I Was Supposed to Be the Villainous Consort

Chapter 100: Chapter 54: If You Dare to Leverage His Influence, You Must Belong to Him (Part 3)

After taking her seat, Song Yunzhao asked directly, "Is the County Princess planning to leave the palace?"

He Lan Yun stared at Song Yunzhao in astonishment. ’She could even guess that?’

Song Yunzhao smiled. "Given the County Princess’s family background, I imagine the Prince would not be keen on you truly entering the palace as a concubine."

The Helan Family has already been granted a princedom. To then send a daughter into the palace would make them too prominent. It would be like adding fuel to the fire—not a good thing at all.

He Lan Yun breathed a small sigh of relief. She looked at Song Yunzhao and said, "I thought I might have a few more days, but the viewing has been moved up. I’ll have to feign illness and leave the palace tomorrow. My father only sent me here to temper my disposition; I never wanted to stay in the palace myself."

What’s so good about staying in the palace? You’re just a caged bird, with not a shred of freedom.

"As long as the County Princess is happy. I’m sure Prince Zhenbei adores you," Song Yunzhao said with a smile.

He Lan Yun brightened at her words. "Of course! My father is the best in the world."

Song Yunzhao nodded in agreement. "What are your plans after you leave the palace, County Princess?"

He Lan Yun faltered at the question and shook her head instinctively. "I don’t know."

"You’re of marriageable age, County Princess. I know you like Young Master Ji. Will you continue to chase after him once you leave the palace?" Song Yunzhao decided it was time for some strong medicine to help her avoid that pitfall.

He Lan Yun fell silent.

Song Yunzhao sighed inwardly.

He Lan Yun avoided looking at Song Yunzhao, her voice tinged with irritation. "I’ve liked him for so many years. How could I just give up on him now? Besides, from the looks of it, Qin Xiyue will most likely be staying in the palace..."

Song Yunzhao understood. Without Qin Xiyue in the way, He Lan Yun felt her chances with Ji Yunting would be much greater.

"If you truly want to give it a try, County Princess, then I wish you well."

"Huh?" He Lan Yun looked at Song Yunzhao in surprise. She had expected a harsh lecture.

Meeting He Lan Yun’s surprised gaze, Song Yunzhao said impassively, "There’s a saying: ’You don’t turn back until you hit a wall, and you don’t cry until you see the coffin.’ You’ll know if it hurts once you’ve hit that wall."

’I knew it!’

"You really have that little faith?"

She wasn’t convinced.

"That’s not necessarily true."

"See? You’re contradicting yourself."

Song Yunzhao chuckled. She looked at He Lan Yun and said with great sincerity, "I just feel that a wonderful woman like you, County Princess, deserves a husband who will love you, protect you, and cherish you. Young Master Ji is a good man; if he weren’t, you wouldn’t have pined for him for so many years. But the most difficult thing in this world is when you have feelings for someone who has none for you. He may have a thousand good qualities, but he doesn’t care for you. I simply believe the County Princess deserves to be happy, so why consign yourself to a lifetime of sorrow over one person?"

He Lan Yun pressed her lips together. "How is that any different? Song Yunzhao, my father treats my mother very well, but he still has many concubines. Isn’t it the same no matter who you marry? At least if I marry someone I love, I’ll do so willingly."

"The County Princess has a point." Song Yunzhao couldn’t say He Lan Yun’s thinking was wrong. She looked at her and delivered a soul-crushing blow: "Does Princess Zhenbei feel sad and hurt when the Prince takes a new concubine?"

He Lan Yun froze.

"County Princess, who doesn’t want a husband with whom they share a mutual love, to grow old together? I want that too."

"Then why are you trying to persuade me otherwise?"

"If you marry someone you love, you’ll be heartbroken when he takes a concubine. You’ll be sad that he doesn’t return your feelings with the same intensity. You’ll be furious when he shows affection to other women. You’ll grow resentful because he doesn’t love you. Day after day, year after year, you’ll be living in those shackles until you eventually grow to despise each other. The one who doesn’t love will only pull away, while the one who does will sink deeper into the mire, unable to escape. You’ll have invested too much, and it will be too late to pull yourself out."

He Lan Yun looked utterly lost.

"You’re about my age, and you haven’t been through any of this. How can you say such things? What if we get married and everything turns out wonderful?"

"Then I would congratulate the County Princess on finally seeing the moon from behind the clouds."

Hearing this only made He Lan Yun feel more stifled. She couldn’t help but mull over Song Yunzhao’s words. The thought of her future actually turning out that way sent a chill from the soles of her feet up her spine.

"I just... like him."

"Yes, liking someone is a wonderful thing. And if those feelings are returned, it’s the happiest thing in the world."

At these words, He Lan Yun’s eyes turned red. Yes, that was it. She had always longed for Ji Yunting to say just one thing to her: that he liked her, too. ƒreewebηoveℓ.com

"You really are infuriating," He Lan Yun said, exasperated.

"I suppose I am."

He Lan Yun: ...

’How was she supposed to use this as an excuse to start a huge fight and break off their friendship?’

’Song Yunzhao’s words were absolute poison. Every single sentence pierced her right in the heart, and she couldn’t just brush them aside. It was suffocating, making her feel choked with frustration!’