Transmigrated into the Scum Female Consort - Chapter 101

“Military Counselor, Her Highness is watching you,” Shisong whispered. Always sharp-eyed, she had quickly noticed several gazes drifting over from the stove. After a moment of hesitation, she added the observation in a low voice.

Hearing this, Qi Mingyan couldn’t help but look over. She then began walking toward them.

Seeing this, the elderly Madam Zhou hurriedly called out to little Ying’er, “Ying’er, come to Grandmother. Your mother is busy; do not disturb her work.”

Ying’er slowly lowered her head and obediently walked back.

At that moment, Qi Mingyan stepped forward. “Does Your Highness have any instructions?”

Ye Xuejin shook her head gently. “I have no specific orders. I simply saw Ying’er staring at you constantly, so I found myself looking as well.”

The previous night, Qi Mingyan had evaluated Zhou Qishan as an unkind father and a selfish man—someone unfit for important responsibilities. As for how she reached that conclusion, she hadn’t said. Ye Xuejin sensed she had her reasons for remaining silent and chose not to pry. At the time, she had simply followed Yun Chi out the door to watch Shisong practice her blade techniques, letting the matter drop.

Just like now, Qi Mingyan merely reached out to rub Ying’er’s head before turning to leave.

Ye Xuejin said nothing more. Everyone had their own burdens or pasts they wished to keep hidden; she understood that. However, seeing the child’s expression—a mix of longing and fear—she couldn’t help but feel a pang of sympathy.

“Does Ying’er not like the food?” Ye Xuejin asked warmly.

Ying’er shook her head. “I like it.”

“Then why aren’t you eating?”

“I want to save it for my younger brother,” Ying’er whispered. Suddenly, she covered her face, her voice breaking into a sob. “But Mother doesn’t like Brother, and she doesn’t like me either.”

Ye Xuejin froze. She suddenly remembered their time on the road to exile; it had been the same then. Whenever Ying’er mentioned her mother and brother, she couldn’t stop herself from crying.

Madam Zhou sighed, pulling Ying’er into her arms and wiping the tears from her face. “I apologize for the scene, Your Highness. This child has always overthought things. Her heart is so conflicted it makes one’s soul ache. I shall take her back to the room for a nap.”

“It is no matter,” Ye Xuejin replied. She glanced at Qi Mingyan’s back but ultimately chose not to ask further. After all, it was the Zhou family’s private business, and they clearly preferred to keep it that way.

“Let’s head inside as well,” Yun Chi said, standing up. It was quite cold outside.

Once in the room, she sat by the hearth. “Come here, warm yourself by the fire.”

As soon as Ye Xuejin sat down, her hands were enveloped by Yun Chi’s. Yun Chi held her hands and stretched them toward the flames. “A little closer, it’s warmer.”

Ye Xuejin smiled and sat closer, leaning tightly against Yun Chi. Seeing that Ye Xuejin remained quiet, Yun Chi initiated the conversation. “Let’s just eat in the room later.”

While it was livelier to eat outside with everyone, she was sensitive to the cold. Moreover, she didn’t want others to see Ye Xuejin in a state of half-drunkenness.

Ye Xuejin replied softly with a curve of her lips, “Alright. We should also invite Shushi and Mingyan for a few drinks.”

Yun Chi laughed, teasing her intentionally, “What? Am I not enough company for Your Highness on my own?”

Ye Xuejin glanced at her but before she could speak, there was a knock at the door.

Knock, knock, knock…

“Your Highness, the meal is ready,” came Qi Mingyan’s voice.

Ye Xuejin was about to stand when a hand pressed down on her shoulder. Yun Chi smiled at her and raised her voice, “Military Counselor, come in. The door is unlocked.”

As the words fell, Qi Mingyan pushed the door open, followed by Shushi and Shisong. Seeing the three of them, Ye Xuejin gave a faint smile. “You’ve come at the perfect time. I was just telling the Prince Consort to call you all over for a few drinks.”

Hearing this, the three went back out to bring in the food and wine. Before long, they were all seated around the table.

Yun Chi looked at Shisong and couldn’t help but suggest, “Shisong, you are still young. You should drink less.” The girl was only sixteen; how did she end up at the “adults’ table”?

Shisong straightened her back and said solemnly, “To the Prince Consort: I had my Ji Li (coming-of-age ceremony) in the first half of the year. My tolerance for alcohol is quite good.”

She had already passed her sixteenth birthday; she was an adult now.

Seeing how serious she was—even putting on an “adult” persona—Yun Chi laughed. “Very well, you are an adult.” Fine, she would follow the local customs.

Once everyone was full, they put down their chopsticks and glasses. Only Shisong was still pouring herself more wine.

Shushi glanced at Yun Chi and Ye Xuejin, then patted Shisong on the shoulder. “Don’t get drunk. Come, accompany me outside for a few sparring rounds.”

After a few days apart, she felt the Princess and the Prince Consort had grown much closer. With the wine flowing and the atmosphere just right, as the Princess’s most capable strategist, she felt responsible for clearing the room.

Unfortunately, Shisong didn’t catch her drift at all. She downed her glass in one gulp and refilled it. “This ‘Celestial Brew’ doesn’t taste like alcohol at all. I won’t get drunk.”

Beside her, Qi Mingyan noticed Shushi’s intention and spoke up, “Do not be greedy for the cup. If you get drunk, no one will look after you.”

The Princess and the Consort both had flushed faces, appearing slightly tipsy. It was indeed inappropriate for them to remain hovering there.

To her surprise, Shisong turned to look at her and blurted out, “The Military Counselor will look after me. You are the best to me.”

The young girl’s eyes were bright and her tone was earnest. She looked sober, yet the words she spoke sounded like those of a drunkard.

Qi Mingyan was stunned for a moment, then subconsciously looked at the other three. Yun Chi was staring directly at them, her eyes full of thought. Ye Xuejin’s expression was calm, but her gaze was also fixed on them. Shushi was the most obvious, her eyes wide with the spark of gossip.

Qi Mingyan felt an inexplicable sense of unease. Recalling something, her expression suddenly turned cold. “You and I are neither kin nor friends. Why should I look after you?”

With that, she rose, bowed to Ye Xuejin, and departed first.

The room fell silent. Shushi hurriedly stood up and grabbed Shisong’s arm. “I told you to drink less.” She wasn’t sure which sentence had offended the Military Counselor.

Shisong stared blankly at Qi Mingyan’s retreating figure. “But I’m really not drunk.”

“Let’s go, we’ll talk outside,” Shushi muttered, leading her out and thoughtfully closing the door behind them.

Once they were gone, Yun Chi looked at Ye Xuejin, no longer hiding the surprise on her face. “Do you feel like Qi Mingyan’s reaction was… off?”

It wasn’t just Yun Chi; Ye Xuejin was also puzzled. After a moment, she said, “Perhaps Mingyan is a case of ‘once bitten by a snake, twice shy of a rope’.”

Yun Chi didn’t follow. “What do you mean?”

Ye Xuejin’s tone slowed. “I am not privy to the details. However, Shisong’s words were likely unintentional.” It was Qi Mingyan who, being too close to the situation, had overreacted, which in turn made others suspicious.

Yun Chi finally caught the hint. “You mean Qi Mingyan misunderstood Shisong? No way…” These two didn’t seem like people who would end up together. Then she paused. Actually, come to think of it, Qi Mingyan and Shisong had been spending a lot of time together over the last two days.

Ye Xuejin pondered for a moment before standing. “Let’s go outside. I have matters to attend to.”

As they stepped out, they saw Shisong following behind Qi Mingyan further off. A cold wind had picked up, and most people had returned to their rooms, leaving only Shushi standing in the clearing and Zhou Wu, who was diligently guarding Su Da.

“Your Highness, Prince Consort.” Shushi greeted them as soon as she saw them.

Ye Xuejin looked at the sky and instructed, “Make a trip into the city…”

Shushi nodded, took the horse she had arrived on, and galloped away. Once Shushi was out of sight, Ye Xuejin turned to Yun Chi. “Consort, walk with me.” It was a good time to clear the lingering effects of the wine.

Yun Chi took her hand. “Tell me, why did you have Shushi call the others back so early?” Previously, they had agreed to let Yu Lu and Shi Niang wait for an opportunity in the city.

Ye Xuejin stopped being mysterious and said calmly, “I originally felt the Zhou family was still useful, which is why I wasn’t in a hurry to bring the others back.”

For that reason, she had personally visited the mines and brought Madam Zhou and Qi Mingyan along. However, the results were unsatisfying. During the time when Madam Zhou and Zhou Wu had returned but the rest of the Zhou family stayed put, hesitating to step forward, she had changed her mind.

There is a saying: If you suspect someone, do not use them; if you use someone, do not suspect them. The moment Ye Xuejin realized she had grown suspicious of the Zhou family, she knew they could no longer be relied upon.

Yun Chi frowned. “I don’t know what they were thinking. By your rules, if you chose to pursue it, wouldn’t that count as defying orders?”

Since the Zhou family had pledged loyalty to Ye Xuejin, they shouldn’t have hesitated to follow her lead. Even if Madam Zhou hadn’t explained things well, they should have hurried forward—if not to beg forgiveness, then at least to explain themselves. Instead, they stood there wavering, and even after arriving, they didn’t mention a word about yesterday’s events.

“By your rules?” Ye Xuejin’s eyes flickered, her voice cooling slightly. “What else could they be thinking? They are simply relying on their numbers.”

Since the exile began, the Zhou family had indeed been the backbone of the group. For one reason only: they had the most people. As for defying orders—Old Censor Zhou was a veteran of two imperial reigns. If he truly cared, how could he not realize that it was impossible for Qi Mingyan and Zhou Qiyue to forge the Princess’s orders?

He acted confused simply because he believed “the law does not punish the masses,” hoping to use this to make Ye Xuejin value the Zhou family more. Unfortunately, he overestimated the importance of his dozen family members, and he overestimated himself.

Thinking of this, Ye Xuejin looked back at the row of wooden houses. She was not without people to use.

Sensing her mood, Yun Chi followed her gaze. “The Zhou family thinks too highly of themselves. They don’t realize it’s the same whether they are here or not. To think we can only rely on them… it’s laughable.” She believed these women would do a better job than the Zhou men.

Hearing this, Ye Xuejin’s expression softened. “I think so too. They are second to no man.”

Yun Chi laughed. “Exactly. And if all else fails, you have me.” When “Wind, Rain, Thunder, and Lightning” made their move, she doubted anyone would dare stand against them.

Ye Xuejin smiled beautifully. “Indeed. My Prince Consort alone is worth a thousand armies.”

Yun Chi said modestly, “It’s not quite that exaggerated. Regardless, I will stay by your side.” Despite her words, the smile on her face grew wider.

As they talked, they walked back. In the distance, Qi Mingyan and Shisong had also returned, but things didn’t look good. Qi Mingyan still had a stern face, while Shisong looked full of anxiety.

Yun Chi and Ye Xuejin exchanged a look, about to go over and ask, when Zhou Wu’s voice came from behind them.

“Your Highness, I have a matter to report.” He had overheard them mentioning the Zhou family and was reminded of something.

Ye Xuejin stopped and turned to Zhou Wu. “Rise and speak.”

After Zhou Wu stood up, he looked a bit nervous. “It is only a guess on my part. Does Your Highness remember that night when we tracked those thugs from the mine and encountered Your Highness and the Prince Consort halfway…?”