The Villainous Consort (GL) - Chapter 41

As for the people in the village, just like the fortress outside Pingman Province, they appeared to be dressed as ordinary commoners, yet they all wore the same type of fabric and clothing of the same style—the only differences being gender and color.

Watching the courtyard recede into the distance, Qi Yu’s expression turned heavy. Some things couldn’t withstand scrutiny; even without concrete evidence, it was impossible to dispel the suspicion. When she thought about this series of events, there simply weren’t that many coincidences in the world.

Too many coincidences implied human design. Therefore, there was definitely something wrong with the National Teacher’s Manor.

The carriage stopped outside the Princess’s Manor. Just as Qi Yu stepped down, she saw a familiar figure lingering not far away.

She lifted the hem of her robe and walked over with light steps. “Nanny Li! You came to see me. Quick, come into the manor and sit with me.”

“Ah, this old servant missed the Young Miss.” Nanny Li’s gaze was complex, but her face still bore a smile. She halted her steps, which had been about to turn away.

She thought that perhaps it was heaven’s will—what was meant to come could not be avoided.

Because of Nanny Li’s arrival, Qi Yu didn’t rush to find the Eldest Princess to discuss her discovery. Instead, she led Nanny Li by the hand into her own room. Without needing orders, the manor servants considerately brought tea and snacks.

“Nanny Li, try these. The snacks here are much better than the ones at the National Teacher’s Manor.” Qi Yu wanted to inquire about some things, but seeing Nanny Li’s loving eyes, she tossed those thoughts out of her head.

Since arriving here, she hadn’t been able to place 100% trust in anyone, but Nanny Li was the exception. She wouldn’t—and didn’t want to—doubt Nanny Li’s kindness toward her, or rather, toward the original host.

“Alright, I’ll try them. Miss, you eat too.” Nanny Li picked up a piece of hibiscus cake and took small bites. A hint of a tear flickered in the corner of her eye. She thought her life had been worth it, being treated this way by the Young Miss.

If Madam knows from the afterlife, she will be happy too. The Young Miss has grown up; I can die in peace.

Seeing this, Qi Yu reached out to wipe the corner of Nanny Li’s eye and smiled. “The cake is good, right? Stay a bit longer. The food at the Princess’s Manor is also excellent—they say the chef is from the Imperial Kitchen.”

She could roughly understand Nanny Li’s tears of relief. After all, the original host was ungrateful and troublesome, failing those who were truly good to her.

Nanny Li gave her a playful look. “Miss only thinks about eating now that she’s at the Princess’s Manor. You should read more and learn more skills to establish yourself. Even if you don’t achieve great things, you can share the Princess’s burdens instead of idling about all day.”

Qi Yu chuckled. “Don’t worry, Nanny Li, the Princess likes me just the way I am. You should work less at the National Teacher’s Manor and take care of your health. In a few years, I’ll take you out to enjoy the best life has to offer.”

“Good, this old servant will wait for that.” Nanny Li smiled, staying for lunch.

Knowing she was there, the Eldest Princess specifically ordered the kitchen to add several easily digestible dishes.

“Should I send someone to the National Teacher’s Manor to let them know?” the Princess asked.

Nanny Li hurriedly shook her head. “No need to trouble yourself, Princess. This old servant will return after the meal, lest the Master worries about the Young Miss and keeps pestering me with questions.”

The Princess nodded and ate quietly. She could see Qi Yu’s obvious happiness. From these few encounters, she could sense that the Prince Consort was indifferent to everyone at the National Teacher’s Manor, not even showing much closeness to the National Teacher himself.

Only Nanny Li was different, likely because she was the wet nurse and had raised Qi Yu single-handedly after Madam Qi’s early death.

In the Prince Consort’s heart, Nanny Li was likely viewed as a surrogate mother. Thinking of this, a smile touched the Princess’s face, her usual royal authority replaced by the warmth of a junior dining with an elder.

Seeing the Princess’s gentle demeanor, Qi Yu thought to herself that she truly was a veteran villain actress; her surface-level manners were flawless. Qi Yu stopped overthinking and busied herself telling Nanny Li which dishes were best.

Taking advantage of the Princess’s willingness to “act” in front of guests, she ignored the strict rules of silence during meals. The lunch was pleasant and heartwarming.

After the meal, Nanny Li declined the Princess’s offer of a carriage. Before leaving, however, she couldn’t help but pull Qi Yu aside. “Miss, now that I won’t be by your side, you must take care of yourself. No matter what storms you encounter, don’t be afraid; they will pass. Taking care of yourself is the most important thing.”

“Alright, I’ll take care of myself. Don’t worry so much.” Qi Yu jokingly pushed Nanny Li away, feigning annoyance at the nagging while being deeply moved.

Nanny Li laughed. “Don’t push me. I still have secrets to tell the Princess—I’m going to tell her to keep a tight rein on you.”

Qi Yu watched Nanny Li go over to whisper a few words to the Eldest Princess before finally departing. She wanted to know what was said, but felt awkward asking. She pretended not to be curious, engaging in a staring contest with Han Shui instead.

Once Nanny Li was gone, the three went to the study to discuss the Grand Elder’s meeting.

Qi Yu relayed the Grand Elder’s words, her observations about the village layout, and added: “The person who looks exactly like me must be the work of the Grand Elder and his group. I’m afraid my father is not so innocent.”

From a certain perspective, the National Teacher and Qi Yu were very alike—both playing the fool. In a sense, they were true father and daughter; the tactics were the same.

The Eldest Princess’s heart tightened upon hearing this. “You suspect the National Teacher?” If the National Teacher was indeed the one pulling strings, what did Nanny Li’s parting words mean?

“It’s not that I ‘suspect’; the facts are right there. Just because he is my father doesn’t mean he should be excluded.” Qi Yu felt a bit awkward. After all, he was the original host’s father.

From the Princess’s perspective, Qi Yu’s blatant suspicion of her own father might seem improper, but she couldn’t help it. She wasn’t the original host and could look at the situation rationally.

The Princess’s mind was still on Nanny Li’s words. Her eyes flashed with uncertainty. “Do you feel Nanny Li was acting unusual today?”

Qi Yu froze. “Unusual? Not really. You aren’t suspecting Nanny Li, are you? That’s impossible. She’s just a nanny; how could she have such ability? My father, as the head of the National Teacher’s Manor, would find it much easier and more logical.”

Nanny Li as the mastermind? Impossible. If that’s true, I’ll never trust humans again.

The Princess frowned. “Nanny Li said she wanted to avenge Madam Qi, and she said she couldn’t let you know.”

Nanny Li’s original words were: “I beg the Princess to be patient with my Young Miss in the future. She’s a bit stubborn, but she’s a pure-hearted child. As long as she lives well, I will have no other worries—except for avenging Madam.”

At the time, the Princess had asked: “What revenge? If it concerns Madam Qi, does the Prince Consort know?”

Nanny Li only shook her head. “The Princess needn’t worry about these troubles. This revenge is only suitable for me to take. The Young Miss must never do it.”

Thinking about it now, if Madam Qi’s death wasn’t as simple as labor complications—if the National Teacher was actually involved—the meaning behind Nanny Li’s words became clear.

The Prince Consort couldn’t take revenge because the enemy was likely her own father. To kill him would be patricide! That’s why Nanny Li said only she was suitable.

“Avenge my mother? For what? And not let me know?” Qi Yu asked three questions in a row, completely unable to process the situation.

The Eldest Princess, realizing something, stood up in a panic. She barked at Han Shui, “Go to the National Teacher’s Manor immediately! Confirm Nanny Li’s safety. If nothing has happened, assign people to protect her in secret!”

She only hoped she hadn’t realized too late. She hoped Nanny Li hadn’t moved that quickly.

The Princess sat back down slowly. “Perhaps I’m overthinking. Don’t worry yet; things might not be as we fear.”

Qi Yu was frantic. The more anxious she got, the less she could piece together the Princess’s implications. “What did you think of? Is Nanny Li in danger? No, I have to go to the National Teacher’s Manor myself.”

“It’s good for you to go. We’ll say you’re delivering snacks to cool down the National Teacher. If we’re overthinking, it will be easy to explain. Forget it, I will go with you.”

Matters involving loved ones were sensitive. The Princess understood Qi Yu’s panic but worried she would lose her cool and alert the enemy.

Qi Yu nodded absentmindedly. After boarding the carriage, her heart grew increasingly restless. She lifted the curtain, but it couldn’t dispel the gloom in her heart.

As soon as the carriage arrived at the National Teacher’s Manor, they found the place in total chaos. A servant saw Qi Yu and cried out, “Miss! The Master has been assassinated!”

Qi Yu’s heart raced even faster. “What about the others? Where is Nanny Li? How is my father?”

The servant didn’t notice her abnormality and said indignantly, “It was Nanny Li who stabbed the Master! Fortunately, she didn’t succeed. The Master’s life is not in danger…”

“Where is Nanny Li!?” Qi Yu interrupted loudly, her voice trembling.

“Nanny Li is dead. That old woman deserved a thousand deaths—”

The gatekeeper was still talking, but Qi Yu couldn’t hear anything anymore. It felt like a bomb had gone off in her head.

The Eldest Princess stepped forward and took Qi Yu’s arm, silently supporting her wobbling body. “Where is Nanny Li’s body? Take us there.”

“I’m going too.” Qi Yu steadied herself, looking at the Princess. Her eyes were filled with uncontrollable despair.

The Princess gave a small nod, and the servant led them to the study. That was where the assassination had taken place.

The room was a mess, evidence of a struggle. Nanny Li lay shockingly on the floor behind the desk. Blood from the corner of her mouth trailed down her neck to the floor. Her eyes were half-closed, as if she were unwilling to die like this.

Qi Yu rushed over, her legs giving out completely as she collapsed to her knees.

I should have known.

If she hadn’t been so hasty last time, if she hadn’t rushed to ask Nanny Li those questions, Nanny Li wouldn’t have grown suspicious of her father. None of this would have happened.

“I killed her, didn’t I?”

Qi Yu turned to look at the Princess, her voice dry and raspy. As soon as the words left her mouth, her lips trembled. The moisture in her eyes instantly gathered into rivers, rolling down drop by drop.

The Princess’s lips parted, but in the end, she said nothing. Only kind people feel guilt. At a time like this, perhaps all they needed was quiet self-reproach and silent sorrow. Any words of comfort were redundant.

A moment later, the National Teacher arrived upon hearing the news. Seeing Qi Yu kneeling by Nanny Li’s side in grief, he roared, “This hag nearly took my life, and you’re still crying for her? You useless thing!”

Hearing this, Qi Yu stood up abruptly. A cold sneer hung on her tear-stained face. She stared fixedly at her father, about to speak, when the Eldest Princess stepped forward, blocking the line of sight between father and daughter.

“Prince Consort, stay calm,” the Princess whispered as she pulled Qi Yu into an embrace.

Qi Yu’s body shook. The accusations in her heart were blocked at her throat. She buried her head in the Princess’s chest and wept silently.

The Princess closed her eyes briefly, then opened them, her voice icy. “Call the Imperial Physician to treat the National Teacher. The Prince Consort has been frightened; she will return to the manor with me now.