A Quiet Homecoming

Chen Yao clutched her skirt in one hand, her pretty face set in a scowl as she stormed down the long corridor.

"Whew, I'm exhausted. This body really is out of shape," she complained silently to herself.

System 04 couldn't agree more, but still offered, "That's what you get with a well-bred lady from ancient times—never leaving the inner quarters. Host, you'll have to get used to it."

This little world was set in a fictional ancient era, where the female lead, Jiang Lingxuan, was forced to marry in place of her runaway sister, and then fell in love with the male lead, Xie Qingyan, after their wedding.

Chen Yao's role was to play the runaway sister in the plot, spoilt rotten by Lady Hou from childhood, who refused to go along with the arranged marriage and fled on the very day of the wedding.

But then, after her younger cousin married in her stead, she grew jealous seeing the male and female leads so in love—especially when he had a noble title bestowed on his wife—and couldn't resist stirring up trouble against the female lead. Of course, she met a bad end, hastily married off to some minor official by the family.

In other words, the vicious supporting female character caused a whole ruckus—bullying the female lead, drugging the male lead—but aside from losing face at every turn, all that happened in the end was she married into a lesser family.

Since the mission was complete, she didn't care whether she ended up married to a cat or a dog. She could choose to leave the world anyway, so no big deal.

Besides, although her role in this story's plot was a bit bigger than in the last world, it was still the same old tune in a different key, so she could keep slacking off.

Chen Yao thought that was just fine. She was quite satisfied.

"Miss, please slow down! Watch your step!"

Two maidservants chasing after her were also out of breath, panting as they tried to persuade her.

They had no idea what was going on. Everything had been fine last night, but this morning, their young lady had thrown a tantrum and smashed things in her room.

Then, before they could react, the girl with a tight little face had stormed out of the courtyard.

Holding her breath, Chen Yao gritted her teeth and ran a good portion of the way before finally exiting the overly long corridor. She panted, patting her chest to catch her breath.

Then she finally ran into the main courtyard.

Spotting Lady Pingyuan sitting in the main hall at the large table, flipping through account books, Chen Yao pouted, her delicate face instantly crumpling into a pitiful expression.

Then she dove headfirst into her mother's embrace.

"Mother, you have to do something for me!"

Lady Pingyuan pushed the ledger aside, instinctively wrapping her arms around her daughter and patting her gently. "Who's bold enough to upset our Yao Yao?"

"It's Xie Qingyan, the eldest son of the Xie family. Yes, it's all his fault!" Chen Yao huffed angrily.

Lady Hou paused in soothing her daughter. "Nonsense. You've never even met him. How could he have upset you?"

"He did! I dreamed he was awful to me, and later he'll have other women, and I'll become a laughingstock!"

Chen Yao spoke through gritted teeth, lifting her head with her pretty eyes slightly red.

At the same time, she chuckled in her mind, "That's not far from the truth, is it? The male lead will of course end up with the female lead, and then he'll come after me."

"Uh-huh, that's right," System 04 rolled over and chimed in.

"That was just a dream. How can you take it seriously?"

Lady Hou felt a bit helpless, but seeing her precious daughter's aggrieved look, she couldn't help but gently stroke her eye. "And dreams are often the opposite."

The betrothal between the Pingyuan Marquis's mansion and the Xie family had been arranged since the previous generation. With the dates counted, they'd be tying the knot in about half a year.

Furthermore, the Xie family was a renowned noble house. Not to mention that two generations had served as prime ministers, but Xie Qingyan himself was top scholar material, and now held the post of Tutor to the Crown Prince, with a bright future. Compared to the Pingyuan Marquis's mansion, which had only an empty title, it was a match that elevated them.

"I think Mother is wrong," Chen Yao said with a sullen face, huffing. "This is an omen of good or ill fortune! It's a sign from heaven telling me that the Xie son is not my destined match."

"Don't talk nonsense!" Lady Hou gave her daughter's hand a gentle tap. "You're just too idle, so you're looking to cause trouble for me."

Chen Yao straightened up abruptly, her rosy little lips pouting high, clearly displeased.

"Anyway, I don't care! I won't marry Xie Qingyan!"

"That's enough. It's fine to talk nonsense with me, but don't be naughty anymore," Lady Hou said, her face growing serious.

After a moment, she shook her head. "This was decided by your grandfather's generation. Next spring you'll be married. It was just a dream, and besides, that young Xie is upright and refined, a fine match that countless families in the capital would envy. He would never be as you dreamed."

Chen Yao remained puffed with anger.

But she knew that if even her doting mother wouldn't agree to break off the engagement, her father would be even less likely.

Still, she'd at least conveyed an attitude, so that her later flight wouldn't seem entirely without cause.

After putting on that performance, she had breakfast at Lady Hou's place, was gifted some fine silks and jewelry, and returned to her Lanyue Courtyard with a still somewhat sullen look on her face.

*

Although Lady Pingyuan thought Chen Yao was just making a fuss, she knew her daughter's temperament well—stubborn as a mule.

After some thought, since the wedding was near, she figured the future couple ought to meet beforehand to foster some feelings.

So that evening, she shared the idea with Pingyuan Hou when he returned from court.

"The wedding's coming up soon; I was thinking we should let Yao Yao and her future husband meet, so they're not complete strangers."

Lady Pingyuan stepped forward, helping her husband unbuckle his jade belt, then slipping off his long robe and hanging it on the rack nearby.

Pingyuan Hou nodded. He had no objection to such matters. "That's reasonable. You arrange it as you see fit. But before she goes out, be sure to caution Yao Yao to keep her temper in check and not cause any trouble."

"Yao Yao is grown up now. Don't always talk about her like that," Lady Pingyuan said, a bit displeased.

"Well, don't spoil her too much, or once she's married into the Xie household, it won't be as comfortable as home."

Lady Pingyuan knew she spoiled her daughter too much, but she was her only precious child, carried for ten months. Who else would spoil her if not her?

Still, she knew that although Pingyuan Hou said this, he always turned a blind eye to Chen Yao's pampering and truly had her best interests at heart.

So she agreed, "I know. I'll speak with Yao Yao."

*

So Chen Yao only found out a few days later.

The official word was that Lady Pingyuan planned to take the two young ladies of the mansion, who had both come of age, to the nearby Yunfu Temple to offer incense in a few days.