Quick Transmigration: The Supporting Female Lead is Too Arrogant - Chapter 1

The Great Qian Dynasty, Imperial Harem.

It was already the third quarter of the evening, the sun had set, but the palace was brightly lit. The palace attendants were dressed more festively than usual, but their expressions were exceptionally solemn, especially around the Lingyun Hall.

Today was the day when the emperor was to marry the noble consort. As the emperor, Ji Yecheng could not personally go to receive his bride, but he still sat in the Lingyun Hall, giving enough face to the prime minister.

Even though it was against protocol, the ministers said nothing, out of respect for the prime minister.

The Lingyun Hall was decorated like the bridal chamber of a common household, with festive lanterns and streamers. A man dressed in a black robe embroidered with gold dragons and phoenixes stood in the hall, facing a landscape painting on the wall, his expression inscrutable.

Finally, a timid reminder broke the silence: “Your Majesty, the hour has arrived. The noble consort has been waiting in the bridal chamber for a while.”

The man waved his hand, his wide sleeves swaying with a sharp momentum as he moved. Wherever he went, all the palace attendants immediately knelt down.

The man walked straight towards the bedchamber without lowering his gaze.

Upon entering, he saw a graceful figure sitting there, dressed in bright red robes, her waist cinched tightly. Even though the outer robe was loose, her slender waist was still visible.

The woman’s hands were placed on her lap, her knees together, and her back straight, presenting a dignified posture. Her head was covered with a red veil, hiding her face. Nevertheless, her demeanor was that of a noblewoman.

The man walked forward casually. There was no one else in the hall now. The ceremonial staff was placed on a nearby cabinet, but he did not touch it. Instead, he directly lifted the veil with his hand, a mocking tone accompanying the unveiling, “So this is the famous eldest daughter of the prime minister’s family?”

The cold, mocking voice in her ear jolted Yan Qing awake. She opened her eyes to see a handsome face close to hers. That face was cold and distant, with a pair of thin, mocking eyes scrutinizing her.

With sharp eyebrows, a high nose bridge, and thin lips, his gaunt cheeks were full of angles, creating a face that was both cruel and ruthless.

At that moment, the man’s dark pupils reflected her eyes, which slowly opened, revealing clear, watery eyes.

In an instant, the man’s mind flashed with a line from an ancient poem: “A charming smile, lovely eyes.”

No wonder she was the one cherished by that person.

He was momentarily dazed.

But Yan Qing was not. Her system promptly reminded her in her mind: 【This is the villain Ji Yecheng】

Ji Yecheng?

The familiar name made Yan Qing recall her mission. Her pupils dilated for a moment. After realizing it, her eyes turned fierce, and she instinctively kicked out.

This body seemed to have learned dance, as her legs were extremely flexible. When she lifted her leg, it directly kicked the man’s face.

“Smack!” The sound of his face meeting her shoe was crisp.

However, the man did not move an inch. His thin lips curled into a cruel and fierce smile. He quickly grabbed her foot with one large hand and flung it forcefully, causing her to be thrown aside by his strength.

“Ah!” Yan Qing cried out as she hit the ground, the pain making her scream.

After the sensation of falling, her backside and abdomen throbbed with pain, but the worst pain came from the foot the villain had grabbed—it felt like it was fractured, and the pain brought cold sweat to her brow.

Yan Qing gasped repeatedly, holding her body and breathing deeply, the cold sweat dripping onto the dark floor beneath her.

It hurt so much!

Wasn’t the first world supposed to be an easy practice round? The tasks were supposed to be the simplest!

She had been deceived!

Suddenly, a pair of black boots appeared before her. The boots were adorned with gold-thread embroidery of dragons and phoenixes, adding a touch of grandeur to the plain black boots. Above them, the black hem of a robe also bordered with gold thread indicated high status.

In ancient times, only an emperor could afford such attire.

She couldn’t see further up. Her whole body was burning with pain, her head having struck the ground too, leaving her dizzy and unable to move.

The person crouched down slowly, coming into her view. He extended his pale, slender fingers, gently placing them under her chin. With a slight force, he lifted her chin, the pain snapping her back to clarity. She saw the man smirking coldly, “Very good, woman, you’ve successfully caught my attention.”

Yan Qing: “Huh???”

This reaction was not right!

Wasn’t this villain supposed to be cruel, violent, and merciless?

She had kicked him in the face! Why hadn’t he retaliated?

Ji Yecheng ignored her, quickly standing up and leaving. He found her daring act of stepping on his face intolerable, his smile growing colder, a chill emanating from him.

…

Outside Lingyun Hall, the eunuch Jiang Wende yawned in boredom. The emperor had yet to establish an empress but had already issued a decree to bring the prime minister’s daughter, Yan Qing, into the palace with the rites of a noble consort. She was undoubtedly the future empress. The emperor’s feelings for her must be extraordinary; it might be a long time before he emerged.

Perhaps after today, there would be a future crown prince.

The Ji dynasty had always had few heirs. Besides the emperor’s generation, the previous emperor had a bit of a wild side, but typically, the dynasty had only one heir.

This emperor, whom Jiang Wende had served for two months, had never touched any woman until now. The prime minister’s daughter must indeed be special. Just as he was thinking this, a black-and-gold figure appeared in his peripheral vision, and he immediately perked up and followed cautiously. “Your Majesty.”

But as he got closer, Jiang Wende was startled.

Ji Yecheng’s face was colder than usual, but he said, “Bring my Gold Jade Balm.”

“…Yes.” Jiang Wende, the chief eunuch, responded immediately, though he was momentarily speechless. The Gold Jade Balm was priceless, produced only by the director of the imperial hospital, Lord Lu. It took immense effort and materials to make, and only the emperor could use it. Now, it was for the lady in Lingyun Hall?

But the emperor had emerged with a blackened face!

Jiang Wende was utterly perplexed, concluding that the woman inside must be incredibly skilled.

Regardless, he dared not question the emperor.

Another oddity was how briefly the emperor had stayed inside.

The thought made Jiang Wende shiver, and he quickly dismissed any presumptions.

…

When the Gold Jade Balm arrived, Yan Qing was eating. Despite her pain, the life system bound to her forced her to eat, or she would be punished and hurt even more. So, she endured.

She needed to provoke the villain enough to kill her but couldn’t die by her own hand. Even in royal families, people could succumb to a cold, so she had to stay healthy.

This contradictory requirement made her scowl as she ate.

Her maid, Zi Yun, with teary eyes, served her food, saying, “Noble Consort, they wouldn’t let me fetch a doctor. I’m useless…”

Feeling guilty for not being able to help her mistress, Zi Yun blamed herself for Yan Qing’s injuries and inability to get medical help.

As the prime minister’s daughter, Yan Qing had never suffered such injuries.

Yan Qing remained silent, her face expressionless. The back of her head was swollen from the fall, and her chin, touched by the emperor, was bruised, making it painful to open her mouth.

But the palace food was delicious. The piece of lean meat she was eating was tender and flavorful, a slight consolation.

At that moment, a eunuch’s voice came from the hall entrance, “Noble Consort, Eunuch Jiang is here.”

Jiang Wende? The chief eunuch by Ji Yecheng’s side?

Yan Qing nodded. “Let him in.”

Her usually soft voice was now hoarse, causing the maids around her even more distress.

“Noble Consort.” Jiang Wende bowed, his whisk hanging gracefully as he handed over a small golden bottle. “This is the Gold Jade Balm from His Majesty, excellent for treating external injuries.”

He glanced at her, his eyes widening at the sight of the bruises on her chin, then quickly looked down, avoiding further gaze.

Zi Yun took the balm, her anger slightly soothed, and said tearfully, “Noble Consort, should I apply it now?”

Yan Qing shook her head slowly. “Thank you, Eunuch Jiang.”

Jiang Wende bowed lower. “Noble Consort honors me.” He hesitated before adding, “I will return to His Majesty now.”

Yan Qing nodded, watching him leave before turning her attention back to her meal.

Despite the pain and confusion, she was determined to see her mission through.

“Yes.” Yan Qing nodded gracefully, mimicking the original character’s demeanor, and waved her hand dismissively.

Jiang Wende quickly left, and Zi Yun finally smiled with relief, “Noble Consort, let’s apply the medicine.”

Yan Qing nodded, took a few more bites to fill her stomach, then went to wash up. Finally, she returned to her room and lay on the bed, letting Zi Yun apply the medicine.

The cool balm spread over her bruised and heated skin, bringing a soothing relief that eased the pain.

This balm is quite effective, she thought.

Closing her eyes, she reflected on her mission.

Yan Qing was unexpectedly chosen by a quick transmigration system. Perhaps she found her life too boring—she had a good family, a caring brother, a loving sister-in-law, good parents, and a cute nephew. Apart from rarely wanting to go out, Yan Qing had no worries.

It was just too boring.

Then she was chosen by the system and signed up to become a quick transmigrator. This was her first mission.

Her target was also named Yan Qing, the eldest daughter of Prime Minister Yan in the Great Qian Dynasty.

The original character’s mother was the prime minister’s first wife but died early and did not enjoy much happiness.

She had lived in a small village with the original character until the prime minister started his official career in the capital. They moved to the city, but due to the stark contrast with the noblewomen, Yan Qing’s mother, despite being talented and beautiful, was often mocked. She became depressed and passed away within a couple of years.

As a result, the original character was raised to be gentle and weak. However, she was very beautiful. After arriving in the capital, she met Song Yu, the eldest son of the Song family, and they grew up together like childhood sweethearts.

Unfortunately, they could not be together because the former emperor always harbored a grudge against this family with a different surname. The founding emperor had gratefully granted the Song family the title of prince with a different surname for their help, and the family had held significant power ever since, with their descendants being highly capable and admired by many noblewomen.

The former emperor fathered only two children. The eldest, born to a noble consort, was his favored crown prince. The second, born to a palace maid, was often overlooked until the crown prince’s shortcomings became apparent. The former emperor, realizing his days were numbered, began to rigorously train the second son, often comparing him unfavorably to Song Yu, hoping his sons would eliminate the Song family after his death.

The plan worked, but it succeeded through the second son. When the former emperor was gravely ill, he intended to pass the throne to the eldest son, with the second son as his assistant. However, the second son, Ji Yecheng, seized the palace, altered the decree, and killed the crown prince, ascending the throne himself.

Many officials initially opposed Ji Yecheng’s rule. However, having suffered severe bullying in his youth and receiving strict training from the former emperor, he had developed a ruthless and twisted personality, executing opponents mercilessly.

In his first three months as emperor, Ji Yecheng executed hundreds of people. He controlled the imperial guards, and only the Song family dared to oppose him. The Song family, however, remained low-key and slippery, allowing Ji Yecheng to act with impunity.

Now, more than a year into Ji Yecheng’s reign, despite his tyrannical tendencies, he made no major missteps, leading some officials to shift focus to his harem.

When reminded, Ji Yecheng decreed that Yan Qing, the prime minister’s eldest daughter, be taken into the palace as a noble consort.

He did this primarily to make Song Yu, whom he hated, suffer. Initially, he intended to give her a low rank, but due to the prime minister’s influence and the officials’ petitions, he reluctantly made her a noble consort.

This position was too high—who dared to enter the palace as a noble consort right away?

Yet, when objections were raised, Ji Yecheng silenced them, forcing the officials to accept his decision. This also encouraged them to suggest the emperor select more concubines, hoping their daughters could gain favor, even if not as noble consorts.

Meanwhile, the original Yan Qing tearfully entered the palace. The prime minister, unable to resist, sent her with minimal preparations. She was only sixteen, planned to be married at seventeen, and it was too late for regrets.

However, the original Yan Qing loved Song Yu, a skilled warrior who had secretly taken the imperial examination at fourteen, topping all three stages, and had impressed all of Chang’an. He had spent three years in the Hanlin Academy and was appointed as a prefect due to his young age.

This seemed like a tale of star-crossed lovers torn apart by a tyrant.

However, this was a novel’s world.

The female lead was Yan Qing’s half-sister, Yan Jing, who had been neglected and sent to a village due to illness and household strife.

The female lead was a transmigrator who despised Prime Minister Yan and Yan Qing for mistreating the original Yan Jing. She vowed to avenge the original.

With Yan Qing in the palace and fewer children in the family, Yan Jing was recalled by her father. On her way back, she saved Song Yu from an ambush and fell in love at first sight.

Song Yu admired her too but still cherished Yan Qing, who had become his unattainable “White Moonlight.”

Upon learning that the noble consort was being overindulged by the emperor, making her weak, Yan Jing decided Song Yu’s love was misplaced. She vowed to expose Yan Qing as a deceitful “White Lotus” who toyed with men’s hearts.

Of course, as the female lead, Yan Jing naturally had the protagonist’s halo, attracting all sorts of enemies. Especially being close to the most charming man in the current dynasty, Song Yu, made many girls jealous and prone to sabotage.

Yan Jing was no pushover; she exposed their schemes one by one and used their tactics to her advantage, often to target Yan Qing.

For instance, if someone drugged her, she would casually hand the drink to Yan Qing. Since they were half-sisters, meeting at banquets and toasting each other was normal. As a result, the original character would fall victim, while Yan Jing appeared innocent, and the person who drugged her would be severely punished.

After several incidents, the original character’s reputation was ruined. Seeing her beloved’s attention shift to her half-sister, the original character naturally grew jealous. Forced to become the Noble Consort of Emperor Ji, she harbored feelings for another man. Her already frustrating situation worsened as her love was taken away by the scheming person who framed her. She couldn’t just stand by.

Thus, she began to target Yan Jing.

As a Noble Consort, it was easy to suppress her half-sister, but lacking experience in schemes, her attempts were clumsy, pushing Song Yu further towards her half-sister.

Particularly when Yan Jing orchestrated a scandal to make Yan Qing appear unfaithful, stripping her of any standing.

The tyrannical Emperor Ji naturally ordered her to be drowned in a pig cage, a common punishment for adulterers, leading to her tragic death by drowning.

Emperor Ji’s ruthless actions also caused Song Yu to lose all loyalty to him. Encouraged by Yan Jing, he began using the Song family’s power to rebel.

Everything went smoothly; the officials defected, and Song Yu controlled the military. Emperor Ji, with only the imperial guards, was no match. He disappeared from the palace, with rumors suggesting he either fled or died in a fire in the Qianqing Palace, never to be seen again.

Afterward, Yan Jing was married by the new emperor, who granted her the title of Empress, making her the sole woman in the harem, thus creating a legendary romance.

When the original character’s voice echoed in Yan Qing’s mind, filled with cold resentment, she said, “I refuse to be her stepping stone! I refuse to let Song Yu fall in love with her!”

Such a wicked woman did not deserve to marry Song Yu!

The system’s task was simple: “Given that this is the host’s first mission, the requirement is straightforward: die at Emperor Ji’s hands to provoke Song Yu into rebelling.”

Upon receiving the two tasks, Yan Qing thought, “Isn’t this easy?”