I Was Tricked by a Black Lotus [Transmigration] - Chapter 5

Shen Qingshu instinctively shook her head. “If the Commandery Princess likes it, I can buy you another one right now.”

“Elder Sister,” Wen Xue’er tugged timidly at her sleeve.

“Oh? Who’s this?” Commandery Princess Zhao’an peered with interest at the partially hidden Wen Xue’er.

“Zhao’an,” Li Huaiming finally leaned out, “don’t linger.”

Just then, a gentle breeze lifted the light veil, revealing Wen Xue’er’s jade-like face and crimson lips.

Shen Qingshu couldn’t tell if Li Huaiming was stunned by her beauty, but she herself froze for a moment.

When Shen Qingshu snapped out of her daze, she instinctively glanced at Li Huaiming.

He merely cast a fleeting glance before settling back into the carriage.

He just… sat back down.

Shen Qingshu’s heart sank.

Of course. Li Huaiming later took Wen Xue’er away out of pity, not because of a fleeting glimpse of beauty.

Damn it, he’s the male lead for a reason. He’s not following my script at all. Shen Qingshu’s expression turned slightly dejected.

“Shen Qingshu, remember your rabbit lantern. We’re leaving now.” Commandery Princess Zhao’an curved her lips into a smile before lowering the carriage curtain.

Shen Qingshu hugged the rabbit lantern tighter.

“Cousin, were those members of the imperial family?”

“Commandery Princess Zhao’an and Prince Jin, Li Huaiming—the current Emperor’s youngest son.” Shen Qingshu smoothed the white veil in front of Wen Xue’er. “What… do you think of Prince Jin?”

“I’m too timid to look,” Wen Xue’er said.

“What a pity! Prince Jin is so refined and handsome. You’d definitely like him if you saw him,” Shen Qingshu blurted out.

“I… Cousin, please stop teasing me,” Wen Xue’er replied, her voice a mix of embarrassment and annoyance.

Shen Qingshu slapped her forehead. “I was just talking nonsense.”

Inside Prince Jin’s carriage:

“Zhao’an, you seem quite interested in the Shen family,” Li Huaiming remarked, his eyes half-lidded.

“It has nothing to do with the Shen family. I merely wanted to tease those two beautiful young ladies standing at the front,” Commandery Princess Zhao’an replied, hiding her face behind her jade fan.

“You never tire of indulging in beauty, do you?”

“Never! Do you remember Qin Luoluo, the zither player we summoned upstairs at Zuixian Pavilion that day? Her face and her music still linger in my mind. Why don’t we invite her to my residence tomorrow?”

“Absolutely not!” Li Huaiming’s eyes snapped open, his tone sharp.

Commandery Princess Zhao’an feigned surprise, then adopted an expression of sudden realization. “And you accuse me of lusting after beauty? You’re no better yourself!”

Li Huaiming fell silent, momentarily speechless.

If our male lead, as pure and bright as the moon, isn’t moved by this, what will move him? Shen Qingshu’s anxiety grew with each passing thought.

Time is running out.

*****

“Look ahead, Cousin.”

Following Wen Xue’er’s gaze, Shen Qingshu noticed faint lights shimmering on the lake’s surface.

“Are those floating lanterns?” Shen Qingshu asked hesitantly.

“In Suzhou, women release floating lanterns to pray for a good marriage,” Wen Xue’er said softly.

“Come here.” Shen Qingshu suddenly grabbed Wen Xue’er’s hand and dashed toward the lake.

Wen Xue’er was still slightly breathless when they stopped.

Shen Qingshu released her and searched for a lantern. “I want to release one too.”

“Does Cousin have someone she admires?”

Through the thin veil, Shen Qingshu couldn’t see her expression clearly, but she shook her head. “What admirer would I have? All those young masters in the Capital—this one, that one—they’re all the same.”

After all, they’re just tools. Who can even remember who’s who?

Wen Xue’er paused, taken aback.

Shen Qingshu gently pushed the lantern into the water, silently praying: May Wen Xue’er find favor with Prince Jin, Li Huaiming, and escape her suffering soon. He’s the male lead; he won’t mistreat her.

Boom! Shen Qingshu startled at the sudden fireworks, nearly falling into the lake. Fortunately, Wen Xue’er caught her.

Wen Xue’er gently lifted the thin veil before her, gazing intently at the hundreds of lanterns floating in the air.

Even the thick clouds changed color, shifting between purple blossoms and horizontal streaks of golden yellow, creating a myriad of patterns.

In the flickering light, Shen Qingshu glanced at Wen Xue’er’s profile and glimpsed a hint of melancholy.

Suddenly realizing something, Shen Qingshu turned to look at the lantern she had released.

The lantern drifting toward the center of the lake had been knocked over by another.

Who released that? Shen Qingshu frowned.

But her frown gradually relaxed.

She saw Qin Luoluo standing by the lake’s edge, with Li Huaiming behind her.

Only then did Shen Qingshu realize that the original novel’s male and female leads had already caught each other’s eye, without her knowledge.

Even her interference couldn’t alter the fate predetermined by the heavens.

What about Wen Xue’er? Shen Qingshu’s heart jolted.

If the original leads had already sparked a connection, her plan to elevate Wen Xue’er to the female lead was doomed. She had hoped to shield Wen Xue’er under Prince Jin’s male lead aura, but the official pairing proved irreversible.

Shen Qingshu sighed heavily.

Wen Xue’er startled, glancing at the listless Shen Qingshu with a hint of confusion.

“Since Second Cousin is tired, shall we return to the manor?”

Shen Qingshu nodded, took a few steps, then stopped to buy a sugar-glazed figurine for Wen Xue’er.

“I’ve always loved sweets. Thank you, Second Cousin,” Wen Xue’er said, her voice tinged with sweetness.

But you’re going to suffer later, Shen Qingshu thought, looking at her with pity.

Wait a minute… Shen Qingshu’s mind began to race again. Wen Xue’er might not be the female lead, but she doesn’t have to be the second female lead either!

She resolved to seize Li Huaiming’s “fallen beauty” storyline ahead of time.

Anyone who follows the original plot like a fool deserves to be one.

Yet Shen Qingshu remained gloomy after returning to the manor. She vaguely remembered that Wen Xue’er hadn’t been taken out tonight in the original story and was supposed to face a calamity.

But she couldn’t recall the specific details. The Head of the Shen Family wouldn’t act at this time, so who would it be?

Behind the thin gauze screen in the room, Wen Xue’er quietly bathed in the misty steam. The warm candlelight cast a soft, lustrous glow on her jade-like shoulders.

Footsteps approached.

Wen Xue’er’s eyes snapped open, her face hardening into a solemn expression she never showed in public.

The door was violently pushed open.

Through the screen, Wen Xue’er glimpsed a muscular figure.

A man!

Did he send this person? Wen Xue’er’s heart trembled.

No, not yet. In the blink of an eye, water splashed as Wen Xue’er snatched her cloak to cover her jade-like body.

“Well, little beauty,” a lewd voice drawled, “even I’m not in such a hurry. Why are you so eager to come out?”

The vulgar words stung Wen Xue’er’s ears, and her gaze sharpened.

This kind of scum couldn’t possibly have been sent by that person.

“Don’t be scared,” the man chuckled, closing in with a leering grin. “I’ll take good care of you.”

“This is the Minister’s Manor! What do you think you’re doing?”

“You’re not the Minister’s daughter, just a guest here. What’s wrong with a little fun?”

As he drew closer, Wen Xue’er’s breathing grew heavy.

She yanked the hairpin from her hair, ready to strike, when her hand suddenly trembled.

I can’t kill again. I can’t kill here.

Seeing her hesitation, the man snatched the hairpin and lunged forward. But before he could pounce, the screen behind him toppled over, crashing heavily onto his body.

With the screen gone, Shen Qingshu’s figure appeared.

“Wen Xue’er, get inside immediately,” Shen Qingshu commanded calmly, seizing a nearby vase and smashing it down on the man. After a few feeble struggles, the man lay still.

Wen Xue’er stared at Shen Qingshu in shock.

“Get inside!” Shen Qingshu’s voice sharpened with urgency, fearing he had frightened her.

“Guards! There’s an intruder in Hefeng Courtyard!” Shen Qingshu shouted.

Wen Xue’er had already changed her clothes and was curled up on the bed, lying on her side.

“Xue’er?” Shen Qingshu gently patted her.

Wen Xue’er trembled almost imperceptibly.

“Don’t be afraid,” Shen Qingshu said, lying down beside her and patting her. “I’ll stay with you tonight.”

“It’s all my parents’ fault. They remembered to decorate Hefeng Courtyard but forgot to add guards. The thief must have terrified you,” Shen Qingshu continued, speaking to herself when Wen Xue’er didn’t respond. “You dropped your handkerchief, so I came to return it. I’m glad I made it in time.”

“Sister,” Wen Xue’er suddenly burrowed into her arms.

Shen Qingshu froze for a moment. By the time she reacted, her arms were already around Wen Xue’er’s waist.

Holding Wen Xue’er’s soft body, Shen Qingshu’s composure wavered slightly.

No wonder the nobles in the original novel had all fallen for Wen Xue’er. Even knowing she was just a character in a book, Shen Qingshu couldn’t help but feel a flicker of affection.

The person in her arms remained still, and Shen Qingshu began to feel drowsy.

Half-asleep, she felt a gentle tap on her shoulder from a maid.

“Hmm?” Shen Qingshu mumbled groggily.

The maid lowered her voice. “As you instructed, Miss, we’ve locked him in the woodshed. We’ve doused him with several buckets of water, and he’s awake now. Do you want to…”

Shen Qingshu sat up instantly, her movements sharp and decisive. “I’ll interrogate him myself.”

“But… but that might not be wise. Perhaps we should wait until tomorrow and let Master decide.”

“Do they know yet?”

“Everyone in the other courtyard is asleep. We haven’t had a chance to report it.”

“Then don’t tell them yet. Take me to the woodshed.”

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