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

CHAPTER 20

“Time’s up!”

The last few grains of sand slipped through the hourglass.

“The highest bidder wins. This qin will be sold for 7,000 taels to Lord Gao.” Shopkeeper Shi beamed. Selling the qin for such a high price would surely please his master, and he, too, would benefit handsomely.

Gao An descended leisurely from the second floor and walked straight to Shopkeeper Shi. Reaching into his sleeve, he pulled out three banknotes and handed them over. “These are from the Daitong Bank in the capital.”

A pang of pain flickered across his heart, but he steeled himself and handed over the silver.

Outsiders were unaware of the emperor’s ailing health, but those who served him closely knew the truth. For the past two years, His Majesty had been plagued by a persistent illness, his condition worsening with each passing day. It was doubtful he had many years left.

For now, Gao An enjoyed prestige and power, but once the emperor passed, his fate was sealed—he would be sent to guard the imperial tomb, living out the rest of his days in bleak solitude.

The Emperor and Empress had always been deeply devoted to each other. Over the years, not a single new consort had managed to overshadow the Empress.

The Crown Prince was certain to ascend the throne.

As long as the Crown Prince remembered his loyalty, Gao An’s position would remain secure and unshaken.

Shopkeeper Shi respectfully accepted the banknotes—one for 5,000 taels and two for 1,000 taels each. With a swift glance, he confirmed their authenticity before smiling and saying, “Lord Gao, the qin is now yours.”

Gao An chuckled and casually plucked a string.

The sound flowed like a bubbling spring, clear and resonant.

“A fine instrument!” He then turned to Liu Chaoyun. “Miss Liu, by the Empress’s decree, this renowned qin, Lüqi, is gifted to you as a birthday present.”

Liu Chaoyun’s smile deepened.

With the air of a victor, she cast a sidelong glance at Princess Ning Shu, straightening her back with pride. In a delicate, lilting voice, she said, “Please thank my aunt on my behalf. I will personally enter the palace tomorrow to express my gratitude.”

“……” Princess Ning Shu clenched her fists, barely holding back her frustration, her cheeks puffed with indignation.

Gao An turned slightly and glanced at her, offering a half-hearted smile. “It’s truly a shame to ask Your Highness to part with such a treasure today. But rest assured, when your birthday comes, the Empress will surely bestow you with a generous gift as well.”

His words were little more than empty pleasantries. Without waiting for a response, he shifted his gaze to Xiao Yanfei, his eyes narrowing with a smile that feigned warmth. “This young lady seems unfamiliar. Which family do you belong to?”

His gaze, brimming with greed, clung to Xiao Yanfei’s delicate and strikingly beautiful face, sticky and oppressive—like a venomous snake lurking in the shadows, waiting to strike. The sight of it sent a chill down Xiao Yanfei’s spine, raising goosebumps all over her arms.

Keeping her composure, she met his gaze and coldly asked, “Is this also by the Empress’s decree?”

“Exactly, exactly!” Princess Ning Shu nodded enthusiastically, feeling that Xiao Yanfei had hit the nail on the head. Hmph, like she would ever tell this detestable eunuch anything!

Gao An’s smile stiffened—just for a brief moment. But he quickly brushed off some imaginary dust from his robe and cupped his hands toward Liu Chaoyun and Princess Ning Shu. “Miss Liu, Your Highness, I shall take my leave.”

There was no need to rush. The days ahead were long—better to wait patiently for good news from the Marquis of Wu’an’s estate.

As long as the marquisate wished to secure Xiao Yanfei as the Crown Prince’s consort, they wouldn’t hesitate to cast aside a mere concubine-born daughter.

In noble families, after all, such daughters were nothing more than pawns for strengthening alliances. It was only a matter of time before he got what he wanted.

A knowing smirk curled at Gao An’s lips as he turned and ascended the stairs.

Meanwhile, Shopkeeper Shi swiftly packed Lüqi into its case and personally handed it to Liu Chaoyun.

Liu Chaoyun shot Princess Ning Shu a triumphant smile. “At the upcoming Thousand Blossoms Banquet in the palace, I’ll make sure Lüqi shines in all its glory.”

With that, Liu Chaoyun called for her friends and left.

The hall suddenly felt much emptier.

Shopkeeper Shi, noticing that Princess Ning Shu was still fuming, wisely chose not to provoke her. With a discreet hand gesture, he signaled the maids to withdraw. Before leaving, he thoughtfully shut the door, leaving Xiao Yanfei and Princess Ning Shu alone.

Princess Ning Shu huffed in frustration. “I can’t swallow this indignity!”

“If that wretched eunuch Gao An hadn’t meddled, that qin would have been mine!”

Xiao Yanfei’s brow twitched as realization dawned on her. No wonder his voice had sounded strange—sharp and high-pitched. So he was an imperial eunuch.

Recalling the way Eunuch Gao had leered at her just moments ago, a chill ran down her spine. She shuddered instinctively.

Meanwhile, Princess Ning Shu’s anger flared even hotter. “Abusing borrowed power! Gao An is nothing more than the Emperor’s head eunuch—what business does he have delivering decrees on behalf of the Empress?”

“He was clearly making it up as he went along!”

But even though Princess Ning Shu knew Gao An was spouting nonsense, there was nothing she could do about it.

It was obvious—if she went to the Empress to plead her case, her aunt would only shield her own niece, turning falsehood into truth.

Her father had warned her in private: Gao An was nothing more than a fickle opportunist, swaying with the political winds. The Emperor wasn’t even dead yet, and he was already scrambling to pick a side—short-sighted and pathetic.

Take today’s incident, for example. That seven thousand taels had likely come from Gao An’s own private stash, a bribe meant to curry favor with the Empress’s family.

Princess Ning Shu stomped her foot, her fury reaching a boiling point. “This is infuriating!”

Xiao Yanfei, watching Gao An’s retreating figure as he ascended the stairs, suddenly remarked, “He seems to be alone.”

“Yes, and he’s in plain clothes—he’s clearly off duty,” Princess Ning Shu said in her usual delicate tone, also turning her gaze toward him.

Their eyes met. And in that instant, a realization struck them both—like a spark igniting in the dark.

Princess Ning Shu clenched her tiny fists. “We should…”—go beat him up?

But before she could finish, Xiao Yanfei simply smiled and shook her head.

Princess Ning Shu pouted in disappointment.

Xiao Yanfei curled a finger, motioning her closer. Without hesitation, Princess Ning Shu leaned in.

In a soft, gentle voice, Xiao Yanfei murmured, “Beating him up in broad daylight would only give people something to gossip about.”

“We should use a sack.”

The delicate young lady pressed her lips into a sweet smile—soft and gentle, like a warm spring breeze.

“Sack him?” Princess Ning Shu’s eyes widened in shock, as if a door to a whole new world had just been opened before her.

She had never even considered such a possibility!

“This is brilliant!” Her eyes sparkled with excitement.

Xiao Yanfei’s suggestion had struck her heart perfectly.

Genius! Utterly genius!

With just a few words, the two young ladies reached a perfect understanding. They exchanged a knowing smile, completely in sync.

Without hesitation, they hurried out of Jiangyun Pavilion.

Princess Ning Shu quickly ordered her personal maid to find a sack. The maid’s expression was… complicated, to say the least, but she still obeyed.

Not only did she return with a sack, but she also brought back some news—Eunuch Gao had come to Jiangyun Pavilion today to drink with Lord Cheng’en.

“I knew it! He only snatched my qin to curry favor with the Empress!” Princess Ning Shu pouted so hard she could practically hang an oil lamp from her lips.

Her resolve to sack him only grew stronger.

The two young ladies hid in an alley not far from Jiangyun Pavilion, lying in wait. The moment Gao An staggered out, reeking of alcohol, they silently trailed behind him.

In the Great Jing Dynasty, powerful eunuchs like him often had their own estates within the capital—granted by the Emperor himself as a mark of imperial favor.

It was clear that Gao An was off duty today and heading back to his residence.

The two girls were patient, carefully maintaining their distance as they followed him. Only when he stepped into a deserted alley did they make their move.

Princess Ning Shu personally threw the sack over him—fast, steady, and precise.

“Who’s there?!” Gao An shrieked as darkness swallowed his vision. Panic laced his sharp, high-pitched voice. “Do you have any idea who I am?!”

In response, Princess Ning Shu delivered a solid punch to his face—right through the sack.

“Ow!”

Gao An yelped in pain, his muffled scream echoing in the alley.

Gao An furiously shouted and threatened, “If I find out who you are, you’re dead!”

Xiao Yanfei and Princess Ning Shu exchanged a knowing glance.

Their clear, bright eyes gleamed with mischief—like young beasts baring their claws, eager to pounce.

As if she would be scared! Princess Ning Shu scoffed silently, then landed a precise kick to Gao An’s shin.

His shriek was positively pig-like.

Punch after punch, kick after kick—each blow landed with satisfying precision.

Xiao Yanfei joined in, delivering a few well-placed kicks of her own, venting her frustration.

Working together in perfect sync, the two girls beat Gao An until he collapsed to the ground like a limp, motionless fish.

Just then, voices from the bustling main street outside the alley drifted in.

“Is it going to rain or not? It was overcast just now, but now the sun’s out again.”

“We should head home early. If we get caught in the rain and catch a cold, it won’t be worth it!”

“You’re right…”

The voices grew clearer as the speakers approached.

Xiao Yanfei glanced toward the alley entrance, then swiftly grabbed Princess Ning Shu, who was about to throw another punch.

With a silent motion of her lips, she mouthed: That’s enough.

Sneaking up on Gao An and throwing a sack over him had been exhilarating, but getting caught would be a real hassle.

Princess Ning Shu listened closely. The voices outside the alley were getting nearer. She had no choice but to lower her raised fist.

Xiao Yanfei gestured toward the other end of the alley—Let’s go.

Princess Ning Shu nodded decisively—Go!

Without a single word, the two silently communicated. Ever since they had ambushed Gao An, they hadn’t made a sound—not a laugh, not a gasp, not even a breath out of place.

Wasting no time, they clasped hands and bolted, dashing out of the narrow, shadowy alley in one breath.

Xiao Yanfei was panting, struggling to catch her breath, while Princess Ning Shu remained perfectly composed, not even the slightest flush on her face.

Xiao Yanfei was full of admiration. This delicate little princess might be terrible at cards, but her agility is seriously impressive!

She made a mental note—I need to start training too. Strength is the foundation of everything!

By the time they reached the alley’s entrance, the passersby from earlier had already moved on. It seemed like no one had noticed the commotion.

They both let out a small sigh of relief before making a sharp right turn, dashing toward the luxurious, jewel-adorned carriage waiting nearby.

Just then, a stallion suddenly galloped out from the intersection ahead.

A young man in red rode toward them at full speed.

The two girls had nowhere to hide. In the blink of an eye, they locked eyes with the approaching rider.

Time seemed to freeze. Even the bustling street around them faded into a muted backdrop of black, white, and gray.

“Whoa—”

The rider yanked the reins sharply, bringing the crimson horse to a halt five or six zhang away. The steed snorted heavily, its breath misting in the air as its hooves restlessly shifted on the ground.

Atop the tall saddle sat a young man clad in a resplendent red python-patterned robe, a jade belt fastened around his waist.

A sleek black half-mask obscured the upper half of his face, leaving only his pale, thin lips and a sharply sculpted jawline exposed.

From behind the mask, a pair of fox-like eyes—dark and fathomless, deeper than the night itself—bore down on Xiao Yanfei and Princess Ning Shu from his elevated perch.

“Gu…” Princess Ning Shu’s eyes widened in shock. She barely managed to utter a syllable before biting her lip to silence herself.

Xiao Yanfei was just as stunned. She, too, recognized the rider—Gu Feichi—wearing the same mask as in the original owner’s memories.

What kind of cursed luck was this? Why did they keep running into him everywhere?!

Gu Feichi tugged lightly at the reins. His proud crimson horse snorted, then took a few slow, deliberate steps toward the two girls…

***