Free Web NovelChapter 45: Chapter 39: A Hero? He’s Not Worthy
"Mrs. Luo, what happened after that?"
Mrs. Luo looked at the Third Miss with affection, reaching out to adjust the soft pillow behind her back to make her more comfortable. "The Madam was unwilling to relinquish full control of your affairs to the Master before. But this time, the First Aunt caught the First Miss bribing someone in the kitchen to drug you, trying to make you break out in a rash so you’d miss the selection. To protect the First Miss, the Madam used this as a bargaining chip and made a deal with the Master. Miss, from now on, your suffering is over."
Mrs. Luo was so overjoyed she was crying. She wiped her tears with a handkerchief, and when she saw the young miss’s dazed expression, she couldn’t help but laugh.
Song Yunzhao felt that after all these years since she’d transmigrated into the book, a pie had finally fallen from the sky and landed on her head. She was dizzy. It just... happened?
’It’s like a dream.’
"Mrs. Luo, so the Madam really can’t control me anymore?" Song Yunzhao asked again. ’What kind of god-tier assist was that? The First Aunt is amazing.’
"Yes, Miss. From now on, you can rest assured."
Song Yunzhao felt her heart pounding as if she were bungee jumping off a mountain. The golden hoop of "filial piety" had been squeezing her so tightly all these years that even breathing felt like a luxury.
Although she could borrow her father’s influence, it was ultimately limited. She’d had to struggle so hard just to survive.
Suddenly, her situation had completely opened up. It was a little hard to believe.
Song Yunzhao subconsciously touched her chest. She felt her body suddenly lighten, as if some shackle had been broken. It was as if her entire being, inside and out, had been cleansed and renewed.
’I’ll have to test it out when I get the chance.’
"So from now on, I’ll be under Father’s care?" Song Yunzhao asked, looking at Mrs. Luo’s joyful face.
’Doesn’t that mean I’ll be like Monkey Sun returning to Huaguo Mountain, free to rule as I please?’
’Pah! I’m not just a monkey, I’m the Great Sage Equalling Heaven!’
"The Master is in charge of you, Miss, but he is an official, after all. He has to go to the government office to manage affairs on weekdays. Besides, with so many trivial matters in the inner residence, how could a man like the Master handle everything personally? So, the Master entrusted your care to the First Aunt."
Song Yunzhao was stunned for a moment when she heard this, then felt a slight pang in her heart.
Seeing the young miss’s expression, Mrs. Luo gently patted her hand and said in a low voice, "Miss, with the matter of you saving the Master at the risk of your own safety, and the First Aunt publicly praising your filial piety and righteousness to clear your name, the Madam can no longer use filial duty to suppress you. You can rest easy."
Song Yunzhao hadn’t really thought that far ahead at the time. After all, she couldn’t have predicted the First Aunt would be so helpful, but the result was a pleasant surprise, doubly so.
"Besides, the First Aunt isn’t currying favor with you for no reason. This old servant thinks she’s definitely betting on you for the selection this time. She’s hoping you’ll have a meteoric rise and be able to look after the first branch of the family."
Song Yunzhao: ...
’Then First Aunt is probably going to be disappointed.’
’Becoming a concubine in the palace, fighting over one "cucumber" with countless other beautiful women... even if my brain were filled with ten pounds of water, I wouldn’t do something so idiotic.’
’I can only let down my First Aunt’s good intentions. I’ll see if there are other opportunities to repay her in the future.’
Song Yunzhao suppressed her guilt and asked Mrs. Luo, "Since a deal was made, Song Qinghan will still participate in the selection, right?"
Mrs. Luo nodded. ’The Madam really went all out for the First Miss.’
Song Yunzhao lowered her gaze slightly. ’It seems some plot points in the book really can’t be changed. Cannon fodder with a ranking still has to walk their designated path.’
’As for someone like me who couldn’t even get a ranking...’ Recalling the feeling of breaking free from her shackles earlier, a new theory formed in her mind.
’By completely escaping Mrs. Cai’s control, does this mean I’ve broken free from the original book’s trajectory?’
’It wouldn’t be hard to confirm. I just need to "accidentally" run into the female lead once.’
’I’m looking forward to it so eagerly.’
’Too bad I’m a sick patient who can’t leave the house right now.’
When he heard Yun Zhao had woken up, the first to visit was the Third Master. Seeing his daughter, his eyes turned red, and he was so choked up he could barely speak a complete sentence.
Song Yunzhao: ...
’I never knew my father was so full of emotion!’
Next to arrive was the beaming First Aunt, who looked at Yun Zhao as if she were a glittering God of Wealth.
Song Yunzhao felt a little guilty. ’Your humble servant truly cannot do it.’
Following her were Song Jinxuan and Song Yexi.
The first thing Song Yexi said upon seeing Song Yunzhao was, "Little Sister Zhao, from now on, you’re my own dear sister. Don’t you worry."
Song Yunzhao maintained her smile. freёwebnoѵel.com
Song Jinxuan’s eyes were red as she gripped Song Yunzhao’s hand tightly. "You scared me to death! I’m so glad you’re all right. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have been able to live with myself." freёwebnoѵel.com
Song Yunzhao was full of question marks. ’It’s not that serious, is it? Did some secret event happen that I don’t know about?’
Seeing Yun Zhao’s utterly confused expression, Song Jinxuan was amused and started laughing again.
’Crying one moment, laughing the next. Women... what fickle creatures.’
Song Yexi, watching from the side, said to Yun Zhao, "Aunt Che performed a great service this time, but it led to you getting injured, so..."
Song Yunzhao understood at once. If she had survived without any issue, Aunt Che’s merit would have been set in stone. But if something had happened to her, Aunt Che’s merit might have turned into a crime.
After all, if Aunt Che hadn’t thrown herself forward, Yun Zhao might not have ended up as a human cushion for them.
’Tsk! If I had really been sent off on the spot, Mrs. Cai could have raised a huge fuss over the loss of her daughter and used the opportunity to get rid of Aunt Che.’
By the time Song Yunzhao saw Song Yexi and Song Jinxuan out, the sky had turned completely dark. She let out a long sigh of relief. ’What an exciting and stimulating day. I need to have a good, long dream with Zhou Gong to recover.’
For several days in a row, the First Aunt cared for Song Yunzhao meticulously, arranging everything perfectly. It allowed her to truly enjoy the super-premium treatment of a legitimate daughter. ’It feels so good.’
Song Yexi sat in the room embroidering a small pouch, chatting with Song Yunzhao as she threaded her needle.
"My mother said the selection is in three days. I heard that many families from the surrounding Prefectures and Counties are also sending their daughters this time, so there will be quite a few people."
Song Yunzhao had already recovered, but the First Aunt, afraid she might have another accident if she went out, made her stay put for three full days before she was allowed to take a stroll in the courtyard.
Hearing Song Yexi’s words now, Song Yunzhao felt a moment of confusion. She didn’t remember the book mentioning that the surrounding Prefectures and Counties would also participate in the selection.
’Have I been in this book for so long that I’m misremembering some of the plot points?’
Just as she was thinking this, she heard Song Yexi continue, "A lot of people in the West Courtyard were dealt with this time. Even a little maid from your courtyard was sent away. My mother told me to ask if you want a few more servants to attend to you. You can pick them yourself this time."
’What?’
’Sent away?’
A sharp pain shot through Song Yunzhao’s heart. ’That was a spy for Mrs. Cai and her daughter that I deliberately kept around! I was going to use her to set a trap!’
Noticing Song Yunzhao’s strange expression, Song Yexi put down her needlework and said with concern, "Don’t be sad. It’s just a little maid."
Song Yunzhao forced a smile. "Thank you, First Aunt, for being so thoughtful on my behalf."
"There’s no need to thank me for that." Song Yexi dismissed it casually, then dropped another bombshell on Song Yunzhao. "Today, my mother received an invitation from the old madam of the Cai Mansion, inviting her to a banquet at the Cai Mansion tomorrow."
’The old madam of the Cai Mansion?’
Song Yunzhao jolted and turned to look at Song Yexi.
Song Yexi met her questioning gaze and nodded. "The Cai Family’s old madam originally invited you as well, but my mother refused. Why do you think she’d invite you over at a time like this?"
Song Yunzhao asked the million-dollar question: "Is Song Qinghan going?"
