A Maid Dressed As A Cannon Fodder Female Supporting Role (Transmigration) - Chapter 18

Among the younger noblewomen in the capital, three names stood out above the rest.

There was Chen Yue, renowned for her beauty. Liang Youyun was admired for her gentle nature, and Chu Qingqiu was known for her cool and aloof demeanor.

Privately, people called them the “Three Belles of the Capital.”

Chen Yue possessed a beauty that was striking and commanding. Yet her mother’s low status meant she had few true friends; most people approached her for the prestige of the Chen family, not out of genuine affection.

In contrast, Liang Youyun was a different story.

As the legitimate daughter of the Duke’s household, she was graceful and kind to all. She never carried herself with the haughtiness often found among highborn ladies and was well liked across the noble circles. Even those who held grudges against her family couldn’t bring themselves to speak ill of her.

Then there was Chu Qingqiu, born into a scholarly household, most famed for her serene presence and literary talent.

She was like a snow lotus blooming on a mountaintop—elegant, untouchable, and untainted by the mundane world. One could only admire her from afar, not daring to draw too close.

As A’Zhi pondered this, she thought perhaps soon there would be a fourth flower in bloom within the capital.

The sweet-looking but secretly sharp-toothed little man-eater: Chao Mu.

While A’Zhi was privately mocking that thought, the final two guests of the day finally arrived.

The girl in pale pink was Liang Youyun. The one in soft green was Chu Qingqiu. Their outfits weren’t loud in color, but they left a lingering impression—graceful, yet unforgettable.

Side by side, pink and green walked gracefully toward them.

“We’ve come a bit late,” Liang Youyun said. Her gaze briefly paused on Chao Mu’s light yellow dress before she took a quick step forward to offer a polite greeting.

She smiled warmly as she took the food box from the maid’s hands and spoke softly, “It was my fault, really. I insisted on bringing a little treat for you, and that delayed us.”

Chao Mu’s eyes drifted from her face to the box. “A treat?”

With a touch of guilt in her tone, Liang Youyun explained, “It’s your first time back in the capital, so I thought you might not have tried the pastries from Fuyu Tower. They’re famous here. I wasn’t sure what else to give, so I thought you might enjoy these, even if it meant being a bit late.”

Just then, the Liang family’s maid stepped forward to add, “Perhaps the princess isn’t aware, but Fuyu Tower never takes reservations. Anyone who wants their pastries has to line up. My lady and Miss Chu left early this morning and waited for over an hour to get these.”

It was clear that this gift had not come easily. It cost time and money, and it showed their sincere intentions.

And the maid’s explanation subtly addressed their tardiness, making it clear it wasn’t due to arrogance but because they had been out preparing a thoughtful gift.

Liang Youyun quickly turned and gave the maid a gentle side glance. Her voice was soft but carried a note of rebuke. “A’xiu, that’s enough.”

It sounded more like a fond chide than a scolding.

She looked back at Chao Mu, her smile gentle, her gaze fixed warmly on her. “I hope you’ll like it.”

Chu Qingqiu, meanwhile, seemed uninterested in all the pleasantries. She gave a small nod and remained quiet.

“You’ve both gone to so much trouble.” Chao Mu’s eyes curved with warmth as she smiled and took the food box from Liang Youyun, then turned to hand it to A’Zhi.

A’Zhi stepped forward to accept it, but when her fingers brushed against Chao Mu’s, she paused.

The princess’s hand was cold, icy even.

Had she been standing outside too long?

It was close to lunchtime. Chao Mu spoke to the pair, “Please go ahead and take your seats. I’ll join you shortly.”

She raised a hand to call for a maid. “Xiao Que, take our guests to the warm room and serve them some tea.”

Xiao Que bowed. “Yes, Your Highness.”

The three offered their parting courtesies. Chao Mu remained where she was while Liang Youyun and Chu Qingqiu headed toward the pavilion.

From the moment Liang Youyun stepped through the garden gate, Xiao Que’s eyes had been fixed on the hem of her dress. Although she had briefly looked at Chu Qingqiu, the comparison made her feel so small that she didn’t dare to look again.

She had once hosted Miss Liang herself. Back when her lady would occasionally visit the young duke’s study, it was Xiao Que who welcomed her. Liang Youyun had a sharp memory—surely she would remember her.

So Xiao Que held on to a thin strand of hope. She wished Liang Youyun might recognize her.

But from the moment they entered, Liang Youyun hadn’t spared her a single extra glance.

Xiao Que’s heart sank. When the princess asked her to escort them to the pavilion, that hope flared again.

Maybe this was fate offering her a second chance.

She tried to speak with Liang Youyun on the way, but the young lady stayed locked in conversation with Chu Qingqiu the entire time, giving Xiao Que no chance to join in.

When they reached the door, Liang Youyun nodded politely in thanks but still didn’t recognize her.

Xiao Que stood frozen in place, barely breathing.

Liang Youyun had forgotten her. She didn’t even realize they had met before, and today might be Xiao Que’s only chance to ever return to that household.

******

After the two girls had gone, Chao Mu slowly pulled out a handkerchief and began wiping her fingers with great care, not missing a single crease or corner.

Among noblewomen, it wasn’t unusual to hold hands during greetings to show closeness.

She had just taken Liang Youyun’s hand.

Her long lashes lowered, and she stood there quietly.

A’Zhi hesitated for a moment, just about to speak, when Chao Mu turned and looked at her, lips pouting as she held out a hand.

“A’Zhi, it’s dirty. It feels gross. Can you please blow on it for me?”

A’Zhi replied flatly, “That won’t help.” She pointed at the black water jar by the door, now covered in a dusting of snow. “Want me to dip your hand in that instead?”

Chao Mu went quiet.

A’Zhi was so cold and heartless!

Defeated in her attempt to pout her way out of the situation, Chao Mu pulled her hand back with a whimper and began scrubbing at it again, this time so hard her fingers were turning red.

A’Zhi had never seen her so disgusted by someone. “You don’t like Miss Liang.”

Her tone made it sound like a statement, not a question.

“You know me so well.” Chao Mu tucked the handkerchief away, smiling without denying it.

Her gaze landed on the food box in A’Zhi’s hands.

She had once adored Liang Youyun, treating her and Chu Qingqiu as the dearest sisters she’d made since returning to the capital.

But what had that led to?

“Queuing for pastries… such a thoughtful gesture,” she said, resting her hands on her knees and leaning down to lift the lid. The sweet scent wafted up—undeniably tempting.

There had been a time when she’d been moved by this sort of gesture, believing only real friends would put in that kind of effort.

She didn’t anticipate that the effort was part of a well-planned trap.

Her guard had dropped, and the price she paid for that mistake had been far too steep.

“I used to be so foolish, A’Zhi.” She picked up a piece of pastry and offered it to her maid, then took one for herself.

She remembered once feeling wary of Chen Yue just because they had worn the same color. Chen Yue’s aggressive beauty had made her seem difficult to approach, and Chao Mu had instinctively kept her distance.

Back then, people often gossiped about Chen Yue and the Sixth Prince, saying the two were unusually close.

That impression, paired with the clothing mishap, had left Chao Mu feeling challenged and even provoked.

So naturally, gentle and thoughtful Liang Youyun had become the friend she let in.

Now, as she ate, her expression gave nothing away. Only her long lashes cast shadows over the emotions in her eyes.

Those eyes, always clear as spring water, now looked downcast.

A’Zhi studied her quietly, trying to recall the details about Liang Youyun. After all, she was meant to be the one the Sixth Prince would eventually marry. There was no shortage of references to her in the novel.

Liang family. The Duke’s household.

A’Zhi suddenly froze. Her gaze locked on Chao Mu, and her breath caught in her throat.

The man Chao Mu had once been falsely accused of having an affair with… wasn’t that the young duke, Liang You’an?

At that time, he already had a wife, yet rumors spread that he and Chao Mu had an improper relationship. At a banquet hosted by the Liang family, the princess had been publicly humiliated, and the only way she could prove her innocence was by taking her own life.

A’Zhi remembered thinking back then that the Sixth Prince was truly despicable. Even if he wanted to break off the engagement, destroying a girl’s reputation was too cruel.

A woman’s honor meant everything.

But she had been so focused on blaming the prince that she had overlooked another key figure in that incident: Liang You’an.

Was he truly innocent? Had he been aware of the trap?

And what role had the entire Liang family played in it?

Looking at Chao Mu now, A’Zhi couldn’t help but wonder—was her dislike for Liang Youyun just a woman’s sixth sense?

Still, A’Zhi thought to herself, it was a good thing the princess disliked Liang Youyun. If she didn’t get close to the Liang family, maybe she wouldn’t have to attend their banquet.

Maybe she could escape the ending written in the book.

“I don’t think Miss Liang is someone worth befriending either,” A’Zhi whispered near her ear.

Chao Mu looked up, blinking slowly. “Hmm?”

A’Zhi took a bite of the pastry Liang Youyun had gifted, speaking with no guilt at all as she talked behind her back. “The more someone wears pink, the more vicious they are inside. Princess, let’s keep our distance from people like her.”

Chao Mu lit up. “There’s a saying like that?”

She leaned in and whispered, “Then what about people who wear yellow?”

A’Zhi went quiet.