The Villainous Consort (GL) - Chapter 42

Princess’s Manor.

Han Shui knelt in the study. “This servant deserves death. I failed to save Nanny Li.”

The Eldest Princess asked in a deep voice, “What exactly was the situation?”

“When I arrived, Nanny Li was already fading. She muttered something about ‘the Zhou family will seek your life’ and then passed away.”

Regarding the Prince Consort’s maternal family, Han Shui had investigated them before the wedding. The Zhou family were ordinary merchants, owners of a prosperous business. Years ago, the eldest Miss Zhou’s horse was spooked while she was on her way to pray at a temple, and she was saved by the National Teacher, Qi’s father. Later, Madam Qi died in childbirth. When the Zhou family came to the capital for the funeral, they were ambushed by bandits on their way back and killed.

All the Zhou family’s assets fell into the National Teacher’s hands. Yet, the National Teacher’s Manor had not been wealthy over the years, suggesting he used that ill-gotten wealth elsewhere—such as building a secret village base on the outskirts of the capital.

It all made sense now. Nanny Li must have discovered that the National Teacher was involved in the massacre of the Zhou family. She took a desperate risk, likely having resolved to die from the start. Because a daughter cannot commit patricide, Nanny Li sought to provide a warning to the Princess’s Manor regardless of her success. This also explained her specific parting words to the Princess.

Night fell. A servant reported that the Prince Consort refused to eat dinner.

The Princess looked at the empty place settings on her table. Finally, she picked up two jars of wine and went to the Prince Consort’s room. The door was unlatched, and the sound of suppressed sobbing came from within. She sighed softly and pushed the door open.

Qi Yu was slumped over the table. Hearing someone enter, she hurriedly wiped her eyes. “I don’t want to eat.”

“If you won’t eat, come drink with me.” The Princess shook the wine jars and sat beside her.

Qi Yu remained silent but submissively took a jar. She didn’t bother with a cup, drinking directly from the jar as if trying to drown her inner bitterness.

The Princess poured herself a cup. Seeing Qi Yu drinking so desperately, she sighed. “My mother passed away after giving birth to me. It was ‘childbirth complications,’ but not really. She was murdered. The killer was the mother of my ‘dear’ imperial brother—the Noble Consort at the time. When my brother was born, Imperial Father threw her into the Cold Palace. My mother wasn’t innocent either; they fought until both sides were ruined. Families were executed or demoted. I have no maternal family either.”

Qi Yu’s grip on the jar tightened, then she set it down and looked at the Princess quietly. “Did you have a nanny?”

“I did. But I had a new one every year. I wasn’t as lucky as the Prince Consort, to have a Nanny Li who stayed by your side like a mother.” The Princess shook her head, unsure if she was regretful or relieved.

Qi Yu felt a strange sense of kinship—the shared sorrow of two lonely souls.

The Princess didn’t seem to care if she replied, continuing her story. “Imperial Father thought he hid it well, but we grew up. How could we not be curious? Curious about what kind of person our mother was, curious why our maternal families seemed never to have existed. I imagine the Second Prince knows the truth too, which is why we are sworn enemies.”

She drained her cup, pushed it aside, and—copying Qi Yu—picked up the jar and took a few gulps.

Qi Yu: “…” Is this a contest of who has the more tragic backstory? Why do I feel the Princess is even more pitiable than I am? Am I supposed to comfort her now?

Forget it. She was still grieving. Better to just drink. Once drunk, all worries disappear.

Fifteen minutes later, the Princess held an empty jar. “Han Shui, bring two more jars.”

“Bring four! No, eight!” Qi Yu added loudly.

The Princess paused, then whispered an order: “Bring one jar of wine and one jar of water. And tell the kitchen to prepare two bowls of hangover soup.”

“Yes, right away,” Han Shui replied with a hidden snicker. The Prince Consort’s tolerance is truly poor. Just like in Pingman, she’s going to pass out again.

Soon, the Princess poured herself a cup from the new jar and watched the person across from her. Seeing Qi Yu drink several gulps of the “water-wine” without noticing anything, the Princess’s lips twitched. Is she really this drunk? She can’t even tell it’s water?

Qi Yu, oblivious, raised her jar heroically. “Cheers! We won’t go home until we’re drunk!”

“Prince Consort, you are drunk.” The Princess was stunned. Cheers? What kind of word is that? Does she mean drinking from the same cup? She’s definitely wasted.

“I’m not drunk! You know, the person I cared about most here was Nanny Li. This is the first time in my life I’ve seen a dead person. I’m scared. I don’t have Nanny Li anymore.” Thinking of her nanny, Qi Yu began to sob again.

Seeing her face wet with tears, the Princess sighed and stood up. she walked over, wiped Qi Yu’s face with a handkerchief, and said softly, “Nanny Li asked me to take care of you. You can treat the Princess’s Manor as your home. No matter what happens, I am behind you. The Manor is behind you.”

The Princess understood the instinct to escape pain. Though she couldn’t feel exactly what Qi Yu felt, she knew it must hurt.

Qi Yu looked up, her eyes misty and unfocused. She smiled and reached out to touch the Princess’s cheek. “You… you woman. Trying to use ‘honey-trap’ tactics on me again. I won’t fall for it. Don’t think you can have my body.”

The Princess went to block her hand, but froze at the words. She caught Qi Yu’s wrist instead. Honey-trap? Again? When did I ever?

She caught the keywords and felt she was discovering something. “Are you talking about me? When… when did I ever ‘honey-trap’ you?”

“Of course it’s you. You black-hearted villain. Yesterday after your bath…” Qi Yu stopped mid-sentence, frowning. She seemed to have forgotten what she was going to say.

She stared at the Princess’s face. The beauty was like jade. Her fingers twitched, and she reached up to stroke the Princess’s brow and eyes, letting out a silly, satisfied giggle.

Yesterday’s bath? The Princess’s breath hitched. A blush crept up her face and she tilted her head slightly, her voice low and coaxing: “Then, according to the Prince Consort, how can I ‘have your body’?”

She waited tensely for the answer. The feelings she had suppressed were crawling back out.

Qi Yu sighed with regret. “You can’t have me. Because I am the ‘Great Alpha/Top’ (大猛攻). Only I can have you.”

In her drunken state, the Prince Consort’s usual compliance and superficiality were gone. Her eyes and words were filled with raw sincerity. The Princess stared, forgetting to blink.

What does ‘Great Alpha/Top’ mean? Is it a military term for launching a fierce attack?

Then, the hand that had been roaming her face moved to her ear, and down to her collarbone.

The Princess’s spine snapped straight. She instinctively recoiled two steps. This person was… simply audacious.

Seeing her pull away, Qi Yu looked annoyed, as if the Princess was being uncooperative. The Princess rubbed her fingers together and, possessed by some ghost, crouched down toward Qi Yu again.

Suddenly, realizing what she was doing, she stood up in a fright. Her eyes were chaotic and panicked. Have I lost my mind? Expecting something from a drunkard?

“Han Shui, serve the Prince Consort to bed.”

The Princess spoke stiffly, gave a hurried instruction to Han Shui, and fled back to the rear courtyard, forgetting even to drink the hangover soup.

Watching her mistress’s retreating figure, Han Shui had the distinct impression she was watching a “defeated escape.” She looked at Qi Yu, who had passed out on the table, and shook her head.

The Next Morning

When Qi Yu woke up, the sun was high in the sky. She rubbed her forehead, vaguely recalling last night. Wait, did I touch the Princess’s face? Why hasn’t that woman chopped my hands off? My hands are still here… so it must have been a dream. Right?

She felt a chill of horror. She threw back the bed curtains and shrieked, “Holy— Princess!”

Recognizing the person in the room, she scrambled back, tripping and falling onto the bed. This was truly terrifying.

“You’re awake.” The Princess was sitting at the table, her fingers curling into her sleeves.

Qi Yu hurriedly straightened her clothes and stood up. “Why is the Princess in my room?”

Then her eyes glazed over. The woman was wearing a simple white gauzy dress. Her hair was down, cascading over her shoulders. She looked like she had just bathed. Beautiful, yes—but appearing in someone’s room first thing in the morning was a heart attack waiting to happen!

The Princess casually observed her expression, her eyes flashing. She got straight to business. “This morning, I had Han Shui surround that village outside the capital. Since they are remnants of the former dynasty intending to rebel, there is no reason to tolerate them. They are currently in the Ministry of Justice’s prison.” She paused, her brow lifting slightly. “The Grand Elder was not sent there. He is in our Manor’s dungeon.”

“Really? You caught them all?” Qi Yu was shocked. This was… aggressive.

“I felt they needed to be taught a lesson. They need to know that some people are off-limits.” The Princess’s voice was like a clear spring.

Though she didn’t say it explicitly, Qi Yu understood. “Off-limits” meant Nanny Li.

Even though she felt the Princess’s move was a bit rash—likely alerting the enemy—she felt a surge of secret satisfaction.

“Thank you, Princess. But we should still prioritize the big picture.” Qi Yu didn’t say exactly what she was thanking her for, but they both knew: it was for avenging Nanny Li.

The Princess’s gaze lingered on Qi Yu’s face before she turned away. “By the way, there is more news. The Second Prince and Miss Ai Ye should be meeting at Lou Shang Lou right now. Does the Prince Consort think we should go take a look?”

Although she wouldn’t cooperate with Xidao, she wouldn’t sit by while the Second Prince made a move. After all, they were both Baiyue people; the country came first.