Transmigrated into the Scum Female Consort - Chapter 115

Just then, Qi Mingyan returned from her meeting with Wu Hu. Seeing Yun Chi and Shisong standing outside the door, she greeted Yun Chi before turning to Shisong. “Any discoveries?”

“Yes, Sister Shi Niang has already taken someone inside…” Shisong repeated the story of how they found the middle-aged man.

Qi Mingyan nodded slowly. Knowing that Ye Xuejin was conducting an interview inside, she joined them in waiting outside the door.

A moment later, the study door opened, but only Shi Niang stepped out.

“Greetings, Prince Consort. Greetings, Counselor,” Shi Niang bowed and took her place beside Shisong.

Yun Chi frowned slightly. “Is Her Highness questioning him alone?”

“The man requested to report to Her Highness in private,” Shi Niang answered honestly.

Without a second thought, Yun Chi pushed the door open and walked in. There were things Shi Niang couldn’t hear, but she could. Most importantly, it was unwise for Ye Xuejin to be alone with a strange man. Even though the “Death Calamity” predicted for the Princess had passed, Yun Chi still couldn’t feel at ease.

Inside the study, the middle-aged man stopped mid-sentence upon seeing someone enter, a flash of surprise crossing his eyes. At a time like this, anyone who dared to interrupt the Princess must hold an extraordinary status.

Ye Xuejin’s words confirmed his suspicion: “The Consort is no outsider. Commander Wu, please continue.”

As it turned out, the man was the Commander of the Guards for the Governor of Mozhou—and the Governor’s most trusted confidant. Yun Chi studied Commander Wu and remembered: the mysterious man who had left the warning letter the night before they reached Yangzhou had a similarly burly build.

The Governor of Mozhou had clearly intended to show goodwill long ago. As expected, Commander Wu spoke of that night. “The Governor is surrounded by Yangzhou spies. To avoid alerting the enemy, I was ordered to sneak out of the city and leave the letter…”

Having received news of the changes in Yangzhou, the Governor had finally cleared his own house of spies and sent the Commander to make formal contact. Bringing Wu Hu along was partly a coincidence and partly a gesture of sincerity.

After hearing him out, Ye Xuejin pondered for a moment before asking Commander Wu to wait outside. She then summoned Qi Mingyan. Though Qi Mingyan hadn’t experienced that night in the mountains, she guessed the situation from Ye Xuejin’s expression.

With no outsiders in the room, the Counselor spoke plainly: “It seems Governor Wu of Mozhou is a man who plans for a rainy day.”

Ye Xuejin penned a letter and handed it to Qi Mingyan. “I wish to test the Governor’s true depth. Mingyan, are you confident?”

Qi Mingyan took the letter and accepted the mission readily. Ye Xuejin added one more instruction: “Take a few people you trust.” Though diplomats are rarely harmed, and the Governor seemed inclined to surrender, it was better to have her own people along just in case.

Once Qi Mingyan and the Commander departed for Mozhou, Yun Chi noticed Ye Xuejin’s solemn expression. “Are you worried about Governor Wu?”

Ye Xuejin shook her head slowly. “The Governor should be a clever man.”

In just a few observations, the Governor had discerned who the real leader of the exile convoy was. After learning of the upheaval in Yangzhou, he had acted decisively, even sending his own daughter. He was sharp, farsighted, and willing to take risks. Such a man should be utilized if he had no ulterior motives, but she had to remain on guard. Who was to say Governor Wu wouldn’t become a second Zhu Yan?

In the years since her father passed, too many people had grown ambitious.

Yun Chi shared her own insight: “The Governor saw our intent but didn’t show his face, choosing instead to warn us from the shadows. He was likely weighing the pros and cons.”

By waiting until they stabilized the situation in Yangzhou before formally surrendering, his earlier warning transformed from a simple favor into “sending charcoal in a snowstorm.” He was brave, strategic, and knew how to protect himself. A truly clever man.

Hearing this, Ye Xuejin suddenly laughed—a bright, tender laugh. Yun Chi’s heart skipped a beat. “What is it? Did I say something wrong?”

Ye Xuejin’s gaze softened. “The Consort is quite right. I am simply feeling… joyful.”

Because of that phrase: “Our intent.”

“Huh?” Yun Chi was confused. They were discussing the Governor of Mozhou; why would such a serious topic bring joy?

Ye Xuejin smiled without answering. She picked up the brush she had just set down and wrote two words on the paper in a fluid script: “We/Us”.

Yun Chi was perplexed at first, then came to a realization. “Because I said ‘we’?” What was there to be so happy about?

Ye Xuejin put down the brush and looked deeply at her. “The Consort once said, ‘According to your rules.’ In those words, you set yourself apart, as if you were not part of the same world as I.”

She couldn’t describe the feeling, but she had hated hearing that phrase. She always felt the Consort was different from them… and that difference made her uneasy. Thus, hearing the word “we” made her heart leap. This time, the Consort had placed herself in the same world as her.

Yun Chi froze. The speaker meant nothing, but the listener took it to heart. She and Ye Xuejin were indeed from different worlds.

Ye Xuejin had intended to share a lighthearted moment, but seeing Yun Chi’s sudden change in expression—looking as if her deepest secret had been uncovered—the Princess’s heart throbbed. The unease that had just dissipated surged back even stronger.

“Consort?”

Yun Chi snapped back to reality, looking at her with a complex gaze. Their eyes met, and the atmosphere solidified into a heavy silence. After a long pause, Ye Xuejin spoke again: “Does the Consort have something to tell me?” Her voice was soft and slow, appearing both cautious and indifferent.

Yun Chi opened her mouth, then turned her head away to stare out the window. “I… Have you had lunch?”

Ye Xuejin’s fingers tightened unconsciously, but she showed no sign of it on her face. She remained poised. “I have. And you?”

“I’ve eaten too,” Yun Chi said, still staring at the window. “The meatball soup was good.”

“Yes, it was.” Ye Xuejin’s heart turned cold. She wanted to drop the subject, yet she couldn’t suppress the swirling suspicions in her mind. She pursed her lips and walked directly in front of Yun Chi. “Why does the Consort lack the courage to look at me?”

Yun Chi’s gaze drifted back, and she gave a forced smile. “Why wouldn’t I dare look at you?” She tried to act calm, but her face betrayed her discomfort.

Ye Xuejin reached out and covered those flickering eyes. “Is it that the Consort does not trust me?” She saw the panic and hesitation in them. She did not like it.

Yun Chi sighed inwardly and pulled the Princess into an embrace. “Ye Xuejin… don’t ask.”

Silence was her only response. After a long time, Ye Xuejin pulled away slightly and turned her back. “Fine.” Without looking back, she left the study.

Outside, Shi Niang reported softly, “The Counselor has taken Shisong and several women. Master Yu has gone as well.”

Ye Xuejin nodded blankly and went straight to her room.

“Your Highness!” Shushi greeted her with a beaming smile, but upon seeing her mistress’s expression, her heart sank. She followed her inside.

Ye Xuejin sat at the table with her eyes closed, looking exhausted. Shushi didn’t speak immediately; she stood behind her and began massaging her shoulders, just as she used to do back at the Princess’s estate. After fifteen minutes, Ye Xuejin finally opened her eyes.

“Shushi.”

“Your Highness.”

“It’s nothing,” Ye Xuejin murmured, falling silent again.

Shushi’s eyes darted around. Following a sudden realization, she asked, “Is Your Highness troubled because of the Prince Consort?”

Ye Xuejin looked up blankly. “Why do you say that?” Did Shushi sense the Consort’s ‘difference’ too?

Shushi immediately began to chatter: “In my humble opinion, this sort of thing can’t be rushed! The Consort used to be a beggar, worrying every day about a full stomach. How could she have the leisure to think of romance? It’s understandable that she hasn’t ‘awakened’ yet. But the Consort is of age; she just needs a little… guidance. Besides, I think the Consort is quite attached to you now. The moment she woke up, she asked for you…”

Ye Xuejin blurted out, “How should I guide her?”

She regretted the question as soon as it left her lips. She realized what Shushi meant.

“Well, guidance in that area, of course! Does Your Highness know how? No, wait… I mean, should I find some books—”

“No need. You may leave,” Ye Xuejin interrupted her quickly.

The Consort’s problem wasn’t that area…

Shushi assumed she was just embarrassed. Grinning, she went out to find some “Spring Palace”  illustrations. As the Princess’s “female strategist,” she had to be understanding, after all.