Volume 1, Chapter 9: Acting Spoiled... How Utterly Unseemly!

Song Yaozhu looked at the chrysanthemum crushed beneath her, then placed her hand over his palm.

"My Lord, you heard me just now. I said that my source of strength has never been the Song family; it has always been you, my Lord."

Xie Liwei’s palm felt as if it had been scorched by fire. He then heard her add, "Let us be open and honest: I want the Song family to die!"

Her tone was decisive and ruthless, which could not help but raise Xie Liwei’s guard.

"You are a daughter of the Song family. Do you really expect me to believe you?"

"Time will reveal a person's heart; there is no need for you to rush, my Lord." Song Yaozhu blinked at him. "At the very least, we are allies now, are we not?"

Xie Liwei let out a cold snort. Just as he was about to pull his hand away, she gripped his wrist. She used a handkerchief to carefully wipe away the flower debris from his palm, her expression gentle and earnest.

It reminded him of his elder sister.

Suppressing the irritation in his heart, Xie Liwei pulled his hand back. "To be my ally, you are not qualified enough!"

Song Yaozhu smiled, leaning her back against the carriage wall, looking composed and dignified. "My Lord, I am your Princess; we are one, sharing honor and disgrace. Perhaps you do not trust me yet, but that is fine. I am willing to wait for the day you choose to accept me."

Xie Liwei pursed his lips in silence. Her manners and conduct were truly unlike those of a woman raised in the countryside.

"I know that I bear some resemblance to the late Empress. I worry that seeing me often causes you distress. If you mind, I shall wear a veil from now on."

"There is no need! How could you compare to my sister!"

Though he said this, he still felt a sense of unease. There are no two identical leaves in this world, and naturally, there could not be two identical people. Furthermore, Song Yaozhu only shared a seven or eight-part resemblance to his sister.

Yet, her every gesture reminded him of her. This feeling was an intimacy born from the depths of his heart, one that filled him with both fear and confusion.

Could a person truly imitate another to such an uncanny degree?

"Then I am relieved."

Song Yaozhu herself could not describe what she felt. Logically, she had been dead for so many years that even the deepest wounds should have scarred over. Yet, Xie Liwei gave her the impression of someone who had never truly moved on.

She was someone forever stuck in the past, and so she hoped he could find a way out—that he would not remain trapped there as well.

"I hear that when you are at leisure, my Lord, you attend various poetry gatherings?"

Xie Liwei saw her eyes shift. *So that was it,* he thought. *After all that build-up, this was the topic she wanted to reach.*

"Why? Does the Princess have an interest in them?"

"As you know, my Lord, I have not read many books, so naturally, I wish to go out and broaden my horizons."

Xie Liwei also wanted to see how she would deal with the younger sister who had pushed her out to serve as a scapegoat. Thus, he said, "Yesterday, the Imperial Noble Consort summoned the eldest Madam of the Song family to the palace to inquire about the Fourth Miss’s marriage prospects."

Song Yaozhu’s thoughts raced, and she immediately recalled the look in Yuwen Wuji’s eyes when he had seen her.

*Could it be that because he thinks the Third Miss resembles Xie Wanqing, he has set his sights on the Fourth?*

*Bah! The old man is even older than Song Chengzhang; he certainly thinks highly of himself!*

However, upon second thought, it didn't seem like a bad idea.

Xie Liwei watched as her eyes darted around, followed by a cunning smile. Was she really not hiding anything from him?

"Has the Princess thought of a good plan?"

"Did you not already think of it, my Lord? That is why you gave me the hint, is it not?"

Both were speaking in questions, yet they were discussing matters they understood perfectly well. Xie Liwei found it strange. Qin Yu always said his thoughts were impossible to guess, so how had Song Yaozhu figured it out so quickly?

*It must be that Qin Yu is just too dim-witted!*

"The Third Prince is also at the age for marriage. Why does the Princess not consider that the Imperial Noble Consort might be making plans for him?"

"Grand Tutor Song is already the Prince's mentor; he already holds the title of teacher. There is no need to waste a marriage alliance there. The Imperial Noble Consort should naturally secure a more beneficial in-law for the Third Prince."

The implication was clear: Grand Tutor Song held no real power and was of no help in seizing the throne.

"Do you have people at your disposal, my Lord? You need not do much—simply drop a word to the wives of officials that the Third Prince is of age to marry."

When the Imperial Noble Consort summoned the eldest Madam of the Song family, she wouldn't dare say "The Emperor has taken a fancy to your daughter" on the first meeting. She would simply invite the Madam and the Fourth Miss frequently, orchestrate a "chance encounter" with the Emperor, and then, as a matter of course, bring the girl into the palace.

After all, she was the granddaughter of the Grand Tutor. If Song Wenyue refused to enter the palace, could the Emperor really ignore the Grand Tutor's face and let it go?

She, however, was determined not to let it go.

If this succeeded, she would lose nothing, but it would certainly make Song Wenyue and the Imperial Noble Consort miserable. Why wouldn't she do it?

She had to do it!

"Hmph! Why should I let you use my people!"

Although he had intended to do the same, hearing her say it made it seem as if he were merely following her instructions, which was quite a blow to his pride.

Who would have expected that instead of feeling humiliated by his rejection, Song Yaozhu would pinch the corner of his sleeve and give it a gentle tug.

"Please help me, my Lord! Don't you want to see the show?"

Xie Liwei froze. In this, she was nothing like his sister! His sister would never do something so coy and frivolous!

*Acting spoiled...*

*How improper!*

Xie Liwei stiffened his neck and pulled back his sleeve, neither agreeing nor refusing. Yet, when the day of the market came, staff from the front courtyard arrived early in the morning to remind Song Yaozhu that there was a market to attend.

Song Yaozhu chuckled to herself. *Why is Xie Liwei being so tsundere?*

"My Princess, it is a good thing that the Lord is willing to take you out! You must dress up well!" Cai Jin said, brimming with excitement.

Song Yaozhu thought about it—it was true. Showing affection in front of Song Wenyue would surely drive her mad. People often made shocking decisions when they were irrational.

Xie Liwei waited for half an hour, only to see Song Yaozhu emerge covered in jewels and gold. His eyes were nearly blinded by the shimmer.

His eyelid twitched uncontrollably. He wanted to slap his past self from two days ago. *How could this woman possibly resemble his sister!*

"My Lord, do I look beautiful?"

Song Yaozhu spread her arms and slowly turned in a circle. Whether she was beautiful or not, the light reflecting off her golden hairpins and jade stones made Xie Liwei feel as though she were a giant display case.

Xie Liwei boarded the carriage without a word, already regretting his promise to take her out.

Seeing his disdain, Song Yaozhu followed him inside with a light laugh. This was exactly the effect she wanted! It would surely make the Fourth Miss green with envy!

The carriage soon arrived at the teahouse where the market was being held. The venue had been reserved for the day, and the carriages of noble families were lined up outside. Song Yaozhu followed Xie Liwei, passing through smoothly into the teahouse's courtyard. Many on the way cast curious glances at her.

"Sister, I didn't think you would come today!" Song Wenyue greeted her with a smile, but upon seeing her drenched in jewels, she secretly mocked her for being truly unrefined.

"Knowing you would be here, how could I not? But as we are out walking, why is sister dressed so simply?"

Song Wenyue: "..."

Xie Liwei: *I almost want to laugh.*