Chapter 463 - 241: See, That’s How Much She Cares About Him

Chapter 463: Chapter 241: See, That’s How Much She Cares About Him

’Given my chronically bad luck, on top of being the standard villainess in a transmigration story, I have no desire to face danger head-on, even though I’ve already thrown this world’s plot into complete disarray.’

"To watch the hunt, we’d have to go into the mountains. I don’t think my body can handle it," Song Yunzhao said to Feng Yi, pointing at her slightly bulging belly.

Feng Yi thought for a moment and agreed. "That’s a bit of a shame. The hunt in the mountains today will be quite lively. The young masters from all the families who came to the traveling palace will be participating."

’All the more reason for me not to go,’ Song Yunzhao thought. ’If I weren’t pregnant, I’d definitely want to go have a look. But since I am, I must be extra careful.’

’After all, a villainess’s constitution makes one a champion of misfortune. Disaster can strike out of nowhere, even if I do nothing at all.’

’Especially in an uncharted area like this. I can’t risk my neck just to watch the show.’

’If I want to watch the drama, I can wait until after the baby is born. Then I can watch it sitting, lying down, or walking around—however I please!’

"I can’t go, but you should go take a look, Your Majesty. You might discover some capable new talent," Song Yunzhao said, looking at Feng Yi.

’Occasions like this are the perfect opportunity for the female lead’s future allies to get ahead. That’s exactly why I can’t let the Emperor go.’

Sure enough, at her words, Feng Yi shook his head with a smile. "Talent can be selected anywhere. Why must I go into the mountains? I promised to spend the day with you. Where would you like to go?"

Song Yunzhao just wanted to get away from the court crowd. She looked at Feng Yi and said, "Why don’t we go to the marketplace? I’ve always wanted to go, but I never dared to on my own. It would be wonderful if you could accompany me, Your Majesty."

"Perfect. The market at the foot of the mountain gets even more lively in the evening," Feng Yi readily agreed.

Song Yunzhao breathed a long sigh of relief inwardly. She took Feng Yi’s arm, and they returned to the tent to change. Their current attire was far too conspicuous.

When Meng Jiuchang heard they were going to the marketplace, he immediately went to the Clothing Bureau and brought back two sets of clothes. Dressed in them, they looked just like a young master and his wife from an ordinary family—not at all conspicuous.

’Meng Jiuchang is really getting better and better at his job,’ Song Yunzhao thought. She had Zhang Maoquan stay behind at the traveling palace, so he could handle things in case anything came up.

Bringing Anshun and Xiangxue, Feng Yi took Meng Jiuchang and a few guards, and the group slipped away quietly.

Princess Fuke stood before her tent, gazing into the distance. After a long moment, she smiled faintly and said to Nanny Lan beside her, "This Song Zhaoyi is truly remarkable. I thought she would go into the mountains to join the festivities, but instead, she persuaded the Emperor to leave with her."

Nanny Lan had served the Princess for decades. Hearing this, she said in a low voice, "Your Highness, while Song Zhaoyi’s background isn’t exactly humble, her family’s ancestral glory has long since faded. If you compare her lineage to the other concubines, she is truly at the bottom of the pile. For her to be able to outshine everyone and monopolize the Emperor’s favor, how could she possibly be a simple person?"

"It’s better that she isn’t simple. If she were just a pretty face with no brains, I wouldn’t dare to cooperate with her."

"You are right, Your Highness. According to the information I’ve gathered, the Emperor is utterly devoted to Song Zhaoyi. He has even promoted her maiden family, not by giving them empty, superficial titles, but by elevating them step by step. From this point alone, you must be cautious."

"I have no conflict of interest with Song Zhaoyi. I only wish to use her influence to establish a firm footing in the Capital City. The Emperor’s promotion of the Song Family is actually a good thing for me." Princess Fuke chuckled lightly. "I asked you to inquire about Song Buran. Did you find out anything?"

"Your Highness, I believe you should reconsider. This Mr. Xiao Song is no simple man. He secured his position as the third-place scholar by unseating someone else. I’m afraid the Commandery Princess’s temperament won’t be enough to handle him," Nanny Lan said, worried.

"If the marriage alliance is made in good faith, what does it matter who ’handles’ whom in a marriage?" Princess Fuke’s expression darkened slightly. "Wasn’t it the same with my marriage to the Prince Consort?"

"But you have suffered so much over the years."

"Is following the Prince Consort to his hometown considered suffering? I don’t think so." On the contrary, Princess Fuke felt that the years she spent with her husband were the happiest. She didn’t have to think about all the scheming and intrigue; she could just live a comfortable life.

The only downside was that she, a princess, was living in a small town, a life that couldn’t compare to the splendor of the Capital City.

Unfortunately, their time together was fated to be short. After the Prince Consort passed away from illness, everything she saw reminded her of him, and she couldn’t bear to stay there a moment longer. Besides, her children were still young; they couldn’t waste their entire lives in a small town.

In the end, she had to return.

Nanny Lan sighed softly. "If you put it that way, then I do think Mr. Xiao Song is a good choice. Madam Song has raised her son well. Mr. Xiao Song is of upright character, and after winning third place in the imperial examination, he took the initiative to request a post outside the capital. He is destined for great things."

"The difficult part of this marriage will be getting past Song Zhaoyi," Princess Fuke said with a frown.

"Why would Song Zhaoyi disagree with such a good match?" Nanny Lan didn’t think so. Princess Duanjing was the Princess’s most cherished treasure. Although she was raised indulgently, she had diligently studied the four womanly virtues: moral character, proper speech, modest appearance, and needlework.

"Did you see what Song Zhaoyi did today? A person like her has her own thoughts and ideas; she can’t be easily swayed by others. The more that’s the case, the harder it is to move her with material things. Besides, you said yourself that Song Zhaoyi is very close to the main branch of the Song Family. She will certainly be extremely cautious about Song Buran’s marriage."

Nanny Lan frowned. "Not even if the Emperor decrees the marriage?"

"Song Zhaoyi can persuade the Emperor to decree a marriage, but she can also ruin it."

"Then what should we do?"

"Let’s just wait and see," Princess Fuke said, also getting a headache. She had met people like Song Yunzhao before, and they were always difficult to handle.

「Meanwhile」 Song Yunzhao and Feng Yi were having a wonderful time at the market. They ate and shopped their way through, buying many little trinkets that she planned to give as gifts when they returned to the traveling palace.

What does it mean to be down-to-earth?

It’s walking among the crowd, free to do as you please without being constrained by your status. It’s blending into the world. That is the flavor of life.

"Is it good?" Song Yunzhao asked with a smile, looking up at Feng Yi after taking a bite of a small wonton. 𝒻𝘳ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝒷𝘯ℴ𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝑐ℴ𝑚

Feng Yi had never eaten at a small stall like this before. Even when traveling in disguise, he would always go to a proper restaurant.

"It’s not bad," Feng Yi said, smiling at Yun Zhao. It wasn’t a feast of rare delicacies, but it had a certain charm.

Song Yunzhao had been craving this for a long time. She had eaten it once as a child when she went out with her father, but she’d rarely had the chance since.

After finishing the wontons, Song Yunzhao pulled Feng Yi along, buying a grasshopper woven from straw and some sugar figurines. She had the old sugar-figurine maker create a pair of mandarin ducks, then ate one and gave the other to Feng Yi to eat.

Feng Yi looked at Yun Zhao with curiosity. "I thought you would be reluctant to eat it."

Song Yunzhao looked smug. "Only what’s in your stomach is truly yours. What if I showed it off in my hand and someone snatched it away?"

Feng Yi understood. ’Yun Zhao must be hinting that she won’t let anyone else snatch me away!’

’Thinking about it that way, eating it really was a good idea.’ His mood instantly brightened.

’See? That’s how much she cares about me!’