The Fragile Supporting Lady Is Too Clingy - Chapter 15

Li Shuyu had just been woken up, so her expression was instinctively a bit sour. But when she saw the female supporting character’s fearful reaction, it immediately softened.

Her demeanor returned to its usual gentleness, her voice carrying the huskiness of someone just roused from sleep as she shook her head helplessly. “I know you didn’t mean to. It’s fine. Why are you up so early today?”

Li Qiuyue clenched her fists, her shimmering gaze fixed on her, her expression fragile and cautious as she lowered her head and said, “I’ve already recovered from my illness. Today, I should go to pay respects to Mother.”

Li Shuyu froze.

Having read many novels, she knew that people in ancient times observed morning and evening rituals to honor their elders. But she had been living too comfortably lately and had completely forgotten about this custom.

She scrambled out of bed, somewhat indignant. “Then why didn’t you wake me? What if I ended up late?”

It reminded her of when she used to oversleep for class, only to find that her entire dorm had left without bothering to wake her!

Li Qiuyue was momentarily taken aback by her words. She rose to her feet behind her, her voice still soft and laced with vulnerability. “I rarely see you when I go to pay respects, so I didn’t think to wake you. Please don’t be angry.”

Li Shuyu understood, this was the original host’s privilege. She didn’t have to go pay respects.

After all, she was the Emperor’s daughter, a princess. How could she bow to a mere official?

Li Shuyu arched an eyebrow. “Well, I’m going with you anyway.”

The female supporting character’s life in Pingyang Marquis’s household was a living hell, and not just because of the original host. Others in the household also bullied her relentlessly. a motherless child with no one to protect her.

If she didn’t go along, what if someone else bullied her?

The most absurd part was that in the novel, whenever she was bullied by others, she still blamed the original host for it!

Her reasoning was that if the original host hadn’t targeted and humiliated her, others might have merely ignored her instead of actively tormenting her.

Well… she had to admit, there was some twisted logic to that.

Sigh.

But Li Shuyu was afraid that after just one visit to pay respects, she’d end up with a few more accusations piled onto her. So she had no choice but to stick close and act as a personal bodyguard.

The two changed their clothes and set off together for the main courtyard.

Thanks to Li Shuyu’s dawdling, they were still a little late. By the time they arrived, the room was already packed including all the marquis’s concubine-born sons and daughters.

She quickly scanned the room, startled. Damn, so many kids?!

Did Pingyang Marquis really father this many???

Shocking!!!

After the initial shock wore off, her next thought was: Oh no. With so many kids, and not a single one familiar to me, how am I supposed to bluff my way through this?

Just thinking about it gave her a headache.

Lady Wen’s eyes lit up with delight when she saw Li Shuyu arrive. She immediately stood up. “Yu’er, you’re here? You’ve only just recovered from your illness you should be resting more. Why did you come so early in the morning?”

“I came to pay my respects to you, Mother,” she said, stepping closer with an air of natural affection, though her heart was pounding nervously.

Lady Wen took Li Shuyu’s hand and patted it, sighing. “Between mother and daughter, there’s no need for such formalities. Even if you didn’t come, I’d know you hold me in your thoughts.”

Morning visits to the primary wife were meant as a show of authority. a daily reminder of who the true mistress of the household was. But as her own daughter, Li Shuyu wasn’t bound by such rules.

“I wanted to come. Second Sister and I arrived together it wasn’t any trouble.”

At the mention of Li Qiuyue, Lady Wen’s gaze flicked briefly to the side, her expression calm as she gave a slight nod.

The others, however, were visibly startled. They exchanged glances, their eyes filled with surprise. One of the bolder, more favored children spoke up directly.

“Third Sister, why did you come with Second Sister today? Did Second Sister make you angry again?”

She thought Li Qiuyue had displeased Li Shuyu, and that Li Shuyu had come with her to lodge a complaint.

Such incidents had happened before, and in the end, it was always Li Qiuyue who suffered. They all took pleasure in watching the drama unfold, their eyes fixed on her like spectators.

Li Shuyu turned to the speaker, an unfamiliar woman, likely one of the original host’s half-sisters. Though inwardly displeased, she maintained a calm expression and explained, “Second Sister didn’t anger me. We live together now, so naturally, we came together.”

This statement seemed to shock everyone even more. All eyes turned to them in disbelief.

No one in the mansion dared gossip about the young mistress, so no one knew that the Third Young Miss had taken the Second Young Miss into her own courtyard.

Lady Wen, holding Li Shuyu’s hand, calmly clarified, “Yu’er has a kind heart. She couldn’t bear to see those wicked servants in Second Young Miss’s courtyard bullying their master, so she took her in to recuperate. Fourth Young Miss, Yu’er is not someone easily provoked—mind your words.”

Rumors had long circulated that Yu’er was temperamental and difficult to get along with. Lady Wen had no idea who had spread such talk, but it displeased her greatly.

If such words reached the Emperor’s ears, there would be consequences.

So that was the Fourth Young Miss.

What was the name of Pingyang Marquis’s Fourth Young Miss again?

The novel had mentioned it, but only in passing, making it hard to recall at the moment.

Li Shuyu frowned in thought, which made her appear displeased.

The Fourth Young Miss, who had spoken earlier, immediately shrank like a quail. After stammering a nervous reply, she lowered her head and dared not speak again.

Though Li Shuyu rarely came to pay her respects, her seat was always reserved front and center, even ahead of the eldest son of the household.

By protocol, Li Qiuyue’s seat should have been behind those of the legitimate young masters and misses. But Lady Wen, fearing that Li Shuyu might suddenly decide to visit and be displeased at seeing her too close, had moved her seat to the very back.

Now that the two had become close sisters…

After a moment’s consideration, Lady Wen spoke directly, “Fourth Young Miss, starting with you, everyone move back one seat. Second Young Miss should be sitting here.”

Lady Wen’s gaze settled on Fourth Young Miss Li Luolan.

Li Luolan stiffened, her cheeks flushing with embarrassment. She quickly nodded and stood up, but before she could move, a childish voice suddenly rang out, aimed straight at Li Shuyu, “No way! I refuse to sit next to a concubine-born daughter!”

Li Shuyu frowned, wondering who could be so rude. She looked over and saw a child dressed in luxurious robes, seated beside the Fourth Young Miss likely one of the young masters.

Li Luolan’s face burned even hotter. If he refused to sit with a concubine-born daughter, what did that make her?

Lady Wen frowned. “Jin’er, don’t speak nonsense. This is your Second Sister.”

“Hmph, she’s not my Second Sister. I only have one sister.”

The young master hopped off his chair and dashed over to Li Shuyu, tilting his chin up with a proud expression. “Mother said you’ve been sick these past few days and told me not to bother you. Did you miss me?”

Li Shuyu now knew who he was, Li Shaojin, one of the two legitimate sons of Pingyang Marquis.

In the novel, he had played a role in clearing the female lead’s name.

It was written that he adored the original host the most, even memorizing the jewelry and cosmetics she used, which was how he later identified items that didn’t belong to her.

Sure, he and the original host were close, but why was he bullying her favorite supporting character?!

Li Shuyu’s phoenix eyes narrowed with a deliberately fierce glare as she said sternly, “No, I don’t. I wouldn’t miss an ill-mannered child.”

Li Qiuyue looked up in surprise. She knew the third sister was very close to the seventh young master, but to think she would even reprimand him for her sake?

She really… seemed to have changed.

Unconsciously, the corners of the young lady’s peach-blossom eyes, tinged with pink, curved slightly. Even though she had long stopped caring, a faint thread of joy still unwittingly rose in her heart.

Li Shaojin was stunned by Li Shuyu’s words. After a moment, he loudly protested, “Jin’er isn’t ill-mannered! Jin’er is the most polite!”

The thought that his sister didn’t miss him made him both angry and aggrieved, his eyes even reddening slightly.

Considering he was the original host’s beloved younger brother, Li Shuyu didn’t scold him further in front of so many people. She merely snorted lightly, took Li Qiuyue’s hand, and seated her in her own spot before sitting down in Li Shaoning’s place.

Lady Wen patted Li Shaojin’s fluffy head and said, “Go, apologize to your sister. None of this talk about ‘lowly illegitimate children’ you’re all siblings. Don’t say such things and upset your sister.”

Though Lady Wen appeared gentle, she still held authority in Li Shaojin’s eyes.

After only a brief hesitation, Li Shaojin walked over. but not to apologize. His jade-like, pretty face was full of confusion and grievance as he asked, “But Sister, you were the one who said illegitimate children are lowly, that we, as legitimate heirs, are noble and shouldn’t associate with them. You were the one who hated her first! Why are you angry at me today and calling me ill-mannered?”

The moment the word “lowly” left his mouth, Li Shuyu had already swiftly covered Li Qiuyue’s ears, her actions betraying extreme guilt though it was clearly useless. Li Qiuyue had heard everything, her breathtakingly beautiful face remaining impassive, devoid of any emotion.

Lady Wen, sensing her daughter’s awkwardness, quickly pulled her son aside, wishing this little troublemaker would just stop talking. His sister was capricious, and right now, she was on good terms with the other girl.

Li Shuyu awkwardly lowered her hands again. Her flip-flopping behavior was bound to raise questions, so she had no choice but to explain, “I was immature before. Birth doesn’t determine everything. if one studies hard, even an illegitimate child can earn scholarly honors. Now, I don’t dislike any of my illegitimate siblings, including your second sister. Don’t say such things again in the future.”

Or I’ll die of embarrassment, thanks.

Li Qiuyue’s gaze kept drifting toward Li Shuyu as if by accident before quickly looking away. Her body stiffened slightly, pretending not to notice.

The child nodded, only half-understanding, and asked, “So if I don’t say those things, I’ll be a polite child?”

“Mm, of course.”

“Oh, alright then. If Jin’er is a polite child, will Sister miss Jin’er?”

The boy’s round, bright eyes gazed up at Li Shuyu obediently.

For a moment, Li Shuyu was struck by his cuteness, nearly collapsing on the spot. Weren’t these all supposed to be the detestable cannon-fodder villains from the novel. the parents, elder brother, and bratty child who enabled the antagonist?

Lady Wen chuckled. “This child has been clamoring to see you for days. You have no idea how he’s been without you around.”

Li Shuyu felt a pang of guilt. Since transmigrating, she had been too preoccupied with taking care of the supporting female lead, how could she have remembered anything else?

Unnoticed, the supporting female lead’s hand had been clasped in someone else’s palm. She glanced down lightly at it before turning her head away, leaving it be.