Transmigrated into the Scum Female Consort - Chapter 34

As for the specifics of what to say, you can make it up as you go.” Yun Chi explained her plan.

Although they could use the words of the ‘Celestial Being’ to avoid the crowd and operate in secret, it wouldn’t be as shocking as a direct, visible demonstration.

She wanted to make a grand gesture, thoroughly solidifying Ye Xuejin’s claims.

With only seven days left, as long as they kept the people in the exile group subdued, they wouldn’t have to worry too much.

Upon hearing this, Ye Xuejin subconsciously looked at her own hands, vaguely sensing something in her heart. Could it be that Fù Mǎ’s divine ability cannot be used arbitrarily, and that the things appearing out of thin air are not inexhaustible?

Otherwise, why the repeated insistence that it must first pass through my hands…

Seeing her reaction, Yun Chi slowed her breathing and tightly held Ye Xuejin’s hand.

Looking into her eyes, Yun Chi whispered softly: “Don’t ask, and don’t investigate, alright?”

Ye Xuejin’s gaze softened: “Alright.”

Immediately after, she stood up and looked toward the dark night sky.

The moment Ye Xuejin looked up at the sky, everyone stared with wide eyes, feeling both hopeful and fearful. Hopeful that the Celestial Being would truly pity them and bestow food, and fearful that their words or actions just now had offended the Celestial Being and that they would be blamed.

Everyone focused intently on Ye Xuejin, their hearts practically lodged in their throats.

Ye Xuejin nodded occasionally at the night sky, as if listening to instructions.

Before long, she lowered her gaze and looked at Yu Lu.

Yu Lu immediately stood up straight, unconsciously smoothing down his clothes. He looked at Ye Xuejin, his expression very uneasy: “Your Highness, does the Celestial Being have any instructions?”

Ye Xuejin nodded: “The Celestial Being naturally pities all living things, but there is a distinction between the celestial and the mortal. All matters are predetermined, and the Way of Heaven is manifest; the Celestial Being cannot interfere too much.”

Everyone was disappointed, yet relieved. It seemed there would be no food, but thankfully, the Celestial Being was not angered either.

“However,” Ye Xuejin paused slightly, delivering a startling statement: “The Celestial Being also said that this palace has a certain affinity, and as an exception, may bestow sustenance upon us. However, this palace must choose three sincerely devoted individuals who, through concerted effort, gain the approval of the Way of Heaven. Only then can the Celestial Being grant the food.”

As she spoke, she subtly changed her self-address from an informal “I” to the more formal “this palace” (Ben Gong).

Yu Lu quickly asked: “How do we gain the approval of the Way of Heaven?”

Ye Xuejin calmly replied: “The Celestial Being has already imparted the method to this palace. Now, we only need to select three sincerely devoted individuals.”

Having said that, she briefly scanned the crowd, seemingly confirming her choices.

Everyone immediately sat up straight, feeling both hopeful and fearful. At this moment, they were absolutely sincere toward the Celestial Being and extremely desperate. Only a fool would not be sincere when sincerity could lead to food that would fill their stomachs.

Yu Lu felt he could also be sincere, so he dared to ask: “Does Your Highness already have candidates in mind?” Am I among them? I hope so…

Ye Xuejin directly announced her chosen candidates: “Fù Mǎ, Zhou Qiyue, Shi Song, are the three of you willing to try this with this palace?”

Yun Chi walked immediately to Ye Xuejin’s side, mentally applauding until her hands were raw. She had only provided the idea; the specifics of what to say to the public and how to conduct the operation were entirely up to Ye Xuejin’s execution. Clearly, Ye Xuejin had crafted a perfect story.

Shi Song reacted quickly, scrambling to her feet, and running to Ye Xuejin’s side.

“I am willing.”

Only Zhou Qiyue stood there blankly, unable to react.

Ye Xuejin looked at her: “Xiao Yue?”

Zhou Qiyue shot up, surprised and overjoyed: “Is Your Highness calling for me?” Before Ye Xuejin could respond, she shouted out loud.

“Mother, His Highness chose me!”

“Father, His Highness chose me!”

“Big Brother, His Highness did not choose you!”

Zhou Qishan: “…” Yes, he heard her.

“Xiao Yue!” Old Imperial Censor Zhou stopped her inappropriate behavior. “Be steady; what kind of appearance is that?” Although he said this, he couldn’t suppress the smile on his face. His Highness is still willing to trust a member of the Zhou family. That is good. It is not too late; the opportunity is still there.

Zhou Qiyue covered her mouth, her eyes brimming with joy. As she walked toward Ye Xuejin, her legs wobbled and crossed.

“The three of you, follow this palace.” Ye Xuejin nodded briefly to them and turned around.

“Your Highness.” Shi Niang had been intently holding her breath, waiting for Ye Xuejin’s decision. Her hopes were dashed, and she felt awful. In a moment of impulse, she couldn’t help but speak. “The selection of candidates is a matter of life and death for everyone this time. I implore Your Highness to reconsider.” If they had no food and failed to leave these mountains tomorrow, they would starve to death. How could such a critical matter be decided hastily?

Yu Lu also had some reservations and echoed: “Please, Your Highness, reconsider.” He could accept not being chosen, but why choose these three people, with not a single constable among them?

Seeing this, the others dared not speak. They also wanted to fight for a chance, but they had no previous connection with Ye Xuejin, and their status was low. How could they dare to speak rashly? Besides, even if they did, Ye Xuejin might not choose them, so it was better to remain quiet and avoid saying the wrong thing.

Ye Xuejin turned back, her eyes dark and profound: “Do you believe this palace should not have chosen them?” Her tone was calm and emotionless, yet it was pressuring, making them feel the weight of her presence.

Yu Lu fell silent. He shouldn’t have opened his mouth…

Shi Niang’s face turned pale, yet she still bit the bullet and said: “Shi Song is brave and pure-hearted, and Miss Zhou is innocent and kind. They are naturally acceptable.”

At this statement, everyone’s gaze fell upon Yun Chi. The implication was clear: the problem lay with the Fù Mǎ.

Ye Xuejin’s eyes grew cold as she looked at the crowd: “Do you all believe this as well?”

The crowd quickly averted their gazes, lowering their heads in silence. Sometimes, silence also represented an attitude. They hadn’t forgotten how Yun Chi had treated Ye Xuejin before. Although she had restrained herself now, she was, after all, a person with such a record. Could she be trusted?

Ye Xuejin glanced at Shi Niang but said nothing more, only throwing out a single sentence: “Fù Mǎ is the most sincerely devoted person to this palace.”

With that, she turned around without looking back, took Yun Chi’s hand, and walked forward.

Shi Song and Zhou Qiyue hurriedly followed.

Behind them, the crowd fell into collective silence, no one speaking.

Shi Niang’s body remained rigid, taking a long moment to process the words…

Here, Ye Xuejin and the others had walked a little further away. They did not carry torches, and there was no cover on the mountain path, but this distance was sufficient.

Ye Xuejin looked at Shi Song and Zhou Qiyue, her tone gentle: “Do you two also think this palace should not have chosen Fù Mǎ?”

Shi Song quickly shook her head: “No.” Her thoughts were simple. She was already lucky to be chosen and would never interfere with the Princess Consort’s decision.

Zhou Qiyue hesitated before kneeling down: “This commoner would not dare.”

Ye Xuejin raised her hand to signal her to stand up and said unhurriedly: “Since this palace chose you, it trusts you. Listen carefully to what I am about to say: besides the four of us, you must never speak of this to outsiders.”

Ye Xuejin had her reasons for choosing Shi Song and Zhou Qiyue. Firstly, she had observed that both Shi Song and Zhou Qiyue were simple-minded and straightforward people. Furthermore, both were young, making them easier to handle and, in short, easier to convince. Secondly, one belonged to Shi Niang’s group, and the other was from the Zhou family. In the exile group, aside from the six constables and the Mu brothers, the remaining members consisted of the fifteen people of the Zhou family and the six led by Shi Niang. Therefore, if people were to be chosen, they had to come from the Zhou family and Shi Niang’s group.

Shi Song and Zhou Qiyue nodded vigorously as a guarantee.

“In truth, Fù Mǎ was not chosen by this palace, but by the Celestial Being. The Celestial Being can see through hearts and proclaimed that Fù Mǎ is the most sincerely devoted person to this palace… Therefore, the Celestial Being showed mercy and specifically permitted Fù Mǎ to also hear the celestial speech.”

Shi Song and Zhou Qiyue were stunned. Did that mean… the Fù Mǎ could also communicate with the Celestial Being!

Ye Xuejin continued: “What you need to do is very simple. The Celestial Being will first bestow the food into Fù Mǎ’s hands, then it will be passed to this palace, and then through your hands. After one cycle, if the food does not disappear in anyone’s hands, then that person is sincerely devoted.”

Following this, she looked at Yun Chi: “Begin.”

The moment her voice fell, a box of self-heating rice appeared in Yun Chi’s hand.

Immediately after, Yun Chi passed the self-heating rice to Ye Xuejin, while mentally chanting: I still need self-heating rice.

Ye Xuejin calmly accepted it and smoothly handed it to Shi Song, who was closest to her.

Shi Song, her face full of shock, received it and passed it on to Zhou Qiyue in a daze.

Zhou Qiyue, however, drew back her hand slightly. The food had not vanished in Fù Mǎ’s hands, nor in His Highness’s hands, nor in Shi Song’s hands. That left only her. It was up to her now to see if she was sincerely devoted.

But she didn’t know how to be sincere, or what counted as sincerity. She was afraid the food would vanish when it reached her. Zhou Qiyue was practically in tears from anxiety and instinctively looked at Ye Xuejin.

Ye Xuejin smiled at her: “Do not be nervous. Sincere devotion to this palace is enough.”

Sincere devotion to this palace is enough!!

Zhou Qiyue’s mind had never worked so fast. The Fù Mǎ was the most sincerely devoted person to His Highness and was therefore favored by the Celestial Being, specially permitted to hear the celestial speech. The facts proved that the Fù Mǎ was truly sincere because the food did not vanish. She understood now! The key was to be sincere to His Highness, to be loyal to His Highness! If the Fù Mǎ could do it, and Shi Song could do it, then she could do it too!

“This commoner swears that in this life, I will be sincerely devoted and forever loyal to Your Highness! If Your Highness says one, I will not say two; if Your Highness goes East, I will not go West; if Your Highness kills, I will bury the body… Your Highness! I succeeded!”

Zhou Qiyue closed her eyes and shouted loudly to steel her courage, rattling off words without thinking. At the same time, she reached out and felt the solid weight of the food in her hand. She abruptly opened her eyes.

Wuwuwu, she was truly talented! She had finally figured it out at the critical moment.

“Your Highness, this commoner will be loyal to you for a lifetime, forever.”