Quick Transmigration: The Supporting Female Lead is Too Arrogant - Chapter 2

Is it really that simple?

Lying on the bed, applying medicine, Yan Qing already felt her face swelling.

In the history books, Emperor Ji was a tyrant, capricious and murderous, whose orders no one could defy. Yet, he was also a lucky tyrant, as many talented individuals emerged during his reign, stabilizing the shaky empire and allowing him to continue enjoying imperial luxuries.

Yan Qing’s understanding of him was limited to a brief description in the book. Emperor Ji reigned for only three years before being forced to abdicate. During that time, he indulged in luxury, nearly recreating the infamous wine pools and forests of meat, and filled his harem with beauties, caring little for state affairs.

Emperor Ji’s harem was extensive, filled with women sent by officials, including their carefully raised daughters. However, the highest rank in the harem was consort, as he stubbornly refused to take an empress.

While the previous emperor was alive, Ji Yecheng’s refusal to take an empress angered him greatly, resulting in severe punishment. Yet, Ji Yecheng never relented.

Thus, he took the original character as his consort with the formalities of an empress. Naturally, the harem viewed her as a target to eliminate quickly. Because of her mission, she sought to provoke Ji Yecheng to kill her, hence offending him upon their first meeting.

Had Ji Yecheng truly been enraged, he would have likely killed her immediately. However, he wouldn’t implicate the Yan family. Ji Yecheng’s personality aside, Prime Minister Yan was exceptionally skilled, rising from a humble background to the center of power in Chang’an, a city dominated by aristocrats.

His position was second only to Ji Yecheng’s, and without rebellion, no one could topple him. In the novel, the transmigrator’s favor with Prime Minister Yan and Yan Qing’s cruel death at Ji Yecheng’s hands drove him to support Song Yu’s rebellion.

Had last night’s plan succeeded, Yan Qing could have completed her system’s task, preventing Yan Jing’s return to the Yan family. Given the magnitude of such an event, Prime Minister Yan would be too busy to foster feelings for a concubine-born daughter.

When the time came, the woman who traveled through time would make her fortune in that house. Whether she could reunite with Song Yu depended on fate.

Unfortunately, despite kicking him so boldly, Ji Yecheng hadn’t gotten angry enough to kill her.

Yan Qing felt a bit regretful and was mentally exhausted. At this moment, with Zi Yun applying medicine, the areas touched by the ointment felt warm. Plus, Zi Yun’s excellent massage skills made her fall asleep comfortably.

…

When she woke up, Yan Qing no longer felt pain. The ointment sent by the eunuch was indeed effective.

As soon as she moved, the palace servants outside seemed to hear the noise. Zi Yun came in, lifting a corner of the red curtain. “Your Grace, do you want to get up?”

Yan Qing responded, “Yes.”

The curtain was fully opened, and eight palace servants entered, holding various items. They stood aside as two other nimble servants approached to help her dress.

Throughout the process, she was served meticulously.

Is this the kind of indulgence the sinful imperial class of ancient times could experience?

Yan Qing remained expressionless as they dressed her, but inside, she felt quite amazed.

Zi Yun watched her carefully, filled with hesitation. Her Grace seemed to be in a bad mood. Should she mention what she had just discovered?

But she didn’t dare. Since entering the palace, Her Grace had changed, becoming increasingly quiet and even cold.

Zi Yun was hesitant throughout, but Yan Qing didn’t notice. She was thinking about how to provoke Ji Yecheng.

Breakfast was served in the side hall, with a round table set with about eight small plates of various delicacies. As soon as Yan Qing sat down, she heard the eunuch outside announce, “His Majesty is here.”

Yan Qing didn’t have time to be surprised before a figure in black and gold appeared before her.

“Your Majesty.” As soon as he appeared, everyone in the palace knelt immediately, trembling with fear of making a mistake.

Ji Yecheng’s head was slightly raised, his cold eyes not even glancing at the kneeling people. He only stared at the woman who, upon hearing his arrival, still leisurely sat down. He said coldly, “Noble Consort, why do you not kneel?”

Zi Yun turned her head in shock and saw that her Her Grace was sitting there upright, not kneeling. When did Her Grace become so bold?

She was anxious but didn’t dare speak. She only tugged at her, urging her to kneel quickly. This emperor had already killed dozens of eunuchs and maids in the palace. Even consorts who offended him had been beheaded!

Sweating profusely, she saw her slowly raise her hand, removing her hand from her clothes, and calmly said, “I don’t want to kneel.”

Her soft voice, which Zi Yun had always envied, now made her tremble all over. She hurriedly said, “Your Majesty, Her Grace… Her Grace was injured yesterday and can’t move easily!”

Zi Yun’s voice trembled but gained confidence toward the end. Indeed, Her Grace was usually very timid.

The coldness before her intensified. Zi Yun dared not lift her head, her heart full of despair, awaiting the emperor’s punishment.

She couldn’t see that the Noble Consort was slowly sipping a bowl of white porridge.

Her excellent upbringing left no flaw in her etiquette, eating silently without the spoon and bowl clinking.

The white porridge tasted bland. Yan Qing, having just woken up with a poor appetite, ate a few mouthfuls to stimulate her appetite, then set it aside to pick something else.

Yan Qing’s blatant disregard was extremely arrogant. Although this emperor was troublesome, he had one good trait—he never implicated others. It was said that even if a consort made a mistake, only she would die, not the servants unless they were involved.

Her brazen disregard seemed to anger the emperor who had been observing her. Ji Yecheng quickly stepped forward, gripping her chin harshly, and said, “Do you have a death wish?”

Since he became emperor, no one had dared act so wantonly before him.

Ji Yecheng’s face was grim, but internally, he was intrigued.

Yan Qing smiled slightly, her lightly made-up face looking fresh and beautiful. She decisively nodded, “Yes, I’m looking for death.”

She spoke honestly, and the emperor’s cold, sinister eyes showed a sudden flash of murderous intent.

Yan Qing felt more at ease.

Unexpectedly, Ji Yecheng just stared at her coldly for a moment. His grip tightened, making her chin hurt. She frowned and, seeing he still hadn’t acted, slapped his hand away, “It hurts. Don’t touch me.”

Ji Yecheng almost laughed in anger. Retracting his hand, about to burst into rage, he suddenly thought of something, suppressing his anger, and stepped back to sit opposite her. “Serve the meal,” he ordered coldly.

The sweating Jiang Wende hurriedly responded, “Yes.” Then he quickly exited.

****

The emperor’s meals were naturally different. Each meal had twelve dishes for the emperor, ten for the empress, and eight for the consort. This was the rule. Moreover, the emperor’s food couldn’t be served cold, or there would be dire consequences, so new food had to be called.

Ji Yecheng slowly sat down, adjusting his sleeves, exuding an air of elegance. If not for his naturally sinister expression, he would have been an exceptionally handsome man.

But this was too… calm.

Yan Qing blinked, staring at him in doubt. Could it be that his soul was swapped like hers?

“Why are you staring at me?”

Yan Qing honestly replied, “Your Majesty has a good temper.”

“Ha.” Ji Yecheng sneered, sipping the tea brought by a palace maid. The hot tea slightly calmed his anger. Looking at the kneeling servants, he said, “All of you, rise.”

“Thank you, Your Majesty.”

The servants rose, standing in their respective places. Only the maid serving Ji Yecheng’s tea stood beside him, casting shy, longing glances his way. After only a couple of looks, she heard him say, “Take her away.”

Jiang Wende didn’t need to give specific instructions. He simply pointed at the maid and waved his hand. Two young eunuchs came forward and dragged the pale-faced maid away, covering her mouth to prevent her from making any noise. Their actions were very skilled, showing they had done this many times.

After all, although Ji Yecheng was a bit brutal, he wouldn’t kill without reason. The only time he killed was when someone made a mistake. Being handsome and the highest ruler of the country, it was normal for many people to try and flirt with him.

When this maid was replaced, the new maid came in with her eyes lowered, standing there trembling, with her gaze fixed only on the teacup in his hand.

****

Yan Qing knew Ji Yecheng was going to eat here, so she sped up her eating. She stuffed two buns into her mouth, quickly ate them, then got up. “Your Majesty, please enjoy your meal. I will take my leave.”

She turned around directly. Zi Yun almost knelt down again, her face full of distress. Why had Her Grace suddenly become so rebellious?

Even if Her Grace was unhappy about marrying the emperor, she shouldn’t act out in front of him.

Yan Qing couldn’t hear her thoughts and continued to walk away.

“Stop!” Ji Yecheng shouted coldly.

Yan Qing pretended not to hear. However, several palace servants were already kneeling in front of her. One young eunuch trembled as he said, “Your Grace, please stay!”

The other two hurriedly echoed, “Your Grace, please stay!”

Her path blocked, Yan Qing turned back angrily to glare at Ji Yecheng. She saw him elegantly eating a bun, a fresh one that Jiang Wende had quickly replaced.

Wasn’t he supposed to be different? What was this? Threatening her with the lives of innocent people?

The novel had lied to her!

Sensing her gaze, Ji Yecheng raised an eyebrow, his wicked eyes mocking her as he laughed lightly, “Weren’t you going to leave? Go ahead.”

His voice was low and malicious, making her skin crawl.

At his words, the palace servants trembled even more. Yan Qing clearly saw the sweat on the forehead of the eunuch closest to her dripping onto the floor, and he lowered his head even more.

This was a clear threat. If she left, these eunuchs and maids would die.

Yan Qing felt a surge of frustration and wanted to leave out of spite. But it was just an impulse. These were people’s lives; she couldn’t ignore that.

After much hesitation, she didn’t dare to leave. Biting her lip, she returned to the table and sat down again, grabbing a bun and biting into it angrily.

After all, she hadn’t eaten enough earlier.

“Why do you seek death?” Ji Yecheng asked slowly, his handsome eyes narrowed as he looked at Yan Qing with curiosity.

Was Song Yu really that great?

Was he worth her daring to act like this even after becoming a noble consort?

Seeing him finish one bun and reaching for the last one on the plate, Yan Qing quickly grabbed it first, taking a bite before answering, “I don’t know.”

Jiang Wende watched the whole thing, feeling a chill down his spine. Especially when she grabbed the bun, cold sweat soaked his back, yet he was also in awe.

Indeed, the prime minister’s eldest daughter was the emperor’s cherished one, daring to treat the emperor so boldly.

But grabbing food from the dragon’s mouth, he began to worry for Yan Qing. This young lady was going to suffer. He quickly stepped forward and whispered, “Your Majesty, should I send another plate over?”

He glanced at the noble consort, hoping she would appreciate it and help him if he ever made a mistake in the future.

Yan Qing found his gaze confusing but recognized the chubby eunuch’s apparent goodwill towards her.

She glanced at him, then provocatively looked at the emperor.

Fine, if he wouldn’t let her leave, then he wouldn’t get to eat peacefully either!

Ji Yecheng paused when the food he wanted was snatched. He looked at her deeply.

But the woman in front of him was unafraid, glaring back even more fiercely.

Her pretty, delicate face was fair with a hint of pink, her cheeks slightly chubby, and her eyes round and clear, making her look not fierce but somewhat… amusing?

Ji Yecheng felt he was becoming a bit delusional.

Unexpectedly, he smiled, his irritation dissipating as he casually picked up a pastry, saying calmly, “No need.”

Jiang Wende’s heart sank. Keeping his head down, he felt sympathy, thinking the emperor was about to get angry.

But then he heard Ji Yecheng say, “Pass the word, the Noble Consort loves these meat buns. Reward her!”

Jiang Wende, bewildered, responded, “Yes.”