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

Oops! The Black Lotus Can't Be a Female Supporting Character CHAPTER 3: She will never swallow her anger

With Sun momo’s repeated scolding, the atmosphere in the room grew tense.

“Miss, you’ve already made a grave mistake, angering the old lady. You should be even more cautious in the future,” Sun momo continued to reprimand Xiao Yanfei. “Sigh, the old lady punished you by making you kneel in the ancestral hall, and since you’ve already received the punishment, you should see it through to the end. But what did you do? You barely knelt for a while before fainting, acting so fragile it’s unbelievable.”

“If word of this gets out, people will think the old lady is treating you harshly!”

“Madam feels sorry for you and often says that you’re young and still learning how to navigate the world, so you’ll get better with time. But Miss, while Madam is understanding, why don’t you think more about Madam’s feelings?”

“If the madam finds an excuse, won’t Madam suffer again? These years, Madam has endured a difficult life because of you.”

“If you truly care for Madam, you should properly apologize when you see the old lady later.”

Sun momo kept on lecturing.

Xiao Yanfei raised an eyebrow.

Because the old lady’s birthday was approaching, the original owner had been copying the Earth Store Sutra in the small Buddhist hall to pray for her grandmother’s blessings. A few days ago, Concubine Cui had brought her some pastries but accidentally broke the old lady’s most cherished Guanyin statue.

The original owner, feeling sympathy for her mother, took the blame for Concubine Cui, and was punished to kneel in the ancestral hall for an entire day and night, until she collapsed from a high fever.

At that moment, Sun momo was serving in the small Buddhist hall and saw everything clearly.

“Sun momo, was it me who broke the Guanyin statue?” Xiao Yanfei suddenly asked, he gaze cold.

Sun momo was taken aback for a moment, then furrowed her brows even tighter as she asked. “What do you mean, miss? Are you implying that the matriarch wronged you?”

She felt a bit guilty, and her voice unintentionally rose a few notches.

Xiao Yanfe through the mirror glanced at Sun momo behind her, her thick black eyelashes fluttering as she spoke in a calm tone. “I was a bit dazed from the fever and just asking casually. Why are you anxious, Sun momo?”

Sun momo inexplicably felt like Xiao Yanfei was taking the lead in the conversation. She suspected she had overthought it, and scolded her a bit more. “Miss, you’re already grown up, speak with more thought.”

Xiao Yanfei reached out and took the plum blossom silver hairpin that Sun momo had just chosen, casually twirling it in her hand. “This pin actually suits you, Sun momo.”

A few rays of brilliant morning sunlight streamed through the window into the room, and the silver hairpin with the three plum blossoms at the top, sparkled in the sunlight. The plum blossoms had pearl-like lotus seed-sized centers.

Before Sun momo could react, Xiao Yanfei spoke again. “Why not just hove it to you as an apology for my ealier slip of tongue?”

Xiao Yanfei stood up, holding the silver hairpin, and reached to insert it into Sun momo‘s hair, saying, “Let me put this for you.”

Sun momo immediately recognized the silver hairpin as one from Jin Yutang, one of the most renowned jewelry shops in the capital. Her eyes betrayed a glint of greed.

Such a fine hairpin—why should it be wasted on the inept second young miss? It would be better off with her.

But before she could act on her thoughts, a sharp pain shot through her left temple.

She frowned, suddenly realizing that the sharp tip of the hairpin was now pressed against her temple.

The cold, sharp point dug slightly into her skin and slowly slid downward along her temple…

It felt like a dagger was hovering over her head.

A chill ran through Sun momo’s body, and she froze in place, not daring to move. Her fingers trembled slightly as she shakily spoke, “Take it away!”

Her voice had an edge of panic, sounding unusually high-pitched.

Xiao Yanfei’s voice came with a hint of regret, “Does Granny not like it?”

“What a pity,” she added casually, before tossing the silver hairpin onto the dressing table.

Sun momo instinctively looked down, and saw that the sharp tip of the silver hairpin was stained with a small, vivid drop of blood. The sight was deeply alarming.

She raised her left hand to touch her temple, and the pad of her finger was also marked with a tiny bloodstain, the size of a grain of rice. Her pupils instantly contracted in shock.

Xiao Yanfei sat back down, her voice soft and apologetic, “Please don’t blame me, Granny. I’m sick and weak, and my hand accidentally trembled just now.”

“Thankfully, it’s only a small cut. The last time I was cut by a paper cutter, you said it was nothing, just a little injury that could be treated with incense ash. It’s no big deal, really.”

Xiao Yanfei glanced at the small scar, about an inch long, next to the red crescent-shaped birthmark on her palm.

The original owner had bled quite a bit back then, and as a young girl, she had been frightened out of her wits, but all she received from Sun momo was a dismissive comment.

Sun momo looked at Xiao Yanfei with a mix of suspicion and confusion. For a moment, she almost thought Xiao Yanfei was getting back at her.

But the girl’s eyes were still clear and innocent, like that of a harmless rabbit, the same as before.

For some reason, Sun momo couldn’t shake the feeling that something about her had changed.

Suppressing the unease rising in her chest, Sun momo silently told herself: I must report this to the concubine later.

“Sun momo, you’re serving me on Aunt’s behalf. Since Aunt cares for me so much, she wouldn’t blame me for accidentally hurting you,” Xiao Yanfei said, patting her chest in relief.

“…” Sun momo was speechless, feeling as though she was being cornered. Given how things had escalated, if she reported this, it would surely put Aunt in a difficult position.

Sun momo‘s breath caught in her chest.

“Please go tend to your wound, Mama, before the bleeding worsens,” Xiao Yanfei added thoughtfully.

Sun momo hurriedly pressed a handkerchief to her wound, worried about bleeding too much. She silently cursed her luck and muttered, “I’ll leave now.”

Without looking back, she quickly exited, the two maids awkwardly following behind.

Xiao Yanfei pointed to the butterfly-shaped gold hairpin that Haitang had selected. “Let’s go with this one.”

“Yes, yes, Miss,” Haitang quickly replied, inserting the gold hairpin into Xiao Yanfei’s hair and adding a pair of delicate, blue lotus silk flowers with yellow centers.

Xiao Yanfei examined herself in the mirror, pleased with her appearance. Looking at her exquisite face, which no words could fully describe, her mood lifted considerably.

As she stood up, she said, “Let’s go.”

The layout of the Marquis’s residence was intricate and exquisite, with various courtyard doors, corridors, and passageways interwoven and interconnected. The pavilions, towers, and buildings were elegant and ancient in design, with a scenic view at every step.

Ronghe Hall, located on the west side of the residence, was dignified and graceful, exuding an impressive grandeur.

Under the guidance of a little maid from the hall, Xiao Yanfei made her way through a corridor and a small hall, heading towards the main room.

In the center of the main hall, a green plaque hung with the golden characters “Ronghe Hall” inscribed on it. Below the plaque was a statue of the reclining Guanyin, surrounded by a serene aura.

From a distance, Xiao Yanfei spotted an elderly woman sitting on a high-backed chair carved with kui dragons, made of purple sandalwood. The woman wore a dark-colored silk robe embroidered with cranes, and a few silver strands of hair were scattered amidst her graying locks.

To her left and right sat two women in their thirties, both strikingly beautiful yet distinct in appearance, with noble and elegant air.

Xiao Yanfei recognized the elderly woman at the head of the room as the matriarch of the Marquis’s family, the Tai Furen. The woman on the left with phoenix-like eyes was Lady Yin, the Marquis’s wife.

The woman on the right, with delicate eyebrows and bright eyes, seemed unfamiliar to Xiao Yanfei. She was most likely a guest.

Xiao Yanfei stepped across the threshold and entered the hall, awkwardly kneeling in front of the Tai Furen and Lady Yin to offer her respects.

“Grandmother.”

“Mother.”

The matriarch fidgeted with her prayer beads, her impatience evident as she glanced at the slender girl standing just a few steps away. This girl is always so slow and indecisive, she thought, irritation flickering across her face. With a temperament like that, she’ll never amount to anything noteworthy.

Madam Yin gave Xiao Yanfei a slight nod, her gaze calm, betraying no hint of emotion.

“Madam Gong, this is my second granddaughter, her maiden name is Yanfei.” The Tai Furen turned to face the woman on the right side, her lips curving into a warm smile. “Yanfei, why aren’t you greeting the Madam?”

Xiao Yanfei slightly turned her body and bowed respectfully. “Greetings, Madam Gong.”

“Such a beautiful young lady,” Madam Gong smiled, her tone friendly as she asked, “Good child, what do you usually like to do?”

Xiao Yanfei obediently replied, “Replying to Madam, I usually enjoy reading books and tending to flowers.”

“It’s good for a young lady to be quiet and refined,” Madam Wei Guo observed Xiao Yanfei again, her smile a mix of amusement and perhaps a hint of mockery. She took a gold bracelet from her wrist and handed it to Xiao Yanfei as a greeting gift. “Take this bracelet.”

“Thank you, Madam,” Xiao Yanfei responded gently, making an effort to appear composed and proper.

“You’re too kind, Madam Gong.” The Tai Furen’s smile deepened, and then she turned to Lady Yin. “Awan, please take Yanfei and prepare some tea and snacks.”

With so many maids and servants in the household, there was no reason for the esteemed Marchioness to personally prepare tea and refreshments. The matriarch’s words carried an unmistakable subtext—she clearly wished to speak privately with the Duchess of Wei and intended for Yin Shi and Xiao Yanfei to step aside.

Yin Shi smiled in acknowledgment and gracefully withdrew with Xiao Yanfei to the western antechamber.

The maids quietly retreated as well, leaving only Wang Nanny to attend to the matriarch in the main hall.

The matriarch leisurely stirred the tea leaves floating on the surface of her cup with the lid before taking a small sip.

The Duchess of Wei glanced in the direction Xiao Yanfei had departed and offered a measured compliment, her voice calm. “Madam, your granddaughter is a fine young lady—graceful, intelligent, and well-mannered. You are truly fortunate.”

Though her tone was warm and polite, her gaze betrayed a distinct detachment.

“You flatter me, Madam,” the matriarch replied modestly.

The Duchess of Wei smoothed her sleeve with a soft sigh, her tone taking on a wistful quality. “Alas, my husband has grown weaker by the day. Even in his illness, he often speaks of Achi, worrying for him. Now that Achi has come of age, there is still no one by his side to care for him…”

She produced a handkerchief and lightly dabbed the corners of her eyes, her words heavy with implication.

Though the Duchess’s statement was veiled, the matriarch seemed to grasp her meaning. She responded in a gentle tone, “I once sought guidance from Master Yuanjing at Baiyun Temple regarding my second granddaughter’s fortune. He assured me her destiny is auspicious, her blessings abundant, and that she has the ability to bring prosperity to her family.”

The two women locked eyes, and in just a few brief words, it seemed they had reached an unspoken understanding.

Madam Wei Guo sighed again, “I can only hope that this joyful event will dispel the bad luck, and that the Duke will recover.”

“The Duke is a fortunate man, heaven will protect him,” the Tai Furen said with a smile at the corners of her lips. She added, “I see that Madam looks a bit weary, please take care of your health as well…”

Xiao Yanfei, as a concubine born of a secondary wife, being able to go to the Duke’s residence for such a purpose, even if only as a concubine, would still be considered her fortune!

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