The Runaway Bride in a Substitute Marriage 34

The sound of the qin rose once more, soft and clear.

"The female lead really is such a good person," Chen Yao sighed inwardly again.

At the same time, she curved her lips and flashed Jiang Lingxuan a sweet smile from afar.

System 04 nodded in deep agreement. "Indeed."

"Still, with the female lead stepping in, it should be as good as done," Chen Yao said with a relieved breath, then clicked her tongue in admiration. "This should really be the female lead's moment to shine, right?"

After all, why target her, a vicious supporting female character? She was nothing more than a salted fish who had failed her mission and was lying flat. Please, she really had no desire to steal the spotlight at all.

But speaking of the plot, Chen Yao suddenly remembered something. "In the storyline, isn't the female lead supposed to be framed later and pushed into the water?"

System 04 quickly confirmed. "Yes."

"Uh-oh. Could it be that, for the sake of plot completeness, it'll inexplicably fall on me instead? Or will it still be the female lead who ends up in the water?" Chen Yao's tone was heavy.

System 04 could only sigh. "We can no longer predict based on the plotline. I can only say there's a fifty percent chance for either."

Chen Yao: "..."

Forget it. She would just stay put in the banquet hall and never go near any water. She'd also find a chance to warn Jiang Lingxuan, as a way of returning the favor.

Xie Qingyan took the opportunity to wrap his wife's little hand in his palm, his fingertip stroking the back of her hand in a soothing, gentle motion.

Even if Jiang Lingxuan hadn't spoken up, he had already been prepared to volunteer on his wife's behalf. At that point, the young lady would only need to pose her hands over the strings under his guidance, and he would handle the rest—a harmonious duet between husband and wife.

But he had been a step too slow. Now, watching Chen Yao stay silently focused on Jiang Lingxuan's playing, her pretty face expressionless, Xie Qingyan felt an inexplicable weight settle in his heart.

Then, just as Chen Yao was enjoying the female lead's heavenly music, she suddenly felt a plump grape pressed against her lips.

"They say these are white jade grapes offered as tribute from the border city. Very sweet. Try one, my lady," Xie Qingyan said in a warm voice.

His fingertips held the peeled grape, the crystal-clear flesh contrasting beautifully with his long, slender fingers—a sight that was as pleasing as it was elegant.

Chen Yao instinctively parted her lips and gently bit into the grape, the sweet juice staining her lips, making them look all the more tempting.

Xie Qingyan's breath hitched slightly, but his face remained the picture of noble restraint, revealing nothing unusual.

No one would know what improper thoughts were running through his mind about his own wife at that very moment...

The melodious qin music gradually came to a stop.

As the final note fell, Jiang Lingxuan calmly withdrew her hands from the strings and rose to curtsy to the emperor and empress seated at the head of the hall.

"May we see the Mid-Autumn moon year after year. This humble maid's 'Song of the Fine Night' hopes to please Your Majesties' ears."

"Excellent, excellent!" The emperor was clearly in high spirits, applauding heavily after it ended. "Second Miss Jiang's music is so ethereal, it could only exist in the heavens."

"Your Majesty flatters me." After all, she was still a young girl of fifteen or sixteen. Though her voice remained steady at such praise from the emperor, a light blush quickly crept across her cheeks.

No matter what she truly felt, Xue Bailing kept a smile on her face and answered graciously enough. "I admire Miss Jiang's skill. I truly am no match for her."

The female lead's skill was unquestionable, of course. Chen Yao had never doubted from the start that she would outshine Xue Bailing. So when the dust settled, she wasn't at all surprised by the outcome.

It was only when her gaze met Jiang Lingxuan's from across the room that she saw, in those round, bright eyes, a warmth born of complete trust in her.

Chen Yao quickly looked away, feeling strangely uncomfortable.

Honestly, Jiang Lingxuan was the one who had helped her. Of course she trusted her—that was only natural. What was there to be moved about?

Chen Yao thought she had reacted very calmly, but from Jiang Lingxuan's perspective, the young lady sitting across the room had a smile that simply couldn't be hidden, her almond-shaped eyes curving into crescents.

System 04 shook its head privately, thinking that its host's tsundere, sharp-tongued little personality was both infuriating and endearing.

It stroked its chin and suddenly thought: No wonder the higher-ups had judged that the male and female leads had such low awareness of her being a vicious supporting character.

Chen Yao was no fool, especially when it came to things that could harm her—she was almost overly perceptive.

After all, though the censor's daughter had backed down for now, things clearly weren't over.

Just now, in passing, she had noticed a bit of eye contact exchanged between Xue Bailing and Madam Xie.

She lowered her eyelids and drained the last of the sparkling water in her cup. Behind the cover of the cup, she sneered coldly in her heart.

What was Madam Xie up to? Trying to make her lose face, and then bring in Xue Bailing to take her place?