The Villainous Consort (GL) - Chapter 16

The Second Prince wore a gentle smile. “In that case, I am at ease. You may go now.”

Fang Hai withdrew, moved to tears of gratitude. The moment he left, the Second Prince’s face turned icy. He patted Li Chuanlian’s shoulder and said, “Chanyi, you must have wondered why I treat someone as empty-headed as Fang Hai as an equal.”

Li Chuanlian bowed his head in silence. He was the Second Prince’s study companion; the two were practically brothers. Later, Fang Hai had joined their circle. Li Chuanlian wasn’t a fool; he knew Fang Hai had a bit of talent for poetry, but as for strategy, the man had nothing to offer.

The only reason Fang Hai was treated as an honored guest was because of his father, Minister Fang.

The political landscape seemed simple enough—there were only two heirs. Since the Eldest Princess was disfigured and crippled, the Second Prince was the only logical choice. However, the Kingdom of Baiyue had a historical precedent for abdication in favor of a virtuous relative; his position as the “sole heir” was not entirely secure.

Furthermore, ever since the Left Prime Minister, Jiang Sanyan, retired to his hometown, only Right Prime Minister Chu Yuan remained in power. The Emperor had shown no intention of appointing a new Left Prime Minister.

The Royalist faction, led by Chu Yuan, was loyal only to the current Emperor. The only high-ranking officials truly allied with the Second Prince were the Ministers of Works and Rites.

Now that Minister Fang of the Rites had been kicked out of court, the only person left to speak for the Second Prince in the throne hall was the Minister of Works.

Thinking of this, Li Chuanlian knelt. “It is my incompetence. My uncles are dedicated to the public good and do not wish to involve themselves in court struggles. Once Your Highness ascends the throne, the Li family will naturally be loyal to you.”

The Second Prince’s eyes darkened, but he smiled. “Chuanlian, don’t blame yourself. The Li family are pillars of the state; it is right to be loyal to Imperial Father. I will continue to value them after my coronation—as long as the Li family does not defect to my sister’s side.”

The Li family had produced Grand Tutors for two generations and held immense weight in court. Although the Second Prince had secured the most brilliant of the current generation as his companion, the Eldest Princess’s own early tutor had also been a member of the Li family.

The Second Prince tilted his head back and took a deep breath. Imperial Father is unfair, the ministers are unfair… no one respects me. I will show them all who the true Son of Heaven is.

“Rest assured, Your Highness. My uncles will never side with the Eldest Princess,” Li Chuanlian said firmly.

His grandfather, Li Zi, the founding Grand Tutor of Baiyue and a former Prime Minister, had left an ancestral rule: the Li descendants serve only the Sovereign on the Dragon Throne. They were forbidden from joining any faction or participating in partisan struggles between princes. Thus, even if they wouldn’t support the Second Prince now, they wouldn’t support the Princess either.

The Second Prince remained expressionless; he had heard of the Li family’s code, which was why he hadn’t taken his anger out on Li Chuanlian. “There are only a dozen days left until my sister’s wedding. Pay close attention. Everything must be handled flawlessly.”

“Don’t worry, Your Highness. No one will know it was our doing. But… if that lady from the Preceptor’s Estate is thrown into the Imperial Prison, how will she be of use to us later?”

Li Chuanlian was confused. Those remnants of the former dynasty needed a figurehead, and Qi Yu’s identity was perfect. If Qi Yu died, those rebels would have to be wiped out to stop them from becoming an obstacle.

The Second Prince noted that even a world-renowned talent like Li Chuanlian lacked his strategic depth. “Do you think a Consort from the Preceptor’s Estate is easier to control, or a disgraced fugitive who has been branded a bandit?”

“Your Highness means… I see. Brilliant!” Li Chuanlian realized the plan. It wasn’t a simple assassination; it was a “bottom-up” scheme to leave Qi Yu with no choice but to surrender to them for survival.

The Second Prince sneered inwardly. “Since Qi Yu won’t walk the path we laid out, we’ll leave her with no path at all. When someone finally offers her a way out, she’ll be begging at our feet like a dog.”

For a moment, Li Chuanlian felt the Second Prince was a stranger—a chillingly cold one. He shook his head, casting the thought aside.

As night fell over the suburban villa, Qi Yu finally stopped pushing the wheelchair. She looked at the silent Princess and whispered, “Princess, it’s late. We should have dinner.”

The Princess gazed at the darkening sky. She wasn’t sure why, but being pushed by Qi Yu all afternoon had allowed her to rest her mind. The suburban air was pleasant, and the courtyard was quiet. It really was a nice place for a short stay.

“I sent the servants from the Preceptor’s Estate back. We arrived in a hurry and didn’t bring a chef. Are there any restaurants or teahouses nearby?”

She felt she hadn’t been this reckless in a long time. The last time she’d acted without a plan was in her youth. Perhaps the weight of her decision to finally fight back had muddled her thoughts.

And that girl Han Shui—she had disappeared for half the day and forgotten to bring a cook. It seemed she had been spoiling the maid too much lately.

Han Shui, currently hiding elsewhere: “You said we were only staying for one day! When did you change your mind?!”

Qi Yu’s hands tightened on the wheelchair. Sent the servants back? Bring a chef? She plans to stay here long-term?

She started to get suspicious. Is this villainous Princess really hitting on me? Is what Chanyi said true? Terrifying.

“This is the suburbs; there are no restaurants. Why not have the Princess’s guards whip something up? Also… I miss Mama Li and my father. I plan to return to the Estate tomorrow morning.”

Qi Yu ventured a subtle hint. Bring a chef? If you bring one, it’s to serve yourself! I can’t afford a villain’s love.

The Princess turned the wheelchair to face Qi Yu, staring at her for a long time in silence.

Qi Yu clenched her fists inside her sleeves. The Princess’s legs are fine—is she also a martial arts expert? Please don’t let her fly into a rage and beat me up. She was panicking. She must have been blind earlier to think the Princess’s eyes were beautiful; they were actually terrifying.

The Princess spoke slowly. “I thought that with sincere effort, we could live in harmony as a couple. I didn’t realize the Consort disliked staying with me so much. It seems I have been sentimental for nothing.”

The Princess’s eyebrows arched, a trace of a smile in her eyes. If she let Qi Yu go back to the State Preceptor’s Estate, how could she perform the act of being “deeply in love” for the public?

“I wouldn’t dare,” Qi Yu breathed. For a second, she had been fooled by the Princess’s lonely tone. But seeing the blatant amusement in the woman’s eyes, she wanted to hit herself.

Are you crazy? Believing a villain’s nonsense? This woman is more likely to keep a harem of male concubines than to actually fall in love. Wait—Qi Yu recalled from TV dramas that princesses often had “male pets.” What about this one? Was she going to be wearing a “green hat” (be cheated on) before the wedding even happened?

Even though she didn’t want the marriage, the thought of being cheated on made Qi Yu feel complicated. She was curious and wanted to ask, but she didn’t have the guts.

The Princess’s expression chilled. “So, you ‘don’t dare,’ but you aren’t ‘willing’? It seems I truly am forcing you. However, you were the one who volunteered for the selection; no one tied you up. The Princess’s Estate and the Preceptor’s Estate are simply getting what they need from each other. In the future, you had better pretend to be more willing in public. I don’t want others to see any rift between us.”

“Qi Yu understands.” So you just want me to be your co-star? Is it not exhausting to flip your mood like that? Just say so.

Qi Yu lowered her head and rolled her eyes. Communicating with these people was exhausting—always talking in circles. She’s the Great Princess; whatever she says goes. Did Qi Yu even have the right to refuse?

The Princess glanced at the sky. “In that case, go with Han Shui and make something to eat. I am hungry.”

“Me? With Han Shui?” Qi Yu pointed at her own nose in disbelief. Did I mishear? I’m the future Prince Consort, and I have to cook personally?

The Princess nodded. “No one else here knows how. Han Shui has never stepped foot in a kitchen. This meal depends on the Consort’s hard work.”

“But I don’t know how either! This… ancient… this suburban stove is very unique. I’ve truly never used one.”

Qi Yu almost bit her tongue. In her panic, she nearly slipped up. An ancient stove? Burning firewood? The chimney? She genuinely had no idea how to operate it.

The Princess’s gaze searched Qi Yu’s face, weighing whether she was lying. “Does the Consort want the guards to burn the kitchen down? Besides, Han Shui can manage the fire. I believe the story of the Consort personally cooking soup for me will become a beautiful tale of romance.”

Qi Yu: “…” To hell with your romance! If the Princess’s Estate wanted to spread a story, couldn’t they just fake it? To actually make her cook for a “beautiful tale” was a bit much.

If you’re so capable, give me electricity and a gas stove! Qi Yu grumbled inwardly. Looking at the unmoved Princess, she turned and dejectedly walked toward the kitchen.

Fine. A wise person knows when to yield. She was a modern person with an open mind; she wouldn’t bicker with this “backwards” ancient.

Too bad she didn’t have any laxatives or croton seeds on her. Otherwise, she’d dump a whole bag in to teach this black-hearted Princess a lesson.

Having received her orders, Han Shui started the fire and stood behind Qi Yu.

Qi Yu took two deep breaths and said as politely as possible, “Miss Han Shui, you have to keep feeding the fire. If you just walk away after lighting it, it will go out in a moment.”

“Understood. Just you wait, Consort,” Han Shui nodded. Tending a fire seemed easy enough.

Three minutes later, Qi Yu stared at the kitchen, which was now filled with billowing clouds of thick, black smoke. She choked, her eyes watering. What sin did I commit? Is this a helper? This is an assassin!