The Female Supporting Character Just Wants to Farm [Transmigration] - Chapter 24

Gao Luoshen’s tearful complaint proved to be very effective. That evening, when Gao Luochuan returned, Gao Jun immediately began scolding him relentlessly. Gao Luochuan, feeling wronged, talked back a few times and was punished by being sent to kneel in the ancestral hall. Gao Luoshen, of course, enjoyed the spectacle and triumphantly mimicked Gao Jun’s words, “No matter how much I act up at home, at the end of the day, I am still your sister.”

Gao Luochuan was so enraged his face turned white, and he even knocked over the food a servant girl had secretly brought for him.

However, punishing Gao Luochuan wasn’t what Gao Luoshen most wanted to see. That useless Xie Yucheng needed to be taught a lesson, or he would never learn to behave. Early the next morning, Gao Jun went to the palace, and soon after, a group of court officials began to impeach Marquis Mingyuan for being a useless official who spent his days idly playing with cats and dogs. In truth, many idle marquises at court lived such decadent lives. However, Marquis Xie Tang was now being publicly berated by the Emperor and given sidelong glances by his colleagues. He went home and finally understood the source of the problem. He immediately ordered his heir, Xie Yulin, to take Xie Yucheng to the Duke’s estate to beg for forgiveness.

At the Marquis of Mingyuan estate.

In the past, Xie Tang had sided with the Crown Prince, but after the prince’s downfall, he had remained silent. While he wasn’t punished, he had certainly lost his influence. In addition, a messy affair involving a minor branch of the Xie family left him with little more than an empty title. Fortunately, the heir, Xie Yulin, had some ambition and worked as a clerk in the Imperial Household Department thanks to his family’s position.

Inside the estate, the Marquis’s wife was still complaining about how lucky they were that Gao Luoshen hadn’t married into their family and how her youngest son had been grievously wronged. Xie Tang couldn’t take it anymore and lashed out. He kicked Xie Yucheng, who was kneeling on the floor, and shouted, “You’re spoiling a good-for-nothing! His temperament is all your fault. He’s a complete wastrel, a disgrace to my family name!”

The Marquis’s wife scoffed. “Like father, like son. You should look at yourself. Besides, Yucheng doesn’t need to inherit the title. As long as Yulin is sensible, that’s enough.”

Marquis Mingyuan trembled with fury at her sharp words. He grabbed a whip and began beating Xie Yucheng. He was already bruised and swollen, and now he looked even worse. Finally, Xie Yulin couldn’t stand it anymore and stepped in to stop his father.

Xie Yulin was naturally mischievous but didn’t take his brother’s words to heart. He even held many grudges against Xie Tang. This time, when they went to the Duke’s estate to apologize, his body was stripped and he was carrying a branch of thorns on his back, a sign of deep contrition. But this was all Xie Tang’s idea. As the head of the Marquis of Mingyuan’s estate, he hadn’t come in person, only sending his heir. First, he was under house arrest by the Emperor. Second, he wanted to treat this as a childish squabble and have the younger generation settle it themselves.

“Don’t you understand the situation our family is in? Father doesn’t expect you to restore our family’s glory, but at least don’t cause trouble outside,” Xie Yulin said with a sigh in the carriage.

Xie Yucheng sneered. “How did Gao Jun get to where he is today? All because of his fawning! Is our Xie family any worse than his? If we had any integrity, we should have died for the late Crown Prince back then!”

Xie Yulin’s expression changed. He said sharply, “Watch your mouth!” After a moment, he softened his tone and said expressionlessly, “When we get to the Gao family, you just apologize. You don’t need to say anything else.”

Having heard that the Marquis of Mingyuan’s family was coming to apologize, Gao Luoshen had been waiting in the main hall. When Gao Jun suggested Gao Luochuan accompany her, she flatly refused, instead summoning a few armed guards to stand by. If Xie Yucheng made any move, they were to seize him.

To beg for forgiveness, it was customary to bring a branch of thorns, symbolizing one’s willingness to accept punishment. However, before they even entered the Gao family’s gates, they were turned away with the excuse of “damaging public decency.” A servant threw a coarse robe over Xie Yucheng’s body. The two brothers felt humiliated but had no choice but to endure it. After all, their family was in the wrong.

In the reception hall, Gao Luoshen was casually lounging, cracking sunflower seeds, with Fang Ze diligently massaging her legs. When she saw the two Xie brothers arrive, she didn’t get up. She simply said flatly, “What are the people from the Xie family doing here?”

“I’ve come to apologize on behalf of my younger brother,” Xie Yulin said, bowing and pushing Xie Yucheng forward. He spoke with a sincere, apologetic tone.

Gao Luoshen glanced at Xie Yucheng and sneered, “I think if he had a knife, he’d kill me right now.”

Xie Yucheng genuinely wanted to. He had heard his father say that the second daughter of the Gao family was so shocked she had fallen ill. But looking at Gao Luoshen, so carefree and happy, how could she possibly be sick from anger? Besides being scolded at the banquet, what other harm had come to her? He was the one who had been beaten! He was the one who had been humiliated! The more he thought about it, the angrier he became. He stubbornly jutted his neck out, refusing to bow until Xie Yulin secretly kicked him behind the knee.

“Hold on!” Gao Luoshen suddenly shouted. She lifted her eyelids and said, “My family is not worthy of such a great apology, so don’t kneel. Xie Yucheng’s insult to my family has already happened. And looking at his attitude, it doesn’t seem like he’s here to apologize. My family doesn’t care about your attitude either.” It was a clear statement: this grudge was already set, and she had no interest in making it a petty fight between children.

“You—” The words “Don’t be so shameless” were caught in Xie Yucheng’s throat. His brother pushed him down, and the thorns pierced his back, making bl00d seep through his clothes. He gasped in pain. He gave his brother a look of disbelief, his face full of resentment.

“It is my family’s fault for not raising our son properly. If Miss Gao needs anything, please just say the word,” Xie Yulin said, his tone still gentle and polite.

Gao Luoshen didn’t answer. She raised an eyebrow and studied Xie Yulin’s handsome face. It was once rumored that the Xie family’s children were like orchids and jade, but now, only Xie Yulin seemed worthy of the “jade” comparison. If he was sensible and not as idiotic as his younger brother, he might do well in the world.

Out of respect for Xie Yulin, Gao Luoshen softened her tone. “Young Master Xie, you don’t need to say anything. I don’t want to relive that painful experience. The damage it has caused me cannot be undone in a day or two. However—” Gao Luoshen’s words took a sudden turn. She raised her eyebrows at Xie Yucheng and smiled suggestively. “Shouldn’t you take your brother to the Chang family’s residence? If anyone deserves an apology from your brother, isn’t it Miss Chang?”

When Xie Yulin heard this, a look of horror appeared on his face. What does this have to do with the Chang family girl? Did Xie Yucheng hide something from me? He looked at Xie Yucheng and saw his brother’s eyes dart away, his expression strange. A chill ran down his spine. He cupped his hands and bowed to Gao Luoshen. “Please, Miss Gao, explain.”

Gao Luoshen pursed her lips and smiled. “Is a lady’s reputation something I can speak about? Why don’t you go ask the Chang family? I heard the Xie family and the Chang family are related, right?” She paused, then held her head as if dizzy. She waved her hand. “I haven’t been well lately, and I’m a bit tired. Both of you should go.”

With that, how could Xie Yulin stay any longer? He frowned, glared at Xie Yucheng, and his mind was made up. He would go to the Chang family and find out what terrible thing his brother had done.

Gao Luoshen stayed seated, too lazy to move. Only after a servant told her the two Xie brothers had left did she stretch, get up, and, with her bowl of sunflower seeds in hand, stroll outside.

“How did it go?”

When she left the main hall, she was startled by the sudden appearance of Gao Chun.

Before the Xie family arrived, she had asked Gao Chun if she wanted to watch the show, and Gao Chun had refused. So why was she here now, asking?

Gao Luoshen offered a shelled sunflower seed to Gao Chun’s lips. Lazily, she said, “It was nothing. I just refused their apology. That scumbag Xie Yucheng has to die.”

Gao Chun lowered her eyes and looked at the seed in Gao Luoshen’s pale hand. Her seemingly careless Second Sister didn’t seem to notice how strange the gesture was. If they were close sisters, it would be normal, but were they? After a moment of hesitation, she leaned down and took the seed from Gao Luoshen’s hand.

Gao Chun’s soft tongue lightly brushed against her palm, and Gao Luoshen’s soul was almost shaken out of her body.

She quickly pulled her hand back, her face red, and tried to act as if nothing had happened.

Gao Chun didn’t call her out on her embarrassment. She simply asked slowly, “Do you want Xie Yucheng dead?”

Gao Luoshen was stunned and immediately shook her head like a rattle drum. She hated Xie Yucheng and wanted him to suffer, but that didn’t mean she wanted him to die. “I was just saying that,” she said, glancing at the somber Gao Chun. A strange thought crossed her mind, and she was afraid Gao Chun would actually go and kill him. “Are you free, Chun’er? Let’s go out and watch some drama.”

Gao Chun didn’t answer. After a long pause, she said slowly, “This is the first time you’ve invited me to go out with you, Second Sister.”