The Female Supporting Character Just Wants to Farm [Transmigration] - Chapter 5

When Duke Gao Jun was young, he had been a man of striking charm—born into an old aristocratic family, equally gifted in both pen and sword, admired by countless noble ladies. Yet after his wife, Madam Qi, passed away, he never took another wife. For reasons unknown, he instead handed the running of the household over to his concubine, Madam Liu—the woman who, in name at least, was Gao Chun’s mother.

Madam Liu herself came from a respectable scholarly clan. For a daughter of such a family to end up as a concubine was enough to raise eyebrows, but in her youth she had fallen for Gao Jun’s handsome bearing and accepted the role willingly. Many had said that, had she only endured in silence, once the main wife passed away she might have become the official Madam of the household. But under the laws of this dynasty, there was no chance of a concubine being elevated.

When Gao Luoshen returned to the estate, she naturally dined with her family. Her father and elder brother kept quiet, while Madam Liu alone wore a mask of warmth, diligently placing food into Luoshen’s bowl as she fussed, “You’ve grown tanner and thinner. My lord, you were too harsh, letting Luo’er live out at the country villa. Who knows what grievances she must have suffered?”

It was Madam Liu who had raised Gao Chun. In the novel, the villainess had never actually been bullied by her; much of her resentment came from her own narrow heart. If Gao Luoshen gave Madam Liu some face now, perhaps her days would pass more smoothly later on. And when Gao Chun ascended to that lofty position, she might even remember the favor and grant her a title.

With that in mind, Gao Luoshen pretended not to hear her father’s cold snort. She smiled lightly and said, “Even at the villa I’m still the master. Who would dare try to push me around?”

She hadn’t meant it maliciously, but everyone knew what the original Luoshen had been like before she transmigrated in. Madam Liu, startled, thought she was being mocked. Her face paled, though she quickly covered it with a gentle smile and said nothing more.

It was Gao Luochuan, her elder brother, who finally spoke, his tone dry: “In the manor you’re already a little tyrant, no one can rein you in. Out there it’s even worse, you even renamed the villa after your given name. You’re not afraid of being a laughingstock when word gets out?”

Most brothers cherished their sisters, but in the Gao family it seemed the opposite—Luochuan practically wished he had been born of Madam Liu’s womb instead. But if that were so, he would have no hope of inheriting the dukedom. The thought made Luoshen snicker inwardly. She rolled her eyes, refused to stoop to his level, and instead picked out the dishes she liked, eating happily without a care for proper noble manners.

Everyone in the household knew what her temper was like, who would dare speak up? They only whispered privately that she had no refinement as a young lady should.

Luoshen had no interest in humoring her father. After finishing her meal, she lazily retreated to her own courtyard. She had barely sat down when a servant announced that someone from Lanting Pavilion had delivered a gift.

It was a finely crafted food box carved with flowers and birds. Inside was a packet of crushed tea leaves along with pine nuts, “duck’s feet” herb, and even fresh lychees. Lychees were rare delicacies, enjoyed by only a privileged few, and certainly not in season.

“What’s this?” asked her little maid curiously. The girl was newly bought and didn’t yet know the rules of the household. She had heard of Lanting Pavilion but, mindful of the Qi family’s control of the pleasure houses, she dared not praise it openly.

“This is Leaking Spring,” Luoshen drawled. She had once given Zhao Lanxi an ancient recipe for tea. Since she knew such a brewing method didn’t exist in this world, and hadn’t tested it herself, she let him experiment first. Now that he’d sent this over, it must have worked.

She herself had little interest in tea. Closing the lid again, she ordered the maid to grind some ink. Then she wrote:

“Line the cup with paper, sprinkle the tea over it, then lift the paper away. Do not use lychee flesh as leaf, nor pine nut or duck’s foot herb as stamen. Pour in boiling water and stir.”

Blowing the ink dry, she placed the note atop the box and said lazily, “Send it to Third Miss.”

She cared nothing for tea, but Gao Chun had been trained since childhood in zither, chess, calligraphy, painting, poetry, wine, and tea—everything a refined young lady should know. Her discerning palate would appreciate it. Better to win Gao Chun’s favor early; once she rose to power, she might remember these small kindnesses and make Luoshen’s life easier.

She had read the novel and knew Gao Chun’s tolerance for the original Luoshen had been fairly high. If the villainess hadn’t been so insufferable, Gao Chun— out of respect for Duke Gao—might not have let her die. What a pity, Luoshen sighed to herself.

Catching her maid still dawdling, she teased with a smile, “What? Do you want a taste too?”

Startled, the girl shivered. But looking up at Luoshen’s lovely smile, her fear ebbed, replaced by a moment’s daze. She quickly bowed and scurried out with the box.

At the gates, she recalled how people outside always said the second young lady of the Gao household was impossible to serve, arrogant and willful, nothing like the virtuous and gentle Third Miss. Yet after just this short time, she couldn’t help but think… perhaps there wasn’t such a big difference after all. One look at her smile was enough to send chills through you.

It wasn’t long before the maid returned, carrying a jade ruyi scepter. Casting Luoshen a furtive glance, she whispered, “Third Miss accepted it and said this was her thanks.”

Luoshen looked at the scepter and couldn’t help but laugh. Months ago, it had been bestowed by the palace upon their household, then passed by Gao Jun to Gao Chun. Back then the original Luoshen had still been around who was proud and spiteful as ever. Even if she disliked the item, she would never have let Gao Chun keep it without trying to snatch it. Gao Jun hadn’t even bothered to respond, only ordered her to reflect on her behavior in the courtyard.

But Luoshen was not the original. She had no interest in the trinket… though, thinking of its resale value, she promptly tucked it away. Every coin added to her savings was another brick in her future freedom.

******

The next day, visitors arrived at the manor. Hearing the servant’s report, Luoshen immediately guessed—Qi Wei still hadn’t given up. Otherwise, why come looking for her? Gao Chun was the true prize in his eyes, but sadly, no matter how deeply he pined, Gao Chun couldn’t be bothered.

“Miss, you don’t want to see him, do you?” the little maid asked nervously, having caught the open distaste on her mistress’s face.

Luoshen’s lips curled coldly. “Of course I’ll go. How could I not?”

Her voice was calm, yet the maid still caught a flicker of killing intent in it, and she shivered.

The Qi and Gao families were on good terms. Though Qi Wei’s visiting card was addressed to Gao Luochuan, both young ladies were summoned as well.

When Gao Chun stepped out of her courtyard, Luoshen was a little surprised. If she remembered correctly, the heroine rarely attended such occasions. But her thoughts were not for Luoshen to guess. She reined herself in, shook her head, and brushed past Gao Chun. As they crossed paths, she faintly heard her murmur with a smile: “Second Sister’s tea was quite good.”

Yet when Luoshen glanced back, her expression was once again the cold, distant mask of an ice beauty.

“Second Cousin,” Qi Wei greeted her warmly.

Luoshen rolled her eyes and sat far from him, turning her gaze to the clouds and flowers rather than his face.

His smile stiffened as he forced small talk. But Gao Chun rarely indulged conversation, and Luoshen stayed silent, leaving only Luochuan to half-heartedly reply. The atmosphere grew awkward and stiff.

At last, Luochuan couldn’t bear it anymore. Helping Qi Wei along, he asked, “I hear the goods for Lanting Pavilion are coming from our villa?”

At this, Luoshen finally flicked her gaze up, correcting lazily, “Not ‘our.’ Mine.”

In the past, she might have given him some face. Now she couldn’t care less about so-called brotherly ties.

Luochuan’s face darkened.

Just then, Gao Chun spoke: “The tea Lanting Pavilion sent was quite good.”

Her words cut across the tension. Luochuan frowned and shifted the subject. “When did they send tea? Why wasn’t I informed?”

Was she… helping her? Luoshen didn’t need such favors. “They sent it to my courtyard,” she said coolly.

Luochuan instantly understood. His second sister had dealings with Lanting Pavilion. But why would she be so generous as to share something with Gao Chun? Was there some hidden scheme? His expression grew complicated as he shot her a probing look, but Luoshen simply ignored him.

“I’ve said it already,” she told them flatly. “If your Qi family’s pleasure house can pay the same price as Lanting Pavilion, I’ll sell to you.”

“We’re family,” Luochuan interjected.

Luoshen arched a brow and sneered. “Family? Are you the one named Qi, or is he the one named Gao?”

He had no answer, only glared at her with bitter dissatisfaction.

“Besides,” Luoshen added with a yawn, “no matter how much money you offer now, I won’t sell.”

Qi Wei had been about to bargain, but her words made him anxious. “Cousin, what do you mean by that?”

Rubbing her neck, Luoshen’s eyes happened to meet Gao Chun’s—who, to her horror, was smiling faintly at her. Startled, she missed whatever Qi Wei said next, only covering her lips to stifle a languid yawn.