The Villainous Consort (GL) - Chapter 17

Han Shui looked at the despairing Qi Yu, blinked, and said, “Actually, I already bought some food. The Princess just gave orders saying we don’t need to cook anymore.”

“Why didn’t you say so earlier?” Qi Yu was ready to weep.

“I saw that you were so set on cooking for the Princess personally. I couldn’t bear to ruin your sincerity, so I held my tongue. But looking at it now, the Consort clearly lacks the ability. You should hurry back to the room and accompany the Princess for dinner.” Han Shui looked regretful. Still, the thought was enough; as for the actual cooking… that required a certain level of talent.

Qi Yu: “…” Her head was buzzing. She suspected this girl did it on purpose, but looking at Han Shui’s perfectly sincere expression, she turned away in silence. It was her own bad luck and ill-fated destiny; she couldn’t blame others.

At this point, a bag of croton seeds or laxatives wouldn’t cut it. What she needed was rat poison!

“Do you… know how to put out a fire?”

“Yes, I’ll extinguish it right now.” Han Shui nodded at Qi Yu, walked around her to the water bucket, and dumped half a bucket of water straight into the stove.

A second later, Qi Yu dashed out of the smoke-filled kitchen. “Cough… cough… I don’t think that’s how you put out a fire.” This girl was truly a maid of the Princess’s Estate; just like her mistress, she was completely “untouched by the mortal world.”

The commotion in the kitchen was loud enough that the guards thought a fire had broken out. After a flurry of activity, the Eldest Princess wheeled herself into the courtyard.

Han Shui lowered her head. This time she had been careless; her momentary softness in wanting to give the Consort a chance to show off had backfired, resulting in a huge embarrassment. There went her dignity as a first-class maid of the Princess’s Estate.

Qi Yu also felt her face burning with shame. She looked up cautiously and accidentally locked eyes with the person in the wheelchair.

Dressed in a green gown with a white veil, the Princess’s expression was indifferent. Her cold gaze was like the full moon on an autumn night—clear, bright, and captivating.

“Consort, am I beautiful?” The Princess let out a silent laugh at Qi Yu’s dazed expression. It seemed this daughter of the State Preceptor was quite easily seduced by beauty.

“Beaut… incredibly beautiful. Princess, you are practically a celestial being.” Qi Yu smiled brilliantly, while internally calling herself a pig-head. How can I be so pathetic? To lose her composure over this villain time and time again was humiliating.

The Princess blinked slowly. “I hope you can still say such things after seeing what is beneath my veil. I fear you will run away faster than anyone else. People always love the flower in full bloom, but they never consider loving the beauty in her twilight years.”

Qi Yu looked away and remained silent. She actually agreed with the Princess’s words. Finding a partner to grow old with, whose love never wavers, was rare—especially when one party becomes ill or disfigured. Few people can remain true to their original heart.

Most people know the saying “Only by staying true to one’s original heart can one reach the end,” but few know the next line: “The original heart is easy to find, but the ‘end’ is hard to keep.”

The atmosphere suddenly grew heavy. The Princess looked at the disheveled Qi Yu and Han Shui. “Go bathe and change first. We pack up and return to the capital tomorrow morning. Consort, would you like to visit the Princess’s Estate?”

She had intended to stay longer, but it seemed unnecessary now. If they stayed, they’d just find more trouble instead of peace. It would be more effective to take the girl back to the Estate than to keep acting out here.

“To the Princess’s Estate? Is it appropriate for me to go now… wait, yes, it’s appropriate.” Qi Yu’s initial rejection died in her throat. She realized that if she wanted to escape the Estate on her wedding day, she needed to familiarize herself with the layout first.

She wouldn’t miss this opportunity.

Seeing that the Princess seemed hesitant, Qi Yu quickly added, “I am naturally willing. After all, I will be living there for a long time after the wedding. It’s good to adapt early.”

The Princess’s eyebrows arched. What a “refreshing and refined” excuse. “I didn’t expect the Consort to share my thoughts. Han Shui, go make the arrangements.”

“Oh, yes! I’ll go right away.”

The movements at the suburban villa did not escape watchful eyes. By the next day, the news that Qi Yu had followed the Princess back to her Estate spread rapidly.

Setting aside public rumors, a Censor actually reported the matter to the Emperor. After all, she was a Princess of the realm; to be inseparable from her Consort before marriage—staying overnight in the suburbs and now moving into the Estate—was considered far too “open,” even for two women.

The Emperor finished reading the memorial and tossed it onto the floor. The reprimand on the tip of his tongue was swallowed back. His daughter had suffered so many misfortunes over the years; instead of catching the assassins, these people spent all day staring at the Princess.

Improper etiquette? Contrary to ancestral rules? His daughter had finally found someone she liked; what was wrong with spending time together before the wedding? Besides, staying in the suburbs just meant being in the same courtyard—who saw them sharing a bed?

“Summon the State Preceptor.”

The morning court session had lasted a long time, and the various households were curious. When the State Preceptor was summoned, everyone was stunned.

Since the former State Preceptor Qi Xiaosong passed away, the title had been an empty one. The current Preceptor was Qi Xiaosong’s adopted son; he hadn’t inherited a lick of real talent and only held a nominal post in the Bureau of Astronomy due to Imperial favor.

Aside from his inauguration, this was the second time in his life he had been summoned to the Golden Throne Hall. Qi’s father almost shed tears of bitterness as he went, only to realize what it meant for “trouble to find you while you’re sitting at home.”

“I thought Minister Qi was idle at home and should be disciplining his child. Instead, you let your daughter run around, causing such a farce! She’s about to be married; is it proper to chase after the Princess every day? Take your daughter back to the Preceptor’s Estate immediately. She is not to leave the house until the wedding. Also, since Minister Qi is so idle, you shall begin a formal rotation at the Bureau of Astronomy starting tomorrow.”

The Emperor’s scolding left everyone confused. It sounded like a reprimand, so why did it end up sounding like a promotion?

He cleared the Princess of all blame, pushed the fault onto the father’s lack of discipline, and then turned a nominal post into a functional, paid position?

Before anyone could react to this “creative” maneuver, the Head Eunuch announced the end of court. The matter was closed. No one dared mention it again—to do so would be to settle scores with the Emperor.

Back at the Princess’s Estate, Qi Yu hadn’t even warmed her seat before she was sent away.

The Princess watched the girl, who clearly didn’t want to leave, and asked Han Shui in confusion, “Why do I feel the Consort is somewhat reluctant to leave the Estate?”

Han Shui nodded vigorously. Exactly! The reluctance was written all over Qi Yu’s face. “I think so too! It seems the Consort is already deeply in love with you, Princess. She may not be very capable, but a true lover is worth a thousand gold. Your Highness has excellent taste; you chose the right person.”

The Princess: “…” She didn’t think that was it. Qi Yu’s gaze, aside from the occasional daze, was mostly filled with strange, calculating observation.

Though the Princess was inexperienced in romance, she could tell that Qi Yu’s look wasn’t one of love—it was the look of someone watching a “bad person,” full of wariness.

“Let’s not talk about that. Was it decided during court who will take over as Minister of Rites?”

Han Shui straightened up. “Princess, it is a member of the Li family—the former Vice Minister of Rites, Li Guangbai.”

“The Li family? Is he a Li who is dedicated to the public and loyal only to Imperial Father, or a Li like Li Chuanlian who stands with my brother?” The Princess stood up and flipped through the register of officials.

In her younger years, she had been quite insightful regarding state affairs. Over time, she had memorized the names of those who truly served the people, while ignoring the sycophants.

If the person on this list took the post, at least she could be sure they were a doer.

“Li Guangbai? He’s not here… It seems we must pay close attention to this new Minister. If he’s a neutral party, fine; if he’s the Second Prince’s man, we’ve just swapped one obstacle for another.”

Han Shui clasped her hands. “Understood. I will arrange for an investigation.”

The Princess watched Han Shui leave, then looked at the register. Li Guangbai… to have never written a single useful memorial. He was likely an impractical man, which made it even more likely he was on the Second Prince’s side.

If so, she had underestimated her brother. She wondered if he would cause trouble at the wedding. She only hoped innocent people wouldn’t be caught in the crossfire.

Thinking of this, her brows arched. Her “good Consort” wasn’t entirely innocent either; she was already deeply involved. Given her connection to the former dynasty, that identity alone was an original sin.

As for Qi Yu, she hadn’t even had time to memorize the layout of the Estate or find the exit before she was bundled into a carriage back to the Preceptor’s Estate.

Her heart was heavy. Why is nothing going right?

Back at home, she saw her father, who was vibrating with excitement because he could finally attend court. Qi Yu confirmed once more: “Father, you mean… I can’t leave the Estate at all until the wedding?”

Qi’s father glared at her. “This is the Emperor’s will! Stay here quietly. To do otherwise is to defy an Imperial Decree—and that means losing your head!”

Unwilling to give up, Qi Yu whispered, “What if I see guests? Letting Chanyi visit me is fine, right?”

Her father gave her a look of “hopeless disappointment” and walked away without a word.

Only Mama Li remained, looking at Qi Yu with maternal affection. “Don’t worry, Miss. As long as you don’t step out the gate, you can see guests every day; Miss Chu can even live here if she likes.”

“It’s a shame you won’t see the Princess, but don’t be sad. They say absence makes the heart grow fonder. There are only ten days left. Once the ceremony is over, you two can be together every single day.”