Transmigrated into the Scum Female Consort - Chapter 108

The fingers resting on the corner of her lips were slightly cool, rubbing back and forth with a lingering touch that seemed reluctant to leave.

“Consort…”

As the crimson lips parted to speak, the fingers beside them jerked away as if scorched. An abrupt silence filled the air. Ye Xuejin pursed her lips, a hesitant expression crossing her face.

Yun Chi steadied her breathing and sat up. “I’m going to wash my hands.”

“Consort,” Ye Xuejin said, reaching out to catch her sleeve in time. “Not tonight.”

Yun Chi turned back, blabbing out, “What do you mean, ‘not tonight’?” They hadn’t even tried yet; how did she know it wouldn’t work?

Ye Xuejin lowered her gaze, her voice dropping an octave. “It just isn’t possible.”

Yun Chi sat back down beside her. The words circled her tongue several times before she finally couldn’t hold back. “Can you tell me why? I’m not in a hurry, I just want to know if I did something wrong, or if you’re nervous. To be honest, I’m nervous too…”

The more she spoke, the more disorganized she became. Yun Chi eventually trailed off into silence. She just wanted to find the root of the problem so they could solve it together.

Ye Xuejin kept her lashes lowered and took Yun Chi’s hand, her speech slow and gentle. “It is simply that… I am ‘indisposed’ these few days.”

Yun Chi studied her for a moment before a look of sudden realization dawned on her face. “Are you feeling unwell? Is it… your monthly cycle?”

“Mm.”

Yun Chi leaned in closer. “Does it hurt? Quick, get under the covers to stay warm.”

Ye Xuejin looked up at her with a faint, knowing smile. “It’s no major issue. You should get into bed too, Consort.”

“Alright.” Yun Chi’s voice softened unconsciously as she moved to blow out the candles.

Stripping off her outer layers and climbing into bed, she slid under the quilt and immediately reached out to touch Ye Xuejin’s lower abdomen.

“Consort?” Ye Xuejin’s voice was filled with startled confusion as she firmly grasped Yun Chi’s wrist.

Yun Chi shook her wrist helplessly. “I just want to help warm it up and massage it for you.” This woman… does she really think I’m that much of a beast?

Ye Xuejin’s grip relaxed, her ears warming with embarrassment as she silently closed her eyes. As the moonlight deepened, Yun Chi massaged her gently, asking with concern, “Does it ache? If you’re uncomfortable, don’t endure it in silence. It’s not too late to call for a physician.”

“It doesn’t hurt much,” Ye Xuejin said, opening her eyes to meet Yun Chi’s gaze in the pale light. “Earlier, you said you wanted to hear me talk about ‘something else.’ What did you want to hear?”

Yun Chi’s movements paused for a split second before she resumed the massage, playing dumb. “Did I say that? I’ve forgotten.”

At a time like this, if she admitted she wanted to hear Ye Xuejin… well, that would truly be depraved.

Ye Xuejin’s lips curved upward. “The Consort definitely said it.”

Yun Chi couldn’t keep up the act. She leaned in and gave her a quick kiss on the lips. “Are you sure you want me to say it? Hmm?” That last “hmm” was melodic and thick with hidden meaning.

Ye Xuejin’s mind flashed with a certain realization, and her ears burned again. This rogue. “The Consort will not be hearing it.”

Yun Chi laughed. “That remains to be seen.”

Flustered by the shame, Ye Xuejin turned her back to her, refusing to engage further. Yun Chi embraced her from behind, her hand returning to rest gently on the Princess’s abdomen, rubbing it with a soft, steady rhythm.

After a moment of silence, Yun Chi brought up an old thread. “I don’t know the full history between Qi Mingyan and the Zhou family, but based on what I heard today, I can guess a few things. Is there something wrong with Ying’er’s identity?”

She suspected that little Ying’er was not Qi Mingyan’s biological child. Otherwise, how could a mother say she “couldn’t feel close” to her daughter? Especially since the child was only five, Qi Mingyan’s attitude was far too detached.

Ye Xuejin did not deny it. “Ying’er is indeed not Mingyan’s child.”

Having received the confirmation, Yun Chi asked no further. Instead, she shifted the topic. “Old Censor Zhou didn’t get a seat at the main table today. Looking at his expression, I’m afraid he might cause some trouble.”

“Is the Consort not curious about Ying’er’s true identity?” Ye Xuejin asked, surprised by the quick pivot.

Yun Chi smiled. “I’m a little curious, but only a little. After all, that is a private matter between Qi Mingyan and the Zhou family.”

Knowing Ying’er wasn’t her child explained the strange behavior. As for the rest, if they wanted to tell her, she would listen. If not, she wouldn’t pry.

Seeing her lack of meddling, Ye Xuejin dropped the subject. “Regarding Ying’er and the Zhou family, I believe Mingyan can handle it. As for the Old Censor, if he is wise, he will behave. If not, I will no longer tolerate his interference.”

She intended to use her enemies’ pieces, but that didn’t mean the pieces could run amok. If he hindered her plans, she wouldn’t hesitate to turn that piece into a dead end.

In another part of the Governor’s Mansion, the atmosphere was far from peaceful.

“Mingyan, what exactly does Her Highness mean? If Qiyue hadn’t interfered today, I would have dragged that brat Zhu Yan right off the main table!” Old Censor Zhou’s face was dark. The fact that he hadn’t been seated at the head table gnawed at his pride.

Qi Mingyan looked at Madam Zhou and Zhou Qiyue sitting on one side, then at the Old Censor and Zhou Qishan sitting opposite her. Weariness clouded her features. “If you only came here to discuss this, please leave. I am exhausted.”

The Old Censor’s eyes widened. He turned to his wife. “Do you hear this? Does this child still have any respect for me as her father?”

He had initially thought his son was exaggerating, but now he saw it clearly: this daughter-in-law was no longer one heart with the Zhou family.

Madam Zhou felt equally exhausted. In the capital, when all was peaceful, nothing showed. But since their downfall, the flaws of her husband and son were exposed, making it impossible to maintain even a veneer of harmony.

“Where is Mingyan wrong?” Madam Zhou countered. “If Qiyue hadn’t stopped you, imagine the scene you would have made. Did you bring us all here just to bicker over useless pride? I am tired as well. Everyone, leave.”

Dismissed by both his daughter-in-law and his wife, the Old Censor tugged at his beard so hard he nearly stood up to scream. “Rebellion! This is pure rebellion! Do you people still have any respect for me as the head of this household?”

Madam Zhou sighed deeply and looked at Zhou Qishan. “Eldest son, help your father back to his room. Do not disturb Mingyan’s peace.”

Zhou Qishan didn’t move, staring instead at the tips of his shoes. Madam Zhou’s eyes flashed with disappointment. She stood up. “Qiyue, let’s go.” Seeing that the two men still refused to budge, she cooled her expression. “Do not forget that Mingyan is now the Military Counselor. If you cannot understand your place, I will call the guards.”

At this, the Old Censor snapped. “Counselor? Does being a Counselor mean she can be unfilial? I am her father, and Qishan is her husband!” He directed these words straight at Qi Mingyan.

Qi Mingyan finally spoke up. “I did not wish to make this unnecessarily ugly. But since you see it this way, I will be blunt: I have already divorced your son. Furthermore, at the banquet today, a place was provided for Mother.”

She had divorced Zhou Qishan; there was no “father” or “husband” here. As for the main table, she could grant convenience to Madam Zhou and Qiyue, but not to the father and son who had already been treated as discarded pieces by the Princess.

The Old Censor was choked for words. “I am still more useful than those little girls!”

“Father, don’t you understand?” Zhou Qiyue couldn’t help but interject. “You aren’t as good at fighting as Shi Niang, nor are you as clever as Sister-in-law. The only thing you had to offer was loyalty, and you destroyed that with your own ‘cleverness’.”

Old Censor Zhou was furious. “I am at least more loyal than that brat Zhu Yan!”

Qi Mingyan gave a cold laugh. “That remains to be seen. Please leave.”

“What do you mean?” the Old Censor roared. “Am I inferior to that Zhu boy? He’s clearly a snake—”

“Someone, come here,” Qi Mingyan called out, refusing to argue further. You cannot wake someone who is pretending to be asleep.

Yu Lu, who had been listening to the shouting from nearby, leaped to the door immediately. “What are your orders, Counselor?”

The atmosphere froze. The Old Censor’s words were stuck in his throat. Qi Mingyan’s expression was cold. “Escort them back to their rooms. From now on, no one is to approach without my permission.”

“Yes!” Yu Lu barked, eyeing the “unwanted guests.”

The Old Censor took a sharp breath, but seeing Yu Lu draw his blade an inch from its scabbard, he threw his sleeves back in a huff. “We’re leaving! I can walk myself!”

Once they were gone, Yu Lu turned to Qi Mingyan. “Counselor, if you need anything, just call. Even if I am not here, there are guards on duty in the courtyard.”

Qi Mingyan nodded and closed the door. But the disturbance had already been noted.

In the Governor-Secretary’s study across the city, Zhu Yan listened to a guard’s report and smiled.

“You did well. Go back and keep watching, especially that Military Counselor. Watch everyone and everything connected to her.”

Once the guard left, Zhu Yan laughed softly. Look down on me, will you? Since the water is already this murky, I might as well add more fire. Only when the Princess has no one left to trust will my time truly come.