Quick Transmigration Cannon Fodder’s Record of Counterattacks

Chapter 3233: They’d Be Locked in a Cage

Ning Shu spoke about the selection process but suddenly felt like it resembled picking out livestock, from the way it involved checking teeth, examining body shape, inspecting limbs, evaluating every condition…

The more she thought about it, the more ridiculous it seemed. There’d be rows of people standing in line, ready to be chosen.

Then they’d be locked in a cage, where the strong survived and the weak were eliminated. A strong mother would raise strong children.

“But still…” Lianqiao was growing anxious. “We can’t let Second Miss go.”

“Even if she weren’t there, it’s not a guarantee that I’d be selected,” Ning Shu said. Upon noticing how flustered Lianqiao was, she said, “Alright, there’s no need to get so worked up.”

“Miss, I’m about to lose my mind, and you’re still like this. Can’t you stop bullying your maid?”

Lianqiao felt like a fly trapped in a bottle, crashing around aimlessly within it.

Meanwhile, her miss was standing off to the side, smiling cheerfully. Lianqiao’s heart just couldn’t take it…

“If I really do enter the palace, you’ll need to be calm and steady. There are many nobles in there. If you act all loud and reckless and end up offending someone important, what then?” Ning Shu shook her head as she spoke and picked up her embroidery again.

She had poured a lot of effort into this birthday gift. She’d used all the embroidery techniques she knew.

It was a rather refined hobby, much like painting, only with needle and thread.

The next day, Madame Rongguo summoned Ning Shu, and Su Xiangqiu was called in as well.

The two bumped into each other at the courtyard gate. Su Xiangqiu bowed to Ning Shu. “Sister.”

Ning Shu responded with a soft hum. Upon seeing Su Xiangqiu, she could pretty much guess what Marquis Xuanping was planning.

He intended for both his legitimate-born daughter and the concubine-born daughter to participate in the selection. As long as one of them was chosen, it would benefit the family.

If both made it into the palace, that would be even better. No matter which one gained favor, it would be advantageous for Marquis Xuanping’s household.

Ning Shu could only scream inwardly, ‘What the hell is this!?’

She and Su Xiangqiu entered Madame Rongguo’s courtyard, where the marquis and the madame were seated in the front hall.

They both curtsied. The marquis set down his teacup, looked at the two girls, and said, “You will both attend the selection. Who gets chosen will depend on your own fortune.”

Either way, Marquis Xuanping’s household would produce a consort of the emperor.

As for who it would be, there were no guarantees.

Su Xiangqiu curtsied excitedly. “Thank you, Father. Thank you, Mother.”

Ning Shu also curtsied.

Everyone had their own ambitions. Su Xiangqiu sought fortune and glory in the palace. As for Ning Shu, she didn’t feel strongly about going or not going.

Once the marquis finished speaking, Madame Rongguo chimed in.

“The tailor will come to measure and fit you for your clothes after this. You’ll also be choosing jewelry from the store. Pick whatever you like.

“These things should be refined rather than excessive. Choose what suits you. Remember, once you leave, you represent Marquis Xuanping’s household.”

“Thank you, Mother,” both Ning Shu and Su Xiangqiu replied.

Their following days were packed. Ning Shu and Su Xiangqiu were constantly busy, either picking out jewelry or choosing outfits.

Naturally, this led to friction. Sometimes when Ning Shu had her eye on something, Su Xiangqiu would swoop in, snatch it, and even make passive-aggressive remarks.

Like, ‘You’re the legitimate daughter, you must already have plenty of these. I’m just a concubine’s daughter—I don’t have anything nice to my name, blah, blah, blah.’

It was just a piece of jewelry. Ning Shu didn’t care about that. If Su Xiangqiu wanted it, she could have it. However, these jabs and snide remarks—as if becoming an emperor’s consort gave her the right to be mean—were truly unnecessary.

Respect had to go both ways.

Ning Shu stood her ground. “If you’re lacking something, talk to Mother. What’s the point of coming at me with this passive-aggressive nonsense?”

If she obsessed over petty gains every day, how far could she really get in the palace?

There was a reason why daughters should be raised in luxury. It was to broaden their horizons. If they’d seen enough of the world, they wouldn’t lose their head over petty benefits.

Su Xiangqiu was clearly just trying to get under her skin.

MTL Editor: Ran