Before the Ninth Princess, Song Chuyi had only ever felt this level of disdain for Song Chuning—both of them seemed dedicated to making her life difficult. Despite their young age and ck of direct conflict, every move they made was calcuted to strike a fatal blow.

  The Ninth Princess's conveniently timed "illness" and request for Grandmaster Yuanhui to read her fortune were clearly part of her attempt to shift the marriage alliance onto someone else, possibly another princess, a member of the royal family, or even a daughter of an aristocratic family. If a princess refused to marry for diplomacy, there was a historical precedent for sending a royal or noblewoman in her pce with the title of princess. Noble Consort Xian's pnning for her daughter was thorough, and even in such circumstances, she wasn't willing to let the Song family off the hook, casting a wide net to potentially implicate a Song family girl in this scheme.

  Old Lady Song fully understood the implications, and her distaste for Noble Consort Xian and the Ninth Princess only grew stronger. She turned to Zhuying and nodded, "I've understood everything you've said. I'll discuss matters with Noble Consort Song's grandfather, and tomorrow we'll have someone deliver a message to the pace. When you return, tell Noble Consort Song that we'll do everything in our power from outside the pace."

  Zhuying let out a soft sigh of relief. She was beginning to prefer dealing directly with Old Lady Song and Song Chuyi; it was always easier to communicate with those who understood her unspoken words. She only needed to mention the first half, and they would grasp the entire message.

  After sending Zhuying off, Old Lady Song frowned and instructed someone to summon the family elders, then turned to Song Chuyi. "She sees that Grandmaster Yuanhui decred your fate as one of 'Heaven's Solitary Star' and specifically cimed she's unsuitable for a distant marriage, likely hoping he'll fabricate some story about you two counterbancing each other. That would be disastrous. Even though she doesn't want to marry abroad, if there's no other way, those two will certainly pull others down with them. Such vicious people who can't bear to see anyone else happy are capable of anything. It's better if you don't enter the pace."

  They were clearly setting a trap for her; even if she avoided entering the pace, they would find another way. The only way to handle someone like the Ninth Princess was to shatter her ambitions entirely. Someone like her could only be silenced by sending her to Japan.

  Song Chuyi rested her head on Old Lady Song's shoulder for a while before lifting it and shaking her head. "Let it be, Grandmother. You know Noble Consort Xian and the Ninth Princess—there's no avoiding this, so it's better to face it directly. Besides, I can't let the Eleventh Princess be ensnared by them... I'll go to Jinzhong once this is resolved."

  Old Lady Song also knew that avoiding this matter wouldn't make it go away, and after a moment of silence, she nodded.

  Once outside, Xiang Mingzi couldn't help but express her worry, grabbing Song Chuyi's hand. "Xiaoyi, Grandmaster Yuanhui is a renowned monk, and his words hold weight... Remember what happened at the hunting grounds? Even the Empress personally took an interest in his reading. If he really cims you're destined to be the Japanese princess and that it could counter your 'Heaven's Solitary Star' fate..."

  Xiang Mingzi was genuinely concerned. She had no sisters of her own, and Song Chuyi, the first Song family member she'd met, had unknowingly become as dear as a little sister. Song Chuyi comforted her, patting her hand with a meaningful smile. "Last time, I allowed him to say as he pleased to lure out Chen Xiang. But this time, I won't let him speak unchecked. If he dares repeat that nonsense, he'll be digging his own grave. After all, he's not the only so-called enlightened monk in this world. Besides, His Majesty has always held the Three Pure Ones in higher regard than Buddhism..."

  In the vast, ornate hall, the lights burned brightly. The row of opulent pace nterns in front of the hall seemed as though they would never go out, forming a twinkling river of stars in the stillness of the te night. Their light cast an even deeper crimson on the intricately carved columns.

  A procession of pace maids, moving with quiet restraint, filed in to deliver exquisite dishes to the hall, only to exit in orderly silence moments ter.

  Within the hall, there was no sound except for Noble Consort Xian's soft murmurs of comfort and the Ninth Princess's muffled sobbing. The wind slipped through the windows, making the delicate beauty nterns sway, their fmes flickering.

  The Ninth Princess stood barefoot on the carpet, colpsing into it once she had exhausted her rage. After crying hysterically for an entire day, she could no longer scream, yet her tears continued to fall as she looked at Noble Consort Xian, asking repeatedly, "Why me?! Why is it me?! Why did those damn envoys choose me?!"

  Why was it that the coffin she had once prepared for someone else was now meant for herself?

  The hint of hatred on Noble Consort Xian's face grew intense. She cradled her daughter, gently stroking her, and whispered over and over, "It won't be you, it absolutely won't be you. I've already spoken to the Shen family of Shangqiu; you'll have a grand princess's residence in the capital, living a life of love with your husband... Mother will never allow you to be sent to such a shameful pce!"

  A faint, cold smile pyed on her lips. Holding the Ninth Princess close, she sensed her daughter's body gradually rex. She spoke even softer, "Don't be afraid, not while Mother is here. You have nothing to fear. In a few days, when they enter the pace, we'll pick one of them to go in your pce. You're a daughter of heaven, precious and noble—your father wouldn't be able to bear sending you to Japan..."

  The Ninth Princess, weak from crying, clutched Noble Consort Xian's robes, sobbing for a while longer before lifting her head with a sudden fsh in her eyes. "I want Song Chuyi to go! I want Song Chuyi to go! I don't care whether the Eleventh Princess goes or not—I just want Song Chuyi sent to Japan!"

  The one who had brought her such disgrace, the one who was at the root of all her nightmares—she wanted to see Song Chuyi suffer a fate worse than death, forever banished from Central Pins. Only then could her fury and resentment be soothed.

  "Very well, she shall go," Noble Consort Xian replied, her smile becoming gentler as she patted her daughter's back. "If you want someone to go, Mother will make sure they go."

  The Ninth Princess fell asleep in her arms. Noble Consort Xian signaled for the attendants to carry her to the sleeping quarters, stretched her arms, and slowly rose, letting out a long sigh. She then instructed the eunuch beside her, "Tomorrow, leave the pace again and convey my message to Grandmaster Yuanhui. He'll know what to do."

  She had only one son left, and he was far away. Now, they wanted to take her daughter from her too? Unforgivable.