Not for the first time, someone’s voice carried, “The Song family, after all, is descended from a minister. Why are they acting like those village girls vying for favor? Eager for the Prince to see them today and climb the social ladder?”
Someone else chimed in with a sneer, “Look! What is she wearing on her head? A phoenix hairpin?”
Another scoffed, “I know her. The third daughter of the Song family, merely a concubine’s daughter. How dare she overstep her bounds and wear a phoenix hairpin? Has the Song family always been this ignorant of etiquette?”
They bickered amongst themselves, but Song Yanrou seemed not to hear them, flitting about like a butterfly before the First Madam.
The First Madam and Song Yanjiao’s expressions gradually darkened.
Song Chaoyu, acting “sensibly,” stepped forward and tugged at the incessantly darting and smug Song Yanrou, “Third Sister, this is the palace gate. We should stand behind Mother and wait to enter.”
“Who asked for your opinion?”
Song Yanrou flung Song Chaoyu’s hand away and whispered to her, “You’re just jealous that I’m attracting everyone’s attention. Look at you, so unworldly!”
Their little exchange was clearly visible to others.
A hint of grievance flickered in Song Chaoyu’s eyes.
The First Madam could no longer restrain herself. She stepped forward, snatched the hairpin from Song Yanrou’s head, and then berated her in a low voice, “What is all this commotion? Do you think this is a place where you can be so presumptuous? Dressing so ostentatiously to enter the palace, aren’t you afraid of disgracing your father?”
This reprimand was originally intended for Song Chaoyu.
She wished she could crush the golden hairpin in her hand, but mindful of the onlookers, she coldly snorted at Song Yanrou, “Go back to the carriage and wait for me! You are not entering the palace with us today. If you dare to step out of the carriage and flaunt yourself again, I will break your legs!”
Song Chaoyu lowered her gaze, a cold smile playing on her lips.
The scene today could almost have been her own ordeal.
“Mother!”
Song Yanrou was also greatly alarmed. She glanced around and saw that most people were looking at her with amusement.
She quickly whispered a plea, “Mother, it’s rare for me to have the chance to enter the palace. I won’t dare again! This hairpin actually belongs to Fourth Sister; she gave it to me—”
“Silence!”
With the palace entry imminent, the First Madam grew increasingly anxious. “Go back to the carriage! If you dare to come out again, don’t blame me for being harsh!”
Song Yanrou’s face immediately flushed red, tears welling up in her eyes.
The First Madam showed no pity. She looked down at the hairpin in her hand and thrust it back into Song Yanrou’s grasp, “When we return to the manor tonight, I will deal with you!”
She signaled to a matron beside her, who then pushed and shoved Song Yanrou into the carriage.
The First Madam’s expression softened slightly, but she sternly asked Song Chaoyu, “How did the hairpin end up with your Third Sister?”
The hairpin had been sent by Song Yanjiao, a fact the First Madam was well aware of.
Song Chaoyu calmly explained, “When I was trying on the hairpin the other day, Third Sister saw it. She wanted to exchange it for my hairpin, but I didn’t want to give it away, as it was a gift from Second Sister. However, I couldn’t refuse Third Sister’s persistence and planned to ask Second Sister for forgiveness after the palace banquet!”
Seeing Song Chaoyu’s innocent demeanor, the First Madam could find no fault.
She could only sigh, “Third girl is too overbearing!”
Then she turned towards Song Yanjiao, seemingly no longer intending to address Song Chaoyu.
—
Meanwhile, the Taiye Gate finally opened.
The welcoming palace staff emerged in orderly lines, and the ladies from various households were to enter the palace according to their family’s rank.
Although Song Chaoyu had never entered the palace in her previous life, during the first year she was confined to the side courtyard, she had foolishly hoped that she might one day be released.
As she was a Princess Consort, she had practiced palace etiquette for a long time.
She still remembered it clearly and would not make any mistakes.
They followed the palace staff towards the Dengque Hall. Song Chaoyu, knowing the sanctity of the palace, did not look around or speak carelessly, appearing steady and dignified.
From the Taiye Gate to the Dengque Hall, they had to walk a considerable distance.
Most of the noble ladies and young ladies present were adorned with jade pendants. Song Yanjiao, walking ahead of Song Chaoyu, had new embroidered shoes that soon began to hurt her feet, her steps no longer as steady as when they first entered.
Only Song Chaoyu, having anticipated the conditions of the palace, wore comfortable shoes and maintained a brisk pace.
The sun overhead had already caused a thin layer of sweat to form on their foreheads when the grand doors of the Dengque Hall finally appeared ahead.
It was said that Consort Xian had been a side consort by the Emperor’s side when he was still a Prince.
After the Emperor ascended the throne, he had the Crown Prince, while Consort Li had Prince Ning. Consort Xian had Prince Chang, who was now the Prince of Chang.
The Emperor had doted on Prince Chang the most. However, twenty years ago, when Da Yue went to war with Nan Guo, Da Yue, having just suffered a natural disaster and being in a state of rebuilding, was forced to yield to Nan Guo.
Nan Guo seized the opportunity to demand that Da Yue send a beloved Prince to be a hostage. Thus, Prince Chang, who was then only three years old, was sent to Nan Guo and had not returned to Da Yue for twenty years.
Song Chaoyu heard that Prince Chang’s life in Nan Guo had not been easy.
When Prince Chang was ten years old, he had even lost the use of his legs.
The Emperor was enraged at the time, but the Nan Guo envoy claimed that Prince Chang had accidentally fallen from a rockery and broken his legs.
The Emperor could only endure. It was only in recent years, as Da Yue’s national strength grew stronger, that the Emperor found a way to request Prince Chang’s return from Nan Guo.
Prince Chang’s return to the palace this time was considered an honorable one. Nan Guo not only sent Prince Chang back but also sent a large number of tribute items and beautiful women to Da Yue.
This was all due to the Crown Prince’s strategic planning, as Da Yue and Nan Guo now had armies on the border to maintain a balance of power.
In her previous life, Song Chaoyu knew that Prince Chang and the Crown Prince had a very good relationship.
However, after the Crown Prince was overthrown by Prince Ning, Prince Chang also seemed unable to remain unscathed. Before Prince Ning ascended the throne in her previous life, the Crown Prince had been forced to commit suicide, and Prince Chang was confined to an imperial villa outside the palace.
In this life… Song Chaoyu would do her best to prevent such a thing from happening!
—
Upon entering the Dengque Hall, those ladies from official families of the fifth rank and above were to pay their respects to the Empress and Consort Xian.
The Empress and Consort Xian had always had a good relationship. The Empress was of the Mingda lineage, and Consort Xian was the dignified Consort.
Song Chaoyu followed the First Madam and Song Yanjiao into the hall to pay their respects. She heard Consort Xian and the First Madam speaking as if they were old acquaintances, conversing more than others.
Consort Xian praised Song Yanjiao’s beauty, which was acceptable, but then she looked directly at Song Chaoyu, “The girl in the lilac dress behind you, is that your fourth girl who has been ill and living on the estate? Lift your head and let this consort see you!”
Although Song Chaoyu had entered the palace without making any missteps, her heart was now pounding.