Holding the script, I want to give up.

Ugh! This is so annoying, I can't find any excuse at all. Shangguan Zitong stomped her feet twice on the carpet in anger.

"Princess, an invitation has arrived from the General's Mansion."

Youzhi, who was outside the hall, approached Shangguan Zitong and bowed.

Shangguan Zitong opened the post, signed: Yao.

"interesting."

After reading the post, Shangguan Zitong realized that the female lead was no pushover either.

"Your Highness, is there a problem with the post?"

"No, was it only sent to me?"

"Yes, is the princess still going to the general's mansion?"

"I'll go, but I'll go later."

Interesting. The post was just a regular invitation, but it's unusual that it came from the female protagonist. Hopefully, I'm overthinking it.

"Your Highness, the Emperor summons you."

Youxi called out from outside the palace.

"Coming right here."

Shangguan Zitong casually tossed the invitation on the table and left.

......

Inside Jinghe Palace.

"My son, I will meet my father."

Shangguan Zitong bowed and said.

"Without courtesy, I will give you a seat."

A servant brought a chair and placed it behind her, and she sat down as instructed.

"Father, is there something important that you summoned me here?"

Shangguan Zitong asked curiously.

"Can't we summon someone if there's nothing wrong?"

The Southern Emperor feigned sadness and asked.

"No, Father can summon me anytime, anywhere."

Shangguan Zitong coaxed sweetly.

"Alright, let's get down to business. You're not young anymore, it's time for you to go to school. I've found you a study companion, how about the Prime Minister's eldest daughter?"

Shangguan Zitong thought to himself, "Heaven is on my side."

"Father, I want to find it myself."

"According to your."

......

In the general's mansion.

Shangguan Zitong was led by a servant to the courtyard where Sang Ran was, and she carefully observed along the way.

General Sang is indeed incorruptible. This mansion is a bit shabby. I'll ask my father to reward him with some gold and silver when we get back.

As Shangguan Zitong walked, he suddenly saw the female lead dancing gracefully on the bridge he had to cross; it was impossible not to notice her.

"...Who is she?"

"Your Highness, she is the daughter of the Prime Minister of Dongchuan and a close friend of our young lady."

The servant who had led the way replied.

Are there any other routes?

"Nothing."

Shangguan Zitong winked at the maid beside her.

Youzhi understood and asked, "Then where will our princess go?"

"It was my oversight. I'll go and tell them right away."

At the urging of her servants, Song Yao walked over to Shangguan Zitong and bowed in apology.

"Please forgive me, Your Highness. It's all my fault for being so preoccupied. I'll take you to find Sister Sang."

Song Yao said apologetically.

"Hmm, it's alright, you danced quite well. But didn't you invite me?"

Shangguan Zitong looked puzzled, thinking something was amiss.

"May I have the pleasure of seeing the post, Your Highness?"

Giving it or not giving it is not an option, so I'm going to take the plunge.

"promise."

"My name isn't on this; perhaps the princess has mistaken it for something else."

As Song Yao spoke, she showed everyone the invitation. Upon inspection, everyone found it to be an ordinary invitation with nothing amiss.

"Oh dear, maybe I'm just too tired from coming back recently and misread it."

As Shangguan Zitong spoke along the steps, she noticed that the signature should have been Yao, but it was Ran instead, completely absolving herself of any responsibility. Wow.

Perhaps they used some special method; it's truly impossible to guard against.

Youzhi and Youxi were also completely bewildered as they had never seen the post before.

Shangguan Zitong noticed the figure observing from the shadows and subtly distanced herself from Song Yao.

"Isn't that the male lead?"

【Yes. 】

"Did the male lead watch for as long as the female lead jumped?"

【clever.】

『...』

The dancing beauty is adorned with fallen petals; she is beautiful, but she has a little ulterior motive.

Well, let's just deal with whatever comes our way.

"Lead the way."

"Why is the princess so far away from me? Am I some kind of jackal or tiger?"

Song Yao said pitifully, wiping away non-existent tears.

From the male lead's perspective, Shangguan Zitong is definitely the quintessential villainous female supporting character.

"...Let's go, let's go."

Shangguan Zitong hurriedly followed behind Song Yao.

"You may all step aside. She is sufficient to handle things for me."

The attendant who had led the way bowed and withdrew.

As Shangguan Zitong walked to the middle of the bridge, the more she thought about it, the more uneasy she felt. She wondered, "Is a force pushing towards me?"

"Princess, be careful!"

Song Yao looked worried and increased the strength in her arms, seemingly pulling Shangguan Zitong up, but actually...

Shangguan Zitong looked at Song Yao, who was protecting her, and switched places with her, pushing her back and falling into the water herself.

What a joke! If the female lead fell into the water, I'd be doomed. Luckily, I have amazing arm strength.

As expected, the daughters raised by aristocratic families are not just pretty faces. I can't match their shrewdness.

From the male protagonist's perspective, it was Shangguan Zitong who deliberately pushed Song Yao out of anger, and when she couldn't push her any further, she pretended to be the victim.

"Damn, I'm being forced to be the villain for the second time."

You're just too stupid.

『...』

Youzhi and Youxi had already received a signal from Shangguan Zitong, so when they saw Song Yao trying to call for help, they immediately covered her mouth.

Shangguan Zitong could only crawl out of the water in a disheveled state, lamenting that she hadn't brought an almanac with her when she went out and had ended up at a trap.

Huangfu Hongxi, who was hiding in the shadows, saw this scene and jumped in front of Shangguan Zitong, saying, "Why are you bullying her?" He then swiftly drew his knife and struck her with it!

"Damn it, this year is so unlucky!"

[Pain sensation blocked.]

"This...Empress..."

Shangguan Zitong fainted before she could finish speaking.

Song Yao stopped shouting and, seeing the scene before her, quickly pulled the male lead away, leaving Youzhi and Youxi to call for help.

No, sister, aren't you supposed to be clever and shrewd? I was stabbed by the male lead in the general's mansion, aren't you going to come and destroy the evidence? Or are you just love-struck?

If I had known to bring Yibai, maybe it could have blocked one of the knives, instead of all the knives stabbing in the same place!

......

Inside the palace, all the imperial physicians knelt on the ground.

"If you can't be cured, you can forget about having your heads either."

The Southern Emperor flicked his sleeves and said seriously.

"Your humble servant will certainly do his utmost."

After the head physician finished speaking, he quickly began treatment.

Oh dear, someone's going to suffer a lot.

The Southern Emperor fined General Sang a year's salary, imprisoned the perpetrator Huangfu Hongxi in the dungeon where he was personally interrogated by the Vice Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, sent Song Yao back to Dongchuan, and punished Yi Bai with ten lashes...

......