Transmigrated into the Scum Female Consort - Chapter 122

Following the Emperor’s command, the guards outside the Imperial Study and a group of inner attendants rushed into Yanyue Palace, only to find it completely deserted. Neither the Imperial Noble Consort nor the maid skilled in medicine was anywhere to be found.

It was as if the two of them had evaporated into thin air. A search of the entire Imperial Palace yielded no trace of them.

The Emperor, gnashing his teeth in fury, punched the wall. “Sss—that hurts!”

Fugui’s lip twitched. He hurriedly checked the Emperor’s hand, bowing his head to blow on the injury. “Please calm your anger, Your Majesty. You must treasure your Imperial person.”

The Emperor brushed his hand away and roared, “Have the Imperial Guards surround the Prime Minister’s Manor immediately!”

“Your Majesty, you mustn’t!” Fugui cried out, his face pale with shock.

The Emperor stared at him coldly, his gaze sinister. “And why not? What benefits has the Tao family given you that you wish to obstruct me as well?”

Fugui’s legs shook, and he sank to his knees. “This servant would not dare! Your Majesty, Prime Minister Tao is the head of all officials; his students and former subordinates are spread across the world. He cannot be moved lightly. Moreover, during such a critical time, the capital must not fall into chaos.”

Fugui felt exhausted. Here he was, a rootless eunuch, worrying about the state of the empire on behalf of the Emperor. When will this master of mine grow a brain? he wondered.

The Emperor frowned, dissatisfied. “Tao Qianhua has fled the palace in secret. What could the Tao family possibly have to say for themselves?”

Fugui lowered his head and closed his eyes. He truly wanted to wash his hands of everything, but his life was tied to this man. Having served him for so many years, even if he were to seek a new master, no one would ever trust him. Such was his fate.

“Your Majesty, Prime Minister Tao is a master of silver-tongued rhetoric. If he refuses to admit it and instead demands proof of the Noble Consort’s flight, what then? If he turns the tables and accuses the Palace of murdering her, the situation will become even harder to manage.”

The Emperor opened his mouth to speak but stopped. There was logic in those words; without physical evidence, he truly couldn’t move against the Tao family. Yet, his heart was stifled—filled with a mixture of frustration and rage.

“And the Empress? How has she been managing the Inner Palace? Bring the Empress here—arrest her!”

Fugui silently rolled his eyes and quickly whispered instructions to an attendant: “Invite the Empress here properly. You must not use force.”

Arrest her? Fugui thought. The Empress is the daughter of Zhou Chuan, the Duke of Zhen. Her father just accepted the decree to lead an army to war, and you want to arrest his daughter the next moment? That’s how you trigger a mutiny.

By the time the Empress arrived, the Emperor had calmed down slightly. He knew she was another person who couldn’t be touched easily, and the news of Tao Qianhua’s disappearance had to be suppressed. Still, his pent-up frustration needed an outlet.

“How exactly do you manage the Inner Palace? I am truly disappointed in you. Stay in your quarters and keep to yourself from now on.”

With that, the Emperor shot her a glare and stormed off.

The Empress stood there, stunned. What was that nonsense? Where else would I stay?

Fugui followed behind the Emperor, shaking his head repeatedly. Now he knows to suppress the news, but after searching so ostentatiously for half a day, how can it possibly be kept secret? He resigned himself to fate. To be stuck with such a master was truly his misfortune.

The Outskirts of the Capital, Xiangguo Temple

“Grand Preceptor, news just came from the morning court. His Majesty has ordered the Duke of Zhen to lead the Zhongzhou Guard south to suppress the rebellion.”

the Old Grand Preceptor fanned the tea kettle on the small stove, speaking unhurriedly. “Release Wen Yi’s eagle.”

“Yes, sir.”

That afternoon, an eagle soared over the Southwest Prince’s Manor. By the next morning, Ye Xuejin had received two letters: one from Caozhou, sent by Wen Yi, and one from Mozhou, sent by Qi Mingyan.

Ye Xuejin was not particularly surprised by the news of the Duke of Zhen leading fifty thousand troops toward the Southern Border. What did surprise her was Qi Mingyan’s letter. The first half stated that Inspector Wu of Mozhou had agreed to submit, while the second half mentioned meeting an old acquaintance in Mozhou.

It was an acquaintance of Ye Xuejin’s: Tao Qianhua.

“Mingyan encountered Qianhua in Mozhou.” A complex look flashed in Ye Xuejin’s eyes. The version of Tao Qianhua from Wu Hu’s dream had felt contradictory to her, filled with inconsistencies. Yet, Tao Qianhua had truly appeared in the Southern Border.

Yun Chi took the letter and finished reading it. “Mozhou isn’t far from here. It takes only a day or two by fast horse.”

The letter had been sent yesterday and arrived this morning. This meant Qi Mingyan’s group would return to Yangzhou today—along with Tao Qianhua.

Ye Xuejin frowned slightly. “Consort, you mentioned before that Qianhua might be here for Zhu Yan?”

“It was only a guess.” Yun Chi grew pensive, her expression becoming solemn. “I’m wondering if we should prevent them from meeting for now. We should test her first.”

If the heroine didn’t know Zhu Yan, that would be fine. But if she had specifically come seeking him, they would need to proceed with extreme caution.

Ye Xuejin gave a soft smile. “I had the same thought. Coincidentally, I wish to know the exact numbers of the elites in each military camp. We shall let Lord Zhu handle the verification personally.”

The verification would have to be meticulous—not a single digit out of place. It certainly wouldn’t be finished today, and he wouldn’t need to return until it was done.

Yun Chi smiled as well. “Since you’ve even prepared the excuse, what are we waiting for?”

Ye Xuejin put the letter away and summoned Shushi. “Accompany Lord Zhu personally. Do not return until the verification is complete tomorrow.”

Shushi was clever and skilled in martial arts; she was the perfect choice to keep an eye on Zhu Yan.

“Understood,” Shushi replied and departed.

After lunch, the soldiers at the city gate reported that the Military Strategist had returned with her party.

“They’re finally here.” Yun Chi couldn’t help but feel a sense of anticipation. She was about to meet the heroine—the woman who, according to her cousin’s spoilers, had spent the original story deeply mourning Ye Xuejin.