I Have the Aura of a Supporting Character in Yuri Novels - Chapter 98

On a beautiful sunny day, Zhu Yun felt a chill. She truly admired Tang Feiqian’s composure. Just a few days after a big fire, she looked as if nothing had happened, as if the woman Qin Xuyu carried out wasn’t her.

Zhu Yun leisurely observed the maid next to her, once again confirming she hadn’t mistaken the person this was the same maid she had seen that day.

Zhu Yun’s faint smile became playful, and her nonchalant expression made her appear even more dignified and aloof. This caused Tang Feiqian, who was about to tease her, to awkwardly look away and hide her intended words by drinking tea.

Tang Feiqian was a smooth and sociable person. She had a keen eye for people and a flexible, adaptable nature, which helped her avoid many dangers and left a good impression on some high-ranking noblewomen. Overall, knowing someone like Tang Feiqian was a pleasant experience.

This made Tang Feiqian very different from Tang Xinshui. Her ability to read people’s expressions naturally made her stand out. So, as Zhu Yun listened to Tang Feiqian’s compliments about Tang Guo, if she hadn’t already known the sisters were at odds, Zhu Yun might have actually believed Tang Feiqian was a good, loving older sister.

Zhu Yun didn’t want to waste her breath. She turned her face and coughed, tactfully declining Tang Feiqian’s attempt to engage her in conversation. However, Zhu Yun underestimated Tang Feiqian’s brazenness. Tang Feiqian said, “It’s truly a shame for my brother-in-law to have to talk with us women for so long. Brother-in-law, don’t worry, your brother-in-law will be here soon. What’s happening at the yamen is not as important as today’s matter with my second sister and you.”

Zhu Yun had no interest in talking with the older brother-in-law, surnamed Gao. This Gao Yiqiu was the county magistrate, responsible for public security. He was usually busiest during festivals and year-end. Now, it was neither a festival nor year-end, so what could be so urgent at the yamen? It was probably the same excuse as Tang Cihai they weren’t showing up, and that was all the excuse they needed.

They looked down on the half-dead Zhu Yun, and Zhu Yun didn’t care for them either. Now that they couldn’t see each other, Zhu Yun was quite happy about it.

She said with a smile, “That’s not necessary. If I may be shameless, since Guo Guo and I are newlyweds, I’d rather spend more time with her.”

Tang Feiqian’s teasing gaze darted back and forth between Zhu Yun and Tang Guo. She hadn’t expected her second sister to have such a knack for it; she had just married and already captivated her husband’s heart. It seemed she was quite a lucky person.

However, as Tang Feiqian listened to how Zhu Yun addressed Tang Guo, she felt a little sour. She recalled her own early days with Gao Yiqiu, which were also very sweet, but the conservative Gao Yiqiu would never have been so affectionate in front of her family. Tang Feiqian had originally been the best-married daughter, and her willingness to come today was partly for the purpose of showing off. However, before she could, Zhu Yun’s words hit her squarely on the nose, making her so bitter she couldn’t help but give Tang Guo a slight glare.

Tang Guo’s face turned red with embarrassment. She tugged at Zhu Yun’s sleeve, wanting her to be quiet and stop saying things that made her blush.

But Zhu Yun said with a smile, “Is Guo Guo shy? Why are you pulling me? Didn’t my mother-in-law say it herself we are family, and family doesn’t hold back. My love and affection for you are what reassure my mother-in-law to entrust you to me.”

One could see why Zhu Yun was so good with words. This kind of sweet talk, though a bit unconventional, was what women loved to hear. As soon as Zhu Yun said this, the two other sisters looked at Tang Guo with envy. Tang Feiqian, being of a candid nature, covered her mouth and laughed, while the younger Tang Xin hui pouted, bewildered. She had previously thought that Tang Guo was terribly unlucky to marry a sickly man, but now it seemed this sickly man was of some use after all.

Tang Guo knew her cheeks must be a fiery red. The burning sensation made her wish for a basin of cold water to splash on her face. She was used to sarcasm and had believed her heart had become as hard as iron, unbreakable. But when she heard Zhu Yun’s sweet words, Tang Guo realized her training was far from complete; at the very least, she would never be able to cultivate the path of heartlessness.

A hint of shyness appeared in Tang Guo’s eyes and brows. She bit her lip as if trying to restrain an inner impulse.

Zhu Yun chuckled softly and then took the initiative to apologize to Tang Guo. She said, “Alright, alright, I won’t say any more, and I won’t tease you anymore. If I keep going, your face will get so red it could turn into firecrackers, and I don’t want to be blown to smithereens.”

Wang Shi finally couldn’t hold back her laughter. She pointed at Zhu Yun and said, “You rascal, look what you’ve done to Guo’er.”

In that moment, Wang Shi forgot about the troublemaking Concubine Bai in the back courtyard. Her eyes were only on this loving, newlywed couple.

She let out a slow sigh, and the guilt she felt toward Tang Guo lessened a little.

Tang Feiqian and her younger sister, Tang Xinshui, exchanged glances. They both came to the same conclusion: Tang Guo had indeed found a good match.

Tang Feiqian twisted the handkerchief wrapped around her finger. Her gaze towards Zhu Yun held a touch of resentment. She truly was afraid of men’s words; they could flatter you to death without consequence. This kind of sweet talk reminded her of that person—the noble but uninhibited Qin Xuyu.

“Sigh, I don’t know who that villain was that night. Not only did he almost ruin me, but now Qin Lang has been beaten. The whole city of  is filled with rumors, and it’s hard to ignore the gossip. Fortunately, no one noticed me that night. Thanks to Xi Que and Qin Lang for protecting me.”

She was also a woman who abided by the three obediences and four virtues. However, Gao Yiqiu had gradually become infatuated with his concubine in the back courtyard, neglecting Tang Feiqian for a long time. This gave Qin Xuyu, who had fallen in love with her at first sight, an opportunity.

Once someone helped her cast off the shackles on her shoulders, Tang Feiqian, feeling light and free, realized why men liked to linger in the beds of various beauties. And she, too, began to live a life like a man’s choosing Gao Yiqiu one night and then Qin Xuyu the next, a life of pure joy.

“Jiao Jiao? Your mother is talking to you.”

Zhu Yun raised an eyebrow. “Jiao Jiao” was Tang Feiqian’s nickname. She had thought it was a pet name given to her by Qin Xuyu.

Tang Feiqian came back to her senses. Her eyes darted away, not daring to look at Wang Shi. She said with a smile, “I was just worrying about my husband. It’s been so long, why hasn’t he arrived yet? I wonder if something happened at the yamen.”

Her words successfully diverted Wang Shi’s scrutiny. Wang Shi sent a young maid to watch the gate and then had someone go to invite Tang Cihai. She was now very satisfied with this “second son-in-law,” Zhu Yun, and thought, “Let’s see who dares to say I pushed my own daughter into a fire pit.”

“Guo’er, while your father and brother-in-law haven’t arrived yet, why don’t you take Tianci for a stroll in the garden?”

This was clearly a move to send them away. Zhu Yun was more than happy to leave. She immediately cast bright, sparkling eyes at Tang Guo, as if she were a spoiled child, which made Tang Guo purse her lips and smile gently.

“Alright, I’ll do as mother says.”

“Then I must take my leave for now.”

Zhu Yun bowed, her posture graceful. She didn’t have the refined air of a scholar, but rather resembled a wandering swordsman. However, her weak cough brought people back to reality—there was no swordsman, only a pitiful person suffering from a chronic illness.

Tang Xinshui watched their two figures until she could no longer see them.

Tang Xinshui stamped her foot petulantly and complained, “Mother, you never told me that Zhu Tianci was so handsome! And… and he’s so gentle to women. No wonder you married second sister to him.”

This truly wronged Wang Shi. From the moment the two families met, Wang Shi had never seen the precious Zhu Tianci from the Zhu family. Fang Shi was afraid that a gust of autumn wind would worsen Zhu Tianci’s condition and also feared that if Wang Shi saw him, she would decisively break off the engagement. At that point, not to mention a perfumery in the capital, even giving her more shops wouldn’t change her mind about breaking the engagement.

Wang Shi had long heard rumors that Zhu Tianci was chronically ill and didn’t have long to live. The reason she didn’t suggest meeting him was also out of fear that she would waver. She simply took an “out of sight, out of mind” approach. As long as it was a match arranged by parents and a matchmaker, since she had chosen Zhu Tianci, Tang Guo had to marry him.

Wang Shi smiled helplessly, stroking Tang Xinshui’s smooth cheek. She said, “Your second sister is just lucky; it has nothing to do with me. But now that I see Guo’er married to a Zhu Tianci like this, I feel much better.”

Tang Feiqian blew on her neatly manicured nails and said haughtily, “Little sister, you must not envy your second sister. Let me, your elder sister, give you some heartfelt advice: when it comes to men, you should look for someone in a high position. Things like being caring or treating you well are not important. As long as you are high enough, you can get anything you want. What’s so good about that Zhu Tianci? He comes from a merchant family and is a sickly man who won’t live long. Don’t let the fleeting benefits right in front of you blind you.”

Wang Shi laughed and lightly hit her, scolding, “How can you teach your sister this way? Be careful, you’ll lead her astray.”

Although she was scolding, her tone was affectionate, showing she wasn’t angry.

Her eldest and youngest daughters were both the apples of her eye. Only her second daughter, Tang Guo, was someone she could never get close to. She had hoped and hoped for a son, only to be disappointed in the end. Even after all these years, Wang Shi still couldn’t get over it, which was why Tang Guo had never been her favorite.

“But you must also keep an eye on your little sister’s marriage.”

“Mother, why don’t you consider the cousin from our uncle’s family in the capital?”

Wang Shi frowned and said with a cold laugh, “Your aunt is not easy to get along with. If I really let your little sister marry into that family, that would be true suffering.”

“Mother, I don’t want to marry my cousin. He’s not as handsome as Zhu Tianci.”

Tang Feiqian couldn’t help but tease, “How about praising your eldest brother-in-law?”

Tang Xinshui’s eyes shifted, and she spoke without thinking, “Eldest brother-in-law is tall and imposing, which makes me feel a little scared. Zhu Tianci, although frail, has a very handsome face.”

This time, Wang Shi hit her harder and said in a low voice, “You have no manners. Fortunately, your father isn’t here. If he heard you talking about other men, your palm would be in for it.”

“Hehe, I wouldn’t say these things in front of father.”

Tang Feiqian snorted in displeasure. No matter how she felt about Gao Yiqiu, hearing her little sister’s words made her uncomfortable. After all, he was her husband.

“Oh, elder sister, are you still mad at me? I’ll give you my favorite hairpin.”

Tang Feiqian sniffed dismissively and laughed, “The hairpins you like are all ugly. I’m afraid I can’t accept them.”

The sisters bickered and played, creating a harmonious and warm atmosphere. In the garden, Tang Guo had already guessed this scene, having witnessed it countless times over the past decade.

The autumn wind blew gently, and the hibiscus flowers swayed.

Zhu Yun saw her lost in thought and, seeing no one else around, took off her cloak and draped it over Tang Guo’s shoulders. She said softly, “How does it feel to be back home again?”

“Like a cage.”

Tang Guo sighed softly, lowered her eyes, and held Zhu Yun’s fingertips. Feeling the slight warmth, she said with relief, “Your body is better than mine.”

Zhu Yun lowered her voice and laughed, “Have you ever seen an evil spirit that’s afraid of the cold?”

Tang Guo’s eyes, full of tenderness, moved, and she looked directly at Zhu Yun, asking, “Why do you say you’re an evil spirit?”

“My parents probably see me as one.” She knew what kind of existence her methods were in the eyes of the world. Their frightened gazes had already given Zhu Yun the answer. She was very satisfied with their fear, but at the same time, she felt a strange nervousness. She couldn’t seem to be so nonchalant in front of Tang Guo; she cared about what Tang Guo thought.

Tang Guo smoothed the strands of hair that the wind had blown onto her face. She said with a calm and natural air, “I don’t care if you’re an evil spirit. As long as you are good to me, that’s enough.”

Her gaze was clear, and her words were peaceful. Her words brought a smile to Zhu Yun’s lips, making her chuckle. Suddenly, she put on a menacing act, and said threateningly, “Tang Guo, aren’t you afraid I’ll eat you?”

Tang Guo’s eyelashes fluttered as she examined Zhu Yun. Then she teased, “How will you eat me? Will you skin me and put me in a pot? Or will you eat me raw without any seasoning? What does human flesh taste like? Why don’t you, an evil spirit, enlighten me?”

Her righteous and burning gaze intimidated Zhu Yun, who had been teasing her. Tang Guo then draped the cloak back over Zhu Yun’s shoulders, smiling as she tied the knot. She said, “Don’t worry, I won’t be afraid of you. I’ve never harmed you, so how could you be so cruel as to harm me?”

She admired the person in front of her and whispered in praise, “Whether in men’s clothes or women’s, you always make me feel like no one can compare to you.”

Zhu Yun was deeply immersed in Tang Guo’s gentleness and trust. In her ears, it was as if she heard the sound of a rain of arrows shooting at her, all hitting her heart, making Zhu Yun willing to die.

Zhu Yun turned away and mumbled, “A woman’s mouth, a liar’s ghost.”

“I heard that.”

Zhu Yun coughed awkwardly and took Tang Guo’s hand, ready to leave the waterside pavilion. She said, “It’s too cold here. Let’s go somewhere else to avoid the wind.”

This darn autumn wind was making her lose her mind. Why did she have to say bad things in front of Tang Guo? “Sigh, what a miscalculation.”

“Walk slowly, walk slowly.”

Zhu Yun didn’t know the way. She just charged forward. Wherever she saw a path, that was her path. No matter where it led, she just walked.

“You’re really slow.”

Tang Guo complained, “I’ve always been this speed. It’s not like you; you walk like you’re flying.”

Zhu Yun thought to herself that if she weren’t trying to maintain her image as a sickly person, she would have long since picked Tang Guo up and run. Her light weight was no problem at all for her.

“By the way, 857, have I mutated?”

【My dear, you finally realized you mutated?】

“It’s not ‘finally.’ I realized it the day I started the fire.”

And you only just thought to ask me now! How big is your heart?!

Zhu Yun looked up at the courtyard gate in front of her. She was about to turn and leave, but Tang Guo led her inside. She answered 857 while keeping up with Tang Guo. She said, “You were hoping I’d avoid the plot’s fatal end and complete my mission, so my life is very precious. You would never bear to see me have an accident. Since you haven’t said anything, it means the changes in my body are safe, so why should I worry?”

Xiao Zhu, you’re a real dog. You even scheme against me!

“Then tell me what the ‘hidden title’ on the data panel is.”

857 lost its ability to speak. It was going offline.

“Wait, don’t go yet.”

What is it now?

857’s voice sounded weak, as if it had been mentally tortured by Zhu Yun.

“Does my identity have some background?”

Background? Hmm, it’s… just average, I guess?

Zhu Yun wasn’t convinced. She could know 857, travel through different planes to do missions, and now she had that power. This kind of setup didn’t look like that of an average small-time character.

【My lord, stop asking me. What good would it do to tell you now? In the next world, won’t your memory be shielded again anyway? It’s the same routine over and over. Just stop! Learn to lie flat, my Xiao Zhu!】

Zhu Yun said with a cold laugh, “You’d better not let me remember everything.”

I’m really not capable of that.

As long as Zhu Yun’s mission progressed smoothly, the constraints on her memory would only get weaker. 857 knew this and wouldn’t fall for Zhu Yun’s goading.

Zhu Yun smiled knowingly. “Then I can rest easy. I thought my memories wouldn’t be returned.”

【@#@!￥#￥!!】

You tricked me!

Wuwuwu, I fell for it, I still fell for it!

857 thought it had dodged a bullet, but Zhu Yun’s move was just a feint. The real big move was waiting for it later.

Zhu Yun had just bullied 857, and her face was neither red nor pale. She was practically skipping, a clear sign that she had gotten the information she wanted.

“Is this… is this your boudoir?”

Tang Guo nodded, pulling on her sleeve and having Zhu Yun sit on the canopy bed. Tang Guo said self-deprecatingly, “I thought this place would be a mess when I came back, but I didn’t expect someone to have tidied it up beforehand.”

Zhu Yun teased, “Your mother isn’t so foolish that she would even neglect this small bit of a courtesy.”

Now that they were in a safe place, Zhu Yun no longer used a male voice to disguise herself. The clear, melodious voice of a woman made Tang Guo turn her head.

She placed one hand on Zhu Yun’s leg and the other on Zhu Yun’s throat, full of curiosity. She looked at Zhu Yun innocently, licked her lips, and said softly, “How do you do that?”

Zhu Yun’s throat moved. Her hands awkwardly propped her up behind her. She wanted to avoid Tang Guo’s touch, but unexpectedly, her movement made Tang Guo’s hand on her neck miss its mark. Tang Guo fell onto Zhu Yun’s chest, and the hand that was on Zhu Yun’s leg also changed position.

“Hiss.”

“Ouch.”

Tang Guo’s forehead hit Zhu Yun’s shoulder. She fell into a full embrace, holding Zhu Yun firmly on the quilt. She covered her forehead and looked at the smiling, helpless Zhu Yun.

“Sigh, am I just fated to be touched by you?”

She wanted to avoid the tickling from Tang Guo’s fingers, but she realized it would have been better not to move. Now she was trapped.

Zhu Yun resigned herself to her fate, rolling her eyes in displeasure. She said, “What are you looking at? Haven’t you ever seen a beautiful woman?”

Tang Guo lowered her eyelashes. Her slender fingers cupped Zhu Yun’s cheek. A dimple appeared on her lips, sweet and beautiful, so much so that Zhu Yun’s voice softened.

“We have already bowed to Heaven and Earth. Under the witness of Heaven and Earth, I am yours. So what does a little touching between us matter?”

Zhu Yun’s eyes widened. Her breathing became erratic. She had been shocked by the fact that a well-educated, gentle woman could say something like this.

Her heart was beating faster, “thump-thump-thump.”

Tang Guo leaned down and listened to her heartbeat. She smiled and said, “The evil spirit who said she would eat me seems nervous now.”

Her lips curved upwards, and her eyes were full of laughter, which made Zhu Yun uncomfortably retort, “I am not nervous.”

“Really?”

“Yes.”

“Then why can’t you look at me?”

With one sentence, Zhu Yun was defeated. She closed her eyes in frustration and lay motionless on the bed. When she couldn’t win, she would play dead. She was not going to have a head-on confrontation with Tang Guo.

Tang Guo got off her. She bent her slender waist to put on her shoes. As she turned, Zhu Yun closed her eyes tightly. Tang Guo didn’t expose her. At this moment, she took her time to groom herself in front of the mirror.

Zhu Yun slowly opened her eyes, secretly watching Tang Guo who was sitting at the dressing table.

“Are you finally willing to look at me?” a playful voice asked.

Zhu Yun was so angry she did a “carp leap” and sat up. She complained, “Ugh, you’re so annoying! Leave me some face! I have pride too!”

Tang Guo laughed so hard she was shaking. She leaned over the dressing table and turned her face to Zhu Yun. Her beautiful eyes, full of laughter, stared at Zhu Yun for a long time. Then she suddenly said, “Before I got married, I once threw a scarf over the ceiling beam, thinking about hanging myself there. But luckily, I was too timid and was afraid that a hanged ghost would be too ugly. I thought it would be better to live than to die. What if I could welcome a turning point?”

“Marrying you was indeed my turning point.”

Zhu Yun said in a chiding tone, “I, this evil spirit, can’t help a hanged ghost. You, you’d better live well and stay with me.”

She walked to Tang Guo’s side, stroked Tang Guo’s hair, and said with a light laugh, “When I die, you will be free.”

“I am yours in life, and I am your ghost in death.”

As soon as her words fell, a big fire appeared in her mind.

A woman died in a sea of fire, and beside her lay Zhu Tianci with a dagger plunged into his chest. The woman’s dying words were crystal clear in Zhu Yun’s ears, and her face made Zhu Yun’s heart ache as if it were being squeezed.

“Fool.”

Support