Oops! The Black Lotus Can’t Be a Female Supporting Character

CHAPTER 12

“Concubine Mother.”

Xiao Yanfei softly called out as she walked toward Madam Cui at a leisurely pace.

“Yan’er, you’re back! Come, sit by mother.” Madam Cui warmly pulled Xiao Yanfei to sit with her on the luohan bed, gently setting aside the Buddhist scripture she had been reading.

Noticing the books Xiao Yanfei was holding, Madam Cui’s gaze lingered on the covers. “Are these medical books?”

Xiao Yanfei nodded.

“You’re reading medical books?” A look of satisfaction spread across Madam Cui’s delicate and beautiful face. “I’ve always known you were smart, Yan’er. You pick up everything so quickly.”

“Now, if I ever get a headache or fever, Yan’er can take care of me.”

Madam Cui chuckled softly, her tone tender and affectionate.

Xiao Yanfei curved her lips into a faint smile but said nothing. She neither agreed nor refused, maintaining her silence.

That slightly detached demeanor made Madam Cui momentarily feel as though the girl before her had become someone unfamiliar.

Madam Cui cautiously asked, “Yan’er, are you still upset with me about Sun momo?”

Her soft, delicate voice carried a hint of a sob, and her eyes quickly filled with tears, shimmering like raindrops on pear blossoms, making her look pitiable and fragile.

Before Xiao Yanfei could respond, Madam Cui continued, as if talking to herself. “Sun momo served you faithfully for over ten years, always putting her heart and soul into her duties. Who would’ve thought she’d change so much now… Yan’er, why didn’t you tell me earlier?”

“You are my flesh and blood, the treasure I carried for ten months. If you had told me sooner, I would’ve dealt with Sun momo properly. How could I bear to let you endure so many years of grievances for no reason?”

Her eyes overflowed with maternal affection, as though Xiao Yanfei were the most precious thing in the world to her.

“…” Xiao Yanfei couldn’t help but feel a chill run down her spine.

With just a few sentences, Madam Cui had completely absolved herself of responsibility. No wonder she had managed to manipulate the original Xiao Yanfei so thoroughly, making her willing to give her all, even at the cost of her own life.

Suppressing the strange feeling in her heart, Xiao Yanfei mimicked the original character’s gentle tone and replied softly. “I’m not upset with you, Concubine Mother.”

“That’s good,” Madam Cui said with a relieved smile.

She took Xiao Yanfei’s right hand into her own, her gaze tender and affectionate. “Yan’er, next time, I’ll make sure to pick a better nanny for you.”

Xiao Yanfei lowered her gaze.

To everyone else, Madam Cui seemed like a loving and devoted mother who cared deeply for her daughter, considering everything on her behalf.

But in reality, aside from saying things like, “You are my dearest treasure,”“I would give my life for you,” and “I only want what’s best for you,” Xiao Yanfei couldn’t recall a single instance from her memories where Madam Cui had truly stood up for the original Xiao Yanfei.

In fact, since Xiao Yanfei had taken over this body, Madam Cui hadn’t even come to see her once.

Even the main courtyard had sent over bird’s nest, snow fungus, fruits, and various nourishing delicacies.

Looking at Madam Cui’s face, Xiao Yanfei felt as though the woman were wearing a mask—one filled with nothing but pretense.

She slowly withdrew her hand and said softly, “Mother mentioned that she would select a new nanny for me.”

Madam Cui’s smile faltered for the briefest moment. It was so fleeting that had Xiao Yanfei not been closely watching her expression, she might have missed it entirely.

“Yan’er,” Madam Cui murmured as she gently brushed a stray lock of hair from Xiao Yanfei’s temple, her gaze dark and unreadable. “It’s a good thing you’ve grown up now. The Old Madam has arranged an excellent marriage for you, and even the Madam has started to value you.”

Marriage? Xiao Yanfei’s eyes widened slightly. Her thoughts shifted away from Madam Cui as she recalled the day the Old Madam had specifically asked her to visit Ronghe Hall to meet the Duchess of Wei. She couldn’t forget the Duchess’s scrutinizing gaze, as though she were appraising goods.

She felt as if struck by lightning.

No… No way?!

“W-who is it?” Xiao Yanfei struggled to utter the words, her mind conjuring the image of a dangerously handsome man.

“It’s the heir of the Duke of Wei,” Madam Cui said, her delicate brows furrowing in worry.

Xiao Yanfei’s mouth went dry, and she was utterly stunned.

What kind of cursed luck was this?!

She couldn’t help but emphasize, “I’m just a concubine’s daughter.”

Gu Feichi was the heir of the Duke of Wei—there was no way he would stoop so low as to marry a concubine-born daughter, right?

Madam Cui sighed. “The duke is gravely ill, and the Duchess of Wei wants to find a young woman with an auspicious birth chart to ward off misfortune.”

“The heir is a man of noble birth, with phoenix bones and dragon posture, a true paragon among men. The Old Madam said this is an excellent match. But you’re still just a concubine-born daughter. How could the duke’s household possibly let their heir marry someone of your status as his wife?”

So, not only was she meant to ward off misfortune, but she was also expected to become someone’s concubine? Xiao Yanfei didn’t even know how to begin venting her frustration. Her neck felt cold, as if a blade were pressed against it.

Shi momo, standing nearby, chimed in. “Madam knows better than anyone how difficult it is to be a concubine. How could she bear to let you endure such humiliation, spending your life being beneath others, with even your children forced to bow their heads just like you and the eldest young master?”

Madam Cui furrowed her elegant brows and sighed deeply. “And what if the duke… doesn’t make it?”

“Ever since your grandfather lost that battle years ago, the Marquis’ household has fallen out of favor with His Majesty. Even your father has suffered from the emperor’s displeasure. Over the years, His Majesty has shown nothing but coldness, and the Marquis’ household has been in a precarious position.”

“The Old Madam’s wish for you to marry into the duke’s household to ward off misfortune is nothing more than an attempt to pave the way for the Marquis’ family. With the Duke of Wei’s household as an ally, it could help secure a better position for your father.”

“But Madam has been thinking—if the Duke survives, then perhaps things will turn out well. You might earn a reputation as a ‘lucky star,’ and the duke’s household might even remember your contributions.”

“But if the duke doesn’t survive, won’t the blame fall squarely on you?!”

“Yan’er, you absolutely cannot agree to this marriage.”

“The Old Madam and Madam only care about the future of the Marquis’ household. They’re willing to sacrifice your future for it…”

As she spoke, the butterfly hairpin adorned with gold and turquoise on Madam Cui’s head swayed slightly, its dangling tassels glinting in the light. Her deep, dark pupils flickered twice, as if reflecting hidden thoughts.

She clasped Xiao Yanfei’s small hands tightly, her eyes faintly misted with unshed tears. Her expression was so sincere, as if her entire heart and soul were devoted to her daughter’s well-being.

The room fell into a brief silence.

“I understand,” Xiao Yanfei said, gazing deeply at Madam Cui.

Madam Cui’s brows relaxed, and a radiant smile blossomed on her face. “That’s good.”

The warm spring sunlight streamed through the window, illuminating her face and tracing her delicate features, making her expression seem even gentler.

Her voice grew even softer. “Yan’er, as long as you don’t want to, Mother will go to Madam immediately. No matter what, I’ll insist she rejects this marriage.”

“Even if Madam ends up disliking me or makes things difficult for me, it doesn’t matter. Everything Mother does is for you—for your future…”

“As long as you can live well, no sacrifice is too great.”

After speaking, she gently tucked a stray strand of hair behind Xiao Yanfei’s ear, her gaze brimming with emotion. She looked at Xiao Yanfei expectantly, yet uneasily, her tears hovering on the brink of falling.

That look struck a chord of familiarity in Xiao Yanfei, an inexplicable feeling she couldn’t quite place. For a moment, she nearly blurted out. “I’ll speak to Mother about this.”

In the past, every time Madam Cui said things like, “As long as you’re well, it doesn’t matter if I suffer a little,” or “For you, Mother isn’t afraid to die,” the original Xiao Yanfei would unhesitatingly take everything upon herself.

Whether it was covering for Madam Cui when she broke the Guanyin statue a few days ago, being sent to the countryside while sick three years ago, or even that bitterly cold winter at age ten when Madam Cui coaxed her into giving up half of her charcoal supply—leaving Xiao Yanfei to fall gravely ill from the cold—these “sacrifices” had happened far too many times throughout her life. It had almost become instinct for this body.

Xiao Yanfei pressed her lips together and forcibly swallowed the words that had risen to her lips, replacing them with a single syllable:

“Mm.”

The room fell into silence again, as if even the sound of breathing had ceased.

With her face lowered, Xiao Yanfei nervously twisted her fingers together, feeling clearly the slight stiffness in Madam Cui’s hand resting on her left shoulder.

Building on Madam Cui’s earlier words, she added. “Concubine Mother has worked hard.”

As soon as she finished speaking, her left shoulder tightened—the hand on it gripped her more firmly, squeezing her slender shoulder with a hint of pressure.

Xiao Yanfei’s mind remained perfectly clear. She raised her face and, with renewed calm, said, “Concubine Mother, when I came back earlier, I stopped by to pay my respects to Mother. She’s still in the main hall.”

Her bright eyes shimmered like two sparkling black gemstones, silently conveying: Madam, you can go now.

“Elder Sister is there too. I noticed Mother is in a good mood today,” she added, hinting that the timing was perfect.

Madam Cui: “…”

Her graceful figure froze in place, as if she had suddenly turned into a stone statue.

The gentle spring breeze drifted in through the window, ruffling the pages of the nearby Buddhist scripture, flipping them with a soft rustling sound.

After a moment of silence, Madam Cui finally rose from the luohan bed, her movements deliberate and unhurried. She began walking toward the outer room, her steps painstakingly slow, her lithe figure swaying with every hesitant step.

It seemed as though she was waiting for something. The further she walked, the slower her pace became, her steps growing smaller and smaller.

When she reached the door curtain, a voice finally came from behind her: “Concubine Mother.”

The moment she had just begun lifting the edge of the curtain, Madam Cui instantly stopped in her tracks. The corners of her rosy lips curved ever so slightly, revealing a subtle trace of delight.

Turning her head, she saw the young girl sitting on the luohan bed, staring at her intently. Her cherry lips parted slightly as she began to speak:

“Safe travels, Concubine Mother,” Xiao Yanfei said, uttering just those four words without adding anything more.

Madam Cui’s hand trembled as she lifted the curtain, but she stepped out nonetheless. The curtain fell heavily behind her, swaying violently.

Shi Momo glanced back at Xiao Yanfei before hurrying after Madam Cui and leaving the room.

In the courtyard, willows swayed gently, locust trees cast cool shade, and tufts of willow catkins drifted lazily in the breeze, mingling with the faint fragrance of flowers carried by the wind.

Madam Cui walked slowly and silently, her measured steps taking her across the spring-filled garden.

“Take care, Madam,” Haitang called after her, standing by the entrance of Yuechu Residence.

Madam Cui continued walking a little farther before abruptly turning her head to lightly brush away a stray tuft of willow fluff from her shoulder.

When she raised her head again, the warmth and frailty that had adorned her face moments before had vanished, replaced by an expression of serene calm.

“Shi Momo,” she said as she strolled leisurely along a cobbled path, “what do you think Yanfei is planning?”

“Madam, perhaps Second Miss was simply startled,” Shi Momo offered gently from behind her.

Madam Cui clutched the handkerchief in her hand, her expression shifting unpredictably.

Earlier, Xiao Yanfei had been as respectful and gentle as ever, yet Madam Cui couldn’t shake the feeling that something had changed. In the past, no matter what she said, Xiao Yanfei would always listen.

But today…

Madam Cui couldn’t help but recall the look in Xiao Yanfei’s eyes—so clear and piercing, as though they could reflect everything back at her. It made her uneasy, filling her with guilt and a vague sense of panic.

As she walked along the cobblestone path and passed through a bamboo grove, Madam Cui eventually came to a halt, her gaze turning toward the direction of Ronghe Hall.

In a low voice, she murmured. “The Old Madam places great importance on this marriage alliance with the Duke of Wei’s household and is unlikely to relent easily. However, the madam of the house is rather foolish. If Yanfei were to plead with her, she would undoubtedly go and reject the Old Madam’s plans.”

“And in that case, the Old Madam would only blame Madam for being shortsighted and ruining such a promising union.”

“Who would’ve thought…”

Who would’ve thought that little Xiao Yanfei wouldn’t take the bait?

Usually, whenever she choked back tears, Xiao Yanfei would feel sorry for her, wanting to shoulder everything on her behalf.

“Madam,” Shi Momo glanced around to make sure no one was listening, then quietly reminded her, “Young Eunuch Liu is still waiting for your reply. This matter cannot be delayed any longer.”

“Indeed.” Madam Cui snorted lightly, her expression shifting into one of discontent. “It’s rare that this girl has caught the eye of Lord Gao.”

As she spoke, her expression darkened little by little, like dark clouds gathering in the sky.

Shi Momo observed Madam Cui’s face closely, speaking sincerely, ” Young Eunuch Liu has said that as long as Lord Gao manages to win the beautiful lady, he will repay us handsomely.”

“Rest assured, Madam, with Lord Gao’s support, the eldest young lady’s marriage will surely be secured!”

Madam Cui’s eyes flickered, and she tightened her grip on the handkerchief, murmuring softly, “Let’s hope so.”

The Empress had no interest in the Marquis’s family, delaying the imperial decree for the marriage, and no one from the Marquis’s household had any standing before the emperor. But Lord Gao was different.

Lord Gao was a high-ranking eunuch at the emperor’s side, and as long as he spoke a few kind words, the marriage between the eldest young lady and the Crown Prince would be practically guaranteed.

A sharp, bright light suddenly flickered in Madam Cui’s dark eyes.

The Old Madam valued both profit and reputation, and given her nature, she would likely be more inclined to focus on the benefits the marriage could bring to the duke’s family. However, if Xiao Yanfei were to cause a scene and ruin the match, the Old Madam would undoubtedly turn to Lord Gao in her anger.

After all, Xiao Yanfei was only a concubine-born daughter. If push came to shove, they could simply send her to Lord Gao, claiming that she had died from illness. That way, they could appease Lord Gao while keeping the Marquis’s family reputation intact.

As for whether the concubine-born daughter actually died or just pretended to, who would care?

Shi Momo’s eyes twinkled with thought, and she suggested, “Madam, would you like me to advise the second young lady again? Tell her about ‘Gu Rakshasa’ and his ruthless killings. Once she hears, she’ll surely be frightened.”

Madam Cui slowly responded, “…Let me think about it.”

She lightly bit her lower lip, and as she turned a corner, she couldn’t help but glance back toward the direction of the Yuechu Pavilion, her eyes dark and cold.

***