Song Jinxuan's heart ached whenever she recalled her aunt's words. "I'm old now," her aunt had said. "How can I compete with the vibrant young girls? But I can't just admit defeat. I can only grit my teeth and push forward."
A concubine's standing was entirely dependent on her face. When she was young and her beauty was in full bloom, everything was perfect. But once that bloom faded, new faces would naturally come to take her place.
Song Jinxuan had no intention of repeating these words to Song Yunzhao. She paused for a moment before speaking, as if nonchalantly. "My aunt doesn't have any strong opinions about it. Mrs. Cai is doing this for two reasons: first, to ease the tension with Father, and second, to suppress my aunt. I just feel this isn't good news for you either, Third Sister. If the new favorite Mrs. Cai promotes wins Father's affection, she will inevitably whisper poison in his ear to drive a wedge between you and him."
