The Fragile Supporting Lady Is Too Clingy - Chapter 9

Li Qiuyue arrived outside Fuguang Courtyard in Li Shuyu’s sedan chair.

This was her first time visiting Fuguang Courtyard, and she couldn’t help but marvel, truly befitting the residence of the household’s only legitimate young miss.

It was at least three times larger than her own, with a lotus pond meticulously tended beneath the veranda, pristine and delicate. The maids and servants each attended to their duties diligently, with no one idling about in gossip, and they treated Li Shuyu, their mistress, with the utmost reverence.

How wonderful. Was this the difference between a legitimate daughter and a concubine-born one?

Li Qiuyue was lost in thought when her fingers were suddenly grasped.

Li Shuyu turned her head, her face adorned with an obedient smile, brimming with eagerness as she said, “Come, let me help you inside to rest. You’re still unwell and need more rest.”

Just then, a maid hurried out from inside and whispered something into Li Shuyu’s ear. As the maid prepared to curtsey, she noticed that the one accompanying her mistress was none other than Second Miss Li Qiuyue. Her eyes froze for a moment before a flicker of disdain surfaced. She gave a hasty bow and stepped aside without another word.

This maid was Haitang, the one who had witnessed Li Qiuyue’s fall into the water. Haitang was born into the household. her mother served as a matron under the Lady of Pingyang Marquisate and had been raised to recognize only the principal wife, with no regard for concubines or their children.

After hearing Haitang’s words, Li Shuyu looked surprised. “Mother is here?”

“Yes, my lady. The mistress is waiting for you inside. Please hurry in.”

“Understood. Second Sister, shall we go in together?”

At the mention of the Lady of Pingyang Marquisate’s presence, Li Qiuyue’s delicate face paled. Still young, she couldn’t help but feel uneasy in the face of this deeply biased mother.

A concubine-born daughter moving into the courtyard of the legitimate young miss was already highly improper. If the mistress decided to punish her for it, it would be entirely justified…

Li Qiuyue thought she had once again fallen into Li Shuyu’s trap. Her peach-blossom eyes shimmered with aggrieved mist.

She lowered her head without a word, but her hand was unconsciously gripped tighter.

“Mother is here. Shouldn’t we go in to pay our respects, as is proper?”

Li Shuyu was still somewhat unfamiliar with etiquette, but Li Qiuyue turned her face away, unwilling to speak to her.

Seeing this, Haitang grew even more irritated with this concubine-born young miss. No wonder her mistress disliked her, she had no manners whatsoever. Still, she quickly stepped forward to remind them, “The mistress has been waiting for you for some time, my lady. You really ought to go in and pay your respects. Since Second Miss knows the mistress is here, she should go as well.”

Li Shuyu didn’t mind whether the supporting female lead acknowledged her or not. It was only natural, she was the villainess, and Li Shuyu was the cannon-fodder villainess who had driven her to become one.

After bullying her for years, of course she wouldn’t want to talk.

Li Shuyu held onto that soft, delicate hand, gently rubbing it twice. “Just follow me. I’ll speak to Mother.”

Li Qiuyue remained silent.

She was pulled inside, where the stern and biased mistress sat, her sharp gaze sweeping over her.

A suffocating tightness gripped Li Qiuyue’s chest as she lowered her head and performed a proper bow. “Qiuyue pays her respects to Mother.”

Li Shuyu followed suit, though her unfamiliarity with the motions made her movements appear slightly comical.

“Shuyu pays her respects to Mother.”

Madam Wen’s expression toward Li Qiuyue was cold and scrutinizing, but the moment she turned to Li Shuyu, she immediately rose with a smile and helped her up. “My dear Yu’er, so well-behaved! But between mother and daughter in private, there’s no need for such formalities. Haven’t I told you this before? Why have you forgotten now?”

She flicked Li Shuyu’s forehead lightly, her smile overflowing with doting affection.

Having the emperor’s daughter bow to me so often. aren’t you afraid it’ll shorten your lifespan?

Li Shuyu rubbed the spot where she had been flicked, letting out a crisp laugh. The hand that had been holding Li Qiuyue suddenly loosened, causing a pang of unease in Li Qiuyue’s heart. But then that same hand landed on her waist, pulling her close as Li Shuyu turned to face the mistress of Pingyang Marquis’s household, her voice sweet and clear, “Mother, the maids in Second Sister’s courtyard aren’t taking good care of her. I’d like to have her stay with me for a few days.”

Wen-shi, unaware that the original soul had been replaced, had been doting on her these past days, fulfilling her maternal duties to the fullest. The child who had never experienced a mother’s love was utterly enchanted, and so Li Shuyu had come to regard Wen-shi as half a mother.

Her eyes sparkled with anticipation.

Wen-shi paused, her smile fading slightly as she asked softly, “Yu’er, do you like Second Miss now?”

The Pingyang Marquis’s household had always indulged Li Shuyu. Previously, Second Miss had been the least favored, simply because she didn’t get along with Li Shuyu.

Not getting along with her meant not getting along with the Old Madam, the Marquis, or the Madam, naturally, she was treated harshly.

But if the two were on good terms again…

The entire household’s attitude would shift.

Even if Wen-shi didn’t care for Second Miss, she was willing to humor her own daughter.

Li Shuyu led Li Qiuyue, pressing her down onto the opulent canopy bed that belonged to the original owner, before turning back to say, “Yes. Your daughter was spoiled and willful in the past and wronged Second Sister. Now, I just want to make it up to her.”

Wen-shi reached out to gently stroke Li Shuyu’s head, disagreeing, “You were never spoiled or willful. Don’t be too hard on yourself.”

Li Shuyu knew the Li family had an enormous bias in favor of the original owner, so she didn’t argue further, simply smiling sweetly.

Even before her illness, she had enjoyed playing the obedient child in front of elders, this habit, at least, aligned perfectly.

Wen-shi felt even more that the princess she had raised was turning out splendidly, growing more pleased with her by the minute.

After a long pause, she continued, “But your Second Sister is still ill. What if you catch her sickness? You’d have to drink that bitter medicine again. Why not wait until Second Miss recovers before staying together?”

Li Qiuyue had perched only half her weight on the edge of the bed, poised to leave at any moment.

Li Shuyu frowned, reluctant. “But the whole point is for me to take care of Second Sister, that’s why we should stay together.”

Wen-shi’s hand stilled imperceptibly as she scrutinized Li Qiuyue behind her daughter, unable to discern how she had won Yu’er’s favor.

Ah, well. She’s still just a girl, prone to whims. If it makes her happy, then so be it. After all, the Emperor had ordered them to indulge her. At worst, they could just have the imperial physician prescribe more restorative tonics.

Wen-shi smiled and agreed.

Li Qiuyue, who had been half-risen, settled back onto the bed, her expression still dazed.

She had expected to be teased and then driven out…

Instead, it was Li Shuyu who saw the Madam off before returning to urge her to lie down and rest.

Even if she had never been here before, she knew this must be Li Shuyu’s room and the bed, hers.

The young woman hesitated slightly but, unable to resist the repeated urging, finally lay down. A dark thought suddenly crossed her mind: If she, sick as she was, slept in Li Shuyu’s bed, would it worsen her illness?

Li Shuyu, satisfied to see her lying obediently, said, “I’ll go hurry them with your medicine. I’ll be right back wait for me.”

Her voice was full of tenderness, as if she truly meant to make amends.

But… was that possible?

Could the pampered, golden young mistress really believe she had done wrong?

Li Qiuyue’s eyes showed a hint of bewilderment as her hand unconsciously touched her stomach. She had drunk the tea Li Shuyu handed her today without feeling any discomfort so, had Li Shuyu not put anything in the tea?

Soon, Li Shuyu returned with a steaming bowl of pitch-black medicinal brew, followed by Jinkui, who had just finished preparing the concoction.

Jinkui bowed to Li Qiuyue, who was sitting on the bed, then stepped aside, allowing her mistress to eagerly present her “gift.”

Li Qiuyue was still somewhat uneasy about this sudden kindness, keeping her head lowered and barely daring to look at her. When the medicine was offered, she drank it without hesitation. a thick, bitter brew, the most revolting thing in the world.

Yet, even something this unpleasant had once been beyond her wildest hopes.

After finishing the medicine, the supporting female lead sat dazedly on the bed, lost in thought, when suddenly a fair, delicate hand opened before her, revealing something in its palm.

Li Qiuyue looked up in confusion, she didn’t recognize it.

Li Shuyu spoke to her softly, “This is candied fruit. Was the medicine too bitter? Have a piece to sweeten your mouth.”

The young girl’s eyes gradually brightened as the small piece of candied fruit was placed into her mouth, its sweetness spreading from her tongue to her throat.

So this was the taste of candied fruit…

It was truly delicious.