Oops! The Black Lotus Can't Be a Female Supporting Character - Chapter 24
Chapter 24: Busted
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The room fell silent for a moment.
“Marriage proposal?” Madam Yin’s expression became somewhat peculiar. “Xiao Luanfei, do you know what Yiniang Cui is planning?”
As mothers, Madam Yin couldn’t understand how Concubine Cui could be so heartless.
Xiao Luanfei shook her head, revealing a hint of her daughter’s coyness. “I just saw that you and father were upset about it…”
“In the past, when Second Sister went to the village to recuperate, mother and father had a big argument. It took several months to reconcile.”
“Mother, I wish you and father could be harmonious and happy.”
Madam Yin sighed, patting her daughter’s hand, about to say something when there was some commotion outside the door.
“Second Miss, Third Young Master,” the voice of the senior maid Ying Luo came through the door, interrupting the mother-daughter conversation. “Madam and Eldest Miss are waiting inside.”
The felt curtain was gently lifted, and Xiao Yanfei entered with Xiao Ye, who was holding a small white kitten.
“Mother.” Xiao Yanfei bowed gracefully.
After arriving, she had performed this bow many times, and now it was like a reflex, elegant and natural.
Xiao Ye said with a playful smile, “Mother, Snowball is too naughty. I can’t catch it. Fortunately, Second Sister helped me catch it!”
The little Tuanzi’s chubby little face was flushed, with slightly messy strands of hair at the temples. He hastily pulled Xiao Yanfei to sit beside him.
Xiao Ye’s wet nurse, Niang Jin, offered a somewhat apologetic comment, “It seems Snowball may have frightened Concubines Cui…”
“Snowball didn’t scare Yiniang Cui at all,” Xiao Ye pouted and complained to Xiao Luanfei, “Big Sister, why did you call Yiniang Cui here?”
At that moment, the gazes of the others in the room turned towards Xiao Luanfei.
“…,” Xiao Luanfei’s face stiffened, her fingers clutching the handkerchief turning slightly pale. She felt the piercing gaze of Madam Yin falling on her face.
Xiao Ye played with the small kitten in his arms, the large ink-like eyes shining brightly. Proudly lifting his chin, he said, “I saw it when I came back from school!”
The room fell silent, and the atmosphere suddenly became tense, but Xiao Ye remained oblivious.
Xiao Yanfei wasn’t surprised by this.
She casually broke the silence, “Mother, Yiniang mentioned that she has chosen a marriage for me. She has already informed you, but you haven’t given a response. So, I came to ask you about it.”
A faint smile adorned her face, displaying composure.
It wasn’t a confrontation or a probe, just a straightforward statement.
She didn’t know if Xiao Luanfei had brought Concubine Cui to see her out of goodwill or with ulterior motives.But as a concubine-born girl in the Marquis’s residence, she was under the Madam’s authority, and honesty was a form of sincerity.
Putting herself in the shoes of someone who had just resolved a problem for someone else, she would surely feel uncomfortable if that person became intimate with the troublemaker in the blink of an eye.
“Yanfei, what are your thoughts on this?” Madam Yin stared at Xiao Yanfei with a dignified air, exuding an invisible aura of authority.
Xiao Yanfei lightly pursed her lips, elegantly folding her hands on her lap.
In her ears lingered Concubine Cui’s choked confessions from earlier: “Yan’er, Marquis Weiguo recovered, and the engagement might not happen. But where there’s one, there’s another. For the sake of the marquis’s residence, the Grand madam might choose another marriage for you. Oh, blame it on Concubine Cui’s uselessness. Her health has been deteriorating over the years, and she may not be able to take care of you in the future.”
“Concubine Cui wants to arrange a good marriage for you while she’s still in good health, to joyfully send you off. But the madam refuses.”
“Yan’er, your marriage is a significant matter. The madam shouldn’t neglect you just because she’s tired of Concubine Cui. After all, you’ve called her ‘mother’ for over a decade.”
“Ah, it’s all Concubine Cui’s fault for bringing trouble to you!”
If this were in the past, the original owner would have been moved and would have suggested going to the madam to inquire.
As Concubine Cui wished, Xiao Yanfei did exactly that.
She came to ask.
Just to ask.
As for what to do—
“I’ll listen to Mother,” Xiao Yanfei confidently declared with a charming smile.
Her smile, with radiant eyes and delicate features, resembled the evening glow on the horizon, casting a dazzling radiance.
The atmosphere in the room eased again. The twilight breeze carried a fragrant scent, gently sweeping in. A few withered flowers fell on the windowsill, on the tea table, and on Xiao Luanfei’s hand.
Xiao Luanfei remained oblivious, gazing at Xiao Yanfei blankly. After a moment, she slowly turned to look at Madam Yin.
A subtle smile appeared on Madam Yin’s face as she gracefully said, “Yanfei, for your marriage, Mother will choose carefully for you.”
She stopped right to the point, not wanting to taint the ears of the two young girls with such dirty matters.
The two girls had just reached marriageable age, at the prime of their youth, and should be living carefree days.
Xiao Yanfei kept her eyes on Madam Yin. Her gaze was clear and composed, showing no signs of avoidance, hesitation, or guilt.
In contrast, Concubine Cui, who repeatedly called her “darling” in the dream, never displayed any sincerity. In that dream, when the original owner was expelled from the Marquis’s residence, Concubine Cui was smiling; she never offered a helping hand.
Xiao Yanfei nodded firmly, “Alright!”
She trusted her own eyes, and Madam Yin was more worthy of trust.
“Good child,” Madam Yin couldn’t help but smile, softening the regal lines of her brows and eyes.
She had always felt sorry for this child. Fortunately, the child grew up and she could now understand things for herself.
The two exchanged a knowing smile, filled with unspoken understanding, along with a natural sense of affection and familiarity.
Xiao Luanfei silently gazed at Madam Yin and Xiao Yanfei. Her eyes gradually deepened, becoming bottomless, as if she could absorb all the surrounding brilliance.
“Big sister,” Xiao Ye called out, “your handkerchief fell.”
Before he could tighten his grip, the little white cat in his arms jumped out.
The kitten jumped onto the windowsill in a few bounds, meowing several times, startling the pair of magpies perched on the branch.
Xiao Ye shouted, “Snowball!” and quickly went to catch the cat.
Xiao Yanfei watched the lively Xiao Ye, a gentle smile appearing on her lips. “Mother, Yiniang said she’s unwell. She’s been in the cold wind for so long; I have to trouble Mother to find a doctor for her.”
Madam Yin smiled faintly. “It’s indeed time to get a doctor, to prevent a small illness from turning into a big one.”
Madam Yin waved for Mama Zhao to fetch Physician Li over, then instructed a senior maid, “Ying Luo, go to Concubine Cui and tell her that since she’s not feeling well, she should stay in her own room. In her free time, she can read more Buddhist scriptures and not walk around, so as not to disturb the young ladies in the mansion.”
In other words, she imposed a restriction.
Both Mama Zhao and Ying Luo responded and left.
“Prepare the meal,” Madam Yin called Xiao Ye again. “Ye, put down Snowball; it’s time for the meal.”
Because two more young ladies were joining Madam Yin and Xiao Ye for the meal, tonight’s dinner was particularly sumptuous—five dishes, soup, two plates of desserts, and a platter of mixed fruits filled the table. Full of color and fragrance.
After half an hour, Xiao Yanfei took the lead to leave after finishing her dinner.
After letting the wet nurse take Xiao Ye back to the room, only the mother and daughter, Madam Yin and Xiao Luanfei were left in the West Warm Pavilion.
“Mother…” Xiao Luanfei wanted to say something, but she saw Madam Yin raise her hand, rubbing her forehead tiredly.
“Luanfei, go back,” Madam Yin, rarely showing a stern expression, said, “Don’t go out these few days.”
Madam Yin treasured this eldest daughter and had never scolded her harshly. However, at this moment, she looked at Xiao Luanfei with disappointment, and her tone became unusually stern.
Xiao Luanfei’s nails dug into the soft pads of her fingers, leaving crescent-shaped marks.
After a pause, she obediently bowed and said, “Mother, I’ll go back first.”
Her voice was very soft, her long and thick eyelashes drooping, hiding the emotions in her eyes.
Mama Zhao personally escorted Xiao Luanfei out. When they reached the hall, she whispered, “Eldest Miss, why are you so confused!”
If Third Young Master hadn’t casually mentioned it, Mama Zhao wouldn’t have thought that the eldest girl was the one who specially asked Concubine Cui to wait here for the Second Miss.
Xiao Luanfei’s bright face hung low, the eaves above casting a shallow shadow on her expression, making it appear dim.
She whispered, “Nanny, seeing my parents not getting along, I feel uneasy in my heart.”
“Moreover, Second Sister has changed a bit. She ignores Yiniang Cui now, and I’m afraid…”
Xiao Luanfei hesitated, unable to conceal her concern.
Although Xiao Luanfei said it cryptically, Mama Zhao understood clearly: the eldest miss felt that the second miss’s temperament was somewhat too indifferent, fearing that if the Madam put in genuine efforts, she might end up at a disadvantage.
Mama Zhao, who had watched Xiao Luanfei grow up, naturally favored her and gently advised, “Eldest Miss, you don’t need to worry too much. Concubine Cui has a lot on her mind. You are still young, with little experience in such matters, and may not fully understand.”
“I see that Second Miss seems to have matured now, understanding the ways of the world. Well, it’s also Concubine Cui being too ruthless.”
After a pause, Mama Zhao added, “Eldest Miss, you go back first. I will talk to the Madam.”
Xiao Luanfei nodded and glanced towards the direction of the West Warm Pavilion before leaving the main courtyard.
The sun had completely set, and the sky darkened. Lanterns were lit throughout the mansion, resembling fireflies flickering in the night.
The night breeze rustled, carrying a chill as it tousled the strands of hair at her temples.
Restlessly, Xiao Luanfei returned to her courtyard.
Feeling agitated, she, who usually read a few pages before bed, found herself unable to concentrate tonight. Lying down, she tossed and turned, unable to sleep for a long time.
This night, her sleep was shallow, filled with continuous dreams.
In her dream, it seemed as if she had returned to her past life, where the secret of her birth was revealed…
From then on, she became utterly penniless!
She became the object of people’s gossip and ridicule, unable to establish herself in the capital or in the Marquis’s residence…
In the middle of the night, Xiao Luanfei woke up in a cold sweat, clutching the brocade quilt, sitting up in bed, startled.
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Translated By: Allthingsfluff