HCB Chapter 1 Transmigrated as a Female Supporting Character
Chapter 1 Transmigrated as a Female Supporting Character
Su Yao jolted awake from a wave of dizziness, her eyes falling upon an antique-style room furnished with a carved bed and exquisite gauze curtains. Before she could even grasp the situation, a flood of memories, not her own, rushed in. She realized with horror that she had transmigrated into an ancient romance novel she had read a few days prior, and had become the pitiful supporting female character.
The original owner of this body in the book was the unfavored second young lady of the Prime Minister's mansion, with a weak and timid personality. Due to the interests of her family, she was betrothed to a philandering prince. After the marriage, the prince neglected her in every way and had ambiguous relationships with other women. The original owner could only silently endure it, and finally, when her family declined, she was ruthlessly abandoned by the prince, ending up dying with resentment.
Su Yao sat on the edge of the bed, her heart filled with resentment. She was an independent and self-reliant woman from modern times, well-versed in history; how could she accept such a fate? "Now that I've transmigrated, I will absolutely not follow the original plot. I will change all of this!" Su Yao secretly vowed.
She rose and paced around the room, contemplating her current situation. The first thing she needed to do was change her position within the family. The original owner of this body had always been submissive, which was why she was easily bullied. She decided to break her silence and show the people of the Prime Minister's residence her change.
At this moment, a maidservant entered. Seeing Su Yao standing there, she quickly bowed and said, "Miss, you're awake! You caught a cold yesterday, and I was so worried about you." Su Yao looked at the maidservant and knew from the original owner's memories that her name was Cui'er, and that she had always been loyal to her. Su Yao gently helped Cui'er up and said, "I'm fine now, Cui'er. Go and prepare some brush, ink, paper, and inkstone for me. I want to practice calligraphy."
Cui'er was somewhat surprised. In the past, when her young mistress was unwell, she always stayed in bed and never mentioned practicing calligraphy. But she still obediently responded and withdrew. Su Yao knew that in this era, a woman's talent was also a kind of capital. She needed to improve her abilities in all aspects to have the confidence to fight against fate.
Su Yao sat down at the table, picked up the calligraphy brush, but her hand trembled slightly. Although she had some knowledge of calligraphy, the original owner's body seemed to be not quite used to it. She took a deep breath, tried to calm herself down, and began to write stroke by stroke.
After practicing calligraphy for a while, Su Yao felt a little tired. She put down her pen and decided to go for a walk to familiarize herself with the Prime Minister's residence. She took Cui'er with her and left the room.
The Prime Minister's residence was vast, with deep courtyards and winding paths leading to secluded spots. As Su Yao walked, she kept an eye on the people and things around her. Passing through the garden, she heard bursts of laughter and chatter. Upon closer inspection, she saw that it was Su Wan, the eldest daughter of the Prime Minister's residence, and several maids admiring the flowers.
When Su Wan saw Su Yao, a hint of surprise flashed in her eyes, but she quickly put on a fake smile: "Second sister, you're feeling better? I heard you caught a cold yesterday, and I was so worried." Su Yao knew in her heart that Su Wan had always seen her as a thorn in her side, and these words were just for show. She smiled slightly and said, "Thank you for your concern, sister. I'm much better now."
Su Wan looked Su Yao up and down, noticing her slightly pale face, and secretly felt smug. She deliberately said, "Second sister, Mother's birthday is in a few days. Have you prepared any gifts?" Su Yao's heart tightened; she didn't know about this. But she quickly calmed down and said, "Don't worry, sister, I will prepare everything properly."
Su Wan snorted, thinking to herself, "Let's see what good things you can come up with." Su Yao knew Su Wan was waiting to see her make a fool of herself, but she didn't care. She left the garden with Cui'er, pondering what kind of congratulatory gift to prepare.
Back in her room, Su Yao sat on the bed, continuing to ponder a solution. She remembered some handicrafts she had learned in modern times; perhaps she could use the materials of this era to create a unique gift. She told Cui'er her idea, and Cui'er's eyes lit up. "Miss, that's a wonderful idea! I'll go find the materials for you right away!"
After Cui'er left, Su Yao began sorting through the original owner's memories to see if there were any resources she could utilize. She discovered that although the original owner was not favored, she had a certain talent for embroidery. She decided to combine handicrafts with embroidery to create an exquisite birthday gift.
For the next few days, Su Yao stayed indoors, focusing on making a congratulatory gift. She crafted a blooming peony out of silk, its petals layered upon each other, lifelike. Then, in the center of the peony, she embroidered the character "寿" (longevity), surrounded by auspicious patterns.
While preparing the gift, Su Yao didn't forget to exercise. She did some simple exercises in her room every day to improve her physical condition. She knew that in this calculating world, only a healthy body could meet all kinds of challenges.
Finally, the Prime Minister's wife's birthday arrived. Su Yao got up early and dressed up carefully. She wore a light blue long dress, her hair was styled into a bun, and a jade hairpin was inserted. Accompanied by Cui'er and carrying the birthday gifts, she headed to the banquet hall.
The banquet hall was brightly decorated and bustling with activity. Everyone from the Prime Minister's residence had arrived. Su Yao entered the hall, feeling the gazes of the crowd. She slightly raised her head, a smile on her face, and walked respectfully to the Prime Minister's wife, bowing and saying, "Mother, today is your birthday. I wish you a happy birthday, boundless happiness, and longevity. This is a gift I made myself; I hope you like it."
The Prime Minister's wife looked at Su Yao with some surprise. She hadn't expected her usually unremarkable second daughter to produce such an exquisite gift. She took the gift, examined it carefully, and a satisfied smile appeared on her face: "Yao'er, you're so thoughtful. Mother likes this gift very much."
Seeing the Prime Minister's wife's reaction, Su Yao breathed a sigh of relief. She knew her first step had succeeded. She secretly glanced at Su Wan, only to see Su Wan's face dark and her eyes filled with jealousy. Su Yao felt secretly pleased; she knew she had begun to change her status in the Prime Minister's residence.
After the banquet began, everyone showcased their talents. Su Wan performed a beautiful dance, winning rounds of applause. When it was Su Yao's turn, she took a deep breath and stepped forward. She picked up a guzheng (a traditional Chinese zither), gently plucked the strings, and played a melodious tune. Her fingering was skillful, her expression focused, and she performed the entire piece to its fullest extent.
As the music ended, the banquet hall fell silent. A moment later, thunderous applause erupted. The Prime Minister looked at Su Yao, a hint of approval in his eyes. He hadn't expected his second daughter to possess such talent. Su Yao stood up, bowed to the crowd, and returned to her seat.
On this day, Su Yao successfully demonstrated her transformation to everyone in the Prime Minister's residence. She knew this was just the beginning, and she still had a long way to go. But she believed that as long as she persevered, she would definitely be able to turn the tide and change her destiny.