The Fragile Supporting Lady Is Too Clingy - Chapter 23

The next morning, the two found themselves in an embrace once more, though neither knew when it had happened.

Li Shuyu was a light sleeper. The bright morning light filtering in roused her from her drowsiness, and she instinctively tried to sit up, only to be stopped by something. Looking down, she saw the so-called “villainess” nestled in her arms, still deep in slumber.

Everyone called her the villainess, but after these past few days together, Li Shuyu had come to realize that her second sister was nothing more than a simple, sensible girl, one who even knew how to care for others.

Villainess? Surely, it was just prejudice!

Li Shuyu rested her pale hand on the girl’s back, gently stroking her slender frame as if soothing a child, even though the child was already asleep.

After a while, Li QiuYue finally began to stir, letting out a soft, sleepy murmur as she nuzzled her fluffy head against Li Shuyu’s chest.

Seizing the moment while the girl was still half-asleep and unaware, Li Shuyu quickly ran her fingers through the glossy black hair at the back of her head.

Soft and silky the touch was exquisite.

Li QiuYue, of course, didn’t notice. With delicate grace, she pushed herself up from Li Shuyu’s embrace, propping herself on one arm as her long hair cascaded midair. Her eyes, naturally veiled with a faint mist, met Li Shuyu’s.

“Third Sister, shall we rise? It’s time to pay our respects to Mother,” she said.

Li Shuyu sat up as well, agreeing aloud though inwardly, she felt a pang of regret. Waking up so soon meant she hadn’t had her fill of touching that soft hair.

The two had grown increasingly familiar with each other. They washed together, dressed together, and even took meals together. Every piece of clothing and every hairpin Li QiuYue wore had been given to her by Li Shuyu.

To an outsider, they might as well have been blood sisters.

No one would ever guess one was the legitimate daughter and the other a stepsister.

Breakfast was light tea cakes and various easily digestible porridges. Once finished, Li Shuyu accompanied the “villainess” to pay their respects.

The original host of this body had never bothered with morning greetings, but Li Shuyu feared the girl might be bullied if left alone, so she made it a point to go with her every time.

The main courtyard was filled only with the clamor of children. As Li Shuyu led the girl inside by the hand, the servants at the door announced, “Third Young Miss, Second Young Miss,” and the childish noise abruptly ceased.

Li Shuyu glanced at the little one on the chair, who was pretending to be angry and deliberately ignoring her, and couldn’t help but find it amusing.

The original host’s family was truly something each member so vividly alive.

Lady Wen beckoned to her, her face finally breaking into a genuine smile at the sight of her daughter.

“Yu’er, you’re here. Come, sit. Your tutor mentioned you’ve been studying diligently these past few days?”

Li Shuyu felt a little embarrassed. Diligent she might be, but the results were hardly impressive. “Not as diligent as Second Sister,” she deflected.

Li QiuYue, who had just finished her greetings and was about to sit beside her, paused for the briefest moment before settling down without a word, allowing Li Shuyu to sing her praises before their mother.

She knew all too well that the goodwill directed at her now was solely because of Li Shuyu. Because Li Shuyu favored her, others would spare her a second glance. As long as this favor lasted, no one would dare mistreat her.

Lady Wen listened with a smile as Li Shuyu spoke, then signaled for tea to be served to moisten her throat before casually bringing up, “I heard Yue’er wasn’t feeling well yesterday?”

Li QiuYue’s hands clenched inside her wide sleeves.

Li Shuyu shot a helpless glance at her younger brother, who was peeking at her from the corner of his eye no doubt the little tattletale. She sighed inwardly. “Yes, but it was just exhaustion from the past few days. She’s much better this morning.”

Madam Wen glanced at the second young lady, who sat with her head bowed and eyes lowered, her voice tinged with concern. “If you’re truly feeling unwell, don’t hold it in. Be sure to call the physician.”

The hands hidden in her sleeves clenched even tighter. Li Qiuyue maintained her usual timid demeanor, replying with a flustered voice, “Yes, Yue’er understands. Thank you for your concern, Mother.”

Li Shuyu couldn’t bear to see her like this. She quickly reached under the table, found the sleeve of the girl’s dress, and stealthily slipped her hand inside, grasping the slightly cool, soft fingers in a comforting gesture.

“I checked on her yesterday. Second Sister isn’t seriously ill just needs some rest,” Li Shuyu said.

Madam Wen nodded with a smile. “That’s good. Jin’er told me you promised to take him out to play today?”

After the little rascal had stormed off yesterday, she thought he wouldn’t want to play with her anymore.

“Yes, Jin’er kept pestering me to go out.”

Madam Wen’s smile deepened. “It’s good to get out more. You haven’t left the house since you fell ill. Besides, the Empress’s birthday banquet is in a few days. You should buy some new jewelry to wear it’ll look lovely.”

She could accept Li Shuyu being close to the concubine-born daughter but still hoped she would be closest to her own two children.

At the mention of the Empress’s birthday banquet, the expressions around the room shifted subtly, until a standing woman spoke up. Her voice was crisp and sweet, like a yellow oriole perched on a branch. She giggled coyly before asking with sparkling eyes, “Since it’s the Empress’s birthday banquet, the Marquis and Madam will be attending, right?”

Madam Wen gave her a cool glance, sensing trouble brewing. She set down her teacup and took a slow sip before replying, “Naturally. What are you getting at?”

The speaker was the birth mother of the fourth young lady, Concubine Fan, a daughter of Fan Song, the Minister of Revenue. Though a concubine-born child herself, she was delicate and beautiful, favored by the Marquis of Pingyang. With her family background, she could speak a little more freely in front of Madam Wen.

Concubine Fan smiled as if making casual conversation. “Last time, Madam took the third and sixth young ladies. Who will you bring this time?”

She was probing. Since the sixth young lady had been taken last time, surely it was her daughter’s turn now. All she wanted was for her daughter to attend such gatherings and broaden her horizons.

The Empress’s birthday banquet was no ordinary event it would be filled with noble heirs. Even if her daughter didn’t catch anyone’s eye, making connections and building a reputation would be invaluable.

Concubine Fan’s hopes were high, but Madam Wen merely looked at her and defied her expectations. “Yue’er hasn’t gone out with me before. This time, I’ll take Yu’er and Yue’er.”

Concubine Fan’s confident smile froze, disbelief flashing in her eyes. She quickly protested, “But isn’t the second young lady unwell? Should she really go out?”

“The second young lady is merely frail. Why shouldn’t she go?”

Concubine Fan grew visibly flustered. “But frailty is a serious condition! The Empress’s banquet is such an important occasion, and the second young lady has never attended such events before. I’m only worried she might make a misstep. Disgracing the Marquis’s household would be one thing, but if the Emperor and Empress were to think poorly of the Marquis because of it.”

She left the rest unsaid, letting the implications hang in the air.

A young lady who rarely attended social gatherings, suddenly thrust into a state banquet, if she made a fool of herself, the mockery could last for years.

Mrs. Wen furrowed her brows and glanced at Li Qiuyue, seemingly weighing whether she should bring her along. Li Qiuyue felt nervous, and the hand that had been held by Li Shuyu suddenly tightened around hers in a silent plea for help, her long lashes trembling faintly with vulnerability.

Li Shuyu had long been displeased by the insinuations in the other woman’s words. Who was she implying?

“Second Sister is with me. If there’s anything she doesn’t understand, I’ll teach her myself. There’s no need for you to worry.”

Concubine Fan hesitated slightly upon hearing Li Shuyu speak. She couldn’t fathom why the Marquis favored a daughter who disliked studying so much. Even if she schemed endlessly, she could never obtain the privileges Li Shuyu received effortlessly.

The air grew still for a moment. Concubine Fan’s smile stiffened, but she still tried to argue, “The Second Young Lady has never learned the palace’s etiquette. Even with the Third Young Lady watching over her, I fear it won’t be enough. This… this is a matter of great importance. It would be best if the Third Young Lady didn’t act so willfully.”

Her accusation of Li Shuyu’s willfulness immediately displeased Mrs. Wen.

“Fan, mind your words. Yu’er has always been steady and responsible, and she shares a deep sisterly bond with Yue’er. There’s no better arrangement than for them to enter the palace together. The Marquis has already agreed to this. If you have any objections, take them up with him.”

Mrs. Wen couldn’t be bothered to engage with this concubine, who was always the most troublesome, and simply passed the matter to the Marquis of Pingyang.

Upon hearing that the Marquis had already consented, Concubine Fan nearly gritted her teeth in frustration. She had assumed that, as the most favored in the household, this opportunity would surely fall to her own daughter, Lan’er. Yet unexpectedly, this motherless child had somehow gained the favor of the main household. It infuriated her beyond measure.

After the morning greetings concluded, the others departed first. Concubine Fan hurried off to confront the Marquis, leaving only Li Shuyu and Li Qiuyue behind.

Unlike her usual soft, coquettish demeanor when alone with her younger sister, Li Qiuyue appeared meek and timid in front of Mrs. Wen. This was how the supporting female character had first appeared, and Li Shuyu saw nothing amiss. She quietly confided in Mrs. Wen, admitting that she had never properly learned the palace etiquette and feared accidentally committing a faux pas during the visit. She asked Mrs. Wen to teach her.

As she spoke, she felt a pang of guilt toward the original owner of this body, once again using her reputation for disliking studies as a shield.

Mrs. Wen didn’t seem surprised, merely resigned, and assured them she would send a governess to instruct them. She told them not to worry and to relax as much as possible.

She was anxious that the Emperor might misunderstand their treatment of the princess and wanted Li Shuyu to appear lively and charming.

Mrs. Wen then turned to Li Qiuyue with a few instructions. At seventeen, Li Qiuyue remained unmarried, and few outside the household even knew of her existence. Mrs. Wen had only just remembered to bring her into society and advised her to dress elegantly to attract potential suitors.

Li Qiuyue understood Mrs. Wen’s intentions perfectly. A faint smile touched her lips. She had long known that the only way to escape the Marquis’s household was through marriage.