Chapter 32: Chapter 32: Almost Died
"Second Sister, you look like you’ve come across some good news," Song Yunzhao teased with a smile.
Song Jinxuan gave Song Yunzhao a mysterious look and handed her a piece of paper. "Take a look at this."
Confused, Song Yunzhao took the paper. A glance was all it took to startle her. "Where did you get this?"
"Well now," Song Jinxuan huffed. "You won’t even offer me a cup of tea, yet you expect me to spill all the details? In your dreams."
Song Yunzhao...
"Qiancao, serve our Second Young Miss some tea." Song Yunzhao turned to call for her maid. ’She’s the second sister, all right—and she certainly acts like it.’
Qiancao brought in the tea with a smile. Jiangxiang followed with two plates of refreshments and then discreetly led Song Jinxuan’s maid, Shihu, out of the room so the two sisters could speak privately.
Watching them go, Song Jinxuan sighed. "Your maids are getting more and more competent."
Song Yunzhao glanced at Song Jinxuan and tapped the paper she was holding.
Song Jinxuan shot Song Yunzhao an exasperated look. "My younger brother, Song Buming, went to great lengths to get this list of concubine candidates. I can’t say it’s one hundred percent accurate, but at least eighty percent of it is real. So? Am I a good sister to you or not?"
Song Buming?
Song Yunzhao was quite surprised. ’In the past, Aunt Che and her daughter guarded Song Buming so protectively, you’d think I was some kind of monster who would eat him alive.’
’So why are they having Song Buming run errands for me now?’
But on second thought, Song Yunzhao said to Song Jinxuan, "Second Sister, don’t try to sweet-talk me. This is a major selection, and you’re participating too, aren’t you? I bet Song Buming got this list for you, and you’re just using it to curry favor with me."
’I’m not falling for it. Aunt Che and her children are a crafty bunch.’
"I’m not participating in the selection."
Song Yunzhao paused, her teacup halfway to her lips. ’Not participating?’
’That can’t be right.’
’In the book, Song Jinxuan definitely participated!’
She eyed Song Jinxuan with suspicion.
Song Jinxuan smiled openly. "Are you very surprised, Third Sister?"
"I am a little surprised." Song Yunzhao set down her cup and stared at Song Jinxuan, mulling things over before speaking slowly. "Second Sister, I doubt you came here today just for this list. Let’s be frank. After all, our relationship can hardly be described as friendly."
Song Jinxuan gave Song Yunzhao a dark look. "Even if you’re telling the truth, couldn’t you be a little more tactful?"
"If I were more tactful, I’d have been eaten alive by Aunt Che long ago. Stop wasting my time."
Song Jinxuan’s face went from red to white to black. Finally, she slammed her hand on the table and retorted angrily, "Oh, give me a break! Who did what to whom? The most my mother ever did was put in a bad word against you to Mrs. Cai. But you? You nearly killed my mother that one time!"
"’Put in a bad word’? It’s easy for you to say. You weren’t the one being slowly cut down by those ’soft knives’."
Song Jinxuan threw her hands up in surrender. "Fine! My dear sister, I was wrong. I admit it, I repent, all right?"
"No."
Song Jinxuan...
"Fine, I’ll tell you the truth."
"Why do you insist on getting an earful first? You should have just said so from the start. Given our relationship, there’s no need to beat around the bush. Just be direct. So, what do you want?"
Song Jinxuan had all the fight talked out of her by Song Yunzhao. ’This girl is a real Heavenly Demon Star, born just to leave people speechless and choking on their words.’
"I meant it when I said I’m not participating."
"The reason?"
"What other reason do I need? With a face like yours in the running, I’d just be a backdrop. You think I have no pride?"
"Just for that?" Song Yunzhao was skeptical. ’In the book, Song Jinxuan wasn’t worried about my face.’ "Tell me the truth."
"It is the truth!" Song Jinxuan said through gritted teeth. "Song Qinghan has Mrs. Cai backing her, and you have Father backing you. I’m stuck in the middle with no one in my corner. If I participate, I’ll just be a foil for the two of you, won’t I? You two might not care, but I still have some dignity."
Song Yunzhao gave Song Jinxuan a strange look. ’That’s fifty percent true, at best.’
Meeting Song Yunzhao’s gaze, Song Jinxuan lost the energy to even grit her teeth.
"Alright, alright! I give up, I’m scared of you. There is another reason. This list is a sign of good faith from my brother and me. We want to pledge our allegiance to you. What do you say?"
"Pledge your allegiance?" Song Yunzhao was genuinely surprised. "Why would you do that? Are you betting that I’ll be chosen for the palace? You might be disappointed. The Capital City is full of candidates with both beauty and powerful families. What am I compared to them?"
Song Jinxuan fell silent. ’She’d never met anyone so self-deprecating.’
"You’re right. You might be chosen, or you might not. We’re not just betting on whether you’ll make it into the palace. But if even you aren’t chosen, then Song Qinghan’s chances are even slimmer."
Song Yunzhao scoffed internally. ’That’s not necessarily true. In the book, she actually used my and Song Jinxuan’s reputations as stepping stones to get into the palace.’
"For the sake of my brother’s future and mine, we are willing to join forces with you, Third Sister."
Hearing this, Song Yunzhao began to understand. Song Jinxuan was the daughter of a concubine, so her marriage prospects were entirely in Mrs. Cai’s hands. Song Buming’s future was uncertain, and even if Aunt Che was favored, she had no say in such important matters.
’Although I’m not liked by Mrs. Cai, Father dotes on me, and I’m a legitimate daughter. At least my status is more secure.’
’My disadvantages are also obvious. My full brother isn’t close to me, and Mrs. Cai and Song Qinghan are my enemies. If I can ally with Song Jinxuan and her brother, it would be like having my own eyes and ears in the outer court. It would make things much more convenient.’
Song Yunzhao looked at Song Jinxuan with a complicated expression. ’I never expected her to be so bold.’
’Then again, in the book, the original owner of this body was an idiot, so of course Song Jinxuan wouldn’t have sought an alliance. For the sake of Aunt Che and Song Buming, she participated in the selection even knowing her chances were slim, just to grasp at that tiny opportunity.’
’But I’m different. Song Jinxuan and her brother see the benefits of an alliance with me.’
’If I had to boast, I’d say they were won over by my sheer force of personality! The kind that says, ’If you don’t agree, we fight!’’
In truth, Song Jinxuan was very nervous. She was afraid this stubborn mule, Song Yunzhao, would refuse. A fine sweat broke out on her palms, but she forced herself not to show any weakness.
’Song Yunzhao had a vicious personality. If she knew I was nervous, there’s no telling how she’d toy with me and mock me.’
Song Yunzhao observed Song Jinxuan’s expression. She wasn’t some naive fourteen or fifteen-year-old girl; she could naturally see the tension deep in her sister’s eyes. ’This might not be a bad idea,’ she mused. ’I’m not going to be selected anyway. Teaming up with Song Jinxuan and her brother would certainly strengthen my position against Mrs. Cai.’
’After all, Aunt Che is a powerful weapon. Used correctly, she could produce some surprisingly effective results.’
"Fine," Song Yunzhao agreed readily.
Song Jinxuan let out a small sigh of relief, and the smile on her face became a little more genuine. "Then from now on, Third Sister, we’ll watch each other’s backs."
Song Yunzhao nodded. "Of course."
"Perfect. I have another piece of news for you, Third Sister. Mrs. Cai doesn’t plan on letting you participate in the selection. She’s invited the old matriarch of the Cai Mansion to come, and they want to force you to ’pray for blessings’ at a temple for a while. You have to be careful. You’ve never met the old matriarch of the Cai Mansion, but she is an incredibly formidable woman. My mother suffered a huge loss at her hands years ago—she nearly died. You can’t let your guard down."
