The Villain Has A Yuri Halo [Quick Transmigration] - Chapter 60: World 4

Winter was the most difficult season to endure. In the blink of an eye, the winter solstice had arrived. Every household in Shangyang Village was busy boiling steaming dumplings, except for one family who were cooking plump, white glutinous rice balls instead. This was because the Fu Family weren’t long-established residents of Shangyang Village; they were said to have come from the south and settled here.

“Xiao Ju, take this bowl of rice balls to Zhiqing.”

“Today, you may rest in Zhiqing’s room.”

The woman speaking had delicate features and an air of scholarly refinement. Her articulate speech revealed her literacy and cultured background. Yet her sharp gaze and commanding presence dispelled any impression of fragility, making her seem unapproachable.

The “Xiao Ju” she mentioned was a young girl Fu Wanbai had purchased from a slave trader just a month prior. Around thirteen or fourteen years old, Xiao Ju’s sallow complexion and frail appearance suggested she was nearing the end of her life. This was why Fu Wanbai had acquired the sickly, mute girl for a meager sum.

The name “Xiao Ju” was utterly perfunctory. The slave trader had simply glanced at a wild tangerine tree by the roadside and given her that name.

Fu Wanbai had several reasons for buying Xiao Ju. First, because she was mute, she would obediently stay with the Fu Family. Second, hearing Xiao Ju’s name, Fu Wanbai knew she had been purchased from the south; wild orange trees were exceedingly rare in the Shangyang Village area.

Her stern gaze locked onto the girl standing before her, head bowed in silent submission. Seeing that fair, delicate face, Fu Wanbai couldn’t help but feel a pang of worry.

She had initially thought Xiao Ju was plain-looking, never imagining that beneath the layer of muddy grime lay such striking beauty. If she possessed such allure even at this young age, what would she become in the future?

“Xiao Ju!”

Fu Wanbai’s voice rose slightly, intending to intimidate.

“Remember this,” she said, “you belong to the Fu Family. Your fate is bound to my daughter’s for life. If you ever harbor disloyal thoughts, don’t blame our family’s discipline!”

Fu Wanbai feared that Xiao Ju’s beauty might breed ambition. The Fu Family no longer enjoyed its former glory, and she worried that after her death, her daughter Fu Zhiqing would be left without proper care. Hence, her repeated warnings.

Li Ju slowly raised her head, her watery eyes filled with fear. She bit her lip and nodded obediently, too afraid to protest.

Fu Wanbai withdrew her gaze and filled the other bowl with sesame dumplings, though not as many as Zhiqing’s.

“Go now. Take these back to your room and eat with Zhiqing.”

Li Ju carefully carried the two bowls of dumplings. As she stepped over the threshold, she shyly revealed a sweet smile, the vibrant color on her cheeks hinting at the future allure of a blossoming beauty. For now, she was merely a bud on the verge of blooming.

Fu Wanbai sighed wistfully, unsure whether keeping Li Ju in the household was a blessing or a curse.

But what more could the fallen Fu Family fear?

Tch. The Fu Family had already suffered three years of misfortune. Like a body riddled with lice, they were beyond caring about another itch. Even if Li Ju proved to be a troublemaker, it would simply be another calamity the Fu Family couldn’t escape.

Over the past three years, Fu Wanbai had seen the true nature of human warmth and coldness. Even the man beside her pillow had turned out to be a ravenous beast. Who could she trust now?

Her heart ached for her daughter. In this prosperous era, Zhiqing had been granted the opportunity to take the Women’s Imperial Examination. Yet her frail body couldn’t support her soaring ambitions, leaving her stranded at the Scholar level, unable to advance even a single step further.

The smoke rising from the stove stung Fu Wanbai’s eyes, bringing tears to her face. Li Ju didn’t notice her mother’s sorrow; she was too busy carefully carrying the dumplings to Zhiqing.

She nudged the wooden door open with her head, then lifted the heavy cloth curtain with her shoulder, finally managing to enter the bedroom.

Fu Zhiqing was petite, her frame delicate, with barely any softness to her cheeks—a testament to the hardships she had endured. As she reclined against the bed, she blushed slightly as she reached for the two bowls of tangyuan, her throat clearing with a suppressed cough.

Li Ju gently evaded her hand, shaking her head with a soft, apologetic look.

In the end, Li Ju placed the two steaming bowls of tangyuan on the low kang table and brought Fu Zhiqing warm water to wash her hands.

Fu Zhiqing smiled wryly, a hint of pity flickering in her eyes at Li Ju’s stubborn gaze.

After washing her hands in the warm water, Fu Zhiqing’s slender, pale jade fingers flushed with a delicate pink, making them look exceptionally beautiful, like a carved jade sculpture.

Leaning back against the soft pillows, Fu Zhiqing tapped her forehead and said in a gentle, slow voice, “Come here. Your bangs are a mess.”

Li Ju covered her forehead, her face flushing crimson. She must have disheveled her hair when she pushed the door open with her head earlier.

“Come here,” Fu Zhiqing repeated.

Li Ju hesitantly approached, her long, dark lashes fluttering nervously. Fu Zhiqing watched her, her fingertips gently smoothing Li Ju’s disheveled bangs. “What did Mother say to you?” she asked softly.

Li Ju shot Fu Zhiqing a quick glance before lowering her gaze, her small face adopting a look of aggrieved innocence. It was as if she were silently accusing Fu Zhiqing: You know I can’t speak, so why are you making me repeat things?

Fu Zhiqing gently tapped Li Ju’s hand, her eyes filled with inquiry. “Do you remember the sign language I taught you a few days ago?”

Li Ju felt a sense of foreboding. She swallowed hard. Damn it, a surprise attack!

She hadn’t expected the frail female lead to know sign language! Now, Li Ju not only had to care for Fu Zhiqing but also learn sign language from her every day.

My life is so hard!

System 666 finally proved useful. With its off-screen assistance, Li Ju’s performance greatly pleased Fu Zhiqing.

Fu Zhiqing instinctively reached for her pouch to reward Li Ju with malt candy, but then she remembered it had been empty for a long time. The children who used to pester her for stories hadn’t visited the Fu Family in ages.

Seeing Fu Zhiqing staring blankly at her pouch, Li Ju signed with her fingers:

Fu Zhiqing smiled wistfully. “I was just thinking about old times.”

Li Ju understood immediately and didn’t press further. She pointed at the plump, white tangyuan, urging Fu Zhiqing to eat quickly.

A nostalgic glint flickered in Fu Zhiqing’s eyes. “It’s been so long since I’ve had Mother’s tangyuan. Now that you’re here, Li Ju, it reminds me of those lively days I’ve missed so much. No wonder Mother made tangyuan today—it’s all thanks to you.”

Li Ju tilted her head. Seeing the vibrant, beautiful Li Ju was like a withered flower catching a glimpse of its former glory. It rekindled a spark of life in Fu Zhiqing’s frail body, igniting a childlike competitive spirit. She wanted Li Ju to see her at her best, not in her current weakened state.

As Fu Zhiqing reminisced, Li Ju bit into a soft, chewy tangyuan. The sesame filling was fragrant and sweet, each bite banishing worries to the back of her mind. She smiled contentedly, her eyes curving into crescents, while listening to Fu Zhiqing’s words.

Li Ju didn’t actually care for sesame-filled tangyuan, but their current circumstances didn’t allow for pickiness. Without hesitation, she ate a second one. Sweet treats were simply too delicious!

“Don’t you think the sweet dumplings Mother made are delicious?” Fu Zhiqing asked.

Fu Zhiqing’s bowl held more dumplings than Li Ju’s, so she thoughtfully scooped a few into Li Ju’s bowl. Though her chronic illness had dimmed the luster of her crescent-shaped brows and starry eyes, Fu Zhiqing’s refined grace was ingrained in her very bones. Even in her weakened state, every movement she made was elegant and composed.

“Why are you staring at me?”

“Eat.”

Li Ju stopped chewing, glancing shyly at her bowl and then at Fu Zhiqing. She shook her head timidly, pointing toward the kitchen to indicate that Fu Wanbai had instructed her not to eat anything Fu Zhiqing offered.

Fu Zhiqing chuckled. “Mother can’t see us. If I give it to you, just eat it.”

Li Ju shook her head again.

Fu Zhiqing’s expression hardened, her gaze sharp. “Eat! If you don’t, you won’t be sleeping in my room tonight.”

Li Ju’s eyes widened in alarm. That wouldn’t do at all! If Fu Zhiqing refused to let her sleep in the room, she’d be forced to sleep in the woodshed. All because her mother had suddenly decided to make her share a room with Fu Zhiqing!

It seemed Fu Zhiqing already knew about this arrangement. Why had she even bothered asking Li Ju earlier? What a pointless question!

Li Ju hurriedly buried her face in her bowl of tangyuan, focusing intently on eating without looking up. This left Fu Zhiqing with nothing to see but the wooden hairpin in her hair.

Fu Zhiqing’s delicate brows relaxed slightly, but she suddenly turned her head and coughed.

Li Ju’s worry deepened. Why was she coughing out of nowhere?

A deep-seated hatred flared in Fu Zhiqing’s steady eyes. If not for that drowning incident years ago, she would never have contracted this illness. From that day forward, the Fu Family’s fortunes had spiraled downward. Her health deteriorated steadily, and she had nearly died in bed several times. Her illness had driven Fu Wanbai to the brink of tears, almost blinding her. The once-thriving Fu Family had inexplicably fallen into this dire state. Why?

Li Ju knelt beside the bed, supporting Fu Zhiqing as she coughed, clutching her chest. With practiced ease, she retrieved cough medicine from her pouch and held it to Fu Zhiqing’s lips.

Her calm presence offered Fu Zhiqing a sense of reassurance. No matter how disheveled Fu Zhiqing became, Li Ju showed no sign of unease.

This unwavering composure was precisely what Fu Zhiqing needed most in that moment.

Fu Zhiqing lifted her gloomy gaze to meet Li Ju’s eyes. Gone was her earlier refined composure; now, her voice was as lifeless as her heart as she said, “Xiao Ju, I won’t live much longer. Before I die, I’ll make sure you’re taken care of. You’re still young; you shouldn’t waste your life in the Fu Family. I’ll have Mother return your indenture, and then you’ll be free.”

The veins stood out on the back of her thin hand as she gripped Li Ju’s sleeve with surprising strength.

Day after day, Fu Zhiqing soaked in medicinal baths, her life a bitter, lightless existence.

Finally encountering the vibrant, youthful Li Ju, Fu Zhiqing desperately wanted to draw closer, as if doing so would transform her from a lifeless husk into someone brimming with health and vitality.

Li Ju remained composed, her gaze as gentle as ever.

Mother won’t let me leave.

Li Ju’s sign language vocabulary was limited, and she had only recently met Fu Zhiqing, so she could only express herself with this simple phrase.

Fu Zhiqing stubbornly insisted, “When I die, Mother will let you go.”

Li Ju smiled faintly but didn’t reply, instead tenderly helping Fu Zhiqing drink water and take her medicine.

Being mute allowed Li Ju to selectively respond—a small comfort in her difficult life.

Fu Zhiqing leaned against Li Ju’s slender frame, closing her eyes wearily and refusing to speak of their earlier conversation.

Li Ju patted her back rhythmically, a gentle, comforting gesture.

When one is at their most vulnerable, such warmth can be overwhelming. Tears welled in the corners of Fu Zhiqing’s eyes. She resented her fate and felt deep guilt toward Li Ju, believing she had condemned the younger woman to a life of servitude. She clearly disapproved of Fu Wanbai’s actions. Why arrange a marriage for someone on the verge of death?

Yet Fu Wanbai had heard some supposed cure: that a man’s excessive yang energy would harm Fu Zhiqing’s already frail constitution. Since a man was out of the question, a woman would have to do. Thus, Li Ju was purchased.

Li Ju sensed Fu Zhiqing’s tears, and her heart stirred—not for Fu Zhiqing, but for herself. Their fates were inextricably linked; if Fu Zhiqing died, Li Ju would not survive either.

In the original plot, Fu Zhiqing suffered another severe illness. The physician declared she wouldn’t make it this time and advised Fu Wanbai to prepare for the worst.

Fu Wanbai was heartbroken and disillusioned. She thought of Xiao Ju, who had failed to save her own daughter. If even their daughters couldn’t survive, what was the point of their own lives?

Driven to madness, Fu Wanbai plotted to poison herself.

But Li Ju had a premonition. Instead of waiting for death, she packed her belongings and prepared to flee.

Then, unexpectedly, Fu Zhiqing’s condition improved. She gradually recovered.

Fu Wanbai attributed this miraculous recovery entirely to Li Ju, treating her like her own daughter. The earlier “marriage proposal” was dismissed as a joke, and from that day forward, Li Ju became Fu Wanbai’s second daughter.

Later, Fu Zhiqing passed the imperial examination. The once-desolate Fu Family mansion transformed into a bustling hub of celebration. Countless well-wishers flocked to offer congratulations, and even her estranged biological father, who had voluntarily divorced Fu Wanbai, returned.

Fu Zhiqing scoffed at this sudden change. The only people she truly accepted were Fu Wanbai and Li Ju.

As Fu Zhiqing prepared to travel to the capital for the imperial examination, she rescued a man dressed in luxurious robes and adorned with fine jade—Zhang Huizhou, the male lead.

Unlike Fu Zhiqing, who had endured hardship before finding happiness, Zhang Huizhou was a walking good luck charm. He encountered noble benefactors wherever he went, saved only noble benefactors, and even a stumble would lead to a noble hand steadying him.

It was this Zhang Huizhou who fell head over heels for Fu Zhiqing at first sight. The noble ladies of the capital were humiliated to see their beloved Zhang Huizhou smitten with an obscure young woman who had come to the capital to take the Imperial Examination. They vowed to dig up every secret about Fu Zhiqing, no matter how deeply buried!

Their investigation revealed Fu Zhiqing’s scandalous nature. Not only did she indulge in affairs with women, but she also had affairs with men, having already ensnared Zhang Huizhou. How could such a woman possibly be worthy of Zhang Huizhou?

Driven by jealousy and resentment, they schemed to bribe Li Ju, hoping the former wife would expose Fu Zhiqing’s hypocrisy and finally make Zhang Huizhou give up on her.

Did Li Ju agree?

Of course she refused.

She would never forget how Fu Wanbai had tried to poison her to death. No matter how much Fu Wanbai and Fu Zhiqing pretended to care for her, they still owed her! Now that an opportunity to improve her social standing had presented itself, Li Ju wasn’t foolish enough to help outsiders harm Fu Zhiqing. She had no reason to reject this chance to climb the social ladder.

Did she hate Fu Zhiqing? Naturally, she did. A wife was a wife—what was the meaning of being demoted to a “sister”? It was nothing but contempt! How utterly ridiculous!

Li Ju hated Fu Wanbai most of all. Why wouldn’t she help cure her muteness when she had more than enough money? All that talk about treating her like a daughter—utter lies!

Now Fu Zhiqing, that sickly girl, had caught the eye of Zhang Huizhou, a scholar from a prestigious family. Li Ju was seething with resentment. How could Fu Zhiqing, that frail invalid, be so lucky?

But Li Ju would never agree to be manipulated by outsiders. She still planned to climb to the top by stepping over Fu Zhiqing.

However, Zhang Huizhou’s popularity with women was overwhelming. Even if Li Ju refused to cooperate, they had backup plans!

Fu Zhiqing’s hand was injured, ending her chances of a career in the civil service.

Zhang Huizhou’s act of delivering medicine only worsened her situation, making her even more vulnerable to the hidden schemes.

Watching Zhang Huizhou ruin her dreams of a better life, Li Ju thought: If Fu Zhiqing had never met him, she might have passed the imperial exams! Why did she have to suffer so miserably because of Zhang Huizhou’s beautiful female companions?

Now, the person Li Ju hated most was Zhang Huizhou. He had shattered her hopes. This cursed man, who only brought misfortune, deserved to die!

When he died, his arms were twisted, and his lips were dark purple—a sign of poisoning.

Zhang Huizhou’s death sent shockwaves through the ranks of the powerful and influential. His “golden carp” luck had brought them countless benefits, so Li Ju, the woman who killed him, was imprisoned in the Ministry of Justice’s dungeon for five days before being executed.

The day before her execution, Fu Zhiqing visited Li Ju, bringing fine wine and delicacies.

“You won’t be alone on your final journey tomorrow,” Fu Zhiqing told her.

Li Ju didn’t understand, nor did she imagine Fu Zhiqing would accompany her in death.

I’ll drink the wine, eat the food, and die tomorrow. Then I won’t have to see Fu Zhiqing again.

But how could Li Ju know that Fu Zhiqing would follow her into the afterlife? And that Zhang Huizhou’s beloved would also be there, making the journey to the underworld quite lively indeed.

At that moment, Fu Zhiqing’s fingers flickered before Li Ju’s eyes, snapping her out of her reverie.

Her pale face lacked any healthy color, as if a mere breeze could blow her away. Li Ju couldn’t help but scrutinize Fu Zhiqing, genuinely curious why this frail, willowy woman had performed such a “heroic” act at the end.

Was it because she saw no hope for the rest of her life? Or was there another reason?

I have to admit, the female lead of this world is an incredibly complex person. Compared to her, I don’t even feel like a proper villain!

“What are you thinking about?” Fu Zhiqing asked.

Li Ju smiled foolishly, her lips pressed together, and didn’t answer.

Fu Zhiqing flicked her forehead playfully. “The tangyuan’s getting cold. Eat up.”

Fu Zhiqing had just taken her medicine and didn’t have much of an appetite, but she couldn’t bear to refuse Li Ju’s expectant gaze.

I’ll just go along with it, she thought. As long as Xiao Ju’s happy.

Suddenly, Li Ju moved, her question making Fu Zhiqing’s fair ears flush crimson.

Fu Zhiqing replied softly, “Not with me tonight. You’ll sleep in your usual room.”

Li Ju puffed out her cheeks and swallowed a lukewarm tangyuan in one gulp. Her questioning eyes earned her a light tap on the head from Fu Zhiqing. She clearly didn’t believe Fu Zhiqing could convince Fu Wanbai.

“Those big eyes of yours are quite good at scolding people,” Fu Zhiqing teased.

Li Ju lowered her head to eat her tangyuan, avoiding Fu Zhiqing’s gaze. Despite Fu Zhiqing’s firm tone, Li Ju knew that old foxes were always the wiliest. She’d wait and see how Fu Zhiqing managed to persuade Fu Wanbai.

She glanced down at her own small arms and legs, sighing softly. Then she stared at Fu Zhiqing’s slender figure, which remained graceful even under bulky winter clothes. Though slim, Fu Zhiqing was tall. Li Ju wondered if she still had a chance to grow taller herself.

Fu Zhiqing dabbed her lips with a handkerchief and turned to Li Ju. “Is that outfit warm enough?” she asked. She remembered Li Ju’s pitiful state when she first arrived—thin and pale, dressed in tattered, wind-whipped clothes. It was a harsh existence in Shangyang Village during winter, so Fu Zhiqing had given her some old clothes she’d worn only a few times. They were a bit too big, but at least they were warm.

Li Ju nodded happily. Fu Zhiqing smiled. “These were my clothes from when I was fifteen. Mother never wanted to throw them away, and I’m glad she didn’t.”

I’m already sixteen now, Fu Zhiqing thought, surprised. Time really flies.

Li Ju didn’t care that the clothes were Fu Zhiqing’s hand-me-downs. She picked up her empty porcelain bowl, ready to refill it with soup. If she couldn’t finish the tangyuan, at least she could drink the broth, right?

But her smile froze on her face. The door wouldn’t budge!

Fu Zhiqing glanced over. “What’s wrong?”

Li Ju pointed at the door and shook her head.

Fu Zhiqing stared in disbelief. “Did Mother lock the door?”

Li Ju scratched her cheek. That must be it.

Fu Zhiqing sighed in exasperation, pressing her hand to her forehead. She bent down to slip on her embroidered shoes and, forcing herself to stand, pushed against the door.

Just as Li Ju had indicated, the door wouldn’t open.

Leaning lazily against the doorframe, Fu Wanbai lowered her gaze and gently stroked Li Ju’s long, chestnut-orange hair. The two stood so close that Li Ju could detect the faint medicinal scent emanating from Fu Wanbai—a slightly bitter aroma that wasn’t particularly pleasant. Yet Li Ju found the scent oddly comforting, as if it calmed her mind.

Fu Zhiqing knocked on the door and called out in a hoarse voice, “Mother, what are you doing?”

Fu Wanbai had been monitoring the bedroom’s activity. Hearing her daughter’s voice, she emerged from the kitchen and said calmly, “Let Xiao Ju sleep in your room tonight.”

“Mother!” Fu Zhiqing’s cheeks flushed uncontrollably, adding a touch of delicate color to her pale complexion. Though naturally dignified and beautiful with striking features, her illness had left her looking gaunt.

Fu Wanbai spoke firmly, brooking no argument. “We’re family. What’s there to be embarrassed about? Listen to me and keep Xiao Ju by your side to care for you. It’ll ease my mind too.”

Fu Zhiqing’s gaze fell on Li Ju’s small face, and a bitter smile tugged at her lips. “Mother, I feel much better today. My cough has lessened. I don’t mind Li Ju caring for me, but there’s no need for her to stay overnight. What if I pass my illness to her? Wouldn’t that just add another burden to the household?”

Fu Wanbai declared firmly, her voice sharp, “I’m not afraid!”

“Why this sudden insistence on us sharing a room?”

“Madam Lü said it would be good for you.”

Fu Zhiqing, quick-witted as ever, immediately understood that Madam Lü was the one trying to arrange her marriage. Helpless, she felt Fu Wanbai had become fixated on a dead end.

“Zhiqing, after all these years of studying, you must know what you’re supposed to do next, right?”

Fu Zhiqing’s expression turned panicked. What… what am I supposed to do next?

“Mother, I don’t understand what you mean.”

Fu Wanbai scoffed coldly. “You must understand!”

Li Ju blinked in confusion and tugged at Fu Zhiqing’s sleeve.

What does Mother want you to do?

Her innocent facade hid a shrewd understanding of the situation.

No wonder she poisons people at the slightest provocation—her methods are truly ruthless!

So, everyone in this world is a villain, huh?