TSNCWEM Chapter 34

Song Qinghan’s eyes darkened as she glanced at Furong. The servant trembled all over, quickly bowed, and retreated, not daring to speak again.

The next day, First Madam came to Cai Shi to discuss the clothes and jewelry for the children who were going to enter the palace for the selection . Given Song Qinghan’s previous schemes against Song Yexi, First Madam’s actions this time really annoyed Cai Shi.

In late spring, the weather was hot during the day and cool at night, so several sets of thick and thin clothes had to be prepared. The jewelry worn on the head must also match the outfits, along with shoes and socks, sachets, and small items like handkerchiefs. The list handed over by the First Madam was a thick stack.

Cai Shi’s face turned pale with anger, “Sister-in-law, this is too much. They are only entering the selection, such extravagance is unreasonable.”

First Madam looked at Cai Shi with a serious expression. “Sister-in-law, what are these little things in comparison to those prepared by others? I’ve heard that the daughters of the Minister of Personnel, the Grand Justice, and the Grand Tutor’s households not only have their own embroiderers, but have also bought a lot from well-known tailoring shops outside the city. Sister-in-law, we can’t compare ourselves to those high-ranking families, but the Song family has its own heritage and background. We can’t let people laugh at us, can we?”

While Cai Shi was arguing with the First Madam, Song Yunzhao quietly slipped out of the house. She needed to buy some items for self-defense and also wanted to check if her storybook had begun circulating at the Xie family restaurant.

First, she went to the pharmacy. The book described this selection as very lively, with various schemes being openly and covertly played out. Although she planned to use the chaos to her advantage, she was self-aware enough to know that her face would likely cause trouble. She couldn’t go around telling everyone she was just there to make up the numbers. If someone reported her, a charge of disrespecting imperial authority could crush her.

 

Pills couldn’t be taken into the palace. Every candidate would have their body and luggage inspected before entering. She planned to buy some medicinal powders, wrap them in oil paper, and seal them in a pouch. Even if she was checked, these were not harmful substances, so she wasn’t afraid.

What she bought included treatments for diarrhea, antidotes, insect repellent, allergy prevention, and remedies for small rashes. She bought a portion of everything she could think of, spending quite a lot of silver at the pharmacy, which pained her.

We should not harm others, but we must be cautious of others’ intentions.

The money spent was worth it.

As she came out of the pharmacy, her focus was on the medicine package in her hand, and she almost bumped into someone coming in. She quickly stepped back to steady herself and looked up to see a familiar face.

“Sorry… is it you? What a coincidence, do you still remember me?” Song Yunzhao didn’t expect to see the folding fan gentleman she met at Sanyuan Tower that day. Today, he was still holding a gold-embellished fan, dressed in white. His demeanor was naturally cold and aloof, and the white clothing made him seem even more untouchable.

Feng Yi slightly nodded, “Indeed a coincidence. Miss, why are you buying so many medicinal herbs?”

His voice was as pleasant as ever, slightly softening his cold demeanor. Song Yunzhao lightly coughed, “For personal use.”

Feng Yi raised an eyebrow slightly and spoke calmly, “So that’s how it is.”

Song Yunzhao wasn’t familiar with him and only greeted him because they almost bumped into each other. Now that the greeting was over, she immediately said, “Are you also here to buy medicine? Then I won’t disturb you any longer. Until we meet again.”

Feng Yi’s eyes swept over the medicine package in Song Yunzhao’s hand, and he said meaningfully, “Until we meet again.”

 

Song Yunzhao let out a long breath as she left the pharmacy, not realizing the deeper meaning behind Feng Yi’s words. After a few steps, she suddenly understood. She still hadn’t seen his full face today; that folding fan of his was certainly worth the money.

She handed the medicine package to Jiang Xiang, who was waiting by the carriage. “Put these things away carefully, don’t let anyone see them.”

Jiang Xiang quickly acknowledged and stowed the items in the hidden compartment of the carriage, then asked,”Miss, where to next?”

“To Yuquan Tower.”

Yuquan Tower was the Xie family’s restaurant, which has been open in the capital for several years. However, it was still a notch below Sanyuan Tower. But today, when the carriage arrived outside, the place crowded inside and out.

Song Yunzhao didn’t get off the carriage and sent a guard to find out what was going on.

Could it be a disturbance?

There were so many people that half the street was blocked.

The carriage stopped by the roadside. Song Yunzhao lifted the curtain and looked outside, scanning the area. Suddenly, her eyes widened as she recognized someone. Wasn’t that Qin Xiyue?

As expected, wherever the heroine is, trouble follows. Fortunately, she had the foresight not to get off the carriage. It was much more enjoyable to watch the drama unfold from the safety of the carriage. If she had gotten off, who knows if her ‘cannon fodder’ attribute would have dragged her into the mess.

Standing next to Qin Xiyue was… Ji Yunting?

Huh?

How did these two end up together?

Looking around again, she spotted the Helan siblings.

Now that made sense.

The heroine’s troubles wouldn’t be complete without the female supporting character adding fuel to the fire.

But who was the handsome young man standing next to Ji Yunting?

Dressed in dark clothes, with thin lips and a straight nose, his sword-like eyebrows slanted into his temples. His eyes seemed to be blazing with impatience.

Helan Yue was saying something, but Helan Yun suddenly shook off her brother’s arm and raised her hand to strike Qin Xiyue’s face.

So aggressive?

Song Yunzhao was astonished. This scene wasn’t in the book. The plot started from the selection process, and the heroine never recalled this past event later, so she was completely at a loss about what had happened.

At that moment, Ji Yunting reached out to block Helan Yun’s arm. Helan Yue took the opportunity to pull his sister back, but his strength was a bit too much, causing Helan Yun to fall down the steps.

Song Yunzhao: …

Was this even possible?

The steps were at most 20 centimeters high. She was short, so she should have only staggered a bit, but Helan Yun truly fell flat on her face!

This turn of events was indeed surprising.

Helan Yun got up from the ground, said something to her brother, and then ran away.

Helan Yue said something to the heroine, possibly a farewell or an apology, and then turned to chase after his sister.

Song Yunzhao patted her chest, feeling relieved. Luckily, she stayed hidden in the carriage, otherwise, she might have been the one in trouble.

At that moment, the person who went to gather information returned.

“Third Miss, I found out what happened. Today, there was an incident at Yuquan Tower. A poor scholar took money from his fiancée’s family to come to the capital to study, but ended up being chosen as a husband by his teacher. The scholar’s fiancée, upon hearing the news, came to the capital to seek justice and confronted him at Yuquan Tower, which is why there are so many people here watching the commotion.”

Hmm?

Huh?

Why did this plot feel so familiar?

Wasn’t this the story she wrote?

So, was this a case of life imitating art?”

She felt it shouldn’t be so coincidental. How could it be?

If it wasn’t, then, did Xie Jinshu arrange for people to act out a scene on purpose to create a buzz in order to promote her play?

With this thought, Song Yunzhao couldn’t sit still. She immediately got off the carriage to check.

If her guess was correct, then Xie Jinshu was indeed a genius.