I Quit Being This Female Lead (GL) - Chapter 27

Mangkai lay sprawled on the roof. After making such an effort to climb up, she just wanted to listen to someone play a song.

Xun Fangwen held back and held back, but in the end, she couldn’t resist. Sitting on the roof of the Cold Palace, she asked, “What do you want to hear?”

Mangkai smiled brightly. “I want to hear some cheerful songs.”

Xun Fangwen nodded, brought the flute to her lips, and played softly. A melodious tune echoed in the air. Mangkai listened, somewhat lost in thought.

The song finished.

Mangkai sat, hugging her knees, spaced out. Xun Fangwen watched her long hair scattered over her shoulders, sleek like floating silk, enveloping her.

“I heard you met Consort Chun today?”

Xun Fangwen tried to find a topic of conversation.

“Yes,” Mangkai said, hugging her knees. “I met that girl.”

Xun Fangwen glanced at her. “How did you feel?”

Mangkai: “It was alright. She was very enthusiastic. She kept holding my hand and spoke very closely.”

Xun Fangwen nodded. “She is indeed like that.”

Mangkai eyed Xun Fangwen suspiciously, looking at her for a long time before asking, “Sister Musician, do you come here every day to play music?”

“Not often. Only occasionally.”

“Then have you ever seen a person?”

Xun Fangwen looked back at Mangkai. “What kind of person are you talking about?”

Mangkai spoke and gestured. “She’s about half a head taller than me, very pretty, with long black wavy hair. She speaks coldly but is very gentle once you get to know her.”

Xun Fangwen thought for a moment. “No, I haven’t seen her.”

Where in ancient times would there be long wavy hair? Is this girl silly?

Mangkai hugged her knees again in disappointment, saying forlornly, “Is that so…”

Xun Fangwen felt a strange sense of guilt, so she cleared her throat and said, “I’m looking for someone too.”

Mangkai looked at her.

Xun Fangwen said, “She’s a bit clumsy, has chestnut-colored hair, looks silly when she smiles, is bad at everything she tries, and is easily distracted by infatuation.”

Mangkai thought for a moment and suddenly realized. “I know!”

Xun Fangwen looked at her.

“Are you looking for Consort Chun?”

“…Huh?”

Mangkai explained to her, “Consort Chun looks like she’s not very sharp, but she smiles very brightly. Though her hair isn’t chestnut-colored…”

Xun Fangwen shook her head. “It’s not her.”

“Alright then,” Mangkai patted her knees, saying helplessly, “Now we’re both looking for people. If either of us meets them, we have to tell the other.”

Xun Fangwen pursed her lips. “What other song would you like to hear?”

“Do you know how to play ‘Three Bears’?”

“…No.”

“Then do you know how to play ‘Ren’ai Circulation’?”

“…”

Xun Fangwen frowned. Why would I know a Japanese song???

But looking at Mangkai’s bright, expectant eyes, Xun Fangwen gritted her teeth and said, “Consort Chun seems to know it. I’ll go ask her for the sheet music when I have time.”

Mangkai clapped her hands happily. “That’s great! Sister Musician, you truly are a good person!”

Xun Fangwen sighed. Being a good person is not easy.

“Did you hear?”

“About what?”

“Her Highness the Empress’s Cold Palace has been haunted lately.”

“Ah? Is that true?”

In the corridor, several palace maids were discussing among themselves.

“How can it be false?” an older maid said. “I’ve been on duty at the Cold Palace these days, and every night I can hear someone playing a flute and a woman talking. But I’ve checked everywhere inside and out, and there’s no woman there. It must be a ghost!”

“Yikes, how scary!”

“Are there few concubines who died unjustly in the Cold Palace? It must be their vengeful spirits running out, seeking revenge because they died in such agony!”

“Then… then isn’t Her Highness the Empress in danger?”

“Although it’s harsh, His Majesty really doesn’t like the Empress, or she wouldn’t have been banished to the Cold Palace without a second glance.”

“Yes, I used to wish that Her Majesty the Female Emperor would look at me, but ever since I heard she never touches her concubines or male favorites, I’ve given up on that dream.”

“The Empress served the Female Emperor for eight years and was treated like this. Can we little maids still hope for the Female Emperor’s favor? Stop dreaming. Working diligently and marrying an honest man when we leave the palace is the right path for us.”

“Should we report the haunting of the Cold Palace to His Majesty?”

“No, I don’t think so. Last time, when the attendant told His Majesty the Empress was injured, she ignored it. It’s just a haunting. She probably wishes the Empress would die sooner so she can elevate a favored concubine.”

“Alas, poor Her Highness the Empress.”

“Alas, poor Her Highness the Empress indeed…”

Consort Chun stood behind the group of palace maids, watching them walk further and further away. She was wringing her handkerchief, saying through gritted teeth, “How could this dog Emperor be so heartless?”

The maid next to her said, “Your Highness, why are you getting angry over this? If the Empress really dies because of a ghost, won’t you be able to take her position?”

Consort Chun gave her a fierce look and scolded, “How can you be so cruel? The Empress is so beautiful. How can we let her die in the Cold Palace like that!”

The maid: “???”

Consort Chun said, unwilling to give up, “No, I must go see Her Majesty the Female Emperor and talk some sense into her!”

Without another word, Consort Chun ran to the Female Emperor’s sleeping quarters to meet her.

When Xun Fangwen heard it was Consort Chun, she initially didn’t want to see her. She didn’t like this noisy woman. But then she remembered the promise she made with Mangkai last night to learn ‘Ren’ai Circulation.’ After a brief consideration, she said, “Let Consort Chun enter.”

“Your Majesty—”

Consort Chun lifted her skirt and scurried over, running past the desk to Xun Fangwen’s side. She said, “There’s a ghost in Her Highness the Empress’s palace!”

Xun Fangwen was puzzled. “What kind of ghost is haunting it?”

“Well, people hear a woman talking and a flute playing every night in the Cold Palace. It’s really scary!”

“…”

“Someone must be trying to harm the Empress. You can’t just sit back and do nothing!”

“…It’s nothing to worry about.”

“How can it be nothing to worry about?” Consort Chun looked at Xun Fangwen with an expression reserved for a heartless woman. “Isn’t the Empress your wife? If you are so cruel to her, you definitely won’t be kind to anyone else either!”

“You!” Xun Fangwen glared. What nonsense is this woman spouting?

Is Xun Fangwen supposed to admit that she is the ‘female ghost’ in the Cold Palace!

This is too much!

“Enough.”

Remembering that she had to ask this woman for a favor, Xun Fangwen lowered her voice and said, “Don’t worry about her. I have something to consult you about, regarding a song. It’s called…”

“What song, what song?” Consort Chun stomped her small foot, put her hands on her hips, and glared. “Heartless woman, don’t talk to me! Peh!”

With that, she lifted her skirt and ran off.

Xun Fangwen: “…???”

This woman is crazy!!!!

At the same time.

Consort Chun ran brazenly into the Cold Palace. The palace maids and eunuchs on duty hadn’t even reacted before the woman had slipped inside the Cold Palace.

“Your Highness the Empress.” Xiao Lu was massaging Mangkai’s shoulders, saying as she kneaded, “Why is there always flute music in our palace late at night recently? It sounds kind of creepy.”

Mangkai scratched her cheek and smiled wryly. “That, well, actually, it’s…”

Before she could finish, she heard someone running with a ‘pat, pat, pat.’ Before the person arrived, a familiar voice called out excitedly, “Empress Sister, where are you? I’ve come to see you!”

Mangkai and Xiao Lu were both curious and turned their eyes towards the door. Soon enough, they saw Consort Chun duck in, carrying her pure white gauze skirt. Because she ran so fast, her face was flushed, and she looked adorable.

“Consort Chun, why are you so flustered?” Mangkai asked, somewhat surprised. “Is something the matter?”

Consort Chun composed her expression, her eyes welling up. “Empress Sister, your life is truly too bitter, wuwuwuwu…”

Mangkai: “???”

Xiao Lu: “???”

The two looked at each other, wondering what was wrong with Consort Chun.

Consort Chun didn’t stand on ceremony. She took Mangkai’s hand and said, “This Cold Palace isn’t safe. Sister, come and live with me. My Palace of the Emerald Phoenix is big and warm, and most importantly, it won’t have any ghosts.”

Mangkai blinked and smiled. “Ghosts?”

She wondered how to tell this girl that she chatted with the Imperial Musician every night. But if people knew she climbed the wall every night to meet a woman, even if nothing happened between them, others wouldn’t think the same way.

After much thought, Mangkai gave up on explaining.

She felt the more she explained, the more complicated it would become, so it was better to say nothing.

“Yes, Sister,” Consort Chun squeezed Xiao Lu off the seat next to Mangkai and sat down herself. “It’s so cold now. The Cold Palace must be difficult to bear.”

Xiao Lu was upset at being squeezed out. She pouted and said, “Consort Chun, don’t talk nonsense. We take very good care of Her Highness. The palace is as warm as summer every day. There’s no way Her Highness is freezing.”

“That’s different,” Consort Chun said. “What’s the use of just being warm? The blankets and food must be of the highest quality. How could the Cold Palace have those?”

Xiao Lu was speechless, her face flushed with anger.

Mangkai tried to gently pull her hand away from Consort Chun, but found the woman’s grip tight. She smiled wryly, “Thank you for your kindness, Sister. I’m quite happy living in the Cold Palace.”

Consort Chun held Mangkai’s hand and leaned in close. “Sister, your skin hasn’t been properly cared for in a long time, has it? And you haven’t had a milk bath in ages? Come to my palace. I have all these things, and a group of dancers to perform for you.”

“I really don’t need to…”

Mangkai said helplessly, “It’s not good for you to keep running to the Cold Palace, Sister. Her Majesty the Female Emperor will be angry if she finds out. You should leave quickly.”

Just stop bothering me.

Consort Chun’s eyes sparkled. “Sister, you’re so thoughtful. You even worry about me getting scolded. You’re so kind. I like you more and more.”

Mangkai: “…”

Consort Chun blushed and said, “Sister, I was spoiled since childhood. My parents didn’t care about anything but giving me money. You are the only person who has ever been so nice to me.”

She looked at Mangkai, her chest heaving, her ears red, and stuttered, “In the future, I want to be with Sister often, alright?”

Mangkai: “…”

Why does this scene feel so familiar???