Transmigrated into the Scum Female Consort - Chapter 114

Ye Xuejin seemed as though she hadn’t quite regained her senses, her head slightly tilted back, her gaze dazed and vacant.

As Yun Chi calmed down, she reached out and placed her hand on Ye Xuejin’s lower abdomen, massaging it gently. “Any discomfort?”

“It is nothing…” Ye Xuejin started to speak but hesitated. It was only a kiss and… she felt no physical discomfort. However, her voice trembled ever so slightly, and her tone was exceptionally soft.

Yun Chi let out a long breath and pulled the Princess back into her arms. “Don’t speak,” she muttered. That soft tone was too enticing; she was finding it hard to restrain herself.

Ye Xuejin understood. She curled her lips into a faint smile, took Yun Chi’s finger, and rubbed it lightly against her chin. She remained silent, yet this gesture was more lethal than any words.

Yun Chi’s breathing tightened. She pulled the Princess into a tighter embrace. “We cannot continue. We must wait a few days… before…”

Ye Xuejin’s face suddenly turned a deep crimson. “I had no intention of… continuing.” Her voice was airy, as if she were overwhelmed by shame.

Yun Chi couldn’t help but chuckle. “Fine, I know you didn’t. It’s just that I keep wanting to.”

Ye Xuejin fell silent. She had felt it—the way Yun Chi had used her knee to nudge her legs apart just moments ago. Although separated by layers of clothing, and though it had only been a few moments of light friction, it had left her knees weak and her ankles tingling. The more she thought about it, the hotter her ears and cheeks burned. Her heartbeat was erratic once again.

“Consort, it is time for lunch,” Ye Xuejin said, giving a gentle push before rising from the bed.

Yun Chi gave a muffled “Mm” in response but didn’t follow her up. The alcohol was finally hitting her fully, and her head felt heavy and dizzy. Ye Xuejin glanced back at her, tucked the quilt in carefully, and walked out.

When she pushed the door open, the sound of drizzling rain pattering against the stone tiles greeted her. The cold wind brushing against her face finally began to dissipate the heat from her ears and cheeks.

Shushi and Qi Mingyan were standing on either side of the door. Seeing her emerge, they bowed in unison. “Your Highness.”

Ye Xuejin gave a slight nod and first instructed Shushi, “Have the meal sent to the study. Mingyan, dine with me.” After a brief pause, she added, “Have the kitchen set aside a portion for the Consort and keep it warm.”

“Yes.”

After the meal, Ye Xuejin took a few sips of tea before bringing up business. “I believe Wu Hu presents us with an opportunity.”

If they could persuade Mozhou to surrender without shedding a drop of blood, and then wait for Commandery Princess Wen Yi to lead the Caozhou Guard in an uprising in the southwest—then Yangzhou, Mozhou, and Caozhou, the entire Southern Realm, would be in their hands.

Qi Mingyan agreed deeply. “However, we know little of Governor Wu. It may be unwise to place all our hopes on Wu Hu alone.”

After all, Wu Hu herself had admitted that her parents didn’t believe her “dreams.” She had secretively left home to find the “variable” from her nightmare—Ye Xuejin.

Ye Xuejin pondered for a moment and smiled. “Perhaps we don’t need to do much at all.”

“What does Your Highness mean?”

“The night before the exile convoy arrived in Yangzhou, someone gave us a secret warning…” Ye Xuejin recounted the events of that night. At the time, she hadn’t had many clues, but thinking back carefully now, she saw a pattern.

The Emperor had ordered their assassination, and Yangzhou had received a secret decree not to open the gates to help them. That was clear. However, the mysterious person’s letter had warned of more than that. Besides telling them not to move forward, it told them not to turn back either, stating that their only path to survival was to enter the mountains.

Qi Mingyan listened and came to a realization. “Mozhou must have received a secret decree as well—just like Yangzhou, they were forbidden from opening their gates.”

Thus, the mysterious man who delivered the message was likely someone from Mozhou. Perhaps even one of Governor Wu’s men. Only someone of high status could know the contents of a secret imperial decree. Zhu Yan or the late Governor Zhou were unlikely candidates; otherwise, they would have declared their allegiance by now.

That left only Governor Wu of Mozhou.

Ye Xuejin nodded. “I am thinking that Wu Hu being able to find her way to Yangzhou might have been a test.”

How could a daughter, believed by her parents to be ill and kept in a heavily guarded Governor’s estate, leave so smoothly? How could she travel all the way here without Mozhou releasing any news of a search?

Qi Mingyan caught on instantly. “Governor Wu arranged for someone to protect Wu Hu in the shadows!” She immediately asked, “Should I have Shi Niang take some people to investigate secretly?”

While Shisong was alert, she lacked experience. If someone was truly observing from the shadows, Shisong might not have noticed them.

Ye Xuejin nodded. “It is also time to see Wu Hu again.”

“Understood. Please await good news, Your Highness.”

Qi Mingyan left the room, first giving instructions to Shi Niang before going to see Wu Hu. Meanwhile, Ye Xuejin stood by the window and looked at the sky. The rain in Yangzhou came and went in fits; it had already stopped.

Seeing someone walking past in the distance carrying a food tray, her lips curved unconsciously. The Consort was likely awake. Ye Xuejin turned to return to her room but stopped herself at the door. She pressed a hand to her chest, feeling her quickened heartbeat.

The Consort will surely come looking for me after she eats…

On the other side, Yun Chi woke up after a short nap. When she opened the door, she found Shushi waiting outside. Before she could speak, Shushi preempted her.

“Please wait a moment, Prince Consort. I shall have the meal brought over immediately. Her Highness gave instructions early on…” Shushi intentionally elaborated. Since her mistress liked the Consort, then whatever she did for her should be known. Doing without speaking was no good; speaking without doing was worse. Her Highness was shy, so Shushi took it upon herself to be the “female strategist” who bridged the gap.

Yun Chi was indeed touched. Having someone worry about whether you slept well or ate enough made her heart feel warm. This feeling made her want to see Ye Xuejin sooner.

“Where is Her Highness?” Yun Chi asked quickly after finishing her meal.

“Her Highness is in the study. Go quickly, Consort,” Shushi replied with a beaming smile.

Yun Chi nodded and turned around, her footsteps light. Before she even reached the study, she saw a figure standing by the window. Ye Xuejin was gazing outside quietly.

Yun Chi quickened her pace, but someone beat her to it. Shi Niang, accompanied by a middle-aged man, knocked on the door first. The figure by the window moved away.

Yun Chi decided to wait outside.

“Greetings, Prince Consort.” Shisong arrived a moment later. Seeing Yun Chi, she gave a proper bow.

Yun Chi signaled her to skip the formalities. “Did you go out with Shi Niang?”

The girl was soaked, her shoes and trousers caked in mud. She had clearly been out in the rain.

Shisong’s expression dimmed for a second before she braced herself. “The Counselor ordered Shi Niang to scout around the estate, saying someone might be following Miss Wu. I went with her. We actually found a suspicious man. I was careless before; I will be more careful in the future…”

The man had admitted immediately that he was there to protect Miss Wu. When Shi Niang mentioned the Princess wanted to see him, he hadn’t refused.

Currently, the man was inside the study with Shi Niang. Yun Chi looked at the study door. Thinking of that middle-aged man, she felt his silhouette looked oddly familiar, though she was certain she had never seen his face before.