Transmigrated into the Scum Female Consort - Chapter 44

After the soldier ran back, the exile party was allowed to enter.

As they entered the city, most of the crowd showed no unusual signs, but Xiao Gao was visibly nervous, which drew extra glances from the soldiers.

However, because Commandant Hu had already given the order, and the party included the notable figure Ye Xuejin, the soldiers did not pry further.

Upon entering the city, Yu Lu, following custom, inquired along the way and found the official government inn.

Compared to Zhenshan County, the official inn in Caozhou City was much stricter. Not only did they refuse to provide rooms for the criminals, but they also demanded that the criminals’ hands be bound, or they would not be allowed to enter.

Yu Lu could only whisper to Ye Xuejin, “I apologize that Your Highness must endure this hardship.”

With that, he accepted the hemp rope given by the inn’s servants and, with a few constables, tied the hands of all the criminals. Not even little Ying’er, the five-year-old child, was spared.

This was because the inn’s servant argued, What if the child assists the criminals in escaping and the criminals take the opportunity to commit violence?

Only then did the servant allow them to enter the inn, but the criminals were restricted to the empty stable in the back courtyard.

As the crowd entered, they immediately stood on their tiptoes, their faces full of disgust.

“Oh, don’t push me! I stepped on horse manure,” someone cried out, hopping.

“Move aside a bit, hurry and walk further inside,” the people behind urged impatiently.

The cramped stable instantly became noisy and filled with resentment.

Yun Chi was also speechless, as the stable floor was not only dirty but also foul-smelling.

She suddenly felt that she had been too greedy earlier. Compared to this stable, sleeping in the wild would have been better.

Fortunately, everyone’s attitude toward her and Ye Xuejin had shifted. They consciously kept a distance from them so as not to crowd them.

Even so, the environment was uncomfortable, and the criminals kept arguing.

Ye Xuejin saw Yun Chi frowning and looking distressed, and she couldn’t help but look at Zhou Qiyue beside her.

Zhou Qiyue and Shi Song were right behind her, constantly watching the ground and their surroundings, afraid that someone blind to the situation would crowd Ye Xuejin again.

“Xiaoyue.”

Zhou Qiyue quickly turned around: “Your Highness.”

Ye Xuejin said calmly, “Ask everyone to quiet down. I do not like noise.”

Hearing this, Zhou Qiyue immediately raised her voice: “Silence, all of you!”

The loud shout startled everyone into silence, and they all looked toward Zhou Qiyue.

They saw Zhou Qiyue glaring at them, her eyes wide with anger and an intimidating demeanor.

The Zhou family members silently averted their gaze, understanding that their young lady had received another instruction from the Grand Princess to prove herself.

Shi Niang and the young women were already quiet. Seeing the situation, they moved closer to Ye Xuejin. The Zhou family servants squeezed together, honestly clearing a path.

Just then, Xiao Gao rushed in, hugging a bundle, looking flustered. After running close, he pinched his nose and stopped outside the stable.

He glanced around the crowd, his expression somewhat shifty.

The Zhou family servants were inside. Standing toward the outside were the female dependents.

Xiao Gao quickly scanned the crowd, his gaze fixing on Shi Song’s face.

“You, you, come here for a moment.”

Shi Song was already standing on the periphery, close to the entrance. Seeing that neither Ye Xuejin nor Shi Niang stopped her, she walked over upon hearing the call.

Xiao Gao quickly untied Shi Song’s rope and handed the bundle into her hands: “Hide this well. If anyone comes, don’t forget to pretend to tie your hands.”

Shi Song looked at the bundle in her hands and saw the dried bloodstains on it. She suddenly realized something.

“This… this wouldn’t be the constable’s head, would it?”

She remembered that this young constable, surnamed Gao, seemed to have wrapped up Zeng Laosan’s head.

“What, are you scared?” Xiao Gao lifted his chin, and without waiting for Shi Song’s answer, he tossed out a line, “I’m not a coward.”

With that, he turned and ran away.

Shi Song: “…”

The crowd: “…”

Zhou Qiyue rolled her eyes: “Is he sick?”

Shi Song was in deep agreement and nodded very seriously: “Looks like he has some issues.”

Then, she carried the bundle back to Ye Xuejin and Yun Chi.

Yun Chi: “…” Seriously, she just carried Zeng Laosan’s head in here!

Suddenly, the image of Zeng Laosan flashed in her mind. She quietly shifted her feet, moving behind Ye Xuejin, keeping some distance from Shi Song.

Ye Xuejin was also looking at Shi Song at this moment, slightly frowning. She commanded, “Untie Shi Niang immediately.”

Shi Song placed the bundle at her feet and immediately complied.

Ye Xuejin then gestured for Shi Niang to lean in, quietly speaking only eight characters: “Dispose of it cleanly, go and return quickly.”

Shi Niang instantly understood. She picked up the bundle, leaped up, and quietly left the inn.

The stable was silent; no one knew what was happening.

Before long, Shi Niang returned.

Only then did Ye Xuejin’s eyes show a sense of peace. She had been careless, forgetting that Xiao Gao had been carrying Zeng Laosan’s head and hadn’t dealt with it in time.

Yun Chi had been watching quietly. Seeing that Ye Xuejin’s expression seemed to have lightened, she inexplicably felt a sense of relief herself.

Ye Xuejin suddenly remembered something and abruptly turned to look at Mu Er in the corner.

The crowd involuntarily followed her gaze. Mu Er instinctively took half a step back, his back pressing against the wall.

Facing so many stares, he asked nervously, “Your Highness?”

Ye Xuejin only glanced at him, then addressed the crowd: “If anyone comes for a routine search, I hope you do not prove my trust in you to be misplaced.”

“Rest assured, Your Highness. The Zhou family will not speak carelessly.” Old Imperial Censor Zhou was the first to react. Something must have happened in the front courtyard, which was why Xiao Gao had frantically brought Zeng Laosan’s head over.

However, Xiao Gao was ultimately short-sighted. He didn’t seem to realize that if someone genuinely came to search for something, they wouldn’t spare them, the criminals.

Judging by Xiao Gao’s actions, it was highly likely a decision the young man made in a moment of desperation and had not informed Yu Lu. Otherwise, given Yu Lu’s nature, he would not have made such a major blunder.

Fortunately, they had Shi Niang, who was skilled in martial arts, in the team; otherwise, they truly wouldn’t have been able to avoid this trouble.

Ye Xuejin thought the same. Yu Lu likely didn’t know that Xiao Gao had delivered the head. If he knew…

“Your Highness!”

Yu Lu thought of what Xiao Gao had secretly told him moments ago, and he was terrified.

He had been foolish. It was inconvenient to dispose of it on the mountain, but once they descended, Zeng Laosan’s head should have been buried.

Yu Lu was filled with remorse. He had just reached outside the stable and called out “Your Highness,” when a strong, steady voice came from behind him.

“Lord Yu, what is the rush you are in?”

Yu Lu suddenly turned around, his fist unconsciously clenching: “Commandant Hu, why have you come here? This place is filthy. Let’s go to the front courtyard to speak.”

“What are you saying, Lord Yu? Serving the imperial court is my duty, and no matter how filthy the environment is, I cannot be afraid.” Commandant Hu said, raising his hand and gesturing forward, “Search them! Do not let a single person go unsearched.”

“Commandant Hu!” In his desperation, Yu Lu raised his voice.

“Lord Yu,” Ye Xuejin called him calmly. “Cooperating with the officers in handling a case is the duty of every citizen of Great Shao.”

The implication was clear: Don’t block them, don’t panic. Let them search.