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

CHAPTER 22

The Duke of Wei’s expression turned slightly peculiar. “Second Miss Xiao?”

“Yes,” the Duchess replied with a composed smile, assuming he was merely seeking confirmation. “I visited the Marquis’s residence myself and met her in person. She is truly a gentle and virtuous young lady.”

A gentle and virtuous Second Miss Xiao?

Gu Feichi barely suppressed a laugh. He recalled their encounter in the scripture library at Xilin Temple—how she had coolly negotiated with him despite having a sword pressed against her throat. Then, just moments ago, in that alleyway, she had thrown a sack over Eunuch Gao and beaten him senseless.

His fingers brushed against the embroidered pouch at his waist, feeling the distinct shape of the pearl earring inside.

The Duke cast a glance at his son before clearing his throat lightly. “Xiwen, I’ve already recovered. There’s no need to keep pushing this matter.”

“Bringing a young lady into our household under the pretense of warding off misfortune—that’s hardly a respectable way to arrange a marriage.”

At that, the Duchess fell silent.

The Duke of Wei knew his wife was as stubborn as ever and decided to persuade her privately later. For now, he turned to Gu Feichi and said, “Ah Chi, your mother is simply acting out of concern. There’s no need to rush your marriage—you can take your time and choose carefully.”

The Duchess, however, said coldly, “And what about the palace?”

This time, the Duke had no retort.

The imperial court had long set its sights on meddling in their son’s marriage.

The atmosphere grew heavy. After a long pause, the Duke finally spoke in a low voice, “As long as I am here, His Majesty will not bypass me. He will have to consider my opinion first…”

These words were not only meant for his wife but also for Gu Feichi.

As long as he remained, he was the pillar of the Duke of Wei’s household.

“Ah Chi, you’ve just returned from Qingzhou. The journey must have been exhausting. Get some rest early,” the Duke of Wei said.

“Father, Mother, then I’ll take my leave,” Gu Feichi replied, rising to his feet. He bowed respectfully, feeling his mother’s deep, scrutinizing gaze settle on his mask.

Without lingering, he turned and left the main courtyard, heading back to his own residence.

His attendants had already prepared a bath, and he quickly washed and changed into a plain black robe. Steam still clung to his skin as he slipped out through the back gate.

By now, dusk had fallen. The sun had dipped below the horizon, leaving behind a golden afterglow that bathed the capital in its radiant light.

Silently, Gu Feichi left the Duke’s manor and just as silently slipped into the Marquis of Wu’an’s estate. Following the same route as before, he made his way to Yuechu Pavilion.

Avoiding the guards was effortless for him.

Gu Feichi effortlessly vaulted over the final gray-brick wall, landing lightly in the rear courtyard of Yuechu Pavilion. From a distance, he could already see Xiao Yanfei seated in the small study, fully absorbed in writing.

With his hands clasped behind his back, he strode toward her, his steps steady as he carefully observed the seemingly well-behaved young lady inside the room.

Her face was slightly lowered, delicate and fair as snow, framed by a soft lilac robe she still wore from earlier. Her almond-shaped eyes, with their faintly upturned corners, were especially striking.

Her jet-black hair was styled into twin buns, but what caught his attention was the missing pearl earring dangling from one earlobe.

Gu Feichi had looked into Xiao Yanfei’s background. She was the illegitimate daughter of the Marquis of Wu’an—a seemingly ordinary noblewoman.

At the age of twelve, she had been sent away to an estate in Tuo County, Jizhou, where she remained for over two years.

When Gu Feichi uncovered this information, he immediately understood how she had recognized him. Two years ago, he had led a campaign to suppress bandits in Tuo County, Jizhou—the very place she had lived. The scar on his right wrist from an arrow wound was a mark left from that time.

He walked up to the window and waited until she had finished writing a line before lightly tapping the wooden frame.

At the sound, Xiao Yanfei lifted her head, locking eyes with Gu Feichi through the window.

Her first reaction was—why was he here?!

She had already delivered the next three days’ worth of medicine for Duke of Wei to Wancao Hall.

“Young Master Gu.” Xiao Yanfei’s expression smoothed into a polite smile as she set down the wolf-hair brush in her hand.

Gu Feichi arched a brow, reaching into his pouch and pulling out the pink pearl earring. With a flick of his fingers, he tossed it toward her.

“Catch.”

The delicate, intricately crafted earring traced a graceful arc through the air before landing perfectly in Xiao Yanfei’s palm.

It was unmistakably familiar.

Xiao Yanfei: “…”

She hurriedly raised a hand to touch her left earlobe, then her right.

Sure enough, it was missing.

She must have dropped it on Dafan Street—no wonder Gu Feichi had found it.

And if that was the case, there was a good chance he had also discovered Gao An, who had been ambushed and bundled into a sack in the alley.

Xiao Yanfei’s long lashes quivered, her gaze flickering for a brief moment. A faint sense of guilt crept over her.

That fleeting moment of guilt vanished just as quickly as it had come. Xiao Yanfei swiftly adjusted her mindset, regaining her composure with a newfound sense of confidence.

After all, she knew his secret, and now he knew hers. That made them even!

She smiled, her gratitude sounding entirely sincere. “Many thanks, Young Master.”

“You’ve really done me a great favor.”

It was just an ordinary earring, but if it had ended up in Eunuch Gao’s hands, there was no telling what connections he might have drawn.

Fortunately, it was Gu Feichi who had found it.

That thought settled her unease, and her smile brightened.

Outside the window, Gu Feichi lounged casually against the frame, watching as her expression shifted from surprise to guilt, then to righteous confidence, and finally to relief.

Her thoughts were written all over her face—clear, vivid, and thoroughly entertaining.

Gu Feichi gazed at her with a faint smile, his features softened like moonlight. “You saved my father’s life. I should have come to thank you much sooner.”

His father was the most important person in his life.

“You’re too courteous, Young Master.” Xiao Yanfei held the earring between her fingers, her smile growing more genuine. “Would you like to come in and sit for a while?”

“I’ll take you up on that.”

With effortless grace, Gu Feichi placed one hand on the windowsill and vaulted through the open window. His dark robes billowed like an eagle in flight, each movement fluid and precise.

He landed lightly and took a seat in the armchair beside the desk.

A breeze drifted in through the window, lifting the black ribbon that bound his hair. The same gust sent a sheet of rice paper floating off the desk, twirling gently in the air…

Xiao Yanfei quickly leaned forward to catch the drifting paper, but how could she possibly be faster than Gu Feichi?

With a casual motion, Gu Feichi caught it between two fingers with effortless precision.

Glancing down, he saw the neatly written text:

“In ancient times, the Yellow Emperor was born with divine wisdom. As a child, he could speak; in youth, he was quick-witted; as an adult, he was steadfast and discerning…”

It was the opening passage of Huangdi Neijing – Suwen (The Yellow Emperor’s Inner Canon).

What intrigued him, however, was the handwriting. It started off unsteady and clumsy, like that of a child just learning to write, each stroke tentative and unfamiliar. But as the lines progressed, the brushwork became noticeably more refined—steady, bold, and filled with character.

It was as if the writer had undergone a transformation right on the page, their understanding of the brush growing sharper with each stroke.

He had never seen anyone improve so drastically within a single sheet of paper.

“Much appreciated, Young Master!” Xiao Yanfei quickly reached out to snatch the paper from Gu Feichi’s hand.

In her haste, the back of her hand accidentally brushed against his hair—it was cool to the touch, still carrying traces of lingering dampness.

Only then did she realize just how close they were. Close enough that she could catch the faint scent clinging to him—crisp and refreshing, like snowfall on green bamboo. The fragrance subtly wound its way into her senses, delicate yet distinct.

Gu Feichi chuckled soundlessly, allowing her to reclaim the paper without resistance. His long, narrow eyes curved ever so slightly, only for his expression to return to its usual cool indifference in the next instant.

Xiao Yanfei carefully set the paper down on the far corner of her desk, wary of it being carried off by the wind again. She then reached for a small jade paperweight, carved in the shape of a sleeping fox, and pressed it firmly atop the sheet.

Gu Feichi recognized the paperweight immediately. A flicker of amusement crossed his eyes.

By the time Xiao Yanfei turned back to him, she had already regained her composure. With an air of nonchalance, she asked, “Young Master, has your friend recovered yet?”

She was asking about Xie Wuduan’s condition.

Gu Feichi nodded. “He’s out of danger.”

After his fever subsided, Xie Wuduan continued taking medicine for another three or four days. The swelling and redness around his wound faded, and the discharge stopped. According to the military physician, his recovery was progressing well—the worst had passed, and now he simply needed time to heal.

The medicine’s efficacy had left the physician in awe. He was eager to study it thoroughly, but there was far too little of it—just enough for Xie Wuduan alone.

“That’s good to hear.” Xiao Yanfei met Gu Feichi’s gaze, her smile poised and confident. “Young Master, I imagine there’s no shortage of soldiers in the army who suffer from persistent fevers after being wounded?”

Any injury carried the risk of infection.

Sometimes, even severe wounds—ones that left men split open—could still be treated successfully.

But sometimes, even a mere scratch or a minor scrape, if infected, could claim a person’s life.

It had always been this way throughout history.

Not until the discovery of penicillin did the mortality rate of wounded soldiers significantly decline.

Traditional medicine had its miracles, but when it came to wound infections, there was no true cure—most cases were left to fate.

A ripple crossed Gu Feichi’s otherwise calm gaze as he gave a slight nod. “Countless have perished from untended wounds.”

Having spent years in the military, he had fought through endless battles and witnessed too many soldiers succumb—not to the battlefield, but to festering wounds that led to relentless fevers, their bodies eventually carried home wrapped in bloodstained shrouds.

“I have medicine.”

Xiao Yanfei smiled, the quiet confidence in her eyes making her all the more striking.

Xiao Yanfei had planned this from the very beginning.

If she wanted a good life in this world, she couldn’t rely on the Marquis’s residence.

Within those walls, there was a dowager who saw concubines’ daughters as nothing more than dirt, and a birth mother whose scheming mind was a mystery, making every day feel like walking on thorns.

She could only depend on herself.

In ancient times—especially in the military—amoxicillin was a priceless treasure.

Of course, she also had penicillin, but since it required injections, it was less convenient. Amoxicillin, on the other hand, could be taken orally and was much easier for people of this era to accept.

Smiling, Xiao Yanfei poured tea and handed Gu Feichi a plate of pastries. “You’ve seen firsthand how effective my medicine is, haven’t you, Young Master?”

“Would you like to trade for some?”

***