The Villainous Consort (GL) - Chapter 28

Qi Yu was speechless. When it came to issues between two nations, nothing was ever simple. At the very least, Baiyue would have to send the woman back with the proper honors due to a Princess.

Furthermore, the Eldest Princess was different from the Second Prince, who attended court daily. She had been feigning broken legs and disfigurement, staying secluded in her manor. Theoretically, she should be ill-informed about the outside world. If she were to suddenly seek out the Second Princess of West Island, it would surely be used against her.

Specifically, it involved the Second Prince. The siblings’ positions were already delicate. If the Emperor were misled into thinking they were fighting for the throne, not only would everything the Princess had done be in vain, but she might also be accused of harboring ulterior motives.

Qi Yu was worried; she naturally didn’t want to cause trouble for the Princess. However, some things couldn’t be avoided forever. “Don’t let anyone discover you,” she told Chu Chanyi. “Stop watching her yourself. Let me discuss this with the Princess first.”

Her friend was just like her—a “noob” with no martial arts skills. The difference was that Qi Yu was from the modern world, while Chu Chanyi was local. If she didn’t cover her tracks and accidentally alerted the enemy, things would get ugly.

Chu Chanyi nodded. “I understand. This is where that woman is staying.” She produced a slip of paper with an address and poured herself a cup of wine. The best way to express sorrow was to drink, after all; one drowns a thousand woes in a single stupor.

Qi Yu looked at Chu Chanyi but said nothing. The bond between the male and female leads wasn’t easily broken. Chu Chanyi saving Ai Ye was likely just a coincidence, and further contact might prove dangerous.

However, Qi Yu had no other trustworthy people. The original host’s network seemed to consist only of this one reliable companion. If she truly wanted to accomplish anything, she could only seek further cooperation with the Eldest Princess.

But thinking of yesterday—the fact that she was mere “bait” with zero human rights—reminded her that villains were truly detestable.

Upon returning to the manor, the Eldest Princess sent someone to find her. Qi Yu sighed, remembering Hanshui’s words from the morning; it was likely about the female lead. Since she had just gotten the location from Chu Chanyi, she’d let the Princess decide what to do next. After all, she was the true villain here.

In the backyard of the manor, the area was as deserted as ever. The Princess likely spent her time moving about here; otherwise, sitting in a wheelchair 365 days a year would make her paralyzed even if she wasn’t to begin with.

Hanshui led the way into the study. The Princess was standing behind the desk, holding a book. Seeing them, she closed it and sat down. “The Prince Consort is here. Please, both of you sit.”

There were two chairs in the room: one near the Princess and one further away near the door. Hanshui stepped toward the distant one, but before she could even plant her foot, Qi Yu lunged forward and snatched it.

Hanshui: “…” What is wrong with the Prince Consort? Competing with a maid for a seat?

The Princess didn’t mind and nodded, so Hanshui took the seat closer to her.

The room fell silent. The Princess looked at the two people trying their best to act like background scenery and smiled. “I summoned the Prince Consort for two reasons. First, your friend has left the Second Prince’s estate and her whereabouts are currently unknown. I wonder if your ‘prophetic power’ is working today?”

She naturally knew where Ai Ye was; the manor’s spies were perfectly capable of tracking one person. Her pretense of ignorance was a test to see if Qi Yu was involved. Even though they were partners—and she held the dominant position—the Princess was habitually cautious and couldn’t resist testing her.

Qi Yu’s face stiffened. This again? She had no prophetic powers. But coincidentally, she had just received word from Chu Chanyi. Should she keep up the act?

Qi Yu hesitated before pulling out the slip of paper. “The Princess is joking. My power fails most of the time. But it’s a coincidence—Chanyi sought me out this morning for this very reason. She stumbled upon the West Island Princess’s location and wrote the address down for me.”

“Oh? Quite a coincidence indeed.” The Princess gestured for Hanshui to take the paper. The address written there was identical to the one her spies had provided.

She stared at the paper in thought. Can there really be such a coincidence in this world?

Qi Yu sat up uncomfortably. Heaven be her witness, she was telling the truth this time, but she felt as though the Princess didn’t believe a word of it.

Silence returned to the room. Qi Yu took the initiative to ask, “The Princess mentioned two things. What is the second?”

The Princess looked up. “Imperial Father sent word today. Next month, on the sixth, the Palace will host the Spring Feast. All unmarried noblewomen of age must attend. As the Princess and Prince Consort, we must be present as well. Therefore… my legs should ‘recover’ by then.”

Qi Yu was confused. They would just go when the time came; she didn’t understand the nuance.

Seeing Qi Yu’s confusion and the Master lost in thought, Hanshui realized it was her time to shine. She explained, “The Spring Feast is usually hosted by the Empresses or high-ranking Consorts. Since the Empress and the Noble Consort passed away ten years ago, it hasn’t been held. This time, it is to select a Consort for the Second Prince. The Princess, as the eldest sister, is overseeing the arrangements. Her intent is to receive the noblewomen standing up.”

Now Qi Yu understood. She was to put on a show of inviting a “divine physician” capable of setting bones. “Where must I go to invite this physician?”

The Eldest Princess spoke: “Pingman Prefecture.”

Pingman Prefecture? Qi Yu’s expression changed. She knew of this place. Although the book focused on the leads, it detailed the history of Baiyue.

Baiyue originally had twenty-one prefectures. When the first Empress, Yun Song, was still the Empress Dowager, she personally led armies to pacify the Southern Border. At that time, Pingman was inhabited by “Barbarians.” After their surrender, the Empress Dowager named it “Pingman” (Pacified Barbarians). It was the only autonomous prefecture in Baiyue.

The terrain in the south was complex, especially in Pingman. It was mountainous, densely forested, and riddled with rivers, making it difficult to govern. Though nominally autonomous, many issues remained unresolved. Aside from paying taxes, the Imperial Court had little influence there. In the later fall of the nation, Pingman played a critical role, as the main forces of the former dynasty were stationed there.

“Is it necessary to go to Pingman? Can’t we find a physician nearby?” Qi Yu asked, looking troubled. The Princess’s legs weren’t actually broken; the dangers of Pingman were no less than those of the capital. If something went wrong, she might lose her life. Furthermore, the IQ of those former-dynasty remnants was worryingly low; she truly wanted to stay far away from them.

The Princess said calmly, “I heard the State Preceptor’s Manor is financially strained. If the Prince Consort can fetch the divine physician for me… I shall provide three thousand taels of silver in banknotes.”

Qi Yu looked at the Princess. Three thousand taels. Based on local prices and modern purchasing power, if ten wen equaled one dollar, then one thousand wen (one tael) equaled one hundred dollars. One thousand taels was one hundred thousand dollars; three thousand taels was three hundred thousand.

Qi Yu thought of the measly three hundred taels in her pocket. She took a slow breath. I’ll do it. Once the money was in hand, she could fly far away.

“When do we depart, and how many people will be protecting me?” Money was important, but safety could not be ignored. If she died before the money touched her hand, it would all be for nothing.

The Princess hid a smile. Her “dear” Prince Consort was still thinking of running away. But this was good; as she had said, once a person has a desire, they have a weakness. As long as she used profit as a lure, she could achieve her goals.

She looked over, her tone softening. “We leave in a few days. The round trip should conclude just in time for the Spring Feast. As for guards, the more the better. After all, I am ‘anxious’ to recover, so I shall travel with the Prince Consort.”

The factions in Pingman were complex, with signs of collusion with West Island. No matter who eventually took the throne, as the Eldest Princess of Baiyue, she had a responsibility to scout the situation. Compared to internal strife, foreign threats were the priority.

Qi Yu was stunned. She hadn’t expected the Princess to come along. The original book hadn’t mentioned this. Was this her “butterfly effect,” or was the trip originally insignificant?

“Prince Consort, do not worry. I will surely protect the safety of both you and the Princess,” Hanshui said, seeing Qi Yu’s silence and assuming she was afraid. As a first-class maid who had practiced martial arts for years, protecting the Princess was her basic duty. As for the Prince Consort? Protecting her as well wouldn’t be much of a problem.

The next day, the news that the Eldest Princess and her Consort were traveling to Pingman to find a physician was discussed at court. The Emperor was worried, and the officials fretted, but none could change the Princess’s mind.

The Second Prince’s faction, surprisingly, said nothing.

“Chuanlian, rise. Do you think my Imperial Sister’s legs can truly be cured?” The Second Prince was troubled. The Eldest Princess had once been deeply popular; had she not been crippled and disfigured, she would never have left the political stage.

He looked at the letter on his desk, his right thumb spinning the jade ring on his left index finger. The darkness in his eyes began to spread.

Li Chuanlian adjusted his white silk robes and stood up after the formal greeting. “Based on our reports, there is indeed such a physician in Pingman, but his exact location is unknown. The Princess may not succeed. Your Highness should not worry too much.”

The Second Prince’s face paled. He knew his sister; she would not head out without confirmed news. “Regardless of whether that person exists, Imperial Sister’s legs must not be cured. Once she leaves the southern borders… Pingman is a fine place to meet an accident.”