Cuddling with the Cold Female Protagonist – Chapter 20
by Little PandaVolume 2: The Captivating Splendor of Jingdu
Encountering One of the Female Protagonist’s Harem
Su Yi was overthinking it. How could Ji Qingchi, a towering female protagonist, be interested in things like rouge?
Having been by Su Yi’s side for so long, Ji Qingchi was seeing her display such a commanding presence for the first time.
Although she still seemed like a kite being pulled, breaking with the slightest touch, this frail body, when speaking just now, reminded Ji Qingchi of facing thousands of troops on the battlefield with a disdainful attitude.
One really couldn’t tell that Su Yi would have such a side.
Is it because she usually appears weak, so it doesnโt show, or has she always been like this, just playing the pig to eat the tiger [ๆฎ็ชๅ่ | bร n zhลซ chฤซ hว | playing dumb to catch the wise]?
Ji Qingchi pondered the possibilities, slowly growing a bit more interested in the enigma that was Su Yi.
“Wife Master, you were truly imposing just now,” she said deliberately, like a lovestruck young man meeting his beloved lady, eyes filled with tender affection. “This is the first time I’ve seen Wife Master like this.”
“Is that so.” Although it wasn’t the first time, Su Yi was still startled by her demeanor, and ended up choking on her own saliva, coughing incessantly as if her lungs would come out.
This sudden change frightened those present. Feng Ruoqing quickly asked the proprietress for a cup of water and fed it to Su Yi in time, stopping her cough.
Ji Qingchi couldn’t help, her hands paused mid-air, watching Su Yi’s face turn red from coughing, hesitated for a moment, and slowly put down her hands.
Su Yi closed her eyes to rest for a while, feeling a bit better, then cleared her throat and opened her eyes to give him a weak smile, “I’m frail and can’t usually support my fulang, and instead rely on him for care. I always feel like I’m failing him. If I weren’t a bit fierce just now, those people might not have left, and it could have implicated my fulang.”
Pausing, she looked into her eyes, sincerely saying, “Even though I’m weak, I still hope to protect my fulang.”
Since meeting the female protagonist, she had spoken many deeply affectionate and cheesy words, so these few sentences were no different. Moreover, the female protagonist’s acting skills were excellent, her ability to speak sweetly not less than hers. Su Yi, dealing with drama queens every day, was numb to it, and saying these words came as easily as turning her hand.
Her face was full of guilt and deep affection, which even moved Feng Ruoqing, who had been merely an observer for quite some time.
Ji Qingchi met her sincere gaze and forgot the teasing words she had intended to say. After a moment, she recovered and lightly coughed, “I know Wife Master is good to me.”
After speaking, she turned her face away uncomfortably, “Who was that man just now?”
She changed the topic, allowing Su Yi to breathe a sigh of relief, as she no longer had to continue the deeply affectionate act, and started pondering the identity of that man.
“He must be a noble’s son.” After all, this is the foot of the emperor [ๅคฉๅญ่ไธ | tiฤnzว jiวoxiร | capital city], and since he dared to cause trouble, he must have someone to clean up after him.
“Not just a noble.” Recalling his attire, Ji Qingchi speculated, “That man’s mother should be a court official.”
Moreover, judging by his clothing and expenses, his mother’s official position should not be low.
He’s the son of an official family, while their young lady is merely a great-granddaughter of a secondary line of the Marquis of Pingyang, without any official title. In this capital, at most, they are wealthy landlords.
The disparity in power made Yanshen feel a bit worried. Before leaving, the head of the family specifically instructed them to watch over Su Yi, but unexpectedly, they still got into trouble. “Miss, we offended him; will there be any issues?”
Su Yi also felt somewhat uneasy. In this female-centric novel, there aren’t many descriptions of noble sons, with the only detailed one being about one of the female protagonist Ji Qingchiโs harem, the son of the Prime Minister, Xiao Zhengyun [่ๆญฃ็ญ | Xiฤo Zhรจngyรบn].
Xiao Zhengyun, true to his name, is an elegant and gentle noble son. He is well-versed in the Four Books and Five Classics [ๅไนฆไบ็ป | Sรฌ Shลซ Wว Jฤซng | Confucian classics], well-mannered, and graceful. The original book describes him as “clear as the moon in the mountains, soft like a stream,” a kind and understanding person who loves the female protagonist deeply, willing to break ties with his Prime Minister mother to follow the female protagonist. His mother originally supported another of the female protagonistโs royal sisters to become emperor, but eventually gave in to him and fully supported the female protagonist in becoming emperor.
When the female protagonist later became tyrannical, he stayed by her side, helping her solve problems.
Not long after the female protagonist ascended the throne, she bestowed upon him the title of noble consort [่ดตๅ | guรฌ jลซn | noble consort title for males], and lavishly rewarded his family, setting an example of loving someone and extending that love to their family.
As for Xiao Zhengyun, although the book did not detail his flaws, after reading the entire book, Su Yi discovered a common trait among the female protagonistโs harem.
That is, they bear grudges even for the smallest offenses.
In the book, this trait is described as their protective desire and possessiveness towards the female protagonist. Anyone who offends the female protagonist ends up with a bad outcome.
Even though the book mentions only one noble young master, they canโt really have encountered him, right?
Thinking about Ji Qingchi’s attitude towards the man just now, Su Yi thought, it shouldnโt be possible. When the female protagonist first meets her harem of fulangs, there should be pink bubbles flying everywhere, but Ji Qingchi didnโt even give him a second glance. Heโs probably just an insignificant passerby, just like her, a mere cannon fodder.
With this thought, Su Yi felt much more at ease and reassured Yanshen, “Don’t worry, they were unreasonable first. Even if there is retribution later, we can retreat unscathed.”
Ji Qingchi glanced at her but didn’t say more. If Su Yi realized she had offended a high-ranking official’s son, it would surely scare her.
Since she was just starting to recover, it was better not to say anything, lest she faint again.
Su Yi sighed in relief, “Alright, alright, we finally got out for a trip, let’s not let some other wild men spoil our fun, let’s continue strolling.”
Yanshen quickly whispered in her ear, “Miss, the family head said you can’t say ‘wild men’.”
After recovering from her illness at twelve, Su Yi often said inappropriate things. The Su family head feared these words might be overheard by those with ill intentions, tarnishing Su Yi’s reputation, so she had two maids keep an eye on her.
After Yanshen finished speaking, she cautiously glanced at Ji Qingchi and whispered, “The lord is still here.”
Ji Qingchi, with exceptional hearing, naturally heard Su Yi’s words.
A proper young lady wouldn’t speak like that. Only women frequenting the pleasure districts, like her senior sister, would often say such things.
Su Yi, being frail, rarely left the house, so how did she know these terms?
Ji Qingchi was very curious and looked at Su Yi inquisitively.
Seeing that she was about to slip up, Su Yi quickly thought on her feet and covered up, “My mother says this too; she often says these things, and I just repeat her words. Why is she allowed to say it, but I’m not?”
Shifting the blame to her mother should be alright.
Although she is too frail to go out, her mother is influential in Feng City and runs a business, so it’s not surprising for her to frequent the pleasure districts.
Although her mother is upright and has never been to those places, at this juncture, Su Yi had no choice but to put the blame on her.
Sure enough, Ji Qingchi retracted her inquisitive gaze upon hearing this, though her eyes continued to linger on Su Yi with a seemingly indifferent scrutiny.
Yanshen also wasn’t sure if their family head had ever said such things, but since the young lady claimed so, it must be true. “But Miss, the family head did instruct me to watch over…”
“I know my mother cares for me,” Su Yi quickly interrupted, “I won’t say it again. We barely got out today, let’s not waste time on this. Let’s continue shopping, didn’t we need to find calligraphy and paintings for our great-grandmother?”
As she spoke, she began to push her wheelchair out, “Come, come, let’s go outside.”
Having said this, the others didn’t press the matter further and followed her outside the shop.
That incident with the young noble wasted a lot of their time. When they had first left, the sun had not yet risen, but now it was already hanging high above the treetops.
Worried that Su Yi might not withstand the scorching sun, Yanshen pushed her from behind, Gancao held a paper parasol on the left, while another maid named Honghua [็บข่ฑ | Hรณnghuฤ] fanned her on the right.
Feng Ruoqing and Ji Qingchi walked behind them, followed by several maids and guards. To an uninformed observer, Su Yi surely appeared to be a nobleman’s daughter, as otherwise, such a grand entourage would be unnecessary for a simple outing.
“Young Master, aren’t we going back yet?”
Tianyi Teahouse is the best teahouse on this street, not only offering excellent tea but also providing a view of the entire street below, making it a favorite spot for many noble sons and daughters.
At this moment, Xiao Zhengyun sat in an elegant seat on the third floor of the teahouse, clutching a teacup tightly as he looked at the girl sitting in a wheelchair not far down the street.
In the capital city, everyone praised him as gentle and jade-like, yet few knew of his narrow-mindedness and how much he loathed others who embarrassed him.
Just now, Su Yi made him lose face in front of so many people, which made him hold a grudge. Originally, his mother had only given him one hour to relax and have fun, but the more he thought about it, the angrier he became. When the time was up, he didn’t return; instead, he went to the teahouse, waiting for Su Yi to appear.
Now, she indeed showed up, accompanied by many people. Xiao Zhengyun was filled with rage but knew he couldn’t act recklessly. Watching the people on the street, he coldly instructed his attendant, “Go investigate who she is.”
“But, Young Master, we have no clue about her at all, how should we investigate?”
“Go get pen and ink.”
“Yes.” The attendant borrowed pen, ink, paper, and inkstone from the teahouse proprietress. Xiao Zhengyun spread the paper on the table, and with the prepared ink, swiftly sketched a lifelike portrait of the woman.
The person in the drawing was Su Yi, sitting in her wheelchair.
The attendant saw it and quickly praised, “Young Master’s drawing skills are truly extraordinary.”
“Heh, just a trivial skill.” Xiao Zhengyun smiled disdainfully. He was often praised for his exquisite drawing skills and gradually grew proud and conceited.
Handing the drawing to the attendant, he said, “Take it to Inspector Sun of the capital and ask her to investigate for me.”
“Yes.”
“Let’s go.” Xiao Zhengyun finished his tea, took one last look at Su Yi on the street, and sneered repeatedly. An ignorant woman dares to oppose him, the Prime Minister’s son. Soon, she will taste what regret feels like.
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