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

CHAPTER 5

A gust of wind slipped through the window brushing against the back of Xiao Yanfei’s neck and sending a chill down her spine.

Outside, faint murmurs arose accompanied by the sound of footsteps drawing closer and closer.

“Sun momo!”

A young maid’s timid voice laced with unease called out from behind the curtain.

The next moment, Sun momo swept aside the curtain and burst into the small study, her expression filled with urgency.

Her face was grave while her brows tightly knitted, and she looked deeply troubled. A strip of white cloth, about two fingers wide was wrapped around her forehead and temples in several exaggerated layers, giving her a sickly appearance.

“Second Miss.” Sun momo began without even bothering to bow “did anything happen yesterday when the Third Young Master came to see you?”

“Not at all.” Xiao Yanfei replied absentmindedly, flipping a page of her book. Her thoughts, however, were elsewhere—replaying the image of little Xiao Ye gasping for air during his asthma attack.

Slowly lifting her head, she asked casually. “Why do you ask?”

Her voice was soft and gentle, her tone calm and composed just as it always was.

Sun momo was frantic with worry, unable to dwell on the events of the morning. Anxiously, she said. “Jin momo, heaven knows who’s behind her but she went to Madam spouting nonsense! She outright claimed that he incenses the young lady lit yesterday contained green plum blossom pollen!”

Green plum blossom pollen? Xiao Yanfei’s eyelashes fluttered.

Could it be…

Her gaze instinctively shifted to the corner of the room where a three-legged qilin-patterned bronze incense burner stood. The incense within had long since burned out, leaving only faint traces of ash.

Sun momo continued in a distressed tone. “Second Miss, all the incense we use in Moonrise Pavilion comes directly from the household’s supplies! How could there possibly be a problem with it?”

“This old servant reckons that while the madam openly claims to be targeting our Yuechu Zhai, in truth, she’s likely aiming for the mistress.”

Sun momo dabbed at the corners of her eyes with a handkerchief and sighed heavily. “Ah, it’s all because the mistress gave birth to you and the Second Young Master. That’s why the Madam won’t leave her in peace!”

Her eyes glistened with tears, and her reddened cloudy gaze trembled as her body shook with sobs.

Watching this sudden display of weeping, Xiao Yanfei was momentarily stunned. What a performance! she thought to herself, impressed. She’s a master at this—truly convincing!

Sun momo sniffled as she dabbed at her tears with a handkerchief wailing pitifully about how “life hasn’t been easy for the mistress.”

Xiao Yanfei watched her performance, her mind as clear as a mirror.

Yesterday, she had already found Xiao Ye’s asthma attack somewhat unusual. But at the time, she’d been burning with a high fever, her body weak and her thoughts muddled. Having only recently arrived in this place, she lacked the energy to delve deeper. All she’d vaguely considered was whether there might be an allergen in the room.

Now, Sun momo’s half-truths were as good as a confession: the issue lay with the incense in her room.

And more likely than not, this wasn’t an accident—it was deliberate.

Xiao Yanfei sat quietly while her expression unreadable.

Sun momo, still mid-sob, took a step closer, looming over Xiao Yanfei who remained seated in her chair. Her shadow stretched long and dark, falling over Xiao Yanfei and subtly exerting a sense of pressure.

“Second Miss,” Sun momo said, her tone shifting as she tried to coax her, “you’ve always been so filial. Only you can help your mother now.”

Xiao Yanfei: “…”

Ha.

So that’s what this was all about. Sun momo had taken the long way around to deliver her message, but her intentions were blatantly clear.

What a well-calculated move. Truly, a perfect plan.

Xiao Yanfei lowered her gaze again, idly fiddling with the plum blossom ornament at her waist. She twirled its bright red tassel around her slender, pale fingers, her voice steady and measured. “Then what should I do?”

Sun momo, oblivious to the indifference in Xiao Yanfei’s tone, assumed her plan was as good as done—just as it had been countless times before.

Suppressing her excitement, she replied as if it were the most natural thing in the world. “Second Miss, you must go to the Madam and admit fault.”

“There’s only one way to handle this. Go to her immediately and say that you bought the incense from outside and didn’t know it contained green plum blossom pollen.”

“As long as you take responsibility, this matter will be resolved. The Madam will have no reason to hold your aunt accountabl,” she added with absolute certainty.

Of course. Xiao Yanfei sighed inwardly, a familiar bitterness welling up in her heart.

Conversations like this had played out countless times in the original host’s memories. Whenever something went wrong—whether or not it was her fault—it was always the original host who had to admit guilt.

Just like with the broken Guanyin statue.

Overhead, Sun momo’s impatient voice pressed down on her. “Second Miss, this can’t be delayed. If the Madam lashes out at your mother, it’ll be too late!”

Xiao Yanfei stood brushing off her skirt. Her voice was soft, almost tender. “You’re absolutely right, Sun momo. This matter mustn’t be delayed.”

“Second Miss, let’s hurry!” Sun momo quickly chimed in, her heart brimming with joy. “I’ve already inquired—Madam has returned to the main courtyard!”

In her mind, once Xiao Yanfei admitted fault, it wouldn’t matter whether the Madam believed her or not. The consequences for Xiao Yanfei would likely be minor: at most, a few strikes to the palms or perhaps a few nights kneeling in the ancestral hall.

As long as the matter could be smoothed over, it was a small price to pay.

Sun momo walked briskly, urging Xiao Yanfei along the entire way.

Moonrise Pavilion where Xiao Yanfei lived was located in the northeastern part of the marquis’s estate. To reach the main courtyard, they had to navigate a series of winding corridors and cross a bamboo grove—a journey of no more than a quarter of an hour.

Once they arrived, the head maid, Yingluo, announced their presence. Xiao Yanfei followed Sun momo into the warm western chamber.

As the door curtain was lifted, a girl’s melodious voice, clear as a lark’s song, drifted out from inside. “Mother, I think there’s something off with this account…”

“Let me take a look.” The second voice, unmistakably belonging to Madam Yin, replied.

Xiao Yanfei trailed behind Yingluo, weaving around a multi-tiered display shelf, and the scene inside came into view.

Madam Yin sat shoulder to shoulder with a girl in red on a carved zitan wood daybed adorned with intricate floral patterns. Beside them lay a stack of account books.

The girl in red had a slender figure and striking features. She wore a fiery red silk jacket embroidered with butterflies weaving through flowers, paired with her neatly styled double-bun hairstyle. Her oval face, fair as snow, was complemented by her radiant smile. Her entire presence was like the blazing sun, bright and dazzling. The ruby-embedded golden hairpin at her temple glinted with light making her dark eyes sparkle even more vividly.

“Second Sister,” the girl in red called out warmly, holding an account book in her hands.

“Mother, Eldest Sister.” Xiao Yanfei greeted with a curtsey, her gaze lingering on Xiao Luanfei’s face.

So, this was the protagonist. The legitimate eldest daughter of the marquis’s wife, Xiao Luanfei.

She was born just one hour before the original host, yet the contrast between them couldn’t be starker.

Xiao Yanfei stared at Xiao Luanfei, unable to suppress a faint stir of emotion—was it envy, admiration, or something else entirely?

It felt like someone hiding in the shadows, gazing longingly at the sunlight.

Knowing full well it was out of reach, yet unable to stop yearning for it.

This emotion belonged to the original host.

“Mother is teaching me how to read the account books,” Xiao Luanfei said with a smile. “Second Sister, would you like to join me and learn?”

“Luanfei, is this how an elder sister should act?” Madam Yin chided her affectionately, tapping Xiao Luanfei’s forehead with a finger. “Your sister has just recovered from her illness. She needs to rest more.”

Xiao Luanfei pressed her lips together briefly, then gave Xiao Yanfei a radiant smile. “Second Sister, take your time to recover. I’ll teach you next time.”

“Ahem!” Sun momo coughed lightly, shooting Xiao Yanfei a pointed look, urging her to speak.

Madam Yin glanced at Sun momo, then turned to Xiao Yanfei and asked. “Yanfei, is there something you need?”

Xiao Yanfei withdrew her gaze from Xiao Luanfei and gave a small nod.

Xiao Luanfei closed the account book in her hands and stood up, smiling warmly. “Mother, I’ll finish reviewing these account books in the study.”

With her maid Shuxiang in tow, she left the room carrying the stack of account books from the daybed with her.

The western chamber suddenly felt much emptier.

Madam Yin’s tone softened. “Yanfei, take a seat.”

But Xiao Yanfei remained standing, her posture straight and firm.

Sun momo instinctively held her breath, her eyes fixed intently on Xiao Yanfei.

Finally, Xiao Yanfei spoke. “Mother.”

Sun momo’s eyes lit up with expectation, silently willing her to say: I was the one who changed the incense in my room yesterday.

Instead—

“Sun momo asked me to come and tell you that the incense burned in Moonrise Pavilion was changed by me,” Xiao Yanfei said, her voice calm and deliberate, every word enunciated clearly.

“What?!”

Sun momo’s expression froze in an instant, her eyes widening in disbelief as she stared at Xiao Yanfei.

Without sparing her a glance, Xiao Yanfei continued. “Sun momo also instructed me to apologize to you on her behalf.”

Sun momo pinched herself hard, her body trembling ever so slightly. Even she couldn’t tell whether her overwhelming emotion was more fury or fear.

Madam Yin furrowed her brows. The teacup she had just raised paused midair before being carefully placed back on the tea table.

Madam Yin’s gaze shifted back and forth between Xiao Yanfei and Sun momo, her eyes deep with contemplation.

After Jin momo reported that the incense in Xiao Yanfei’s room seemed off, Madam Yin had immediately checked on Xiao Ye to see if he was feeling unwell. Xiao Ye, grinning brightly, patted his chest and announced that he wanted two bowls of rice for dinner.

His energetic demeanor was a far cry from the frailty he displayed during an asthma attack.

Still, Madam Yin dared not be careless. She promptly ordered someone to fetch the recently acquired batch of incense from the inner courtyard storeroom for inspection. The incense was perfectly fine, just like it always had been.

If there truly was an issue with the incense in Moonrise Pavilion, then the problem must have originated from Xiao Yanfei’s quarters.

Madam Yin couldn’t help but recall the words of Jin mom0 and Zhao momo.

“Madam, the Second Miss is Concubine Cui’s daughter…”

“The Second Miss and the Third Young Master didn’t come from the same womb. It’s wise to be cautious.”

“Even if the Second Miss is genuinely honest, it’s still possible she’s being used as a pawn by Concubine Cui…”

Madam Yin had initially planned to wait until Xiao Ye returned from his studies to ask him in detail about yesterday’s visit to Moonrise Pavilion but unexpectedly, Xiao Yanfei had come to her first.

So, who had leaked the affairs of the main courtyard?!

Xiao Yanfei met Madam Yin’s probing gaze head-on, her clear eyes unwavering.

There was the same calmness in her expression as she had shown earlier at Ronghe Hall.

Something seemed to tug softly at Madam Yin’s heartstrings, reminding her of the way Xiao Ye looked at her with those bright, trusting eyes. A peculiar warmth bloomed in her chest, indescribable yet undeniably tender.

Madam Yin asked gently. “So, did you change the incense?”

Her voice was warm and soothing, like a cup of tea that chased away the chill, comforting and sincere.

“No,” Xiao Yanfei answered obediently. “But Sun momo said that if I didn’t admit to it, Mother might use it as an excuse to blame Concubine Cui.”

Sun momo could no longer hold back. Her voice burst forth, trembling with anger. “Miss, how could you speak such nonsense in front of Madam!”

Her chest heaved violently disbelief written across her face. The gentle, harmless girl she had always thought of as meek as a rabbit had turned around and bitten her—hard.

A sharp, stabbing pain flared at her left temple, just like the sensation from earlier that morning when the silver hairpin had pricked her skin.

The pain seemed to serve as a reminder: the little rabbit from before had changed.

Now, she had turned into a venomous snake, ready to strike with her fangs when least expected.

Sun momo glared fiercely at Xiao Yanfei, her gaze cold and vicious, like a bloodstained knife that sent a chill through the air.

Madam Yin lightly brushed her sleeve, asking with mild indifference. “Sun momo, do you believe the young ladies of the Marquis residence would wrong you, a servant?”

Her phoenix eyes narrowed slightly, and a commanding presence gathered between her brows, exuding authority without needing to raise her voice.

The surrounding atmosphere grew tense and solemn.

“….” Sun momo’s heart trembled her words caught in her throat.

Suddenly, she felt as if she were being roasted over an open flame, unsure of what to say next.

Cold sweat beaded on her forehead.

“Mother,” Xiao Yanfei continued. “You’ve always been just and fair. I’m sure you’ll get to the bottom of this, and will never wrong me or Concubine Cui.”

“Sun momo, stop overthinking.”

Xiao Yanfei’s tone was gentle throughout, yet every word felt like a sharp needle piercing Sun momo ‘s heart.

***