Quick Transmigration: The Supporting Female Lead is Too Arrogant - Chapter 10

On the way to Chang’an, the governor’s path would pass through a place called Wen County.

A group of soldiers, armed with knives and looking fierce, appeared here. The leader held a token and said sternly, “Everyone, come and see this. Have you seen this person?”

The plainly dressed commoners were already frightened by the display, their faces pale and bodies trembling.

The once bustling street seemed to pause, no one daring to make a move.

The soldiers didn’t intend to harm anyone. Seeing the people not moving, they began to ask each person, showing them a picture.

One by one, the people shook their heads quickly, some without even looking at the image.

After questioning everyone, none had seen the person.

The soldiers gathered. A young soldier whispered to the leader, “Brother, that person must have fled long ago. They wouldn’t dare stay in this small place. Let’s hurry to Huai County.”

“Alright, let’s go.”

“Yes.”

The more than twenty soldiers rode away quickly, having just conducted a brief search.

In a teahouse in the market, a plainly dressed young man in gray clothes held a cup of tea. After the soldiers left, he finished his tea in one gulp and stood up to leave.

He overheard the recovered townspeople starting to talk.

A bearded middle-aged man, holding a bowl of wine, boasted loudly to a circle of listeners, “As I was saying, my nephew does business in Chang’an. He heard that there’s a Noble Consort Yan who has bewitched the emperor. Because of her poor health, the emperor issued an edict exempting her from bowing to anyone!”

The young man stood still, his head lowered, concealing his expression.

“Wow!” The crowd exclaimed in disbelief.

“Is she that powerful? Don’t the ministers object?” Someone asked.

The bearded man shook his head. “This Noble Consort Yan is no ordinary person. Do you know who her father is?”

“Who?”

“Prime Minister Yan Que!”

“Crack!” The wooden table in front of the man in gray splintered into pieces.

The tea house was at a distance, but the sound was still heard. The owner, startled and about to get angry, saw the young man bow apologetically. “Sorry, here’s some silver for the damage.”

He tossed a small piece of silver over.

The owner’s anger dissipated into a smile. “Thank you, thank you. Safe travels, sir.”

The young man nodded, smiling as he left, his gray face cold and his steps hurried.

Emperor Ji Yechen was known for his unpredictable nature. Yan Qing, so timid, must be frightened. He didn’t know what had happened in Chang’an, but the emperor’s deliberate exposure of her was infuriating.

He needed to return to Chang’an quickly and present his evidence. It was his ticket to gain favor.

He planned to use it to secure Yan Qing’s release from the palace.

Purchasing a horse, Song Yu rode swiftly.

As he left Wen County, he saw a group of soldiers waiting ahead.

Surprised, he wondered how many men they had sent to capture him. He had taken a mixed route of official and small roads to avoid them, yet they had still managed to find him.

*****

In a small village in Wen County, ahead of the town.

On the Yan family’s estate.

Yan Yin woke up from her nap, not calling for her maid. She casually grabbed an empty cup and covered it with her right hand. After a while, the cup was filled with clear water.

She drank the water in one gulp, savoring its sweetness. After drinking, she felt much more refreshed.

This was a power she had gained after transmigrating.

Perhaps to make up for her untimely death in her previous life, Yan Yin discovered that after becoming this world’s Yan Yin, her palm held a spiritual spring. The spring was just a small well of water, seemingly large but inaccessible to her. There was some space around it where she could place things.

The spring water could cure all diseases. When she first arrived, her body was almost wasted. Thanks to the spring water, she recovered. The original Yan Yin was naturally weak and polite, and when she came to the estate to recuperate, she was bullied by the maids. But Yan Yin was different. From her past life’s experiences, she knew that to live well, one must be ruthless.

So, when she arrived, she immediately dealt with a few disloyal and dishonest maids, making the remaining servants behave properly.

But that wasn’t enough. Yan Yin felt that since she had taken over someone else’s body, she had to avenge them. The few maids were just the first step. The main target for her revenge was the Yan family.

The original owner was a pitiful person, unable to see through all the schemes, but Yan Yin could.

Yan Qing, the supposedly high-minded eldest daughter of the Yan family, was actually a vicious white lotus. She always appeared weak, but she was smarter than anyone.

She used the original owner as a scapegoat, shielding her from the schemes of the concubines. Even the original owner’s illness was partly her doing. If she hadn’t complained that the mansion was too quiet, causing the Prime Minister to invite a troupe, the concubines wouldn’t have tried to outdo each other to please the Prime Minister, resulting in the original owner getting caught up in their schemes.

Although the concubine responsible was sold off after the incident, the original owner still contracted smallpox and was sent here to recover.

Such a big white lotus flower, causing so much harm to the original owner, Yan Yin couldn’t help but seek justice for her. Unfortunately, this person was now in the palace.

And the Prime Minister, who was supposed to be the original owner’s father, neglected her, allowing the concubines to bully her, only caring about Yan Qing!

Yan Yin closed her eyes to hide the coldness within. She had to come up with a way to make Yan Qing notice her.

Just as she was thinking, she heard a knock on the door.

Yan Yin disliked having someone guard her at night, so she always kept her bedroom door closed.

“Miss, someone from Chang’an has arrived,” the maid’s voice came through the door.

Yan Yin immediately got up and went out.

Seeing her mistress, Si Yu was still stunned. The lady had become even more beautiful, her face glowing and lively, her eyes clear and bright, her willow-like eyebrows arched gracefully. Her figure was slender but not weak, everything seemed perfect.

“Lead the way,” Yan Yin said calmly.

She was used to the maid’s gaze. Her face, nourished by the spring water, had continuously improved in skin condition and features.

Si Yu quickly nodded and led the way.

When Yan Yin reached the hall, she saw a man in his thirties standing there. Based on the original owner’s memory, she knew this man was Uncle Zhou, a servant of Prime Minister Yan, holding more authority than the steward.

“Uncle Zhou,” Yan Yin greeted with a smile, calling him sweetly.

Uncle Zhou looked at her, surprised. After being away for over half a year, she had grown even more beautiful, seemingly living better here than in the mansion. His eyes sparkled. With such beauty, the master’s plan could indeed be realized.

He said, “The master sent me to bring you back.”

“Back?” Yan Yin was surprised.

“Yes, the master has been concerned about you. Now that you’re better, he wants you back in the mansion.”

Yan Yin’s expression was complex for a moment. She had thought of many ways to get noticed by her father, but she hadn’t expected to be summoned directly. She had to agree.

This place was just a simple farmhouse, with beautiful scenery but nothing to hold her back, so they left very quickly. The next day, Yan Yin set off.

Uncle Zhou had returned to Prime Minister Yan’s side that same day due to urgent matters, but he left behind enough people to ensure her safe return.

The carriage ride was bumpy, making Yan Yin’s bones ache, and she spent most of the journey dozing off.

In ancient times, carriages didn’t move quickly. Moreover, carrying an official’s daughter, they couldn’t afford to tire her out. If she fell ill, they would be held responsible. So, after a day and a half, they had only covered half the distance.

That day, they had just left a mountainous area and entered a forest when they saw a bloodied young man lying in the middle of the road.

The carriage came to an abrupt halt, and Yan Yin opened her eyes impatiently, scolding, “Didn’t you eat? Why have we stopped again?”

The driver hesitated, looking ahead at the man surrounded by guards, stammering, “Miss, it seems… it seems someone has died in front.”

Yan Yin’s eyelid twitched. She immediately pulled back the curtain and saw the young man lying on the ground. Despite the dirt and blood on his face, his handsome features were undeniable. She was about to order them to chase him away but changed her mind, saying, “Check if he’s still alive. If he is… bring him onto the carriage.”

“Yes, Miss.”

*****

Unaware of the events outside the palace, Yan Qing had enjoyed a peaceful life since Senior Maid Jiang was nearly killed by Ji Yechen. The Empress Dowager hadn’t sent anyone else, and even the ban had been lifted.

Yan Qing continued her martial arts training and occasionally took walks. After the last incident, none of the concubines dared to provoke her, resulting in a tranquil life.

She knew about the upcoming selection of new consorts, but it didn’t concern her, so she didn’t pay much attention.

Three months passed quickly.

Yan Qing had finally learned some martial arts and could now spar with Zhu Yin. Her progress was impressive. At least, the eunuchs in the palace were no longer her match. She even tested her skills with the eunuchs who guarded the inner palace. Although she couldn’t match their strength, she could hold her own for a while, likely because they went easy on her, given her status as the Noble Consort.

However, Zhu Yin acknowledged that Yan Qing had remarkable talent. If she had started training at a younger age, she might have surpassed Zhu Yin by now. This praise filled Yan Qing with confidence.

After being tormented by Ji Yechen a few times, Yan Qing avoided confronting him directly. The past three months had been the hottest period, and Ji Yechen seldom appeared. He indulged in comfort and disliked being scorched by the sun.

Thus, over these three months, they had only met three times. Each time, Ji Yechen displayed his affection for her. Even without actively seeking information, Yan Qing noticed through the concubines’ gossip that she had become known as a bewitching consort.

As early autumn brought cooler weather, Yan Qing finished her training, and Senior Maid Qian automatically came to help her wipe off sweat. Senior Maid Wan said, “Your Grace, the emperor has decreed that in three days, you must attend the palace selection.”

The selection involved women from across the nation, from commoners to the daughters of high-ranking officials. Participation was voluntary, with no compulsion.

Due to the large number of candidates, the selection process spanned several months. The initial rounds had just concluded, and those who passed would soon meet the emperor, the empress dowager, and high-ranking consorts for the final selection and assignment of ranks.

“I understand,” Yan Qing nodded.

She agreed and then forgot about it, knowing that the palace staff would remind her when the time came. One of the perks of being in a high position was that she didn’t have to worry about anything; someone would always keep track and remind her.

However, that night, Zhu Yin brought her a letter.

It was from Prime Minister Yan.

The letter stated that Yan Yin had already been sent to the palace. Previously, she hadn’t been informed because she couldn’t help, but with the upcoming palace selection, Yan Yin would be a person to rely on in the future.

Yan Qing was struck as if by lightning. She counted the days and felt something was off.

“How is it already the selection?” In her memory, Yan Yin hadn’t participated in the selection. She didn’t want to be a consort, and the prime minister, who only had one daughter of marriageable age, had planned to find a suitable match for her among his students, not sending her to the selection.

But now, she was participating?

No, the novel did mention a candidate selection. The prime minister had thought of his daughter because of the selection, and to avoid her participating, he had waited two months to bring her back…

And the most crucial part: Yan Yin had already returned to the Yan family, meaning she had met Song Yu. So… had they already started to develop feelings for each other?

In the novel, Yan Yin saved Song Yu. The two traveled together back to Chang’an, and Yan Yin fell in love with Song Yu. However, Song Yu was preoccupied with his “white moonlight” (a term for an idealized first love) and didn’t pay attention to her, though he was grateful for her saving his life. When Yan Yin returned to Chang’an, she lived among the nobility as the prime minister’s daughter and faced many difficulties.

Song Yu helped her several times, and through their interactions, he gradually realized that she was different from anyone else. He fell for her but refused to admit it, stubbornly believing he still loved his “white moonlight” until the idealized image shattered. He finally couldn’t take his eyes off Yan Yin.

When Yan Yin grew tired of pursuing a man who still had someone else in his heart, he decided to let go of his “white moonlight.” At that moment, Yan Qing, sensing his change, turned dark.

In her first mission, trapped in the palace, Yan Qing initially wanted to die early, becoming an eternal “white moonlight.” As someone from the future, Yan Yin demanded purity in love. She would never continue with someone who had another person in their heart, especially an idealized dead person. With her pride, Yan Yin wouldn’t carry on.

But now, the plot had shifted, and the main characters met earlier… With her infamous reputation as a bewitching consort, if she died, Song Yu might eventually let go of her, as Ji Yechen had already tied her fate and reputation to his.

So, her goal shifted from seeking death to seeking survival?

Yan Qing gritted her teeth, feeling like crying. It seemed her efforts had been in vain.

However, the prime minister’s letter provided a good opportunity. If Yan Yin truly entered the palace and was separated from Song Yu, Yan Qing could still stimulate Song Yu by dying later, completing her tasks.

After making her calculations, Yan Qing could only pray that the emperor would appreciate Yan Yin’s beauty. The letter mentioned that Yan Yin had become very attractive, so entering the palace shouldn’t be difficult.

Meanwhile, in the Palace of Eternal Grace, where selected candidates stayed, Yan Yin was staring at her palm in a daze.

To ensure she wouldn’t be chosen, she had made two preparations, though the latter would damage her reputation. One moment of hesitation had brought her to this point.

Fortunately, she had preemptively used a substance that would cause red spots to appear on her body. She planned to use it the day before the final selection, ensuring she wouldn’t be chosen.

As she was lost in thought, a girl next to her nudged her, curiously asking, “Aren’t you the Noble Consort’s sister? Why hasn’t she come to see you?”

Yan Yin’s eyes flickered as she lowered her head and softly replied, “I’m a concubine’s daughter, she’s a legitimate daughter. Naturally, she wouldn’t come to see me.”

The girl quickly thought she understood the situation and clicked her tongue. “But at least she should keep up appearances. Look at the Jiang family girls, the Empress Dowager even sent a senior maid to look after them.”

Yan Yin shook her head and said timidly, “She is a Noble Consort now, and the emperor is so fond of her. Please don’t talk about it. What if…”

The girl patted her shoulder sympathetically. “With a legitimate sister like that, your previous days must have been tough.”