The Female Regent’s Daily Guide to Spoiling Her Wife - Chapter 20

Gao Han declared, “If I don’t approve of her, you’ll obediently marry Song Jin!”

Lu Zhao pursed her lips, frowning as she replied, “Mother, shouldn’t the decision of whom to marry depend on whether I’m fond of them? When did you become so unreasonable?”

Gao Han was both exasperated and amused. “Unreasonable? Lu Xiaozhao, you’re growing more ungrateful by the day. Aside from your face, with that cold and indifferent temperament of yours, what could any girl possibly see in you?”

Lu Zhao touched her cheek and said with utmost seriousness, “If someone likes my face, that’s perfectly acceptable too.”

Gao Han burst into laughter, clutching her stomach as tears streamed down her face. “Lu Xiaozhao, hahahaha, are you trying to kill me with laughter? Relying on looks to please others, how long can that last? I never thought you’d have a day like this!”

Lu Zhao lightly tapped the table, her brow furrowed. “Mother, this face is still mine. If she likes it, I’m happy.”

Gao Han finally straightened up, her expression turning serious. “Do you like her that much?”

Lu Zhao pressed her lips together and nodded. “It has to be her, no one else.”

Gao Han sighed. “Then shall I meet her? Next month, General Song will return from the border. The General’s Manor will host a banquet in his honor, and the Emperor has invited all the prominent families of Yindu to attend. Since I’m on good terms with Lady Song, I’ll ask her for a favor to ensure the one you’ve set your heart on is invited!”

Lu Zhao nodded. “Just don’t scare her when the time comes.”

Seeing how protective Lu Zhao was, Gao Han rolled her eyes. Was this still her aloof and detached daughter? She was starting to act just like Lin Huaian!

“Madam, an invitation from the General’s Manor has arrived!” The gatekeeper rushed excitedly into the inner courtyard. After all, the status of the General’s Manor far surpassed that of the Vice Minister of Revenue’s residence.

In Yindu, there were two prominent Song families: Civil Official Song Taifu and Military General Song Qin. It was once said that these two Songs held up the sky of the Great Yin Dynasty. After Song Ziyan’s death, General Song volunteered to guard the border and had not returned for three years. Upon his return this time, the Emperor specially granted a banquet at the General’s Manor to welcome him back.

Xu Xin accepted the invitation, his face glowing with excitement. He knew he had no right to attend such an event, yet for some reason, he had received an invitation from the General’s Manor.

Pacing back and forth, Xu Xin rubbed his hands together eagerly. “Madam, what do you think this means?”

Yang Shi snatched the invitation from him and chided, “Look at you, so easily thrilled.”

She lowered her head to read the invitation, then looked up after a moment, puzzled. “Husband, why does the invitation say you should bring all three daughters?”

Xu Xin leaned in for a closer look. Indeed, the invitation explicitly stated that he should bring his three daughters. Yunqiu and Yunxia had never been seen in Yindu society how could the General’s Manor know about them?

After a moment’s thought, Yang Shi hesitantly suggested, “Could it be Prince Qing? Xiangxiang returned from the Court of Judicial Review not long ago and has been listless ever since. Perhaps the General’s Manor, out of respect for Prince Qing, wants to invite Xiangxiang to lift her spirits?”

Xu Xin stroked the invitation, still confused. “But if it’s because of Prince Qing, why would the General’s Manor specify all three daughters?”

Yang Shi’s face lit up with excitement. “It must be Prince Qing, without a doubt! Lady Song has been devoted to Buddhist practices at home for years she probably didn’t communicate clearly with Prince Qing. Husband, don’t overthink it. Since we’re invited, we’ll go! As for Yunqiu and Yunxia, they can stay behind to manage household affairs.”

Xu Xin stroked his beard, his mind already calculating the risks, and shook his head. “Madam, we cannot do that. Since the invitation specifies three people, it’s safer for all three to attend. We must not offend the General’s Manor.”

Yang Shi reluctantly agreed, already scheming about how to ensure her Xiangxiang would outshine those two seductive girls.

In the rear courtyard, Yunxia and Yunqiu had also received the news.

That night, the moonlight spilled like water into the clean, simple backyard, dappling through the leaves and falling upon Yunqiu. Half of the young woman’s figure was hidden in shadow, her gaze obscure and unreadable as she stared at the letter in her hand.

Yunxia draped a thin cloak over her slender shoulders and said with concern, “Elder Sister, you’ve been sitting here for so long. Let’s go back and rest.”

Yunqiu’s delicate, pale face was etched with sorrow, her eyes brimming with mist and pain. Yet she forced herself to appear strong, gazing affectionately at Yunqiu. “Xiaxia, you’ve only just recovered from your illness. Don’t worry about me.”

Though Yunxia’s complexion was still somewhat pale, her fox-like eyes had regained their usual sparkle. She spoke softly, “Elder Sister, is something troubling you? Can you tell Xiaxia about it?”

Yunqiu lowered her gaze, enveloped in immense anguish, and struggled to speak. “Xiaxia, when you attend the General’s Manor banquet, please give this to Pei Shu for me. I”

Startled, Yunxia quickly grasped Yunqiu’s hand, leaning down to meet her eyes. “Elder Sister, what are you planning to do? The imperial exam results are out Cousin Pei achieved the top rank as the zhuangyuan. You’ve refused to see him every time he visited. Why are you doing this now?”

Yunqiu turned her face away, tears streaming down her cheeks. Clenching her teeth, her voice trembled as she said, “Xiaxia, I cannot hold him back! Pei Lang possesses extraordinary talent, while I am already a withered flower, sullied. How could I let him become the laughingstock of Yindu?”

Yunxia reached out to wipe away Yunqiu’s tears and said gently, “Elder Sister, that beast Yang Yuan is already dead in prison. Let’s tell Cousin the truth. If he truly minds, then we’ll leave Yindu and seek out our aunt. But what if he doesn’t mind?”

Seeing that Yunqiu remained silent, Yunxia pressed urgently, “Elder Sister, isn’t it unfair to make this decision for him without his input?”

Yunqiu’s hand, clutching the letter, trembled slightly. A bitter taste filled her mouth as she shook her head, her voice hoarse. “Xiaxia, say no more. I don’t want him to know how tainted I am.”

Yunxia’s eyes reddened as she shook Yunqiu’s shoulders and cried out, “Elder Sister! If you don’t want him to know, then be selfish and say nothing! No matter what rumors spread, we won’t acknowledge them! Yang Yuan is dead no one knows what truly happened that day!”

In an instant, fury flooded Yunxia’s heart. Her elder sister could have had such a beautiful life, but because of that beast, she was willing to abandon her beloved and the future she deserved. And none of it was her fault!

Yunqiu looked at Yunxia, who was struggling like a cornered animal, her own heart aching with pain. “Xiaxia, I can’t do it ”

After a moment, Yunqiu steeled herself, gripping Yunxia’s hand firmly, and said sternly, “Xiaxia, promise me you will give this letter to Pei Lang and tell him it’s over between us. If you say even one extra word, I will no longer acknowledge you as my sister!”

Yunxia’s heart ached as she pulled Yunqiu into her embrace, gently stroking her slender back over and over. With a choked voice, she said, “Sister, why must you torment yourself like this? It’s unfair to Cousin. Perhaps you are the one he truly desires?”

Yunqiu wearily closed her eyes and leaned weakly against Yunxia’s shoulder. “Xiaxia, I just don’t want him to regret it later… I don’t want to burden him. He has already suffered so much. Now that he has passed the imperial examination, he will have better choices.”

She pressed the letter into Xiaxia’s hand and said weakly, “Xiaxia, promise me! You must promise me not to say anything just give him the letter. I truly don’t know how to face Brother Pei. We were never meant to be.”

Clutching the letter, Xiaxia’s tears streamed down her face, her heart feeling as though it were being sliced by a knife. What could she do to bring her sister happiness?