Seeing Song Yunzhao’s astonished expression, Xie Linlang thought she was merely surprised by the news and lowered her voice to say, “My younger brother follows our elders doing business in Jing City and has made many acquaintances. He had my elder brother bring me a message saying that there are court officials who wish to submit memorials urging His Majesty to widely open the Imperial Harem Draft.”
It really was this news. Song Yunzhao’s impression of the Xie Family was refreshed.
The Xie Family was far more formidable than she had imagined and beyond the fragmented mentions in the book.
Song Yunzhao tried her best to appear shocked and asked, “Is the news accurate?”
Xie Linlang replied, “It should be accurate. My elder brother said that the Dingnan Earl Manor wants to monopolize the benefits this time, which has caused private dissatisfaction among many. In recent days, the Dingnan Earl has been impeached by the Censor several times. However, His Majesty, out of regard for the late Noble Consort Chu, has held the memorials in abeyance.”
“Your news is quite well-informed,” Song Yunzhao felt she might have discovered a master of intelligence.
“Of course. For business families like ours, the most crucial thing is to pay attention to changes in court laws and the movements of court officials. It’s not easy for merchants to do business—we can’t afford to offend any official, so we must carefully flatter and respect them. Naturally, we have to put effort into gathering information.”
In later generations, merchants held high status; those with money were like lords, completely opposite to this era. She looked at Xie Linlang, who showed no trace of grievance or resentment, and finally understood why she would rather not be a legal wife but enter a noble family as a concubine.
She wanted to pave a way for her scholarly brothers.
In that instant, Song Yunzhao felt quite impressed by this young girl. She herself was a transmigrator with two lifetimes of experience, so she could maintain a calm mindset and steady actions, but Xie Linlang was not.
“I now understand why you want to be someone’s concubine,” Song Yunzhao sighed softly.
Xie Linlang pursed her lips into a smile, “Third Miss…”
“Call me Yun Zhao.”
Xie Linlang was slightly taken aback but quickly collected herself, grinning as she said, “Then I won’t stand on ceremony. You don’t have to call me ‘Miss Cousin’ anymore—call me Linlang. If you don’t mind being friends with me, I’m the one who benefits.”
Song Yunzhao was amused and could also sense the sincerity in Xie Linlang’s words, tinged with a hint of bitterness. In life, there are always some dissatisfactions.
“Yun Zhao, regarding the matter of the Dingnan Earl Manor, I don’t think you need to worry. Just wait a few more days.”
Song Yunzhao nodded slightly. She wasn’t anxious to begin with; in this lifetime, she didn’t want to give Song Qinghan the chance to scheme against her in the Dingnan Earl Manor.
“It’s a pity we can’t go out, or else I could take you all around Jing City,” Xie Linlang said with regret.
Song Yunzhao also wanted to go out for a walk. “I’ll be able to go out once my father returns.”
Cai Shi disliked her and would never let her go out. Back in Nanyu, she had her father’s support and could go out whenever she wanted. Although Cai Shi tried to stop her five out of ten times, she still had five days to get some fresh air.
But now, with her father not in Jing City and Cai Shi unrestrained, she naturally didn’t want to see her living freely and at ease.
Within two days, Song Yunzhao noticed Cai Shi’s growing anxiety, which made her temper even worse. Every morning when Yun Zhao went to pay respects, Cai Shi would look for opportunities to cause trouble. Being a seasoned fox, how could Yun Zhao let her find any excuse to punish her? These past few days, she had perfected the art of playing the humble and obedient daughter, though it left her simmering with frustration.
This morning, as soon as Song Yunzhao woke up, her right eyelid kept twitching, giving her a foreboding sense that something unpleasant might happen.
When she arrived at the main courtyard to pay respects to Cai Shi, she saw First Madam there with Song Yexi.
Taking a deep breath, Yun Zhao thought to herself that what was bound to come would eventually arrive. She stepped inside and properly approached to greet them, “Your daughter pays respects to Mother and to First Aunt.”
Cai Shi didn’t even bother to lift her eyelids. Already in a foul mood, the sight of her youngest daughter’s sullen face only fueled her anger. She snapped, “Your manners have certainly improved lately, making your elders wait here for you.”
From her tone, Yun Zhao knew Cai Shi was looking for a fight. Her twitching eyelid had warned her that today might bring misfortune, so she had deliberately arrived earlier than usual to the main courtyard to avoid unexpected trouble.
“Mother, why hasn’t Eldest Sister arrived yet? How could she make the elders wait for her?” Song Yunzhao deftly tossed the problem back. Your favorite eldest daughter isn’t even here yet—how dare you pick on me?
Cai Shi was so furious her face turned dark. Just as she was about to scold Yun Zhao, First Madam spoke up, “Third Sister-in-law, I know you’ve always favored Qinghan, but you can’t treat Yun Zhao like dirt. When Third Brother arrives in Jing City and finds out about this, he’ll surely be heartbroken.”
Hearing First Madam’s words, Song Yunzhao silently cheered inside and skillfully put on a helpless and sorrowful expression.
Cai Shi: …
Song Yunzhao directly went to sit below Xie Linlang. Song Jinxuan was also beside her, but both of them stood as stiffly as wooden sentinels.
No sooner had she taken her seat than Song Qinghan arrived. Before Cai Shi could speak, First Madam repeated the exact same criticism to Qinghan, “Qinghan, as the eldest sister, you should set an example for your younger sisters. How could you arrive so late and keep your elders waiting? What kind of behavior is that? Luckily, this is just within the family. If word got out, people would think the Song Family’s upbringing is lacking.”
Song Qinghan had slept poorly the night before. Ever since returning from Dingnan Earl Manor, she had been fuming. Chu Yuying had deliberately invited a few close friends to the Count’s Mansion and, knowing Qinghan was there, publicly humiliated her. Yet Qinghan had no choice but to grit her teeth and endure it. She had vented her anger half the night and, as a result, ended up arriving late this morning.
She had no idea that First Aunt would be here today.
A quick glance around revealed that Song Yunzhao, who usually arrived late, was already present. This added to her silent frustration. Her mother was right—this younger sister was clearly here to torment them both.
Suppressing her anger, Song Qinghan apologized, “First Aunt is right. I will be more careful in the future.”
Cai Shi immediately stepped in to defend her daughter, “Eldest Sister-in-law, yesterday Dingnan Earl Manor hosted a banquet, and Qinghan helped her aunt entertain the guests. She was quite exhausted, which is why she arrived late today.”
Hearing this, First Madam grew even angrier. Such opportunities always went to Song Qinghan, while her own daughter received none of the benefits. She retorted, “Third Sister-in-law, if Qinghan were more generous and brought along a few of her younger sisters, they could have shared the burden. Then she wouldn’t have been so worn out.”
Cai Shi looked at First Madam, suppressing her somewhat restless heart and steadying herself before saying, “Sister-in-law, what you’re saying… the rules of Dingnan Earl Manor aren’t for me to decide. They only asked Qinghan to go over. What can I possibly do about it?”
“Can’t do anything, or won’t try to think of ways? Third sister-in-law, Madam Dingnanbo is your own elder sister.” First Madam was truly anxious. If this dragged on any longer, her daughter wouldn’t even get to taste the broth. That’s why she had come today, pressing the matter even in front of the children.
She intended to tear all pretense of cordiality, watching how Cai Shi could possibly continue evading.