Seeing Song Yunzhao’s astonished expression, Xie Linlang thought that she was simply surprised by the news. Lowering her voice, she said, “My younger brother, who does business in the capital with the elders, has a lot of connections. He sent word through my older brother that some ministers want to petition the Emperor to open the selection process widely.”
It really is this news. Yunzhao’s impression of the Xie family changed.
The Xie family was much more formidable than she had imagined and definitely more powerful than the few words in the book had led her to believe.
Yunzhao tried to act shocked: “Are the news accurate?”
Linlang replied, “It should be accurate. My brother said that this time the Dingnan Count Residence wants to monopolize the selection, and many people are feeling resentful. The Count has been impeached several times by the censors in recent days. However, the Emperor, out of respect for the late Imperial Noble Consort Chu, has suppressed the memorials and not issued them.”
“You sure are well-informed” Yunzhao felt that she might have discovered a well-connected informant.
“Of course. For a family that does business, the most important thing is to pay attention to changes in court laws and the movements of officials. Doing business is not easy, and we can’t afford to offend anyone. We have to be careful and respectful, so that’s why we must gather information diligently.”
In the future, merchants have a high status, and the wealthy are highly respected, which is the opposite of this world. Seeing Linlang without a trace of resentment, Yunzhao finally understood why she would rather be a concubine in a high-ranking family than live in a normal family as the legitimate wife.
She wanted to pave the way for her brothers, who were still studying.
At that moment, Yunzhao admired this young girl. She had transmigrated and had the experience of two lifetimes, so she could maintain her composure and act steadily, but Linlang did not have that advantage.
“I now understand why you want to be a concubine” Yunzhao sighed softly.
Xie Linlang smiled, “Third Miss…”
“Call me Yunzhao”, she interrupted.
Linlang was slightly taken aback, but quickly recovered, grinning cheekily, “Well, then I won’t be polite anymore. You can just call me Linlang instead of Cousin. Being friends with you, and you not minding me, I feel like I’ve gained a lot.”
Yunzhao was amused and could sense the sincerity behind Linlang’s words, even though they were tinged with a bit of sadness. Life often comes with its share of disappointments.
“Yunzhao, there’s no need to be anxious about matters in the Dingnan Residence. Just wait for a few more days.”
Yunzhao nodded slightly. She wasn’t in a hurry, as she had no intention of giving Qinghan any chance to scheme against her at the Dingnan Residence.
“It’s a pity we can’t go out. Otherwise, I would have taken you for a stroll in the capital,” Linlang said regretfully.
Yunzhao also wanted to go out, “I’ll be able to go out once my Father returns.”
Cai Shi disliked her, never allowing her to leave the house. In Nanyu, her Father’s support allowed her to go out whenever she wanted. Even though Cai Shi tried to stop her half the time, she still had the other half to enjoy some freedom.
But now, with her Father not in the capital, and with Third Madam unrestrained, she naturally wouldn’t let Yunzhao roam freely.
In the last 2 days, Yunzhao had noticed Cai Shi’s anxiety, which had made her temper even worse. Every morning when Yunzhao went to pay her respects, Cai Shi seemed eager to find faults with her. As an experienced fox, Yunzhao wasn’t about to give her an excuse to cause trouble. Pretending to be submissive these past few days had left her with a lot of pent-up frustration.
This morning, Yunzhao woke up with her right eyelid twitching, feeling that something bad might happen.
When she went to the main courtyard to pay her respects to Cai Shi, she saw that the Eldest Madam had brought Song Yexi along.
Yunzhao took a deep breath, knowing that what was coming was inevitable. She stepped into the room and formally greeted her elders: “Daughter greets Mother and Aunt.”
Cai Shi didn’t even lift her eyelids. Already in a foul mood, seeing her youngest daughter’s sour face made her even angrier. She said, “Nowadays you`ve become quite well-behaved,even making the elders wait for you here.”
Yunzhao immediately sensed that Cai Shi was looking for trouble. Her eyelid twitching early this morning was a bad omen, and she had even come to the main courtyard earlier than usual to avoid trouble.
“Mother, why isn’t Eldest Sister here yet? Is she really making the elders wait for her?” Yunzhao deflected the issue back. If her favourite eldest daughter hadn’t arrived yet, how could she reasonably be finding fault with her?
Cai Shi’s face darkened with anger. Just as she was about to scold Yunzhao, the Eldest Madam spoke up, “Sister-in-law, I know you favour Qinghan, but you can’t treat Yunzhao like a weed. When Third Brother arrives in the capital, he will be heartbroken to hear of this.”
Yunzhao mentally gave the Eldest Madam a thumbs-up and showed an appropriately sad and helpless expression.
Cai Shi: …
Yunzhao went straight to sit next to Xie Linlang, with Song Jinxuan beside her. The two of them looked as if they were standing on guard.
As soon as she sat down, Qinghan arrived. Before Cai Shi could speak, the Eldest Madam chastised her, “Qinghan, as the eldest sister, you should set an example for your younger sisters. How can you come so late and keep your elders waiting? What does that say? It’s fortunate we are at home; if word gets out, people will think the Song family’s upbringing is lacking.”
Qinghan hadn’t slept well the night before, returning from the Dingnan Residence in a foul mood. Chu Yuying had deliberately invited some friends over, knowing she was there, and publicly embarrassed her. She had to grit her teeth and endure it, venting her frustration half the night, and thus arrived late this morning.
She didn’t expect her Aunt to be here today.
Seeing Yunzhao already there, when she usually arrived late, Qinghan felt a pang of internal discomfort. Her mother was right; this sister really was a bane to both of them.
Suppressing her anger, Qinghan apologized, “Aunt is right. I will be more mindful in the future.”
Cai Shi immediately stepped in to support her daughter, “Sister-in-law, Qinghan was helping her Aunt entertain guests at the Dingnan Residence last night, so she was a bit tired and came late today.”
The Eldest Madam was furious upon hearing this. The opportunity was only for Qinghan, and her own daughter was not benefiting at all. She said, “Sister-in-law, if Qinghan were more generous and brought a few of her sisters along, they could share the burden, and she wouldn’t be so tired.”
Cai Shi, looking at the Eldest Madam, took a moment to calm her restless heart before saying, “Sister-in-law, what you said… The Dingnan Residence has strict rules. It’s not up to me; they only allowed Qinghan to go. What can I do?”
“There is no way, or are you just not willing to find a way? Sister-in-law, the Countess is your own sister.” The Eldest Madam was indeed anxious. If things continued like this, her daughter would truly gain nothing. That’s why she confronted Cai Shi in front of all the children today.
She wanted to tear off her mask, so Cai Shi couldn’t continue to evade.
