The Female Supporting Character Just Wants to Farm [Transmigration] - Chapter 19

The truth of the maid’s poisoning case was, of course, discovered. It turned out that the maid was a follower of the former Crown Prince. In the deposed Crown Prince case of fifteen years ago, a group of his followers hadn’t died and had secretly maintained contact. The Crown Prince had been framed by a treacherous official and was forced to rebel. He was defeated and retreated to the Prince of Chu’s residence, where he sought help from his uncle. However, the Prince of Chu shut his doors and refused to help, ending the Crown Prince’s last hope. The Crown Prince’s followers were resentful of the Prince of Chu, so they found an opportunity to poison him.

Although this was the truth, it couldn’t be revealed to the public. The Emperor, perhaps reminiscing about the Crown Prince’s virtues, secretly had the maid executed and did not intend to pursue the mastermind. The Court of Judicial Review, having received the Emperor’s instructions, was dissatisfied but had no choice but to follow the Emperor’s orders.

Gao Luochuan, who had personally participated in the investigation, didn’t avoid talking about it with Gao Luoshen and her sister, perhaps because he underestimated them or trusted them. He even shook his head sadly, as if he felt sorry for the deposed Crown Prince. The Crown Prince’s entire family had been killed in the chaos, even the infant in his arms. The Emperor refused to posthumously exonerate him, yet he had a platform built to mourn his son. It was truly baffling.

After the Pearl Banquet, the date for the Prince of Qin’s selection of a consort was approaching. The poisoning case seemed to have caused no ripples in the capital. The city was still filled with song and dance, and people were immersed in a lively atmosphere. This time, the Emperor had given the Prince of Qin full autonomy in his selection, unlike the other princes, who were simply given a marriage decree. The banquet was held at the residence of the Princess of Chang Le. All young ladies of official families, who were at least fourteen years old and not yet married, regardless of whether they were legitimate or concubine-born, were eligible to participate.

Speaking of the Princess of Chang Le, she was a wonderful person. Her husband was a scholar from a noble family. Although he was very talented, he was arrogant and haughty. Relying on his family’s power, he dared to go against the Princess. Less than six months after their marriage, he brought a concubine into the residence in a palanquin. The Princess of Chang Le was known for her jealousy. She immediately took a knife and stormed into the courtyard where her husband kept his concubine. She scared her husband, the refined scholar, senseless. Only the concubine remained calm, combing her hair in front of the mirror. The Princess of Chang Le watched her for a long time, then said, “Even I feel pity for her,” before putting down her knife. As for her husband, the Princess of Chang Le ordered him not to enter her courtyard. The beautiful young concubine was taken into her own courtyard and forbidden from seeing her husband.

When the people in the city gossiped about the matter, the Princess of Chang Le just smiled faintly and didn’t bother to punish them for their impudent words.

“You’re going too?” Gao Luoshen looked at Gao Chun with some surprise. By this time, Gao Chun already knew her own identity. As for Gao Jun, he knew everything. Why would he allow her to go with her? Was the plot still following the book? This sibling incest was too much! Gao Luoshen was horrified. She immediately pulled Gao Chun away from her and said forcefully, “You are staying in the estate. You are not going.”

Her words were overheard by the maids. The servants, seeing the Second Miss bullying the Third Miss again, could only shake their heads. After all, the Third Miss was far more educated and reasonable than the Second Miss. Was she afraid that Gao Chun would steal the position of Princess?

“Why can’t I go?” Gao Chun blinked at Gao Luoshen, smiling innocently.

Gao Luoshen frowned. She couldn’t tell her the truth, could she? If Gao Chun found out that she knew her secret, her life would be in danger. She looked annoyed and said with frustration, “Don’t ask for a reason. I just won’t allow you to go!”

“Isn’t that a bit much, Second Cousin?” A young lady from a side family walked over and stood beside Gao Chun. She looked at Gao Luoshen timidly. Although she was afraid of her, she mustered up a little courage to stand up to her.

Gao Luoshen rolled her eyes. “This isn’t your place to speak!”

“What are you all doing here? The banquet is about to start.” Gao Luochuan’s voice suddenly cut in. He looked back and forth between Gao Luoshen and Gao Chun, then understood the situation. He said in a low voice, “Third Sister, come with me.” As for Gao Luoshen, he didn’t even give her a look.

Gao Chun gave a faint smile, her eyes sparkling like autumn waves. She didn’t say anything and walked straight to Gao Luochuan. Just before they left, she turned and looked at Gao Luoshen, her smile radiant and open, completely different from her usual coldness.

What’s with that smile? Why is she smiling so beautifully? Gao Luoshen crossed her arms, growing more and more annoyed. The young lady from the side family saw that Gao Chun was being taken away by Gao Luochuan and didn’t dare to say anything. Seeing that Gao Luoshen wasn’t looking at her, she secretly slipped away. In an instant, only Gao Luoshen and her maid were left.

“Fangze, let’s go too.” Gao Luoshen said with her chin up.

Fangze nodded. After they got into the carriage, she put her hands on her knees and asked timidly, “Y-young lady, since you don’t want to get married, why don’t you let Third Miss go?”

Gao Luoshen’s face darkened, and anger filled her eyes. She put on a defiant expression and said in a harsh voice, “I just don’t want her to get married!”

Fangze shivered and gave her mistress a strange look. She finally understood the rumors about the two sisters’ discord. But she had never seen the Second Miss hate the Third Miss. She even sent her gifts, though she always got something back in return. Why would she hate her so much that she wouldn’t let her get married?

Gao Luoshen glanced at Fangze and immediately knew what she was thinking. She frowned and cut her off. “It’s not what you think. Stop overthinking.”

Fangze flinched and straightened her back. “Yes!” she said.

When Gao Luoshen arrived at the venue, most of the young ladies and gentlemen had already arrived. The banquet wasn’t very formal. The young men had already gathered to play, and the young ladies were in groups of three or five, either looking at flowers or telling funny stories, and their giggles filled the air. Although the banquet was held at the Princess of Chang Le’s residence, the one hosting it wasn’t the Princess herself. It was a beautiful woman referred to as the “Second Madam.” Gao Luoshen didn’t remember this person. A hint of confusion appeared on her face, and a fresh-faced young maid in green approached her and said, “She’s the concubine the Prince’s husband took, but she lives with the Princess of Chang Le.”

Gao Luoshen nodded, understanding. But a strange thought immediately came to her.

Second Madam? Whose Second Madam?

In a flash, the confusion in Gao Luoshen’s eyes disappeared. Her gaze fell on the young maid, and she knew that this pretty-looking girl was one of the original owner’s friends, named Pei Qingyun, the legitimate daughter of the Marquis of Zhongyong. She looked innocent and sweet, but she was dark on the inside. She conspired with the original owner to harm people. By the time the original owner died, Gao Luoshen didn’t know what happened to her. With her intelligence, she probably lived a free and easy life.

“Is it your place to talk about the things in the Princess of Chang Le’s residence?” Gao Luoshen glared at Pei Qingyun and said in a low voice.

Pei Qingyun wasn’t afraid of her. She grabbed her sleeve and pulled her to the side. They stopped by a pond, and she pointed to a group of people there. “Sister Gao, look over there. Should we do something?” Her big eyes sparkled, and a cunning smile appeared on her face.

Gao Luoshen followed her gaze and saw Su Mingjing and Gao Chun with their usual group of friends. The young ladies all wanted to marry into a powerful family. She had no idea how Gao Chun had gotten involved with them. In the early stages of the book, Gao Chun was truly naive. How else could she have misjudged a person like Meng Wanzhou? Gao Luoshen looked at them, laughing and chatting, and was filled with a fire she couldn’t extinguish. But she knew her place. She leaned close to Pei Qingyun’s ear and whispered, “We are at the Princess’s residence. We can’t be disrespectful.”

Pei Qingyun didn’t say a word. She widened her eyes and raised an eyebrow, clearly not expecting Gao Luoshen to react this way.

Although she didn’t intend to do anything, Gao Luoshen still walked toward Gao Chun. When she stopped, she happened to overhear a young lady laugh and say, “I heard that the Eldest Miss Gao went to the villa to farm melons. I wonder how they tasted?”

Gao Luoshen was angry, but she didn’t make a scene like she used to. She walked up to the group of young ladies, grabbed the always-silent Gao Chun, and pulled her away. She put on the air of an older sister and scolded, “Why don’t you stay where you’re supposed to be and hang out with this group of gossips?” After saying that, she turned to the young ladies and sneered, “In the capital, there’s no place to hide, so I might as well learn to farm melons. But I’m afraid you all won’t be able to enjoy the melons from my Luoshen Manor!”

Her words were a clear insult, calling the group of seemingly pure young ladies a bunch of lowlifes. The ladies fell silent, surprised that this thick-headed, useless woman had become so sharp-tongued, using literary phrases instead of acting like a common shrew.

Pei Qingyun wasn’t afraid of them. She immediately clapped her hands and said, “Sister Gao, well said! But I heard that the Duke of Qi took a lot of melons and fruits from the Duke of Dingguo’s Estate a few days ago. I wonder if Sister Su has tried them yet? Have you written a poem or a verse about them?”

At her words, Su Mingjing’s face turned red and then white.