A Maid Dressed As A Cannon Fodder Female Supporting Role (Transmigration) - Chapter 17

The moment Chen Yue stepped through the round gate of the courtyard and caught sight of Chao Mu, she froze.

Instinctively, she looked down at her pink *ruqun and then at Chao Mu’s pale yellow gown across from her. A moment of blank confusion flickered across her face. O·O?

(The *Ruqun is a traditional Han Chinese garment that consists of a short jacket and a long skirt. Different styles of Ruqun exist, including the Qixiong Ruqun (chest-high) and Qiyao Ruqun (waist-high) styles.)

Chen Yue was undeniably beautiful. With her mother being a foreign woman, she had a naturally exotic charm. Her peach blossom eyes shimmered with emotion, giving her a more mature air than most girls her age—both in looks and temperament.

She had a striking appearance and was used to wearing bold colors. Earlier, while dressing for the banquet, she’d actually considered wearing something different. But her close friend Liang Youyun had come to visit and suggested that since the little princess Chao Mu had a good temperament, dressing festively might help her leave a good impression.

Hearing that she might win Chao Mu’s favor, Chen Yue had gone with the eye-catching pink outfit. Yet now, standing across from the host in such a loud outfit made her feel like she was trying to outshine her.

And with her bold features and presence, she looked like she had come to provoke someone, not make friends.

Regret instantly flooded her. She even wondered if it would be better to just turn around and leave.

She didn’t blame Liang Youyun for the suggestion—only herself for her bad luck. Of all the days to wear pink, today was the day that Chao Mu chose to wear something so plain.

From the garden gate to the main hall wasn’t far, even if she dragged her feet.

In the end, Chen Yue had no choice but to take a deep breath, plaster on a smile, and approach Chao Mu to greet her.

Her maid stepped forward to announce her with a formal curtsey. “Greetings, Your Highness. My young lady is the daughter of the Chen family. Her name is Chen Yue.”

The surname Chen wasn’t common in the capital. Of the few families who bore it, only one held significant power—the family of Chancellor Chen Xiang, the Right Minister of the Court.

It was said that in his youth, the Chancellor was quite the scandalous character. After his first wife died, he married a foreign dancer, whom he’d redeemed from a brothel. The news had caused quite a stir in the capital.

That dancer had only one child over the years, a daughter. It was Chen Yue.

Because she was his only daughter, Chancellor Chen doted on her. Her half-siblings treated her kindly too, as though she were their own. Chen Yue had grown up pampered and spoiled, the apple of her family’s eye.

She might be a bit delicate, but she wasn’t a schemer.

Chao Mu looked at her, stepped down from the platform, and took her hand in hers with a sweet smile. “I’m Chao Mu.”

A’Zhi blinked. Why is she smiling so sweetly? O-O

Chen Yue was briefly dazzled by the dimples that appeared on Chao Mu’s cheeks. For a second, it felt like she was looking at someone else entirely. Her eyes widened as she stammered, “H-Hello, Sister Chao.”

Chao Mu held her hand and spoke in her usual slow, unhurried voice. “We’re the same age. You don’t need to call me ‘sister.’ Just use my name.”

“It’s cold outside. Go sit in the warming pavilion,” Chao Mu added, waving over Cui Cui and instructing her to lead Chen Yue and her two companions inside.

Chen Yue, still in a daze, let the maids guide her away. Glancing down at the hand Chao Mu had just held, she wore an expression of deep contemplation. Her mind, however, was in chaos:

She only said a few words to me and told me to leave. Does that mean she doesn’t like me? I knew I shouldn’t have worn this dress. Would things have gone better if I’d worn yellow too?

Once they were out, Miss Chen, who was beside her, reading her expression, lowered her voice and muttered, “That was rather blunt of Her Highness. She could’ve been a bit more tactful.”

Thinking Chen Yue was upset, she tried to say something she hoped would cheer her up. After all, while others were here to curry favor with Chao Mu, they were here for the Chen family.

Another girl, of the same mind, chimed in, “Exactly! You arrived early, before most of the other guests. That action was a sign of respect towards both the Noble Consort and General Qi. Yet she tells you not to call her ‘sister’—so rude.”

Even if Chao Mu didn’t like being called that, even if she was jealous of Chen Yue’s closeness to the Sixth Prince, she shouldn’t have said such things in front of others. It was just embarrassing.

“She’s obviously older than you. Why can’t you call her that?” Miss Chen rolled her eyes.

Only then did Chen Yue realize what they were talking about. She tucked her hands into her sleeves, frowned, and quietly interrupted them, “I shouldn’t have called her sister.”

She then cupped her face in her hands, thinking of those shallow dimples and those alluring peach blossom eyes. “I should just call her Mumu like I heard someone else do.”

Miss Chen perked up. “Who else calls her that?”

Chen Yue realized she’d said too much and immediately pressed her lips together. She was already planning to visit another day, bearing gifts, to smooth things over.

She didn’t offer any more explanation, and thankfully, they soon reached the warming pavilion. The group entered and began exchanging pleasantries with other young ladies.

After the guests were shown inside, Cui Cui returned, leaving A’Zhi staring curiously at Chao Mu.

Just based on her earlier words, it might have seemed that Chao Mu didn’t like Chen Yue. But of all the guests today, Chen Yue was the only one she had stepped down to personally greet and take by the hand.

Words could mislead, but actions—especially ones so intimate—spoke volumes.

It made A’Zhi wonder:

Did Her Highness hear some rumors about Chen Yue and the Sixth Prince?

“Do you not like the Chen family’s young lady?” A’Zhi asked deliberately, playing along with the misleading words.

Chao Mu turned to A’Zhi with a furrowed brow and a puzzled look in her almond-shaped eyes, as if she was surprised that A’Zhi would ask something so silly. “Why would you say that?”

A’Zhi replied, “You wouldn’t even let her call you sister.”

“Of course not.” Chao Mu touched her own dimple with a playful smile. “Otherwise, that would make me a whole generation older.”

A’Zhi was briefly stunned by her cuteness, but she still didn’t get it.

Weren’t they of the same age?

Chen Yue’s older sister was already married. Chen Yue herself had once been rumored to be involved with the Sixth Prince, but in the end, the prince married Liang Youyun from the Duke’s household—not the Minister’s daughter. So where’s this difference in seniority coming from?

The emperor wouldn’t marry someone his son once had feelings for. Besides, the old emperor didn’t have much time left.

A’Zhi was burning with curiosity.

But Chao Mu just withdrew her hand mysteriously, gave A’Zhi a sideways glance, and hummed, “I’ll tell you later.”

A’Zhi scoffed inwardly. You’d better not. I’m not curious at all.

Once she got enough money and her contract of servitude, she was gone. What “later”? There was no “later” between them!

She gave Chao Mu a slow, polite smile and secretly glared at her.

Hmph. Heartless little sweetcake.

Chao Mu stood with her back to A’Zhi, her lashes lowered, lips curled into a quiet smile. Her dimples were deep and a little intoxicating.

Even without turning around, she could feel A’Zhi glaring at her.

Good. That meant she still cared.

What Chao Mu feared wasn’t A’Zhi getting mad at her. It was A’Zhi treating her like a stranger and never getting mad again.

*****

The Qi family estate opened its gates at mid-morning. Many guests had arrived precisely on time, yet a few came near noon, keeping the others waiting for nearly half an hour.

But there was a reason for arriving late.

One, their status set them apart. Two, their current relationship with Chao Mu was unclear, so there was no need to rush to make a good impression like Chen Yue had.

At the estate gate, a carriage rolled up fashionably late. The curtain lifted, and two young ladies stepped down—one gentle and sweet, the other cold and elegant.

The first was Liang Youyun from the Duke’s household. The second was Chu Qingqiu, daughter of the Crown Prince’s tutor.

These two were the final guests on Chao Mu’s invitation list, and the fact that they arrived in the same carriage spoke volumes about their relationship.

“The Duke’s daughter and the tutor’s daughter must be close.”

Inside the warming pavilion, the noble girls whispered among themselves, but even the maids braving the cold outside were gossiping too.

“They’re going to be sisters-in-law soon.”

Today’s servants weren’t just from the Qi estate; many came from other households and had heard bits and pieces. Taking the opportunity while their masters weren’t looking, they gossiped freely.

Xiao Que had nearly gone numb from the cold, but that one line brought her back to life.

“Wait, wait—did you say someone from the Liang family is here today?”

Her cheeks were red with cold, and her nose was running, but her eyes lit up in a way that was almost eerie. All her usual seductive charm was gone.

The maid who had spoken was startled by her look. “Y-Yes.”

“I counted the guest list. Two girls were still missing. It’s Miss Liang and Miss Chu,” the maid whispered behind her hand. “When I went to the outhouse earlier, I overheard some other maids saying the Liang and Chu families are about to become in-laws.”

“In-laws?” Xiao Que echoed. “Liang Youyun is getting married into the Chu family?”

But she was only fifteen. Wasn’t that too early?

The maid immediately knew Xiao Que hadn’t been paying attention. “No, it’s the other way around. Miss Chu is marrying into the Liang family.”

In other words, Chu Qingqiu was going to marry Liang You’an, the young master of the Duke’s estate. It made sense that they’d arrive together. They were future sisters-in-law, after all.

Xiao Que went stiff. Her face and lips turned pale, her voice hoarse. “What… what did you say?”

Liang You’an was getting married?

Why didn’t she know?

She was already freezing, but now, ice crept into her bones. Her hands and feet went numb.

No. No way. This can’t be happening.

But thinking back, it had already been a month or two since she’d been sold from the Liang estate. That was more than enough time for the two families to arrange a marriage.

And thinking deeper, maybe this was the real reason why Madam Liang had sold her off in the first place. A seductive maid who had once warmed the study? There was no way the Liang family would let her stick around now that a new mistress was about to move in.

The moment Xiao Que realized this, her eyes went blank. She was drowning in despair.

She had still hoped to return to the Liang household as a concubine. Now that hope had been utterly crushed. How could she not despair?

There was no future for her in the Qi estate. A’Zhi, the head maid in Xiangyang Courtyard, hated her and would never let her return to serve there. With only one mistress in the entire estate—Chao Mu—Xiao Que knew that if she couldn’t serve close to her, her days would be worse than a dog’s.

Xiao Que didn’t want to go back to the laundry rooms. She didn’t want to scrub clothes and do heavy work again.

She stared at the round gate, teeth chattering as she bit her lip hard, silently making a decision.

She was going back to the Liang estate.