Chapter 52: Chapter 41: This Damned, Twisted Fate
She passed through the door the inspection matron had pointed to and stepped out into a lush landscape. Fine trees grew in abundance, and exotic flowers bloomed in a riot of color. A green stream meandered into the distance, blending with the mountains and rockeries. A covered corridor snaked through the scenery like a ribbon, and from beneath it came the faint, clear sound of water trickling between stones.
It was truly a picturesque place. She liked it the moment she saw it.
Song Yunzhao’s smile held a hint of delight. Soon, she heard footsteps approaching. She glanced back and saw that Song Qinghan was the first to emerge.
Her smile vanished, and she averted her gaze.
Even a blade of grass on the ground was a thousand times more pleasant to look at than Song Qinghan’s face.
Song Qinghan was so incensed by Song Yunzhao she could have dropped dead on the spot. ’What is the meaning of this?’
However, she knew this was not the Song Mansion, and she was even more aware of Song Yunzhao’s temperament. So, with a cold expression, she simply moved to stand on the other side.
The Palace Attendants waiting in the distance kept their heads bowed, looking at the ground, as if they hadn’t seen a thing.
Fortunately, Song Yexi arrived soon after. Once the three of them were gathered, a Palace Attendant came over and led them onto the long corridor. They walked past flowers and through the shadows of willows, the sounds of birdsong and gurgling streams accompanying them to a small hall where their bundles were already laid out on a table.
They each picked up their bundle and followed the Palace Attendant forward once more. They came to a ferry dock and boarded a boat. A boatwoman began to row, sending ripples spreading across the lake’s surface as they quickly left the shore.
Jincui Garden contained a vast lake called Kunlun Lake. From the boat, the pavilions and terraces on the opposite shore were hazy and indistinct. Only when the boat reached the middle of the water could their shapes be somewhat discerned, a testament to the lake’s immense size.
’Sigh, one pot wouldn’t be big enough to stew them all.’
’Oh, wait, with so many Beauties, if you squeezed them all in, you could probably manage it.’
Song Yunzhao looked back and saw several more boats slowly rowing behind them. They were spaced far apart, so she couldn’t make out any faces clearly.
When they disembarked, another Palace Attendant was there to receive them. The boat that had brought them immediately turned around and headed back.
The entire process was silent, like a wordless show of dominance. The more timid girls would have been scared pale.
Fortunately, Song Yunzhao was bold. However, she noticed that both Song Yexi’s and Song Qinghan’s faces were taut with tension. ’They must be nervous, but they just don’t want anyone to see it,’ she thought.
Song Yunzhao felt it would be best not to stand out from the group, so she instantly put on the same tense expression.
’Perfect.’
The Palace Attendant who came to greet them wore a perfectly measured smile. She curtsied and said, "Ladies, please follow me."
The three of them followed like puppets. Song Yunzhao noticed Song Qinghan’s pace had started to slow. She chuckled inwardly. For the sake of beauty, Song Qinghan had worn a pair of exquisitely crafted embroidered shoes. They were small and elegant, making her feet look incredibly delicate. They were perfect in every way but one: the soles were a bit too thin.
In her past life, Song Yunzhao had traveled often and knew all too well the importance of good shoes. The pair she was wearing had been handmade by Qiancao with thousand-layer soles. The soles were extra thick, but it wasn’t obvious from the outside.
’Yep, it was my idea. Built-in lifts.’
In any case, these purely handmade, thousand-layer embroidered shoes were incredibly comfortable. Seeing Song Qinghan’s pained, stoic expression made Song Yunzhao’s mood soar.
Song Yunzhao had given Song Yexi a hint about it. She hadn’t been explicit, but one look at Song Yexi’s shoes showed she had put some thought into them.
After walking for about the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, passing through countless gates and down endless corridors, they finally stopped outside a magnificent, splendid palace.
The multi-colored glazed tiles shimmered dazzlingly in the sunlight. Above the palace gate hung a plaque with the two large, gilded words: Zhichun Palace. The palace maid leading them stopped, curtsied to the three of them, and said, "I will see you ladies this far. Please go on in."
Without waiting for a reply, the palace maid turned and left. The three girls looked at each other. Song Yunzhao paused for a moment. ’This must be the standard treatment for a side character.’
’After all, when the protagonist was selected, her family bribed everyone up and down the ladder. She never had to suffer this kind of cold shoulder. Her guide was not only enthusiastic but even proactively shared some details about Zhichun Palace.’
’Oh well,’ Song Yunzhao thought. ’Even though the little palace maid didn’t say anything, I have a cheat—a built-in divine eye.’
Song Qinghan lifted her chin. As the eldest of the three, she said, "Well then, let’s go in."
Song Yexi pouted but didn’t say anything, simply nudging Song Yunzhao gently with her arm.
Song Yunzhao offered a polite smile.
They entered Zhichun Palace. After stepping through the gates, they were met with a spirit screen wall painted with a sprawling spring landscape. Before they had even walked around it, they could faintly hear the sound of voices.
