Transmigrated into the Scum Female Consort - Chapter 18

The commotion instantly drew everyone’s attention to their side.

Yun Chi unleashed a string of verbal abuse, then kicked Ye Xuejin on the leg again.

Ye Xuejin lowered her gaze to the ground, standing motionless, as if her soul had left her, showing no reaction or resistance.

Only then did Yun Chi look at Zeng Laosan, wondering if the show could wrap up.

Unexpectedly, Zeng Laosan frowned and snapped the whip over again: “I think you don’t want fish bones; you want a beating.”

Originally, according to his plan, Ye Xuejin’s condition should have been very poor, but he thought Ye Xuejin looked better than the other prisoners.

Since the desired effect wasn’t achieved, he had to push this beggar again.

Zeng Laosan was ruthless and threw out another lash.

Yun Chi took three whips in a row. The pain was excruciating, and she nearly passed out.

This dog is trying to kill me!

Seeing that Zeng Laosan was about to strike again, she had no choice but to dive and push Ye Xuejin to the ground.

“I’ll teach you to look! I’ll teach you not to block me! I’ll beat you to death…”

“Elder Sister Ye!” Zhou Qiyue, a few steps away, couldn’t help but stand up.

Old Censor Zhou grabbed his daughter’s sleeve and pulled her back down: “Sit still. If you meddle again, don’t recognize me as your father.”

Zhou Qiyue wanted to help Ye Xuejin but was also afraid of her stern father. She could only say, feeling wronged, “Father, you are the one who said we should harbor kindness, or the Star Lord of Literature might not favor our family if he saw us stand by and watch such injustice.”

Old Censor Zhou: “…” That makes too much sense. He almost stood up himself to act righteously.

He sighed softly: “It’s all my fault for spoiling you. Move closer.”

Seeing the profound look on her father’s face, Zhou Qiyue obediently scooted closer.

Old Madam Zhou timely turned her body slightly, blocking the view of the whispering father and daughter.

Old Censor Zhou gave a meaningful look while comforting his impatient daughter: “Do you understand now?”

Zhou Qiyue shook her head blankly, her eyes full of the desire for knowledge. Understand what?

Old Censor Zhou clicked his tongue: “If you don’t understand, watch patiently. You are not needed to show off your skills this time.”

After saying this, he nudged his lips toward two separate directions.

Hearing that last sentence, Zhou Qiyue seemed to realize something and finally began to see the pattern.

Yun Chi was still scolding and beating Ye Xuejin. The sight of the prisoners was focused on that side, but two people, just like her moments ago, had involuntarily stood up.

Yu Lu’s face was grim, his brows tightly furrowed, looking like he wanted to intervene but was hesitant.

The other was the woman named Shi Niang. Compared to Yu Lu’s hesitation, she was much more direct, staring at Yun Chi with eyes that were cold and sharp, as if she might lash out at any moment.

Zhou Qiyue managed to see something, but couldn’t help but worry: “Father, will those two help Elder Sister Ye?”

Why are they just standing there watching? Neither of them is moving.

“Ah!”

Just then, Ye Xuejin let out a scream of pain.

Shi Niang suddenly flew up, grabbed Yun Chi’s collar from behind, and yanked her up.

Almost simultaneously, Yu Lu also strode over, drawing his saber and pointing it at Shi Niang: “Let her go.”

Zhou Qiyue stared dumbfounded. What kind of turn is this!

Everyone was holding their breath, terrified. This night is not peaceful.

Shi Niang scoffed: “I thought Sir Yu was a good official, but I didn’t expect you all to be in cahoots, ignoring the evil perpetrator and instead trying to stop me.”

Yu Lu’s expression did not change: “I agreed to take you along, but you must abide by your roles. None of these prisoners may be touched.”

Shi Niang met his gaze for a moment, let out a cold laugh, and let go of Yun Chi.

Only then did Yu Lu sheath his saber, and then he unclipped the whip from his waist.

Yun Chi was abruptly grabbed and hadn’t even processed what happened before she was slammed to the ground, and a whip landed on her back just as she tried to get up.

“This official has said, no attacking…” Yu Lu sternly reprimanded, bringing the whip down mercilessly. ！！！！！

Yun Chi didn’t bother getting up and just started rolling on the ground.

Seriously, is there any justice left in the world?

If she didn’t fight, Zeng Laosan whipped her. If she did fight, Yu Lu whipped her.

Do they want her to live or not!

In just this short time, she felt like her back was flayed open, and the pain was almost numbing.

In a corner no one was paying attention to, Ye Xuejin’s face paled. She suddenly stood up and shielded Yun Chi.

“I beg for your mercy, Sir.”

She looked at Yu Lu, who was holding the whip high, her face filled with shock and fear, but her body resolutely blocked Yun Chi. Her tone was firm.

Yu Lu clenched the whip, his chest suddenly feeling heavy and suffocated. In the end, he lowered his hand, turned around, and walked back to the bonfire.

He was truly angry at her weakness! Angry at her failure to fight back!

Beside them, Shi Niang was momentarily startled, then gave Ye Xuejin a deep look before turning and returning to her group of young women.

As for Yun Chi, seeing the two of them leave, she immediately went back to being aggressive, angrily cursing at Ye Xuejin: “Why couldn’t you have come out and blocked me sooner! What terrible sin did I commit in my past life to marry an ill-omened woman like you, bah…”

But this time, she only verbally abused her and did not strike her again.

Zhou Qiyue stared blankly, then pulled back her gaze: “Father…”

She didn’t understand why the Princess Royal would be so ungrateful and weak.

Old Censor Zhou quietly stroked his beard, saying nothing, but unknown emotions flickered in his eyes.

Something is wrong. I think I misjudged the situation…

Seeing him lost in thought, Zhou Qiyue couldn’t help but mumble, “Why doesn’t Sir Yu solve the problem at the root? He should just deal with that Zeng Laosan.”

She had also figured out that Yun Chi seemed to be following Zeng Laosan’s instructions. Those two were the true culprits, the hateful ones.

Old Censor Zhou spoke this time: “The waters are deep here. Don’t get involved, and don’t overthink it. Hurry up and rest. We have to travel early tomorrow morning.”

Zhou Qiyue lowered her head gloomily and kept silent.

Old Censor Zhou quietly glanced at Zeng Laosan. The root of the problem? That man was only a small branch.

Thinking of something, he stood up: “Da Lang, come with me to the river to wash up.”

“Yes,” Zhou Qishan hurried to follow.

Halfway there, Old Censor Zhou stopped: “You tell me, what are all the tricks and schemes at play here.”

His daughter was still young and only partially understood court affairs, so her confusion was normal.

But his son was a father himself and had entered officialdom. If he also failed to understand, he needed correction.

Zhou Qishan thought for a moment and explained logically: “Zeng Laosan should be the person arranged by ‘that person’ (the Emperor), while Sir Yu is protecting the Princess Royal. These two represent two factions of power. Although their goals are different, neither dares to openly oppose the other.”

“Continue.”

“One wants the Princess Royal dead, but cannot leave any evidence behind. The other wants the Princess Royal to live, but does not want to give people cause for gossip.”

Old Censor Zhou nodded: “Elaborate further.”

“No matter how the Princess Royal dies, ‘that person’ will be criticized. Only by having the Princess Royal die at the hands of the Princess Consort can ‘that person’ completely distance themselves. No matter how the people of the world speculate, they can attribute it to the Princess Royal marrying the wrong person. Once a woman’s death is tied to matters of love and affection, no one can determine the right and wrong. This is an open plot.”

Old Censor Zhou looked at his son with satisfaction: “Not bad.”

Therefore, the most crucial person in this entire scheme was the Princess Consort, Yun Chi.

Zeng Laosan’s orders must be to only eliminate Ye Xuejin through Yun Chi’s actions.

Yu Lu, conversely, had the opposite objective: to keep an eye on Yun Chi and ensure the Princess Royal safely reached the Southern Border.

The father and son exchanged a look; the remaining words didn’t need to be said.

Over here, Yun Chi was wincing from the pain and cursed again: “Why aren’t you helping me to the river to wash up! You have no common sense, you are truly a jinx…”

Ye Xuejin kept her head lowered, adopting the appearance of a submissive, long-suffering wife. No matter how much Yun Chi cursed her, her heart was still focused on tending to Yun Chi, diligently supporting her, which made onlookers sigh in pity.

Once they had walked some distance, Yun Chi stopped cursing and whispered, “You shouldn’t have come out to block me. If they had seen through the act, all the effort we put in earlier would have been wasted.”