Quick Transmigration: The Supporting Female Lead is Too Arrogant - Chapter 8

As Ji Yechen entered the hall, Yan Qing distinctly heard several soft gasps.

She turned to see the man striding in with a leisurely demeanor.

His black and gold attire exuded restrained nobility and splendor. His tall and straight posture made the short walk into the hall imposing. Only the faintly smiling lips and the interested look in his beautiful phoenix eyes softened his sharp features, making it seem as if he could tear apart anyone who approached.

“Greetings, Your Majesty,” the concubines now greeted him willingly, their voices soft and sweet, heads slightly raised to reveal their sharp chins. Some even subtly pushed out their chests, hoping to catch the eye of the most distinguished man in the room.

Inside the hall, only two people remained unmoved.

One was Empress Dowager Jiang, who, as the Empress Dowager, was not required to salute her nominal son. The other was Yan Qing, standing there with a calm expression. Her large, round eyes, like grapes, briefly glanced at Ji Yechen before she looked away.

She was still holding a grudge.

And executing her plan.

“Your Majesty,” Empress Dowager Jiang’s smile deepened, her gaze softening as it fell on the straight-standing Yan Qing, a flash of disdain in her eyes. She said gently, “Shouldn’t someone offer His Majesty a seat?”

Consort Xian immediately stood up, smiling sweetly, “Your Majesty, please sit.”

Ji Yechen, one hand behind his back and the other playing with a thumb ring, didn’t even glance at Consort Xian. He simply asked, “What’s going on?”

Consort Xian and Consort De exchanged glances, ready to speak, but Empress Dowager Jiang spoke first, softly explaining, “Your Majesty, it’s like this…”

Her voice unexpectedly sweet, Yan Qing, who had been distracted, couldn’t help but recall various novels she’d read about Empress Dowagers and emperors. Intrigued, she looked closely at Empress Dowager Jiang.

Empress Dowager Jiang didn’t notice Yan Qing’s gaze, her focus entirely on Ji Yechen.

Though Yan Qing was single, in the internet age of her previous life, she’d seen many edited videos and screenshots of women looking at their loved ones. The expression in the eyes of someone in love was unmistakable, needing no caption.

At that moment, Empress Dowager Jiang looked at Ji Yechen with such an expression.

Yan Qing’s heart skipped a beat.

By then, the explanation was over. Ji Yechen nodded in understanding, then unexpectedly pulled Yan Qing into his arms, his voice strangely low and gentle, “Oh? Is that so?”

Caught off guard, Yan Qing found herself in Ji Yechen’s familiar yet cool embrace. Instinctively, she tried to elbow him in the chest.

But before she could make contact, he grabbed her elbow, applying pressure that caused her pain.

Yan Qing’s face turned pale for a moment. Recognizing the situation, she relaxed her strength.

In their many encounters, she’d never once bested him.

Yan Qing pouted, whispering, “Let go!”

Ji Yechen tightened his arm around her waist, leaning close to her ear with a light laugh, “No.”

Grinding her teeth, Yan Qing glared at him, unwilling to cause a scene in the hall but also refusing to willingly submit.

The emperor, seeing her glare, raised an eyebrow and smiled, his expression wicked and affectionate, making the other concubines blush with envy.

…

The scene before them, a handsome man and a beautiful woman, clearly affectionate despite their bickering, and their matching attire, made Empress Dowager Jiang’s eyes burn with irritation.

Her hands clenched tightly, breaking her freshly manicured nails, but she didn’t notice. Her eyes flickered with a murderous intent before quickly calming. She chided softly, “What is this, in front of everyone? Your Majesty, she is a Noble Consort, not a songstress.”

The hall’s atmosphere tightened, though many felt schadenfreude.

Comparing the Noble Consort to a songstress was bold, even for the Empress Dowager.

Yan Qing’s face turned colder. Unable to win a physical fight, she frowned, raised her foot, and firmly stepped on Ji Yechen’s boot, snapping, “Let go! Didn’t you hear the Empress Dowager say I’m not a songstress?”

The pressure on his foot made Ji Yechen’s eyelid twitch. He suppressed his darker impulses and said coldly, “Who dares say that?”

His dark gaze turned icy as he stared at the Empress Dowager.

Empress Dowager Jiang’s face twitched, her anger rising, but she forced a dry laugh, “I was joking. I called the Noble Consort here to ask some questions.”

Ji Yechen replied, “No need. I’ve already investigated.”

“What?” The unexpected declaration left Empress Dowager Jiang stammering.

The young emperor looked at the woman beside him with a smile, “I won’t let you suffer.”

With that, Jiang Wende entered, followed by two palace maids, both personal attendants of Concubine Yu and Concubine Xie. They were bound, their hair disheveled and clothes dirty, looking utterly defeated.

Yan Qing stared in surprise, momentarily forgetting she was still in Ji Yechen’s arms.

Jiang Wende bowed, his sharp yet not unpleasant voice explaining, “Your Majesty, Empress Dowager, Noble Consort, and esteemed concubines, these two have confessed.”

“Continue,” Ji Yechen ordered without lifting his eyes.

Jiang Wende nodded, glancing at the visibly uneasy Consorts Xian and De, and methodically recounted the confession, “So, they drugged Concubine Yu and Concubine Xie. Already weak, and with the imperial physicians bribed, they succumbed.”

Consort Xian wrung her handkerchief, trembling.

Consort De broke out in a cold sweat.

This couldn’t be happening. The Empress Dowager’s influence should have protected them.

But before they could reassure themselves, Jiang Wende motioned, and more palace staff were brought in, also bound. He said, “These were implicated by the confessions, including several from the Noble Consort’s palace.”

Among them was Hong Tao, who had been waiting outside the hall and only entered now. Yan Qing didn’t recognize the others but felt they looked familiar. She widened her eyes, “Hong Tao, why are you here?”

Hong Tao, upon seeing Yan Qing, looked as if she had seen her savior. “Your Grace, please save this servant. I didn’t do it!”

The other eunuchs and palace maids also hurriedly pleaded, “Your Grace, please save us, Your Grace…”

Empress Dowager Jiang’s eyes gleamed, seizing the opportunity to act. “How dare you, Noble Consort! You are so ruthless!”

Yan Qing blinked, looking at the pleading faces before her, and curiously asked, “I remember you all being very busy every day. How did you find the time to do such wicked things?”

Due to Zhu Yin’s thorough cleaning, the palace staff had been cleared of dishonest members. Yan Qing disliked having too many people around, so she kept only the essential number of attendants. As a result, they had numerous tasks to handle, especially since she had set up a small kitchen in the back garden for them to buy ingredients and prepare food every day. They were constantly busy, running errands and attending to her needs.

Indeed, time is like water in a sponge; if you squeeze, there’s always some. If Yan Qing were a palace maid, she would probably feel there wasn’t enough time even to sleep.

Hong Tao hesitated, wanting to answer but not knowing what to say. Who would ask such a question at a time like this?

Seeing Hong Tao’s hesitation, Yan Qing found it dull and pouted. She had no interest in palace intrigues, but if Ji Yechen seized the chance to kill her, that would be acceptable.

Remembering her objective, Yan Qing turned and walked away from Ji Yechen, approaching Consort De. “Move aside.”

Consort De, who had been watching the scene, was stunned.

Yan Qing frowned, lifting her chin arrogantly, “Move aside. I want to sit in your seat.”

“You—” Consort De was about to retort when a cold shiver ran down her spine, realizing that Ji Yechen was glaring at her. Instantly regaining her composure, she gritted her teeth and stood up, offering her seat. “Sister, please sit.”

“Don’t call me sister,” Yan Qing said expressionlessly as she sat down, rubbing her sore arms and legs. She had thought she’d be able to leave quickly and hadn’t requested a seat. But now it seemed this would take longer than expected.

Consort De took a deep breath to avoid getting too angry and walked towards Ji Yechen, looking pitiful. “Your Majesty…”

But before she could finish, Ji Yechen laughed softly and walked to her previous seat, sitting down without a word.

The sound of grinding teeth and wringing handkerchiefs filled the hall.

Empress Dowager Jiang’s temple throbbed as she spoke sternly, “Noble Consort, do you have anything to say?”

“No,” Yan Qing replied bluntly, glaring at Ji Yechen, who had placed his hand on her waist without invitation. She tried to remain calm. “These people are from my palace, but I don’t know what they did. If you want to force this crime on me, I’ll accept it.”

“Such nonsense,” Empress Dowager Jiang sneered. “The witnesses are right here. How could you not know what your people were doing?”

Consort De, still furious, added, “Noble Consort, Hong Tao is your personal maid. You can’t claim ignorance. She’s always with you; you should know her whereabouts.”

Yan Qing looked at her with disdain, her eyes shimmering with a mocking light. “Even a personal maid isn’t with me twelve hours a day. Do you know exactly how many bites each of your people ate or how many times they cursed you in their hearts?”

“Bang!” Empress Dowager Jiang slammed the table in anger. “Impudence!”

Ji Yechen, annoyed, furrowed his brow. This woman was indeed impudent. He glanced over and ordered, “Remove the Empress Dowager’s table.”

“Your Majesty, what do you mean?” Empress Dowager Jiang’s face turned pale. However, Jiang Wende, ever dutiful, directed the eunuchs to remove the table in front of her.

This was a blatant slap in the face.

Ji Yechen simply said, “Noisy.”

Empress Dowager Jiang: “!!!”

“Empress Dowager, please calm down! Your Majesty, please calm down!” The concubines quickly knelt, begging for forgiveness.

Yan Qing yawned, quietly massaging her legs. After exercising, if she didn’t relax her muscles, they would bulk up.

Ji Yechen observed her movements, intrigued. She seemed genuinely indifferent, fearless, or simply seeking death?

He instinctively felt it was the latter.

Ji Yechen turned to the visibly upset Empress Dowager and said, “This matter has nothing to do with the Noble Consort. Jiang Wende, present the evidence.”

“Yes,” Jiang Wende replied, nodding again.

More palace staff were brought in, including some from Consort De’s household.

The implications were clear.

Attention shifted to Consort De.

Seeing her maid, Qing He, kneeling pale-faced on the ground, Consort De’s legs gave way as she knelt before Ji Yechen. “Your Majesty, I am innocent! I truly knew nothing of this!”

Yan Qing propped her face on her hand, a false smile playing on her lips. “Consort De, Qing He is your personal maid. Surely you must know her movements?”

Consort De: …

The words were eerily familiar.

She felt her face flush with heat, unable to continue pleading.

Ji Yechen waited until Jiang Wende laid out the evidence, then glanced at the Empress Dowager. His gaze made her heart skip a beat before he turned back to Yan Qing, gently ruffling her hair. “It’s not your fault. You have nothing to fear.”

Yan Qing brushed his hand away, lips pursed. This emperor had clearly investigated everything long ago but chose to reveal it now.

Some concubines almost popped their eyes out in jealousy.

If the emperor treated anyone else this way, they would be overjoyed and grateful. But this Noble Consort actually brushed him off?!

They had many thoughts running through their minds, but the person involved did not care, already used to this.

Ji Yechen’s idea was that as long as he did what needed to be done, he was willing to tolerate a little resistance. This had happened several times already, and he didn’t find it offensive.

Consort De knelt weakly on the ground, watching the emperor lower himself to placate Yan Qing. Her jealousy was driving her mad. Unwilling to be sidelined, she looked towards the Empress Dowager for help.

Empress Dowager Jiang, filled with jealousy herself, caught Consort De’s gaze. Her eyes flashed, and she spoke sternly, “Your Majesty, as the Noble Consort said, Consort De probably didn’t know about this. Being raised in the inner chambers, how could she dare to harm anyone? If something were to happen to her, it would break her father’s heart.”

There was indeed no evidence proving Consort De’s direct involvement.

Yan Qing’s eyes flashed with a hint of disappointment, but she remained silent.

Ji Yechen thought of the court and nodded almost imperceptibly. “The others shall be executed.”

Though he didn’t usually meddle, being an emperor meant no one should challenge his authority. Uprisings were troublesome, and he preferred stability. Besides, this matter was only relevant to him because this woman was still useful. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have bothered.

His voice was deep and casual, but those few words decided the fate of over a dozen people.

In the hall, Consort De’s eyes lit up as if she had been granted a new lease on life. However, the palace staff kneeling there began to tremble, their teeth chattering in despair as they pleaded, “Your Majesty, this servant is innocent!”

“Your Majesty, we were forced! Please, Your Majesty…”

Before they could finish, Jiang Wende had them gagged efficiently.

Within two short moments, Jiang Wende had clearly narrated everything that had transpired.

This matter had nothing to do with Yan Qing, but the capture of Qing He and the others implicated Consort De.

As the guilty parties were dragged out, silence fell over the hall. Empress Dowager Jiang and the concubines watched anxiously as Yan Qing suddenly stood up. “Empress Dowager, since the matter is resolved, I will take my leave.”

“Go ahead.” Empress Dowager Jiang eagerly waved her away.

Yan Qing nodded and turned to leave.

“Your Maj—” Empress Dowager Jiang started to address Ji Yechen, but she was met with a look of clear disdain.

That slight glance made her breath catch, and she could only watch helplessly as he, without a word, followed Yan Qing out.

The concubines turned their heads in unison, like sunflowers tracking the sun, watching until the two figures disappeared.

With the emperor and the Noble Consort gone, Consort De felt a surge of relief, the heavy pressure lifting off her. She took a deep breath and turned to speak to the Empress Dowager, but seeing the cold, murderous look in her eyes, the words stuck in her throat. She shivered.

Why was the Empress Dowager filled with such killing intent?