I Really Like the Male Supporting Character (Quick Transmigration) - Chapter 20
Ah Luo frowned in anger—not because of the crown prince’s inexplicable attitude, but because of the disrespectful way in which he referred to her husband.
“Your Imperial Highness, however my husband treats me should not be any concern of yours. I ask you to show us some respect. As the crown prince, how could you insult a loyal subject of the empire in such a way?”
Watching the furrowed brows and the disapproval in her gaze, Gu Xiuyan’s eyes darkened as he replied—answering a different question altogether, “So, he truly treats you well.”
The young girl who had once been completely devoted to him now had someone else in her heart and mind.
Realising this made Gu Xiuyan suddenly feel a suffocating tightness in his chest. Even though he had anticipated this possibility, seeing her defend Wenren Jin made it impossible for him to control the fury churning in his mind.
“Insult him? Isn’t he blind? Since it’s the truth, how could it be wrong for me to say so?” A fit of impulse pushed him to sneer coldly at her words and step closer to her. “He is indeed blind and only ended up with you because he picked up what I discarded. Otherwise, would anyone have married him? Would anyone have borne his child?”
Gu Xiuyan towered over Ah Luo, and as he was angry, he seemed particularly menacing.
Ah Luo, who was still holding her daughter, slowly backed away. She had no idea why the crown prince had suddenly come to confront her. However, if his purpose was to anger her, he had succeeded.
As Gu Xiuyan belittled Wenren Jin, Ah Luo trembled with fury. She struggled to keep herself composed and not to lash back.
She could see that Gu Xiuyan was clearly enraged. Considering she was dealing with an unpredictable and physically imposing man, while also holding her sleeping daughter and carrying another child in her womb, retreating was the safest choice.
Seeing her silence, Gu Xiuyan’s anger cooled slightly. He took her quietness as tacit consent. When he looked at her slightly pale face, he suddenly softened his tone and showed her a touch of pity. He said, “Yan’er, all these years of marriage with him must have been hard on you, right?”
Ah Luo didn’t say anything. She just took another step back under his gaze.
“Do you regret not marrying me back then?” Gu Xiuyan finally asked the question buried deepest in his heart.
He hoped she would say yes, that she regretted it—that would mean that she still thought of him, though her fate had cruelly forced her away from him.
Ah Luo didn’t want to answer him. However, at this moment, Suisui suddenly stirred and woke up while rubbing her eyes.
The little girl, with wide, deer-like eyes, looked at her mother and then curiously at the unfamiliar man in front of them.
“Mommy, who is this uncle?” Suisui asked in her little voice. She yawned cutely and muttered, “I miss Daddy. Why hasn’t he come to take us home?”
Ah Luo lowered her head and gently comforted her daughter. She said, “Suisui, go back to sleep. Daddy will be here soon.”
After all these years, Ah Luo had only grown more beautiful. Her features had matured, and now, as a mother, she radiated a gentle warmth. As she spoke softly with her daughter, tenderness filled her expression.
This sight pierced Gu Xiuyan’s heart. He suddenly thought of his own only son, Gu Tingyan.
Gu Tingyan was born prematurely. When Su Baiwei was eight months pregnant with him, she suffered a severe fall during a dispute over Gu Xiuyan’s visit to Song Rulan’s quarters. Due to the fall, she gave birth early to a frail child who weighed less than four pounds. (1-34)
Perhaps heaven intended it that way, to tell him that his son was destined to never have a good mother. Su Baiwei struggled to care for herself, let alone raise a weak child. After several life-threatening incidents in her care, Gu Xiuyan sent Tingyan to Song Rulan to ensure the boy’s survival.
Staring at the rosy face of the little girl in front of him, Gu Xiuyan felt a mixture of emotions.
What if… What if he hadn’t broken off the engagement and chosen Su Luoyan instead? Would his child be as healthy and adorable as this girl?
At this moment, Gu Xiuyan could no longer deceive himself. The one who truly regretted all along had been him.
He abruptly moved forward and grabbed her slender wrist. “Yan’er, if I tell you I regret what I did, would you be willing to come back to me? Would you be willing to be my wife?”
Ah Luo was stunned to hear his words. His tight grip on her hand made it hard for her to steady Suisui in her embrace.
Thankfully, Suisui was a very sensible girl. She quickly slid down from her mother’s arms and instead clutched her leg. She blinked her widened eyes at the strange and scary uncle in front of her.
Suisui had also heard his words. Before Ah Luo could respond, the little girl declared, “Uncle, my mommy belongs to my daddy. She will never be your wife!”
Gu Xiuyan ignored her and continued gripping Ah Luo’s hand, as if he was determined to force an answer from her.
“You, you… Let go of my hand first,” Ah Luo said.
Ah Luo was caught in a dilemma. She was sure now that something was deeply wrong with this man; he still couldn’t let her, a mere side character in his life, go. Giving an answer that might provoke him could endanger her and her daughter, but she couldn’t lie and agree either.
As she wavered, a delighted shout from Suisui rang out. “Daddy!”
Ah Luo looked up at the sound. In the shadowed lantern light, a tall, slender man approached them. He was dressed in a white robe like pure snow and appeared almost divine as he emerged from the darkness with a gentle, radiant aura.
Her heart thudded softly. A warm wave of relief and faint joy flooded over her and wrapped her in a sense of safety.
Hearing his daughter’s voice, Wenren Jin paused and then quickened his steps to close the distance.
Gu Xiuyan, who was still stunned, glared at him. He said, “Wenren Jin? How did you find us?”
Suisui called out at the top of her lungs, “Daddy, hurry, hit him! He’s a bad guy, he’s bullying Mommy!”
Her childish voice cut into the ears of all three adults present, and while Ah Luo remained calm, the faces of the two men changed entirely.
Gu Xiuyan feared his reputation would suffer if anyone overheard, while Wenren Jin’s expression turned harsh. Blind as he was, he relied on sound to identify his position and, driven by urgency, struck directly toward Gu Xiuyan’s voice.
The blow landed without warning, and Gu Xiuyan stumbled back. He reeled from the unexpected strength and finally collided painfully against a pillar.
He sat on the ground and groaned in pain. He didn’t expect Wenren Jin to possess such martial skills. Even with his military training, he couldn’t immediately get back on his feet after receiving a hit from Wenren Jin.
However, no one on that scene cared for him at the moment. Ah Luo threw herself into Wenren Jin’s arms and stroked his pale face while softly and repeatedly reassuring him.
“Ah Yu, don’t be afraid. I’m all right. I’m perfectly fine.”
His fingers were cold as he clutched her tightly. His amber eyes were filled with fear and worry.
Ah Luo could hear the raw rasp in his voice as he murmured her name repeatedly. “Ah Luo… Ah Luo, I’m sorry I was late…”
His voice melted her heart. Despite the current situation, she pressed her lips to his, then his forehead.
Wenren Jin had many fears about her and their daughter’s safety. Moreover, she was also pregnant. During this pregnancy—Ah Luo’s second pregnancy, he’d been endlessly cautious, even when there was no reason to worry.
Ah Luo knew this was because Wenren Jin cared about her and because he loved her to the core. She couldn’t imagine how he would react if anything ever happened to her—he’d likely go mad.
The kiss did the trick; Wenren Jin’s tension slowly subsided, and he regained his usual calm composure.
Ah Luo took his hand and whispered, “It’s all right, really. He only said a few words to me. Let’s go home—I’m feeling quite tired.”
After she said this, she yawned.
Wenren Jin bent down, lifted her in his arms, and said hoarsely, “All right, sleep now. I’ll take you home.”
“Mommy, Daddy, let’s go home!” Suisui, who was undisturbed after practically being ignored, trotted along. She walked while clutching the edge of Wenren Jin’s robe, her little footsteps pattering as she followed her father’s strides.
Their family ignored Gu Xiuyan entirely, as though he weren’t even there.
This disregard seemed unlike the courteous Wenren Jin, but when it came to matters involving his wife and daughter, the usually gentle man could be decidedly firm.
Before they exited, Ah Luo whispered over Wenren Jin’s shoulder to the black-robed figure sitting in disarray behind them. She said, “Your Imperial Highness, I have never regretted marrying my husband. Even if I could go back to the past, I would choose him again. I love him—not just because he’s my husband, but because he is the man that he is—Wenren Jin.”
Wenren Jin’s lashes trembled, and his steps halted. For a moment, he held his breath.
“Let’s go,” Ah Luo said while tugging lightly on his sleeve. They left together after that.
Outside, Ah Luo saw a middle-aged eunuch who had waited for them discreetly. The eunuch silently guided them to the palace exit.
The emperor’s birthday banquet had ended, and several guests were leaving the palace. They saw the white-robed, dark-haired young man holding his wife tenderly in his arms, treating her like a precious treasure. A few women couldn’t help gazing at them in envy.
Ah Luo didn’t concern herself with what happened to the crown prince after that night. Back at the marquis’ residence, it took her the entire night to calm Wenren Jin down.
From then on, he became her constant shadow. He stuck to her everywhere she went.
Wenren Jin’s blindness had always been a sore point for him, and the night’s events had only worsened his fears. Though he kept his calm appearance, he would often call Ah Luo’s name suddenly, and he would only relax once she had responded.
Ah Luo could clearly see his worry, but she didn’t say anything. She simply stayed by his side. She told him whenever she went somewhere or did something to give him all the sense of security he needed.
After a few days of this routine, just as their life was returning to normal, she heard startling news.
The emperor intended to depose the crown prince!
It wasn’t because of the events that night. Apparently, after the banquet, the emperor held a private gathering with some imperial family members and trusted court officials.
Among them were the crown prince’s maternal family, the Song family, and General Song Renzhou, who had only recently returned to the capital.
The emperor’s intentions were clear: he wanted to reclaim the military power from the Song family, and this private banquet was merely a test.
At the gathering, the emperor suggested that General Song, who had served the empire with distinction, was now at an age where he should retire to enjoy his life.
Song Renzhou replied respectfully. He expressed that while he was still strong and capable of serving, if the emperor had a promising successor in mind, he would gladly step aside.
His phrasing framed the event clearly as the emperor driving him out and making room for someone else in his stead.
Everyone else knew that Song Renzhou and the emperor were playing a subtle political game with their conversation. However, the crown prince, who was ever blind to the political signals, stood up and defended his uncle.
The emperor saw that the Song family had no intention of relinquishing their military power—at least not the easy way. The gathering ended on a sour note.
This was what happened at that private banquet. When that banquet ended, everyone left, except for the crown prince, who was called to stay.
No one knew what was said between him and the emperor, but by the following morning, the emperor angrily announced his intent to depose the crown prince, though he was then dissuaded by his court officials.