Chapter 5: The Empress Dowager and Her Substitute Little Lover, Part 5
The female supporting character can only become the object of the male lead’s condescending, deliberate temptation for one reason besides the old emperor’s favor: her family, the military household that commanded real power.
Perhaps thinking of that, Wei He’s expression softened a little.
“Stop making a scene.”
He rubbed his temples, already aching.
Hua Yue rolled her eyes, silently cursing that he was not dead from it.
She gave a cold smile, her exquisite brows and eyes full of indifference. “A scene? If I truly started making a scene, it would be far worse than this.”
Wei He’s face darkened as well. In a hoarse voice, he said, “Are you threatening me?”
[Host, your OOC level has reached ninety percent. If it falls below seventy percent, the world consciousness will notice. Please be careful.]
Four Zero Four suddenly appeared and startled her.
Hua Yue: “…”
What had she done?
[The original owner was a woman driven mad by love. The male lead was her life. She would never quarrel with him.]
“…”
She had nothing to say.
“Didn’t you leave? Why did you suddenly pop up?”
[The main system detected unstable factors. You are still a newcomer and require monitoring.]
“Then you can leave now. I’ll be careful.”
[…]
In the end, Xiao Su’s identity still held great value to Wei He. His expression changed several times before he finally softened a little.
“Su Su, what I promised you will not change. Don’t you trust me?”
Hua Yue wore a smile that was not a smile. “How could I not?”
“I’ll handle this matter properly. Doesn’t Su Su want to become the most noble woman in this world?”
Hua Yue felt that at this moment she should say, “I only want to be your woman.”
But after mulling it over for a long time, she could not bring herself to say it to that old-fashioned iceberg face.
She curved her lips, playing the part of someone pacified. “You’ve worked hard. I will always support you.”
The two looked into each other’s eyes.
Hua Yue smiled warmly, as if nothing were different from before.
As easy to soothe as ever.
Wei He’s gaze flickered.
Perhaps it was only his imagination.
The woman’s features were delicate; at that moment, all her attention seemed to be on him. A few loose strands of hair at her temples stirred his memory of the previous night, and his heart stirred.
Just as he lifted his hand, Hua Yue suddenly turned and left.
“I am tired. You may withdraw.”
Wei He’s hand froze in midair, awkward.
This woman was still far too petulant.
At such a crucial time, she still thought only of trivial matters like matters of the heart, heedless of everything else.
He flicked his sleeve and strode away.
...
When he emerged, Wan Jinyu bowed in salute. Refined and elegant, like polished jade, his frame was slight, yet he possessed a natural integrity.
“Your Highness.”
Seeing him, the dark chill in Wei He’s face eased somewhat.
“Minister Wan, about what happened today...”
Wan Jinyu’s gaze was clear as he answered neither servilely nor proudly, “Your servant will never speak out of turn.”
“Mm. Now that Father Emperor is gravely ill and I am handling court affairs in his stead, I have faced many obstacles. This year’s imperial examinations have only just ended, and now such a natural disaster has struck. For this journey to Qingzhou, Brother Wan, you have worked hard.”
He patted Wan Jinyu’s shoulder, surprised to find the young man so slight.
Wan Jinyu’s body stiffened. Unobtrusively, he avoided Wei He’s touch, took a step back, and bowed again.
“I would not dare. Your Highness overstates it.”
Hua Yue’s eyes flickered, and she sighed inwardly.
This Seventh Prince was trying to bind her and him together.
In this year’s examinations, she had come third.
By rights, she should have been sent out to serve as an official in the provinces, but the Seventh Prince had kept her here by special exception.
It had exceeded her expectations.
At this point, she could only take things one step at a time.
The midday sun bathed the two of them, while Hua Yue peered through the screen and watched with a tsking shake of her head.
“Not a good match.”
[The male and female leads are the children of the world’s fortune. They are the most suitable match.]
Four Zero Four said.
“Why haven’t you left yet?”
[…]
[Wishing the host a pleasant holiday.]
...
On the first day of her leave, Hua Yue went out of the palace to play.
The sun was bright.
The streets were alive with noise.
“Madam—cough, Madam, why did we just leave the palace like this? We should have brought some guards.” Qing Li followed close behind Hua Yue with a bamboo basket in hand.
“What are you afraid of? Isn’t your madam protected by you?”
Qing Li’s eyes lit up, and she declared with conviction, “Yes! I will protect Madam well.”
Hua Yue was startled by the volume and reached out to pat the little girl on the head. “Not bad.”
“Hehe.”
Qing Li watched as Hua Yue picked up another hairpin to examine it.
“Madam, this one is beautiful!”
“It is indeed not bad.”
Hua Yue’s slender, pale fingers brushed the end of the hairpin.
A plain rose-shaped pin shimmered in the sunlight, lifelike and delicate.
Qing Li paid the seller.
Hua Yue inserted the hairpin into her coiffure.
Today she wore white, her makeup elegant and restrained. She looked like a little white flower, and the hairpin in her hair was like the finishing touch, making her all the more eye-catching.
Qing Li was full of admiration, but also a little puzzled. “Madam, you usually do not like white. Why today...?”
Hua Yue lifted a brow. “I’ve just lost my husband. Of course I cannot be too bright or too ostentatious.”
Qing Li: “...”
The little girl was so startled by Hua Yue’s words that she staggered and nearly fell.
“Madam, wait for me!”
...
Not far away.
Inside a teahouse sat two young men, who just happened to hear Hua Yue’s words.
Qin Ziyan nearly choked on his tea, coughing himself half to death.
After setting down his cup and catching his breath, he pointed tremulously at Hua Yue’s retreating back, speechless.
“That isn’t ostentatious? I swear the whole street is staring at her.”
“She just lost her husband? I’m afraid she’ll have a second spring before long.”
“What do you think?”
Qin Ziyan talked to himself for a long while, but got no response.
Looking more closely, he realized his friend was still staring in the direction where the master and maid had disappeared.
He waved a hand in front of him.
“What are you looking at?”
“Hmm?”
“Have your spring feelings been stirred?”
he teased.
Seeing the man’s expression change slightly, Qin Ziyan instantly grew tense. “What is it? What happened? Did someone discover you?”
Wei Yan withdrew his gaze and gave Qin Ziyan a faint look, arms folded.
“Nothing happened.”
Qin Ziyan: “...Then why are you spacing out?”
“You’re going to interfere even when I’m spacing out? Let’s go.”
Wei Yan picked up the sword on the table and tapped Qin Ziyan’s shoulder with the scabbard’s tip before striding away.
He was impossibly dashing.
Qin Ziyan: “...”
After a moment of blankness, he reached out helplessly. “Hey, at least pay the bill first!”
...
“Qing Li.”
Hua Yue suddenly stopped.
“Madam?”
“Someone is following us.”
Qing Li froze. “They’re insane.”
Hua Yue gave a soft laugh. “Perhaps.”
The words had barely fallen when five or six men in black dropped from nowhere, swords aimed at Hua Yue with fierce, lethal precision.
“Aahhh!”
“Run!”
The nearby common folk screamed and scattered. In an instant, the bustling market was left with only a few people.
As a household-born servant of the General’s Residence, Qing Li was naturally also trained in martial arts. Once she reacted, she immediately drew the flexible sword hidden at her waist, blocking the strike aimed at Hua Yue and protecting her while steering her toward a hidden place.
The original owner’s father had naturally also prepared hidden guards for her.
At this moment, they too appeared and engaged the attackers in battle.
The sound of blades clashing rang out.