Chapter 99 : My eyes for choosing men are the same as my mother’s

Ye Luoer was naturally overjoyed to have made it into the Xiuwu (Embroidery Final). On the way back, she eagerly chatted with Faer about her experience during the competition.

Song Ying, eyes closed, listened intermittently, only opening them when they arrived at the general’s mansion.

“Would you like to come over to my place for some snacks?”

After spending time together today, Ye Luoer had relaxed a lot and happily replied, “Yes, thank you, cousin.”

Back at the residence, Song Ying, as usual, stayed in her warm room, holding a hand warmer while chatting with Ye Luoer.

“Tomorrow’s the final, are you feeling confident?”

Ye Luoer said, “I’ll try my best. Mother said it’s enough if I place in the top three.”

Song Ying: “Why not aim for first place?”

Ye Luoer replied, “The eldest daughter of the Shangguan family is better than me. Faer said she won first prize last year too.”

Song Ying: “Oh, but both Faer and I think you can win.”

Ye Luoer held her teacup and let out a breath, “Really?”

Faer nodded beside her, “Really! You placed fifth today in embroidery, and I’m sure you’ll win first place tomorrow. We’ve seen Miss Shangguan’s work, it’s about the same as yours, maybe even a little worse.”

Hearing that, Ye Luoer grew more confident. “Then I’ll try hard for first place!”

Song Ying: “Since you’ve entered, you might as well aim for the top. Otherwise, it’s a waste of the opportunity, don’t you think?”

Ye Luoer quietly clenched her fists and said with determination, “Okay! I want to win first place!”

After returning, Ye Luoer excitedly told Xiao Zhou the good news that she had entered the Xiuwu finals.

Xiao Zhou clasped her hands together, “Thank heavens. Let’s hope you place in the top three tomorrow.”

Ye Luoer shook her head, “Mom, I want to win first place.”

Xiao Zhou had always taught Ye Luoer to be content with doing her best, to compromise, and to stop when it’s enough.

Seeing her daughter’s strong desire to win, Xiao Zhou was both surprised and worried. “Can you really do it?”

Ye Luoer hesitated at being questioned by her mother. “Cousin’s wife and Faer both said I can…”

Xiao Zhou took her daughter’s hand and said earnestly, “They were just being polite. Don’t I know your ability best? Not everyone can win first place, just do your best and aim for the top three.”

Ye Luoer lowered her head and pursed her lips, “But I’ve already made it to the fifth place. I’m just one day away from first place…”

Xiao Zhou started muttering, “Oh, don’t get your hopes up too much. The higher the expectation, the greater the disappointment. I don’t want to see you get hurt.”

“Look at that boy who competed with you. He was so sure he’d win first, but what happened? He didn’t even make it to the top five, and never came back.”

“For your embroidery, getting into the top three would already be amazing. Just forget about first place. That Shangguan girl wins every single year…”

Ye Luoer quickly interrupted, “Miss Shangguan only had the chance to win because the Regent Princess no longer competes. Cousin’s wife said my embroidery is slightly better than hers. I want to give it a try.”

Xiao Zhou sighed and shook her head. “You don’t know them well. They’re just coaxing you. If you don’t win, it’s you who’ll be hurt not them.”

Ye Luoer disagreed, “Cousin’s wife truly encouraged me. And didn’t you tell me to ask her to accompany me yesterday? Now you’re saying this and that… What do you really want from me, Mother?”

Xiao Zhou slammed the table, “What do you know?! We’re living under someone else’s roof now. The princess married into the general’s mansion and manages everything here. The closer you are to her, the better our lives will be.”

Ye Luoer pouted in frustration, “But we can’t stay here forever, we’ll have to return someday…”

Xiao Zhou’s expression darkened, “Your uncle and aunt are like jackals, and all the elders in the Ye family are on their side. You still want to go back? Back to be humiliated again?”

“I’ve already lost my family, my only support now is my sister’s husband’s family. I used to treat those nephews like my own sons, and thankfully, they’re loyal. It’s better to stay here than to go back.”

In fact, this wasn’t the first time Ye Luoer had brought up the idea of returning, but Xiao Zhou just wanted to live a peaceful life here.

Seeing her daughter fall silent, Xiao Zhou took her hand and gently coaxed her, “Be good. Mother doesn’t expect you to be especially capable, just get by. As the saying goes, ‘The bird that sticks its head out first gets shot.’ Being too outstanding attracts envy. If you get hurt, it will break my heart.”

“I’ve already spoken with the matchmaker. Once you make it into the top three, I’ll ask her to find you a marriage partner. If you like him, we can proceed with the engagement.”

Ye Luoer’s ambitions were crushed by her mother’s words. “…Alright, I understand.”

The next day, when they arrived at Xiurui Tower, Song Ying clearly noticed that Ye Luoer wasn’t in a good state. Even Faer asked, “Princess, what’s wrong with Miss Luoer today? She’s acting strange. She didn’t say much and didn’t even laugh at my joke.”

Song Ying replied, “Let’s wait and see.”

In the end, Shangguan won first place, Cousin Li made it into the top three, while Ye Luoer and another girl were eliminated.

The atmosphere on the way back was heavy.

Seeing her frown and sigh repeatedly, Song Ying asked, “If you’re upset about the result, why didn’t you give it your all during the competition?”

Ye Luoer didn’t dare meet her eyes and murmured, “My embroidery skills just aren’t that good…”

Faer said, “Miss, I could tell you weren’t taking it seriously. Why? Didn’t you say yesterday that you had to win first place?”

Ye Luoer replied resentfully, “I overestimated myself.”

Song Ying could tell she was hiding something. Since she couldn’t get the truth out of her, she stopped pressing the matter.

After returning to the residence, Song Ying still invited Ye Luoer to her room for snacks, but Ye Luoer declined.

Song Ying told Faer, “Follow her quietly and see. She didn’t make it into the top three this time, I think her mother might scold her.”

Faer: “I’ll go right away.”

Not long after, Faer returned.

“Miss really got scolded by Madam Zhou. I also heard Madam Zhou say she’s too ashamed to go to the matchmaker now.”

Song Ying: “Is Luoer crying?”

Faer: “I couldn’t see. Miss Luoer had her back to me the whole time and kept her head down as soon as she entered the room.”

Song Ying: “What did you find out about her before? What kind of person is aunt?”

Faer: “She’s cautious and easygoing. The girls in the courtyard often hear her telling Miss Luoer it’s fine to just get by.”

Song Ying made a mental note of this. When Huo Zhen came back, she told him that Ye Luoer hadn’t been selected.

Huo Zhen was focused on eating and didn’t catch her meaning. He just followed the conversation and asked, “What did she lose?”

Song Ying: “The Xiu Rui Tower competition to select Lady Jin, Luoer didn’t make it into the top three.”

Huo Zhen nodded vaguely and replied indifferently, “If she lost, she lost. She’ll win next time.”

Song Ying: “Her mother was counting on her to make it into the top three so she could find her a husband.”

Huo Zhen tugged at the corners of his mouth and shook his head. “My aunt’s taste in men is just like my mother’s, completely blind.”