I Was Supposed to Be the Villainous Consort

He Lan Yun was overjoyed to see Yun Zhao, but she remembered her etiquette and first paid her respects to the Emperor.

"Your servant greets the Emperor."

Feng Yi, not looking particularly happy, gave a casual nod. "Rise."

Song Yunzhao wanted to whisper a few things to He Lan Yun, but how could she do that in front of the Emperor?

She turned to look at Feng Yi.

What else could Feng Yi do? He had spoiled her, so now he had to bear the consequences.

"We have just remembered some urgent matters to attend to. Princess Ming’an, please keep Zhaoyi company." Feng Yi could only find an excuse to leave.

He Lan Yun didn’t think too much about it. She just thought the more business the Emperor had, the better. She immediately bowed and replied, "Your Majesty may rest assured. Your servant will ensure Zhaoyi is returned to the traveling palace safe and sound."

Feng Yi left with a wooden expression.

He Lan Yun looked at Yun Zhao suspiciously. "Is the Emperor unhappy? Did I say something wrong?"

Song Yunzhao laughed inwardly, but she said aloud, "No, what does this have to do with you? The Emperor is indeed busy with court affairs."

He Lan Yun was relieved to hear that. She looked Yun Zhao up and down. "I never would have thought that the next time we met, you’d be about to become a mother, and I’m not even married yet."

What a sad state of affairs.

"Do you have anyone in mind?" Song Yunzhao asked softly.

He Lan Yun sighed. "Let’s go over there to talk. It’s too hot here. If you start to feel unwell, I’ll have a hard time explaining it to the Emperor."

A number of pavilions had been set up over there for the various ladies to escape the summer heat. The Prince Zhenbei Mansion’s pavilion was not far, so Yun Zhao followed He Lan Yun over.

Xiangxue and a few other maids followed behind. After entering the pavilion, they discreetly stood guard in a corner, careful not to disturb the County Princess and their mistress.

He Lan Yun had someone serve tea and said to Yun Zhao, "I don’t know if you’re allowed to eat or drink things from outside right now."

"Anything from you is fine, of course." Song Yunzhao was actually a little thirsty.

He Lan Yun ordered her personal maid to brew the tea herself, then turned to Yun Zhao to complain, "I feel like a piece of fatty meat on a chopping block right now. Everyone’s staring at me. It’s so annoying."

Song Yunzhao chuckled. "What’s wrong? Is your hand in marriage too popular?"

He Lan Yun nodded. "As soon as my father and older brother left, my mother finally had an excuse. She said we have to wait for my father and brother to return before discussing my marriage. Only then did I get a moment of peace."

Song Yunzhao looked at He Lan Yun. "What are your thoughts on it?"

Marriage was no small matter. Finding a suitable candidate was incredibly difficult, especially for these great aristocratic families. The marriages might seem glamorous and respectable on the surface, but for the people involved, they weren’t necessarily a good match.

"I don’t really have any strong opinions. I just want to find someone to get by with, a partner with whom I can be a respectful and harmonious wife." He Lan Yun had long since come to terms with it. ’All that lovey-dovey stuff is meaningless.’

Song Yunzhao frowned slightly. ’She’s gone from one extreme to the other.’

She thought for a moment. With He Lan Yun’s personality, she couldn’t be persuaded directly. A new idea formed in her mind, and she said, "It’s not wrong for you to think that way, but it means you have to be even more careful in choosing the person. Still, there are different ways to ’get by’ with a partner. Look at my cousin—she married your cousin, and they’re living a good life, aren’t they?"

"My cousin-in-law has a good and thorough personality. I’m not like that." He Lan Yun was still quite surprised by Song Yexi’s conduct after marrying into the Yue Family. Although the Yue Family’s affairs weren’t as complex as a Prince Manor’s, it wasn’t easy to be a good daughter-in-law to the Yue Family. But after Song Yexi married in, she seemed to have secured her footing with ease.

A thought suddenly flashed through Song Yunzhao’s mind: Duke Cao.

’In the book, Duke Cao supports the female lead and her son later on, but at that time, Qin Xiyue had a very good reputation, and the son she raised was outstanding. It was only natural that people would support them.’

’Besides, Duke Cao is young now, so it’s not obvious, but in a few years, his steady and cautious nature will be the fundamental reason he gains a firm foothold in the court.’

’He Lan Yun has a free-spirited personality, while Duke Cao’s is steady. And although Duke Cao’s mother, Madam Cao, is described in the book as a stern person, her fundamental nature is good. Duke Cao also has an older sister who is already married. The family is small and simple, which would be a very suitable environment for someone with He Lan Yun’s personality.’

Though she had an idea, Yun Zhao didn’t voice it. Instead, she followed up on He Lan Yun’s words by praising Song Yexi. "My cousin was also my uncle’s youngest daughter, coddled and protected in the palm of his hand. But after getting married, didn’t she still have to learn to cook, serve her parents-in-law, attend to her husband, and get along with her sisters-in-law? Being a treasured guest in your own home is naturally different from being a daughter-in-law in another’s."

"My mother says the same thing. Hearing you all talk like that just makes me want to get married even less. Besides, my older brother isn’t even married yet. What’s my hurry?"

"A man can establish his career first and then start a family, and he can still marry a satisfactory wife. But if a woman marries after her prime, she’ll inevitably be looked down upon. It’s naturally different."

He Lan Yun looked up and glared at Song Yunzhao. "So you just came here to make me miserable."

"Good advice is lost on a stubborn ghost, but you can still be saved. As your friend, I have to at least try."

He Lan Yun: ...

’I should really thank you!’

Song Yunzhao took a sip of tea. Hearing the cheers coming from the distant competition grounds, she asked Xiangxue, "Who won?"

"Heir Chu won," Xiangxue replied with a smile.

He Lan Yun snorted. "It would be a disgrace if Chu Donghui lost to a bunch of dandies."

"How can Duke Cao be considered a dandy?" Song Yunzhao said with a smile, subtly putting forward her ideal candidate.

He Lan Yun pursed her lips with a hint of disdain. "That Duke Cao fellow wouldn’t win a competition against anyone. What’s so surprising about that?"

"What do you mean by that?" It was the first time Song Yunzhao had heard such a thing, and she asked, suddenly curious.

Hearing Yun Zhao’s question, He Lan Yun explained in detail, "When the old Duke passed away, Cao Jitong had only just come of age. He used to be very mischievous and got into no small amount of trouble."

"You know him that well?" Song Yunzhao was stunned.

He Lan Yun frowned slightly. "When the old Duke was alive, he often came to spar with my father and would frequently bring Cao Jitong along. You tell me, are we familiar or not?"

Song Yunzhao: ...

’The book didn’t mention a single word of this.’

"Duke Cao used to be mischievous?"

"You have no idea! He was like a wild monkey, climbing mountains and plunging into the sea. He and my brother didn’t get along. They’d fight every time they met, insisting on determining a winner. I was little back then and always trailed after them, suffering quite a bit for it. I still get mad just thinking about it."

Song Yunzhao was silent. ’If that’s the case, this marriage probably won’t work out.’

Recalling Cao Jitong’s past, He Lan Yun sighed softly. "The old Duke’s death was very sudden, from an acute illness. At that time, Cao Jitong had just been enfeoffed as the Princely Heir and hadn’t yet secured his position. Many in the Cao Family were eyeing the ducal title. He had a very difficult time those two years, and his personality changed a lot. It wasn’t until Ms. Cao married the Governor of Huizhou, Ding Xian, as his second wife that the members of the Cao Family finally settled down."

Song Yunzhao was very surprised. None of this was written in the book.