The Villainous Consort (GL) - Chapter 45

The morning breeze drifted through the window, bringing a hint of coolness to the summer day. The room suddenly fell into a quiet stillness.

Han Shui looked at the two people who had inexplicably turned silent and thought to herself: Is the conversation dead?

Sigh…

She really was a multi-talented worker. Not only was she responsible for her mistress’s safety, gathering intelligence, and arranging various plans, but she also had to be responsible for changing the subject and resolving the awkward silences between her two masters.

As the first-class personal maid of the Princess’s Manor, such a heavy responsibility was not something just anyone could handle.

Finding a opening, Han Shui looked toward the Eldest Princess for instructions. “Mistress, is it time to interrogate that Grand Elder now?”

The Eldest Princess raised her eyes, looked at Han Shui, and nodded. Then she turned to Qi Yu. “Prince Consort, come along. To the dungeon.”

Dungeon?

Qi Yu instantly visualized scenes from various TV dramas: a pitch-black underground, a water cell submerged to waist height, prisoners hanging from crosses by iron chains. Bloody scenes, desperate criminals or wronged prisoners, bone-chilling screams… maybe even rats!!

Her face turned pale, and she shook her head. “Can I not go? I can just listen to the results up here. I’m not good at interrogating prisoners at all; it’s useless if I go.”

The Princess looked at her silently for a few seconds, then shook her head gently. “Sometimes, one doesn’t necessarily have to interrogate a prisoner. Seeing someone unexpected might make them confess on their own. To the Grand Elder, you are different from us. Let’s go.”

Qi Yu’s expression stiffened, and she silently followed behind. After all, the woman had a point. Whether for their partnership or for Nanny Li, she shouldn’t shrink back because of a momentary cowardice.

In the side courtyard on the east side of the front yard, it looked like a martial arts training ground. After entering the main hall, Han Shui went to a weapon rack and manipulated something. The half-wall-sized weapon rack slowly rotated, revealing a secret door and a set of stairs slanting downward.

Qi Yu watched Han Shui’s movements with curiosity, feeling a sense of awe. In this technologically backward ancient era, the wisdom of the laboring people always provided surprises.

Turning past the stairwell, it was no longer a narrow secret passage. There were guards taking turns at the entrance.

To Qi Yu’s surprise, the dungeon of the Princess’s Manor was very clean. There were no scurrying rats, no terrifying torture devices, and no prisoners wailing everywhere. There was only the Grand Elder, sitting alone in an iron cell. The floor was covered with dry straw, and there was even a dining table. It was quite humane.

“You finally decided to see this old man.” The Grand Elder’s tone was calm, yet he couldn’t hide his weakness. He looked at the three of them with a deep gaze, as if he had been waiting for a long time.

Han Shui explained timely: “We haven’t used torture on him. He’s this weak because he’s hungry. He only gets one steamed bun a day—made of white flour.”

Qi Yu’s mouth twitched. Does this girl think that’s being generous? Isn’t that miserable enough? One bun a day, locked up in here… if it were her, she would have broken down long ago.

The Eldest Princess looked indifferently at the Grand Elder. Despite his state, he sat upright with some integrity. She ordered the cell door opened and stepped inside. “Grand Elder, yes? I wonder if you are willing to speak about that ‘fake Prince Consort’ who tried to assassinate me in Pingman Province?”

The Grand Elder stared straight at the Princess. After a moment, he let out a low chuckle. “And if this old man is not willing to speak?”

He never expected this woman would completely ignore the rules. They had just discussed cooperation, and before any news came through, he was met with a heavy siege of government troops. This time, they had been careless. What logic is there in talking strategy with a woman? They are just impulsive, stupid women, the Grand Elder thought bitterly.

However, the Princess gave a light laugh. “Then we won’t disturb the Grand Elder’s rest. Let’s go.”

With that, she walked out of the cell without hesitation. Han Shui, standing by the side, locked the door nimbly, and they turned to leave. Qi Yu froze for a moment before following in a daze.

That’s it? What about the interrogation? We just came for a look?

The Grand Elder was equally incredulous. His pupils shrank, and he stared intently at the Princess’s back. Seeing that she really had no intention of staying, and was about to disappear around the corner, leaving only Qi Yu who was two steps behind, the Grand Elder couldn’t catch his breath. In a panic, he coughed and shouted, “Young Master! This old man has something to say! Young Master…”

The voice was weak, but Qi Yu heard it. Seeing her stop her pace, the Grand Elder slowly caught his breath through his coughing. These women who don’t follow logic are indeed beyond stupid, all of them acting on impulse.

Qi Yu heard the shout and saw the Eldest Princess in front turn around. Her brows arched slightly, revealing a trace of a smile.

A beauty like a painting, breathtaking. Wait, is this the time to think about that?

Looking at the smile in the Princess’s eyes, Qi Yu had a sudden realization. This woman did it on purpose. The Princess pretended to leave just to goad the Grand Elder, even intentionally not telling Qi Yu the plan so she would lag behind—because she predicted the Grand Elder would call out to her, his so-called “Young Master.”

Seeing Qi Yu’s thoughtful expression, the Princess nodded with a smile, then wiped her expression and walked back with a straight face.

Qi Yu followed again in a daze. Outside the cell, she saw the Grand Elder looking at her gloomily.

“This old man wants to speak with the Young Master alone.” The Grand Elder didn’t even look at the Princess, staring directly at Qi Yu.

“No need. I have nothing to hide from the Eldest Princess. Speak if you want, if not, then forget it.” Qi Yu had grasped the essence of the Princess’s earlier behavior and spoke with an indifferent expression.

There was no need to show mercy to this old stubborn man. You don’t want to cooperate? Sorry, I don’t want to cooperate either.

“You! Beyond stupid!” the Grand Elder roared weakly, but his voice lacked any strength or intimidation.

At this point, the Princess chuckled. “Since the Elder wishes to speak with the Prince Consort alone, I simply won’t listen. Han Shui, let’s wait outside for the Prince Consort.”

After speaking, the Princess and Han Shui walked out. They turned the corner and disappeared, the sound of their footsteps gradually fading.

Qi Yu was stunned. What the hell? Why was there zero tacit understanding? They just left her here alone? Where was the “leave together” confidence from a moment ago? Fortunately, the cell door was locked, so she didn’t have to worry about safety. For insurance, she took two steps back.

“Young Master, come closer. This old man has something to tell you.” The Grand Elder stepped forward a few paces, looking toward the corner, worried someone was eavesdropping.

Behind the corner, the Eldest Princess and Han Shui looked at each other in silence. The master and servant both pricked up their ears, perfectly personifying the phrase “walls have ears.”

Han Shui’s eyes were sparkling. She hunched her waist, demonstrating exactly what it meant to eavesdrop.

What? Agreed not to listen? Do you think we’re stupid? Those were just words to fool a child.

Nearby, there was indeed a “child” who believed they had left. Seeing the Grand Elder stand up, Qi Yu quickly backed up another two steps. “No need. Just say it from there; I can hear you.”

The Grand Elder’s eyes bulged, his beard nearly curling with rage. He sized up Qi Yu and said in a heavy tone, “Does the Young Master want to know who that youth who looks exactly like you is?”

Qi Yu remained silent, appearing completely indifferent.

The Grand Elder felt another surge of anger. Does this worthless woman have no curiosity at all? “He is the direct bloodline of the former Crown Prince. He is your biological brother from the same mother! Zhou Shile (the Princess) is no Eldest Princess; the Zhou family are just thieves who stole the imperial power. Young Master, you are the one truly worthy of the status of Princess!”

As he grew excited, the Grand Elder began to weep.

“The one you’re loyal to is my father, right?” Qi Yu didn’t bother watching him act and spoke in a cool tone.

The Grand Elder’s crying hitched. He stared at the expressionless Qi Yu, caught off guard by the question.

A flicker of unease passed through his eyes. “We are loyal to the two Young Masters; it has nothing to do with anyone else. Young Master, you must pull yourself together, fulfill the mission of restoring the country, and reclaim the throne at all costs!”

Qi Yu looked at him and suddenly smiled, her tone even colder. “You want me to risk my life, and then when the goal is achieved, hand the throne over to my so-called brother, right? I am unwilling.”

“The collapse of an empire is never just because of others’ ambition. Not everyone can raise a flag and receive a response. To be able to lead a rebellion and have thousands follow means that the imperial power has already incited public anger and lost its authority. If it wasn’t Baiyue, it would have been overthrown by some other regime. How can a ruler who has lost the hearts of the people sit firmly in that seat?”

She had read the Wild History of Baiyue. Even those few brief notes showed that the previous dynasty had rotted from within. The old Emperor was obsessed with seeking longevity and wouldn’t relinquish power; the Crown Prince conspired with foreign enemies to kill his father to gain control. With internal strife and external threats, collapse was only a matter of time.

The Grand Elder suddenly lunged forward, grabbing the iron bars of the cell. “He is your biological brother! He is the true dragon, the Son of Heaven! You are a Princess of our dynasty, his sister! It is only natural and right for you to assist him! What kind of bewitching soup did that Zhou Shile feed you to make you unable to distinguish right from wrong, treating an enemy as kin?”

“Unable to distinguish right from wrong? I think the Zhou family’s rule is quite good. Baiyue is currently peaceful and prosperous, the government decrees are smooth, and most importantly, women are allowed to enter court as officials. It is tens of thousands of times better than your stagnant previous dynasty. As for being a Princess…”

Qi Yu slowed her pace and walked up to face the Grand Elder. Her expression changed sharply, her eyes filled with anger and hatred. “On the day Nanny Li died, that ‘Eldest Miss of the National Teacher’s Manor’ and ‘Former Princess Qi Yu’ ceased to exist entirely. The one standing before you now is the Prince Consort Qi Yu—the Qi Yu who is irreconcilable with rebels like you.”

She backed up two steps, looking at him with a flat gaze. She had once been grateful for her rebirth and thought about being filial to the original host’s father. But at the moment National Teacher Qi killed Nanny Li, all of that was destined to never exist.

The Grand Elder trembled all over, pointing a shaking finger at her. “You—ignorant, stupid! To do this for a servant… for a…”

Qi Yu interrupted him with a cold laugh. “Yes, a servant. But here, she was the only one I kept in my heart, the only one I considered family. You want to rebel? Let me tell you: you are destined to fail. You are destined to lose because I can see it. So, whether you speak or not doesn’t matter. I have no interest in knowing.