I Was Supposed to Be the Villainous Consort

Xie Linlang was ecstatic. Prince Zhenbei Mansion held a special status in the Capital City. If their family’s opera troupe could perform at the Prince Manor, it would be like opening the door to all the powerful households in the capital.

’Oh, what’s a few jabs from the County Princess? Especially when it’s for Yun Zhao’s sake—I can take it! She can say a few more things, it’s fine. As long as the Xie family’s influence in the Capital City grows stronger, we won’t just be a burden to Yun Zhao. One day, we’ll be able to support him, too.’

"Thank you so much, Your Highness. I’ll be sure to tell my brother to have the troupe perform their absolute best. They won’t disappoint you," Xie Linlang said, her face bearing a smile that was sincere and grateful, yet devoid of fawning or sycophancy.

He Lan Yun was quite satisfied. "Perform well. On that day, my mother will be inviting many madams to a banquet at the manor."

Xie Linlang nodded at once. ’The more people, the better! The more, the merrier!’

Song Yexi thought the County Princess was a rather interesting person. First, she admonished the Xie family, and then she handed them a business opportunity. This wasn’t just any opportunity, either. Now that the Xie family owed the County Princess a favor, they would naturally have to be more cautious in their actions.

’Who would have thought He Lan Yun would go to such lengths for Yun Zhao?’

After finishing her conversation with Xie Linlang, He Lan Yun turned to Song Yexi and said, "I know of a good match, and I’d like to speak with your mother about it. Could you ask Madam Song when she might be free? I would like to pay a visit."

Song Yexi and Xie Linlang were both stunned. An unmarried young lady like the County Princess was actually trying to act as a matchmaker?

’Does she care about her reputation at all?’

Their expressions must have been too revealing, because He Lan Yun’s face darkened with anger. ’Could an unmarried young lady like me really do something so absurd?’ "I didn’t explain clearly," she said. "I will be visiting with my third aunt."

’That’s more like it,’ Song Yexi thought, breathing a small sigh of relief.

The atmosphere between the three of them grew a little strange, and for a moment, no one spoke. Song Yexi was too embarrassed to ask who He Lan Yun wanted to introduce her to.

She was quite curious, though.

Her mother had been very focused on her marriage prospects lately, but the few candidates proposed by matchmakers hadn’t been quite right.

’For Princess Ming’an to be the one to bring it up... I wonder if the match is suitable. If there’s too great a difference in status, I’m afraid it won’t work out.’

Just as this thought crossed her mind, He Lan Yun cleared her throat and said, "The man I’m proposing is my maternal cousin. He’s currently an Assistant General in the army, a military officer. I’m not sure if he would meet your family’s approval."

Song Yexi was speechless.

’A military officer?’

"I’ll have to go back and ask my mother," Song Yexi said, unable to make such a decision herself. Her face reddened as she spoke. "For a matter this important, Your Highness, it would be best to have your manor’s Third Madam visit and speak with my mother directly."

They were all unmarried young ladies; how could they be discussing such matters?

Xie Linlang, watching the drama unfold from the side, was dying of laughter internally. But not a trace of it showed on her face. If she dared to laugh out loud, the other two would probably cover their faces and run.

’I wouldn’t dare! I wouldn’t dare!’

After returning from Yuquan Building, Song Yexi went to see her mother, only to find her older sister there as well. She hesitantly relayed what had happened.

Madam Song was speechless.

Song Guiyi was speechless.

"Princess Ming’an is being utterly reckless! How could she approach you first about such a serious matter?" Madam Song said, her expression displeased.

Song Yexi cleared her throat softly. "The County Princess meant that she was afraid our family might look down on a military officer, so she wanted me to feel things out first. If you’re not interested, we can just pretend this never happened."

"Even so, that’s not the proper way to handle things. Are all the young ladies in the Capital City so bold these days?" Song Guiyi said, shaking her head. "Matchmaking is a serious affair. Even if she only wanted to gauge our family’s interest, the Third Madam of the Prince Manor should have entrusted the inquiry to a madam who is an acquaintance of our family. It’s not something to be settled by a few young girls talking amongst themselves."

Song Yexi considered this for a moment before saying, "Princess Ming’an just has a very straightforward personality. She doesn’t have any ill intentions."

Madam Song shot her daughter a look. "You stay out of this. I’ll handle it."

Song Yexi quickly nodded in agreement. She was only passing along the message and didn’t dare get any more involved.

Song Guiyi looked at Ye Xi and said with a smile, "I didn’t expect Princess Ming’an to treat Yun Zhao so well."

Song Yexi nodded. "They didn’t get along well at first..."

She then briefly explained the history between Princess Ming’an and Yun Zhao. Song Guiyi was amused, remarking that it was a classic case of "opposites attract."

Seeing the two sisters chatting happily, Madam Song sent them back to their own courtyards to talk. She then arranged for someone to make inquiries about the match Princess Ming’an had proposed. She wasn’t very familiar with the Yue Family.

Princess Zhenbei’s maiden family was not particularly prominent in the Capital City, and they tended to keep a low profile, so one rarely heard anything about them. That was all the more reason to investigate them thoroughly.

The next day, Princess Ming’an had the letter she wrote for Yun Zhao delivered to the Song Mansion. She also paid a personal visit to apologize to Madam Song, briefly explaining what had happened at the restaurant. "My mother scolded me the moment I returned to the manor," she said. "She called me reckless and told me that such important matters must be handled by our elders. Please, Madam, don’t hold it against me. I was being young and foolish."