Chapter 702 - 480: So I’m Just Supposed to Be Stepped On by Anyone?

Chapter 702: Chapter 480: So I’m Just Supposed to Be Stepped On by Anyone?

Princess Fuke’s expression turned serious. "I’ve come about Governor Ding."

Song Yunzhao looked skeptical. "Governor Ding’s affairs? Your Highness, why would you discuss that with me? I dare not meddle in matters of the court."

Princess Fuke smiled. "I only just learned what Lady Ding did."

Song Yunzhao gave a slight laugh. "Lady Ding was only trying to help her husband. Her methods were a bit reckless, but the Song Family has already refused the marriage proposal. The matter is over."

She had no intention of pursuing it further. Besides, He Lan Yun had sided with her back then. For that reason alone, she was willing to let it slide. Plus, Governor Ding was a good official.

"I know Your Grace is magnanimous," Princess Fuke said slowly, watching Consort Ming. "But there is something you surely don’t know. Why would Lady Ding make such a decision? How could she dare to plot against the Song Family? She may be straightforward, but she grew up in the Capital City. How could she not know the consequences?"

This time, Song Yunzhao’s expression turned solemn. She looked at Princess Fuke. "Your Highness means to say there’s someone else behind this?"

Princess Fuke chuckled softly. "I felt something was off at the time, so I had someone investigate secretly. And just as I suspected, they found some clues."

’So someone really was pulling the strings.’ Seeing Princess Fuke’s attitude, Song Yunzhao knew this wasn’t simple. "Please speak plainly, Your Highness."

"The Jiangnan Zhao Family. Has Your Grace ever heard of them?"

Song Yunzhao frowned, trying hard to recall if this family was ever mentioned in the book. She couldn’t remember anything specific at the moment. "I believe I’ve heard the name," she said slowly. "But the Zhao Family has always been based in Huizhou. They don’t seem to have much contact with the Capital City."

Few members of the Zhao Family served as officials. Most dedicated themselves to teaching, which earned them considerable prestige among the scholars.

"The Zhao Family has a daughter named Ling’e. She is as beautiful as a flower, known as the number one beauty of Jiangnan. Not only is she beautiful, but she is also talented. She has been well-read since childhood, is exceptionally intelligent, and has quite a reputation."

Who?

Zhao Ling’e?

A flash of insight went through Song Yunzhao’s mind. ’The book mentioned her briefly. No wonder the name sounded familiar.’

Zhao Ling’e was the mother-in-law of the book’s heroine, Qin Xiyue—the mother of the Crown Princess Consort.

However, that was all in the extra Chapters.

A character who was only supposed to appear in the extras had suddenly shown up now.

The feeling was incredibly complicated.

The book’s description of the Zhao Family was formidable. They were considered the Taishan of the scholarly world.

The academy where Song Buchang and the others had studied with the Yang Family was, in fact, taught by members of the Zhao Family at one of its locations.

She just hadn’t realized back then that *this* Zhao Family was *that* Zhao Family.

"So, what is the Zhao Family’s goal in doing this?" Song Yunzhao already had a very bad feeling.

Princess Fuke looked at Yun Zhao. "Zhao Ling’e is both beautiful and talented. Since the Zhao Family has established this connection, I fear they intend to send her for the selection. Your Grace should be careful during next year’s concubine selection."

Song Yunzhao nearly coughed up a mouthful of blood. ’What is this nonsense?’

The original heroine’s in-law was now coming to compete with her in the harem.

’But on second thought, it’s not surprising. The Zhao Family produced Zhao Ling’e. In the book, Zhao Ling’e managed to get her own daughter into the position of Crown Princess Consort. That suggests the Zhao Family is hardly one with no taste for power. They just hide behind their scholarly reputation, which prevents them from being too overt.’

Even for sending a daughter to the selection, now that the Zhao Family had a connection with Lady Ding, things would be much easier.

Lady Ding’s younger brother married the daughter of Prince Zhenbei. By befriending Lady Ding, the Zhao Family had essentially paved a golden road to the heavens.

Song Yunzhao was so exasperated she almost laughed. ’As expected of people who read so many books. An ordinary person could never come up with such a convoluted plan.’

Seeing Consort Ming’s sour expression, Princess Fuke gave a light chuckle. "The Zhao Family has come prepared. Your Grace had best make your own preparations early. As for Lady Ding, I have already warned her. How she ultimately chooses to act is up to her."

Song Yunzhao smiled at Princess Fuke. "This is truly surprising. So much for a scholarly family that claims to be above worldly affairs. They’re all the same in the end."

Princess Fuke understood the consort’s meaning. Having delivered her message, she rose to leave. Before departing, she looked at the consort and said, "Regarding the Zhao Family, I advise Your Grace not to show your hand just yet. After all, they haven’t made a move. This is merely my private speculation. The truth of it is still unknown, so it’s not something we can openly discuss."

"I understand. Rest assured, Your Highness." Song Yunzhao knew what was at stake. She was grateful that Princess Fuke had come to warn her.

After seeing Princess Fuke off, Song Yunzhao could only curse the book’s one-sided description of the Zhao Family. It had only mentioned them in passing, saying the Crown Princess Consort came from the great Jiangnan Zhao Family—a true lady from a prestigious house, blessed with both beauty and talent—but had not said a single word about their private affairs.

Trouble.

Song Yunzhao had finally managed to take down the female lead, thinking she could at least relax for a few years. Who would have thought that after Qin Xiyue fell, her future in-law would come looking for trouble?

’What is this nonsense?’

Because the book never mentioned why Zhao Ling’e didn’t participate in the selection back then, Song Yunzhao couldn’t guess why she would want to participate now.

’Don’t tell me the Zhao family plays favorites? When Qin Xiyue was the female lead, they felt they couldn’t win, so they didn’t compete.’

’Now that it’s my turn, can the Zhaos somehow magically sense that I have the constitution of a side character, and that’s why they think they can beat me?’

At this thought, Song Yunzhao’s mood soured even further.

’What’s wrong with being a side character?’

’Does that mean anyone can just walk all over me?’

’Truly worthy of being Qin Xiyue’s in-laws. Birds of a feather flock together. Even their way of opposing me is the same.’

With that, Song Yunzhao couldn’t suppress her anger. After thinking it over, she went to her study to write a letter to Song Buran, asking her eldest cousin to help her investigate the Zhao Family.

She couldn’t just wait for them to come knocking at her door while she remained completely ignorant about them.

Since the Zhao Family dared to come to the Capital City for the selection, they had certainly done their research on her.

After writing and sealing the letter, Yun Zhao called for Xiangxue. She instructed her to go quietly to the Song Family residence to see the matriarch, and have the matriarch send someone to deliver the letter into her eldest cousin’s hands.

In the letter, Yun Zhao didn’t mention that the Zhao Family hadn’t yet acted. She only wrote that they had instigated Lady Ding to come to the Capital City to propose a marriage alliance, with the aim of dragging the Song Family into the mess, and asked her eldest cousin to investigate the matter thoroughly.

If the Zhao Family truly intended to send a daughter into the palace, with next year’s selection being so close, they must already be making preparations. As long as there was any movement, her eldest cousin, with his cautious nature, would surely be able to uncover some clues.

The matriarch had the letter sent to Huizhou overnight. Far away in Huizhou, Song Buran was very surprised to suddenly receive a letter from his cousin.

When he opened the letter and read it, his brow furrowed deeply.

’The Zhao Family again?’

After reading the letter, Song Buran burned it. The Zhao Family’s reputation was immense; it would not be easy to make a move against them in Huizhou.

However, the Zhao Family showed no intention of openly opposing the court, yet they constantly stalled and danced around him, refusing to carry out any orders easily.

Song Buran also found them a tough nut to crack. Given the Zhao Family’s reputation, he couldn’t act rashly, or else he feared all the scholars of Jiangnan would be at his door.

But for the Zhao Family to actually scheme against the Song Family... A cold glint flashed in Song Buran’s eyes.