The Villainous Consort (GL) - Chapter 27

The Eldest Princess did not turn her gaze, saying nonchalantly, “I have come.”

She had once been a person who valued kinship, which meant she could not afford to be ambitious. But now… ambition alone was not enough.

The carriage rolled slowly through the streets. Outside, the sky was gradually darkening, and the light inside grew dim and amber.

Qi Yu felt that the Princess’s words “I have come” held a deeper meaning, but no matter how hard she racked her brain, she couldn’t grasp it. She figured the villain simply had a passion for keeping up appearances.

While she was deep in thought, the Princess remembered something else. “There is a matter I must trouble the Prince Consort to handle. My legs should ‘recover’ soon, so you must go and invite a divine physician capable of setting bones.”

Qi Yu asked in confusion, “Isn’t your Highness’s legs perfectly fine? Besides, I don’t even know where to find a divine physician.”

What is this villain thinking now? she wondered. Everything she said sounded strange, and surely anyone could be sent to fetch a doctor.

Seeing the doubt in Qi Yu’s eyes, the Princess smiled. “The physician has already been found. The Prince Consort merely needs to make the trip. Only then will the world be moved by the ‘epic and touching’ affection between this Princess and her Consort.”

Qi Yu’s eyelid twitched, and her knees felt weak. Epic and touching? She asked, baffled, “I don’t understand. Why must your Highness insist on creating this illusion of deep affection?”

Was there a profound reason, or did she just enjoy acting? As a “Villain Number Two,” shouldn’t she be doing something productive?

The Princess looked at her deeply, remaining silent for a moment before speaking. “Do you know what it means to be ‘strong because one has no desires’? A person without desires often has no weaknesses. Enemies are more cautious around such people, preferring to hide in the shadows, making them harder to deal with.

“Therefore, I need a ‘soft underbelly’—a weakness that makes my enemies believe they have a grip on me. Only then will they grow careless and show their hand. And when the time is right, they will be lured into bringing the slaughter out into the open.”

Just as she finished speaking, the carriage wheel hit an obstacle. Both of them tilted to the right.

Leaning against the carriage wall, Qi Yu reached out to steady the Princess. Thinking of the words she had just heard, she took the opportunity to pull the woman into her arms.

Then, looking down at the Princess’s startled face, she said irritably, “So, from the very beginning, your Highness treated me as bait.”

It was infuriating. To think she had occasionally been touched by the Princess’s “protection.” Even today, hearing Hanshui shout about the return visit and seeing the gifts arrive at the State Preceptor’s Manor had moved her slightly, even if it was just a show.

In the end, she had overestimated this villain’s conscience. This was worse than acting; she was being used as a lure to deceive enemies. Was this how a human behaved?

The Eldest Princess was initially stunned by Qi Yu’s bold move. Hearing the indignant questioning, she didn’t pull away. Instead, she shifted her weight and used the momentum to press Qi Yu down against the carriage seat. They stared at each other, one above and one below.

Now she was the one looking down.

The Princess’s brow arched. She whispered, “From the start, I decided to choose a Consort based on mutual benefit. It didn’t matter who that person was. However, you needn’t fear. Since I am using you as bait, I will naturally ensure the bait’s safety until the big fish is hooked.”

Looking at the Princess’s “matter-of-fact” expression, Qi Yu grew even angrier. She took a deep breath. Pah, nothing but the scent of this woman’s incense.

Qi Yu raised her hand to push her off, but the Princess was faster, grabbing both of her wrists. Qi Yu struggled for a moment but couldn’t flip her over. Her face darkened as she gritted out, “And once the big fish is hooked, will this bait be swallowed-by-the-fish?”

The Princess replied casually, “That depends on my mood.”

“You… please get off me. This bait is self-aware and has no desire to ‘roll in the clouds’ with the noble Princess in this carriage.” Qi Yu felt conflicted. As a “Major Villain” herself, she thought she and this “Villain Number Two” were at least partners. In this hierarchical ancient world, she thought she had at least a modicum of human rights.

The reality was brutal. She was just bait, no better than an earthworm. To hell with human rights; to hell with the partnership.

The Princess’s ears felt hot. What nonsense is this scoundrel spouting? She instinctively loosened her grip, then immediately clamped down again. “You are my Prince Consort. Why should it not be allowed?”

She calculated the time; they should arrive at the manor soon. She just had to hold out a bit longer until they exited the carriage. Given this person’s bold behavior of hugging her earlier, it was better not to let go. If she were pinned down instead, it would be an insult to her royal dignity.

Qi Yu was fuming. So what if you know martial arts? She looked at the Princess’s calm face. The carriage jolted slightly, causing their bodies to inevitably brush against one another.

She wondered what to do when a villain acted shameless. As a modern person, the answer was simple: be even more shameless.

Qi Yu’s eyes lit up. She hooked her leg around the Princess and, taking advantage of the woman’s distraction, yanked her hands free.

The change happened too fast. The Princess was caught off guard for a split second, mentally cursing the other’s “overestimation of strength.” She reached out to grab Qi Yu’s wrists again, but froze at the next move.

Qi Yu had completely abandoned the attempt to flip her. Instead, she wrapped her arms around the Princess’s neck, locking her hands together and pulling the woman down until their noses touched. “If your Highness wants it, as your Prince Consort, I have no reason to refuse.”

The next second, she saw a flash of shame and anger in the Princess’s eyes. Then, everything went black as she lost consciousness.

The carriage came to a halt. The Eldest Princess looked at the person she had just knocked out with a hand-chop. Her eyes flickered before she abruptly sat up.

By then, Hanshui had pushed the wheelchair to the carriage. She lifted the curtain. “Princess, let me help you down. Is the Prince Consort… asleep?”

The Princess said coolly, “She is likely exhausted. Find two strong maids to carry the Prince Consort back to her room.”

Hanshui froze. Asleep? Why not just wake her up? Why the need to carry her? She looked suspiciously at the Princess, then at the unconscious Qi Yu. Exhausted?

This is a bit too ‘vigorous,’ isn’t it? Hanshui thought. I was sitting right behind them and didn’t hear a sound from the carriage! Still, the Prince Consort’s constitution must be too weak. A mere hour-long journey and she was worked into a faint by the Master? Tsk tsk, young people today lack stamina.

And so, the “young person” in question was carried into the manor by two maids—one at her head, one at her feet—under the watchful gaze of the entire household.

Hanfeng followed behind the maids, wanting to check on his Young Master, but was pulled away to guard the gate again. Except for when he followed her out, he was stuck at the gate. The Eldest Princess is too cruel, he lamented.

The next morning, Qi Yu woke up with a sharp pain in her neck. She sat up and pressed the spot. Hiss, that hurts.

What happened? It feels like I was hit.

Hit? Qi Yu froze. The scene in the carriage flooded back. That… she actually hit me! That black-hearted villain knocked me out because she couldn’t handle the situation! She has no humanity!

After breakfast, an invitation was delivered to the manor, requesting an audience with the Prince Consort.

“Miss Chu has invited you to lunch at Lou Shang Lou,” Hanshui reported, adding playfully, “Prince Consort, remember to find the Master when you return. You still need to discuss that ‘friend’ of yours from West Island.”

Hanshui then added, “You should exercise more in the future. You can’t always let our Master do all the work. In these matters, it’s better to have some give and take.”

Qi Yu was utterly lost. What is this girl talking about now? She frowned. “What give and take? What work did the Princess do?”

Hanshui smiled, stared at her for a moment, and said, “I understand,” before walking away with a mysterious expression.

Qi Yu: “…” Has this girl lost her mind??

At Lou Shang Lou, Qi Yu had just stepped off the carriage when Hanfeng caught up from behind, looking hesitant. Her heart stirred. Is the former-dynasty group making a move?

She leaned in and whispered, “What is it? Speak plainly.”

Hanfeng looked at his Young Master, remembering how she had been carried back yesterday like a sack of potatoes, and the knowing looks of the servants. He decided that since his status was low, the Young Master might not listen to him, so he’d use the “Elders” as a shield. It was for the sake of the Young Master’s health, after all.

“Prince Consort… you… you should show more moderation with the Princess. Your health is important.” Since entering the manor, he had changed his form of address to “Prince Consort” to avoid suspicion.

Qi Yu looked at Hanfeng. Has this boy been infected by Hanshui? Why is everyone’s brain malfunctioning?

“Moderation? My health is perfectly fine. What are you talking about? Can you be clear?”

“Oh, Prince Consort… this… everyone saw it yesterday. You were carried into the manor. You should be more moderate with the Princess so people don’t laugh at you.” Hanfeng looked conflicted. The Young Master seems to be the ‘bottom’ in their affairs, he thought. Should I report this to the Elders? Maybe they can find a seasoned nanny to give some… guidance?

Qi Yu’s face went black. She finally understood what Hanfeng was implying, and by extension, what Hanshui meant this morning.

Seeing her dark expression, Hanfeng thought he had wounded her pride. He whispered, “Don’t worry, Prince Consort. When I get back, I’ll ask the Great Elders to look for an experienced nanny. It’s not too late to fix this. Next time, you must make the Eldest Princess see how formidable you are!”

Qi Yu’s mouth twitched. Are these people all here just to ruin my day? “No need. I know what I’m doing.”

She looked at Hanfeng, finding him increasingly annoying. Thinking of the even more annoying Hanshui, she snapped, “You don’t need to come in. Stay out here and watch the carriage.”

These people truly have nothing better to do. A bunch of villains, and instead of figuring out how to deal with the male lead, they spend all day overthinking nonsense. No wonder they lose.

Thinking about Hanfeng’s claim that she was “carried into the manor” for all to see, Qi Yu’s face grew even darker.

In a private booth on the second floor, Chu Chanyi saw Qi Yu and waved a hand that was currently gripping a chicken drumstick.

“Why do you look so miserable too? We sisters truly are in the same boat.” Chu Chanyi looked distressed, gnawing on the drumstick with a certain teeth-gritting intensity.

Qi Yu sat down, drained two cups of tea, and let out a long sigh. “Don’t even get me started. There isn’t a single normal person around me.”

Actually, the sister in front of me seems just as abnormal as Hanshui, she thought. She beckoned the waiter for a jar of wine and asked, “What did you want to see me for?”

Chu Chanyi put down the clean bone and wiped her hands. “That woman Ai Ye—the Second Princess of West Island—she ran away from the Prime Minister’s Manor. You knew that, right?”

Qi Yu nodded. She had heard it from Hanshui. “The security at the Prime Minister’s Manor is lacking. Look at the Princess’s Manor: walls everywhere, courtyards like a maze, running around… forget it, I don’t want to talk about it.”

Running around, only to run right into someone’s trap. It’s frustrating just thinking about it.

Chu Chanyi lowered her voice. “She really did run on your wedding day? She didn’t succeed? What’s your plan now? Still going to run?”

“I have submitted. Just tell me what happened,” Qi Yu said, feeling no embarrassment at being found out. Submit? Impossible. A watched pot never boils. This time, I’m planning slowly to ensure success.

Chu Chanyi gave her a sympathetic look. “Well, after Ai Ye ran, she actually got hooked up with the Second Prince! Yesterday, she specifically blocked my path just to flaunt it in my face. It made my blood boil.”

Qi Yu was shocked. “Isn’t she afraid you’ll tell Prime Minister Chu?” The leads are acting so recklessly. Aren’t they afraid the Emperor will find out and tear them apart?

Chu Chanyi looked like she wanted to cry. “That woman threatened me! She said if I told anyone, she’d tell Uncle Chu that I was the one who helped her escape. I’m not afraid of anything else, but I’m terrified of Uncle Chu being disappointed in me. So, I haven’t told anyone.”

Qi Yu was speechless. Threatened by that? Could you be any more useless?

Chu Chanyi’s expression turned serious. “But I was smart. I followed her secretly and found out where she’s staying. Can you ask the Princess for help? Just have her seized and sent away before she gets a chance to frame me.”