The male lead went insane after the female supporting character gave birth to the main villain'

A round, red jade pendant with a unicorn design landed in Su Yan's palm. A refreshing coolness traveled from her hand to her heart. Just by looking at the texture and the quality of the jade pendant, one could tell that it was extraordinary.

"What is this?" Su Yan looked up in confusion.

Qin Yan chuckled and said, "This is a gift to mark our meeting. This color suits Ayan very well."

"Your Highness, you mustn't! This jade pendant was a wedding gift from your teacher to you. How can you give it to Ayan as a gift? Besides, you've already had two boxes of calligraphy and paintings gathered for Ayan, so there's no need to give her such a valuable jade pendant." Su Zhan was surprised by his fondness for Ayan, but it was really inappropriate for Ayan to take this jade pendant.

Does Cheng often carry it with him/her during weddings?

Was it because of the teacher? Or because of his wife?

Su Yan looked down at the jade pendant, and another question arose in her mind.

Since it is a wedding, why give a Qilin jade pendant that represents wealth, good fortune, and protection from evil, instead of a Tongxin jade pendant that represents the unity of husband and wife?

The jade pendant symbolizes two circles, one on the outside and one on the inside.

It symbolizes the close bond and lasting love between husband and wife.

It can also represent family affection, friendship, etc.

"Ayan, quickly return the jade pendant to His Highness." Su Zhan noticed Su Yan staring at the jade pendant and, thinking she was reluctant to part with it, reminded her.

Su Yan held up the jade pendant with both hands, looked up at Qin Yan earnestly and said, "Thank you for the gift, Your Highness, but if it is given to someone else casually during the wedding, your princess will surely be saddened if she finds out. You should take it back."

Upon hearing the words "Princess Consort," a fleeting look of disgust flashed across Qin Yan's eyes, barely noticeable unless Su Yan was looking up at him the whole time.

When he mentioned the princess, there was no warmth or love in his eyes, only disgust.

It seems that Qin Yan doesn't like his current wife.

That's fine.

Su Yan's faint smile deepened.

Qin Yan looked down at the girl with a sincere smile, his eyes softening a bit. "Ayan is no stranger, she is my sister. Your brother and I are from the same school, I am his senior brother, and you are his sister, so you are my sister too."

If we consider your father's perspective, although he and I are not formally master and disciple, we are in fact master and disciple, and you can be considered my junior sister.

Therefore, you are no stranger, but my sister. I cannot refuse your brother's gift, Ayan, please accept it.”

Pushing the jade pendant back, Qin Yan said, "Chang Kai's words just now reminded me. When we were in Cangzhou, I heard Chang Kai say that you like to copy the calligraphy and paintings of famous artists."

Before coming to Qizhou, I had some works by famous artists collected to give you as a gift.

A perceptive servant quickly withdrew, and soon returned with several retainers, bringing two large boxes to Su Yan and opening them for her to see.

She picked up a scroll and opened it, seeing that it was a landscape painting. A faint disappointment flashed in Su Yan's eyes.

She opened several more scrolls, which contained not only landscape paintings but also paintings of flowers, birds, fish, and cats. The disappointment in her eyes grew deeper and deeper.

She carefully put the painting away and returned it to the box. With her head hanging low in disappointment, she bowed to Qin Yan and thanked him, saying, "Thank you, Your Highness. Ayan likes it very much."

"You don't like it!" Qin Yan said with certainty.

Su Yan, like a naive little girl who couldn't hide her thoughts, lowered her head, clutched her handkerchief in her two small hands, and said cautiously, "What Ayan likes is... Ayan just wants portrait paintings more."

"Why?" Qin Yan was simply curious.

At such a young age, wouldn't it be easier for her to learn some simple landscape, flower, bird, and fish painting techniques?

Why would you like drawing people?

The little girl, with her head down, didn't answer. Just as Qin Yan was about to say forget it, he saw glistening water droplets fall onto the white handkerchief in the little girl's hand.

The little girl was crying?

Qin Yan didn't understand how he had made the little girl cry. Just as he was about to squat down and comfort her, he heard that weak, choked voice.

“Ayan wants to learn how to draw portraits so that she can draw her father and grandmother’s likenesses, and then copy her mother’s old paintings and study them often, so that she can remember her father, mother and grandmother’s likenesses forever.”

“Ayan is afraid…afraid that she will slowly forget what her father, mother and grandmother look like when she grows up.”

The little girl's shoulders twitched, and her soft sobs reached Qin Yan and Su Zhan's ears.

Su Zhan's eyes reddened, and he turned his back, tilting his head back to force back the tears that were about to fall.

He was the only male descendant of the Su family, and he had to shoulder the responsibility of the family. He couldn't show weakness in front of so many servants.

Qin Yan felt as if a huge stone was lodged in her heart, making her feel uncomfortable and heavy.

The death of Su's father was a source of pain for all three of them.

Immersed in their grief, none of the three spoke for a moment.

"Host, in just a short while, the villain's favorability rating has jumped from the initial 35 to 60. Keep it up, host!"

Su Yan, sobbing, didn't stop moving for a moment. "Why rush? He only sees me as a brother and sister now. If you really rush him, he'll never see me again. He's always treated me like a sister. How much effort will it take to change his feelings?"

If we can't turn things around, what other way are we to have a child and complete our mission besides drugging him and sleeping with him?"

Su Yan wasn't too surprised that Qin Yan had such a high level of affection for her.

The identity she transmigrated into was such a huge advantage; her initial favorability rating was already 35.

Unfortunately, it's just the affection between siblings.

"Oh, right." The system was quite disappointed.

"By the way, System, the main quest doesn't include maxing out the villain's favorability, right?" Su Yan suddenly thought of this question.

The system shook its head. "No need. However, there will be an extra reward if you max out the villain's favorability."

"Does this affection level have to be between a man and a woman? Can't it be based on family or friendship?"

"No."

"Okay, what kind of extra rewards are there?"

"Free lottery, you won't know what the reward is until you win."

Not knowing what was in the reward pool, and knowing it wasn't the right time to look at the rewards, Su Yan could only suppress her thoughts.

She picked up a handkerchief to wipe away her tears, looked up at Qin Yan apologetically, and said, "Ayan was rude."

The little girl's eyes were slightly red, and her thick, long, and curled eyelashes were still wet.

A surge of pity and heartache welled up in Qin Yan's heart, and he couldn't help but feel a pang of sadness for her.

She was only eight years old when she lost her father and grandmother. She was left alone in Qizhou to keep vigil for her father and grandmother, and she also had to manage the household affairs and the property outside the mansion.

If you are sad, upset, or scared, there is no one to talk to.

Qin Yan looked at her with pity, raised his hand and gently rubbed her little head, praising, "Ayan is so filial at such a young age, I admire her very much!"

"Once we get to Cangzhou, I'll find you a master painter skilled in portraiture to take you on as an apprentice and teach you how to paint people, shall I?"

Su Yan looked up at him with delight, but then, as if remembering something, she frowned slightly and shook her head, saying, "Not long after I went to Cangzhou with His Highness and my brother, His Highness will send troops to Minzhou. Once His Highness recovers Minzhou, I will also have to go there. At that time, I will be separated from my teacher, and I'm afraid I won't be able to learn anything. Instead, I'll only tarnish your reputation. Let's just forget about it."

"Besides, Your Highness has to train troops and handle official business every day. How can such trivial matters take up Your Highness's precious time?"

"Military affairs are handled by many civil and military officials. I don't have to do everything. Besides, when it comes to finding someone, I only need to give an order, and my subordinates will arrange it. I don't need to personally check the files and go door-to-door to find someone."

"As for the fact that being separated from you does affect your studies, I can find someone in Kunjing to come and keep you company. Once the South is recaptured, he can return to Kunjing with you." Qin Yan explained with a smile, his hand still resting on Su Yan's head.

"Then let's wait until Your Highness has recovered the South and returned to Kunjing before we trouble Your Highness to find a renowned teacher for us."

"Alright." Qin Yan smiled and lifted his hand off her head.

But as soon as he raised his hand, a plain silver hairpin fell off Su Yan's already loose and crooked hair bun.

The smile froze on Qin Yan's face.

With a "plop," the hairpin fell to the side of Su Yan's shoe.

She subconsciously looked down, then belatedly raised her hand to touch her head, touching her crooked hair bun. Su Yan opened her eyes wide to look at Qin Yan, her eyes full of accusation.

Qin Yan silently tucked his hands behind his back and clenched his fist slightly. His gaze drifted away, not daring to meet her eyes. "Ahem, this hairpin may not be well made. I'll go to the street this afternoon and pick out some better ones for Ayan."

He clenched his fist slightly behind his back, unable to restrain his restless hand.

However, the little girl's hair wasn't treated with hair oil; a layer of loose hair floated on top of her head, making it look fluffy, and he wanted to ruffle it the moment he saw it...