The moment she got off the carriage, Shen Qingyao couldn’t help feeling a bit nervous as she looked at the imposing palace in front of her. After all, this was the first time in both of her lifetimes that she entered the imperial palace. She quietly bit her lower lip and unconsciously straightened her posture. She can’t embarrass the female lead!
Seeing Shen Qingyao like this, Shen Qingli lowered her head and chuckled. After a moment, she walked over, grabbed Shen Qingyao gently, and said softly, “Yaoyao, don’t be afraid. Come, I’ll take you in.”
Shen Qingyao was touched, feeling as if there were ten little people rolling around in her heart1. “Wuwuwu, System, did you see that? My sister is a fairy! She’s so gentle, wuwuwu…”
System : [Host, have some dignity…]
Shen Qingyao obediently followed her Elder Sister, observing her surroundings with her eyes darting around. She marveled at the grandeur of the palace while thinking, Dignity? What’s the use for me, a background cannon fodder, to have dignity? Of course, it’s better to cling to my Elder Sister.
Mother Shen had to enter the palace in advance early in the morning to pay respects to the Empress, especially now that Shen Qingyao had established a marriage contract with Prince Lu Zhao, who is also the Empress’s nephew, so Mother Shen was even more cautious, afraid of making any mistakes. However, the two sisters were delayed due to Shen Qingyao’s difficulty in getting up, and by the time they arrived at the palace where the feast was held, many people were already inside.
In Liang Empire, the customs were open-minded, and the segregation between men and women was not very strict. Therefore, there was no specific seating arrangement for men and women at the feast; ministers and their families all sat together. However, as it was still early, most men were attending the court with the Emperor, leaving mostly women in the hall.
Shen Qingyao quickly scanned the room, and it was indeed filled with beautiful women.
The Winter Solstice feast had not yet begun. The ladies gathered in groups of three or four, chatting and exchanging pleasantries. However, the moment the two sisters entered, whether it was Shen Qingyao’s illusion or not, the conversations of the people subtly paused for a moment and then resumed even louder, as if deliberately covering up.
“…” This is too obvious…
“I bet a piece of osmanthus cake that those people were definitely gossiping about my Elder Sister behind our backs just now!” Shen Qingyao complained to the system.
Her Elder Sister, as the female lead and the capital’s top beauty and talented woman, marrying a prince with a notorious reputation, was undoubtedly a topic everyone loved to gossip about in the noble circle.
[Absolutely! I heard it just now! The girl on the left was just saying that the female lead won’t survive for more than a month after marrying over. They almost made the male lead as a demon!] The system was also indignant, as these NPCs simply didn’t understand the charm of the male and female leads!
Shen Qingyao wholeheartedly agreed! Enjoying the drama now would lead to regret later!
Her gaze shifted subtly towards the person the system mentioned. The girl who was talking earlier was dressed in luxurious clothes, exuded arrogance, and had a high-held head, like a proud little peacock. She was accompanied by three or four young ladies from prestigious families, indicating her high status.
Shen Qingyao, lost in thought, unexpectedly made eye contact with that girl. The girl seemed surprised that Shen Qingyao noticed her, hesitated for a moment, then snorted disdainfully and turned her head away. The gossiping with her companions became even louder, and this time, Shen Qingyao was included in the insults. Shen Qingyao didn’t take it seriously, as they were just saying that Shan QIngyao was a sick girl who would not live long. However, this young lady seemed to have no regard for Shen Qingli, the female lead.
Shen Qingyao : …Ignorance is not terrible; it’s the combination of ignorance and arrogance that is most deadly!
Shen Qingyao discreetly turned her head to look at her Elder Sister, who still wore a composed and elegant smile, unchanged in her demeanor. She admired her Elder Sister for being a mature female lead who wouldn’t bother with these ignorant NPCs.
The hostility of the NPC Young Lady came out of nowhere. The notorious Fifth Prince, with such a bad reputation, could he still attract a love rival for her Elder Sister? However, upon second thought, it felt wrong. Where would there be a love rival who not only insults her Elder Sister’s talents and beauty but also drags herself into the argument over a man?
Shen Qingyao pondered for a long time, then leaned closer to Shen Qingli and asked, “Elder Sister and that young lady over there… do you have any grudges?”
Besides being jealous of her Elder Sister’s talent and beauty, Shen Qingyao couldn’t think of any other reasons.
Shen Qingli imitated Shen Qingyao and turned her head, her eyes looking somewhat peculiar, as if wanting to laugh but holding it back. She whispered, “Not really. But now I might… become a troubled fish in the same pond2.”
What fish? What pond? Shen Qingyao and the system were both puzzled, with big question marks appearing above their heads.
Shen Qingyao’s confusion didn’t last long because the NPC Young Lady approached them on her own.
She still had a proud expression, and her appearance was indeed striking and beautiful, clearly a girl pampered by her family.
Here it comes! The classic plot of an ignorant supporting character provoking the female lead at the banquet is about to unfold!
Shen Qingyao and the system clenched their fists simultaneously, the melon was already prepared, ready to be enjoyed at any moment3.
Sure enough, Shen Qingli’s face darkened when she saw the newcomer. She took a step forward and stood in front of Shen Qingyao, asking, “Miss Tang, what brings you here?”
Miss Tang’s smile was disdainful, and she carried her arrogance to the extreme. “What? Can’t I come to say hello without any reason?”
Then she glanced around, pretending to suddenly realize something, and said, “Oh~ or is it that Miss Shen is going to be the Fifth Prince’s consort, an identity that we can’t reach?”
No one in the capital wants to marry the Fifth Prince. Saying this was equivalent to mocking. Sure enough, the others around Miss Tang secretly chuckled.
Shen Qingli, however, remained calm and smiled, “If I can marry into the royal family, I would be happy. It’s better than not getting what I want.”
Shen Qingyao suddenly understood that this NPC is really her Elder Sister’s love rival? Not getting what she wants? Putting aside everything else, this NPC has good taste to catch the male lead in her eye!
“You!” Miss Tang’s expression changed, and she said angrily, “Miss Shen is so scheming. Not only did you marry into the imperial family, but you also want to tie down the Duke’s residence with a sickly person? Hmph, I bet your sickly sister will die soon. Let’s wait and see!”
Shen Qingyao : Huh? Why is the artillery bombardment directed at me?
“Miss Tang! I advise you to choose your words carefully!” Shen Qingli’s face turned cold. She didn’t care about anything else, but she couldn’t stand anyone speaking ill of her sister’s health.
“What? You all dare to deceive the Young Master for a marriage, but you can’t bear what I said?” Miss Tang’s words became more outrageous, leaving Shen Qingyao with a head full of question marks.
Deceive the Young Master for a marriage? Although successfully pursuing White Moonlight could save her life, fundamentally, it wasn’t much different from deceiving the Young Master. But she never had such thoughts. How could she, a cannon fodder, dare to do that?
“Tang Shirou!” Shen Qingli’s expression turned displeased, reaching the point of anger. If it weren’t for the fact that they were still in the palace, she might have slapped this Miss Tang already.
Deceiving the Young Master for a marriage was a serious accusation. With so many people watching around Tang Shirou, if Shen Qingli really slapped Tang Shirou, it would only solidify the suspicion that the Shen family had ulterior motives.
While Shen Qingli was contemplating, Shen Qingyao, who had been standing behind her, couldn’t hold back any longer!
She figured it out. This was clearly a girl who liked Lu Zhao, and Shen Qingyao, who was enjoying the drama, found out that Miss Tang was actually her own love rival. The only one happy at this moment was the system, its tone filled with the taste of mischief, cheering, [Oh~ Host~ So, this is your Shura field4~~~~]
—Shura field, my foot!
On her side, Shen Qingyao’s sparkling white face was smiling as if she hadn’t put the words ‘will die soon’ in her eyes at all. She held onto Shen Qingli with a regretful expression, “Miss Tang seems to be quite unhappy with my engagement to the Young Master, but the engagement is already settled. No matter how dissatisfied Miss Tang is, he, Young Master Lu, is mine. I’m afraid you won’t have a chance to express your grievances.”
Her Elder Sister’s current identity is sensitive, and acting disgraceful in the hall might affect the marriage with the Fifth Prince. However, she had no such concerns. Regardless, one must not bully her Elder Sister!
Shen Qingyao coldly smiled, it’s time to bring out her paranoid persona.
Shen Qingli didn’t expect her soft and gentle little sister to suddenly come forward and speak so arrogantly. But she just raised a corner of her mouth, did not stop her little sister, thinking that it’s good this way. Her little sister needs to be a bit fierce, so no one dares to bully her little sister.
“You! You’re talking nonsense! Young Master Lu, such an noble person, can’t possibly be interested in you! Even if the engagement is settled, so what! You wait to be abandoned!” Several onlookers began to whisper, Tang Shirou blushed, not caring about her dignity anymore, and spoke without restraint.
Shen Qingyao raised her head, glanced at the enraged Tang Shirou, and showed a disdainful smile, “I’m afraid Miss Tang will be disappointed. Once the engagement is set, he is mine. Unless I don’t want him, there’s no reason for him to abandon me.” After speaking, she turned her eyes and said cunningly, “I may indeed die soon, but even so, Elder Brother Lu is willing to stay by my side. In this lifetime, his heart and eyes can only have me! Even if Miss Tang is healthy, not to mention whether Elder Brother Lu likes you, even if he is interested, I won’t allow it. So, don’t hold onto wishful thinking!”
Her words were extremely arrogant, as if she regarded Lu Zhao as her possession. Shen Qingli and the other noble ladies around were surprised, thinking that the Third Miss Shen was too audacious. Such wild words, if spread, might label her as a jealous woman at best, and at worst, it would even offend the Duke’s household and cancel the engagement! What gave her such confidence?
Fifth Prince Xiao Mu and Lu Zhao had just arrived at the entrance of the hall when they heard the young girl inside speaking so boldly. Xiao Mu raised an eyebrow and turned to look at Lu Zhao. The latter paused for a moment, showing a playful smile on his face. He was amused but also helpless. The girl spoke so sharply where he couldn’t see?
Lu Zhao stopped walking with Xiao Mu, wanting to hear what else the girl could say. If he entered now, he’s afraid that the girl would be embarrassed and hide away.
“You! Stop talking nonsense! When did I say I want to marry Young Master! I just can’t stand… can’t stand you, being so sick and still wanting to burden him!” Tang Shirou was pointed out so directly about her thoughts, feeling embarrassed and angry. She raised her hand high, freezing in mid-air.
[Host, does she want to hit you?] The system almost wished they would start fighting on the spot.
“It can’t be, this is too fast! I only said a few words, right?” Could it be that Miss Tang can’t handle this much?
[… Are those just a few words? Those are clearly several heavy bombs!] The system was speechless. Although gender distinctions were not strict in this era, it was still a patriarchal society. To publicly claim that the prestigious Young Master is one’s possession, how could it not frighten others!
Shen Qingyao was being reckless. But, relying on the fact that the female lead was still by her side, she didn’t move an inch.
The situation was tense, and someone outside announced that the Fifth Prince and Young Master Lu had arrived.
Shen Qingyao : “Oh no, oh no, why did Lu Zhao come at this time!!! Did he hear it!!! I’m in trouble!!!”
System : […You played around, and now the person has arrived. Hehe.]
- it means Shen Qingyao is in a heightened emotional state or a mix of various feelings. ↩︎
- meaning she’s being implicated ↩︎
- eating melon = enjoying a drama/gossip ↩︎
- it basically means the fight between love rivals ↩︎
Thanks for the chapter!!!!!