The Fragile Supporting Lady Is Too Clingy - Chapter 20

The place where the daughters of concubines learned to dance was in a secluded attic.

By the time Li Shuyu arrived, Li Luolan and Li Anyu had just arrived as well.

When Li Luolan saw her, her eyes lit up. Without waiting for her to approach, she hurried over eagerly, “Third Sister, why are you here?”

Li Shuyu was preoccupied with seeking justice for Li Qiuyue and was in a foul mood. She had been putting on a fierce demeanor the entire way and didn’t want to break character now. She replied coolly, “I’m here to escort Second Sister to her lesson.”

Li Luolan immediately turned her gaze to Li Qiuyue. After yesterday’s incident, she knew the two were on good terms, but she couldn’t help feeling shocked. Weren’t they like enemies before? Now, she was being treated so well that someone would personally escort her to class?

Li Qiuyue was just a child without a mother, how was she worthy of such treatment?!

Li Luolan couldn’t suppress the jealousy in her heart. For the daughters of concubines in the Pingyang Marquis household, being on good terms with the legitimate daughter brought too many benefits.

In the past, Li Qiuyue’s clothes were outdated styles from years ago. But now?

Not only were they the latest fashions from the capital, but the fabrics were nearly indistinguishable from those worn by the legitimate daughters clearly shared by Li Shuyu.

What had she done to earn Li Shuyu’s favor? Was it just because of that delicate, pitiful face?

Li Luolan scrutinized her over and over. Normally, Li Qiuyue would at most turn away to avoid her gaze, but today, a clear, cold voice spoke up she actually asked directly, “Fourth Sister, why are you staring at me?”

Hearing this, Li Shuyu turned to look at Li Luolan, who hadn’t had time to conceal the disdain in her eyes, the contempt for someone who relied on their looks to win favor. Caught red-handed, Li Luolan stiffened, forcing a strained smile. “Second Sister, I just thought you looked different today, so I took a couple more glances.”

How dare you tattle on me!

Li Luolan seethed inwardly.

Li Shuyu tugged at Li Qiuyue, pulling her a little closer to herself, her tone tinged with displeasure. “You’re Second Sister’s younger sister. We’re all family. Don’t look at her like that in the future.”

Sure enough, she had noticed that unfriendly glance.

Li Luolan’s face burned with humiliation as she was scolded. She looked up at Li Shuyu, then at Li Qiuyue, and finally at Li Anyu, who was cowering like a quail, too afraid to speak. Furious and ashamed, she didn’t dare retort, after all, harmony among sisters was expected, and Li Shuyu wasn’t wrong. She could only stammer meekly, “I understand. Thank you for your guidance, Third Sister.”

This wasn’t so much guidance as it was a warning not to bully Second Sister.

But Li Shuyu couldn’t be bothered to engage with her further. Holding her delicate female companion’s hand, she walked inside.

The dance studio inside was lit with lamps, and the instructor had been waiting there for some time. Hearing someone enter, she lazily lifted her eyelids.

Unexpectedly, the first person she saw was a stranger, a girl she had never met before, standing right in front of the motherless concubine’s daughter from yesterday.

She didn’t care. After all, only daughters of concubines came here.

Rising languidly to her feet, she curled her lips into a mocking smile. “I thought the Second Young Miss was going to throw another tantrum and skip dance lessons again. Learning to dance means you’ll at least have a skill to please your future husband. As a concubine’s daughter, if you can’t even dance, you’ll surely end up abandoned and unloved.”

The dance instructor was once the legitimate daughter of a modest household. With her exceptional dancing skills, she had briefly won her husband’s favor. Though she was no longer as favored as before, her husband’s family still relied on her to maintain connections with the Pingyang Marquis’s household, so her life was still comfortable. However, she harbored a deep disdain for illegitimate children.

Listening to her speak, Li Shuyu felt a surge of anger rising in her heart, her eyes blazing with fury. Li Qiuyue could sense her emotions, the grip on her hand grew tighter, yet she had no intention of pulling away. A faint thread of joy slowly unfurled within her, as if whispering, See, there is someone in this world who would get angry for me, someone who cares about me this much.

Until Li Shuyu, her face cold and voice icy, barely suppressing her rage, asked, “Is this how you speak to your students?!”

A woman should never be reduced to a man’s appendage!

What did she mean by “learning a skill to please a husband”? What kind of husband? Was he even worthy?!

And what of illegitimate daughters? Did that mean they deserved to be trampled underfoot?

By what right?!

The instructor was momentarily stunned by Li Shuyu’s accusatory tone, thinking, Which lowborn illegitimate daughter dares to be so insolent as to disrespect her teacher?

She flicked her water sleeves slightly, tilting her chin up with an air of arrogance. “Since you are already an illegitimate daughter, you should be even more humble, cautious, and obedient. Is this the upbringing a young lady of the Pingyang Marquis’s household should have?”

Li Shuyu trembled with fury. So this is the kind of person who has been teaching Second Sister dance all along. no wonder she turned dark!

Just as she was about to let loose and curse, hands already on her hips, a woman’s stern and commanding voice rang out from behind her. “How the Third Young Lady of the Pingyang Marquis’s household conducts herself is not for a lowly creature like you to lecture!”

Everyone looked up to see a formidable matriarch striding in from the doorway, followed by two young ladies from the household.

The matriarch’s expression was severe as she rebuked, “The Pingyang Marquis’s household hired you to teach dance, not to abuse your position as an instructor by mocking and fabricating lies about your students! Even if they are illegitimate, the young ladies of this household are far nobler than you!”

Earlier, outside the door, the matriarch had only heard the dance instructor’s first remark before questioning Li Anyu about the events of the previous day.

Her young mistress would never seek trouble with a dance instructor without reason. Given her recent “favor” toward the household’s Second Young Lady, it was clear the instructor had bullied her, prompting this confrontation.

The household’s madam, aside from providing the bare necessities for the illegitimate children, usually couldn’t be bothered with them. If any were mistreated, they were expected to seek out the Pingyang Marquis for redress. Other illegitimate children had their birth mothers to plead their case before the marquis. only Second Young Lady had no one. Without a mother and unable to see the marquis, she had no one to shield her, leaving her at the mercy of bullies.

The dance instructor didn’t recognize the matriarch, but judging by her imposing demeanor, she could tell this was no ordinary figure.

And what was that about the Third Young Lady?

Wasn’t she the Pingyang Marquis’s only legitimate daughter? The apple of his eye? Even if her own family was of modest standing and had never been invited to any grand events, she had heard just how much the marquis doted on this daughter.

The instructor’s face instantly paled, her fingers trembling beneath her water sleeves. “Y-you, you’re the Third Young Lady of the Pingyang Marquis’s household?”

Why would a legitimate daughter come to a place where illegitimate daughters practiced dance?

“Whether I am or not, you have no right to speak to your students this way! You are a teacher no matter your students’ status, you should treat them equally!”

Such a disgrace to the teaching profession!

The dance instructor paled, no longer daring to speak against her. Li Shuyu lowered the hand she had placed on her hip and gently pulled the supporting female character beside her, drawing her behind herself. The protective intent was unmistakable. anyone could see it clearly.

Li Anyu, following behind the matron, had been stealing glances upward and couldn’t help but feel a twinge of envy upon seeing this. Third Sister seemed to have changed…

The dance instructor’s face flushed with shame and anger. She was no longer young, yet here she was being reprimanded by a sixteen-year-old girl.

The matron bowed to Li Shuyu. “Miss, the madam sent me to fetch you. Leave this matter to me. You are noble and precious don’t let these petty people disturb your peace.”

Li Shuyu’s pale finger pointed at the dance instructor, whose heart clenched in fear, dreading some unbearable punishment.

But all she said was, “Dismiss her. Pingyang Marquisate has no need for a teacher without professional ethics.”

The dance instructor exhaled in relief, just dismissal, nothing worse. But then she thought of her family, who relied on her income, and her vision darkened.

The matron smiled in agreement. “Naturally, Miss. You’ve just recovered from your illness, please return and rest. Second Miss, you should go back with her. Yesterday’s incident was unfair to you. I will report everything truthfully to the madam, and she will see justice done.”

Having achieved the outcome she desired and witnessed Li Shuyu’s unwavering defense, Li Qiuyue felt an unprecedented sense of contentment. The distance between them seemed to have narrowed. She nodded gently, took Li Shuyu’s hand, and swayed it slightly, speaking in a coquettish tone, “Third Sister, let’s go back. I’m tired again.”Yes, it was unmistakably a coquettish tone.”

Li Shuyu had intended to exchange a few more words with the dance instructor, but the soft, sweet voice in her ear left her utterly disoriented. She’s acting coquettish with me! The supporting female character is acting coquettish with me!

She said “we,” said she was tired, and even rested her head against my back!

Such intimacy!

Li Shuyu couldn’t even recall how she walked out afterward. All she knew was that the next day, the dance instructor for the secondary daughters was dismissed. Lady Wen hired a new instructor, gentle, kind, and exceptionally skilled in dance.

But Li Qiuyue no longer attended those lessons with the other concubine daughters. Instead, Li Shuyu kept her in Fuguang Courtyard for her own lessons.

This was another benefit gained from acting coquettish.

Waking up early the next morning, Li Shuyu still couldn’t believe it. Yesterday, after returning, the supporting female character had clung to her arm and acted coquettish again!

She said she no longer wanted to learn servile skills, she wanted to study, to practice calligraphy, and begged for her help.

In the past, even if she had such desires, the supporting female character would never have dared to voice them. Now, she had taken a monumental step forward. How could Li Shuyu refuse her?

As for Li Qiuyue, she simply wanted someone to protect her, to treat her sincerely. It didn’t matter who as long as they were genuine, she would be happy.