Quick Transmigration: The Supporting Female Lead is Too Arrogant - Chapter 14

The selection ended, and the unchosen girls were sent back in large numbers, never to have another chance to return. The next selection wouldn’t be for at least five years, and by then, there would be a new group of candidates.

Yan Yin left the palace with the other disqualified girls, calmly boarding the carriage waiting for her at the palace gates, earning envious glances from others.

After all, she was still the second daughter of the Prime Minister’s residence, and the Prime Minister cared about her reputation.

But upon returning to the Yan family and seeing Prime Minister Yan, Yan Yin felt uneasy.

As expected, Prime Minister Yan’s face was stern. He looked at her with a heavy gaze and asked, “What happened? How could you be disqualified?”

No one dared to spread news from within the palace. Ji Yechen had already given orders, and Yan Qing’s words were merely a formality. To ensure nothing went wrong, Yan Qing borrowed Ji Yechen’s power and had Jiang Wende warn everyone involved.

Even Consort Xian and Consort De were treated the same.

To avoid collective punishment or being implicated by others, everyone was on edge, constantly reminding and monitoring each other. As a result, not a single detail of the incident leaked out.

Even the Prime Minister was in the dark.

But he knew that his second daughter before him was elegant and beautiful, with eyes like rain-soaked lotuses, graceful and charming. With such looks, it was impossible she wasn’t chosen.

However, the silenced Yan Yin avoided his gaze and whispered, “I don’t know…”

Prime Minister Yan was somewhat disappointed but still spoke in a deep voice, “If that’s the case, stay at home. I have found a good match for you. The autumn examination is coming up, and if he ranks in the top three, I’ll arrange the marriage.”

“No!” Yan Yin instinctively retorted, her delicate face frowning, her small mouth tightly pursed, full of dissatisfaction: “I don’t want to marry him!”

“Yan Yin!” Prime Minister Yan shouted angrily, looking at her with frustration, “You don’t even know who he is, and you refuse to marry?”

Yan Yin stubbornly raised her chin, “I don’t care who he is. Even if he becomes the top scholar, I won’t marry him!”

After speaking forcefully and seeing Prime Minister Yan’s anger, she quickly ran off.

Her eyes were red with grievance as she ran. This was one of the bad things about ancient times: the insistence on parental authority in marriages. But the person she liked was Song Yu, not the one her father had chosen! Song Yu had become the top scholar at fourteen, stunning all of Chang’an. After seeing such a gem, how could she be interested in anyone else?

Feeling full of grievance and resentment, Yan Yin thought that in Prime Minister Yan’s heart, there was only the legitimate daughter. Even though they were both his daughters!

Wiping away her tears, she recalled the woman she saw after falling into the water the other day, with her lightly made-up, exquisite face, free of any gloom. She seemed to be living well. Since that was the case, why did she still have to enter the palace?

If Prime Minister Yan disregarded their father-daughter bond, she wouldn’t care either!

Returning to her room, Yan Yin threw herself onto the bed, feeling aggrieved for a while, her expression slowly changing.

—

Song Yu returned home and was ill for several days.

It wasn’t that he was physically weak, but his heart felt empty. After falling into the water and not taking care of himself, he remained distracted. After a night’s sleep, he woke up feeling dizzy.

This alarmed everyone in the Song family.

An entire houseful of people busied themselves attending to him, making Song Yu feel very guilty, so he forced himself to perk up a bit.

At this time, his close attendant, Song Chuan, reported, “Young Master, Zi Yun requests to see you. Do you want to see her?”

Song Chuan spoke very quietly. Since Yan Qing entered the palace, the Song family no longer supported his interactions with the Yan family for their own good. Their past love affair was known by almost everyone in Chang’an.

As the daughter of the Prime Minister and paired with the famous Song Yu, Yan Qing and he were considered a perfect match. No one opposed their union, as everyone assumed they would eventually marry.

But Emperor Ji’s intervention separated the two, and everyone adjusted their perceptions accordingly. Now that Song Yu was single again, he was a desirable match in Chang’an, attracting the attention of many noble ladies. If any rumors of continued association with the Yan family arose, the Song family could withstand it, but Yan Qing, in the palace under the emperor’s watchful eye, could not.

Song Chuan didn’t really want to speak up, but the news Zi Yun brought was too shocking to ignore.

This shock was evident on his face.

Song Yu was calmly reading a book, but upon hearing Song Chuan’s words, he instinctively looked up, his hands trembling slightly.

Seeing Song Chuan’s unusual expression, Song Yu furrowed his brows. “What’s going on?”

Song Chuan hesitated for a moment before saying, “It’s related to her young lady. Young Master, you should see her. I’ll secretly bring her in.”

Song Chuan’s unusual enthusiasm made Song Yu uneasy, his heartbeat becoming erratic. He nodded, “Alright.”

As soon as he heard this, Song Chuan ran out immediately.

He didn’t really want to either. He shared the same thoughts as the rest of the Song family, preferring that Song Yu no longer contact the Yan family. But the current situation was special.

…

Song Chuan quickly brought her in.

When Zi Yun entered, she moved cautiously, afraid of being discovered. She had even changed her clothes to avoid recognition.

Looking at the familiar buildings, she couldn’t help but feel nostalgic. Things had changed so much.

If her mistress hadn’t entered the palace, she might have married Young Master Song by now. Perhaps they would even have children…

She kept fantasizing, but the harsh reality brought tears to her eyes.

Her poor mistress!

She didn’t know how she was being mistreated in the palace!

Song Chuan noticed her reaction and quickened his pace.

Opening the door, Zi Yun saw the young master sitting by the bed. He wore a long, moon-white robe, and his face was pale. The orange sunset streamed in through the window, casting a dreamy glow on him, as if he could ascend to immortality at any moment.

When he saw her, he smiled gently, polite and elegant. “Miss Zi Yun.”

Zi Yun blushed and bowed her head in greeting. “Young Master Song.”

“Miss Zi Yun, are you here about… Qing’er?” He hesitated before using his habitual term of endearment.

Zi Yun snapped back to reality and nodded, dropping to her knees. “Please, Young Master Song, save my mistress! She is suffering so much she can barely survive!”

Song Yu was shocked, the teacup he was holding fell to the ground as he coughed in agitation. “What?! Cough, cough, cough… What did you say…”

Song Chuan quickly helped him and poured him another cup of tea. After drinking it, Song Yu felt a bit better. He then looked at Zi Yun, who had frightenedly quieted down, and said weakly, “Are you still unwell, Young Master?”

“It’s nothing.” Song Yu shook his head slowly. His water-soaked lips were moist and pink, and the coughing had brought some color back to his cheeks, making him look more alive.

Zi Yun bit her lip and organized her thoughts before speaking with a sob in her voice. “Young Master, my mistress is living with a death wish! From the first day she entered the palace, she has been offending His Majesty. Several times, she was nearly executed by His Majesty. Once, he even strangled her, and if he hadn’t let go in time, she wouldn’t have survived… boo hoo…”

Listening to this, Song Yu’s heart ached, and he instinctively clutched his chest. His face, which had just regained some color, turned deathly pale again. “What happened? Explain clearly!”

Song Yu’s voice was uncharacteristically commanding, his tone intense, which scared Zi Yun, making her speak even faster. “My mistress wants to die. She sent me out because she was afraid of implicating me… Young Master, please save her! She likes you so much that she refuses to submit to anyone else…”

Song Yu wavered, nearly falling off the couch, but Song Chuan caught him in time.

The shock was too much. Already weakened, Song Yu fainted from the stress.

“Young Master!” Song Chuan exclaimed, quickly carrying him to bed.

“Young Master Song has fainted. What should we do?” Zi Yun panicked, the room descending into chaos.

At that moment, Song Yu regained consciousness. He had only been out for a short while, but the concern for Yan Qing brought him back. Struggling to sit up, he said, “Thank you for informing me, Miss Zi Yun. Song Chuan, please escort her back.”

The young man looked frail, and Zi Yun should have left immediately, but she couldn’t help but shout one last plea, “My mistress thinks of you all the time. Please don’t let her down!”

After saying this, she ran out without waiting for an answer.

Song Chuan hurried after her to see her off.

The room was left with only Song Yu.

He breathed heavily, lying back on the bed, his throat making raspy noises. His chapped lips moved, and two words hung in the air:

“I won’t!”

****

Yan Qing knew nothing about what was happening outside the palace. She had no influence and could only wait passively for things to unfold before her.

Her existence was merely an element to stimulate Song Yu’s rise.

According to the novel’s epilogue, Song Yu was a benevolent ruler who established a prosperous new dynasty. With the modern ideas of the female lead, true gender equality was achieved, and technology advanced rapidly, progressing in leaps and bounds.

Reflecting on the novel, Yan Qing’s expression grew solemn as she pondered her next steps. She and Song Yu could no longer have anything between them, but Yan Yin still coveted Song Yu. She needed to find a way to marry off Yan Yin.

However, it seemed unlikely.

What should she do? Yan Qing thought bitterly, feeling incredibly constrained.

After the selection, the number of concubines in the palace increased by dozens. However, due to their statuses, most were ranked as Beauties, with only a few from slightly more powerful families being titled Ladies and residing in relatively remote palaces. Most shared their living quarters, with the main halls vacant.

They rarely appeared near the Lingyun Palace, so it made no difference to Yan Qing.

Yan Qing didn’t pay them any mind and focused on thinking about Yan Yin. However, before she could come to any conclusions, another troublesome issue arose.

After the sweltering summer, Ji Yechen finally decided to step out again.

His first stop was Yan Qing’s place.

After all, the Noble Consort was his favored concubine.

Hearing that His Majesty was heading to Lingyun Palace, many women in the palace who caught wind of the news smashed some porcelain in their quarters, cursing Yan Qing bitterly in their hearts.

“Achoo!” Yan Qing sneezed, her nose turning red.

“Is this how you welcome me?” A slightly deep voice with a hint of displeasure echoed in the Lingyun Palace.

Yan Qing looked up immediately upon hearing the voice, seeing Ji Yechen walking in slowly with his hands behind his back, his thin lips pressed together, and his brows furrowed in clear discontent.

Who had upset him again?

Yan Qing muttered inwardly, but she was actually happy. Just yesterday, she had asked Song Yu that question, confirming that he hadn’t developed any feelings for Yan Yin. They had just met recently. If she died now, Song Yu would undoubtedly feel deeply guilty.

So, Yan Qing replied immediately, “You’re not welcome, so please leave, Your Majesty.”

Ji Yechen’s face darkened further, his steps quickening as he approached Yan Qing, looking down at her with a grim expression. His voice ground out through clenched teeth, “Woman, if you don’t welcome me, who do you want to welcome? Song Yu?” Ji Yechen swore that if she dared say yes, he would ensure she didn’t live past today!

To his dismay, Yan Qing smiled, a touch of girlish charm lighting up her face. Ji Yechen was momentarily taken aback by her beauty, then heard her light, pleasant voice say, “Of course, I like him. Haven’t you always…”

Before she could finish, Ji Yechen reached out to grab her throat, wanting to stop her from continuing with those irritating words.

As soon as he moved, Yan Qing instinctively closed her mouth, raising her hand to block and then attempting to strike him.

Did he really think all her martial arts training was for nothing?

Ji Yechen’s expression turned serious. He took a few steps back, his other hand emerging from behind. Several moves later, he found himself repeatedly blocked. Yan Qing pretended to be overpowered and collapsed into his arms.

The sudden warmth and softness in his arms made Ji Yechen freeze. The next second, he saw her fist flying towards his face.

“Bang!” The dull sound of the punch landing on his eye socket echoed.

Ji Yechen felt a sharp pain in his eye. His previously playful actions turned deadly serious. No longer holding back, he heard a crack as her hand broke.

“Ugh!” Yan Qing grunted in pain, instinctively kicking out.

“Hiss—” Caught off guard by a couple of kicks, Ji Yechen frowned, quickly deflecting her attacks and going for the kill.

In just a few breaths, Yan Qing was defeated, her neck gripped tightly in his hand.

Ji Yechen’s grip silenced her completely, leaving her to gasp for breath in his large hand.

Despite this, Ji Yechen was still furious. His cold, sharp eyes fixed on the woman before him, her face pale, eyes bulging, limbs going limp as he squeezed her neck tighter. He sneered, hearing her make raspy, dying sounds.

“Are you really not afraid of death?” Ji Yechen said coldly.

At this moment, this tall, strong man stood in the grand hall, his powerful arm raised, gripping a woman’s neck. She seemed on the brink of death, her eyes dull, feet dangling two feet above the ground, her hands limp and powerless.

Almost there.

She was about to die.

Yan Qing felt immense pain. Perhaps people truly could sense things when they were about to die. She could clearly feel her life slipping away, her body and mind separating, her consciousness growing foggy.

But the pain remained clear, especially the agony in her neck, as if his hand would snap it in half.

It hurt so much, yet Yan Qing felt a sense of anticipation.

Soon, she would really be dead.

At least before dying this time, she managed to hit Ji Yechen. She hadn’t entirely failed to get her revenge!

As she felt the last bit of life slipping away, Yan Qing slowly closed her eyes.