I Have the Aura of a Supporting Character in Yuri Novels - Chapter 96

The girl’s powerful words made Tang Guo blink in a panic. Looking at Zhu Yun’s sincere expression, Tang Guo suddenly felt that what she said was very reasonable. She was subtly convinced, as if she, the bride brought in for a happy marriage ritual, was an extremely important person.

Tang Guo licked her lips nervously, her gaze bright and clear as she looked at Zhu Yun. Is she protecting me? Will her standing up for me get her into trouble?

Tang Guo’s heart was in her throat. She couldn’t bear for Zhu Yun to be blamed by her parents. They were both the most overlooked ones in their families. Zhu Yun shouldn’t be dragged into her mess.

She had just sat down but wanted to stand up again. Zhu Yun had finished the tea that was meant to be served to the elders, and Tang Guo was afraid that Fang Shi would use this to target Zhu Yun, so she felt she had to serve it again.

However, Zhu Yun didn’t give her a chance to get up. She patted Tang Guo’s hand, her gentle, smiling almond-shaped eyes holding a trustworthy resolve.

Tang Guo glanced at her deep, beautiful eyes, then quickly lowered her trembling eyelashes. Tang Guo didn’t dare to hold her gaze for long. Zhu Yun’s eyes held a vibrant life that Tang Guo had never experienced, which made her feel ashamed, because she lacked Zhu Yun’s courage to fight back.

Zhu Fengchang slammed the table in displeasure. He rarely got angry, not because he was a gentle and magnanimous person, but because in his eyes, the women in the back courtyard were merely delicate, pretty vases fragile and easily broken, only suitable for display. With his immense wealth, why would Zhu Fengchang waste his energy on vases meant for admiration? Fang Shi was brought in to manage the back courtyard, and his daughter Zhu Yun was just waiting to be married off to a good family. The only one he truly cared about was his lifeline, Zhu Tianci.

So, Zhu Yun’s words were a challenge to his authority. He blamed Zhu Yun for belittling his son, Zhu Tianci, and Zhu Fengchang naturally wouldn’t let her continue speaking.

He sternly rebuked her, “Zhu Yun, get on your knees. Today you dare to criticize your parents and disrespect your brother. Tomorrow you’ll be killing and setting fires! Fang Shi, is this the good daughter you’ve raised? With such a vicious heart, how can I possibly marry her off? Does my Zhu family not care about its reputation anymore?”

Tang Guo’s face turned pale instantly. Should she say Zhu Fengchang was cold and heartless, or that he simply didn’t see Zhu Yun as his daughter? Tang Guo had never expected Zhu Fengchang to say such a thing. She was full of anxiety, regretting that she had no ability to turn the situation around, otherwise, Zhu Yun wouldn’t have been subjected to such criticism.

Fang Shi gave an awkward laugh, a hint of resentment in her eyebrows. She had wanted Tang Guo to witness her authority as a mother-in-law, but Zhu Fengchang’s attitude had shattered the facade she had put up. All of this was Zhu Yun’s fault. If not for her nonsensical words, this whole reprimand wouldn’t have happened.

Fang Shi said with a conciliatory smile, “My lord, Xiao Zhu must be upset. I had her kneel in the ancestral hall all night yesterday, so this spoiled girl is being stubborn and said some unpleasant things. My lord, please don’t take it to heart. She is your daughter, too.”

Fang Shi was acting like a lowly servant, afraid to miss any expression on Zhu Fengchang’s face. To soothe his anger, she had to adopt this humble posture.

Seeing this, Zhu Tianci stepped in to mediate. He gave Zhu Yun a meaningful look, remembering every word she had just said. He hated it when people talked about his health; it made him feel like he was a dying man with not many days left.

Zhu Tianci said in a hoarse voice, “Father, Mother, my sister is only looking out for me. She’s right. For someone as useless as me, it’s my good fortune that a girl is willing to marry me. Father, don’t be angry. My sister is beautiful and well-behaved, how could she not get married? But speaking of which, now that I’m married, shouldn’t we start looking for a match for my sister? There aren’t many suitable young men in Luzhou. How about considering Xiangzhou to the north? I hear it’s a place of outstanding people and a perfect match can surely be found for my sister there.”

He smiled, as if he was genuinely thinking of Zhu Yun. However, Xiangzhou was not as prosperous as Luzhou. It was near the border, where wars were frequent, and the climate was harsh. This wasn’t sending Zhu Yun to a happy life; it was a clear attempt to kill her.

Even though Tang Guo was a sheltered girl who rarely left the house, she knew about Xiangzhou. This brought a faint, mocking curve to her lips. What a heartless and ungrateful “brother.”

All three of them had, without a word, turned their attention to Zhu Yun. The fault was hers, and the punishment was what she deserved.

Zhu Yun, who had been standing there watching the three of them with a smile, suddenly laughed out loud. She clapped her hands, her expression calm and composed, and said, “Good, good, good. I’m not filial, I can’t get married, and I deserve to be scolded by you, is that right?”

At this moment, Zhu Yun dropped the act of being weak. Her limping leg returned to normal. She had originally intended to use the matter of kneeling in the ancestral hall last night to torment them, but she had changed her mind. Every word the three of them said was touching a nerve with Zhu Yun. There was no need for her to find an excuse to make a scene; any one of their comments was enough to give them a hard time.

Zhu Yun smiled faintly and said, “Everyone serving, please leave.”

Fang Shi asked with a dark expression, “Xiao Zhu, what are you up to now?”

With her hands behind her back, Zhu Yun raised her face and said sweetly, “Your daughter knows her mistake and wants to apologize to Father, Mother, and Brother. But there are too many servants around, and I… I feel a bit reserved.”

Fang Shi didn’t suspect a thing. She turned to Zhu Fengchang and said, “Look, Tianci’s words are effective after all. You and I can’t even keep this daughter in line anymore.”

Zhu Fengchang stroked his long beard. “To know one’s mistake and correct it is the greatest good. Tianci, you are always too soft-hearted. You mustn’t act this way with outsiders.”

Fang Shi felt that the face Zhu Yun had ruined for her was now restored by Zhu Tianci. No matter how weak Zhu Tianci’s body was, as long as he was the only male heir of the Zhu family, her position would never be shaken. A look of secret delight appeared on her face. She waved to the maid next to her and said, “You may leave.”

“Mother, please have them all move further away,” she said with a bashful expression. Fang Shi instantly understood what Zhu Yun meant—she was just afraid the servants would overhear her apology and she would lose face. Fang Shi gave Zhu Yun an impatient glare and said, “Do as the young lady says.”

“Yes, we obey.”

The maids withdrew in an orderly fashion. The smile on Zhu Yun’s face remained. Her eyes soothed the tense expression on Tang Guo’s face. Zhu Yun walked over to Zhu Tianci first, bending down to meet the hypocritical Zhu Tianci’s gaze. She smiled lightly and said gently, “Brother, I have a good thing to give you. You’ve read the Four Books and Five Classics, so you must have heard the saying, ‘Hitting a bull from across the mountain.’ So, you must accept this gift from me.”

She pulled a talisman from her pouch. Facing Zhu Tianci’s confused gaze, she explained with good cheer, “This is a good luck charm I specially prepared for you. It will bless you with a long life. All you have to do is place it on your forehead, and it will protect you from all illnesses. Don’t you believe me? Why don’t you try it? Are you scared?”

The more useless a person is, the easier they are to provoke. Zhu Tianci was suspicious and didn’t believe a word Zhu Yun said, but when he heard her mockery, he twisted his lips and did exactly as she said. He would not allow Zhu Yun to look down on him again, especially with Tang Guo present. He had to show his manliness.

Zhu Yun’s eyes curved with pleasure. Seeing Zhu Tianci being so obedient made her happier than anything.

She said, “That’s right, just like that.”

“Xiao Zhu, is this good luck charm really effective?”

Fang Shi’s heart was in her throat. If it could really cure Zhu Tianci’s illness, she would die in peace.

Zhu Yun’s eyes flickered. One Zhu Tianci was enough to capture all their attention. So, these parents who considered him the apple of their eye would surely be willing to suffer for him, wouldn’t they?

She twisted her wrist, ignoring Fang Shi, and breathed on her clenched fist. Zhu Yun’s punch was so fast that Zhu Tianci had no chance to escape. Zhu Tianci stared at the fist in his abdomen and said, dumbfounded, “You…you dare to hit me?”

“I hit you because I hit you. Do I need to choose an auspicious day to do it?!”

“Zhu Tianci, I’ve wanted to beat you up for a long time!”

Zhu Yun didn’t forget to punch him as she spoke, blow after blow, keeping Zhu Tianci firmly trapped in the chair, unable to move. But Zhu Tianci felt something extremely strange: why didn’t it hurt? His confusion was quickly answered when he heard Zhu Fengchang and Fang Shi cry out in pain, clutching their stomachs.

Zhu Yun said with a smile that wasn’t a smile, “It seems this talisman works quite well.”

“Zhu Yun! Stop it now!” Zhu Tianci looked as if he had seen a monster. He wished he could get away, but the narrow chair seemed to have invisible hands holding him in place. His face was deathly pale, and the scene before him filled him with terror.

Zhu Yun narrowed her almond eyes and decisively gave Zhu Tianci a slap. But there was no redness or mark on his cheek. All the pain was transferred to Zhu Fengchang and Fang Shi.

“Ouch, my face!” Fang Shi cried out in pain. It felt as if her internal organs were being violently twisted, and the stinging on her face made her scream and jump to her feet.

Zhu Yun seized the moment, slapping Zhu Tianci’s cheeks left and right, looking proud and arrogant. “You’re a sick weakling who can barely breathe, and I don’t want you to die just yet, so I had to resort to this. Since Father and Mother love you so much, it’s no big deal for them to take a little pain for you, right? I spent a long time coming up with this brilliant idea of killing two birds with one stone. In fact, I should thank Mother. Thanks to her making me kneel in the ancestral hall last night, I thought to myself how nice it would be if someone else could endure the numbness and pain in my legs.”

Zhu Yun couldn’t get used to sleeping on the rush mat last night and found it hard to fall asleep in the middle of the night. So, she passed the time by browsing the system store. After half an hour of refreshing, she found a lot of good stuff, but her account balance was low, so she could only choose to buy a few things. After a bout of impulsive shopping, Zhu Yun held her head in regret. In her pain and guilt, she finally managed to fall asleep.

Zhu Fengchang gritted his teeth and said, “You wicked creature! Stop it!”

Zhu Yun grabbed Zhu Tianci’s collar and studied his gaunt, ugly face. Zhu Yun sneered, “Good brother, do you still dare to marry me off to Xiangzhou?”

Zhu Tianci was already scared out of his wits. He said fearfully, “Xiao Zhu, I won’t do it again. I wouldn’t dare even if you killed me!”

Zhu Yun deliberately ignored the voices of her father and Zhu Tianci. The slaps that needed to be given were still given. Zhu Yun’s expression was fierce as she gave another slap. She said, “Now, listen carefully to what I’m about to say. Remember every word. From now on, if I suffer even a tiny bit of injustice, you won’t have an easy time either. Even if I die, I’ll take you down with me!”

Zhu Yun let out her pent-up anger, punching Zhu Tianci in the stomach. Zhu Fengchang was already on the ground, retching sour liquid, which nearly took half of his life. His condition was grim, and so was Fang Shi’s.

Zhu Tianci pleaded desperately, “Xiao Zhu, I truly know I was wrong. From now on, I’ll treat you well and never have other thoughts. I will talk to Father and Mother, too. We are twins from the same mother. Why must we turn this into hatred? We’re siblings!”

Hearing this, she raised an eyebrow, and her teasing gaze swept over Fang Shi’s contorted face. She said meaningfully, “Siblings? I’m not so sure.”

These words seemed to choke Fang Shi, making her scream. She said, “Xiao Zhu! Tianci is your biological brother! We are all family!”

“Family? I’ve done this, and you still call me family? Who are you trying to fool? Anyway, we’ll keep our distance. If you dare to provoke me again, just wait to collect Zhu Tianci’s body.”

Zhu Tianci’s mind went into chaos. Zhu Yun was absolutely not lying. Zhu Tianci had learned his lesson. Although he didn’t know where Zhu Yun had learned her strange tricks, the Zhu Yun of today was no longer the easygoing Zhu Yun of the past. If Zhu Tianci wanted to live, he had to obey Zhu Yun’s commands.

He cried out, “Father, Mother, please agree to her!”

Zhu Fengchang was sweating profusely, his face grim as if he wanted to stare a hole through Zhu Yun. He firmly believed that Zhu Yun must have been possessed by an evil spirit!

Fang Shi slumped in the chair, her eyes filled with pain when she looked at Zhu Tianci. She didn’t dare to show any resentment towards Zhu Yun, fearing that Zhu Yun would really take her son’s life. So, Fang Shi was the first to surrender. She said mournfully, “Xiao Zhu, stop this now. We are your parents. Are you really going to kill us? Fine, let your brother go. I promise you, from now on, I will not interfere in your affairs.”

Fang Shi had a rare moment of giving in to Zhu Yun, and her tone became a little more gentle. But Zhu Yun was unmoved. She smoothed the collar she had just crumpled, and while fixing Zhu Tianci’s clothes, she said with a smile, “You must be a good boy. My talisman will be watching you.”

Zhu Tianci became a pile of mud. When he saw Zhu Yun leave his side, he finally regained his strength and scrambled away from her. Zhu Tianci was shielded by Fang Shi. The wary and disgusted look in his eyes instantly ignited Zhu Yun’s temper. Her eyes were bright and her smile was faint. “Why are you looking at me like that? Do you want to be hit again?”

Zhu Tianci quickly hid himself, trembling and completely lacking courage.

Fang Shi took a deep breath and forced a difficult smile. “Xiao Zhu, go back to your room and rest.”

Zhu Yun sat down gracefully. She picked up the now-cold tea and said, “That’s not good. Although Father and Mother forgot to call me to see my sister-in-law, I’m not an ill-mannered person. Today is sister-in-law’s tea-serving day, and it seems Father and Mother have forgotten something. Shall I help you remember?”

Fang Shi’s face twitched. She no longer dared to put on a show of authority to intimidate Tang Guo. At this moment, she only wanted to get rid of this evil star, Zhu Yun!

She took off a large emerald bangle from her wrist. This was Fang Shi’s ancestral dowry. She usually cherished this set of jewelry. Now, giving the bangle to Tang Guo was a gesture of goodwill.

With the farce that had just unfolded, the elders had completely lost face and dignity. Fang Shi now only hoped that Tang Guo was tight-lipped and wouldn’t tell her family about this disgrace. So, this jade bangle was more like a bribe to keep her quiet.

Tang Guo was clearly still in a daze and seemed not to notice the valuable item being offered.

Zhu Yun sighed, personally snatched the bangle from Fang Shi’s hand, took Tang Guo’s hand, and put it on her slender wrist. She admired the dark green accent on the fair skin and said with a laugh, “My mother is being generous for once. I wanted this bangle before, but she wouldn’t give it to me, saying she was saving it for Zhu Tianci. I think it looks much better on you, sister-in-law.”

Zhu Yun blinked, and seeing Tang Guo’s stunned expression, she playfully poked her cheek and teased, “Snap out of it, did I scare you?”

Tang Guo quickly shook her head, her voice as faint as a mosquito. “Of course not.”

“Then what were you thinking just now?”

Tang Guo turned the jade bangle on her wrist with her finger. The next moment, she looked up at Zhu Yun with shining eyes.

She must have met a celestial being! That’s why she could use a simple yellow talisman to subdue those demons and ghosts. She was so powerful, and Tang Guo was truly envious.

“Why are you looking at me? I feel like you’re a little puppy and I’m the bone.” Zhu Yun muttered. She pulled Tang Guo over to the grim-faced Zhu Fengchang. As soon as he saw Zhu Yun approaching, Zhu Fengchang’s jaw tightened, looking both wary and frightened.

Zhu Yun spread her hand, taking the initiative to demand a gift for Tang Guo. Fang Shi’s eyelids twitched. What a sin. This was the first time she had seen such an unfilial daughter who was so willing to side with an outsider. If she had known she would turn out this way, she would have had Fang’s wet nurse send Zhu Yun away back then!

Fang Shi’s heart was bleeding. One moment of kindness had brought her endless trouble. A person should never be too soft-hearted!

Zhu Fengchang suppressed the rage in his chest and roared, “I, Zhu Fengchang, am not a person who mistreats my daughter-in-law. Zhu Yun, stand down.”

Zhu Yun saw through his pretense at a glance and said disdainfully, “Why are you acting rich? You don’t have anything on you! I’m telling you, Father, you’re a royal merchant, you shouldn’t be so stingy. Don’t always think of saving all the good things for Zhu Tianci. You also have to consider if he has the life to enjoy them. How about this, you give the deed to the tavern on the west side of the city to my sister-in-law. You don’t mind, do you, Father?”

Zhu Fengchang’s eyes were practically red with anger. The tavern on the west side of the city was the largest one in Luzhou. How could he just give it to Tang Guo?

Tang Guo naturally didn’t dare to accept. She gave a shy, gentle smile and said, “Father, this tavern is an ancestral property of the Zhu family. How can I possibly accept it? It’s better to give it to little sister Zhu.”

Zhu Yun frowned and poked her again, whispering, “I’m a year older than you.”

Tang Guo’s eyes held a different kind of light. She lowered her gaze and smiled faintly. “You are my husband’s younger sister, and you’re a year older than me. It’s not appropriate to call you ‘little sister Zhu.'”

Zhu Yun wasn’t one to suffer a loss. Having just been called “little sister” by Tang Guo, she deepened the curve of her lips and said with a smile, “Little sister Guo Guo.”

Tang Guo couldn’t help but laugh lightly and tease, “I am your sister-in-law.”

“It doesn’t matter, we’ll just have our own terms.”

Actually, not calling her “sister-in-law” was pretty good. After all, Zhu Tianci didn’t deserve Tang Guo.

However, Zhu Yun was surprised by Tang Guo’s refusal just now. She had a thought, and it was the perfect opportunity. Zhu Yun said with a sweet smile, “Then thank you, Father!”

As long as the benefits were great, Zhu Yun’s smile would also become sweeter.

Zhu Fengchang clutched his chest. With this comparison, he suddenly thought that giving it to his daughter was a decent choice. He could just take it back after she got married.

Zhu Fengchang painfully closed his eyes, no longer wanting to look at the detestable Zhu Yun.

“Father, Mother, Brother, Guo Guo and I won’t disturb you anymore.”

At this moment, Zhu Yun was quite respectful. She bowed, then turned and left without a hint of reluctance.

Zhu Tianci peered out, watching Tang Guo, who was now walking faster to keep up with Zhu Yun. Her beautiful face was etched in Zhu Tianci’s mind. With her outstanding looks and being his newly wedded wife, Zhu Tianci couldn’t help but be a little concerned about her.

“Mother, why do I feel like Tang Shi isn’t my wife, but Zhu Yun’s!” Zhu Tianci had suffered too much injustice today. The saying goes that a man does not easily shed tears, but Zhu Tianci really couldn’t hold them back now.

Zhu Yun’s ears twitched. She asked in a low voice, “Guo Guo, did you hear someone crying?”

Tang Guo shook her head blankly. “I don’t think so.”

Zhu Yun said in a tone of distaste, “You definitely didn’t hear it.”

Tang Guo pursed her lips obediently. “Okay, I didn’t hear it.”

Suddenly, Zhu Yun stopped. She looked at Tang Guo with a serious expression and said earnestly, “Guo Guo, people who are too well-behaved get bullied.”

Tang Guo let out a chuckle, her eyes crescent-shaped and captivating.

She said, “Will you bully me?”

Zhu Yun immediately put her hands on her hips, lifted her chin, and said, “It’s not out of the question.”

Tang Guo’s eyes lit up when she heard this. She put her hands together under her chin and said with a look of anticipation, “Let’s make a deal. Before you bully me, can you help me bully my sisters first?”

Zhu Yun’s expression changed from surprise to a look of sudden realization.

Well, well, well. Turns out this one is also a “white-cut-black.”

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