The Female Supporting Character Just Wants to Farm [Transmigration] - Chapter 9

Gao Luoshen had no idea that Gao Chun had people secretly monitoring her every move. With her plan in mind, she immediately sent her trusted confidants to get to work. The Vermilion Bird Street in the capital was a melting pot of scholars, merchants, and common folk, unlike the Azure Dragon Street, which was filled with the powerful and the wealthy. People there rarely went to establishments like the “Fengyue Pavilion” or “Lanting Pavilion” for drinks. Instead, they ate and chatted in small taverns. Gao Luoshen spared no expense, immediately leasing a shop in the most bustling area of Vermilion Bird Street. She named it “Scholar’s Abode,” and to make sure people knew what it was, she set up a stall on the street with free food and drinks for passersby, and a sign that read, “Ten Days Free.”

The chefs at the Scholar’s Abode were all from Luoshen Manor. But before the Pearl Banquet began, they operated like a typical small tavern, without any new, peculiar dishes to attract attention. As for a storyteller, Gao Luoshen had already sent people to various provinces to find one, confident that she would soon find someone to bring to the capital.

As the Pearl Banquet neared, Qi Wei was too busy with the Fengyue Pavilion to come to the Duke’s Estate. Zhao Lanxi was also fully focused on preparing for the upcoming event, so Gao Luoshen’s ears were a lot quieter. But she wasn’t a person who could sit still for long. Two or three days were fine, but any longer and she would get bored. One day, while strolling in the back garden, she spotted a young servant with his head down, hurrying along. She stopped him and asked, “Anything interesting happening outside?”

The servant was one of Gao Luochuan’s men, and he was terrified of Gao Luoshen’s fierce and unpredictable nature. He quickly cupped his hands and replied, “Nothing much, just some Imperial College students gathered at the Fengyue Pavilion. Someone invited the heir to go as well.”

Imperial College students? Gao Luoshen’s brow furrowed, and a memory suddenly surfaced. The beginning of the novel described a scene where Imperial College students, drunk and rambling, were debating politics. Among them was a scholar named Meng Wanzhou, who spoke with passion and without fear of the powerful. Gao Chun took a liking to him, and he later became her adviser. However, he was a gentleman only in appearance and secretly did many despicable things. He eventually betrayed Gao Chun and defected to Prince of Changshan, Yin Chunren, nearly getting Gao Chun killed. When she first read the book, she thought to herself, “Even the protagonist has her moments of poor judgment.”

Could this be that event? Gao Luoshen frowned and thought for a moment. She no longer bothered with the servant and sent Fangze to Gao Chun’s courtyard to check on her. The answer she got was that Gao Chun had indeed left the estate again. Should she let Meng Wanzhou trick Gao Chun? The thought surfaced, but Gao Luoshen immediately pushed it down. Gao Chun’s smiling face flashed in her mind, and for a moment, she was overcome with a mixture of feelings. “Let’s go back and change clothes. We’re going out too.”

Gao Luoshen often went out. Sometimes she would dress as a woman, but other times she would disguise herself as a handsome and elegant young man. Afraid she wouldn’t make it in time, she only did a simple touch-up. If one looked closely, they could still see about five parts of her original appearance. This time, she left discreetly through the back gate. When she arrived at the Fengyue Pavilion, she heard a storm of applause and saw a sea of heads. After squeezing for a while, she finally reached the second floor and leaned on the railing to look down.

“I, Meng, was fortunate to be recommended by the Honorable Kong Ruoyu to study at the Imperial College. But we all know that the Imperial College is no match for the National Academy. The National Academy is full of the children of the powerful and influential. Where is there a place for us, the children of poor families? The current dynasty seems to be peaceful and prosperous, a scene of song and dance, but this is merely an illusion. I came from Hongnong Province, and along the way, I saw countless people with gaunt faces. Guess why?” The young scholar in the green robe had a face as red as a raging fire. He stood with one foot on a stool, yelling drunkenly. The people around him were waiting for him to continue, but he suddenly changed the topic and shouted, “The noble families in the capital have many concubines, and high-ranking families intermarry. It’s impossible for us poor scholars to break through that barrier. Even looking at a noble lady is a sin. Isn’t this a great injustice? I am now over twenty, yet I am still alone. I have shamed my parents and ancestors…”

Gao Luoshen couldn’t listen anymore. She silently cursed him. This Meng Wanzhou was feigning indignation, pretending to be a lonely man. Others might not know the truth and think he was still unmarried, but she knew the reality. Later, when Meng Wanzhou briefly gained power by defecting to Prince of Changshan, he even married the daughter of a certain Duke. However, the one he had wronged, Gao Chun, was not one to be trifled with. Her revenge on Meng Wanzhou began with his personal affairs. She found his long-suffering wife and their four- or five-year-old daughter and brought them to the capital. But who knew that Meng Wanzhou was a heartless wretch who would do something so insane as to kill his own wife and daughter?

Meng Wanzhou’s words were illogical and confused. She had no idea what Gao Chun saw in him. Was it that he was somewhat handsome? Thinking about that, Gao Luoshen couldn’t look at Gao Chun the same way. From what she knew of history, there was an Empress Wu who kept male consorts. Could Gao Chun be that kind of person?

The Fengyue Pavilion had many powerful and influential people. Some hated Meng Wanzhou’s nonsensical rants, while others admired his candor and integrity.

Gao Luoshen looked around and saw Gao Chun across the way. Her eyes were fixed on Meng Wanzhou. This time, she couldn’t let Meng Wanzhou get away with it. She had to expose his true nature. The thought flashed through Gao Luoshen’s mind. During a moment when Meng Wanzhou paused to rest, she suddenly spoke up. 

“Young Master Meng’s words are truly wonderful. But from your tone, it seems you have some grievances. Are you perhaps in love with a young lady from a noble family, and she is beyond your reach?” Her clear voice echoed through the hall, immediately drawing everyone’s attention.

Gao Luoshen sneered inwardly. Ignoring the stares, she continued, “I could be a go-between for you, Young Master Meng. But I wonder if your wife and daughter back home know about this?”

At her words, Meng Wanzhou’s expression changed instantly, and his classmates began to murmur among themselves. After all, in their eyes, Meng Wanzhou wasn’t married, so how could he have a wife and daughter?

“Oh, and didn’t you also talk about filial piety, Young Master Meng?” Gao Luoshen looked down from her vantage point, a faint smile on her face. “I heard many scholars brought their elderly mothers to the capital. Why haven’t you done the same?”

Meng Wanzhou had no idea that someone would crash his party. The drunkenness in his eyes vanished, and he glared hatefully at the person who had exposed him from above. He did have a wife back home, but he had married her under his mother’s command. The woman was dull and uninteresting, illiterate—a total country bumpkin. He was an ambitious man, so how could he spend his days with a country woman? He pretended to be without a wife or child, hoping to gain a powerful person’s favor in the capital. But now, with this sudden, unexplainable person’s revelation, all his hopes were dashed. The whole city would know he had abandoned his unrefined wife at home! The more Meng Wanzhou thought about it, the more he hated her. He bit his lower lip, wishing he could tear Gao Luoshen limb from limb. The laughter of the crowd reached his ears, and his face turned red and pale. In the end, he had no choice but to flee in shame. With Meng Wanzhou gone, the gathering of Imperial College students slowly dispersed, and the Fengyue Pavilion was soon filled with song and dance once more.

“Second Sister.” A low voice rang out, startling Gao Luoshen. She didn’t know when Gao Chun had gotten close. Shua Hua, beside her, was staring at her with a look of suspicion, as if warding off a wolf. I should be the one wary of Gao Chun, not the other way around! Gao Luoshen pouted and took a step back to put distance between them. “Miss, you’ve got the wrong person.” She was not Gao Luoshen right now; she was a refined young master in disguise.

Gao Chun tilted her head and smiled brightly.

Gao Luoshen’s heart skipped a beat. She glared at Gao Chun and said in an exasperated voice, “Don’t smile at me like that!” You’re a cunning old fox, why are you pretending to be a harmless little bunny? It’s infuriating!

Gao Chun’s gaze grew subtle. She looked at Gao Luoshen and lowered her voice. “You seem to know a lot about Meng Wanzhou. Could it be that the young lady from the noble family he admires is you? And you’ve been secretly investigating his private affairs?”

Gao Luoshen couldn’t comprehend Gao Chun’s thought process. Why did every man she encountered get tangled up in some kind of ambiguous relationship with her? Did Gao Chun think she was just a foolish person who only cared about romance? She frowned, straightened her back, and huffed. “I thought you were the one who had an eye for Meng Wanzhou. An honorable scholar who doesn’t fear the powerful—someone to bring under your wing.”

Gao Chun’s expression turned cold. After a long moment, she spoke in a light tone. “Second Sister, what nonsense are you talking about?” Her face held a smile, but her eyes were as cold as a frosty dagger.

Gao Luoshen flashed a brilliant smile. She blinked, thinking to herself, Who’s talking nonsense? Don’t you know the answer yourself?