Transmigrated into the Scum Female Consort - Chapter 100

On the return journey, now that no outsiders are present, Yun Chi can no longer contain her curiosity. She asks Ye Xuejin directly, “Is this small handful of people truly enough?”

Ye Xuejin stops in her tracks. “How many people does the Consort believe this Princess has?”

Yun Chi thinks for a moment and honestly holds up three fingers. Including all the women, plus Yu Lu, Xiao Gao, and the other few guards, they have about thirty people at most.

Ye Xuejin’s gaze shifts as she looks toward Qi Mingyan. “And what does Mingyan think?”

Qi Mingyan answers with absolute certainty, “After tomorrow, Your Highness shall have ten thousand horses and a thousand armies at your back.”

As soon as these words are spoken, not only is Yun Chi left baffled, but even the Elder Madam Zhou’s face shows utter bewilderment. Shisong, by contrast, remains relatively steady, showing not a hint of surprise.

Ye Xuejin couldn’t help but smile. “Then this Princess shall take Mingyan’s auspicious words to heart.”

Yun Chi: “…” I still don’t understand, and now I’m even more confused.

However, she fears that if she keeps asking, she still won’t grasp the answer. Even though they are among their own, pestering Ye Xuejin with questions feels a bit embarrassing. Catching sight of Shisong’s calm demeanor out of the corner of her eye, Yun Chi silently slows her pace.

This young girl’s mind works fast, she thinks. To think she can actually keep up with those two near-demonic geniuses.

Noticing her movements, Ye Xuejin’s lips twitch upward. She exchanges a glance with Qi Mingyan and continues walking ahead. Behind them, the Elder Madam Zhou also notices that Shisong looks as if she understands, so she too drops back a few paces.

Yun Chi looks at the retreating backs of Ye Xuejin and Qi Mingyan, then turns to Shisong. “Shisong, I heard it clearly. Did you understand?”

Shisong nods. “I understand. Tomorrow, Her Highness will have ten thousand horses and a thousand armies.”

Yun Chi raises an eyebrow. She really does understand. It turns out I’m the only one whose brain hasn’t caught up. “Then tell me, where will these armies come from?”

Shisong says with total confidence, “The Military Strategist said so—they will come from behind Her Highness.”

Yun Chi freezes. “Where behind her?”

“Just… behind.”

Seeing Shisong speak so earnestly, as if she wasn’t joking, Yun Chi falls silent and rolls her eyes. Confirmed: she doesn’t understand either.

The Elder Madam Zhou almost fails to stifle a laugh. This young girl is blunt and quite amusing.

Ahead, Ye Xuejin lets out a faint smile. She pauses her steps and takes Yun Chi’s hand. “Consort, once we return, this Princess shall properly explain to you where they come from.”

Yun Chi gives an awkward cough. “Fine.” I suppose I’ll reluctantly listen.

A gentle breeze blows as the group returns to the wooden huts. The sun has already shifted to the south. Zhou Wu follows along high spirits, but his steps falter when he meets the glares of the women, who look at him as if he were an enemy.

Ye Xuejin beckons Lu Shang and signals for Zhou Wu to step forward.

“Zhou Wu is here to keep watch over Su Da. If Su Da behaves improperly, you may beat or kill him as you see fit. It is not wrong for you to have hatred in your hearts, but do not let that hatred cloud your judgment. I hope you all find a wider world for yourselves, rather than being perpetually trapped in your resentment.”

Lu Shang nods solemnly. “Rest assured, Your Highness. My sisters and I know what must be done.”

“Rest assured, Your Highness! This subordinate will keep a strict watch,” Zhou Wu chimes in, though his heart is racing. What counts as behaving improperly? “Beat or kill as you see fit”—those four words are terrifying.

Ye Xuejin then instructs Zhou Qiyue to check everyone’s food supplies. After getting the answer, she and Yun Chi enter the house. The supplies are low: only half a bag of coarse rice and a basket of gathered wild greens.

Once inside, Yun Chi sits at the table and habitually takes out a handful of compressed biscuits. “Are you thinking of improving everyone’s meals?” She hands a few pieces to Ye Xuejin.

Ye Xuejin sits beside her, her eyes soft. “The one who knows me best is the Consort.”

Yun Chi gives her an amused look. “I don’t know your mind at all—for instance, where that ‘army of thousands’ is coming from.”

Ye Xuejin takes the biscuits with a shallow smile. “The Consort will know tomorrow.”

Yun Chi: “…” This woman is actually playing coy. She promised she’d tell me once we got back.

As if reading her thoughts, Ye Xuejin blinks. “The Consort might want to consider: who is coming tomorrow?”

Who is coming? Suddenly, Yun Chi’s eyes light up. “Chief Secretary Zhu!”

It’s Zhu Yan! According to what Ye Xuejin said before, tomorrow would be a hard-fought battle, and Zhu Yan would lead a large force here. For this, Yun Chi had even prepared her “wind, rain, thunder, and lightning” effects.

Could it be…

Seeing her dawning realization, Ye Xuejin speaks four words with a smile: “Borrow the bridge to cross the river.”

Thinking of the Zhu Yan described by Qi Mingyan, Yun Chi has a new doubt. “But that Zhu Yan—I mean, if the bridge is rotten to the core, should we still borrow it?”

Ye Xuejin takes a few more biscuits. “As long as it allows one to cross the river, what is the harm in walking upon it?”

Exactly. She never intended to eliminate Zhu Yan from the start. Her so-called “solution” was to use his strength against his own.

Yun Chi is stunned. “Even if he is a corrupt official who plagues the region, you will still use him?”

Ye Xuejin places the biscuits on the table, her tone deepening. “If I use him, he must follow my rules and obey the laws of the Great Shao. Otherwise, I can dismantle the bridge at any time.”

As the saying goes, one who achieves great things does not fuss over trifles. Especially in times of global upheaval, one cannot judge subordinates solely on their loyalty or villainy. What is needed now are capable officials.

Yun Chi frowns but says nothing more. Sensing her mood, Ye Xuejin takes her hand and says softly, “The Consort needn’t worry. I will arrange everything properly.”

Yun Chi smiles. “I trust you. Come, let’s go improve the meals for everyone.”

She leads Ye Xuejin to the window and looks out. Most of the women are still diligently practicing with their sleeve crossbows. Lu Shang and Zhou Qiyue are by the stove, while the Elder Madam Zhou sits nearby holding little Ying’er’s hand.

A pot of coarse rice porridge has just finished cooking. They call Zhou Wu to help move the pot down so they can serve the porridge and boil the wild greens.

At that moment, Yun Chi has a thought.

The three who had just set the pot aside stood up, only to see a much larger pot materialize out of thin air onto the stove.

“This… this…” Zhou Wu is shocked, looking at the floor and then at the stove, rubbing his eyes vigorously.

Zhou Qiyue turns her head sharply and sees the two figures standing by the window. She blabs out, “Your Highness, it is the Immortal!” Her voice is so loud it draws everyone’s attention.

Ye Xuejin nods slightly and gestures for her to step back. In the next instant, a pile of food appears by the stove—meat, vegetables, and several large watermelons. Ye Xuejin then closes the window and leads Yun Chi outside.

“Consort, you won’t need to work so hard in the future.” Tomorrow, she would be able to lead everyone into the city.

Yun Chi smiles dismissively. “How is this hard work? Do you want to have a few more drinks?”

Ye Xuejin’s eyelids flutter, but she says nothing. She thinks of last night—in that half-awake, half-drunk state, she had almost lost her composure.

Yun Chi’s breath hitches. Without waiting for an answer, she deposits all the remaining fruit wine by the stove. She liked the Ye Xuejin of last night—proactive and alluring. She likes the cold, abstinent Ye Xuejin who gets a hazy look in her eyes when drunk. That Ye Xuejin fascinates her… making her want to draw close and hold her tight.

“Wow, Immortal Nectar!” Another cheer erupts by the stove.

Yun Chi quickly steps back. Just now, she almost kissed her! In broad daylight, in front of everyone—that was a close call.

Ye Xuejin’s expression is calm, but her ears are flushed deep red, and her fingernails dig slightly into Yun Chi’s palm. You rogue…

The women immediately abandon their practice. Some fetch water, others chop vegetables; they gather around the stove in a heat of excitement, discussing how to cook the food and how much to save.

“No need to save it. Tonight, I shall pray for the Immortal’s favor once more,” Ye Xuejin instructs coolly from outside the crowd.

“Yes!” the women reply joyfully.

“Your Highness is wise!” Zhou Wu shouts. He knew that following the Princess would lead to a good life. Since arriving in Yangzhou, he had eaten nothing but wild greens and coarse porridge at the mine—no oil, not even a hint of salt. Now, look at this floor full of food, even the oil, salt, soy sauce, and vinegar are all there.

As everyone busies themselves, Ye Xuejin and Yun Chi stand quietly by the stove, a sense of profound peace in their hearts.

“Oh, Your Highness, don’t let the smoke get in your eyes.” The Elder Madam Zhou quickly stands up and offers her stool.

“It is no matter. Please sit, Madam.” Ye Xuejin smiles faintly and reaches out to little Ying’er. “Ying’er, here is the beef jerky you left with me.”

Little Ying’er takes the jerky but doesn’t eat it. Instead, she looks toward a figure not far away. Though her small face is timid, her eyes are full of longing and admiration.

Seeing this, Ye Xuejin also looks toward Qi Mingyan.