Transmigrated into the Scum Female Consort - Chapter 11

Yun Chi pondered for a moment, thinking she could take out the tea egg first, as eggs were small and easy to conceal.

After making her decision, she looked at Ye Xuejin, and their eyes met unexpectedly.

The moonlight was very bright. Once their eyes adjusted, they could clearly see each other’s blinking eyelashes.

Ye Xuejin was naturally born beautiful and moving. When her eyes focused on one person, they were like a clear spring reflecting the moonlight, with light and shadow swirling together on the ripples, revealing a quiet and wonderful warmth.

But in the night veiled by the moonlight, that quiet warmth seemed separated by a layer of mist, making it difficult to see clearly, yet possessing a hazy beauty.

Yun Chi was momentarily stunned. She quickly gathered her wits and shifted her gaze.

Ye Xuejin acted as if she hadn’t noticed anything—not noticing that her gaze at the other person’s eyes was overly focused, nor noticing Yun Chi’s momentary daze.

She calmly placed the water flask in Yun Chi’s hand, then turned her back again.

Yun Chi took the water flask, tied it to her waist, and drifted off into a deep sleep.

Close to dawn, the temperature dropped significantly again. Autumn dew silently condensed into frost, and many people woke up, shivering.

They had been woken up by the cold.

Yun Chi was no exception. After getting up, she quickly moved her limbs in place to warm up.

“This weather is too cold. How are we supposed to sleep outside from now on?”

Ye Xuejin rose immediately after, looking at the white frost on the dead grass, and said wistfully, “Winter is coming soon.”

Autumn was about to pass. She wondered if they could reach the southern frontier before the beginning of winter.

Beside them, Madam Zhou had been coughing since waking up. Elder Minister Zhou silently took off his outer prisoner’s uniform, leaving only a thin undergarment on his body.

“Madam, wear this.”

“Father!” The Zhou siblings exclaimed, then immediately began taking off their own clothes without hesitation.

“Master!” The Zhou family servants also followed suit.

“Stop, all of you! My constitution is much stronger than yours. What if you all fall ill? Don’t make things worse,” Elder Minister Zhou stopped them in time.

The others froze, but only Zhou Qiyue refuted him. “We are younger than you, how could our health be worse?”

Elder Minister Zhou snorted. “Less nonsense! All of you be obedient. I am not old yet.”

He wasn’t exaggerating.

For all the years he served as an official, he had to attend court almost every day, climbing those long steps each time. The effort he expended climbing the steps each time was greater than a young person’s daily activity level. Through long-term practice, his health was quite good.

He then forcefully put the prisoner’s uniform onto his old wife. He muttered, “Madam, don’t you know my health? Don’t worry. Even if all of you get sick, I won’t collapse.”

Madam Zhou smiled through her tears and nodded vigorously. She couldn’t drag her old man down.

Wearing one more layer and suffering less from the cold might help her recover faster and make it less likely to catch a cold.

Yun Chi watched the scene, unable to resist looking at them a few more times.

In such cold weather and on the path of exile, Elder Minister Zhou’s actions were undoubtedly moving.

Ye Xuejin shifted her gaze and swept a glance toward Yun Chi.

Perhaps they, too, would have a day like this…

Adversity reveals true affection. Since this person could promise never to abandon her, she could certainly do the same.

“Look over there.”

“Officer Yu is catching up with those women.”

Suddenly, the Mu brothers shouted together.

Everyone looked backward and saw Yu Lu on his horse in the front, with the dozen or so women following him, rapidly approaching.

Before long, Yu Lu reached the crowd, but the women did not approach further, stopping about ten meters away.

“Sir, what is the situation with them?” Xiao Gao was the first to ask.

Yu Lu frowned, a sense of helplessness in his tone. “They are all poor wretches. If they want to follow, let them follow.”

Clearly, Yu Lu had already communicated with these women and learned some of the internal details.

Hearing this, Xiao Gao discreetly did not press for more information.

Yu Lu dismounted. “Distribute the food to everyone. Fill your stomachs, and we will get on the road.”

“Yes.” Xiao Gao turned around but was stunned.

Seeing him motionless, Yu Lu asked, “What… where are our bundles?”

Mid-sentence, he realized the problem. The bundles were not on the officers’ bodies or on the ground around them.

Xiao Gao turned around with a bitter expression. “We left in a hurry last night; I didn’t pay attention.”

“We didn’t pay attention either. They might still be at the village entrance,” another officer chimed in to explain.

Yu Lu frowned, took a big step toward the dozen women, said something, and returned with a bundle in his hand.

He tossed the bundle to Xiao Gao and remounted his horse. “Distribute it to everyone. You eat first. I’ll ride back and look for the rest.”

With that, he spurred his horse and quickly rode away.

Xiao Gao then opened the bundle. Inside were a few white steamed buns, with the rest being vegetable pancakes, and not many of them—not enough for even one per person.

He couldn’t help but look at the women. Each one carried a bundle, which might not all be food, and only a few of them had water flasks tied to their waists.

It seemed they wouldn’t be much help.

Zeng Laosan also saw the contents of the bundle. His eyes shifted, and he suggested, “Let us brothers eat our fill first. We can divide the rest among them later.”

Xiao Gao subconsciously frowned, but looking at the eager eyes of the other officers, he handed the bundle to Zeng Laosan.

Subconsciously, he also felt that the prisoners deserved their plight, and they didn’t need to inconvenience themselves.

“You decide what to do with it.”

In the end, each prisoner only received half a vegetable pancake.

Yun Chi ate hers in two or three bites. Without waiting for Ye Xuejin to finish, she tugged at her sleeve and walked toward the nearby woods, deliberately using a harsh tone. “My stomach hurts. You come with me. All you do is eat; you’re completely useless. I’ll deal with you when we get back.”

After the examples of the past two days, the crowd was unsurprised, though their eyes held increased disgust toward Yun Chi.

As for Ye Xuejin, everyone felt only frustration at her lack of spirit.

Who would have thought that the Grand Princess, rumored to be peerlessly beautiful and brilliantly talented, would turn out to be such a weakling, without even a hint of resistance?

Ye Xuejin lowered her head, following Yun Chi silently, resigned to her fate.

“Sister Ye.” Zhou Qiyue couldn’t help but call out. The Grand Princess in her memory was not like this.

Elder Minister Zhou glanced at his daughter. “Stay put. Others may not need your kindness, nor may they appreciate it.”

After speaking, he stared intently at Ye Xuejin’s retreating back.

Is the person the Emperor has long been wary of, and gone to great lengths to frame, truly so weak against hardship? Has her spirit become so pliable in adversity?

How ridiculous…

Soon, Yun Chi and Ye Xuejin entered the woods. Amidst the interlacing trees, only glimpses of their clothes were visible.

“Turn your back and look that way.” Yun Chi said, then squatted down, took out two tea eggs, peeled them, and ate one herself. After standing up, she stepped on the eggshells, crushing them into the dirt, and then tapped Ye Xuejin’s shoulder.

As Ye Xuejin turned around, Yun Chi eagerly handed the egg to her. “Eat quickly, it’s still warm.”

Eating it will bring a reward! What will it be this time? If I could get more water, that would be great.

Looking at the egg offered to her, Ye Xuejin couldn’t hide her shock, even though it wasn’t the first time. How did this person conjure it?

Is it a trick, a fairy method, or a demonic art?

Seeing her in a daze, Yun Chi considerately moved the egg closer to her mouth. “Hurry and eat it while it’s hot.”

Ye Xuejin opened her mouth blankly. Her teeth were instantly filled with the fragrance of the egg, mixed with the light aroma of tea leaves. Perhaps she was too hungry, but she found it unbelievably delicious.

And Yun Chi’s eyes brightened.

[You have gifted one tea egg. Please choose a reward: One box of mineral water or one box of purified water]

It’s water!

And it’s by the box!

Yun Chi was overjoyed internally and immediately chose the mineral water.

At this point, Ye Xuejin also finished the egg. Looking at Yun Chi, whose lips were curved into a smile, she instinctively asked, “Are you very happy?”

Yun Chi snapped out of her thoughts. “Of course.”

She was absolutely thrilled; it was as if she was getting exactly what she wished for.

Huh?

Wait a minute, why again?

What was it last time? She remembered: she had complained in her mind that she had nowhere to hide things, and then she got the storage space.

It was the same this time. She wanted more water, and she got her wish.

Could it be that…

Yun Chi was deeply shocked. Could it be that the reward gives me whatever I want? Is it that amazing?

As her thoughts raced, a soft voice, tinged with uncertainty, reached her ear.

“Why are you suddenly so happy?” Confusion flashed in Ye Xuejin’s eyes. In such distress, can one still be happy?

For some reason, she suddenly really wanted to know the reason for Yun Chi’s happiness.

Yun Chi smiled. “As long as you are fine, I will be happy.”

(As long as you are fine, I will be happy)

Ye Xuejin froze. The sentence repeated in her mind as if an echo.

Something began to grow in her heart, bringing sunshine, fine rain, and tender green shoots to that nearly dead world.

“Let’s go quickly. When we get back, look a little more wronged,” Yun Chi saw Yu Lu riding back on his horse. She had just lifted her foot but stepped back down. “Wait a minute, turn your back again.”

With a whole box of water, it would be self-inflicted torture to remain thirsty.

She clearly sensed that this box contained twenty-four bottles, each over five hundred milliliters.

If she could get a little more food, she would lack for nothing to eat or drink. Wouldn’t the remaining twelve days be easy to get through?

As long as she endured until Ye Xuejin was exonerated, she could save her own life and regain her freedom.

It was also a perfect opportunity to test if she could get the reward she desired.