The Villainous Consort (GL) - Chapter 25

Qi Yu’s heart sank. This was not the first time she had faced a difficult question from the Eldest Princess. Since they met, Qi Yu had answered countless questions either insincerely or by talking in circles.

Only this time, she truly wanted to answer honestly. She wanted to persuade the Eldest Princess to let go of her thirst for the throne and avoid becoming the Second Prince’s enemy—perhaps that was the only way to save her life.

But if the throne fell into the Second Prince’s hands, the country would eventually fall and the family would be destroyed. And what if she didn’t hand it over? The book said that the Prince Consort’s restoration failed and the Princess’s rebellion failed; it resulted in nothing more than two more lives ending without a whole corpse.

Qi Yu took two steps forward, looking deeply into the Eldest Princess’s eyes. They stared at each other in silence.

Taking another step closer, the bitter smile on Qi Yu’s lips vanished before it could fully form, replaced by a slightly flippant grin. “I see the Princess and me living in harmony, sharing life and death together.” Well, they do end up dying together, don’t they?

“I asked about my future,” the Princess said, her brows knitting as she stepped back. She asked about her future, and what did Qi Yu answer with? Marriage?

Clearly, such a thing was impossible. This person was indeed lying to her.

Realizing this, a flash of annoyance crossed the Princess’s eyes. Her “dear” Prince Consort was not only involved with the Princess of West Island but might also have some connection with the Second Prince. How else could she have predicted that woman would appear by her Imperial Brother’s side?

Qi Yu did not miss the annoyance in the Princess’s eyes, but she had no intention of revealing the truth. This moment felt different from her usual fear of death. She couldn’t explain why, but her instinct made her want to keep that specific truth hidden.

“But I can only see your marriage, Princess.”

The Eldest Princess was exasperated.

Qi Yu’s tone even sounded aggrieved, as if the Princess were the one being unreasonable. After acting for so long, the Princess had finally met her match.

“The Prince Consort has done well,” the Princess said dryly.

Qi Yu remained silent, watching her with a clear, shimmering smile in her eyes.

The Eldest Princess took a deep breath. “I am tired. Go to the front courtyard.”

Qi Yu’s face showed genuine surprise. Was my lie that convincing?

Though she was determined to play dumb to the end, she hadn’t expected the Eldest Princess to drop such a heavy question so lightly.

That night, Qi Yu was arranged to sleep in the front courtyard.

After settling everything, Hanshui looked at the self-satisfied Qi Yu with a look of “failing to live up to expectations.” “The Princess told the Prince Consort to stay in the front courtyard, and you just agreed?”

Qi Yu sat by the table, looking puzzled. “Otherwise? What was I supposed to do?” She had no intention of shamelessly hanging around the backyard; she didn’t have a habit of sleeping on floors. Having her own room and her own bed was much more comfortable.

“It’s only the second day of the marriage, and the Prince Consort has already lost favor. Aren’t you worried?” Hanshui was speechless. Can this Prince Consort have even a bit of sense?

What kind of newlyweds sleep in separate rooms on the second night?

Looking at the worried Hanshui, Qi Yu felt a bit depressed herself. Lost favor? What kind of talk is that? We’re just business partners! Had this girl forgotten the “newlywed” part was a sham? Hanshui had been there when she negotiated the deal with the Princess. Lost favor… can she talk like a normal person?

“Stop overthinking. This was my idea, and the Princess agreed to it.”

Hanshui’s eyes widened. “Prince Consort, how could you be like this? Our Princess finally found you somewhat agreeable!”

Pah.

Is that even a human thing to say? Qi Yu wanted to crack open the girl’s head to see what nonsense was inside. Forget it—no one in the Princess’s Manor seemed to have a normal brain. But it was still irritating.

She glared at Hanshui. “Well, I find the Princess disagreeable. Now leave so I can rest.”

Hanshui stared at her for a long time but ultimately said nothing. Although the Princess was of noble status, the Prince Consort was still a master; as a maid, she shouldn’t overstep.

However, Hanshui had grown up with the Princess. Though they were master and servant, they were like sisters. She said no more to Qi Yu and turned back to the backyard.

The Prince Consort said she found the Master “disagreeable”—Hanshui wondered if she had said anything hurtful to the Princess’s face. She felt she ought to check.

When she arrived and saw the Eldest Princess practicing calligraphy in a good mood, Hanshui felt stifled again. Well, the Emperor isn’t worried, so why is the eunuch anxious?

Seeing her arrive, the Princess put down her brush. “Is there news from my Imperial Brother?”

“The Second Princess of West Island entered the estate and hasn’t come out since. The Second Prince hasn’t made a move, and we don’t know if he realizes who she is.”

The “Garlic-head” Second Prince had always been black-hearted. Even if he knew, he wouldn’t necessarily report it honestly to the Emperor; he might use the opportunity to stir up trouble.

Hanshui felt a pang of resentment. Despite being siblings, the Princess had always been kind to the Second Prince. Yet he was like an ungrateful wolf; the older he got, the more he enjoyed opposing her. He was grinding away their childhood bond bit by bit. Yet the Master remained soft-hearted, always hoping her brother would grow up and understand.

The Princess sighed. “A Princess of West Island appearing in the capital is no small matter. Prime Minister Chu will likely send someone to inform Imperial Father during tomorrow’s morning court. My brother will know then. I only hope he understands the gravity of the situation and doesn’t spark an unnecessary conflict for personal gain.”

Even as she spoke, she knew in her heart it was unlikely. From the moment an assassin’s blade scarred her face years ago, she knew her brother no longer saw her as his sister. The brother who once followed behind her had learned to secretly stab her manor in the back for the sake of the throne.

“Understood,” Hanshui replied softly.

The next day, the Prime Minister’s Manor indeed reported the news. During court, the Second Prince remained silent, never mentioning that the foreign princess was currently in his estate.

After the session, the Second Prince returned to his palace and summoned Li Chuanlian. He hadn’t expected the girl from yesterday to be the Second Princess of West Island. if she could become an ally, his victory over the Eldest Princess would be even more certain.

He didn’t trust the advisors in his manor or the officials his father had arranged. The only one he trusted was his childhood study partner.

Recalling Li Chuanlian’s temperament, however, the Second Prince felt a bit uneasy. Although loyal, this partner was like the old fogeys of the Li clan—believing that matters of state were paramount. Dealing with a foreign princess was risky.

Li Chuanlian’s first reaction was to disagree. Cooperating with an enemy nation was like “seeking a skin from a tiger.” But seeing the Second Prince’s expression, he hesitated. “This is a grave matter. If this princess is unreliable, it would be a massive disaster for us. Your Highness should be cautious.”

Seeing his hesitation, the Second Prince took the opportunity. “Chuanlian, do you remember? You once said that a person’s character is not important; what matters is that a ruler knows how to use both the good and the bad in his subjects. As long as we are careful, whether she is reliable or not, she is a useful pawn.”

Li Chuanlian nodded. The Li family ancestral motto said: A gentleman of average talent may be befriended; a man of no righteousness and great talent must not be. He had always disagreed with this. To him, the Second Prince was a kindred spirit: whether a knife is good or bad depends on how the wielder uses it. Usefulness was paramount; character was secondary.

“In that case, do not reveal your knowledge of her identity. Treat her with feigned kindness for now, and use her when the opportunity arises.”

Though Li Chuanlian was hesitant, his primary goal was to ensure the Second Prince won the throne. Only then could his own talents and ambitions be realized and remembered through the ages. Otherwise, everything would be for naught.

The Second Prince was delighted. “That is my plan. However, keeping her in the palace isn’t safe. We should treat her as a friend for now and settle her elsewhere.” He would have liked to keep her in the estate, but the woman was unwilling.

Thinking of Ai Ye’s face, the Second Prince felt a rare heat in his cheeks. He was a Prince; even if he had feelings, he had to suppress them. Once he took the throne, marrying a foreign princess would be nothing. Now was not the time.

Li Chuanlian agreed; it was better if he arranged the matter himself rather than involving the palace staff.

As for Ai Ye, she was worried about where to stay. Having someone willing to spend money and effort to help hide her identity was exactly what she wanted. Although the Second Prince hadn’t been blunt, she wasn’t a fool. Since she had seen the Prime Minister, her presence would definitely be discussed at court.

This Second Prince was interesting—pretending not to know and helping her hide. “Showing kindness for no reason means there must be an ulterior motive.” She could play along; getting close to a Prince was faster than any other way to get court intelligence. Since he was eager to befriend her, she would be a fool to refuse a gift handed to her on a silver platter.

Li Chuanlian’s movements did not escape the eyes of the Princess’s Manor.

Upon hearing the news, the Eldest Princess became thoughtful. “Go find the Prince Consort. I want to know her true attitude toward her ‘good friend’.”

Hanshui left to follow the order but returned alone. “The Prince Consort has left the manor with Hanfeng.”

The Princess was stunned. “Did you send people to follow her?”

“No.”

Hanshui had originally arranged people to watch the State Preceptor’s Manor and Qi Yu. But after the wedding, the Princess had withdrawn the scouts watching Qi Yu, leaving only those at the Preceptor’s Manor. It made sense—they were married, the escape had failed, and the Prince Consort seemed cooperative. When the Princess said it wasn’t necessary to watch her every move, Hanshui stopped.

Looking at the Princess’s expression, Hanshui wondered if the Master had forgotten her own order.

The Princess had indeed forgotten, but she quickly remembered. “There is no need to ‘spy’ on her,” she said after a pause. “However, arrange for a few skilled guards to follow her. Keep your distance and just protect the Prince Consort’s safety. There’s no need to hide it from her… actually, it’s better to tell her in advance.”

She realized that no one likes being secretly followed. Instead of sowing unnecessary suspicion, it was better to be direct. Though they were partners, they didn’t trust each other yet. Such an arrangement was only logical.

The Eldest Princess lowered her eyes, feeling a strange heaviness in her chest. Perhaps it was because she had remembered that besides their cooperation, there was another layer to their relationship. But in the Imperial family, some things were destined to be out of reach.

She thought of Qi Yu. She had expected a straw bag, but she turned out to be a difficult person to handle. She only hoped they wouldn’t end up on opposite sides—if they did, even if the other person was her Prince Consort, she would not stay her hand.