Transmigrated into the Scum Female Consort - Chapter 20

Shi Niang’s eyes darkened: “You were awake the whole time, not unconscious.”

Yun Chi looked completely lost: “No, I just got woken up by your arguing. Where is this? How did I get here?”

In fact, she hadn’t been asleep at all, nor had she passed out.

She had been preoccupied, trying hard to recall the things her cousin had complained about, attempting to find more useful information.

While she was thinking, she saw the pebbles flying through the air.

In her surprise, she instinctively tensed her body, resulting in the back of her head taking the hit.

Although Yun Chi didn’t pass out, she was dazed from the pain until Shi Niang, dodging Yu Lu’s saber, threw her to the ground, which completely snapped her back to consciousness.

At this point, Yu Lu spoke, his tone certain: “It seems you heard everything.”

This person cannot be allowed to live.

“Would you believe me if I said I didn’t hear anything?” Yun Chi quietly took two steps back. Help, am I about to be killed to silence me?

Yu Lu did not speak, but he drew his saber, making his meaning obvious: he did not believe her.

“Wait, Sir Yu, could you please allow me to ask a few questions first?”

This time, it was Shi Niang who blocked Yu Lu.

Yu Lu frowned, hugging his saber without making a sound.

Shi Niang then looked at Yun Chi: “Were you and Her Highness merely acting before?”

Hearing this, Yun Chi’s eyes lit up. She nodded repeatedly: “Exactly! We were acting! You actually figured it out. You are simply too clever. We’re on the same side!”

So, can people on the same side spare each other?

Beside them, Yu Lu hadn’t understood: “What do you mean? How are you on the same side?”

Shi Niang was about to explain her suspicion, but Yun Chi spoke first: “Both of you want to protect Ye Xuejin, right? Me too! I wish I could use my life to protect her, truly!”

No time for formality. I have to grab the answer first!

She was afraid that if she didn’t clarify things quickly, she would end up as a corpse under the saber, which would truly be awful.

Yu Lu looked at Shi Niang upon hearing this.

Shi Niang nodded, quickly explaining: “Last night, when the Sir went looking for the bundle, this person was cursing and muttering while leading Her Highness away from the crowd. I am a martial artist, and my ears and eyes are much sharper than ordinary people. I felt the movement was off at the time. Afterward, I specifically checked the area and discovered they were secretly eating something.”

And it was eggs, too. I don’t know where she got them.

Yu Lu looked at Yun Chi in surprise: “Is she telling the truth?”

“Yes, yes, she’s absolutely right,” Yun Chi nodded repeatedly, not forgetting to offer an explanation: “I used to be a beggar and was truly terrified of hunger. When I entered the Princess’s Estate, I didn’t dare touch anything, so I secretly hid some food on me, afraid that the life of luxury was just a dream. I never thought that good dreams are easily shattered, and that food really came in handy.”

After saying this, Yun Chi feigned a sigh of emotion, but inwardly she was astonished.

This Shi Niang must have seen the eggshells. Looks like I need to be even more cautious in the future and absolutely cannot let anyone find anything else.

Who would have thought Shi Niang was a martial artist? Having superior senses is one thing, but actually checking the place where they had been…

These ancient people are terrifying. Luckily, I was quick-witted and managed to spin the story.

Yu Lu asked again: “What do you mean by ‘acting’ earlier?”

Yun Chi did not rush to answer this time and looked toward Shi Niang as well. She also wanted to know how Shi Niang figured it out.

Shi Niang raised an eyebrow: “Because Her Highness did not sustain any new injuries, and she protected this person.”

She had initially thought Yun Chi was serious, even slapping her own face to prove it. But when she pulled Yun Chi away, she saw that there was no sign of swelling or redness on Ye Xuejin’s face, only her hair was messy, and Yun Chi’s hands were covered in dirt.

At that moment, suspicion arose in her heart, but she wasn’t sure.

It wasn’t until Yu Lu raised his hand against Yun Chi, and Ye Xuejin recklessly intervened to block him, that Shi Niang guessed that what she had witnessed was likely all a charade.

Because she had observed Ye Xuejin countless times from the shadows, she knew that the Princess Royal was a clear-headed person and not someone who would be swept away by love.

Coupled with her young mistress constantly praising: “Her Highness’s character is impeccable,” “Her Highness is truly a calm and wise person, I am inferior to her,” and “Her Highness’s grace is unmatched by anyone”…

Therefore, for Ye Xuejin to protect the very person who was humiliating her, that would make her an idiot.

The Ye Xuejin that Shi Niang knew was certainly no idiot.

After listening, Yu Lu looked at Yun Chi: “Why would you want to protect Her Highness?”

“I love her deeply,” Yun Chi blurted out. This reason should work, right?

Yu Lu and Shi Niang looked skeptical, both clearly unconvinced. This reason sounded utterly implausible.

Yun Chi cleared her throat and changed her answer: “The Princess Royal promised to reward me ten thousand taels of gold once her name is cleared.”

Yu Lu and Shi Niang nodded then. This reason sounded reasonably plausible.

Yun Chi was speechless for a moment, then threw the question back: “Why do the two of you want to protect the Princess Royal?”

Yu Lu cleared his throat: “It is my duty as an official.”

Shi Niang smiled slightly: “Naturally, it is seeing injustice on the road.”

Yun Chi: “…” That sounds even less plausible than my reason.

With the truth now on the table, the three temporarily lowered their guard and adopted a unified front against external threats.

Yu Lu analyzed first: “With Her Highness stepping up to block the attack, Zeng Laosan might be quiet for a couple of days. After all, he and the person behind him cannot openly attack the Princess Royal. But they certainly won’t be deterred forever. At a critical moment, I’m afraid they will make a ruthless move.”

Shi Niang couldn’t help but ask: “Sir Yu, can you confirm who else, besides Zeng Laosan, has been deployed by ‘that person’?”

If the only threat to the Princess Royal on this journey was Zeng Laosan, why not eliminate him?

“This person cannot be killed,” Yu Lu shook his head. “Firstly, this official cannot be certain if there are others arranged by ‘that person’ in this contingent. Secondly, if he meets with an accident, I, an eighth-rank prison warden, would be the first to bear the brunt. I am not afraid of death, but others will be implicated.”

On one side, the Emperor did not want to bear any blame and wanted to remain completely uninvolved, so he certainly had backup plans.

On the other side, that Lord, being a subject, could not openly confront the Emperor and could only protect Her Highness in secret.

Yun Chi agreed: “I feel the same way. Whether Zeng Laosan has accomplices or not, we must not eliminate him rashly. For now, we can only be cautious and watch their moves, responding only when necessary.”

Shi Niang looked at Yun Chi: “Then we will take things as they come. But let me state this now: whoever dares to harm Her Highness even slightly, I will take their dog’s head.”

Yu Lu also looked at Yun Chi: “The same goes for me. If Her Highness truly meets with misfortune, no one will see tomorrow’s sun.”

Having made their threats clear, they exchanged a look and turned back together.

Yun Chi: “…”

Who exactly are these two threatening?

The next day, before the sky was even light, everyone was awake, roused by the cold and hunger.

Fortunately, the city gate soon opened.

This place was called Zhenshan County, named for the mountains backing it.

Starting from Zhenshan County, the road south led into an endless mountain range, spanning a thousand li with no plains in sight.

Due to the steep terrain and poor transportation, passing merchants were rare, so the farther south they went, the more impoverished the areas they passed through, where the lives of the people were difficult.

As the gate opened, the two soldiers guarding it saw the exile party. Upon noticing the eight or nine young women in the group, they secretly exchanged a glance and enthusiastically went to meet them.