Chapter 71: Chapter 46: How Unlucky for You
For the sake of their pride, none of the beauties in the harem would admit they hadn’t yet been intimate with the Emperor. They all put on an act, each projecting an air of being his most favored consort.
The thought amused Song Yunzhao so much that sleep was now even further away. The Emperor’s move was truly vicious.
Back in the day, plenty of readers in the comment section had applauded this development.
Song Yunzhao had been one of them.
But now that it was happening to her, it was a completely different story.
The Emperor had sent the Hospital Director to treat her. The Hospital Director was the head of the Imperial Hospital, the very person who treated the Emperor himself. This move had thrown her right into the fire.
’Damn Emperor!’
’I didn’t do anything to provoke him, did I?’
’So why is he coming after me!’
Song Yunzhao couldn’t figure out what the Emperor was thinking or what he planned to do. She could only resolve to be even more careful and cautious.
As she mulled it over, something suddenly occurred to her. She had fainted while trying to save someone—an act of kindness, one of a woman’s finest virtues. ’Is the Emperor going to use this to cast me as some kind of saint? To make me a target for his own purposes?’
’Damn it, what a miscalculation!’
Song Yunzhao was filled with regret. If she had known this would happen, she wouldn’t have rung the bell.
’The sound of the bell must be what caught his attention.’
’I’ve dug my own grave!’
’No, this won’t do. Starting tomorrow, I have to show the Emperor that I’m no sweet, kind-hearted fairy. I’m an arrogant, domineering, and intolerant... little firecracker!’
’Playing the part of a malicious villain is out of the question, though. I’m still counting on the Emperor to arrange a marriage for me.’
’If... if I can’t strike the right balance, I’ll just have to give up on the idea of an imperially decreed marriage and go home. I can count on my dear old dad to find me a reliable match.’
’Either way, staying in the palace is absolutely out of the question.’
’With the female lead around, shining her saintly halo everywhere, I’m afraid I wouldn’t stand a chance.’
Having figured things out, Song Yunzhao closed her eyes and drifted off to sleep.
There’s nothing difficult in this world if you’re willing to give up.
Getting kicked out was much easier than staying, after all.
「The next morning.」
Song Yunzhao rose early. She sat before her mirror, defining her brows and eyes. Her beauty had an aggressive quality; she was what people in a later era would call a stunner at first sight, the kind of woman who remained just as breathtaking with every subsequent look.
When she was at the Song Mansion, she had often worn no makeup or had used it to soften her features, all to tone down the aggressive quality of her innate beauty.
But now that she had decided to let loose, it was time to go all out.
When Song Yexi came over, she was stunned the moment she saw Song Yunzhao. It took her a long while to recover.
Song Yunzhao had changed into a rouge-red dress, and she practically seemed to glow.
Song Yexi said, "Are you even trying to let the rest of us live?"
It was a good thing she’d given up long ago; otherwise, the sight of Song Yunzhao today would have been enough to make her faint from sheer indignation. "You’re doing this on purpose, aren’t you?"
"Ms. Xi, you truly are a dear sister to me. You know me best," Song Yunzhao said with a grin. "Even if I were to act all meek and subservient, do you think those women would leave me alone? If the County Princess hadn’t stepped in yesterday, who knows what they might have done. So, rather than wait around to be bullied, I’d rather be the one to strike first."
Song Yexi: ...
’Fine. Only someone as stunning as Song Yunzhao had the right to say something like that. With her own looks, she could never be so bold.’
’Comparisons are truly infuriating.’
Song Yunzhao was afraid this sudden change in her persona would make Song Yexi suspicious, so she’d deliberately offered a plausible explanation. Paired with her established reputation at the Song Mansion for never taking a loss, it all seemed perfectly logical.
"Won’t this just attract more trouble?" Song Yexi said worriedly. "Two fists are no match for four hands. You should still try to be a bit more restrained."
"Ms. Xi, that’s where you don’t understand," Song Yunzhao began, her expression perfectly serious. "If I take even one step back right now, those women will feel bold enough to tear me to shreds. If you don’t believe me, just watch."
"Who’s tearing you to shreds?"
He Lan Yun’s voice rang out from the doorway, followed by a sharp gasp. She pointed a finger at Song Yunzhao, "You... you..."
"What about me?" Song Yunzhao said, tilting her chin up smugly. "County Princess, this isn’t the first time you’ve seen me. I already know I’m divinely beautiful, so you don’t need to waste your breath praising me."
He Lan Yun felt she must have been blind. ’How could I ever have thought Song Yunzhao was a decent human being?’
"You’re completely shameless."
"I’m beautiful and I’m proud."
He Lan Yun: ...
’Infuriating!’
Still, she really was stunning. He Lan Yun took another look, then eyed Song Yunzhao with suspicion. "Why do your eyes look so much bigger?"
’They weren’t this big yesterday, were they?’
"It’s a secret technique. Does the County Princess want to know?"
"As if you’d be kind enough to tell me."
