Transmigrated into the Scum Female Consort - Chapter 33

Yun Chi’s eyes held surprise, but mostly realization.

In fact, she had considered this issue when they encountered the heavy rain two days ago. At that time, everyone was in poor condition. If pursuers actually caught up, they would all be at their mercy. She knew then that helping more people was imperative, but she lacked the right timing.

Later, Yu Lu sacrificed his horse, and the pursuers did arrive. Everyone was too exhausted from the journey, and Yun Chi couldn’t even manage her own eating and drinking, let alone find a suitable opportunity, so she temporarily put the matter aside.

It wasn’t until Shi Song actively volunteered to stay behind with Shi Niang to keep watch that Yun Chi, who had a strong impression of Shi Song, felt the moment had come. If handled properly, it might make things much easier in the future, even eliminating the need to be so cautious.

With this thought in mind, Yun Chi attempted to drop a bottle of mineral water into Shi Song’s clothes, wanting to test everyone’s reaction.

What happened next was entirely unexpected for Yun Chi. She hadn’t anticipated that with Ye Xuejin’s participation, things would develop in this manner. Now, if she were to deploy supplies again, it would be more than just convenient—it would be perfectly natural.

Especially Ye Xuejin. After this incident, she had instantly become a vital presence in the group, subtly turning into the backbone for most of the people. Before, Ye Xuejin was merely a disgraced Princess Consort. Now, she was the Princess Consort who could communicate with celestial beings. And this celestial being could bestow water upon them when they needed it most.

For example, at this moment, a single glance from Ye Xuejin commanded everyone’s attention, their looks faintly tinged with awe.

Yun Chi looked at the collective action of everyone raising their heads to look at the sky, silently raising the corner of her lips. As expected of the Princess Consort; everything is within her grasp.

Ye Xuejin looked up at the clouds in the sky, concentrating intently on a single spot. After a moment, feeling the time was right, she lowered her gaze and looked at Yu Lu.

Yu Lu’s heart instantly leaped into his throat. He couldn’t help but ask: “Your Highness, did the celestial being give any instructions?” The title “Your Highness” came out naturally, as if all his earlier reservations had vanished.

Ye Xuejin said composedly: “That voice said that these water bottles are not items of this realm. After drinking, everyone should collect them together, and the celestial being will retrieve them personally.”

Yu Lu heard this and involuntarily tightened his grip on the empty bottle in his hand. He had just been examining it closely and hadn’t had time to hide it in his clothes. He had been thinking of keeping it as a family heirloom…

“Lord Yu?”

“Yes, I will do as instructed.” Yu Lu felt guilty and quickly informed everyone to hand over their bottles immediately.

The crowd exchanged glances. They were also reluctant to part with them, but the celestial being had spoken, and who dared to disobey?

Just then, Zhou Qishan shuffled his feet, hid behind Old Imperial Censor Zhou, and whispered in his ear: “Father, what should we do? Should we hand it over?”

“Didn’t you already hand it over? Get away from me!” Old Imperial Censor Zhou picked at his ear. This troublesome child really lacked manners, whispering in his ear. They had split two bottles of water, and he was the first to comply and hand his bottle over the moment he heard Ye Xuejin’s words.

Zhou Qishan noticed his father hadn’t remembered and his voice grew anxious: “It’s the other one—the one from before!” Saying this, he clutched his stomach and blinked rapidly.

Old Imperial Censor Zhou paused and grasped his beard: “His Highness only mentioned these bottles of water, meaning the ones from today. Do you understand?” Since His Highness only specified these, the previous ones were naturally not included.

Zhou Qishan understood: “I understand.”

“Keep it safe,” Old Imperial Censor Zhou instructed cautiously. That was a bottle bestowed by a celestial being, an object worthy of being passed down through the Zhou family for generations.

“I will certainly keep it safe.”

Before long, all fifteen bottles were collected and placed in front of Ye Xuejin.

“Your Highness, they are all here,” Yu Lu said, the title becoming increasingly natural. Since the law could not punish everyone, and everyone was saying it, he could not be singled out.

Ye Xuejin nodded slightly, then looked up at the sky again, simultaneously grasping Yun Chi’s hand.

Yun Chi glanced at the empty bottles on the ground. As she focused her mind, she squeezed Ye Xuejin’s palm.

Ye Xuejin timely lowered her gaze, and the ground where the bottles were placed was instantly empty.

The crowd: !!! They were certain this time; they were very calm and saw everything clearly. All those bottles instantly vanished between the Princess Consort raising and lowering her eyes.

Awe deepened in everyone’s eyes.

Ye Xuejin’s expression was composed, without the slightest change. She said calmly: “Lord Yu, the hour is growing late. Let us hurry on our journey.”

Yu Lu unconsciously nodded: “Yes, it is time to get moving.”

“Everyone listen! Get moving quickly! Faster, faster!”

Yun Chi felt a rush of adrenaline. How could she have thought Ye Xuejin was bad at acting before? She was clearly very skilled and incredibly cooperative.

After setting off, she couldn’t help but whisper: “I’ve noticed you’re quite good at acting now.”

Ye Xuejin’s eyes flickered, and she parted her red lips: “I am not acting.” She was not acting at all. Being composed in the face of adversity and never showing her joy or anger were requirements her mother had placed on her. She had been able to do this since she was very young.

Yun Chi raised an eyebrow: “Then you just… Oh, I see.” Mid-sentence, she suddenly realized. This version of Ye Xuejin was the authentic one—calm, composed, and detached. Of course, she was convincing when acting as herself; she didn’t even have to act, just behave as she normally would. Previously, Ye Xuejin was bad at acting because she was trying to feign weakness and meekness, which was outside Ye Xuejin’s nature. Therefore, at that time, Ye Xuejin could only lower her head or remain silent.

“You understand me?” Ye Xuejin’s voice was soft, as if carefully savoring the meaning of those words.

Yun Chi raised an eyebrow and smiled: “That’s right.”

“Is that so?”

“Of course,” Yun Chi answered confidently.

Ye Xuejin’s lips curved slightly: “Let’s go.” Her Fù Mǎ understood her. She was inexplicably fond of this conclusion.

As evening approached, the group was still in the mountains, with no signs of human habitation ahead. Although everyone had drunk water, their stomachs were empty, and they were gradually losing strength in their legs. As the sky grew darker, people stumbled frequently.

Yu Lu, who had adopted a more reckless attitude since Zeng Laosan’s death, completely discarded his caution after witnessing Ye Xuejin’s ability to communicate with the celestial being. As soon as it was dark, he dutifully came to consult Ye Xuejin: “Your Highness, should we travel at night?”

Ye Xuejin looked at the disheartened group and shook her head: “Everyone has barely rested these past few days. It would be best to rest for a while.”

Yu Lu nodded and then asked: “Then, in Your Highness’s opinion, can we light a fire tonight?”

Ye Xuejin surveyed the terrain: “Since we are in a valley here, as long as those people don’t guess that we changed direction, there should be no major issue.”

That means they can light a fire! Yu Lu felt relieved and immediately ordered the constables to start a fire on the spot. If they had to endure another night of freezing cold and hunger, he felt he might not be able to hold on himself.

Once the group stopped, everyone separated, sitting in groups of five or six around a fire to warm up and rest.

In an unnoticed corner, Mu Da gave Mu Er a meaningful look, signaling him to do something.

Mu Er was hesitant and mumbled: “Big Brother, His Highness can communicate with celestial beings…” The thought of what he was about to say made him nervous. What if the celestial being was watching from the sky?

Mu Da frowned, lowering his voice: “If you don’t do this, you won’t live to see your wife and child.”

Mu Er gritted his teeth, lay down on the ground, and shouted: “Constable, give me something to eat! My stomach hurts from hunger.”

When the voice fell, everyone looked at Mu Er. Surprisingly, no prisoner looked at the constables, as everyone could see that the constables also had no food left.

Yu Lu glanced at Mu Er and said sternly: “Just endure it for now.”

Mu Er secretly peeked at him, then closed his eyes and continued shouting: “Princess Consort, please have mercy! I beg you to ask the celestial being to bestow some food upon me!”

At this outburst, everyone’s attention shifted, landing on Ye Xuejin with varying degrees of scrutiny. Although they felt such thoughts were inappropriate, the harsh environment easily brought out human flaws. Some people couldn’t help but think, Yes, since the Princess Consort can communicate with the celestial being, why doesn’t she beg the celestial being to bestow food and take pity on them?

In the firelight, the eyes of some people subtly changed.

Old Imperial Censor Zhou, noticing this, glared fiercely: “To bestow or not to bestow is entirely up to the celestial being. It is already an immense blessing that the Princess Consort can hear the words of the celestial being. Do not let your ignorance anger the celestial being.”

The Zhou family servants heard this and lowered their heads, not daring to look at Ye Xuejin again.

At this point, Yu Lu also realized what was happening. Mu Er was probably a mole!

“My Lord, my brother is confused from hunger. Please don’t take his words to heart,” Mu Da quickly kicked Mu Er when he saw Yu Lu’s change of expression.

Mu Er also quieted down, turning his back and remaining silent.

Yun Chi observed the entire exchange, thoughtfully glancing at the Mu brothers. She nudged Ye Xuejin with her arm.

“Do you think they might be the same as Zeng Laosan?” Perhaps they were hiding deeper, staying inconspicuous, and only now that Zeng Laosan had died without completing his task were they giving up their cover.

Ye Xuejin glanced at the crowd: “Perhaps they are not the only two.” She was not surprised by the Mu brothers. Besides Zeng Laosan, the Emperor must have had backup plans; she just didn’t know how many.

Yun Chi was startled: Not the only two? Could that mean there were malicious individuals among the constables and the Zhou family as well?

Ye Xuejin frowned slightly, grasped Yun Chi’s hand, and whispered: “Fù Mǎ, is it convenient now?”

Yun Chi was momentarily surprised, then realized what Ye Xuejin meant. “It is convenient.” She was also starving, and she had food.

“But is it troublesome?”

Yun Chi shook her head: “Let me think.” The main issue was that the food in the storage space was a bit assorted, and with thirty-one people, it was difficult to distribute. She currently had six boxes of self-heating rice, twenty compressed biscuits, half a catty of beef jerky, and ten pieces of bread. No matter how she divided it, she couldn’t give everyone the same thing. If she mixed and matched, she worried it would break the “celestial being” persona. The food bestowed by a celestial being couldn’t be so varied and disparate—for example, self-heating rice was far superior to a compressed biscuit. Moreover, if she took out all that food, she would lose many opportunities for rewards.

Wait a minute…

Yun Chi’s eyes brightened. She leaned close to Ye Xuejin’s ear: “I have an idea that requires your cooperation. Would you like to hear it?”

Ye Xuejin turned her head to look at her, softly replying: “Yes.”