Quick Transmigration: The Supporting Female Lead is Too Arrogant - Chapter 15

Ji Yechen looked at her, his eyes cold, but unexpectedly feeling a bit lost and uncomfortable.

Initially, he came to Lingyun Palace just to scare her and alleviate his own unease. He had just found out that this damn woman dared to spend so much time alone with Song Yu!

But now…

She was about to die, this woman who had repeatedly provoked him.

He should feel satisfied.

But he didn’t! Ji Yechen didn’t understand what was wrong with him. He suddenly felt an urge to save her.

Yan Qing’s eyes were about to close completely, the last spark in them fading.

Ji Yechen watched her, his heart feeling empty.

Should he let go?

Just as he hesitated, he heard the sound of a weapon cutting through the air. Sharp killing intent accompanied the weapon’s approach—it was Zhu Yin, Yan Qing’s maid?

Ji Yechen instinctively felt his hand burn, and with a forceful motion, he threw Yan Qing away.

Zhu Yin had been standing guard outside. After practicing martial arts, during rest times, Yan Qing preferred to be alone, not liking the presence of maids around her. She also feared accidentally muttering her plans aloud and being overheard.

Under normal circumstances, Ji Yechen would argue with Yan Qing shortly after entering, but Zhu Yin had been waiting outside for a long time, exchanging glances with Jiang Wende, yet no sounds of argument came from inside, making her realize something was wrong.

As her unease grew stronger, Zhu Yin finally couldn’t hold back and entered the room.

The scene before her was horrifying. Her mistress’s eyes were closed, her vitality gone. Zhu Yin’s heart pounded as she silently drew a dagger hidden in her boot and attacked the Emperor.

Her loyalty was to Yan Qing, and anyone who harmed her mistress had to die!

However, as she attacked, the intruder let go, tossing Yan Qing towards her.

Zhu Yin’s face changed dramatically. She caught Yan Qing immediately, abandoning her attack on Ji Yechen.

Seeing the seemingly weightless woman leave his grasp, Ji Yechen inexplicably felt a sense of relief. He instinctively called out, “Jiang Wende! Summon the imperial physician!”

“Yes!” Jiang Wende, waiting outside, responded immediately, rushing off with his men without even glancing inside. After all, it was just another spat between the emperor and his consort.

As he walked, he even made a few jokes about it.

However, when he returned with the imperial physician and saw the situation in Lingyun Palace, he almost fainted from shock.

This time, it wasn’t just a scolding; it was almost fatal.

The physician performed acupuncture, and the sight of the Noble Consort with silver needles sticking out of her body like a porcupine made him wipe his brow. He looked at the emperor, who had been standing silently since he arrived, and said cautiously, “Your Majesty, the Noble Consort is in a state of suspended animation. She has no will to live, and her throat is severely damaged. I… I can’t guarantee she will survive.”

The physician finished speaking and immediately kowtowed three times, begging for mercy.

A middle-aged man in physician’s attire behind him also kowtowed.

The entire Imperial Medical Bureau had arrived, but the head physician, being the most skilled, could do nothing. They all had to beg for their lives.

Physician Zhang, who had previously treated Yan Qing, sighed inwardly. It was the Noble Consort again.

Physician Zhang felt sympathy for her. As the highest-ranking woman in the harem, she had nearly been killed by the emperor more than once.

Knowing the emperor’s ruthless nature, he couldn’t help but feel afraid.

While speaking, he carefully observed the man before him. Based on his diagnosis, the chances of survival were slim.

Her body seemed to accept death calmly.

It must be that the emperor was too terrifying, making the Noble Consort too afraid to want to live.

Hearing this, Ji Yechen’s face was ashen, his entire being radiating a terrifying killing intent. The hall was so silent that even the sound of breathing could be heard.

Dozens of physicians knelt on the ground, sweating more than after the acupuncture session.

The sound of a drop of sweat hitting the floor broke the silence.

The noise seemed to awaken the emperor. The man who held their lives in his hands finally moved his neck, his gaze falling on the woman on the bed.

Her face was deathly pale, her lips colorless, as if dusted with flour, entirely different from her usual rosy complexion.

Her breathing was extremely weak, sustained only by the silver needles.

If the needles were removed, she would immediately suffocate and die.

Ji Yechen felt regret for the first time in his life.

She was about to die.

The physician’s words echoed in his mind: “The Noble Consort has no will to live…”

No will to live?

Ji Yechen’s lips curled into a cruel smile. His voice was as cold as ice, “Bring Song Yu here!”

No will to live, is it?

The person she cared most about was Song Yu!

He wanted to see if Song Yu could save her!

If he couldn’t… then he had no reason to live either. He could die with her.

Isn’t that what she wanted?

Ji Yechen lowered his eyes, feeling an odd emotion spreading through his chest and body, rendering him unable to react, as if he were petrified.

—

At the Song residence.

“By His Majesty’s command, summon Song Yu to the palace.” Jiang Wende, upon being received into the Song residence, immediately relayed the message.

He was still drenched in cold sweat from the earlier incident, now shivering in the breeze outside.

If the Noble Consort died, they wouldn’t survive either.

The Song parents were bewildered. Song’s father stuffed a money pouch into Jiang Wende’s hand, instructing someone to fetch Song Yu while asking, “Eunuch Jiang, what’s going on?”

Jiang Wende, terrified, refused the pouch and hurriedly said, “The situation is urgent; there’s no time to explain. Please fetch your young master quickly!”

“But…” Song’s father wanted to ask more.

Seeing the jade-like figure appear, Jiang Wende quickly pulled him along.

“Hurry!”

Though still recovering from his illness and feeling weak, Song Yu, after years of martial arts training, could keep up. However, he felt uneasy, especially after Zi Yun’s visit yesterday.

“Eunuch, can you tell me what’s going on?” Song Yu asked as he mounted his horse, seeing Jiang Wende on another horse.

Jiang Wende’s face was grim. He gritted his teeth and said, “The Noble Consort is dying. She has no will to live. His Majesty wants you to go.”

Upon hearing this, Song Yu’s face changed. He snatched the token from Jiang Wende’s hand, said a quick, “Forgive me, Eunuch!” and spurred his horse away.

“Hey…” Jiang Wende, clumsy on horseback and burly, wanted to say more, but the figure was already far ahead.

He stared blankly at his empty hand, then at the others behind him, bewildered. “How are we supposed to get back now?”

Without the token he got from the emperor, he couldn’t enter the palace.

A few young eunuchs shook their heads, equally bewildered.

Ahead, Song Yu, silent and determined, raced forward.

His eyes reddened, tears brimming and being flung away by the force of his gallop, leaving no trace on his face.

How could she be dying?

But knowing this emperor as he did, Song Yu knew he wouldn’t summon him to the palace without reason.

Song Yu didn’t consider any conspiracies, whether they were using this as an excuse to eliminate the prominent Song family. At this moment, he didn’t care. Even if it were true, he had to see her.

Qing’er!

Wait for me!

If Qing’er really died, he would join her.

Fortunately, his parents had other children.

He had already failed Qing’er once and couldn’t leave her alone even in death.

…

Song Yu, holding the token, rushed into the inner palace.

It was the emperor’s token, so no one dared to stop him. Thus, he quickly arrived at Lingyun Palace.

As soon as he entered, Lingyun Palace was deathly silent.

Even the passing palace maids and eunuchs had somber and serious expressions.

There was no laughter at all.

Song Yu felt increasingly distressed. But when he entered the bedroom and saw the person lying on the bed, his legs nearly gave out, almost kneeling to the floor.

The bedroom was as it had been when Jiang Wende left.

A group of imperial physicians knelt, Yan Qing lay on the bed, her life or death uncertain, her exposed skin covered in needles, and Ji Yechen stood by the bedside, staring blankly at her.

Noticing Song Yu’s arrival, Ji Yechen moved swiftly.

He grabbed the unprepared Song Yu and dragged him to the bedside, his voice cold and hard. “Yan Qing, listen. If you die, Song Yu will accompany you in death! My word is my bond!”

Song Yu’s mind was still foggy. Already suffering from a cold, the chill wind outside and the sudden warmth indoors disoriented him. He hadn’t had time to react before being treated this way.

After the confusion, he felt a deep sorrow.

Listening to Ji Yechen, it was clear he knew about their feelings for each other.

Song Yu, in a hoarse voice, said, “Your Majesty, if Qing’er passes, may I take her away? She surely wouldn’t like the palace.”

Ji Yechen’s face darkened. “She’s not dead yet! She won’t die!”

This woman could not really die!

Even if she did, she was still his!

Ji Yechen added, “Even if she truly dies, it won’t be the Song family that buries her! Didn’t she dislike the palace? If she dies, I’ll bury her here in Lingyun Palace. Together in life and death!”

Song Yu choked on his words, not wanting to argue further. He carefully tried to touch the small hand resting on the quilt.

But even her little hand was covered in needles, so Song Yu dared not move it, only holding it gently.

This infuriating scene was noted by Ji Yechen. Considering the situation, he restrained himself and said, “Woman, are you not planning to wake up? Do you really think I won’t dare? If you die, the Song family, the Yan family, and your loyal maid who tried to assassinate me, all will die! Especially Song Yu, I will grind his bones to dust!”

****

Struggling to regain some consciousness, Yan Qing heard his words and almost exploded with rage.

Ji Yechen, you dog emperor!

Yan Qing was nearly driven to tears.

No, she was already crying.

Tears fell from the corners of her eyes uncontrollably.

Damn it, he really brought Song Yu here.

He was going too far!

If Song Yu died with her, what would be the point of her death?

Yan Qing didn’t know the outcome, but she didn’t want to implicate the person the original owner loved.

No, she didn’t want to implicate anyone. When Zhu Yin came here, Yan Qing had asked her to ensure she could escape even if trouble arose, which gave her peace of mind.

Ji Yechen, closely watching her, saw the tears and instinctively reached out to touch them.

They were cold, unexpectedly devoid of warmth.

He licked his fingertip, tasting the salty bitterness.

Not good.

He didn’t like this taste.

But Ji Yechen was pleased, leaning down to whisper in her ear, “I know you can hear me. Since you can, stop struggling. Without my command, you won’t die!”

Song Yu looked at him, his expression complex.

He hadn’t expected this man to fall for Qing’er too.

His heart felt stifled. He turned away, staring blankly at her slender hand, which had been so lively and beautiful just yesterday.

The atmosphere in the bedroom was heavy. No one spoke, all silently watching Yan Qing.

Yan Qing remained unconscious.

Her brain had been deprived of oxygen for too long.

But the next moment, she was fully awake, hearing the system’s voice in her mind: [Detected unavoidable factor, task: Die at Ji Yechen’s hands has failed. Now initiating new task: Assist the emperor in creating a prosperous era.]

Yan Qing was furious, her mind clearing instantly. Her throat hurt terribly, worse than before, as if it were broken.

Her lips moved, her face even paler than before, almost transparent.

Even so, her breathing noticeably strengthened.

Damn it, how did things turn out like this?

She was now furious!

Changing the task on the spot? How useful could she be in this state? It was like painstakingly exchanging foreign currency only to find they only accepted local money!

…

Ji Yechen and Song Yu noticed the change simultaneously and were overjoyed. Ji Yechen called out, “Physician!”

The imperial physicians had been observing the situation closely and immediately came forward to examine her.

The elder physician first lifted her eyelids to check her condition, then carefully took her pulse. Finally, he relaxed greatly and said, “Your Majesty, the consort has taken a breath. As long as she is carefully nursed back to health, she will recover.”

Ji Yechen showed no special reaction, as if everything was within his expectations. He simply looked deeply at the still weak woman and said in a calm voice, “Take whatever you need from my private treasury.”

“Yes, Your Majesty,” the physician responded.

He felt even more awed.

Escaping death by a hair’s breadth must be a sign of future fortune.

The Noble Consort surviving this ordeal had clearly won the Emperor’s attention. Her future would surely be bright.

Song Yu bowed gratefully. “Thank you, my lords, for your efforts.”

Even in his disheveled state, caused by his hurried arrival, Song Yu’s demeanor remained graceful and striking, like an immortal in white robes, his handsome features appreciated by the physicians.

Daring to compete with the Emperor for a woman, he was indeed a man of courage!

It was said that the Song family produced military men. A dashing young master like him certainly wasn’t without capability.

Ji Yechen, noticing Song Yu’s actions, realized he no longer wished to see him now that Yan Qing was stable. He immediately had him taken away. “For trespassing in the inner palace, throw him in the dungeon!”

“Yes!”

Song Yu, being restrained, could only think, “If not for his good upbringing, he would have cursed, ‘You bastard!’”