CHAPTER 39

 

The Emperor Yongkang bestowed marriage upon Yu Ling, which displeased the emissaries of the Northern Rong tribe. This goddess was of great importance to them, especially considering the two weapons she had crafted. The Northern Rong would never allow her to return to the Rong Dynasty, wondering what other secrets she might be hiding.

 

However, Yu Ling had a way with the Northern Rong people. No one knew what she said to the emissaries, but in the end, they were quite happy watching her accept the imperial edict for the marriage.

 

In this marriage, the one who suffered the most was Song Lilan. Initially, the demotion of Song Yan’s official position to that of a commoner was already humiliating enough, and now, out of nowhere, came a Northern Rong goddess. How could Song Lilan, in terms of influence, ever compare to Yu Ling?

 

Although they were both “equal wives,” it was obvious whose word would carry more weight in Xuanyuan Yu’s Mansion.

 

Upon hearing this news, Song Lilan fainted. When she regained consciousness, she finally had a moment of clarity and gritted her teeth, saying, “I must go to the Marquis of Zhenbei’s mansion! Even if I have to kowtow a thousand times to Song Yuanzhi, I must beg for her support. Otherwise, I have no way out!”

 

Her plan sounded clever, but could she just waltz into the Marquis of Zhenbei’s mansion?

 

At that time, Madam Qin was still in charge of the mansion. Upon hearing that Madam Liu and her daughter were requesting an audience, Madam Qin didn’t even inform Song Yuanzhi. She made the decision herself: “Don’t see them! We don’t want to offend Ah-yuan’s eyes.”

 

The servants understood the message. When the gatekeeper received the order, he looked down at Madam Liu and her daughter with a sneer, saying, “It seems some people really have thicker skin than city walls. After stealing our lady’s dowry and bullying her for over a decade, now that you’re in trouble, you come running back begging for her help? Shame on you! The Emperor has bestowed a marriage—such a grand event—and here you are, crying like babies. Are you trying to get thrown in jail?”

 

These harsh words made the already anxious Madam Liu and Song Lilan even more terrified. Still, they refused to give up. Song Lilan, determined, knelt down at the Marquis’s mansion gate, indicating that she wouldn’t leave until Song Yuanzhi agreed to meet her.

 

Soon, a crowd gathered to watch the spectacle. But if Madam Qin could be so easily blackmailed, how could she have managed the Marquis’s Mansion with such strict discipline? Upon hearing the servant’s report, she merely sneered and gave a few casual orders.

 

While Madam Liu and Song Lilan knelt outside the mansion, a theater troupe arrived, quickly setting up a stage and starting a performance.

 

At first, the mother and daughter didn’t pay much attention. But when the play began, they realized it was about none other than Madam Liu—the evil stepmother who oppressed the original wife’s legitimate daughter. The troupe was skilled and even added an impromptu scene: after the legitimate daughter married a Marquis and lived happily ever after, the destitute stepmother and her daughter kneeled outside the mansion, begging for her support.

 

The performers sang their lines while Madam Liu and Song Lilan kneeled in real life, creating a perfect harmony of drama on and off the stage. The people of the capital had never seen such a spectacle before, and they were thoroughly entertained. “Now, that’s quick thinking from the troupe!” they laughed.

 

This story was well-known, and people delighted in the irony. From time to time, someone would comment, “See? This is what happens when you treat people without a conscience. You end up paying for it.”

 

With the theater troupe stealing the show, Madam Liu and Song Lilan’s plan to use public opinion to pressure Song Yuanzhi failed miserably. Ashamed and humiliated, mother and daughter exchanged a glance, silently swallowing their pride, and supported each other as they left for the Song Residence.

 

By the time Song Yuanzhi heard about the incident, the troupe had already dispersed. Song Yuanzhi felt a pang of regret. “What a pity I missed the show. After this, I bet they won’t dare show their faces in public.”

 

*******

 

Xuanyuan Yu’s attitude was clear. Whether it was delivering the betrothal gifts or casual conversations, he showed no regard for Song Lilan. The servants were quick to adjust their behavior accordingly, and before long, no one in the Marquis of Nan’an’s Mansion paid Song Lilan any attention.

 

Yu Ling married Xuanyuan Yu smoothly and was overjoyed. He was everything she had dreamed of, fulfilling her every fantasy of a perfect husband. Moreover, as the male lead and future Prime Minister of Prince Wu, Xuanyuan Yu would eventually rise to victory. Looking at him through this lens, Yu Ling saw Xuanyuan Yu with an even thicker layer of admiration.

 

As for Song Lilan? She was nothing more than an insignificant figure. Should she enter the marquis’s mansion, it would be effortless for Yu Ling to secretly eliminate her if she desired.

 

Coincidentally, Song Lilan had the exact same thought. And she had the backing of a powerful, mysterious benefactor.

 

On the day of Xuanyuan Yu’s wedding, as the marquis’s heir, everything necessary for the grand occasion was present. However, because he was marrying two wives simultaneously, people inevitably compared Yu Ling to Song Lilan.

 

By this point, the emissaries from the Northern Rong had already left, and Yu Ling was without her former backing. Moreover, her betrayal of the Northern Rong had left her despised by the common folk in the capital. Although Song Lilan’s reputation was also tarnished, in comparison, she still had the upper hand.

 

As people continued to draw comparisons, they suddenly realized something strange: “How is it that the Marquis of Nan’an Shizi has such peculiar taste? Both women he’s chosen have such despicable characters.”

 

This led to only two possible conclusions: either Xuanyuan Yu had poor judgment, or he himself was no better than the company he kept.

 

Listening to this analysis from the crowd, Song Yuanzhi could hardly contain her laughter when they concluded that Xuanyuan Yu and his wives were the perfect match for each other—”a nest of snakes and rats,” as they said.

 

Yu Ling was well aware that her reputation was already irredeemable, but she had her trump card.

 

On the night of the wedding, with two wives, the obvious question was which bride the groom would visit first. This became the center of everyone’s attention.

 

However, Xuanyuan Yu didn’t seem troubled by this at all. He headed straight for Yu Ling’s room, and the two spent a night of intimacy together. The next morning, seeing Song Lilan’s pale face, Yu Ling felt an immense sense of superiority. She looked down at Song Lilan from her high position and said with feigned concern, “Sister, why do you look so unwell? Someone, call for a doctor to examine her.”

 

Song Lilan’s face turned from pale to green, then from green to red, as she swallowed the bitter humiliation. She glared at Yu Ling, her eyes filled with undisguised hatred.

 

But Yu Ling wasn’t concerned. She had her ultimate Trump card. With an air of secrecy, she whispered to Xuanyuan Yu, “The Northern Rong people weren’t wrong to call me a goddess. I can foresee certain future events. For example…” She pointed upwards and continued, “The one in power will pass away by the spring of the year after next.”

 

Xuanyuan Yu was shocked. Instinctively, he grabbed Yu Ling by the throat, his eyes filled with malice. “Are you sure?”

 

Yu Ling struggled to nod, her confidence unshaken. After all, this was a story she had written herself—she knew the fate of each character!

 

Perhaps Yu Ling’s certainty was too convincing. Xuanyuan Yu, still filled with doubt, loosened his grip and pondered for a moment before changing his attitude toward her. “I was too rash just now. Did I hurt you?”

 

From that moment on, Xuanyuan Yu and Yu Ling became even closer, seemingly forgetting that Song Lilan still existed in the mansion.

 

Meanwhile, Song Yuanzhi, hearing the rumors of Xuanyuan Yu’s deep affection for Yu Ling, raised an eyebrow and couldn’t help but mutter, “They’re really digging their own graves.”

 

Yu Ling’s reputation had reached such a low point that her association with Xuanyuan Yu was beginning to tarnish the entire Marquis of Nan’an’s Mansion. Some might say that reputation is insignificant, but in politics, winning the hearts of the people is crucial. The Marquis of Nan’an was a key supporter of Prince Wu, and now with Xuanyuan Yu’s questionable behavior, Song Yuanzhi speculated that many within Prince Wu’s faction might be reconsidering their alliances.

 

Emperor Yongkang, upon hearing the news, snorted coldly. His eyes gleamed with killing intent as he remarked, “What a touching pair of ill-fated lovers! Wei Yi, it’s time for our gaurds to act.”