Chapter 4

Chapter 4

In the stories my transmigrator Father Emperor once told me, I, the vicious female supporting character, was a total loser.

My coming-of-age banquet was merely a stage. Although it gathered countless nobles, its only purpose was to serve as a grand debut for the male and female leads.

Assassins were supposed to wreak havoc at the banquet, and I was meant to be accidentally pushed down by an assassin, taking a blade for my Father Emperor. It was this wound that would create a bond between me and my cold Father Emperor, paving the way for me to gain his favor and eventually work myself to death for the male lead.

Meanwhile, the male lead would bravely save my Father Emperor, allowing him to see that he was a talent in both civil and military affairs, thus laying the foundation for his future command of the army.

Because of his life-saving grace, I would fall in love with him at first sight. From then on, I would lose myself, offering my heart again and again, ruthlessly clearing obstacles for him, only to be lectured by him time and again in the name of morality.

As for the female lead, she would showcase her medical skills and save my life as well. In return, I would be ungrateful, suppressing and framing her repeatedly because of her closeness to the male lead, only to be slapped in the face, retaliated against, and eventually poisoned.

Armed with this knowledge of the plot, I had once wondered if I should follow the script and take a blade for my Father Emperor.

But the more I thought about it, the less I wanted to do it.

That Father Emperor who loved me had gone to great lengths to teach me, hoping I would avoid the plot and become strong, independent, and self-respecting.

Therefore, I would never use a self-harming ruse to injure my own body.

Only with a healthy body could I scheme and plot, allowing those assassins to enter the palace silently and strike ahead of schedule.

That idiot Du Xuefu was the best pawn.

Since she wanted to stand out for Noble Consort Du, she had to be prepared for my counterattack.

She took a blade for my Father Emperor and earned his gratitude. I really want to see a future where two women from the same family are favored consorts. If Noble Consort Du ever finds out she has to compete for favor with her own niece, her expression will surely be magnificent.

And as for Du Ziguo, I am curious to see who he will choose to support between his sister and his daughter.

Song Wanxi walked out after bandaging her wounds. She looked at me with a serene expression, her face carrying the indifference of someone accustomed to life and death.

I took a small box from my sleeve and handed it to her.

“This is the payment for Miss Song. I hope you like it.”

Song Wanxi hesitated before opening it for a glance. She quickly snapped the box shut, a flash of suspicion crossing her eyes as she tried to decline. “This item is too precious. This humble daughter of an official dare not accept it.”

I said indifferently, “Take it. This item has remained in the palace for many years, and no one in the Imperial Medical Department knows how to use it. Giving it to Miss Song will allow it to be put to its best use, rather than letting it go to waste.”

Inside the box was a hundred-year-old Crane-Grass-a poisonous weed to some, but a celestial herb to others.

The imperial physicians were conservative and did not dare to use this medicine lightly.

Song Wanxi had traveled thousands of miles to the capital specifically for this single herb.

Her teacher, the Sage of Medicine, had discovered a palace secret years ago and escaped the palace by faking his death. However, his body was ruined; no medicine could cure him, and he was merely lingering on the brink of death.

Song Wanxi was filial and had developed a prescription that lacked only this Crane-Grass.

In the original plot, she and Lu Yuzhang cooperated, enduring countless hardships and making numerous sacrifices before finally obtaining the Crane-Grass. By the time she rushed back with it, she received news that her teacher had already passed away.

All her efforts came to nothing, marking her most difficult moment.

Lu Yuzhang stayed by her side through it all.

Their feelings for each other intensified rapidly, and they became companions who shared life and death.

I naturally couldn’t bear to see such a tragic thing happen.

Therefore, I had prepared this herb early on. My Father Emperor hoped for me to have a smooth life. Now, since this was the first time I had met Lu Yuzhang and Song Wanxi and there was no deep-seated hatred between us, I was willing to share this kindness with her.

Song Wanxi hesitated for a moment before accepting the Crane-Grass, making a solemn promise to me.

“This item is indeed of great use to Wanxi. Thank you, Princess, for bestowing the medicine. If the Princess ever has a need in the future, Wanxi will certainly do her best to help the Princess once.”

“That’s wonderful. I hope you will enter the palace to accompany me for a year. Would you be willing, Miss Song?”

I looked at her with a smile, my gaze full of expectation.

Song Wanxi’s breath hitched. After a long silence, she said, “Very well!”

She left the palace in a hurry.

That very night, she left the Duke’s Mansion and rushed back to her hometown.

I, meanwhile, strolled to the edge of the pond in the Imperial Garden, where I ran into Lu Yuzhang.

Lu Yuzhang was currently in a confrontation with Du Ziguo.

Du Ziguo had likely heard that the assassins were related to him.

He had rushed over, trespassing into the inner palace, presumably wanting to clear his name before my Father Emperor.

Lu Yuzhang, however, was the guard commander newly appointed by my Father Emperor, so he naturally had to stop such an overstepping of boundaries.

Du Ziguo was used to being arrogant. How could he possibly care about a mere newly-appointed Top Scholar? He immediately ordered his men to detain Lu Yuzhang.

Lu Yuzhang was forced to his knees on the ground, his face grim and his eyes filled with humiliation.

At that moment, I stepped forward gracefully.