The Villainous Consort (GL) - Chapter 39

Qi Yu recalled that in the original book, this Second Princess would return home and completely overthrow her sister and brother. As the female lead, she was a powerhouse of efficiency—unlike the Eldest Princess, whose path to overthrowing the Second Prince was as difficult as reaching the heavens.

To Qi Yu’s surprise, Chu Chanyi shook her head. “I don’t think my father’s refusal is about her status. It’s because we are both women.”

Ai Ye nodded beside her. “Exactly. I feel the same. My status as a Princess is fine; the problem lies with those two old… old uncles.” The word “geezer” was swallowed back under Chanyi’s warning glare.

“That’s unexpected, but understandable,” Qi Yu muttered as it dawned on her. Having lived in this dynasty for months, she had almost forgotten the norms of the modern world; parents opposing two women in love was the standard struggle.

While Baiyue allowed marriages between women, the majority of people likely still disapproved. As for why the old Emperor agreed to let the Eldest Princess take a female Prince Consort…

Qi Yu thought deeply, her expression darkening. Whatever the reason, the Princess could keep whatever companions she wanted. Once she became Empress, she could recruit as many Imperial Husbands as she pleased.

I, this female Prince Consort, have actually just made things more convenient for her, she thought bitterly.

Chu Chanyi, feeling the weight of her father’s attitude, looked at Qi Yu pleadingly. “I came to find you for this. Since it’s not a matter of status, could you ask the Eldest Princess to stall things in court for a few days? Otherwise…”

She didn’t need to finish; they all understood. Otherwise, they would be separated by vast lands.

Qi Yu sighed. Unlike modern long-distance relationships where you could video call every day, the ancient world relied on letters that took weeks to arrive. It was incredibly difficult.

But she had just had a “falling out” with the Princess. Wait, why use the term “falling out”? Qi Yu frowned. They had actually just strengthened their cooperation.

With that in mind, she looked at Ai Ye. The book said the Second Prince ascended the throne with the female lead’s help. Does that mean they could collaborate with the female lead too?

However, given the current situation, Ai Ye wasn’t entirely trustworthy yet. It was better to observe for a while. If she proved reliable, the Princess would have a much better chance with the female lead’s defection.

“I’ll mention it to the Princess,” Qi Yu said after some thought. “But I don’t know if she’ll be willing to help.”

The Request

That evening, Qi Yu returned to the Manor and went straight to find the Princess. The short hundred-step walk from the rear gate to the study felt twice as long under Han Shui’s murderous glare.

“Prince Consort, what is the matter? Sit and speak,” the Eldest Princess said calmly, appearing no different from usual, as if yesterday’s unpleasantness hadn’t happened.

Relieved of some of the burden, Qi Yu sat down and decided to speak only of their partnership. “…So, I hope the Princess can delay the matter in court for a few days.”

The Eldest Princess remained silent. She looked away, her eyes no longer on Qi Yu. “Why should I help them? Merely because she is the Prince Consort’s friend? Do not forget Miss Ai Ye is the Second Princess of Xidao. For years, Xidao has eyed our borders. If she stays and has ulterior motives, who will bear the consequences?”

Qi Yu remembered from the book that Ai Ye did have ulterior motives, but they wouldn’t harm the court or the people; she would eventually just distract the Second Prince. But she couldn’t say that out loud.

“Has the Princess considered that in desperate times, Xidao might not always be an enemy? If we cooperate well, they could be an asset.”

Qi Yu looked at her, believing she would understand. Putting aside the former dynasty’s power in Pingman, if they could eliminate external worries and focus purely on the Second Prince—especially with the female lead’s help—their chances of success would skyrocket.

The Eldest Princess raised her eyes. For a moment, a poetic thought flashed through Qi Yu’s mind: Autumn waters… how can one gaze through them?

“Is the Prince Consort suggesting that I commit treason? To use an external enemy to settle this internal strife?” The Princess picked up her tea cup unhurriedly, though she had no intention of drinking.

Qi Yu tensed up instantly. “How can you call it treason? You can view it as ‘the enemy of my enemy is my friend.’ What do you think of that?”

“Not much. Because the enemy of my enemy is still an enemy of Baiyue, which makes her my enemy. I will not take this risk. Prince Consort, please leave.” The Princess took a sip of warm tea, her words laced with coldness.

Qi Yu’s scalp went numb. She felt the woman was letting her personal feelings get in the way. She opened her mouth to argue further, but seeing the coldness in the Princess’s eyes, she swallowed her words.

She stood up with a sigh. “Then… I shall take my leave.”

Han Shui stood by the door, opening it with such alacrity it felt like she was physically pushing Qi Yu out. Once the door was shut, the maid huffed, “Mistress is wise! You absolutely shouldn’t help them.”

The Princess put down her tea cup, her gaze distant. “Mm.”

The Morning Court

The next day, when the Prime Minister’s representative reported the urgent need to escort Ai Ye back to Xidao, the Emperor was about to agree when the Eldest Princess stepped forward.

“Father, I believe there is no rush. Since she escaped the Prime Minister’s Manor once, she might not go back willingly this time. If we guard her too strictly, it would be no different from treating her as a prisoner, which might harm the harmony between our nations. Why not send an envoy first to explain the situation and have them send people to escort her? That way, whatever happens on the road is not our responsibility.”

Xidao was across the sea; a round trip for an envoy would take at least a month. By then, Chanyi and Ai Ye’s situation might have reached a conclusion.

The Eldest Princess sighed inwardly. Although she had helped stall for time, she had no intention of collaborating with Ai Ye. Compared to internal disputes, she could not tolerate external threats. Some risks were not worth taking.

The old Emperor found her reasoning sound—it was always better to clear one’s own responsibility first. “The Princess is right. Let it be done as you suggested.”

As the court adjourned, the Second Prince glanced at the Princess and hurried over. “Imperial Sister is truly capable. To keep even the Second Princess of Xidao as an aide—this younger brother is truly impressed.”

This woman is daring, he thought. Isn’t she afraid of being bitten by the wolf she’s rescuing? To even collude with an enemy princess. The more he thought, the worse he felt. Did the Xidao Princess actually agree to help her?

The Eldest Princess said coolly, “Has Imperial Brother never learned the phrase: ‘Do not measure the heart of a gentleman with the mind of a petty man’?”

She walked away without another look.

“What do you mean by that!?” the Second Prince shouted at her back, but she ignored him completely.

Petty man? Gentleman? Is she calling me a petty man? A joke—a woman dares to call herself a gentleman!

He glared at her retreating figure, stamped his feet, and returned to his manor. Once home, he summoned Li Chuanlian. “Go invite Miss Ai Ye out. Tell her I can help her stay in Baiyue as long as she likes. Then contact that group. Since my dear sister has the leisure to find helpers, I’ll send her a ‘helper’ of my own.”

Late Night Visit

That night, Han Feng quietly entered to find Qi Yu. “Young Master, the Grand Elder has entered the capital. He says he has urgent matters to discuss and asks that you must go.”

“Now? It’s too late. Tell him tomorrow.” Qi Yu wasn’t stupid—it was pitch black outside. Go out and find death?

After dismissing Han Feng, she went to find the Princess. She had received word from Chanyi that the Princess had actually helped in court today. The woman said she wouldn’t help, then turned around and did it anyway. Truly stubborn.

Han Shui saw Qi Yu approaching from a distance and her anger flared. Detestable Prince Consort. Then her expression faltered, turning into helplessness. Mistress is too soft-hearted. She said she wouldn’t help, so why did she cave? Sigh, is this what a woman trapped in love looks like? So hard to understand.

“The Princess is bathing. Please wait a moment, Prince Consort.”

Qi Yu stopped and stood there looking at the sky. Why look at the sky? Because the little maid looked like she wanted to eat her one moment and then looked full of resentment the next. It was terrifying.

It’s so hard to live in an era where everyone has martial arts cheats, she lamented.

Fifteen minutes later, Qi Yu glanced at the unmoved Han Shui. Another fifteen minutes passed. “How long has she been bathing? Should you go in and report?”

Han Shui smiled at her and answered crisply, “That won’t do. What if the Princess fell asleep? How can I disturb her rest?”

“You… I have urgent business!” Qi Yu gasped. She knew this girl was malicious. What if the Princess really fell asleep? Was she supposed to wait until dawn?

Han Shui’s brows snapped together, but remembering her mistress’s orders not to make things difficult for the Prince Consort, she snorted. “Wait here.”

Detestable Prince Consort. She bullies Mistress, and Mistress still protects her. A woman truly shouldn’t lose her heart; the moment you do, you’ve lost.

A moment later, Han Shui pushed the door open. “Please enter.”

Qi Yu tilted her head, imitated her snort, and walked in without looking at her, leaving Han Shui fuming with “eye-daggers.”

Inside, the Eldest Princess was sitting at the table.

Under the dim, flickering candlelight, she seemed surrounded by a hazy mist from her bath. Her jet-black hair hung loosely over her shoulders. Since it was summer, she wore only a thin, gauzy dress. At first glance, she looked like a celestial maiden from a painting who had never touched the mortal world.

She looked completely different from her usual self.

“It is late. What urgent business does the Prince Consort have?” the Princess asked.

The moment she spoke, the tone was filled with royal authority. The moment she raised her eyes, they were filled with the coldness of a villain.

Qi Yu paused. Fine, the previous image was a hallucination. This is the real Eldest Princess.