Chapter 12: Pretending to be naive

Song Kaishan gripped the armrests of the chair with both hands, his grip so tight he felt he could crush them.

Even if he was furious inside, he still had to put on a smiling face and greet the eunuchs coming out of the palace.

The best tea was served to this fourth-rank eunuch, and he was respectfully invited to sit in the seat of honor. Song Kaishan had to greet him with a smile.

"Eunuch Liang, is this news correct? My daughter really applied for the position of female official and passed the initial screening?" Song Kaishan asked in a low voice.

"How could this be fake? This recruitment of female officials by the Imperial Household Department has been under the watchful eye of Eunuch Xue."

Eunuch Xue sent someone to tell me that I should come today to bring the young lady of the manor to the palace for instruction.

"A noble lady from a family has applied to become a female official; your household is the first to do so!" Eunuch Liang laughed in his high-pitched voice.

Song Kaishan and Ding Shi, who was standing next to him, could barely keep their smiles up.

That brat actually dared to apply for the position of female official.

"But we don't know anything about this! Although it's said that a daughter is no longer under her mother's control once she grows up, our eldest daughter is not young anymore and is already being asked to marry."

"This..." Ding tried to struggle a bit more.

Eunuch Liang glanced at Madam Ding, put down his teacup, and snorted.

"As far as we know, the eldest daughter of this household is not married!"

The birth chart was not changed!

If that's the case, then why can't the young lady report to the female official?

To put it bluntly, the young lady has passed the initial examination for the position of female official. Even if she were engaged, let alone now, does anyone think they can steal her from the palace?

The young lady is going to be a lady-in-waiting, not a palace maid.

We're serving important people, what could you possibly be dissatisfied with?

"Or do you think that the noble ladies in the palace are not worthy of being served by the young lady of your household?" Eunuch Liang looked at the Marquis and his wife with a sneer.

Song Kaishan and Ding hurriedly said they dared not.

Only then did Eunuch Liang pick up his teacup again.

"Hmph! I bet you wouldn't dare!"

Ding held a handkerchief in her hand, glanced at Song Kaishan, and then looked towards the door.

The meaning was clear: should she go out and do something to cause Song Zhimin to have an accident, like accidentally falling and crippling herself...?

Song Kaishan gently shook his head.

If we try to tamper with things at this time, we'll definitely incur the wrath of Eunuch Liang. I don't want that old eunuch to go back to the palace and file a complaint.

"In that case, I would like to trouble Eunuch Liang to take care of you a little," Song Kaishan said quickly.

The expression on Eunuch Liang's face softened a little.

"That's right! To be able to serve noble people in the palace, that would be such a blessing!"

"Think about the most favored concubine in the palace right now. Do you think you look down on her?" Eunuch Liang snorted.

Song Kaishan and Ding quickly echoed this sentiment.

The most favored one? Isn't that the highly favored Consort Wu?

She was originally just a lady-in-waiting to the late empress...

Seeing their terrified expressions, Eunuch Liang was even more satisfied. He picked up his teacup and took another sip.

It was at this moment that Song Zhimian arrived.

Upon seeing Song Zhimian enter, Eunuch Liang was taken aback at first, and then began to look somewhat worried.

This Miss Song was exceptionally beautiful and had an ethereal air about her. With such a face, she entered the palace as a lady-in-waiting…

The ladies of the harem must be in for a headache! This wouldn't be suitable for any palace!

But this person was someone that Eunuch Xue had specifically arranged to come and pick up personally...

“But it’s Miss Song Zhimian!” Eunuch Liang immediately stood up.

Song Zhimian quickly curtsied.

"Greetings, Father-in-law!"

This one gesture was enough to satisfy Eunuch Liang.

Excellent. Her speech and behavior are proper, neither servile nor arrogant; she is indeed cut out to be a female official…

"Miss Song already knows why we've come here!"

It's getting late. Miss Song, please come with us to the palace. The carriage is already waiting outside.

"Miss Song, is there anything else you need to pack?" Eunuch Liang asked with a smile.

Song Zhimian smiled and gently shook her head.

"We've donated everything that was supposed to be donated. Apart from a plaque bestowed by His Majesty, we have nothing else."

"Father-in-law, may I take that plaque with me?" Song Zhimian asked softly.

"Of course! We'll have someone move it right away. Please, Miss Song, get into the carriage!" Eunuch Liang said, gesturing for her to proceed.

Before Song Zhimin could speak, Song Kaishan hurriedly spoke up.

"Father-in-law, may I have a few more words with my daughter?"

“Lord Zhongyong, please speak!” Eunuch Liang had no intention of avoiding the question.

Song Kaishan had no choice but to bite the bullet and ask.

"Mian'er, why didn't you tell your father about applying to be a female official in the Imperial Household Department?"

Song Zhimian blinked, putting on an innocent expression.

“Father, your daughter is concerned about the soldiers in the north. After donating all of her dowry, I really can’t think of any other way to raise money.”

Just then, I saw the Imperial Household Department recruiting female officials.

The daughter thought that female officials also received salaries.

If my daughter could be recruited as a female official, wouldn't she have a monthly salary?

If we save up these for a while, we can donate them to the soldiers in the north.

"What? Is doing this wrong too?" Song Zhimian asked, blinking her big eyes deliberately.

Song Kaishan, Ding Shi...

"Mian'er is indeed righteous! No wonder I taught her." Song Kaishan said with a forced smile.

Song Zhimian gave a slight curtsy and continued speaking, following Song Kaishan's lead.

"Then your daughter will thank you for your upbringing over the years."

"The Marquis of Zhongyong is indeed a man of great righteousness, to have raised Miss Song to be such a person with a strong sense of justice." Eunuch Liang also praised her highly from the side.

Song Kaishan's eyes were practically spitting fire as he looked at Song Zhimian.

Seeing that Song Kaishan was so angry yet still managed a smile, Song Zhimian felt much better.

She decided to add fuel to the fire for this scumbag father, but...

"Father-in-law, may you wait for me outside for a moment? I would like to have a private conversation with my father."

It will be difficult to see my father again.

As Song Zhimian spoke, she slipped a purse into Eunuch Liang's hand.

Eunuch Liang gently pinched it, and his smile widened.

"Then we'll wait for Miss outside." She glanced at Song Kaishan as she spoke.

After watching Eunuch Liang leave, Song Zhimian looked at Song Kaishan and Ding Shi, who had stopped pretending and whose faces were now filled with malice.

"Father, I have disappointed you!"

"Your daughter can't enjoy the marriage you arranged for her, it seems you'll have to find someone else!" Song Zhimian said softly.

Song Kaishan's expression changed, and then he suddenly grabbed Song Zhimian's shoulder.

“Mian’er, do you think that everything will be fine once you pass the initial screening?”

"I have plenty of ways to bring you back to this family!" Song Kaishan said sinisterly.

Song Zhimian gently stepped back.

"Okay! Then the daughter will wait for her father to take her home."

"Father, farewell!"

As she spoke, Song Zhimian turned and walked out.

Just then, Song Zhijing arrived.

Before she could say anything, Song Zhimian smiled at her.

"My elder sister is not fortunate enough to be a general's wife; it seems that this blessing will have to go to her younger sister!"

After saying that, Song Zhimin ignored Song Zhijing's murderous glare and walked straight out of the courtyard.

Song Zhijing stared in surprise at Song Zhimin's retreating figure.

"Father, Mother, what does she mean?"