I Really Like the Male Supporting Character (Quick Transmigration) - Chapter 22

“Where is your family from, Bai Rui?” Ah Luo asked one of the maids attending to her.

The two maids serving her and her daughter were named Bai Rui and Hong Ye. Bai Rui, who seemed around fifteen, was younger and occasionally willing to speak with her, unlike Hong Ye, who was stricter and never engaged in conversation beyond her duties.

So, whenever possible, Ah Luo would keep Bai Rui close and send Hong Ye off to handle her and her daughter’s meals and chores.

It had been three days since her confinement here started, and though Ah Luo felt a gnawing anxiety, she could do nothing to escape. All she could do was suppress her worry and wait for an opportunity.

By now, she had given up on breaking out herself; with guards stationed outside, escape was near impossible. Her best hope was that someone outside would eventually learn of her predicament and come to her aid.

Respectfully, Bai Rui replied, “I’m from the capital, Miss.”

When Hong Ye was away, Ah Luo would talk to Bai Rui, and over the past few days, Ah Luo and Bai Rui had become somewhat familiar to each other. Ah Luo would sometimes ask her questions, and as long as the topic wasn’t too sensitive, Bai Rui would answer.

“Why do you work in the palace?” she asked again.

Bai Rui replied, “My father offended a noble a few years back and had his leg broken. With my mother and little brother to support, I had no choice but to enter the palace to make a living.”

Ah Luo asked a few more questions and came to understand more about Bai Rui’s past. This little girl had led a miserable life. She had entered the palace to support her family and had been assigned to serve the crown prince. Because she seemed decent and honest, the crown prince had sent her here to look after Ah Luo.

As the two were talking, they heard footsteps coming in from outside of the room. Hong Ye soon entered the room with a food box in her hand.

At the sight of Hong Ye, Bai Rui immediately fell silent. It was clear that she was afraid of Hong Ye.

Ah Luo didn’t ask any more questions, either. After Hong Ye took out her food, she began to eat quietly. She still had to take care of herself, even while held captive, especially for the child growing within her.

While she thought that, an image of her husband, dressed in his usual white clothes, surfaced in her mind.

How was he now? He must have realized she and Suisui were missing by now.

Despite his calm and composed demeanor, Ah Yu did experience fear and worry. While he might face even the collapse of mountains with an untroubled face, she knew that he, too, could be vulnerable, afraid, and even panicked.

People said that if one had no desires, one would be strong. Love, meanwhile, gave rise to worry and fear—to weakness.

Had he not loved her, he would have remained that transcendent figure, aloof and unaffected by the world’s troubles. In the original storyline, the female protagonist never shared a bed with him and was instead entangled with the crown prince, yet Wenren Jin never once showed jealousy.

Yes, Ah Luo had long realized this.

In the original storyline, Wenren Jin had never loved Su Baiwei. That was why he’d always treated her with courtesy, to the point that he silently accepted and raised the child she bore with the male protagonist—the result of her infidelity. When, in the end, the male protagonist exiled him to the frontier and made sure he would never return to the capital, he merely smiled and left gracefully in dignity.

Throughout the entire novel, he remained a man above worldly troubles—untainted, unique, unforgettable. He braved the world despite being blind. He was gorgeous, and charming with his white clothes, which were part of his charms. With all his qualities, he enchanted the readers and caused them to never forget him.

Wenren Jin in the novel had charmed the readers and Ah Luo herself.

Over time, though, Ah Luo realized that the Wenren Jin she married was not just a character from a book. In this world, he was real; he was capable of feeling insecurity, jealousy, and fear. When he revealed these hidden sides, she knew he was taking steps towards her.

She had never been the only one reaching out to him; he was also drawing closer to her, step by steady step.

She missed him deeply.

Ah Luo ate slowly, then raised a hand to wipe her eyes.

“Don’t cry, Mommy. Suisui will protect you,” her little daughter whispered to her while she used her small, soft hand to pat her face.

In return, Ah Luo patted her daughter’s head gently and said, “You’re such a good girl, Suisui.”

After lunch, drowsiness overcame her, and she lay down on a chaise to nap with Suisui. As she drifted off, she vaguely heard Hong Ye scolding Bai Rui outside.

“What were you talking about with the miss today?” They didn’t dare address Ah Luo as ‘the heir’s wife’ and had instead taken to calling her ‘the miss.’ (1-35)

Bai Rui replied, “Just idle conversation, Sister Hong Ye. I wouldn’t dare say anything improper.”

Hong Ye’s tone was stern as she said, “You’re usually sensible. Why are you talking so much now? Be careful you don’t cause trouble for yourself, lest His Imperial Highness finds out.”

“I’m sorry, Sister. It’s just that the miss is so kind that I couldn’t help but speak with her,” Bai Rui replied. Her voice grew softer as she spoke. “She’s the gentlest mistress I’ve ever met. Last night, I even heard her crying under her blanket…”

“Watch your words.” Hong Ye cut her off. “You’re only a maid. Keep your mouth shut on matters that don’t concern you.”

Soon after, Ah Luo awoke. By then, the corridor had fallen silent.

That evening, when Bai Rui helped Ah Luo prepare for bed, Ah Luo noticed she seemed more restrained than usual. It was likely because she had been reprimanded by Hong Ye. Ah Luo asked her a few questions, but Bai Rui mostly kept quiet, though she looked at her with an apologetic gaze.

Ah Luo didn’t let her feelings show. She just remained calm and remained as amicable as she usually was. That night, however, just as she was sleeping soundly, she was startled awake by someone nudging her.

When she opened her eyes, she saw a shadowy figure seated by her bed, watching her in silence.

Ah Luo gasped. In surprise, she screamed, “Ah!”

The figure spoke in a low voice, “Yan’er, don’t be afraid. It’s me.”

Ah Luo clutched her blanket tightly and propped herself up. She finally got a good look at that figure’s face. He was handsome but brooding—the crown prince.

Ah Luo tried to calm herself down. She asked, “What are you doing here?”

Gu Xiuyan’s expression was dark and unpredictable. His clothes were slightly disheveled as if he’d arrived in a hurry, and even his hair ornament was askew.

He had just come from visiting Su Baiwei.

After officially assuming regency, he’d brought Su Baiwei back to the palace, where her presence reminded him of the fond moments they had once shared. However, the closer they became, the more her irrational fits of jealousy grated on him.

Each time, he would find himself thinking of Su Luoyan, which had led him here in the dead of night.

“I just wanted to see you, Yan’er. Don’t be afraid. I won’t touch you. When we are married, only then will you be my wife in every way,” Gu Xiuyan murmured. There was a hint of longing and tenderness in his gaze. “I’ve heard you’ve been sleeping often lately? Is it because this place is too dull?”

Ah Luo simply shook her head without saying anything.

Gu Xiuyan interpreted her silence as acquiescence and said, “I’m sorry for it, but it’s only temporary. Once I ascend the throne, you’ll be free to choose any palace residence you wish.” 

His face darkened, and his tone turned bitter as he said, “That old man is almost dead, yet he refuses to reveal where his will is. He wants to pass the throne to his precious son. Still, I’ll make him see that even without the will, I can take the throne.”

After delivering his troubling monologue, Gu Xiuyan departed as abruptly as he had arrived, leaving Ah Luo deeply unsettled.

Ah Luo couldn’t fall asleep anymore. It was Bai Rui’s turn to keep watch on her that night; soon, she came in with a candle and helped Ah Luo settle back down.

“Miss, with your condition, please take care of yourself,” Bai Rui murmured.

Ah Luo gave her a searching look. “How did you know?”

Bai Rui softly replied, “I saw you protecting your stomach just now. You also always seem drowsy; my mother used to be the same way when she was pregnant with my younger brother.”

After a moment’s thought, Ah Luo studied the young maid seriously and whispered, “Bai Rui, could you do me a favor?”

Bai Rui lowered her eyes nervously, “I’m only a lowly maid, Miss. How could I be of any help?”

Ah Luo took a golden butterfly hairpin from under her pillow and held it out to Bai Rui.

“Take this. I know you’re supporting your family, so you could pawn this hairpin at Zhenbao Pavilion, where I bought it. They accept valuable items there and will give you a fair price, plus they have so many treasures that pawning it there won’t attract attention.”

Bai Rui knelt down in fear. She said, “Miss, I couldn’t accept a gift so valuable!”

Ah Luo could already see her hesitation. Bai Rui was young and soft-hearted, and money could tempt most people, especially in such an amount. It was unlikely that Bai Rui would refuse her. With that in mind, Ah Luo helped Bai Rui up.

She handed Bai Rui a slip of paper and said, “This isn’t a gift, Bai Rui. Take this message to the marquis’ reisdence outside the palace, and the hairpin is yours.” 

Ah Luo’s voice softened and continued, “You wouldn’t want me to continue suffering here, would you? I’m pregnant, and my husband must be so worried.”

She then said, “Don’t be afraid. It’s only a message to ease their minds. I’m not trying to escape. His  Imperial Highness will soon ascend the throne, and I will become a noble consort. I’m not foolish enough to throw all that away.” 

Ah Luo’s gentle reassurance seemed to ease Bai Rui’s hesitation.

Bai Rui hesitated briefly before accepting the hairpin and retreating. When she had left, Ah Luo lay back on the bed. She wrapped her arms around a small, warm body that snuggled close to her.

It turned out that Suisui had been awake all along but had only stayed silent. Ah Luo patted the little girl’s back, leaned close to her ear, and whispered a few words to her.

The next day, Bai Rui attended to Ah Luo and her daughter as usual. By noon, she even took Suisui to play on the swing in the garden. However, by the following morning, Bai Rui had disappeared without a trace.

Then, Gu Xiuyan returned. He threw the note and the hairpin that Ah Luo had given to Bai Rui in front of her, saying, “Yan’er, should I call you clever or foolish? Who in the entire capital wouldn’t recognize this golden butterfly hairpin? It belongs only to you.”

Ah Luo stared at the man, who was approaching her. She hid her daughter behind her and slowly backed away.

Gu Xiuyan looked at her with eyes that were as cold as ice. “I hear you’re pregnant? Ha, from now on, you’ll bear children for me. As for this illegitimate one, I’d better get rid of it sooner than later.”

A eunuch following behind him set down a bowl of dark, murky medicine and lifted it up to her while saying, “Miss, please.”

Gu Xiuyan also said, “Yan’er, don’t make me do this myself.”

Ah Luo’s face was pale. Her lips drained of color. Even Suisui also seemed to have noticed that something was wrong and burst into tears.

Just then, a commotion erupted outside the door, accompanied by the shrill voice of a woman.

“Get out of my way! Why am I not allowed in? Move aside, do you hear me? I am the crown prince’s concubine! How dare you block me!”

Gu Xiuyan frowned. He turned and strode out of the door, with the eunuch following him.

Ah Luo, who was still shaken, sat silent on the bed. She strained to catch the sounds of their conversation from afar.

“Baiwei, what are you doing here?”

“Your Imperial Highness, I should ask, what are you doing here? Who is this person inside? Why am I not allowed to see whoever they are? You were here last night too, weren’t you?”

“Baiwei, don’t be unreasonable. There’s an important prisoner held here.”

“A prisoner? Then why did I hear a child crying? Are you hiding a mistress in there? Show me who’s inside! Didn’t you say you would be devoted to me?”

They argued, but in the end, Gu Xiuyan didn’t let Su Baiwei enter, and instead coaxed her away from there.

Ah Luo couldn’t be sure why Su Baiwei, who had once been so timid and delicate, had become so hysterical. Regardless, she was still very grateful for Su Baiwei’s sudden appearance. 

She slid down to the ground. Morning light was flooding in through the window; it cast rippling patterns of gold across the floor.

“Mother, he didn’t see Suisui’s necklace,” said Suisui in her tiny, soft voice.

While holding her daughter close, Ah Luo looked down at the crumpled slip of paper at her feet. She carefully picked up the golden butterfly hairpin next to it, and a faint smile appeared on her lips.