Chapter 22: Chapter 22: You Can Do That?
"Brother Yunting, look out!"
"Princely Heir He, stop!"
Song Yunzhao stopped in her tracks and turned to thank Xie Jinshu. "Thank you so much, Third Young Master Xie. If not for you, I’m afraid I would have been hurt."
Xie Jinshu quickly took a step back, waving his hands. "It was nothing, Third Miss Song. Please don’t give it a second thought."
Xie Linlang rushed over to inspect Yun Zhao. Seeing she was truly unharmed, she said, "If you had been hurt, how would I ever explain it to Third Master Song? I never thought people in the Capital City were so aggressive. They send plates and bowls as greetings before they even show up."
Song Yunzhao couldn’t help but laugh. She patted Xie Linlang’s hand. "Life is unpredictable, like a big sausage wrapped around a little one. You just get used to it."
Xie Linlang was completely bewildered. ’What a strange thing to say,’ she thought, ’but it does sound rather interesting.’
Just then, Xie Jinshu returned. He said to his sister and Song Yunzhao, "I’ve found out what happened. The ones causing the conflict today were Helan Yue, the Princely Heir of Prince Zhenbei Mansion, and Ji Yunting, the eldest son of the Prime Minister’s Mansion. The one who threw the teacup just now was Princess Ming’an of Prince Zhenbei Mansion, and the one who told them to stop was the eldest young lady of the Grand Tutor Mansion."
Xie Linlang fell silent for a moment, then said through gritted teeth, "We can’t afford to offend any of them."
Xie Jinshu sighed softly and turned to look at Song Yunzhao. ’It looks like we won’t be getting any justice for this.’
Their family were merely merchants, wealthy but without power. They couldn’t even hide fast enough from such wealthy families, let alone dare to provoke them.
Although Third Miss Song’s ancestors had a respectable name, by Third Master Song’s generation, the family had declined. Old Master Song was now merely a fifth-rank official, not even worthy of carrying the shoes of these high-born nobles.
"Third Miss Song, thankfully you weren’t hurt. How about I escort you both home first?" Xie Jinshu was worried this fiery young lady would recklessly confront them, so he figured it was best to get her away from the scene.
’After all, this was someone who dared to duel with Third Madam.’
Song Yunzhao snapped back to reality. She was trying to recall the plot of the book. When she had read it, the story started after the female lead entered the palace, so she hadn’t been sure what was happening at first.
After running through the details, she managed to recall a few lines from the heroine’s memories after entering the palace. They went something like this: If only she could have stopped the dispute between Helan Yue and Ji Yunting at the Three Yuan Building before she entered 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.
At the time of this recollection, the heroine was still struggling in the vortex of the harem. She had not yet won His Majesty’s exclusive favor and had fallen from grace after being framed by Song Qinghan. Thus, she was wistfully reminiscing about the past.
’So... am I now a bystander at the romantic chaotic scene the heroine regrets most?’
’How could I possibly leave during such a spectacular moment?’
Song Yunzhao looked at Xie Jinshu with a serious expression and said, "Third Young Master Xie, don’t worry. We’re just here to listen to the storyteller."
Xie Jinshu could tell Song Yunzhao didn’t want to leave, but it also didn’t seem like she intended to rush up and argue with anyone. He looked at his sister, feeling a bit troubled.
Naturally, Xie Linlang didn’t want to leave either. How could she miss such a commotion? So she said to her brother, "Second Brother, don’t worry. Yun Zhao and I will just watch."
Xie Jinshu was at a loss. He could only stand close by to protect them and even sent someone to call in Song Yunzhao’s personal guards to stand watch.
Song Yunzhao noticed Xie Jinshu’s actions and couldn’t help but smile faintly. ’No wonder Xie Linlang was able to get her heart’s desire in the book,’ she mused.
In that brief moment of distraction, a sharp voice cut through the air. "Qin Xiyue, you stop right there!"
Song Yunzhao’s eyes instantly lit up!
The words had barely faded when a young woman in a purple ruqun skirt strode out, her face tense. Her features were as lovely as a painting, with raven hair and snowy skin, and a single tear-shaped mole beneath the corner of her eye...
Song Yunzhao knew this had to be the book’s heroine, because the heroine had that exact mole.
The girl chasing her was dressed in red as fiery as a flame. Her delicate beauty was infused with a heroic air. Beneath long lashes, her dark eyes burned with a blazing fire that perfectly matched her crimson attire.
"He Lan Yun, what more do you want?"
Hearing that name, Song Yunzhao knew this was the Princess Ming’an that Xie Jinshu had mentioned.
"Qin Xiyue, you did this on purpose today, didn’t you?"
"I only came to listen to the storytelling, not to watch the Princess declare her feelings for Young Master Ji."
"Don’t think I don’t know you have improper designs on Brother Yunting..."
"Ming An!"
"Princess, please watch your words!"
Song Yunzhao finally saw the legendary Ji Yunting. He was just as the book described: noble and reserved, with a flawless, jade-like face. His posture was elegant, tall and straight, like the cool glow of snow or the bright moon over a thousand mountains. He was truly befitting of the heroine’s white moonlight.
’His looks really do live up to his reputation.’
The man who came out with Ji Yunting wore a blue robe with a cloud pattern. His black hair was held up in a golden coronet, and he had a strong brow, a high-bridged nose, and thin lips. He looked cold and severe.
This, naturally, was Helan Yue, the Princely Heir of Prince Zhenbei Mansion and He Lan Yun’s older brother.
"Brother, you’re still speaking up for Qin Xiyue? Are you even my brother?" He Lan Yun glared at her sibling, then turned to Ji Yunting. "Brother Yunting, are you going to break Yun’er’s heart too?"
Ji Yunting’s gaze didn’t rest on He Lan Yun; instead, it fell upon Qin Xiyue, cool and distant. Song Yunzhao really couldn’t tell what he thought of the heroine.
Helan Yue also ignored his sister. Seeing where Ji Yunting was looking, his expression darkened. With a quick step, he moved to block Ji Yunting’s line of sight.
Song Yunzhao was speechless.
’This is getting interesting.’
’He Lan Yun is being completely ignored. She’s probably about to fly into a rage.’
Sure enough, He Lan Yun flew into a fury. She turned to taunt Qin Xiyue, "You really have some skills, don’t you? Stringing my brother along on one side and Brother Yunting on the other. You’re so fickle, playing both sides. Aren’t you afraid you’ll drown? Make it clear today, in front of both of them. I want to see which one you actually like!"
Qin Xiyue’s expression changed instantly. She looked at He Lan Yun with disdain, lifted her chin slightly, and said, "Matters of marriage have always been decided by the words of a matchmaker and the orders of one’s parents. It is not for me to decide on my own."
The heavy sarcasm was like a slap across He Lan Yun’s face.
’The heroine’s taunting skill is maxed out, drawing all the aggro. No wonder she regretted it later in her memories. Right now, she’s only concerned with her own pride, focused on quelling He Lan Yun’s arrogance, and has pushed love to the back of her mind.’
’So young and impulsive.’
Enraged by Qin Xiyue’s taunts, He Lan Yun couldn’t contain her fury and shoved Qin Xiyue with all her might.
Song Yunzhao was busy enjoying the show when, completely caught off guard, she saw Qin Xiyue stumble backward several steps and fall straight toward her.
"Yun Zhao, watch out!"
"Third Miss Song, get out of the way!"
Song Yunzhao was about to die of anger. ’So my fate as cannon fodder is really set in stone?’
’There are so many people watching, so why does she have to single me out?’
’My fate is in my own hands, not the heavens’. I don’t care if you’re cannon fodder or the heroine.’
With lightning-fast reflexes, Song Yunzhao grabbed a nearby chair and thrust it in front of her. Qin Xiyue landed right on her bottom, sitting perfectly on the chair.
The entire Three Yuan Building fell silent in an instant.
’Was that even an option?’
’Wouldn’t a normal person have stretched out their arms to catch her?’
’Well, she did catch her, but with a chair.’
’How ridiculous.’
