After Transmigrating as the Scumbag Alpha Supporting Character, I Captured the Female Lead (GL) - Chapter 2

“Did you hear? The Princess moved that woman to the Fanghua Palace and even asked the Imperial Physician to treat her health.”

“The Princess didn’t punish that woman?”

“Yeah, didn’t someone say they saw her push the Princess?”

“What’s stranger is that the Princess actually carried that woman back to the Splendid Hall today.”

“Maybe the Princess came up with a new, novel way to torment her.”

Chunxi was the head maid by the Princess’s side. Observing the change in the Princess’s attitude toward the Princess Consort, it didn’t seem fake. She decided she should pay more attention to that side of the residence from now on.

Chunxi felt relieved only after arriving at the servants’ quarters and seeing that Lanxin was physically unharmed.

All the way here, she worried that the servants’ quarters, not knowing the severity of the situation, might have messed up and hurt the person she needed.

“Let’s go,” Chunxi said expressionlessly.

“Where?” Lanxin looked panicked.

Chunxi didn’t answer her, walking ahead on her own.

Lanxin glanced at the guards closing in, who seemed to be asking: Will you walk on your own, or shall we drag you?

The Fanghua Palace was not too far from the Splendid Hall where the Princess lived, and its magnificence was not inferior to the Splendid Hall. People who lived here were those whom even the chief stewardess would absolutely not dare to slight.

Outside the palace, Chunxi bowed slightly and said respectfully: “Princess Consort, the Princess instructed me to bring your maid, Lanxin, to serve you.”

After waiting for a long time without a response from inside, Chunxi straightened up and gestured, indicating that Lanxin, who was now in clean clothes, should go straight in.

Lanxin walked in hesitantly. They said I could return to my Miss’s side…

She saw the familiar, cool profile sitting by the window in the inner chamber, and tears uncontrollably streamed out: “Miss…”

The familiar voice snapped Su Yao out of her book. Seeing that the person who came was indeed Lanxin, Su Yao was briefly stunned and put down the book in her hand. She didn’t expect that mad woman to send Lanxin back…

She didn’t have time to ponder Rong Yang’s intentions. Seeing Lanxin instantly softened a hard part of her heart.

Lanxin had grown up with her and was the only person in the Princess’s Residence she could let her guard down around. Seeing the usually innocent and lively girl now with red eyes and a frail, thin body that looked like it could collapse at any moment, yet still walking firmly toward her, she took a deep breath, suppressing the surge of bitterness inside.

“Are you all right?”

Lanxin choked back tears: “Miss, I’m fine. I missed you so much, woo-woo… I thought I’d never see you again!”

“You’ve suffered,” Su Yao gently held Lanxin’s shoulder, which was trembling with emotion.

“Wuwuwu…” Lanxin cried even harder.

“Princess Consort, the Princess also ordered some food to be prepared for you. Please eat something,” Chunxi’s voice sounded at an inappropriate time.

Without waiting for Su Yao’s reply, Chunxi instructed someone to bring the food in.

Su Yao glanced at the meal placed on the table.

“The Princess said that if the Princess Consort does not eat, Lanxin will be punished by not being allowed to eat dinner!” Chunxi said lightly.

With a “bang,” a white porcelain vase on the table fell, symbolizing Su Yao’s silent protest.

“Then this servant will take her leave,” Chunxi’s eyelid twitched.

“Miss…” Seeing the pale-faced, skinny Su Yao, more tears streamed down Lanxin’s face.

“It’s fine,” Su Yao comforted her.

“Miss, wuwuwu… why did she… move you to a different place…” Lanxin spoke incoherently while crying.

“I don’t know.” Su Yao concealed the darkness in her eyes, looking at the food that had just been placed nearby. She was so hungry she had lost the feeling, but she had to survive, walk out of the Princess’s Residence alive, and crush Rong Yang under her heel.

“Eat first,” Su Yao comforted her. “You must be hungry, too.”

Hearing “food,” Lanxin stopped crying and looked at the meal on the table nearby. The black, messy stuff in the servants’ quarters was simply hard to swallow. It had been a long time since she had seen a normal meal.

“Miss, let this servant wait upon you to eat a little. We shouldn’t be hard on our own bodies,” Lanxin wiped her tears and pursed her lips.

“You eat, no need to wait on me. I’ll eat a little, too. If I starve to death like this, wouldn’t all the suffering I endured beforehand be for nothing?” Su Yao said lightly.

Su Yao asked Lanxin to sit down as well. The food delivered was light. A few mouthfuls of the savory, warm chicken soup soothed Su Yao’s perpetually aching stomach significantly.

Neither of them noticed a figure flashing past the doorway.

“Princess, the Princess Consort has eaten,” Chunxi truthfully reported what she saw.

Rong Yang nodded. It’s good that she can eat. I was truly afraid the female lead would starve to death.

Sending Lanxin over was a good idea; Chunxi should be credited for it.

“You may all leave.” Rong Yang dismissed everyone, wanting some peace to think. What should I do next?

At dinnertime, Rong Yang, who had thought all afternoon without any clue, was just marveling at where to start with the grand feast on the table when she heard someone reporting from outside the hall.

“Grandma Liu, who manages the garden, says she has an urgent matter to see the Princess about.”

Rong Yang glanced at Chunxi waiting by the side. Her initial intention was to have Chunxi investigate and find an excuse to send her away.

She suddenly changed her mind and said: “Tell her to speak from outside the screen.”

Six panels of a landscape screen depicting mountains and the Erhai Lake were carried into the hall by the eunuchs, blocking the view of the person seeking an audience.

Grandma Liu knelt outside the screen, unable to see Rong Yang’s face. She had just returned to the residence from visiting relatives and learned that the Princess was injured and in a coma. She also heard a few rumors that Su Yao pushed her. Her family was currently short on money—here was an opportunity…

“Greetings, Princess.”

“What matter do you have to report?”

“The Princess’s coma for the past few days was not an accident; it was man-made. This old servant personally saw someone push the Princess.”

Grandma Liu’s words were harsh, as if she had truly witnessed it.

Rong Yang frowned slightly. In the original book, Rong Yang’s coma was indeed caused by an accidental fall where she hit a stone and passed out. However, someone with ulterior motives pushed the blame onto Su Yao. Rong Yang already detested Su Yao, so upon hearing it was her, she naturally jumped to conclusions without investigation.

She not only punished Su Yao but also exaggerated the incident and reported it to the Emperor and Empress.

The Emperor blamed Magistrate Su for failing to educate his daughter and being an unfit official in charge of a region, ordering his removal from office, investigation, and awaiting punishment.

After this incident, the female lead hid her abilities and swore she would cut Rong Yang into a thousand pieces.

“Oh? Who was it?” Rong Yang’s tone was lukewarm.

“Besides that wretched woman in the residence, who else could it be! I saw her with my own eyes!” Grandma Liu was absolutely certain. If she named someone else, the Princess might consider it, but everyone in the residence knew the Princess hated Su Yao the most.

She was certain the Princess wouldn’t investigate and would directly arrest and sentence Su Yao.

At that time, no matter how Su Yao argued, the Princess wouldn’t believe it. This move would not only allow the Princess to vent her anger but also earn herself a reward. Perhaps if the Princess was happy, she might reward her with a hundred or a thousand taels—wouldn’t that be wonderful!

Rong Yang’s finger lightly tapped the table; she remained silent.

Grandma Liu continued to express her loyalty: “For the past few days, this servant has been worried sick. Only now that the Princess is awake and I have truthfully reported this do I feel relieved. Princess, you must not let a criminal like Su Yao go unpunished!”

Rong Yang looked weary. She originally intended to kick this person out of the residence immediately, but then she changed her mind. Isn’t this a good opportunity to perform in front of the female lead!

“Chunxi, go and invite the Princess Consort here.”

“Yes.”

Princess Consort? Grandma Liu was stunned. When did the residence get a Princess Consort?

The dining hall was silent. Grandma Liu knelt on the ground, slightly raising her head. She couldn’t see Rong Yang’s expression and, for some reason, cold sweat kept pouring down her brow. Shouldn’t the Princess just directly arrest Su Yao?

After a while, a voice came from the door.

“Princess, the Princess Consort has been invited.”

When Grandma Liu saw that the person Chunxi invited was Su Yao, her heart trembled, and she forgot to breathe.

Rong Yang stood up and walked out from behind the screen. A pair of sharp, light-brown eyes looked coldly at Su Yao.

She stood there quietly. The light of the candlelight behind her softly illuminated her, and a chill of aloofness radiated from her brow.

“Su Yao.”

The familiar name came from the mouth of the person she hated. Su Yao slightly frowned, her eyes filled with unconcealed hatred.

“Was it her who pushed me?” Rong Yang asked, pointing at Su Yao.

Grandma Liu felt something was wrong. What is the Princess doing…?

Under the scrutiny of everyone, Su Yao’s expression was cold, and she remained silent. Was this Rong Yang’s new trick?

“This old servant… it seems it was her who pushed you.” Since the words were already spoken, she could only continue to round off the story, but she couldn’t help feeling a little guilty.

“When and at what time?” Rong Yang asked casually.

“Two days ago… during the Shen hour (3-5 PM)…” Grandma Liu wiped the cold sweat from her forehead and arbitrarily made up a time: “This servant can’t remember the exact time, but it was around that hour.”

Su Yao lowered her eyes, clenching her hands. The crime of attempted murder. What kind of punishment is she planning this time?

Su Yao’s eyes were full of darkness as she stared at Rong Yang’s arrogant eyes: “Skip the despicable tactic of false accusation. Why don’t you just say what you want?”

This… the female lead seems to have misunderstood…

“What were you doing during the Shen hour two days ago?” Rong Yang pressed closer, Su Yao’s image reflected in her dark eyes. Just say it, I’ll believe you, Su Yao.

Su Yao sneered. What difference does it make whether I say it or not?

Rong Yang’s melodious voice suddenly became low and tinged with anger, speaking almost word by word: “Tell me the truth!”

However, Rong Yang was anxious inside. Female lead, why don’t you speak? I’ll believe you if you speak. If you speak, I’ll give this rumor-mongering Grandma Liu thirty heavy strokes!

Su Yao made no attempt to hide the disgust in her eyes. She hated Rong Yang’s voice, her interrogation, and her malicious pleasure. No matter what she said, the result would be the same.

“Nothing.”

Rong Yang paused slightly.

Hearing this, Grandma Liu felt the matter was settled. Such a perfunctory answer—the Princess must feel she was being played.

“Guards, take her away and give her thirty heavy strokes.” Rong Yang ordered, staring intensely at Su Yao.

Su Yao clenched her fists. Sure enough…

Looking at the arrogant attitude and the beautiful yet hypocritical face of the woman before her…

Actually, the one who should be punished is Rong Yang!

But her eyes full of hatred were insignificant in the face of absolute power.

Rong Yang’s gaze shifted from Su Yao to Grandma Liu kneeling on the floor.

“Grandma Liu, for slandering the Princess Consort, throw her out of the residence after she’s been beaten.”

Su Yao’s body trembled.

Grandma Liu looked up in terror, her face pale, her lips moving several times but unable to utter a word.

Two guards dragged Grandma Liu away.

“No, no, no, Princess, I… I really saw it… Su Yao she…” Grandma Liu’s voice was shrill and grating.

Rong Yang raised her hand and pinched Su Yao’s jaw, forcing her to meet her gaze:

“No matter what Su Yao is like, she is my only Princess Consort. I hate it when others arbitrarily scheme against my people!”

Her eyes were filled entirely with Su Yao’s reflection, but she seemed to be looking at a bird in a cage—a mocking gaze, slightly raised lips, and the innate arrogance of a person of high status.

Su Yao coldly snorted, turned her head, and broke free from Rong Yang’s grasp: “The Princess certainly puts on a good show.”

“Does the Princess Consort dislike this ending?”

Rong Yang said this as she turned and sat back behind the screen. The screen concealed her panicked expression. Looking at her right hand, which still held the residual warmth of Su Yao’s touch, she felt slightly uneasy. Why did I touch her again…?

Was that also a habit of the original owner?

The female lead’s gaze just now was too terrifying!

“The show is over. Can I leave now?” Su Yao said coldly.

“You may leave,” Rong Yang replied calmly.

Su Yao turned and left the dining hall, her long eyelashes concealing the darkness in her eyes.

Only when Su Yao’s retreating figure disappeared did Rong Yang slightly relax.

Not long after, a guard saw Chunxi at the entrance of the Splendid Hall and reported: “Grandma Liu didn’t survive twenty strokes of the cane.”

Chunxi coldly ordered: “Throw her body into the mass grave.”

Su Yao returned to the Fanghua Palace. Lanxin was waiting anxiously outside the hall. Seeing Su Yao approach from a distance, she hurried forward to greet her.