Chapter 24 You're quite pitiful.

That evening, Song Zhimian learned that two of the candidates for female official positions had been punished by Consort Wu.

Consort Wu originally intended to expel the two from the inner palace, but later Aunt Cui intervened, saying that some of the candidates for female officials had not yet learned the necessary courses, and it was not their responsibility, so she allowed you to stay.

When Gan Tang returned, she told Song Zhimian that Consort Wu's expression was very unpleasant at the time.

"We didn't dare to breathe loudly at the time, for fear of being blamed."

However, Aunt Cui remained calm and showed no fear whatsoever! It seems the Imperial Concubine can't do anything about Aunt Cui now.

Song Zhimian smiled. Of course, Aunt Cui wasn't afraid. She had heard that Aunt Cui was someone who followed the late Empress Dowager, and the late Empress Dowager relied on her very much.

If anyone wants to punish Aunt Cui, only Emperor Xiao Xuan can issue an order; no one else can touch her.

After all, Aunt Cui hadn't done anything wrong that anyone could take advantage of.

“Then tomorrow…” Song Zhimian looked at Gan Tang.

“Let’s continue tomorrow! Consort Wu said that our demeanor is not up to standard, and she has asked the people from Ronghua Palace to teach us properly.”

After our classes end tomorrow, we will go to Ronghua Palace to receive further instruction.

Oh, today the people around the Imperial Concubine asked why one person was missing.

Aunt Cui said that a candidate for female official was being punished in the inner palace. Because the punishment was ordered by the King of Qi, she was unable to come over.

Ugh, just thinking about tomorrow makes my legs weak.

You might as well just copy the regulations here like you!

"Wouldn't it be terrible if I had to go there every day to be taught?" Gan Tang felt more and more distressed as she thought about it.

Consort Wu is just nitpicking!

"Don't worry! Aunt Cui is personally in charge of the female official's affairs, so things definitely won't continue like this forever."

Going there tomorrow should be Aunt Cui giving Consort Wu one last chance.

"Everything will definitely return to normal after tomorrow!" Song Zhimian comforted her.

Gan Tang nodded.

"I hope so!"

...

The next day, after the regular teaching session, Song Zhimian continued copying the Imperial Household Regulations in her room.

The other candidates for female official positions were summoned to Ronghua Palace to learn etiquette.

Song Zhimian was carefully copying the Inner Palace Regulations stroke by stroke when she suddenly heard a noise at the entrance of Tian Shu Academy.

A woman in red, accompanied by a maid, walked in despite the gatekeeper's attempts to stop her.

"Princess..."

"Go away, I haven't done anything wrong." Princess Yongxin said as she walked into Tian Shu Courtyard.

The two old women were a little anxious, but dared not say anything.

Princess Yongxin spotted Song Zhimian sitting in a room with the window open at a glance.

Yes, she is quite good-looking...

Song Zhimian watched as Princess Yongxin, accompanied by her maid, strode into her room.

In the past few days, Song Zhimian has learned about this Princess Yongxin from everyone.

She was the daughter of the late Empress Dowager's niece and grew up in the palace. She was favored by the Empress Dowager and was even granted the title of Princess by Emperor Xiao Xuan.

His behavior was arrogant and domineering; he would whip people at the drop of a hat.

She was deeply in love with Prince Qi, Xiao Huaijin, but Prince Qi didn't even treat her like a sister!

Song Zhimian went through the events of the past few days in her mind and secretly thought to herself that things were not going well.

This princess is probably here to cause trouble...

"Greetings, Princess!" Song Zhimian quickly performed a curtsy.

A wise man doesn't suffer a loss in the present moment, and a good woman certainly won't suffer a loss in the present moment either. It's definitely the right thing to do to be nicer now...

Princess Yongxin glanced at Song Zhimin, snorted, and then looked at the Imperial Household Regulations being copied on the table.

His calligraphy was in standard, delicate small regular script, so much better than her spiderweb-like handwriting...

Seeing that she had already copied half of the Imperial Household Regulations, Princess Yongxin's mood immediately improved.

"Did you copy it?" Princess Yongxin asked.

"Yes!" Song Zhimian kept her head down.

"Why did you copy it?" Princess Yongxin asked deliberately.

"I was punished!" Song Zhimin said in a very soft voice.

"Who imposed the punishment?" Princess Yongxin pressed.

“Your Highness Prince Qi!” Song Zhimian said honestly.

"Why did he punish you? What is your relationship with him?" Princess Yongxin stared at Song Zhimian.

"I don't know! I guess it's just that His Highness Prince Qi doesn't like me!" Song Zhimian answered softly.

Princess Yongxin was very satisfied.

She nodded immediately, then realized that Song Zhimin was looking down, so she knew Song Zhimin couldn't see her nod.

"Get up and answer me, lift your head!"

"A female official should act like a female official!" Princess Yongxin gestured for Song Zhimin to stand up.

Song Zhimian then quickly stood up.

Princess Yongxin looked at Song Zhimian again. Although she was very beautiful, she was meek and submissive, not like a restless person.

"Including this time, you've been punished by the King of Qi twice now, haven't you?" Princess Yongxin asked with a smile.

Song Zhimian hummed in agreement.

"You're quite pitiful! I've lived in the palace for so long, and I've only been punished by copying the palace rules once."

You've only been here a few days! And you've already been fined twice.

"Tsk tsk tsk! It seems that the Prince of Qi really doesn't like you!" Princess Yongxin sat down in Song Zhimin's seat.

Song Zhimian watched with some concern as Princess Yongxin played with her calligraphy brush.

At this moment, she was genuinely worried that Princess Yongxin would scribble all over the papers she had just copied...

Fortunately, Princess Yongxin only wrote a few words on the blank paper before putting down her brush.

"You are Song Zhimian, the eldest daughter of the Marquis of Zhongyong's family. Why did you come here to be a female official?"

I also heard that you donated all of your dowry.

"What are you really thinking?!" Princess Yongxin suddenly asked.

“I just… want to live! I want to find a way to survive,” Song Zhimian said in a low voice.

Princess Yongxin...

The rumors circulating outside all say how righteous this eldest daughter of the Song family is.

But she herself said she wanted to live?

"Who...who wants to harm you?" Princess Yongxin asked, even more curious.

Song Zhimian didn't intend to say anything polite.

She knows how to say the right thing to the right person.

If I were to say anything about national righteousness in front of Princess Yongxin, I would most likely be whipped by her.

Besides, there's no one else in the room right now, so what does it matter what we say?

Even if Princess Yongxin went out and shouted it out, how many people would believe her?

Song Zhimian briefly explained her situation.

If you don't become a lady-in-waiting in the palace, then this and that will happen...

Princess Yongxin's expression grew increasingly solemn as she listened.

"In the end, it all boils down to this: your mother passed away, your father remarried, and your stepmother treated you badly and wanted to marry you off to an old man who had lost four wives."

"You don't want to be given away like an object by them, do you?" Princess Yongxin asked in a low voice.

Song Zhimian nodded and said nothing more.

Princess Yongxin sighed.

"Song Zhimian, you're really quite pitiful!"

Song Zhimian looked up at Princess Yongxin.

The arrogant and domineering Princess Yongxin, as others described her, didn't feel schadenfreude; she genuinely felt sympathy...