The Villainous Consort (GL) - Chapter 49

“That’s right, I met the Prince Consort before,” the Eldest Princess replied lightheartedly.

Qi Yu’s face darkened. As expected, this woman… truly, truly excessive!

She yanked her hand back, her eyes turning cold. “The Princess has the wrong person. I am not your Prince Consort; the Eldest Miss of the National Teacher’s Manor you met before is.”

Back at the martial arts arena, the switch had already happened. This woman didn’t even know she had fallen for the wrong person.

“I would not be mistaken,” the Princess said, letting go of her grip. She leaned in close, her fingers grazing Qi Yu’s cheek, her mind filled with this person’s image. “The first time I saw you was at Lou Shang Lou. You were sitting on the second floor with Miss Chu, quietly watching her exchange barbs with Fang Hai. Back then, I thought to myself: the Prince Consort isn’t such a straw bag after all. At least she knows how to endure—she is very suitable to be my Prince Consort.”

The Princess’s gaze softened. Her Prince Consort’s eyes were always indifferent, as if she had no particular desires. She possessed the strength of someone who wanted for nothing.

There was a constant, subtle sense of dissonance between her and this world, which sparked curiosity, then concern, and finally, a heartbeat.

Qi Yu was stunned. That sounds like me. It was indeed the first time she had gone to Lou Shang Lou with Chu Chanyi. Had this woman been eyeing her since then?!

Should I be happy that she didn’t get the person wrong?

But the Princess seemed so clear-headed now. Was she really drunk? Or was she feigning madness through wine? Qi Yu looked at the person whose body was almost entirely pressing against her.

Feeling a bit flustled, Qi Yu tested the waters: “If the Princess wants me to do something to you, it’s impossible. Because I don’t feel the impulse to take responsibility for you, do you understand? Of course, you can’t force me to do anything either.”

“I will win you over myself; I won’t take advantage of someone’s vulnerability.” The Princess bit her lip, her eyes complex as if struggling to restrain something. She then rolled over and lay down beside Qi Yu. True to her word, she did nothing.

Qi Yu observed her for a moment, still suspicious. Her speech was too coherent. Was it a fake drunk act? But the earlier behavior was so convincing. Or was she sobering up?

“The Princess should rest. I’ll head back to my room.” Qi Yu sat up. Seeing that the Princess didn’t stop her, she felt relieved. She didn’t dare stay the night, fearing she wouldn’t have the life to walk out of this door tomorrow.

“Prince Consort, won’t you stay with me, even if you are ‘drunk’?”

The Princess’s eyes were as clear as an untainted spring, reflecting Qi Yu’s shadow. Looking into those eyes, Qi Yu’s heart softened. She lay back down. Fine, let’s treat it as being drunk. It’s just sleeping in the same bed; we’re both women, there’s nothing to fear.

Besides, this woman’s self-control was impressive. Someone who could restrain their emotions even while drunk was a reliable person.

Or so Qi Yu thought.

The next second, a pair of arms loosely encircled her waist beneath the brocade quilt.

Okay, I was too naive. Why did she believe a drunk person?

Qi Yu squeezed her eyes shut, deciding to see how far the woman would go. If it was just simple physical closeness, she’d treat it like being licked by a cat and endure it.

She steadied her nerves and turned to look at the Princess. Deep down, her long-held boundaries were retreating inch by inch, though she hadn’t realized the change in her own heart yet.

“I am willing to stay with you.” Just for tonight. Tomorrow, we draw the line.

The Princess blinked, tightening her arms and moving closer. She couldn’t tell if this was a drunken delusion or a sober surprise. Once they were close, she rested her face against Qi Yu’s shoulder and whispered, “Prince Consort, I am truly happy today.”

Qi Yu felt an indescribable throb in her chest. I suppose I’m happy too. If her next moves are out of line… just a little out of line… I’ll reluctantly continue to endure.

Ten minutes later, the hands on her waist loosened, and steady breathing filled her ear.

Qi Yu frowned instinctively, then laughed at herself. Why am I feeling disappointed? She smiled wordlessly, closed her eyes, and, aided by the wine, soon fell asleep.

Outside the door, Han Shui, who had waited all night with no opportunity to intervene, was practically in tears. Finally! Mistress has succeeded! She must have gotten the Prince Consort drunk and then did this and that. How touching!

The next morning, the first light of dawn broke.

The Eldest Princess woke up and instinctively looked beside her. The girl’s brows were like distant mountains, her refined beauty evident even in sleep.

So last night wasn’t a dream. This person said she was willing to stay with me.

The corners of her mouth arched. She rose slowly, trying not to disturb the sleeper, and went to the washroom.

Nearly an hour later, the Princess returned after bathing. The person on the bed showed no signs of waking. She took off her shoes and socks, climbed back into bed, and pulled Qi Yu’s arm into her embrace, as if ready for a second nap.

Qi Yu: “…”

I’m a sinner. I should have woken up just now. Why did I guiltily close my eyes? Why doesn’t this woman follow the script?

She shouldn’t have faked sleep. To hell with faking sleep.

A pleasant, cool fragrance wafted to her nose. She recognized the scent; it was how the Princess smelled after every bath. Do they have perfume in ancient times? Body wash? Body cream? Why don’t I have anything?!

As Qi Yu’s mind wandered, her bladder reminded her of its existence. I can’t fake it anymore. I need the toilet.

Her face flushed. She pretended to wake up, pulling her hand back and yawning. “Ah, where am I?”

“The Prince Consort is in my room.”

“Ah, haha, so I am.” Qi Yu sat up.

The Princess sat up too, her voice soft. “Does what the Prince Consort said last night still count?”

Qi Yu froze. What words? Weren’t you drunk? Why are we settling accounts now?

She gave a forced laugh. “Last night? What did I say? I was drunk. Did something happen? I don’t remember a thing.”

The clear smile in the Princess’s eyes gradually froze. She lowered her head, bit her lip, and her voice turned cold. “Nothing happened. What are you still doing in my bed? Get out!”

Qi Yu stiffened. She felt a bit of a sting in her heart. Yesterday she was all ‘stay with me,’ and today she changes faces. Truly a fickle woman. She scrambled into her clothes, feeling more guilty than before, not daring to look back.

Watching Qi Yu leave, the Princess frowned and called Han Shui in. “Help me dress. There’s still time for the morning court.”

She had planned to take the day off, but now that seemed ridiculous. You couldn’t expect a person playing dumb to suddenly become smart.

At the morning court, after the state affairs were discussed, the Emperor signaled the head eunuch to conclude.

“If there are matters, speak; if not, the court is adjourned,” Eunuch Lin announced.

“This official has a proposal!”

The voice belonged to Li Guangbai, the Minister of Rites. The Emperor felt a slight relief—at least it wasn’t those annoying Censors. It probably wasn’t about his favorite daughter. “What does Minister Li wish to report?”

“I wish to impeach the Eldest Princess, Zhou Shile, for failing her duties as an elder sister. She was tasked with organizing the selection of a consort for the Second Prince. Spring has passed, yet the Spring Banquet has not been held. This is a grave breach of etiquette!”

Li Guangbai was indignant. He had planned to send his daughter into the prince’s manor and select two influential side-consorts for the Second Prince. All his plans were stalled because the Princess had done nothing. He had waited for spring to pass specifically to strike now—whether she forgot or not, failing to execute an imperial decree was an act of defiance.

The Emperor’s face darkened. The Censorate had just finally quieted down, and now the Ministry of Rites was starting up? Still, his daughter hadn’t actually arranged the selection. He turned to her. “Why has this been delayed, my child?”

The Princess looked surprised, then said softly, “To answer Father… I forgot.”

“For… forgot?” The Emperor’s expression went blank.

Li Guangbai immediately seized the opening. “They say an elder sister is like a mother. Organizing the Second Prince’s marriage is the Princess’s duty. To say she ‘forgot’ so lightly—I must question the Princess’s intentions!”

The Emperor frowned. What’s wrong with the Ministry of Rites? But he had to save face for a high official. “Why did you forget? Are you not used to handling court affairs again? Don’t overwork yourself.”

Li Guangbai and the Second Prince both twitched. The Emperor wasn’t punishing her; he was making excuses for her!

The Princess knelt down, sounding remorseful. “I am terrified. Minister Li is right. An elder sister is like a mother. Although it is my first time acting on my mother’s behalf and I didn’t know where to start, forgetting my duty over time is a failure. Please punish me, Father.”

The Second Prince realized something was wrong. This woman was being cunning. If he couldn’t kill the enemy, he couldn’t let himself be damaged. He quickly intervened: “Father, please calm down. If Mother were still here, there would be no need for Sister to handle this. It wasn’t her duty to begin with. Please be merciful.”

But the Empress was gone, and the Emperor had issued a decree. No matter how they spun it, it was a failure of duty.

The Emperor nodded with relief. “It is good that you think so, my son. Your sister lacks experience; she is a first-time sister and has never been a mother. It’s only natural she wasn’t meticulous. I shall issue another decree: a Summer Banquet shall be held, presided over by the Eldest Princess, with all other logistics handled by the Ministry of Rites.”

The Second Prince: “…”

Father, you completely missed my point!

“Natural” my foot! This was a failure of duty! Do you understand what failure of duty means?

However, having the Princess only “preside” while the Ministry of Rites handled the rest was a win. It meant he could control who made the shortlist. He hadn’t punished the Princess today, but it was a harvest nonetheless.

The Second Prince breathed a sigh of relief and hurried back to his manor. The choice of a Consort was critical, and he needed the side-consorts to be daughters of influential ministers to increase his odds of success.