The Villainous Consort (GL) - Chapter 23

The night was as cool as water. Qi Yu hugged her quilt and stealthily made her way back to the room.

Once the room finally quieted down, the person on the bed turned over slightly, facing the inside.

The Eldest Princess opened her eyes. Trying to run? As long as Hanshui isn’t an idiot, she would know to have people guarding the outside. The corners of her mouth curled up slightly before she slowly drifted off to sleep.

Early in the morning, the Eldest Princess woke up leisurely. Seeing that it was almost time to go to the palace to pay respects, she sat up.

She suddenly remembered something and looked at the floor. A dusty woman was sleeping soundly it was the Consort she had chosen.

“Hanshui, attend to the Consort; help her bathe and change, then accompany me to see His Majesty.”

Hanshui, who had been waiting outside for a long time, did not enter as she usually did. Instead, she laughed from outside the door, “Princess, please rest assured and sleep a bit longer with the Consort. Word has come from the palace; the Emperor is concerned about your health and has waived the need for formal greetings.”

On one hand, the Emperor was truly concerned about his daughter, but on the other, it was true that he did not want to see Qi Yu, which would only make him feel vexed. This Consort, as well as the State Preceptor’s mansion the in-laws his daughter had chosen herself—really didn’t make anyone feel happy.

Since the Empress had passed away after giving birth, the inner palace had been without a master, and those concubines were not worthy of a cup of tea from the Eldest Princess, so the morning greeting for today was simply waived.

The Eldest Princess’s eyes turned cold. If she were just an ordinary father, this might be a good thing, but as an Emperor, this was telling others that the Princess’s mansion had fallen out of favor. In the end, the Emperor was still not very satisfied with this marriage.

At this moment, Qi Yu also woke up. Ignoring everything else, her first reaction was to quickly pack up the quilt, lest Hanshui see it and make it seem like she, the Consort, had no status.

The Eldest Princess watched her busy. Her Consort was sometimes someone who could keep her composure, but at other times, she couldn’t hide her thoughts on her face. She was someone who cared about her reputation.

Seeing that Qi Yu had packed up the quilt and was no longer sleepy, the Eldest Princess adjusted her veil and said, “Come in.”

Qi Yu stood properly by the bedside. This should be fine, right? Last night’s events seemed to have been glossed over for the time being. She hoped this second-rate villain wouldn’t bring it up again, as she still hadn’t figured out how to explain it.

When Hanshui entered, she saw Qi Yu standing by the bed. Her eyes widened sharply. This… is it this stimulating? The Consort and the Princess were directly on the floor last night… they really are loving.

Seeing Hanshui staring at her face, Qi Yu coughed lightly in discomfort.

Hanshui hurriedly looked away; there was important business to report. “The person sent to the Prime Minister’s mansion last night returned to report that the Second Princess of the Western Island Kingdom jumped the wall and ran away in the middle of the night. Her whereabouts are currently unknown. Princess, should we send people to look for her?”

“I recall you saying yesterday that the Second Princess of the Western Island Kingdom is a friend of the Consort?”

Hanshui nodded. “That is correct.”

“Since you are friends, does the Consort know where she went?” The Eldest Princess looked toward the side.

Qi Yu, who was trying hard to lower her own presence, thought: …What are you looking at me for? It wasn’t me who let her run away. Who told you not to keep a close eye on her?

It seemed the walls of the Prime Minister’s mansion weren’t very high. Compared to the Princess’s mansion, the security was far inferior.

“I don’t know.”

The Eldest Princess continued to stare. “Didn’t the Consort say something last night about intergenerational inheritance, and that you obtained some ability of foresight from the former State Preceptor? Why not start with your friend and take a look for me to see where she went?”

Since the Second Princess of the Western Island Kingdom had appeared in the capital, it was only right and proper to treat her well. What if an accident happened, causing a dispute between the two countries?

The Eldest Princess pondered. Originally, she had no leads, but since her Consort said they were friends, she wanted to see how Qi Yu would try to fool her this time.

Intergenerational inheritance? You have a good memory.

Qi Yu’s face went pale. It’s over; I dug a hole and buried myself in it. How was she supposed to know where the heroine would go?

What did the book say? After the heroine fell into the water, she was taken directly to the Prince’s mansion by the Second Prince. So, was this an irresistible force of the plot? Was the heroine still destined to meet the male lead?

She silently took a deep breath. Now, she could only try to save the situation as best she could. “I have an immature suggestion: how about we send people to keep an eye on the Second Prince? Perhaps we can find her there?”

The ‘Garlic-Head’ Second Prince? Hanshui was taken aback, but seeing that the Princess said nothing, she agreed, “This servant will send people to keep watch immediately.”

“Take the Consort to bathe and change into clean clothes.” The Eldest Princess looked at Qi Yu’s appearance, a hint of disdain flashing in her eyes.

“Consort, please follow me.” Hanshui nodded, thinking to herself: Should I also arrange for someone to serve the Princess in her bath? I am a thoughtful servant. After the wedding night last night, one look at the Consort’s appearance tells me they must have been very active. Sigh, young people don’t know how to exercise restraint. I wonder who was on top and who was on the bottom?

Qi Yu followed on the side, watching this girl’s face shift between bizarre smiles and blushing red. She was scared half to death. Is this girl mentally ill? Is there any normal person in the Princess’s mansion?

After the Eldest Princess washed up and sat in her wheelchair, she arrived at the study. Imperial brother? Why would the Consort think the Second Princess of the Western Island Kingdom would go to the Second Prince’s mansion? Is this person intentional or unintentional? And is that so-called ability of foresight real or fake? It seems this Consort of mine is not simple.

The “not simple” Qi Yu was currently soaking in hot water, feeling so comfortable she could almost scream. She didn’t have any ability of foresight at all; at most, she was holding the script. But holding the script was useless, because the book, aside from the trend of the fall of the Baiyue Kingdom, was mostly filled with the heart-wrenching and tearful romance of the male and female leads.

However, selling out one’s own country for love, and even treating the lives of the people like a child’s game, Qi Yu silently shook her head. She could not agree with such love that clouded one’s judgment.

Just as she was thinking this, her stomach let out a thunderous rumble. It seemed she hadn’t eaten a thing since yesterday noon. She, a dignified Consort, a perfectly healthy living person, was about to starve to death. Wuwuwu.

After finally filling her stomach, someone came from the Eldest Princess to find her and take her to the study.

Qi Yu panicked. Here we go again. Was this villainous woman done with nothing to do? Why keep pinning her down? No wonder she ended up losing to the Second Prince in the end; she simply wasn’t doing her proper job!

In the study, seeing that she had arrived, the Eldest Princess raised her eyes slightly. “Someone is asking to see the Consort. They say they are the owner of ‘Floor Upon Floor’.” After speaking, she stared at Qi Yu’s reaction.

Qi Yu was stunned. What owner of ‘Floor Upon Floor’? I haven’t even heard of it.

“Then, should I go see them?”

The Eldest Princess’s voice contained a smile. “The Consort does not recognize her?”

Qi Yu’s breathing became erratic. This damnable, familiar, and oppressive tone. If she recognized her, would she say that? “I don’t recognize her.”

The Eldest Princess raised an eyebrow. “‘Floor Upon Floor’ is the largest restaurant in Baiyue, with branches in every prefecture and county. The current owner’s surname is Song, her name is Qingyi, and she is sixty-eight years old.” She paused when she said this. “Her biological father was the Seventh Prince of the previous dynasty.”

It was said that back then, the Crown Prince of the previous dynasty colluded with the Seventh Prince and her grandfather, who was the Prince of Li at the time, to rebel. They failed, and the two princes of the previous dynasty were executed at the Xuande Gate, and her grandfather was deposed.

Later, Empress Zhou the Sixteenth let bygones be bygones, raised the current Emperor at her knee, educated him carefully, and even promised him the throne. As for the Seventh Prince, he was exonerated by the later Imperial Tutor, Li Zhiping. Consequently, the Seventh Princess Consort was not held accountable. Later on, she even handed over ‘Floor Upon Floor’ to her daughter, the current Song Qingyi.

If Qi Yu was truly a descendant of the Crown Prince of the previous dynasty, then the relationship between these two was intriguing.

Qi Yu’s expression didn’t change. The book seemed to have mentioned a few words about the Xuande Gate Incident, but what did that have to do with her? “Then, according to the Princess, should I go?”

“Go.” The Eldest Princess spat out a single word.

Half an hour later, Qi Yu sat in a private room at ‘Floor Upon Floor’, watching the young man kneeling before her, her eyelids twitching wildly.

“Young Master, thankfully you are safe and sound. Our hearts have been in our throats, terrified that you might have some accident.”

Qi Yu sat up straight. What is this situation? Isn’t this supposed to be meeting the owner of ‘Floor Upon Floor’? How did I get involved with this bunch of people from the previous dynasty? Recalling the agreement with the Princess before the wedding, she pretended to be calm and said, “What is the reason for seeking me out this time?”

How does it feel like this person is just treating me as the master? Did the martial arts instructors at the State Preceptor’s mansion not tell them that I was still considering whether to join? Or did the head instructor make a decision on my behalf?

The youth looked up. “Replying to the Young Master, the Princess’s mansion is heavily guarded. I had no choice but to use such an inferior tactic. As for the manager of ‘Floor Upon Floor’, we have already made an appointment for you. As long as we obtain the financial support of ‘Floor Upon Floor’, the restoration of the nation is within reach.”

This is an inferior tactic? This is just being brainless. Qi Yu couldn’t help but roll her eyes. You guys made an appointment in the name of ‘Floor Upon Floor’, and the Eldest Princess already figured out all your plans!

She now understood a little why the original owner, this big villain, ended up dying without a complete corpse. All these teammates around her were like pigs; it would be difficult to even die a decent death.

“So, it wasn’t her who made an appointment with me, but you guys who made it for me?”

“Young Master, you should call Mistress Song ‘Aunt’. Although she doesn’t know that she still has a niece like you, as long as you reveal your identity, Mistress Song will definitely acknowledge you. Once the nation is restored, she can enjoy the status of a princess!” The youth’s expression was certain.

Qi Yu rolled her eyes again. If I hadn’t been eating rice for twenty years, I might have believed his nonsense. In the end, the woman didn’t even know who she was. Where did this group of people get the confidence to make an appointment?

She couldn’t wait to run away now. It was too pits-falling-into; mixing with this group of people, she wouldn’t even know when she was tricked to death.

“Is it still in time for me to leave now?”

“Young Master, Mistress Song will be here soon. Why do you want to leave?” The youth’s expression was puzzled.

Nonsense! I don’t even know her! And you want me to just walk up and say, ‘I am plotting a rebellion, do you want to join me?’ I’d be hauled off to the magistrate’s office on the spot!

She didn’t believe that Song Qingyi, who possessed so much wealth and was already sixty-eight years old, would take risks with this group of people. Wasn’t it better to keep all that money and enjoy her remaining years? Why would she do things that would get her head cut off for such a group of unreliable people?

Qi Yu couldn’t even be bothered to explain. She wasn’t the original owner and wouldn’t accompany this bunch of people in their madness. Just as she stood up, a knock on the door sounded.

The youth’s expression became joyful. “It must be Mistress Song. The elders didn’t miscalculate; she definitely would come to see the Young Master.”