I Have the Aura of a Supporting Character in Yuri Novels - Chapter 71

“My lady, please listen to your servant just once. Don’t provoke Miss Zhu again. Her cough is worse today, and… she even coughed up blood!”

The maid, Yuxuan, rushed into the inner room, pulling back the pearl curtain to find Zhu Yun. Her words made Zhu Yun so frustrated she wanted to stomp her feet.

She really felt wronged. She hadn’t provoked Tang Yihuan, and the coughing up blood had nothing to do with her. With her body, it was a miracle when she didn’t cough up blood.

Zhu Yun held her forehead, not bothering to explain to Yuxuan. With a blank expression, she walked outside.

Yuxuan, mustering her courage, followed Zhu Yun and said softly, “My lady, Miss Tang said she doesn’t want to see you.”

“Huh?” Zhu Yun felt a headache coming on. She had only gone out to buy some things for less than an hour. How had Tang Yihuan’s temper grown so much in the blink of an eye?

Zhu Yun snorted and said, “She doesn’t want to see me? Then I’ll do the opposite of what she wants!”

Yuxuan’s eyelids twitched. She quickly tried to persuade her, “My lady, she’s frail and a delicate beauty. I serve her every day, and every time I see her cough, my heart aches for her. Such a good girl, but so unlucky to have this illness. Please, don’t argue with her. She’s two years younger than you, so you should spoil her a little.”

Zhu Yun’s red lips curled into a smile, her eyes making her look even more enchanting. She said playfully, “What kind of potion did she give you?”

Yuxuan laughed apologetically, “It’s because you’ve spoiled her, my lady. As a servant, I have to listen to my mistress, of course.”

She hadn’t forgotten Tang Yihuan’s fiery temper from before. Although she didn’t know what had happened between the two, Yuxuan felt that since they were usually so close, an argument now would hurt their feelings. What if Tang Yihuan’s temper exploded and scared Zhu Yun, making the sickly beauty faint from anger? So, Yuxuan decided to be a peacemaker and smooth things over for her mistress first, believing the rest would be simple.

She still thought Tang Yihuan was the same Tang Yihuan, unaware that their souls had long been swapped.

Zhu Yun felt Yuxuan was worrying too much. She shot her a look, pulled back the pearl curtain, and walked into the other room.

“Put your heart back in your stomach. I won’t argue with her.”

As soon as she finished speaking, Zhu Yun stepped into Tang Yihuan’s inner room. She was immediately hit in the face by a handkerchief. The vivid double-sided embroidered butterfly on it made Zhu Yun instantly recognize it as Tang Yihuan’s.

She grabbed the handkerchief and sat down beside Tang Yihuan with a slight smile. She waved a hand at the servants, and Yuxuan, Changshan, and the others wisely retreated.

“What’s wrong with you? Such a big temper. Did you eat firecrackers? Ready to explode at any moment.”

Tang Yihuan snatched the handkerchief back from her, pressing her lips together to stifle her cough. She turned her face away, her pursed cherry lips showing a stubbornness tinged with a faint sense of pitifulness.

Zhu Yun’s gaze was gentle. She tugged on her small braid and said softly, “Even if you want me to die, at least let me die knowing why. I’m completely in the dark about what happened, and you’re just sitting there fuming. Don’t you get tired? Tell me what’s wrong. Keeping your anger inside is bad for your health.”

She always had more patience for Tang Yihuan than for others. Zhu Yun was very biased; she found anything the people she liked did, no matter how outrageous, to be amusing and interesting. As for the people she disliked, no matter if they were doing good deeds, Zhu Yun felt they had ulterior motives.

Tang Yihuan said coldly, “Last night, after we came back from the Li family, we agreed to wait for my father at home. You disappeared first thing in the morning. I asked Yuxuan and found out you had left the house. I waited and waited and finally got you back, but you didn’t want to come see me. Could it be that Zhao Qingshu’s Shih Tzu enchanted you, and you completely forgot about me, a living, breathing person?”

She was still angry. Last night, Zhu Yun’s words “we bathed together” made her blush. Tang Yihuan had never bathed in the same pool with anyone before. It was Zhu Yun who said she was shy and embarrassed to look at Tang Yihuan’s body, so she came up with a bad idea: they would just bathe together, which would make it less awkward.

Zhu Yun, the clever little imp, was the first to get into the water. Her black hair, damp with mist, wrapped around her body like an ink lotus, making her beautiful and pure at the same time. Why this contradictory beauty? It was because of Zhu Yun’s overly pure eyes. The way she looked at Tang Yihuan was free of any impurity, simply a pure appreciation.

Sometimes a deep gaze can make a person feel uneasy, as if they have an ulterior motive.

So Zhu Yun’s clarity was just right; it didn’t make Tang Yihuan feel any malice.

But when Zhu Yun became as pure as snow, Tang Yihuan was not satisfied.

At that time, Tang Yihuan was thinking: “If only Zhu Yun’s eyes showed possessiveness towards me, how wonderful that would be.”

Their souls had been swapped, their bodies had been seen—weren’t their relationship intimate enough?

Why did she not show a single ounce of desire?

Tang Yihuan’s worries were endless. She had just managed to forget about it, and then Zhu Yun brought it up again. If the window hadn’t been so low, she would have wanted to jump out and die last night, rather than be teased to death by Zhu Yun.

That was the old grudge. Today, Zhu Yun went out and ran into Zhao Qingshu again. She wasn’t very familiar with Zhao Qingshu, but the Shih Tzu in his arms completely captured Zhu Yun’s attention, to the point that she even assigned Changshan a task. Zhu Yun planned to make a small outfit for the Shih Tzu. Changshan told Yuxuan about this, and then Tang Yihuan found out. This was the new grudge.

With both old and new grudges, Tang Yihuan couldn’t see Zhu Yun without finding something wrong.

Tang Yihuan’s long tirade of complaints and resentment made her throat itch. She frowned and began to cough. When she felt something strange in her mouth, she saw a bloodstain blossoming on the handkerchief she was holding to her lips.

She squeezed her fingers tightly on her lap, and tears instantly fell.

Coughing up blood again… how much longer can Zhu Yun hold on?

“You can scold me all you want, but why are you crying again? Come on, open your mouth. Take this pill.”

Zhu Yun found the Revival Pill again, looking at Tang Yihuan helplessly and coaxing her to take the medicine.

Sick people are fragile. With someone’s gentle company, it’s easy to become overly sensitive. Knowing that she wouldn’t leave, Tang Yihuan couldn’t escape this change in personality.

Tang Yihuan said stubbornly, “No.”

“Why not? Do you have to cough until you’re breathless before you’ll take it?!” Zhu Yun’s eyes widened, ready to pinch Tang Yihuan’s cheek.

Tang Yihuan snatched the bottle of Revival Pills, her calm eyes suppressing her stubbornness. “This is medicine that you’re even reluctant to take. What right do I have to take it? You’ve suffered for over a decade, and I’ve only been sick for a short time. Taking this medicine now is meaningless; it’s just a waste.”

Zhu Yun’s gentle gaze melted into touching affection. Her bright eyes were more beautiful and dazzling than any jewel Tang Yihuan had ever seen. This made Tang Yihuan turn her head away, no longer looking at the woman with the radiant smile.

“I am reluctant to take it because I’ve gotten used to this body. A cough is just a cough; it won’t kill me. So, I only take this medicine in the most important moments. But I’m asking you to take this Revival Pill now. Don’t you understand what I’m saying?”

“Medicine is a dead thing; we can get more when it’s finished. But you are different. No matter how precious the medicine, I’m willing to let you have it.”

Zhu Yun poked her on the forehead and scolded, “Don’t say you have no right. You’ve occupied my body. Do you still think you have no right?”

Tang Yihuan was stunned by Zhu Yun’s onslaught. After a moment, she smiled and asked, “Am I important to you?”

Zhu Yun explained without hesitation, “The art of soul swapping is a forbidden technique. From the day I first came into contact with the Xuanmen, my master warned me that forbidden techniques should not be used lightly.”

“So, do you think you’re important? For you, I even used a forbidden technique.”

Zhu Yun didn’t regret her choice. If Ouyang Jiannan’s soul had been allowed to take over Tang Yihuan’s body, the outcome would have been too restrictive. Of course, it could have also led to the ending in the original plot. Zhu Yun didn’t want to die; she wanted to avoid the plot’s killing intent. Therefore, compared to a forbidden technique, it seemed less dangerous.

Tang Yihuan forced herself to calm down. Her cold fingertips revealed her panic. She clenched her hands into fists and asked cautiously, “What kind of harm will it cause you?”

Zhu Yun shook her head, shrugging innocently. “Honestly, I don’t know. It’s been two days, and you, me, and the butterfly are all perfectly fine. Maybe we’re lucky and won’t be harmed.”

Tears still glistened in Tang Yihuan’s eyes. Zhu Yun sighed and wiped them away, saying, “What is a noble young lady so upset about? The reason I didn’t come to see you after I returned was because of you. Did you forget what you said to me before bed last night? You fiercely warned me to stop hanging around you. How could I dare disobey? That’s why I left the house early this morning.”

Tang Yihuan’s expression froze. It seemed she had remembered the incident. She blinked, and a teardrop fell onto Zhu Yun’s hand, earning her a scolding of “spoiled.”

Zhu Yun leaned her head on Tang Yihuan’s shoulder, muttering, “Petty, unreasonable, jealous, and fierce. So this is the real Tang Yihuan. I thought you were a stable older sister when I first met you.”

Tang Yihuan bit her lip, unable to retort, because Zhu Yun was telling the truth.

“But you’re still pretty cute. Don’t you think so, Sister Yihuan?”

Zhu Yun’s eyes curved into crescents. The prominent red mole on her face reminded Tang Yihuan of her deep connection with this woman. She smiled gently and responded, “You’re cute too, even cuter than me.”

She’s a charming and lovable girl.

“Xiaoyi, what happened? The butler came to find me personally.”

The Marquis of Zhongyong rushed back to the manor, dusty from his journey. He handed his steed to the butler and went straight to the back courtyard. He carefully looked Zhu Yun over, then wiped the sweat from his brow and sat down.

“Xiaoyi, I’m talking to you. Why aren’t you answering?”

Just then, a graceful figure stepped over the threshold and walked towards the Marquis, calling out affectionately, “Father, I’m here.”

The Marquis of Zhongyong looked at the suddenly appearing Tang Yihuan and nearly fell off his chair. “Zhu girl, what’s wrong with you? I… I’m Tang Yihuan’s father, her biological father! I only have one biological daughter!”

In an instant, many stories flashed through his mind illegitimate daughters, conspiracies, all sorts of things. But then he remembered Zhu Yun was a Xuanmen disciple, and his master’s student. It couldn’t be a trap.

Tang Yihuan and Zhu Yun exchanged smiles. After Zhu Yun closed the door, Tang Yihuan pulled the Marquis over and said, “Father, ten years ago, you took me to a mountain. It was just you and me who went up to see Master Lu. I spent a year there with Master Lu and the four seasons. Before I left, Master Lu even gave me a hairpin. She said I couldn’t come down the mountain for my coming-of-age ceremony, so this was her special gift. Only you and I know about this. Isn’t that enough to prove I’m your daughter?”

The Marquis of Zhongyong was experienced and knew Zhu Yun’s master. After hearing Tang Yihuan’s words, he frowned, his expression solemn. “I’ve only been away for half a month, and such a big thing has happened. Xiaoyi, Zhu girl, quickly tell me what happened, so I can rest my mind.”

Zhu Yun revealed Ouyang Jiannan’s identity and gave the Marquis a concise account of Gui Po Po and Li Huimei’s collusion.

She had been watching the Marquis’s expression the whole time. When she mentioned the name “Gui Po Po,” the Marquis didn’t seem to recognize the person. This surprised Zhu Yun. If he didn’t know Gui Po Po, why did he perform the soul-locking technique as soon as Tang Yihuan met her?

Zhu Yun probed again, saying, “That Gui Po Po held a ghost-face walking stick. Her skin was loose, but her eyes were very sharp. She didn’t look like an old woman at all. I don’t know what her wicked ways are. Uncle, we must not let Gui Po Po and the Prince of Yan get away with this. They definitely want to kill Yihuan.”

The Marquis’s composure began to crack, and a look of sudden realization in his eyes made Zhu Yun’s heart skip a beat. Sure enough! These two know each other!

The Marquis of Zhongyong took a deep breath, and a flash of murderous intent passed through his eyes. He said in a low voice, “The emperor’s health is failing, and the capital is in turmoil, with everyone having their own agendas. Tongzhou is far from the capital, and I thought we would be safe, but I didn’t expect these nobles to come after me after all.”

“Father, you know Gui Po Po.”

Tang Yihuan immediately saw through the Marquis’s attempt to hide things. She disapproved of his behavior, saying, “Father, this matter has already involved Zhu Yun and me. Your stubborn concealment will only put us in more danger. What is it that you’re unwilling to tell us the truth?”

The Marquis of Zhongyong smiled foolishly, scratching his head and looking at Zhu Yun. His tone was a little agitated. “It’s not that I don’t want to tell you; it’s Zhu girl’s master who ordered me to seal my lips. If you really want to know, then please ask Zhu girl to invite her master down the mountain.”

Zhu Yun’s eyes were filled with suspicion, as if she wanted to see through the Marquis’s intentions. She felt something was strange, as if she had missed some important clue.

Tang Yihuan tugged at her sleeve, concerned. “What’s wrong? You look so preoccupied. It makes me worried.”

Zhu Yun shook her head. “It’s nothing.”

She then said, “Then I’ll send a message to my master now and ask her to come down the mountain.”

The Marquis of Zhongyong’s face lit up with a smile. “Good, good! Once your master arrives, I can tell you about that old matter.”

“Father, is this matter really so mysterious?”

The Marquis of Zhongyong glared at his disobedient daughter. “Just listen to your father; you won’t go wrong.”

Tang Yihuan rolled her eyes at him and left, her sleeves swishing. Seeing this, Zhu Yun said, “Uncle, I’ll go and comfort Yihuan. If you need anything, just have someone call for me.”

The Marquis of Zhongyong was sometimes exasperated by his daughter’s temper. He had no idea where she got it from, changing her mood in a flash.

He watched how considerate Zhu Yun was towards Tang Yihuan and liked her more and more. She was indeed the student his master had raised.

He chuckled like a Maitreya Buddha, saying, “Go, go. I hope you can be patient with Xiaoyi’s dog-like temper.”

Zhu Yun laughed. “That’s not a dog-like temper. When I get a little temperamental, I’m even more troublesome than Yihuan.” She bowed and turned to follow Tang Yihuan.

In the corridor, Tang Yihuan stood by an empty window, looking at the strange rock and bamboo in the other empty window, her back looking lonely.

“What are you looking at?”

Tang Yihuan lowered her eyelashes. “Father is only concerned with his own matters. He didn’t even say a single word of thanks to you.”

Zhu Yun giggled, her heart feeling warm.

She also looked at the bamboo. Her fingers, hidden under her wide sleeves, took hold of Tang Yihuan’s. Zhu Yun said softly, “Your father is a rough and careless person. I’ve only met him twice, but I can already tell what kind of person he is. I don’t feel wronged that he didn’t thank me. As long as you remember my kindness, that’s enough.”

Zhu Yun didn’t care about the Marquis’s opinion. He was just an unimportant outsider. Even if he was Tang Yihuan’s father, it wouldn’t make Zhu Yun treat him any differently. In fact, Zhu Yun had once felt a little resentful, thinking the Marquis wasn’t a good father. But nobody’s perfect, so why should she argue with an outsider?

Tang Yihuan smiled and said in a low voice, “Of course I remember your kindness, and I remember that you saved me.”

“Then that’s all that matters. As long as you remember. Don’t forget, I’m your savior!”

When Tang Yihuan heard “savior,” she suddenly remembered a thought she’d had before. Her eyes flickered, and she smiled as she pursed her lips.

“Come on, come on. I’ll show you how I write a letter to my master.”

With a handful of millet and a vocal imitation of a bird, Zhu Yun called a sparrow to the branch. Tang Yihuan rested her chin on her hands, staring at Zhu Yun as she communicated with the sparrow, her eyes only seeing her. Even the little sparrow couldn’t fit into her view.

Zhu Yun gestured wildly, and finally persuaded the dazed little sparrow to be a courier bird. It took the letter in its beak and flew out of the window, quickly disappearing from sight.

“Will that work?”

Zhu Yun took a sip of tea and said in disgust, “Why wouldn’t it? Don’t you dare say I can’t do it!”

Tang Yihuan changed her wording. “Can the letter be delivered?”

Zhu Yun explained, “I already told it that if it gets tired of flying, it should pass the letter to the next bird. As long as the letter gets to my master, I’ll feed all these hardworking birds for a month.”

Tang Yihuan couldn’t help but laugh, her heart filled with joy. She rested her face on her arm, shaking with laughter.

“What’s so funny?”

Tang Yihuan rested her left cheek on her arm, looking at the defiant Zhu Yun, and said, “I feel so happy since I met you. Every day is a happy one.”

Life was no longer a boring routine in the back courtyard, and she no longer had to worry about how to be more stunning than others the next day. She was living an unusual, carefree life.

Zhu Yun put her hands on her hips proudly, her chin held high, and said, “Once we’ve solved the problem with Ouyang Jiannan, I’ll take you to the mountains to play. I can let the white tiger be your mount so you can see the beautiful scenery deep in the forest. How’s that? Aren’t you excited?”

Tang Yihuan stared at the proud Zhu Yun, a subtle shift happening in her heart. It was like a cough or a sneeze, something in the world that you just couldn’t hold back.

Bird, oh bird, fly fast. I hope Zhu Yun’s master can receive that letter soon. Once she comes down the mountain, we can find out about the grudge between Gui Po Po and father. And with her master here, Zhu Yun will have even greater help against Gui Po Po and the others.

Tang Yihuan would not help Ouyang Jiannan escape his fate. She hoped he would die a little faster.

Several forces were racing against time and speed. As Ouyang Jiannan rode on the official road, about to arrive in Tongzhou, the sparrow’s letter was also delivered to Master Lu.

In her private room, Gui Po Po burned the letter in her hand. Her eyebrows were sinister, and the smile on her lips grew wider, making the skin on her face look distorted. Gui Po Po said in a hoarse voice, “Tang, this time I’ll make sure you all die without a burial place!”

“I’ll finally get my revenge for the past.”

“Ouyang Jiannan’s dragon energy can help me hide. With the world so big, who can catch me?”

Just then, the door was kicked open. The arrogant Pei Ruxin walked in, saying excitedly, “The master is about to arrive in Tongzhou! Gui Po Po, the master’s great plan cannot have a single flaw, do you understand?”

“You’re a nuisance. This old woman’s abilities don’t need you to worry about them!”

At the same time, the study in the Marquis of Zhongyong’s manor was also knocked on. Tang Yihuan, avoiding the servants, made her way there stealthily. After all, her current identity was “Zhu Yun.” If she were to enter the study inexplicably, it would arouse suspicion. It was better to sneak in to see the Marquis.

“Father!”

The Marquis of Zhongyong’s hand, holding the brush, trembled, and a large drop of ink fell onto the paper.

He put down the brush helplessly and asked, “What is it, you frantic girl?”

“Father, did Zhu Yun’s master save your life back then?”

The Marquis of Zhongyong wasn’t quite used to seeing his daughter’s face on Zhu Yun yet. He lowered his head and pretended to grind the ink. “Yes, if it weren’t for Zhu Yun’s master, I would have died long ago.”

Tang Yihuan twisted her handkerchief, a blush appearing on her face as she asked shyly, “Then how did you repay your savior?”

The Marquis of Zhongyong stopped grinding the ink, his face expressionless.

How did I repay her? By giving myself to her.

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