Chapter 110: Chapter 57: Not Even Afraid of Being Called a Fatuous Ruler
The mahogany box had gilded corners and was as deep as an adult’s forearm. A hole had been cut into its lid.
The sight of the hole reminded Song Yunzhao of the raffle boxes from her past life. ’Why would they put a box like that here?’
’There wasn’t a scene like this in the book.’
All eyes were drawn to the box placed in the center of the hall, and someone asked the Housekeeper what it was for.
The Housekeeper gave the group a meaningful look. "You ladies will find out shortly. Please, take a seat and wait."
Song Yunzhao knew from the Housekeeper’s tone that she wouldn’t get any answers, so she turned, found a spot by the window, and sat down, pulling Han Jinyi along with her.
Seeing this, the others also scattered and found seats, but their eyes kept darting back to the wooden box in the middle of the hall.
Han Jinyi looked at Yun Zhao. "What do you think that box is for?"
Song Yunzhao shook her head. "It’s not for drawing lots, is it?"
"Drawing lots?" Han Jinyi took another careful look at the box. After a long moment, she turned back to Song Yunzhao and whispered, "It really does look like it could be. But... what would we be drawing lots for?"
Song Yunzhao had just been speaking offhandedly. She shook her head. "I was only joking."
A low murmur of discussion filled the hall, and everyone wore a different expression.
Song Yunzhao had been on her feet all day and was exhausted. All she wanted was to find a place to lie down and get some proper sleep. She leaned back in her chair, let her body go limp, and pretended to doze with her eyes slightly lowered.
Han Jinyi wanted to laugh as she watched her. "Tired?"
"Aren’t you tired?"
Of course she was. Han Jinyi decided to follow Song Yunzhao’s lead. The two of them turned their backs to the others and began to slack off.
Lu Zhixue and Qin Xiyue were also discussing the box. Lu Zhixue’s gaze drifted across the room, and when it landed on Song Yunzhao’s back, her expression soured with displeasure.
’She just didn’t understand why Han Jinyi would want to associate with someone like that.’
"What is it?" Qin Xiyue asked with a smile, noticing Lu Zhixue’s foul expression.
Lu Zhixue shook her head and turned to Fan Qingru and Feng Yunjin. "What do you two think that box is really for?"
"It’s been placed in the center of the main hall, so it can’t be for nothing," Feng Yunjin said. "I’m sure it has a purpose, but it’s hard to say what."
Fan Qingru nodded in agreement. "We’ll just have to wait and see."
Qin Xiyue gazed at the box, lost in thought, but for the life of her, she couldn’t guess its purpose.
Time trickled by, and soon, someone entered the hall.
Song Yunzhao felt a gentle nudge from Han Jinyi. She immediately opened her eyes and looked toward the entrance, nearly choking on what she saw.
’Well, well, if it isn’t an old acquaintance. Chief Steward Zhang!’
"By His Majesty’s decree, you ladies are to draw a nameplate from the box," Zhang Maoquan announced, his eyes deliberately avoiding Song Yunzhao. He had a guilty conscience.
Everyone quickly rose and bowed to accept the decree. Once the formalities were over and they stood up, Lu Zhixue spoke. "If I may be so bold, why are we drawing nameplates from a box?"
Zhang Maoquan was not the least bit perturbed by the question. He simply smiled and said, "His Majesty has declared that your initial ranks will depend entirely on your luck. Whatever you draw is what you get."
The hall instantly fell silent.
Song Yunzhao was stunned. ’Oh my god, this really *is* the world of a novel. Can they really do things like this?’
’Deciding ranks by drawing lots?’
’But this part wasn’t in the book. Why did the plot change again?’
’Emperor, your whole persona is collapsing! Don’t you know that?’
’Ever since she was selected, she’d felt the plot deviating more and more. Could it be because of her, the cannon fodder in the flesh?’
’Then again, that seemed impossible. How could she have that much influence?’
At that thought, she glanced at Qin Xiyue. ’She’s the heroine, after all.’ But seeing Qin Xiyue’s equally bewildered expression, Song Yunzhao silently looked away.
’The part in the book where the rejected ladies were granted marriages was gone. Her plan to be rejected and leave the palace was up in smoke. And now, the scene where the Emperor’s initial ranking would have made the heroine the star of the show had also vanished.’
’Conferring ranks by drawing lots?’
’How did he even come up with this? Isn’t he afraid the courtiers will call him an incompetent ruler?’
’When Song Yunzhao had read the book, her impression of the Emperor—from a fan’s perspective—was that of a cunning and wise man with incredible forbearance. He had ascended the throne as a mere youth, yet he had managed to hold his own against the courtiers for five years, gradually seizing control of the narrative in court. He had the undeniable aura of a powerful male protagonist.’
’But now... looking at it from the perspective of cannon fodder, this Emperor was a real piece of work. He was breaking the rules, destroying the plot, and leaving her completely in the dark. It was a serious test of her wits, and frankly, it was not user-friendly at all.’
’It was all so frustrating, but there was nothing she could do. Faced with an emperor who refused to play by the book, her only option was to wait and see. If the enemy doesn’t move, I don’t move.’
Zhang Maoquan looked at the assembled women and said with a smile, "Alright, ladies. Let’s begin."
