I Have the Aura of a Supporting Character in Yuri Novels - Chapter 70

A cool autumn breeze shook the branches, playfully lifting the carriage curtains and entering the space. Zhuyun frowned, enjoying the crisp air, while Tang Yihuan covered her mouth, trying to suppress the discomfort in her throat.

Zhuyun naturally reached into Tang Yihuan’s satchel, pulled out a white porcelain bottle, and poured out a Spring Rejuvenation Pill. She held the pill to Tang Yihuan’s lips. “What… what is this?”

Zhuyun teased, “It’s certainly not something meant to harm you.”

Tang Yihuan glared at Zhuyun. She hadn’t gone through the contents of her bag and had no idea what a Spring Rejuvenation Pill was. Furthermore, Zhuyun had never mentioned it to her. She simply assumed it was medicine to alleviate her symptoms.

She lowered her gaze and shyly opened her mouth to take the pill. It tasted sweet, not bitter at all, like a candied orange peel. She daintily chewed the pill, still thinking about how much of a nuisance her illness was, making it difficult even to sleep at night when the coughing fits started.

Tang Yihuan’s eyes lingered on Zhuyun’s face, filled with a gentle pity that made her want to care for Zhuyun. She asked, “Did you sleep well last night?”

Zhuyun gave a lazy smile and said nonchalantly, “Very well. No nightmares, nothing bad happened. I closed my eyes, and when I opened them, the night was over.”

She said it so easily, but Tang Yihuan didn’t believe her.

Tang Yihuan wanted to ask more questions, but with the two maids nearby, she feared they might notice something was amiss. The story of their souls switching sounded like nonsensical gibberish, and she doubted anyone would believe it. So, Tang Yihuan decided to keep the matter a secret for now, waiting until her father returned to the manor to make future arrangements.

Zhuyun noticed Tang Yihuan’s hesitation and teased, “You’re not coughing now, are you? Feel much better?”

Her words served as a reminder, and a happy smile bloomed on Tang Yihuan’s face. “I feel so much better. My throat isn’t sore or itchy, and my chest doesn’t feel tight anymore. This medicine is incredible.”

She had only expected a simple remedy, but the effect was so profound. Tang Yihuan felt as light as a swallow, no longer tired, as if her old illness had been completely cured.

Zhuyun raised an eyebrow. How could a Spring Rejuvenation Pill, which cost 2,500 points to buy, not be incredible? Good things don’t come cheap. If not for Tang Yihuan’s unfamiliarity with her body and the potential pain from the chronic illness, Zhuyun would not have used the pill, at least not at this time.

Sigh, I can endure a bit of roughness, but I can’t let a delicate lady suffer.

Tang Yihuan clutched the small white porcelain bottle. This must be a miracle drug, she was sure of it. But she had never seen Zhuyun take this medicine to suppress her pain. So why was she willing to let Tang Yihuan have it now?

Suddenly, the porcelain bottle felt heavy in her hand. Tang Yihuan’s gaze toward Zhuyun became deeper and more focused.

At that moment, Zhuyun leaned closer to Tang Yihuan. The familiar scent of sandalwood was the incense Tang Yihuan always used, but with her soul in a different body, Tang Yihuan now detected a subtle, calming hint of medicinal herbs mixed with the sandalwood.

Tang Yihuan looked up and saw Zhuyun gently taking the long-tailed butterfly from her hair ornament. The butterfly obediently clung to Zhuyun’s finger. Zhuyun smiled, relieved that the butterfly was fine.

Last night, Zhuyun had worried that the butterfly’s spirit might have been harmed by her use of the forbidden technique. She had nurtured the butterfly with her own lifeblood, and they shared a spiritual connection: if it was strong, she was strong; if it was weak, she was weak. So Zhuyun cared about it very much.

The beauty of the woman and the noble elegance of the butterfly created a picturesque scene. Tang Yihuan had seen that face for over a decade, but she had never seen such a lively and beautiful side of it before.

Tang Yihuan was lost in her thoughts when the butterfly suddenly flew towards her.

One became two, and two became four.

The four butterflies were elegant and noble, their patterns like ancient engravings. They fluttered gracefully, their magnificent beauty a sight to behold.

“Wow! It’s so beautiful!”

“Miss Zhu’s butterflies are the most beautiful I’ve ever seen, a servant girl exclaimed!”

Yuxuan knew that Zhuyun’s identity was extraordinary. She was born and raised in the household, and her mother had once mentioned that the Marquis of Zhongyong’s savior was a member of a mystical sect. Rumor had it that he had helped the emperor establish his reign with his talismans and unique skills, and was considered an otherworldly master. No one in the manor had ever truly seen him, except for the time the Marquis and Tang Yihuan disappeared for a year, claiming to have visited an old friend on the mountain. So, whenever the servants heard the words “going up the mountain,” they knew it meant visiting that mystical arts practitioner.

Yuxuan looked on with admiration, her eyes full of warmth as she looked at Tang Yihuan. “Miss Zhu, may I touch one of the butterflies?”

Tang Yihuan instinctively turned to look at Zhuyun. Seeing Zhuyun’s faint smile, Tang Yihuan nodded. “You may.”

“Thank you, Miss Zhu.”

Changshan and Yuxuan were young and loved pretty things, so they couldn’t contain their excitement upon seeing the four identical butterflies.

They hadn’t even dared to blink a moment ago, afraid of missing any part of the spectacle. They wondered how a practitioner of the mystical arts could turn one butterfly into four. It was truly a marvelous sight, like an immortal performing magic, an unforgettable experience.

“Do you like it?” Zhuyun quietly asked.

Tang Yihuan mimicked her low voice, “What?”

Zhuyun said in a slightly disgruntled tone, “Though I can’t make you fly away with a swoosh, I can make many butterflies appear with a swoosh. If I wasn’t afraid of scaring your two maids, I could fill the entire carriage with butterflies.”

Tang Yihuan’s almond-shaped eyes curved with laughter, her gaze sparkling. This gave the pure and delicate face a touch of Tang Yihuan’s own spirit. She was incredibly clever and immediately understood Zhuyun’s intentions. “Are you trying to cheer me up?”

Zhuyun bashfully made a fist and covered her mouth, whispering, “I know my own body best. You must have suffered last night. You are a noble lady, the Marquis’s daughter; you have never endured such hardship. I am not a heartless person. Now that I see you, I must apologize. In fact, I am the one who benefited.”

Tang Yihuan’s eyebrows shot up. Hearing her say that made her incredibly uncomfortable, as if someone had punched her. She became visibly angry and said, “There is no right or wrong between us. Why are you apologizing to me? Do you really think I am a delicate flower who can’t bear hardship? I am not such a thankless person. I will never forget your kindness. If we must talk about who benefited, I am the one who gained something good. Now that our bodies have been swapped, our enemy is hidden while we are exposed. We don’t know what they will do next, so it is I who should apologize to you.”

Unable to hold back, Tang Yihuan pinched Zhuyun’s ear. After all, it was her own body, and she didn’t feel bad about pinching it. Her face was serious and angry.

She didn’t like Zhuyun feeling indebted to her. What had Zhuyun done wrong?

This silly girl.

Zhuyun covered her ear and looked at Tang Yihuan pitifully, quickly saying, “Let’s talk this out, don’t use your hands.”

The effect of this Spring Rejuvenation Pill was truly excellent. Tang Yihuan had said so much without a single cough. Agent 857 didn’t lie; system products are all top-notch!

While this little drama was unfolding, the smiling faces of Yuxuan and Changshan, who had been chasing the butterflies, froze.

Yuxuan looked from left to right. She didn’t have time to feel bad for Zhuyun. Instead, she found Tang Yihuan’s actions strangely familiar. “Miss Zhu looks a bit like our mistress,” she said in surprise.

That ear-pinching, that expression—it was exactly how their mistress looked when she scolded someone.

Changshan’s mouth twitched. She bumped Yuxuan’s shoulder with her forehead, her expression anxious.

Oh, Yuxuan! You’ve ruined the mistress’s image! What kind of lady isn’t gentle and refined? Yet their mistress had a fiery spirit underneath it all. Her usual graceful and elegant demeanor was all a facade. Changshan remembered the time the Marquis came home drunk and rowdy, and the mistress only managed to scare him sober by smashing all the good wine in the cellar with a hammer. From then on, every time the Marquis drank, the mistress would smash his wine, which eventually helped him quit his drinking habit.

Yuxuan realized she had misspoke. She immediately knelt down, racking her brain for ways to salvage Tang Yihuan’s image.

Zhuyun, however, couldn’t hold back her laughter. She covered her mouth, her shoulders shaking. She eventually collapsed onto Tang Yihuan’s shoulder, laughing heartily. Her eyes sparkled with a vibrant, youthful energy that made Tang Yihuan turn away in embarrassment, refusing to look at Zhuyun.

The more Zhuyun laughed, the more fearful Yuxuan became. The two maids knelt in fear, not daring to get up without Zhuyun’s permission.

Zhuyun rubbed her face. She hadn’t laughed so freely in a long time. Her fragile body couldn’t support such unrestrained happiness.

She looked at the blushing Tang Yihuan and said meaningfully, “Miss Zhu looks like me because I told her not to hide her true nature. We are friends, and it’s too exhausting to wear a mask in front of me. You two can get up now, don’t kneel. It’s nothing. Just don’t say this in front of outsiders. After all, your mistress still needs to save face. If those people who looked down on me before found out what I’m like in private, they would laugh at me.”

The two maids breathed a sigh of relief, grateful to be out of trouble. They respectfully kowtowed again before standing up. This time, however, they were too afraid to stay in the carriage. After asking for Zhuyun’s permission, they lifted the curtain and sat at the front of the carriage.

Without the maids present, the two of them felt much more comfortable talking and being themselves.

Zhuyun tugged on Tang Yihuan’s small braid and teased, “So, Sister Yihuan likes to pinch people’s ears?”

Tang Yihuan’s face was flushed with embarrassment, but she decided to remain expressionless. She let out a cold harrumph, “So what?”

Zhuyun smiled gently and said, “Nothing. I just hope you won’t be too rough in the future, Sister.”

Her voice was sweet as honey, and it was so infectious that Tang Yihuan couldn’t help the corners of her lips from turning up. Tang Yihuan pinched her fingertips and said softly, “I thought you were going to say that I’m not a well-educated or mannered lady.”

“Not at all. Just because you have a bit of a fiery temper doesn’t mean you’re not a lady. That’s a ridiculous notion. Everyone expects women to be virtuous and gentle, and speaking out against that makes you an outcast. Sister Yihuan, you can’t fight against those people alone. It’s smart to present yourself as a perfect daughter of a noble family. That way, you can silence a lot of gossip. Although it’s tiring to pretend, I would still choose to pretend over facing all that prejudice.”

Zhuyun’s fingers played with Tang Yihuan’s braid as she answered. Tang Yihuan, as the Marquis’s daughter, was a prestigious young lady. She could have chosen to be a high-born daughter who didn’t care about what others thought, but she chose a different path. She used her carefully crafted facade to ward off the haughty noble families who looked down on the Marquis’s humble origins. Who said a commoner’s daughter couldn’t possess the demeanor of a noble family? Tang Yihuan intended to prove them wrong. Her self-control and character had earned her the admiration of outsiders, and her mastery of the four arts—zither, chess, calligraphy, and painting—had made her the most talented woman in Tongzhou.

Tang Yihuan pinched her fingertips harder, a habit she used to calm herself down. She had thought her hypocritical, face-saving self would drive away Zhuyun’s good feelings toward her, but instead, she heard Zhuyun’s understanding and approval of her choices.

She quietly took Zhuyun’s wrist. The slender bracelet jingled, just like Tang Yihuan’s own heart, swaying unsteadily, all because of Zhuyun.

“What’s wrong?”

Tang Yihuan leaned her head on Zhuyun’s shoulder and said softly, “I’m just borrowing my own body for a rest.”

Zhuyun rolled her eyes in mock disapproval. “It is your body, that’s true, but you haven’t asked for my permission yet.”

She smiled, her fingers tracing a path from Zhuyun’s shoulder up her neck and finally pinching her soft earlobe. “What did you say?”

Zhuyun’s expression became resolute. “Lean on me! Borrow it as you wish! I have no objections at all.”

Tang Yihuan’s gaze softened. She gently massaged Zhuyun’s earlobe. “Don’t wear earrings for the next few days.”

“Alright,” Zhuyun replied.

No way, I’ll definitely wear them tonight! Let’s see how Tang Yihuan will pinch me then.

Laughter and chatter filled the carriage. Yuxuan and Changshan exchanged a knowing look and smiled.

That night, many people were bustling around the small courtyard. Shiliu, who was slacking off under the eaves, watched as one item after another was moved into the house, her heart filled with a sour jealousy.

Seeing that no one was paying attention to a simple maid like her, she scurried out along the wall. Out of breath, she held a tray of snacks she had swiped from the kitchen, straightened her clothes, and pushed open the door to Liangxi’s room, calling her name warmly.

Liangxi frowned. “What are you doing here at this hour instead of staying in the courtyard?”

Shiliu pouted, explaining carelessly, “The courtyard is so small and cramped, there’s no room for all the things. I’m just a little maid and can’t move heavy things. Miss Zhu doesn’t need me to serve her up close, so what would I do there?”

Her complaints only made Liangxi’s frown deepen. She looked at Shiliu with a knowing look. “What are you getting at?”

Shiliu offered Liangxi some snacks and then looked at her injured ankle. “Sister Liangxi, don’t be foolish. Don’t be stingy with the money to see a doctor. If you keep resting, you might not have a place by the mistress’s side anymore. Changshan is a second-class maid, but the mistress has promoted her to a personal maid. When you recover and go back, won’t you be in an awkward position?”

Liangxi knew about this, but she hadn’t given it much thought until Shiliu’s words made her realize something was wrong. Seeing the hesitant look on Liangxi’s face, Shiliu pressed on. “To be honest, Sister Liangxi, our mistress is moving to Miss Zhu’s courtyard tonight. Miss Zhu only has Yuxuan, and now Changshan is there too. When you get better, there will be three personal maids serving one mistress. I’m just afraid that by then, Yuxuan and Changshan will have a good relationship, and you’ll be left out. A personal maid will have to be promoted sooner or later. I think you should find someone you get along with to promote, and then you won’t have to worry about the two of them pushing you aside.”

Liangxi’s scattered gaze refocused. She looked at Shiliu, whose face was full of “I’m doing this for your own good,” and scoffed. “You want to become a first-class maid, don’t you?”

Shiliu quickly denied it. “No, no, I’m not worthy.”

Liangxi pursed her lips. She didn’t fall for Shiliu’s provocations, but she did start thinking about other things. It was time for her to make an appearance.

This time, Shiliu didn’t return alone. She helped the hobbling Liangxi back. As soon as they entered the courtyard, they saw Yuxuan and Changshan playfully teasing each other. Liangxi’s eyes flickered, and she said softly, “Yuxuan, why aren’t you serving the mistress?”

Yuxuan was pleasantly surprised. She came over to help Liangxi, and seeing her still needing a crutch, she scolded her. “The mistress told you to rest. Why are you out of bed today?”

“I wanted to see the mistress and Miss Zhu.”

Yuxuan nodded. “I’ll go announce you.”

Changshan, seeing this, said, “I’ll go instead.”

Yuxuan urged her to hurry. Then, looking at Shiliu next to Liangxi, Yuxuan seemed to realize something. She smiled. “Are you two old friends?”

“We’re from the same hometown,” Liangxi said, without mentioning that Shiliu was a distant relative.

Yuxuan looked thoughtfully at the guileless Shiliu. Could Shiliu be using Liangxi’s influence to get away with not working hard? Does Liangxi know about this?

Soon, Changshan came out to greet Liangxi, and the four of them went into the inner room together.

Zhuyun was organizing the storybooks in a chest while Tang Yihuan sat on a soft couch, coughing softly.

Liangxi struggled to perform a bow. Zhuyun had a round stool brought over for her and said with a smile, “Are you feeling better?”

“Thank you for your concern, Miss. My leg is much better,” Liangxi replied.

Zhuyun had learned from Tang Yihuan that Liangxi had worn the sachet from Li Huimei because Liangxi had protected Tang Yihuan from an accident. Seeing that Liangxi particularly liked the scent of the sachet, Tang Yihuan gave it to her. This was how Liangxi ended up wearing the sachet by chance. It seemed that the accident was also related to Li Huimei. Fortunately, the loyal maid had protected Tang Yihuan.

Thinking about how Liangxi had protected Tang Yihuan, Zhuyun was a little more patient with her. After asking a few questions and showing some care, she told Liangxi to go back and rest. As for Shiliu, she didn’t pay her any attention.

Liangxi was so flattered that she wiped away a tear as she left. Zhuyun didn’t know that her small act of kindness had soothed the不安 in Liangxi’s heart, preventing a rivalry from brewing among her maids.

“Cough, cough.”

Zhuyun’s gaze shifted from the maids to Tang Yihuan. She poured a cup of warm fruit tea and held it to Tang Yihuan’s lips. “Moisten your throat.”

Tang Yihuan took a small sip and handed it back to Zhuyun, who asked, puzzled, “Is that little sip enough?”

Tang Yihuan wiped the corners of her mouth with a handkerchief. In truth, she was fine. She had only coughed to get someone’s attention.

She mumbled “Mm,” and Zhuyun placed the teacup on the table, then sat beside Tang Yihuan.

Since they shared a secret, they had grown accustomed to sitting close and whispering all day. Zhuyun touched the corner of Tang Yihuan’s eyebrow, earning a cold glare from Tang Yihuan. Zhuyun said sheepishly, “It’s my own face, can’t I even touch it?”

Tang Yihuan straightened the handkerchief, her fingers tracing the embroidered butterfly on a corner—a delicate and lifelike creation she had made in her free time.

She said unhurriedly, “Don’t stare at the maids. I never do that.”

Zhuyun put her hands on her hips and puffed out her chest. “Your maids are pretty. Can’t I look at them?”

Tang Yihuan turned to look at her, a faint smile on her delicate pink lips. “Stare at them again, and I’ll gouge out your eyes.”

Zhuyun slowly lowered her hands, then began massaging Tang Yihuan’s shoulders in a theatrical way. “But these are your eyes. If I gouge them out, you’ll be ugly.”

Tang Yihuan laughed playfully. “I can’t even decide what to do with my own eyes? I’ll gouge them out if I want to; it’s not like I’m gouging yours. Why did you do that? Aren’t you afraid your maids will notice something strange about you?”

“Alright, alright, you win. I won’t look.”

Zhuyun huffed and puffed, and Tang Yihuan asked with a smile, “What are you doing?”

Zhuyun explained, “I have a reason for looking at them.”

“What reason?”

Zhuyun touched her own face and said sweetly, “I’ve compared myself to all the women around me, and I’ve found that my current face is the most beautiful.”

In reality, she was just glancing at the maids, and she didn’t know why Tang Yihuan was so fierce, threatening to gouge out her eyes. Hmph.

Tang Yihuan covered her mouth and laughed, her earlier coldness completely gone. She glanced at Zhuyun and said softly, “When my father returns, we’ll tell him everything. But for now, the most important thing is for you to get to know all the wives and daughters of the officials. We don’t want you calling Madam Wang ‘Madam Zhang’ with this face.”

Zhuyun chuckled loudly. “That’s a definite possibility.”

Tang Yihuan took out a small portrait she had drawn that afternoon and began introducing them to Zhuyun one by one.

Looking at the beauty under the lamplight, Zhuyun found her even more captivating.

Tang Yihuan’s lips were covered by the handkerchief, but her eyes were gentle, and her voice was slightly hoarse. Zhuyun felt that the soul was truly what mattered. Even with the same face, you could see a completely different kind of charm.

The familiar face could not compare to Tang Yihuan’s every expression and smile.

Zhuyun propped her chin on her hand, her eyes moving from the portrait to Tang Yihuan’s face.

Tang Yihuan’s eyelashes fluttered. “Focus,” she said helplessly.

Zhuyun’s eyes curved with a smile. She then took Tang Yihuan’s hand and led her to the window.

Tang Yihuan tried to pull her hand back, but Zhuyun wouldn’t let go. “Are you not going to learn?” she said.

Zhuyun huffed proudly and pointed to her head. “I’ve already memorized them.”

“Then… what are we going to do?”

Zhuyun turned around, a talisman between her fingers, and poked Tang Yihuan’s cheek. “It’s a dark and windy night, the perfect time to scare someone. Li Huimei has harmed you again and again. I won’t let her get away with it.”

She leaned closer and winked at Tang Yihuan. “I hold a grudge. Are you afraid?”

“No.”

Zhuyun patted her shoulder in satisfaction. “Good girl.”

“You truly are the woman I’ve bathed with. You’re the best!”

Tang Yihuan gave her a kick and then opened the window, ready to jump

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