Chapter 56: The Rights and Wrongs of Young Ladies

Song Ruwei lightly tugged at Song Ruqi’s sleeve, lips pressed together, her expression tinged with fear.

“Second Sister, let’s forget it. I don’t want this hairpin anymore.”

Song Ruqi shook off her hand and said, “Why not? You saw it first, and our Prime Minister’s household can certainly afford it.”

“But…”

The other party was a lady from the Princess’s residence—a county princess, someone they couldn’t afford to offend.

“Song Ruqi, your little sister does seem to have some sense, knowing she can’t win against me, the County Princess,” Zhao Mingyao said, holding the Butterfly Blossom hairpin adorned with red and blue sapphire tassels, swinging it with a half-smile.

Song Ruqi sneered, “Win? We were about to buy this hairpin, and you snatched it away. County Princess Zhao, how imposing you are—always stealing what others fancy.”

Zhao Mingyao’s face turned green. “Song Ruqi, who’s stealing? Say that again if you dare!”

“Who likes to snatch things, I think you know best.” Song Ruqi laughed sarcastically. “After all, it’s not the first time.”

Zhao Mingyao’s face flushed with anger, her glare at Song Ruqi nearly spitting fire. Those words reminded her of past humiliations.

Two years ago, when Song family’s eldest daughter, Song Ruqian, and the distinguished young heir of the Gu family, Gu Lanqing, were discussing marriage, both families were inclined, only waiting for the formal exchange of betrothal documents. At that time, Pure Peace Princess’s daughter Zhao Mingyao happened to meet the graceful and unrivaled Gu Lanqing and fell for him at first sight. She pestered her mother to visit the Gu family and propose.

Pure Peace Princess was the daughter of Zhou Jing, a foreign prince granted his title by the founding emperor as a reward to his ministers. Known as Prince Zhou, he had only one daughter, Zhou Jinxin, whom he requested be titled Princess. She later married the eldest son of the Mingyang Marquis’s residence, Zhao Junsong, as his principal wife.

Zhao Junsong, however, was naturally frivolous and amorous. Out of respect for his father-in-law’s authority, he dared not act recklessly, but after Prince Zhou’s death, he took his long-standing paramour cousin as a favored concubine and had an eldest son by her. At the time, Pure Peace Princess was so enraged she moved back to the Princess’s residence and raised the issue in the palace. The concubine was punished with two years of house arrest. Only during that period did relations between Pure Peace Princess and Zhao Junsong ease, and later, Zhao Mingyao was born—their only daughter, who was granted the title of County Princess, And Wisdom.

Zhao Mingyao always lived with her mother in the Princess’s residence, returning to Mingyang Marquis’s residence only during festivals. She held nothing but disdain and aversion for her half-siblings, and being favored, her temperament was arrogant and unruly.

Zhao Mingyao fancied Gu Lanqing, and the Pure Peace Princess, doting on her daughter, tried to probe the situation, discovering he was already in talks with the Song family and decided not to pursue it further.

But Zhao Mingyao thought that as long as neither family was officially married, there was still hope. She forced her mother with threats of suicide to petition for an imperial marriage decree. This urgency pushed the Song and Gu families to expedite their engagement, exchanging betrothal documents with much fanfare.

Once the engagement was settled, the Pure Peace Princess tried to invoke her father’s old ties to request the emperor’s favor, but the Emperor Chu did not grant it, and the Empress Dowager instead offered earnest counsel.

The affair caused quite a stir at the time. Zhao Mingyao made a scene for a while, but as she was still a young girl, it was soon forgotten. However, enmity between the families was firmly established. Zhao Mingyao disliked Song Ruqian and everyone in the Song family, believing they had ruined her perfect match.

Thus, in public, Zhao Mingyao always opposed the Song family, just as she was now.

Song Ci had learned about this tangled history from the palace matron. Under the matron’s suspicious gaze, Song Ci feigned sudden realization. “So it was that girl—look how muddle-headed I am, I’d forgotten all about it.”

The palace matron thought, “…”

With such confidence, I almost believed you.

“I don’t need to snatch it. Did you pay for the hairpin? If not, it isn’t yours. I’ll offer double the price—let’s see who the vendor sells it to!” Zhao Mingyao’s sharp voice rang out.