I Was Supposed to Be the Villainous Consort

Chapter 56: Chapter 42: The Bigger the Mess, the Better the Show

With a loud BANG, the room next door instantly fell silent.

It wasn’t just the room next door. Song Yunzhao noticed that all the surrounding noise had vanished as well. ƒreeωebnovel.ƈom

The world went quiet, and Song Yunzhao fell back to sleep. She was completely unaware that this one act had made her famous. Everyone now knew that among this year’s concubine candidates, there was one with a terrible temper who would smash walls at the slightest disagreement.

Early the next morning, someone knocked on the door. Song Yunzhao groggily got up to open it. Outside, a palace maid curtsied to her. "I’ve brought water for you to wash up, Miss." ƒreeωebnovel.ƈom

Song Yunzhao glanced at the sky, which was just beginning to lighten, and paused for a moment before saying, "Thank you."

"You’re too kind, Miss. It’s my duty," the palace maid replied with a smile. After helping Song Yunzhao finish washing up, she picked up the copper pot and left.

Before the maid could leave, Song Yunzhao hurried back inside, grabbed two small gold and silver ingots, and pressed them into her hand. The palace maid didn’t refuse, deftly tucking them away. She then leaned in and whispered to Song Yunzhao, "After breakfast, all the young ladies will be going to Qiushui Pavilion. A Housekeeper will be there to test your needlework."

Hearing this, Song Yunzhao confirmed that it matched what she’d read in the book. She thanked the little palace maid.

Not long after, the little palace maid returned with breakfast for Song Yunzhao. This time, she didn’t linger, simply setting down the meal before hurrying away.

Song Yunzhao knew that each little palace maid was assigned to a single room. While they didn’t follow you around constantly like the maids back at the manor, they were still responsible for everything that happened in their assigned rooms. Building a good relationship with them could only help.

After finishing breakfast, Song Yunzhao tidied herself up. Song Yexi arrived shortly after. "You look well-rested," she said as soon as she saw Song Yunzhao. "I barely slept a wink last night."

Song Yunzhao could detect a hint of complaint in Song Yexi’s voice. "That’s how it is when you’re away," she said. "You can’t expect it to be as comfortable as home."

Song Yexi teased her, "You say that like you’re always traveling."

’Silly girl, trying to act like a grown-up.’

’I actually did travel a lot in my past life,’ Song Yunzhao thought. ’But that all feels so long ago now.’

"Hey, guess who’s in the room next to mine?" Song Yexi whispered.

"Who?" Song Yunzhao had no idea. ’With one or two hundred concubine candidates, the book couldn’t possibly mention every single one. Only the cannon fodder with actual roles get to make an appearance.’

"Feng Yunjin, the daughter of the Director of the Capital."

Song Yunzhao froze. ’Who?’

’The heroine’s little brain trust from the book?’

’If Song Yexi hadn’t mentioned her, I wouldn’t have even remembered this character. Her presence in the story was just too faint. Even though she was intelligent, she was determined to remain low-key, content to be the heroine’s sidekick—the kind who never steals the spotlight.’

"You know her?" Song Yexi asked, noticing Song Yunzhao’s strange expression.

Song Yunzhao shook her head. "I don’t know her. I think I might have heard someone mention the name while I was out shopping, though. It just sounds familiar, but I can’t quite place it."

Song Yexi knew Song Yunzhao loved shopping and went out several times a month. Since coming to the capital, she’d even gone out to have fun a few times with their third uncle’s backing. So, hearing this explanation, she didn’t doubt it. "She knocked on my door last night," she said. "We chatted for a bit, and I think she’s pretty nice. Even though her family’s status is higher than ours, she didn’t seem to look down on us at all."

The corner of Song Yunzhao’s mouth twitched when she heard that. ’Among this group of concubine candidates, if we were ranked by our fathers’ official positions, our family would probably be in the bottom quarter.’

’But if we were ranked by the glory of our ancestors, we could probably make it into the top quarter.’

’Sigh. It’s such an awkward position to be in.’

’The truly noble families look down on the declining Song family, but the Songs still have pride in their bones and refuse to completely humble themselves.’

’That’s why Song Yexi is so happy that Feng Yunjin didn’t look down on them.’

A bell rang soon after. Song Yexi looked at Song Yunzhao. "Quick, it’s time to go."

Song Yunzhao followed Song Yexi out, pulling the door shut behind her. As she stood by the entrance, Qin Xiyue emerged from the room across the way, and He Lan Yun walked out of the room to their right.

Qin Xiyue greeted Song Yunzhao with a gentle and polite smile. "Good morning, Miss Song."

"Good morning, Miss Qin," Song Yunzhao replied with a smile.

He Lan Yun, however, just looked down her nose at them, snorted, and stalked off.

Just then, the person in the room next to Qin Xiyue’s also came out. Song Yunzhao glanced over. ’Ah, it’s Lu Zhixue. No surprise there.’

A dignified beauty emerged from the room to her left. ’Who was that again?’

’The book said she’s Han Jinyi, the daughter of the Minister of the Ministry of Justice.’