The Villainous Consort (GL) - Chapter 47

Chu Yan remained speechless for a long time under Qi Yu’s inscrutable gaze. Then, his shoulders slumped as if he had suddenly lost all his strength. He murmured softly, “This child is only acting this way because she knows I truly love her.”

Qi Yu rose silently and left. Other people’s opinions are just that—opinions. The person who truly needs to understand and make the decision is always the individual involved. Too much interference from outsiders is often counterproductive; words should be enough to make the point without becoming a persistent nuisance.

She found Chu Chanyi, and upon knocking and entering, she saw the couple facing off across a table.

Qi Yu looked utterly drained. “Sorry for the intrusion. You two talk; I’ll come find you tomorrow.” With that, she closed the door with lightning speed and vanished.

What a day. Truly exhausting.

Inside the room, Chu Chanyi hadn’t even had the chance to speak before Qi Yu was gone. She opened her mouth, then looked back at Ai Ye, who was determined to make her choose.

“Do you know? In everyone’s heart, the weight parents carry is different. Some might not care as much because their parents didn’t love them, but most are like me. My father loves me very much. If I leave with you regardless of everything, he will be heartbroken.”

Chu Chanyi stared at Ai Ye. She didn’t say that in her heart, her parents and her lover carried equal weight. She couldn’t bear to inflict total hurt on either, so she could only selfishly drag things out in a stalemate where everyone suffered.

Ai Ye’s lips curled into a cold sneer. “Then what do you suggest? Wait until Uncle Chu passes away? Is that the best outcome?”

She didn’t agree. Perhaps royal families were truly cold-blooded. She was unwilling to trade the majority of her youth just to ensure the remaining third of a parent’s old age was satisfactory. Under the principle of equal exchange, it was irrational and unwise.

“If there is no other way, I will accompany my father until he passes.” Chu Chanyi lowered her head, tears welling in her eyes.

Ai Ye let out a dry, mocking laugh. “Then I should thank you for being a late-born daughter. Uncle is fifty years older than me. To be blunt, that’s at most another decade or so. This Princess can afford to wait, but…”

Seeing Chu Chanyi’s trembling shoulders, she walked over and pulled her into an embrace, continuing softly, “Have you ever thought—what if Uncle were only twenty years older than me? What if he lived to a hundred, and I only lived to eighty? What would you have this Princess do then? I would never reach the day where I could finally be with you.”

Chu Chanyi’s shoulders shook. She didn’t even dare to imagine such a scenario; it was too cruel for those in love. Tears finally cascaded down. “I’m sorry, I’m sorry… If you cannot wait, you don’t have to. I will spend my life in a temple to atone for my sins; I won’t pester you.” She was so selfish; in the end, it was her lover she was sacrificing.

Ai Ye held her tighter, tilting her head back to hold back her own tears. “Atone for what? What did you do wrong? Are you stupid? You wrong yourself and discard me, yet you still want to punish yourself with a lonely old age? You’re just banking on the fact that I can’t bear to leave you. This Princess isn’t going anywhere. I can wait. What are ten or eight years? I can wait…”

The voices inside continued, but the person outside couldn’t listen anymore.

Chu Yan’s hand, which had been raised to knock, slowly lowered. He turned and walked away with heavy steps. Perhaps he was wrong. If that Xidao Princess was truly willing to wait and truly worthy of trust, perhaps he should reflect as well.

He couldn’t end up caring less about his daughter’s heart than a stranger did. If that happened, he’d truly be a failure as a father.

The next morning, Qi Yu returned. As usual, she paid her respects to Prime Minister Chu first. The difference was that this time, Chu Yan didn’t invite her for a meeting; she was led directly to Chu Chanyi.

“So, have you two made up?” Qi Yu asked, looking at the atmosphere between them with curiosity.

“We have always been deeply in love. Since when were we not okay?” Ai Ye said snappishly.

Chu Chanyi shot her a look, then turned to Qi Yu. “You didn’t like coming to the Prime Minister’s Manor before. Have you had a change of heart?”

Her friend used to be quite stubborn, refusing to come because she said she “didn’t dare to climb so high.” Chu Chanyi looked at the now much calmer Qi Yu. For some reason, she felt this person had changed—less obsessive than before. It was a good change.

Qi Yu’s eye twitched. She had no idea what the original host had been thinking. She played it off: “Yes, I realized that since we are good friends, I can’t stay away forever. I’m free lately, so I’m making up for lost time.”

She truly considered Chu Chanyi a friend. If possible, she would rather her friend never know the truth, even if it meant living as the original host forever.

“Have you seen Uncle Chu? Are you trying to win the Prime Minister’s Manor over for the Eldest Princess?” Chu Chanyi asked plainly, her tone full of scrutiny. Because her father had once been convicted, she didn’t have many friends in the capital. She and the former Qi Yu were like two poor souls huddling together for warmth.

Prime Minister Chu likely understood his niece didn’t want to cause trouble, so she avoided the children of court officials. The National Teacher’s Manor—which had a title but no actual power—was a safe bet. That’s how they became close.

But things were different now. The National Teacher had an actual post, and Qi Yu was now the Prince Consort, naturally part of the Eldest Princess’s camp.

Chu Chanyi didn’t want to lose her best friend, so she intentionally ignored these changes. But what if Qi Yu had truly changed? She didn’t know what to do.

Qi Yu’s expression relaxed. “What are you thinking? Me, winning over the Prime Minister’s Manor? Even if I wanted to, do I have the ability? In my two visits, I’ve said fewer than five sentences to the Prime Minister. What are you worrying about?”

She knew Chu Chanyi’s biggest concern was not causing trouble for the Manor. Luckily, the Eldest Princess’s intention was very strange—do not win him over. It was perfect. She supported it with both hands.

“That’s good. Otherwise, I really wouldn’t know whether I should help you speak to Uncle Chu.” Chu Chanyi breathed a sigh of relief.

As both of them relaxed, Ai Ye gave Qi Yu a meaningful look. Regarding court struggles, she thought more deeply than the inexperienced Chu Chanyi. Regardless of whether Qi Yu was actually lobbying, running to the Prime Minister’s Manor every day wouldn’t look simple to those watching.

Prime Minister Chu also felt it wasn’t simple. By the time Qi Yu visited for the third time, this pillar of the state and head of all officials finally couldn’t sit still.

“The Prince Consort’s intention in coming here must be for more than just Chanyi, right? If it is the Eldest Princess’s intent, this old man can consider it. After all, the Princess has always had the aura of a wise ruler.”

Upon hearing this, an alarm blared in Qi Yu’s head. She hadn’t lobbied at all! It was the Prime Minister who was offering to join! What should she do?

She shook her head vigorously, her gaze incredibly sincere. “No, no, no. You’ve misunderstood. I am purely here for Chanyi; there is no other meaning.”

“Oh? Is that so?” Prime Minister Chu’s gaze turned cold as he stared directly at Qi Yu.

Qi Yu nodded heavily. “Really. Truer than gold.”

“Then the Prince Consort should head back now. Tell the Eldest Princess that this old man is loyal only to Baiyue and its people. In the future, you may come to the Manor to see Chanyi directly; there is no need to see me.” The Prime Minister smiled enigmatically and issued a guest-expulsion order.

Qi Yu was completely stunned. Is he so angry because his offer was rejected? Is a Prime Minister really this petty?!

After Qi Yu left, Chu Yan said, “Will Brother’s move offend the Eldest Princess?”

Prime Minister Chu glanced at him. “Junior, at your age, you still see things so superficially. It seems it was a good thing you lost your post early due to corruption; otherwise, you would have caused a catastrophe sooner or later.”

Chu Yan: “…” If you don’t want to say, then don’t, but why the personal attack?

Seeing his brother’s frustration, the Prime Minister smiled. “The Princess will not only not be angry, she will be happy. She knows that if she tried to win me over, I would definitely refuse. By not trying, she makes me think highly of her. This Eldest Princess of ours is not simple.”

Chu Yan was even more frustrated. I still don’t get it.

The Prime Minister stopped speaking in riddles. “The Princess was worried I would foolishly pick a side. However, I didn’t fall for her scheme this time; it was my own intention. One mountain cannot hold two tigers. We shall sit on the mountain and watch the tigers fight, never helping either side. But if someone harms the foundation of the state or makes innocent people suffer, I will use my old bones to strip them of their tiger skins.”

“You mean the Princess had no intention of recruiting you, and the Prince Consort really was just here for Chanyi? Then where is the ‘scheme’?”

The Prime Minister shook his head and explained patiently, “Do you think the Second Prince won’t overthink things with the Prince Consort visiting so frequently? Once a person overthinks and gets anxious, they are prone to making mistakes. We shall just watch.”

The current Emperor was merely a conservative ruler. A reigning Empress was a glory of a past era. Perhaps he would see that scene again in his lifetime, and Baiyue would flourish further.

In the end, he was still indulging the Eldest Princess. Allowing Qi Yu to continue entering the manor was a signal—a signal to throw the Second Prince into disarray.

Returning to the Princess’s Manor, Qi Yu conveyed the Prime Minister’s words. The Eldest Princess laughed upon hearing them. “Tonight is a rare beautiful night. Would the Prince Consort like to share a few drinks with me?”

Finally, a matter of concern was resolved. It was worth celebrating.

“The Princess is happy? Prime Minister Chu intends to just watch the tigers fight; what’s there to be happy about?” Qi Yu was surprised. Was the woman’s true intent really just to remind the Prime Minister not to interfere? What kind of logic was that?

Since the goal was achieved—and even faster and easier than imagined—the Princess was naturally happy. “What I wanted was for him to stay neutral. You don’t understand the Prime Minister; by not interfering, he has already put one foot on the Princess Manor’s boat. Han Shui, go tell the kitchen to prepare some wine and food.”

“Right away! Should I send it to Mistress’s room or the Prince Consort’s?” Han Shui answered happily, then turned back to ask one more question.

This was a problem. The Princess narrowed her eyes, her gaze instinctively landing on Qi Yu. “Send it to my room.”

Qi Yu nodded. Wait… why must it be sent to one of the bedrooms? What is the living room for?