The tenser the situation became, the calmer Song Yunzhao grew. Even when Song Jinxuan came to stir up trouble, Song Yunzhao rebuffed her with a nonchalant retort.

Song Jinxuan was furious. She returned to her courtyard and complained to Aunt Che, "I think Song Yunzhao is a fool, not even trying to seize such a golden opportunity. Just you watch. If Song Yunzhao doesn’t bring it up, the Madam definitely won’t let anyone else participate in the selection."

Hearing her daughter’s words, Aunt Che stopped her needlework. She looked up and smiled. "There’s no need to rush this. The First Madam and Miss Xi certainly won’t let the matter rest."

Song Jinxuan frowned. "What does this have to do with the First Branch? Besides, Song Yexi is definitely going to be in the selection."

"Originally, the Dingnan Bo Mansion had settled on Song Qinghan. When Miss Xi returned, she looked terrible. Something we don’t know about must have happened. Just from what we saw then, Song Qinghan must have pulled some strings. Now that the imperial selection is wide open, it’s such a golden opportunity. How could the First Madam let Song Qinghan have her way so easily? She would even push the Third Miss to enter the selection."

Hearing her mother’s explanation, Song Jinxuan instantly understood. Then she asked, "But what’s in it for the First Branch if they get Yunzhao to participate?"

’With a face like Song Yunzhao’s, the girls from both our branches combined couldn’t compete...’

At this thought, Song Jinxuan’s eyes lit up. "Mother, you mean..."

Aunt Che lowered her head again, threading her needle as she spoke in a soft, low voice, "Last year, while I was attending to your father, I heard him mention that the First Master has expended considerable effort on his career. While we have connections at court, they aren’t high-ranking nobles or powerful officials. Both your father and the First Master are talented and capable men, yet their paths to promotion are full of obstacles. Who could be content with that?"

’It’s easier to be an official when you have connections at court.’

’So, even if the Master dotes on the Third Miss, I’m afraid the First Master will still make her participate in the selection.’

Song Jinxuan’s mouth twitched. "Then doesn’t that make everyone else in our mansion mere foils?"

’If I were to participate, I’d just be one of the foils too.’ The thought was rather disheartening.

Aunt Che nodded slightly. "So, the First Madam will likely have Miss Xi just go through the motions to build her reputation, which will help her secure a good marriage in the future." At this, Aunt Che looked up at her daughter, her expression full of worry. "I know you want to enter the selection, but the palace won’t choose two young ladies from the same family."

Song Jinxuan...

’So in the end, I’m still at the bottom of the list!’

Frustrated, Song Jinxuan pressed her lips together and said nothing.

Seeing her daughter’s reaction, Aunt Che’s heart ached. ’Just because she was born to me, my daughter has had to endure so much suffering over the years.’

"It’s all my fault for being useless and holding you back."

Aunt Che wished she could peel her own face off and give it to her daughter. The Madam was far less attractive than she, yet the daughter the Madam bore had managed to inherit all the best features from both her and the Master.

She herself was beautiful, but her daughter favored the Master’s looks more, leaving her to be thoroughly overshadowed by the Third Miss.

"Mother, what are you talking about?" Song Jinxuan quickly tried to console her. "I’m just a little upset right now. Besides, if I have to choose between her and Song Qinghan, I’d much rather it be Song Yunzhao who enters the palace."

Hearing her daughter’s words, Aunt Che considered for a moment before speaking. "Let’s rethink our strategy. Even if you don’t participate in the selection, you must make the Master believe you’re stepping aside for the good of the family."

’Only if the Master feels indebted to our daughter will he put more effort into arranging her marriage in the future.’

Song Jinxuan didn’t know what her mother was thinking. Her mind was focused on one thing. Her eyes lit up as she looked at her mother. "Mother, you said that Song Bu Yue isn’t close with our third sister, and he’s always favored Song Qinghan. Among all the siblings in our branch, Song Yunzhao has no support at all. How can she succeed like that?"

Aunt Che was always clever and quick-witted. Hearing her daughter’s words, she immediately understood. "You mean, you want your brother to ally himself with the Third Miss?"

Song Jinxuan nodded. "Yes."

The mother and daughter met each other’s gaze, their minds suddenly buzzing with new possibilities.

If Song Yunzhao successfully entered the palace and became a concubine, befriending her would give them a powerful backer within the Third Branch. In turn, Song Yunzhao wouldn’t have to worry about having no one from her maiden family to rely on at court.

’Considering Song Yunzhao’s relationship with the Madam and the sibling pair of Song Qinghan, she would probably throw her conscience to the dogs before she’d ever let them benefit from her position.’

Song Jinxuan couldn’t sit still any longer. Song Yunzhao was not an easy person to get close to; she was quite hard-hearted.

"Mother, I’m going to find my brother."

"Wait." Aunt Che quickly stood up. She turned and went into her room, returning moments later with a heavy pouch. "Take this to your brother. Tell him to pay close attention to the news from outside these next few days. He shouldn’t be afraid to spend the silver, but he must make sure it’s spent well."

’Showing sincerity to the Third Miss isn’t something you can do with just words. You have to show real commitment.’

Aunt Che had suffered a great loss at Song Yunzhao’s hands before, so she didn’t dare to provoke her lightly now. If they were going to form an alliance, they had to be all the more honest and sincere.

Song Jinxuan took the silver without ceremony and headed out. ’Under the Madam’s thumb, she and her brother would get no sympathy no matter how much they suffered. It was better to be bold for once and take a gamble.’

Song Yunzhao had no idea that Song Jinxuan was about to bring her a huge surprise. She had just received a letter from Xie Linlang, who had it delivered to the mansion. The letter informed her that the details of the imperial selection were confirmed and told her not to worry. Xie Linlang also mentioned that she had prepared something for Song Yunzhao and would have it sent over later.

Song Yunzhao hadn’t expected Xie Linlang to be so invested in her affairs. After some thought, she picked up the writing brush she had set aside.

’It’s just writing some trashy, dramatic storybooks, right?’

’I can do this.’

Song Yunzhao began to write her storybooks in seclusion, which, to the rest of the household, looked as if the Third Miss had no interest whatsoever in the imperial selection.

Mrs. Cai and Song Qinghan didn’t return to the mansion until dark, and both mother and daughter looked grim.

What had been set in stone was now a competition against countless other young ladies. Setting aside outsiders, even within their own mansion, Song Qinghan knew that if Song Yunzhao participated, she wouldn’t stand a chance.

"Mother..." Song Qinghan had spent the entire day sitting miserably at the Uncle Mansion, where she had even been mocked by Chu Yuying. She felt so wronged she wanted to burst into tears, but she forced herself to hold back, refusing to become a laughingstock.

Mrs. Cai was in an equally foul mood. Remembering what her sister had told her, her heart sank. She looked at her daughter and said, "I know what you’re worried about. Don’t worry. From our branch of the family, you will be the only one to enter the selection."

Song Qinghan managed a smile. "I knew Mother dotes on me the most."

"Go back and get some rest." Mrs. Cai patted her daughter’s hand. She still had to wait for her husband to return so they could discuss this matter in detail.

As for how to prevent Song Yunzhao from participating, Mrs. Cai already had a plan.

「Under the heavy night sky, the Imperial Palace was brilliantly lit.」

Feng Yi held the report that Meng Jiuchang had handed him. He opened it and paused, slightly stunned. ’That day, the girl seemed to have quite a temper. I thought she must have been a spoiled daughter from some prominent family. I never expected her to be the daughter of a mere sixth-rank official. What a surprise.’

’Her background is really a bit too low.’