I really arrived at this training world at a clever time.
Everything hasn't even started yet.
So I did one thing first.
"I want to see the Old Madame."
I cried and knelt at the entrance of the Old Madame's courtyard, like a pear blossom in the rain, a beauty shedding tears, looking utterly pitiful.
The Old Madame, the mother of the Marquis from the Marquis Mansion.
She is the most powerful person here.
And she's also my grandmother.
However, I'm not favored, so I can only call her Old Madame, not grandmother.
No choice, I'm the abused female lead, you see.
The servants hurriedly went inside to report, then let me in.
Without hesitation, I got up and walked in.
The Old Madame was as majestic as in the plot the divination master showed me.
She wore a robe embroidered with multicolored auspicious clouds on silk, a spring coat of eight-colored brocade, with an overlay of dark pattern fine silk, and only one Eastern pearl on her head, round and smooth.
"What is it that you are seeking old me for?"
I found it somewhat amusing, being a princess and doing this for the first time, but with my acting class top score, I held my composure.
I blinked, appearing a bit quirky, and said, "Old Madame... the marriage contract between the elder sister and Prince Duan..."
At the mention of this, the Old Madame's face immediately changed.
I, however, revealed a smile.
"Is the Marquis Mansion planning to substitute me in the marriage just because the elder sister would rather die than marry?"
The Old Madame changed her expression dramatically, "Shut up! Is this something you can casually talk about?"
She looked at me suspiciously, probably wondering how I knew when they only planned to work on my mind tonight.
I smiled faintly.
"Whether it's possible or not is not important. Whether I say it or not is the most important thing."
"The elder sister and someone else privately pledged for a lifetime, thus breaking promises and defying orders. It was clearly a marriage bestowed by the emperor, yet there's talk of a substitute marriage. This is a grave disrespect."
The Old Madame was thoroughly enraged, slamming the table.
"Ridiculous! Who told you Wan'er had an affair with someone else?"
Her eyes were like sharp swords, trying to pierce me.
I wore a 45-degree smile and said with a grin, "Oh, nobody told me, I made it up myself."
"Old Madame, you wouldn't want your most beloved granddaughter to be slandered, would you?"
"Whether it's true or not doesn't matter, you just say whether Prince Duan would believe it."
She looked like she was about to faint from anger.
I quickly finished what I had to say.
"However—"
"I know that we share in glory and disgrace. I can mercifully refrain from spreading rumors, as long as the Old Madame makes it public that Song Wan is breaking off the engagement."
The Old Madame's expression changed again and again, squeezing out words from between her teeth: "You, say, what?"
One word at a time.
How terrifying!
I smiled calmly: "I said, please, Old Madame, announce your beloved granddaughter Song Wan's breaking off the engagement to the world. Let everyone know that the emperor bestowed the marriage to the Marquis Mansion's legitimate daughter for marriage to Prince Duan, and Song Wan was unwilling, so I, the second legitimate daughter, took her place."
"Of course, the Old Madame could refuse, just as spreading rumors only takes a mouthful. I can say whatever I want. You can also try to kill me, but I can't guarantee that rumors won't fly all over the next day."
Of course, I didn't set any afterlife trap.
My confidence comes from my combat ability.
The Old Madame's face turned livid with rage, clenched the armrest tightly, her jaw trembling, and after a while, she laughed fiercely.
"Good!"
"Good!"
"Old me couldn't tell before, but you're actually audaciously bold, Song Mu, the Marquis Mansion raised—"
She hadn't finished before I interrupted her.
I spoke calmly like a machine.
"The Marquis Mansion raised me with difficulty, as a member of the Mansion, I naturally should dedicate myself. Acting this boldly, clueless and shameless—"
"You're right, I'm shameless, so, can we do as I said?"
"Or should I show you what true shamelessness is?"
Her eyes looking at me completely changed, as if looking at something dirty.
I gave a slight smile, suddenly took two steps forward, and leaned closer to the Old Madame.
"Are you wondering if I'm possessed by something? You're right to wonder, so you'd better sleep with one eye open at night."
"My dear—grandmother."