, her mother, Consort Che, could live more comfortably in the mansion, and her brother’s future would be more secure. But it was clear the legal wife would never give her this chance.
If Song Qinghan were truly selected, Song Jinxuan would gain absolutely no benefit from it. On the contrary, this elder sister might even help the legal wife suppress them.
Song Yunzhao looked at Song Jinxuan. “I never wanted to participate in the selection in the first place. Your attempts to sow discord here are useless.”
Song Jinxuan felt somewhat embarrassed at having her intentions exposed so bluntly, but she quickly regained her composure. “Third Sister, I know I offended you a couple of years ago, but you already took revenge on me and my mother back then. I haven’t crossed you since—can’t we consider the matter settled?”
Song Yunzhao understood Song Jinxuan’s scheme: she wanted to drag her into a rivalry with Song Qinghan.
It wasn’t entirely out of the question, especially since Song Qinghan still intended to use her as a stepping stone.
“Second Sister, what’s the point of telling me all this? I can neither decide to go to my aunt’s house on my own nor put in a good word for you in front of Mother. You always fail to grasp what’s important—you need to think more strategically.”
Being called brainless made Song Jinxuan’s face contort. She took a deep breath and said through gritted teeth, “Do you think I don’t want to? But Father is still far away in Nanyu, and Mother has kept my birth mother by her side. What can I possibly do?”
“Father’s official duties in Nanyu are nearly complete. The only reason he’s staying longer is for social obligations. If something urgent happens at home, he will surely return quickly.” Song Yunzhao spoke no further, leaving her words hanging.
Song Jinxuan’s eyes sharpened. She glanced at Song Yunzhao, who was now holding a book, clearly uninterested in engaging further. Unable to stay any longer, Song Jinxuan stood up to leave. After some thought, she decided to seek out Consort Che.
When Consort Che saw her daughter arrive, she quickly pulled her inside and whispered, “Second Young Lady, why have you come here? If the legal wife finds out, she’ll make trouble for you again. With the master away in Jing City, we must be cautious.”
“Aunt, I have something important to discuss with you.” Song Jinxuan suppressed her excitement, worried that if she delayed too long, her stepmother would truly target her, so she got straight to the point. “Aunt, write a letter to Father and ask him to come to Jing City immediately.”
Consort Che was startled. “What nonsense are you talking? How could I write such a letter to the Master?”
Though she said this, Consort Che was already tempted. Since arriving in Jing City with the Madam and living in this backward-facing room, she had found everything utterly uncomfortable. But for the sake of her children, she had no choice but to grit her teeth and endure.
“Aunt, staying in the capital won’t allow you to protect me or Brother. On the contrary, to humiliate us, the Madam insists you stand by her side during morning greetings to observe etiquette. This is deliberately meant to shame me, to make me suffer.” (5,0);
“As a concubine, this is what one must endure.” Consort Che hurriedly comforted her daughter. She didn’t want to live like this, but with her son needing to marry and her daughter to wed, and the Madam controlling marriage arrangements, what could she do?
Wasn’t it just about shaming her?
She could endure it.
Once her son married and her daughter found a good husband, what would she have to fear?
“Aunt, this morning the Madam took Eldest Sister to Dingnan Earl Manor. They never intended to let me have a chance in this Imperial Harem Draft. I don’t want to accept this, so you must find a way to get Father here quickly. Only with Father by our side will life be easier for me and Brother.”
Consort Che fell silent, knowing her daughter was right.
“But if I write the letter, how do we send it to your father? If the Madam finds out, it could be fatal.” Consort Che frowned.
“Have Brother find an escort outside the city to deliver it. It’s just a matter of spending a little more money,” Song Jinxuan whispered. “You write the letter, and I’ll go find Brother.”
For her children’s future, Consort Che clenched her teeth and agreed. “Fine, I’ll write it now. Wait for me a moment.”
(5,0);
After Consort Che finished the letter, Song Jinxuan tucked it into her sleeve, careful not to let her expression betray anything, afraid of arousing suspicion. She didn’t go to her brother immediately but waited until almost everyone was napping before heading toward the inner gate.
Meanwhile, Mama Luo was reporting to Song Yunzhao. “As you guessed, Miss, Second Young Lady did go to Consort Che and then to Second Young Master. The gatekeeper at the inner gate told me herself that Second Young Lady brought Second Young Master a bowl of pear soup.”
Song Yunzhao knew Song Jinxuan was bold but hadn’t expected her to act so efficiently.
“Did you take care of the gatekeeper?”
“Don’t worry, Miss. It’s just Second Young Lady thinking of her brother and bringing him a worthless bowl of pear soup—hardly worth them gossiping to the Madam about.”
Song Yunzhao calculated that in about five or six days, court officials would petition Your Majesty to hold the Imperial Harem Draft. If things moved quickly, Consort Che’s letter would already be in Father’s hands. If Consort Che was persuasive enough, Father might come to the capital immediately.
Once Father arrived, neither Song Jinxuan nor Song Boming would be so passive. Consort Che would regain her confidence, and Song Yunzhao could use Song Jinxuan to trip up Song Qinghan.
(5,0);
That’s how it should be—everyone in their place, maintaining balance.
But what Song Yunzhao hadn’t anticipated was that by evening, Cai Shi had found out. Whether she discovered the letter or not, Consort Che was punished for a minor offense and made to kneel for two hours.
Consort Che was punished with kneeling, and neither Song Jinxuan nor Song Boming came forward to plead for her. The old woman guarding the inner gate was also punished for dereliction of duty.
Dereliction of what duty?
Naturally, for allowing Song Jinxuan and Song Boming to meet in private.
When they met the next morning, Song Yunzhao noticed Song Jinxuan’s slightly swollen eyes—though it wasn’t obvious unless one looked closely—suggesting she had been crying.
Song Yunzhao then observed Song Qinghan, who looked rather displeased. Well, well, it seemed she hadn’t gotten her wish to stay at Dingnan Earl Manor.
In a sour mood, Song Qinghan took offense at Song Yunzhao’s cheerful expression and said, “Third Sister, what has you so delighted? Share it with us so we can all enjoy a laugh.”
“Elder Sister, you look so troubled—what’s bothering you? Why not share it with us, so we can help dispel some of your misfortune?”
As if anyone here lacked a mouth to speak!
Today’s update is here. Thank you for your support, dear readers.