The Villainous Consort (GL) - Chapter 9

There’s really no need. I won’t change my mind,” Qi Yu shouted toward the man’s retreating back.

Those people hiding in the shadows, led by this man in black—to put it nicely, they were remnants of a former dynasty; to put it bluntly, they were a disorganized mob. The book explicitly stated that the Consort’s rebellion failed, leading her to steal military secrets and sell out the country in a desperate final act.

What did that prove? It proved that their “grand cause” was doomed to fail. Qi Yu wasn’t an idiot. Why would she choose a path she already knew led to a dead end? Was her life currently too easy?

“Miss, what are you shouting for? Please, try to be more open-minded. The Master is doing this for your own good, for the good of the Preceptor’s Estate. You’ll be free once the wedding is over.”

Mama Li hurried over after hearing the shout, fearing her young lady was about to do something foolish again. To her, this child might be twenty years old, but her mind still worked like it did in childhood—acting without considering the consequences.

Qi Yu awkwardly set down her teacup, feeling like a child caught misbehaving. She straightened up in her chair. “Don’t worry, Mama Li. I’ve come to terms with it. Being a Consort is great. I’ll never have to worry about food or drink, and as an Imperial Relative, I can practically walk sideways (with swagger) wherever I go. It’s a wonderful thing.”

Exactly. After the wedding, I’ll be truly free. I’ll wander the mountains and rivers, stay far away from the chaos of the capital, and plant flowers and vegetables in the countryside. How blissful.

Mama Li’s hand slipped, nearly dropping the plate of pastries she was carrying. She couldn’t handle such a sudden shift in attitude. She quickly set the plate down and touched Qi Yu’s forehead. “Miss, don’t scare me. If you really don’t like the Eldest Princess, we can… we can go to the estate in the suburbs to clear your head. Come back when you feel better.”

Being an Imperial Relative is fine, but going insane for the sake of glory and wealth is not. Mama Li decided she had to talk to the Preceptor about lifting the house arrest, lest they actually drive the girl mad.

Qi Yu was speechless. She had simply tried to show a more positive attitude, yet everyone in the manor thought she had lost her mind. Was the original host’s resistance so deep-seated, or was the family just slow to adapt?

She guessed it was the former. Considering the original host had managed to get herself exiled to the suburbs and then accidentally died from a fall, her hatred for the marriage must have been intense.

So, I moved too fast and it backfired? Qi Yu reflected on this, suppressed her smile, and spoke with a calm face. “Mama Li, to tell you the truth, I realize that resisting now is useless. If I make a scene, I might lose my head. It’s better to be a good Consort, keep the Princess happy, and make life easier for our family.”

“Oh, our Miss has finally grown up. It’s good that you understand, truly good.” Mama Li was moved to tears. This was the first time in years the girl had said something so sensible.

Qi Yu sighed inwardly while watching Mama Li. “Then why don’t you accompany me to the suburban estate for a few days? This manor is just too stifling.”

Mama Li stiffened, wiped her tears, and looked alert. “You aren’t tricking me, are you? Don’t you dare run away once we’re in the suburbs. If you do, the whole household will suffer with you.”

“How could I? Rest easy. At most, I’ll invite Chanyi over for a chat. I won’t do anything reckless.” Qi Yu sighed again. All that sensible talk earlier was for nothing.

The Preceptor’s Estate prepared a carriage and headed toward the city gates.

Upon receiving the news, Han Shui was startled. She only had time to bark one order: “Quickly! Send the Princess’s Command! The Preceptor’s carriage is not allowed to pass through the city gates!”

She then rushed back to the Princess’s Estate. The Princess had said not to interfere as long as Qi Yu stayed in the city, but this girl was being too bold—actually trying to leave! Did she really value her freedom over her life?

“Is she truly a fool who ignores consequences? Come, accompany me to the city gates,” the Eldest Princess said, her brows knitting. This would surely cause a scene, but perhaps the more of a laughingstock Qi Yu became, the more her Second Brother would let his guard down.

At the city gates, the Preceptor’s carriage arrived. The driver reported, “Miss, there’s a queue. It looks like the guards are inspecting vehicles. We’ll have to wait a bit.”

“I wonder who they’re searching for,” Mama Li muttered, peeking through the curtain. “The world has been peaceful for too long; people are starting to harbor ill intentions again.”

Qi Yu said nothing. She was actually curious if an ancient manhunt looked like the ones on TV.

Finally, it was their turn.

“Who’s inside?” the guard barked.

Mama Li climbed down with a smile. “This is the State Preceptor’s carriage. It’s just me and our Young Lady.”

The Preceptor’s daughter? Isn’t that the newly chosen Prince Consort? People in the queue craned their necks to look.

The guard exchanged a look with a messenger from the Princess’s Estate. “The Preceptor’s carriage is to wait. Everyone else, proceed out of the city!”

Mama Li’s smile froze. “What do you mean, Officer? Our manor has committed no crime. Why can’t we leave?”

The guard looked at the Princess’s representative again and emboldened himself. “I told you to wait, so wait! Stop talking back!”

He was just a gatekeeper; he couldn’t afford to offend the Preceptor or the future Consort. But a command from the Princess outweighed both.

Qi Yu, who had been listening inside, went cold. So the target of this search is us? She straightened her clothes and stepped out of the carriage.

She looked at the guard. “Since you aren’t stopping anyone else, only the people of the Preceptor’s Estate, whose orders are you following? Do you have a warrant? If you delay my business, I will go to the Prefect’s Office and beat the drum myself to see who gave you the audacity to stop our carriage without cause.”

Qi Yu was never one to go looking for trouble, but if trouble found her, she wouldn’t let herself be bullied—especially when she was in the right. As the officially appointed Consort, being stopped like a common criminal was an insult. If she didn’t fight back, the Preceptor’s Estate would become a permanent laughingstock.

Stunned by her sharp rebuke, the guard stammered but refused to let them pass. As the standoff continued, a crowd began to gather.

On the other side of the crowd, Fang Hai was drinking with some friends when a servant whispered the news. He stood up with a smirk. “Gentlemen, a good show is starting at the city gate. Please, follow me.”

By the time they arrived, Qi Yu was standing by the carriage with a dark expression. The tension was palpable. Mama Li sighed. “Miss, let’s just go home. No need to bicker with them.”

The guard felt relieved, but his heart jumped into his throat a second later.

Qi Yu stepped forward, closing the distance. “I won’t make it hard for you. Just tell me: whose order is this?”

The guard instinctively looked toward the messenger from the Princess’s Estate. Everyone’s gaze followed. The Princess’s guard swallowed hard, about to deflect, when he saw Han Shui in the crowd. She gave him a slight nod.

Feeling like he’d found his savior, he pulled out a medallion. “I am acting on the orders of the Eldest Princess specifically to stop the State Preceptor’s carriage!”

Silence fell over the crowd. It was like a “flood hitting the Dragon King’s temple”—an internal family dispute. The Princess was blocking her own future husband? They weren’t even married yet, and she was already on a leash. Qi Yu’s life is going to be miserable, the onlookers thought.

Qi Yu: “…”

What is this? She thought it was Fang Hai playing petty tricks, but it was actually the Princess. This was a blatant, public move to prevent her from fleeing. How humiliating.

Just as she thought of Fang Hai, his mocking voice cut through the crowd.

“Miss Qi—oh, I should say, Consort Qi. You and the Princess are truly deeply in love! The Princess is so worried about your safety that she won’t even let you leave the city alone. I am truly envious.”

Fang Hai stepped forward, his heart blooming with joy. He couldn’t find the masked woman who hit him last time, but venting his spite on Qi Yu was a fine consolation prize.