A Maid Dressed As A Cannon Fodder Female Supporting Role (Transmigration) - Chapter 41

“The teachers at the Imperial Academy are all called scholars. They usually arrive around seven in the morning, regardless of whether they live on campus or not,” Chen Yue finally remembered to talk to Chao Mu about something serious.

Chao Mu slowly blinked, looking in the direction where the Grand Princess had left. “What about my aunt?” It must be nine in the morning now.

Chen Yue immediately cupped her hands over her face. “Isn’t the Grand Princess just so different from everyone else?” she said with a look of pride. 

“The Grand Princess has always been a free spirit. She never follows those old, rigid rules. The headmaster says to be here at seven, but the Grand Princess always comes at nine.” Those old men say women can’t be involved in politics, but the Grand Princess insists on being involved! The rules say a woman can only have one husband, but the Grand Princess refuses to get married and has an entire estate of male companions! Chen Yue supported all of Chao Yang’s decisions, but when it came to the male companions, she couldn’t help but feel a little sour inside. She tried to ignore that feeling and concluded, “The Grand Princess is the best.” 

The Grand Princess who would secretly pinch her face and call her “Little Yue Yue” when she was drunk was the best Grand Princess!

Chao Mu’s face wrinkled up. She couldn’t quite understand Chen Yue’s “Chao Yang-worship.”

“If it were A’Zhi, and everyone was fighting to be the manager, but A’Zhi just wanted to be a head maid to be with you, wouldn’t A’Zhi be very different?” Chen Yue gave a simple example.

Chao Mu’s back straightened. Her apricot-shaped eyes immediately lit up. She nodded in strong agreement. “Yes, that’s it exactly.”

…A “Zhi-worshiper.”

Chen Yue looked smug. “Right? So whatever the Grand Princess does is right!”

Chao Mu echoed, “And so is A’Zhi!”

Cui Cui and Zhu Zhu, who had witnessed the entire conversation, were speechless. No wonder these two could become such good friends.

“Since it’s your first day, you should go to the classroom to see Scholar Zou first. He’s in charge of taking attendance,” Chen Yue said, trying to get the conversation back on track as they approached the classroom entrance. She covered her mouth with one hand and whispered to Chao Mu, “If you skip class without asking for leave, Scholar Zou will contact your family.” This would serve as a warning and keep students from messing around. That way, if anything happened to the students, the Imperial Academy could also wash its hands of any responsibility.

The two of them walked toward the classroom, but they ran into the Sixth Prince, Chao Hongji, and Liang Youyun right at the entrance.

 In the academy, the rules for men and women were not strict. Besides a few subjects where classes were separate, they studied and wrote in the same classroom. Chao Hongji seemed to be heading into the classroom, so his back was to Chen Yue and Chao Mu. Liang Youyun, on the other hand, was just coming out and was facing them.

Liang Youyun clearly saw Chao Mu and Chen Yue, but she lowered her eyes, smiled, and pretended not to notice. She looked at the box in Chao Hongji’s hand. “Is that the jade bracelet you found yesterday, Your Highness?”

Chao Hongji was a little surprised. “How did you know?”

“Did you forget, Your Highness? My brother also went yesterday,” Liang Youyun said. “My brother said that you found a pure-colored agate jade bracelet. It must be very beautiful. Can I see it?”

Liang Youyun was a daughter of the Duke’s estate. She had a gentle demeanor, a beautiful appearance, and she was the younger sister of his friend, Liang You’an. Chao Hongji naturally wouldn’t refuse her request. He smiled and handed her the box. “Here, take a look.”

He opened the brocade box. Inside, on a yellow velvet cloth, lay a red agate jade bracelet. Its color was a rarity, and its price was outstanding.

“It’s so beautiful,” Liang Youyun said, holding the bracelet with a handkerchief and looking at it in the sunlight. “A bracelet this beautiful, who are you going to give it to, Your Highness?” She put the bracelet back in the box, closed the lid, and handed it back to Chao Hongji.

Chao Hongji smiled without answering, clearly not wanting to answer the question, but Liang Youyun was not going to let him off the hook.

“Red is a bold color. Let me think about which girl I know would be most suited for this color,” Liang Youyun said, twirling the handkerchief. She then smiled. “It’s Chen Yue.” She put her hands behind her back and tilted her head slightly, with a girlish playfulness and innocence. “Am I right, Your Highness?”

Chao Hongji didn’t want to reply, but he couldn’t resist Liang Youyun’s “charm.” He smiled and said, “Red does suit her.” This meant Liang Youyun had guessed correctly. Chao Hongji had specifically chosen this bracelet, intending to give it to Chen Yue. He thought no girl could refuse such beautiful jewelry.

Liang Youyun looked ahead and smiled brightly at Chao Mu. “I knew it. Your Highness treats Chen Yue differently.”

Chao Mu’s dimples were shallow. The stage was set, and all that was left was for the main characters to perform.

Liang Youyun greeted Chen Yue. “A’yue.” She then bowed to Chao Mu. “Countess Fu Jia.” Because of the Qi manor’s banquet last time, Chen Yue no longer liked Liang Youyun so much, but she still said, “A’yun.”

Chao Mu’s eyes also curved into a smile. She called out slowly to Chao Hongji’s back. “Sister Youyun, Brother Hongji.” Her sweet voice was like a sudden thunderclap.

Chao Hongji turned around in astonishment. He saw Chao Mu and Chen Yue walking toward them. He had not expected the two of them to show up together, and the brocade box in his hand suddenly felt hot. Regardless of whether his engagement to Chao Mu would be upheld, Chao Mu was still his future sixth imperial consort in name. And he was holding a bracelet to give to someone else.

Chao Hongji felt a bit annoyed. He had heard that Chao Mu was unwell and resting at home. Why was she at the Imperial Academy today? If he had known she was coming, he would have prepared two bracelets.

“Sister Fu Jia,” Chao Hongji said with a smile on his face, his tone full of concern. “I heard you were not feeling well. Are you better now?”

“Mu Mu isn’t feeling well?” Chen Yue was surprised. She tilted her head and looked at Chao Mu, worriedly looking her up and down. “How come I didn’t know?” Yesterday, Mu Mu was still catching sparrows with her at the manor.

Chao Mu whispered to her, “I ate too much and my stomach hurt.”

Chen Yue was speechless.

The two of them walked over. Chao Hongji wanted to ignore the bracelet matter and changed the subject. “It’s cold outside. Come inside the classroom. Scholar Zou should be here any minute now.”

“Huh?” Chao Mu said softly. Her eyes were on Chao Hongji’s hand. She blinked slowly. “Are you not going to give the bracelet away?” The moment she spoke, the three girls’ gazes fell on Chao Hongji’s hand. Chao Hongji froze. It felt as if he was not holding a brocade box but a hot potato.

As a prince, Chao Hongji had lived in the palace since he was a child. He had seen all kinds of women. For him, a future consort’s appearance didn’t matter. What was most important was her family background and how much she could help him in court. It was obvious that compared to Chao Mu, whose mother had died young and whose father was not in the capital, Chen Yue’s father was a powerful man. Whoever could get the support of Prime Minister Chen would be one step closer to the throne. This was also why Chao Hongji wanted to please Chen Yue.

If it were a time of war, General Qi, who held military power, would be more important. But now, in a time of peace, military power was naturally inferior to political power, and Chao Mu became less important as a result.

Chao Hongji had seen too many women fighting for a man’s favor. Chao Mu and Chen Yue were now competing, secretly comparing who was more important in his heart because of the bracelet in his hand. Chao Hongji felt he understood them completely. He could see through the little girls’ schemes with a single glance. Including when Liang Youyun asked him about the bracelet, she was actually hinting at something as well.

Chao Hongji, who had not yet left the palace to establish his own manor or marry a wife, felt as if he already had three wives. They were all playing games for a small trinket, with the sole purpose of gaining his favor.

When he figured out this relationship, Chao Hongji felt much more at ease. He opened the box. “I found this jade bracelet yesterday. I bought it because of its beautiful, pure color. I know Chen Yue usually wears red, so I was going to give this bracelet to her.”

Liang Youyun watched the drama unfold without saying a word. Chen Yue’s face was already scrunched up.

Chao Mu’s eyelashes fluttered and fell. She said softly, “Oh.” She sounded well-behaved and disappointed.

Chao Hongji smiled, closed the box, and held it out to Chao Mu. “Since Sister Fu Jia asked first, I’ll give this bracelet to you.” It was like a reward.

This action showed that he felt something different for Chen Yue while also showing respect for Chao Mu’s status as his future consort. This was a common tactic the emperor used to balance the relationship between the empress and the noble consort. Chao Hongji never thought he would have to use it today.

Chao Mu took the box with both hands, opened it, and looked at it. “So it was for Chen Yue.” After getting the jade bracelet, she wasn’t as happy as Chao Hongji had expected. Instead, she acted particularly childish and spoiled. “I don’t want a bracelet that was meant for someone else.” She handed the brocade box to Chen Yue.

Chao Hongji was confused.

Chen Yue was also confused. She looked at the brocade box. “If Mu Mu doesn’t want it, I don’t want it either.”

Chao Hongji was even more confused.

Chen Yue held the box and looked around. Finally, she handed it to Liang Youyun. “You can have it.” She remembered that Liang Youyun loved jewelry.

Chen Yue had no malicious intentions, but Liang Youyun was more scheming and thought too much. What did this mean? They didn’t want it, so they were giving it to her out of charity? She was a young lady from the Duke’s estate. How could she stoop so low as to pick up their “trash?” Liang Youyun’s fingers dug into her palms. She had a smile on her face, but she didn’t take the brocade box. “If neither of you wants it, how can I take it?”

Chao Hongji was now completely bewildered.

Chen Yue was flustered. “Since no one wants it… I guess I’ll give it back to you.” Chen Yue shoved the box back into Chao Hongji’s arms.

Chao Hongji was completely dumbfounded. He stared at the brocade box in his arms, unable to understand what went wrong. Every time his father used this trick, it worked perfectly. The empress was happy, and his mother was happy. So why was it that three women didn’t want his thing and even shoved it back at him like they were disgusted by it?

Chen Yue had already taken Chao Mu’s arm and walked into the classroom. “Mu Mu, it’s cold outside. Let’s go in.”

Chao Mu nodded. “My hands are ice-cold.”

“I’ll warm them up for you,” Chen Yue said, reaching out.

Chao Mu smiled. “No need. I’ll just put them on my face!”

The two of them went in. Chao Hongji naturally didn’t stay outside like a fool and followed them. As Liang Youyun was about to lift her skirt and turn to enter the classroom, her eyes caught sight of Chu Qingqiu standing not far away. She and her maid were standing there quietly. Liang Youyun didn’t know how long they had been standing there or how much they had seen. But when their eyes met, Chu Qingqiu’s gaze was calm, with an understanding and a nonchalance that saw through everything.

Liang Youyun unconsciously pursed her lips. Her face felt hot and embarrassed. She felt like a clown who had been watched by Chu Qingqiu the entire time.

It was she who had started this drama today. Her intention had been to cause a rift between Chao Mu and Chen Yue over a bracelet. But who knew that Chao Mu would be so brazen and just shove the bracelet to Chen Yue? That empty-headed Chen Yue didn’t understand the meaning behind it and walked around asking everyone if they wanted the brocade box. Chao Hongji’s face was stomped on and dragged through the mud by the two girls. The scene he had envisioned of two girls fighting over a man never happened! It was a failure, and to make it worse, Chu Qingqiu had seen everything.

Since the day Chu Qingqiu tried on the wedding dress, the two of them had not spoken. Chu Qingqiu had been using her upcoming wedding as an excuse to not even go to the Imperial Academy. Liang Youyun was also busy with the Duke’s estate and hadn’t been out either. Who knew that today, by such a coincidence, both of them would show up? Liang Youyun was there because of Chao Mu, so was Chu Qingqiu there because of… Liang Youyun saw Chu Qingqiu walk toward her, lowered her eyes, and turned to go into the classroom, pushing the thought away.

“Oh, so many students came today.” Scholar Zou’s gaze swept over Liang Youyun and Chu Qingqiu. Scholar Zou was a sixty-year-old man with a head of white hair and a kind, gentle face. But who would have thought that this kind-looking old man loved to take names and report people? He held his roster and said, “We have a new student at the Imperial Academy.”

Scholar Zou gestured to Chao Mu. “Everyone, this is Countess Fu Jia, Chao Mu. She has just returned to the capital. Countess Fu Jia, if there is anything you don’t understand or are unfamiliar with in the academy, please feel free to ask.” He said, “In this academy, we don’t care about a person’s status, only about asking questions and finding answers.”

“Yes.” Chao Mu, who was sitting next to Chen Yue, stood up and bowed slightly to the crowd. Chao Mu wore a soft yellow dress that made her look as harmless as a little yellow flower. She didn’t pose a threat to anyone. Her eyes were clear and innocent, and the shallow dimples on her lips made people feel a sense of respect and familiarity. For a while, Chao Mu was very popular, and many men and women came to talk to her. Especially the small dimples on Countess Fu Jia’s face. It felt as if they had seen them somewhere before. This feeling didn’t go away until the archery class started and they saw Grand Princess Chao Yang.

“…Wait.” They had forgotten that the Grand Princess also had dimples.

Chao Yang wore a red and yellow dress, looking noble and graceful, like a blooming golden rose with red edges. She was beautiful and grand. Grand Princess Chao Yang was truly a beautiful woman. Compared to the young and immature Chen Yue, she had a more mature elegance, like a flower in full bloom. It was a pleasure just to look at her, that is, until she spoke: “Why are you standing there like fools? Start stretching and get in a horse stance.”

All the noblewomen’s faces showed the same expression: pain. They were all lured in by the Grand Princess’s beautiful face. After taking the archery class, they no longer dared to look at her face directly.

Compared to others’ reluctance, Chen Yue was active and enthusiastic. She showed Chao Mu how to use a rope to tie up her large sleeves. “This way, your sleeves won’t get in the way when you pull the bow.” “Oh, and you have to wear a thumb ring.” Chen Yue took out her red jade thumb ring from her pouch and put it on her thumb. The thumb ring was used to protect the thumb and was a necessary tool for archery. Chen Yue gestured for Chao Mu to look at the Grand Princess’s hands.

Grand Princess Chao Yang’s sleeves were tied up, and her slender, bony hands were pulling a bow without an arrow, as if testing the tension of the string. The wind lifted her skirt and hair, and for a moment, she was so heroic that people couldn’t look away. Compared to her, the noblewomen on the field looked like little fluffy geese raised in a greenhouse, while Chao Yang was an eagle circling in the sky.

Chao Mu followed those hands with her eyes and saw a clear white jade thumb ring on her left thumb. It was so transparent and bright. She never took it off. Later, this same thumb ring was on Chen Yue’s hand. Chao Mu’s long eyelashes fluttered slightly, as if she understood something.

“You guys came, too?” Chen Yue saw Liang Youyun and Chu Qingqiu and waved to them. The two of them hadn’t been to class in a long time. Chu Qingqiu gave a slight nod in greeting. “We came to pay our respects to the Grand Princess.”

Liang Youyun also said with a smile, “A’yue still loves the Grand Princess’s class.”

Chen Yue touched her red jade thumb ring and nodded. Then she pulled Chao Mu. “Now that Mu Mu is here, too, we’ll be the most loyal students in the Grand Princess’s class!”

“…No, thank you.” Chao Mu silently moved to the side, trying to escape. Her aunt had one loyal student in Chen Yue, which was enough. Chao Mu felt that with her thin arms and legs, she was not suited for archery. She had been raised in the Qi manor in Jiangnan and was pampered to the point where she couldn’t lift anything heavy. She was nothing like Chen Yue, who had been learning archery since she was a child and had a foundation. Even Liang Youyun and Chu Qingqiu’s hands were very steady when they pulled a bow. They were all much better than she was at archery and polo.

“Mu Mu, where’s your thumb ring?” Chen Yue looked down at Chao Mu’s hand.

Chao Mu blinked. “I forgot to get one ready.” She had no intention of preparing one at all! She hadn’t even mentioned it to A’Zhi.

“It’s okay. I’m not in class today, but you can use mine if you don’t mind.” Chu Qingqiu suddenly spoke, turning to her maid, Yin Qing. “Give my thumb ring to Countess Fu Jia.”

The field suddenly fell silent. No one expected Chu Qingqiu to lend her thumb ring to Chao Mu. Chu Qingqiu’s personality had always been cold and indifferent. She rarely spoke unless it had to do with Liang Youyun. Liang Youyun, who was standing next to Chu Qingqiu, was watching something else. The male students were learning to ride horses and shoot arrows in the next field. Chao Hongji was also there. It was only when she heard Chu Qingqiu’s voice that Liang Youyun’s eyes snapped over. Her gaze flashed, and her face showed no emotion. Chu Qingqiu lowered her eyes, as if she didn’t notice Liang Youyun’s gaze.

Among the few of them, Chen Yue was the most oblivious. She was even happy. “That’s great! Now Mu Mu can try pulling a bow today.”

Chao Mu looked at her coolly. She didn’t want to.

Yin Qing brought over a small box. When she opened it, there was a cool-colored green jade thumb ring inside, which suited Chu Qingqiu’s personality perfectly. Chao Mu had no intention of taking someone else’s thumb ring.

Just then, Chao Yang walked over with her bow. “What’s wrong?”

Chen Yue immediately stood up straight, answering every question. She was very well-behaved. “Reporting to the scholar, Chao Mu didn’t bring a thumb ring.”

Chao Mu also stood up straight and said tentatively, “I’ll be sure to prepare one next time.” So this time, it’s okay, right?

Chao Yang raised an eyebrow slightly. Her gaze fell on Chao Mu’s shallow dimples, and she smiled. “It’s fine. I’ve prepared one for you.”

Chao Mu’s dimples were instantly wiped clean from her face. Her face visibly fell.

Chao Yang’s eyes held a smile that she quickly covered up. She glanced at the few of them. “Those of you who have class should go get in a horse stance.”

Chu Qingqiu took a step forward and bowed to Chao Yang. “Scholar, I won’t be coming to class for a while. I came here specifically to tell you.” It was public knowledge that she was engaged to the Liang family and that the wedding was set for the first day of the third month. Chao Yang nodded slightly. “Okay.”

Before she left, she looked at Chen Yue and Chao Mu. Chen Yue immediately understood and grabbed Chao Mu’s thin wrist, dragging her forward. “Come on, Mu Mu, let’s go get in a horse stance.”

Chao Mu wanted to sit on the ground and cry. Save me, A’Zhi, save me…

After they left, only Chu Qingqiu and Liang Youyun remained. Yin Qing put the box away.

“You’ve never lent your private belongings to anyone else before.” Liang Youyun looked straight ahead, her voice low, as if she was suppressing something.

Chu Qingqiu looked at her. “Mm.”

“Then just now…” Liang Youyun looked at Chu Qingqiu. She felt a nameless rage building up in her chest, a stifling discomfort.

“She didn’t bring one, and I did. That’s all,” Chu Qingqiu looked into Liang Youyun’s eyes and asked softly, “My things, why are you so bothered by them, A’yun? Or is it like the wedding dress, that only A’yun is allowed to touch my personal belongings?”

Liang Youyun’s lips were pressed tightly together. She gave Chu Qingqiu a deep look, not even bothering to pretend to smile as she usually did. She then turned and walked away.

Yin Qing said softly, “Miss, Miss Liang seems to be angry.” She didn’t understand. Miss was always so affectionate toward Miss Liang. Why was she purposefully angering her recently?

Chu Qingqiu smiled faintly, but she didn’t answer.

Liang Youyun and Chu Qingqiu only stayed at the Imperial Academy for a while before they left one after the other. Chao Mu, on the other hand, stayed for the entire day. Her horse stance was the most un-standard, and her legs would go weak and she would fall to the ground. Even then, her aunt wouldn’t let her off. She would lift her up like a little chick and have her get in the stance again.

After a whole day, Chao Mu’s arms and legs were weak, and she only managed to eat a few bites of lunch at the Imperial Academy. She whined, “I want to go home. I miss A’Zhi.” Even though Chao Mu said that, she still went with Chen Yue to practice archery in the afternoon.

When Chao Hongji came looking for her, Chao Mu had just put an arrow on the string. When she heard his voice, she turned to him, and the arrowhead pointed directly at his heart. Chao Hongji’s face instantly changed. He quickly dodged. “Sister Fu Jia, aim carefully. The target is over there.”

For a moment, Chao Hongji felt a murderous intent in Chao Mu’s eyes. It was probably just his imagination.

Chao Mu slowly pulled the string, aiming at him. When Chao Hongji frantically jumped out of the way, she slowly lowered the bow, blinked slowly, and put on her harmless expression again. “Don’t be scared, Brother Hongji. I just started learning, so my aim isn’t very good yet.”

Thank goodness she just started learning. Thank goodness her aim isn’t good.

Chao Hongji patted his chest. All the words he had planned to say to her were gone. “Then you take your time to learn. I’ll talk to you next time.” Chao Hongji hesitated for a moment, deciding it was not a good idea to stay here, and quickly walked away. It was probably a mistake. After all, it was archery. A little bit of killing intent was normal.

Behind him, Chao Mu’s eyes lowered, and she gently pulled the bowstring. Her eyes moved to his back and his heart. After a long while, she finally looked away.

The day was finally over. Chao Mu didn’t even have the strength to wave goodbye to Chen Yue. Her legs were trembling slightly.

“The countess must be exhausted today. Why don’t you go take a hot bath to relax?” Cui Cui carried her book bag and followed her, her eyes full of sympathy. The person who, on a normal day, would have A’Zhi peel a candy wrapper for her had just been in a horse stance for almost two hours today! Every time she fell backward onto the ground, Cui Cui felt the pain.

“After the bath, you should get a leg massage, or your calf muscles will be sore, and you might not be able to get out of bed tomorrow,” Cui Cui said, rambling on with her instructions.

Chao Mu was too tired to even make a sound. She just nodded weakly. She might have to go into the palace tomorrow, so she would probably get a rest. But what about the day after? Chao Mu’s eyes were red from exhaustion.

“Oh!” Cui Cui’s voice was full of surprise. She motioned to Chao Mu. “Countess, look, look! Who came to pick you up?”

Chao Mu looked up and followed Cui Cui’s gaze. She saw A’Zhi standing next to the Qi manor’s carriage. She wore a light green winter coat, and she was exceptionally fresh and noticeable in the dim twilight.

Chao Mu’s tired eyes slowly brightened. She pouted at her, feeling wronged.

“A’Zhi.” 

She stuck to her like a glutinous rice cake. With a plop, she stuck to her.