Transmigrated into the Scum Female Consort - Chapter 53

Ye Xuejin looked at the father and son making a commotion, her heart feeling complex.

When she first decided to take that step, the support she most wanted in the entire exile party was the Zhou family—it was Old Imperial Censor Zhou.

Firstly, Old Imperial Censor Zhou was a veteran of two dynasties, the top scholar personally selected by her father when he first ascended the throne, and had achieved the rare “Three Yuan” distinction. Furthermore, he came from a prestigious family, had been famous for his talent since childhood, and his scholarship was certainly extraordinary.

Secondly, Old Imperial Censor Zhou had worked conscientiously in the Censorate for many years, earning a good reputation. He was only demoted because he spoke up for a female official in court, which, in a sense, made him a kindred spirit.

But later…

Ye Xuejin recalled that time when Old Imperial Censor Zhou was clearly undecided, weighing the pros and cons.

Now, Old Imperial Censor Zhou seemed determined, but determination alone was not enough.

She now needed people she could trust, but whether these people could be entrusted with important responsibilities depended on their own abilities.

Currently, the Zhou family could be used, but no one could be heavily relied upon yet.

Especially Old Imperial Censor Zhou’s latest commotion, wasn’t it deliberately staged for her to see?

What was Old Imperial Censor Zhou trying to convey? Was the Zhou family unwilling, or resentful?

Ye Xuejin withdrew her gaze: “What does the Royal Consort think?”

Yun Chi thought for a moment and said, “I think giving one is fine, it counts as appeasing them, after all, there are too many people in the Zhou family.”

The moment she finished speaking, she felt something was off about her words.

Ye Xuejin gave her a deep look: “Is the Royal Consort wary of the Zhou family?”

Yun Chi shook her head: “Not exactly, I just feel that it would be better if everyone was more united.”

With only five days left, she just wanted to pass them peacefully.

Ye Xuejin looked thoughtful, silently holding Yun Chi’s hand: “Royal Consort, give me a sleeve crossbow.”

The Zhou family was indeed not without merit; some of them were worthy.

Yun Chi nodded. As she handed it over, she thought about the ghillie suit. She was quite looking forward to Shi Zhu’s great killer weapon.

With the Sniper Crossbow, coupled with the nearly semi-invisible ghillie suit, assassinating the enemy’s commanding general would be effortless.

Sensing a set of grass-green ghillie clothes in her storage space, Yun Chi was satisfied.

Not bad. Before leaving, she would put more effort into Shi Zhu.

It could also be considered leaving a trump card for Ye Xuejin.

As for Ye Xuejin, after receiving the sleeve crossbow, she walked towards Shi Zhu: “Come with me for a moment.”

Shi Zhu quickly followed.

Old Imperial Censor Zhou caught sight of them from the corner of his eye, his expression pausing, before he continued chasing and hitting his son.

A moment later, Shi Zhu returned with Ye Xuejin, but her hands were empty.

The divine artifact she had just received, the electric baton she treasured, was now in Ye Xuejin’s hand.

Ye Xuejin walked straight to Zhou Qiyue: “Little Yue, take it. Don’t let your father and brother cause a commotion anymore.”

As soon as she spoke, the atmosphere quieted.

Old Imperial Censor Zhou stopped hitting his son, appearing stunned, unable to recover.

Zhou Qiyue glanced at Shi Zhu, her face instantly flushed red: “Your Highness, I don’t want it.”

This divine artifact was clearly Shi Zhu’s. Shi Zhu was originally bestowed the divine artifact because she performed the best among them.

It had only been in her hands for half a day before the Grand Princess took it and gave it to her.

What was this? Did her father and brother make a fuss to get it?

She couldn’t bear this shame.

Ye Xuejin impassively swept her gaze over the pretending Old Imperial Censor Zhou, and her voice became stern: “If I tell you to take it, then take it.”

Zhou Qiyue immediately knelt down, the shame in her heart almost overwhelming her.

“Your Highness, I don’t want…”

“Take it.”

Zhou Qiyue’s nose tingled. She couldn’t tell if it was grief or embarrassment. After taking the electric baton, she almost buried her head in the ground, closing her eyes, daring not to look at anyone.

Ye Xuejin’s expression remained unchanged. She said calmly, “Now, the divine artifact is yours. Your elder brother has better skills; you may give it to him if you wish.”

Old Imperial Censor Zhou heard this and immediately clutched his beard. His mouth twitched, but whether selfishness prevailed or not, he said nothing.

Zhou Qishan was also at a loss for how to react. Was he about to get a divine artifact?

“Your Highness.” Suddenly, Old Madam Zhou knelt beside Zhou Qiyue, snatched the electric baton, and held it over her head. “We beg Your Highness to withdraw the order. Qishan and Little Yue are without virtue or ability and cannot bear the divine artifact bestowed by the immortal.”

Seeing this, she understood. Her old man had made a foolish move.

To the side, Old Imperial Censor Zhou tightly clutched his beard, suffering internally, wavering between refusing and accepting.

Ye Xuejin looked at Old Madam Zhou with a hint of surprise and sighed softly: “Old Madam, please rise. My mind is made up. The divine artifact now belongs to Little Yue.”

“Your Highness…” Old Madam Zhou was about to speak again but was interrupted by Zhou Qiyue.

“Fine, I’ll take it.” Zhou Qiyue snatched the electric baton from Old Madam Zhou’s hand, sprang up, and ran off.

“Little Yue!” Old Madam Zhou was greatly alarmed, then paused, her eyes filled with relief and pride.

Old Imperial Censor Zhou remained silent, watching heavily.

Zhou Qiyue strode over to Shi Zhu: “Little Sister Shi Zhu, I’m giving it back to you.”

Shi Zhu was slightly taken aback and couldn’t help but look at Ye Xuejin. Her Highness had guessed correctly.

Seeing Shi Zhu look at Ye Xuejin, Zhou Qiyue, afraid she wouldn’t accept, said urgently, “Her Highness said the divine artifact is mine, and I can give it to whomever I wish. Little Sister Shi Zhu, if you don’t take it, I… I might as well bang my head and die here.”

If she didn’t return the divine artifact to Shi Zhu, she would never feel at peace.

How was this different from stealing? How could she face people in the future?

Shi Zhu smiled and took it: “Then I shall respectfully obey.”

Afterward, she raised the electric baton high, looked at the five constables besides Yu Lu, and announced loudly: “Now the divine artifact is mine, and I can dispose of it as I please. However, I know nothing of martial arts, and keeping this artifact would be a waste of heavenly resources. May I ask the constables, is there anyone willing to pledge loyalty to Her Highness? I will then hand the divine artifact over to him.”

She already had the more covert and surprising sleeve crossbow for self-defense, and Her Highness also had other arrangements for this electric baton.

The constables looked at each other, completely unprepared for things to turn out this way.

The atmosphere fell silent once more.

Ye Xuejin walked back to Yun Chi, whispered a few words, and quietly hid another sleeve crossbow in her sleeve.

Seeing that none of the constables had stepped forward yet, she looked at Zhou Qiyue and said calmly, “Little Yue, come with me.”

When they returned, the fate of the electric baton in Shi Zhu’s hand had been decided. The only constable brave enough to step forward was Little Gao.

The group fell silent again. Everyone huddled around the fire in their quilts, pondering the events that had just transpired.

When Zhou Qiyue returned, her expression was calm, and a faint excitement flickered in her eyes.

Old Imperial Censor Zhou sighed heavily, closed his eyes, and felt a surge of powerlessness.

He had made a fuss for half the day only to benefit others, and in vain allowed the Grand Princess to think less of him.

Seeing him sigh, Zhou Qiyue gritted her teeth and couldn’t resist offering a word of comfort: “Dad, Her Highness praised me for doing well.”

Moreover, she was given a sleeve crossbow, also a divine artifact from the immortal, meaning Her Highness still valued her greatly.

Old Imperial Censor Zhou snapped: “You’re satisfied with just a word of praise?”

He had completely abandoned his dignity, and in the end, the Zhou family got nothing.

“Old man, you’re muddled,” Old Madam Zhou said, her voice low, seeing him blame his daughter.

Old Imperial Censor Zhou glared: “I’m muddled? Who was I doing it for?”

Old Madam Zhou’s voice was low: “Do you think Her Highness is someone who can be coerced?”

The old man was truly old, his vision not what it used to be, and his mind unsteady, that he still couldn’t see.

The scenes that just played out were clearly all within the Grand Princess’s careful planning…

“You really exaggerate things. Where did I coerce…” Old Imperial Censor Zhou’s words stopped halfway. His face suddenly froze, and he tightly clutched his beard, unable to speak.

He coerced the Grand Princess? He actually coerced the Grand Princess!

It was over. He was truly muddled…

Over here, Yun Chi also caught on to the maneuvering and leaned close to Ye Xuejin: “Did you guess that Zhou Qiyue would return the electric baton to Shi Zhu?”

Ye Xuejin nodded slightly: “Little Yue is kind-hearted and proud at her core. She would never accept it.”

And Old Madam Zhou, she is a discerning person.

“How were you so sure she would definitely return it to Shi Zhu? What if you guessed wrong?”

“I believe I did not misjudge the person.”

Ye Xuejin’s gaze swept over Zhou Qiyue and finally rested on Old Madam Zhou.

Initially, when no one in the exile party knew the inner truth, Zhou Qiyue was the only one brave enough to stand out and firmly help her, even fighting fiercely with Yun Chi and enduring a whipping for her, yet still speaking up for justice.

Later, when Old Imperial Censor Zhou was weighing the pros and cons, at the post station in Zhenshan County, Old Madam Zhou avoided everyone and performed a grand salute, her heartfelt words deeply moving.

Ye Xuejin now needed talented people and valued those with real ability.

But those sincere, kind, and righteous hearts must not be buried.

Especially in times of peril, such hearts are even more precious.

Yun Chi understood: “Shi Zhu doing that, was that also your instruction?”

Ye Xuejin curved her lips: “I said that after five days, I would ensure they had no more worries. Although only two days have passed, the people who dared to step forward before then are the people I truly intend to use.”

In addition to ability and sincerity, courage and boldness are also what she values.

Seeing her smile, Yun Chi couldn’t help but smile too. Feeling relaxed, she casually asked, “Then can I enter Your Highness’s sight? Can I be used by Your Highness?”

Her smile was pure, and her eyes were clear and warm, like a wisp of white cloud gently brushing past the heart, stirring a ripple.

Ye Xuejin was slightly distracted. After a moment, she replied softly, “The Royal Consort is naturally incomparable to others…”

Hearing this, Yun Chi smiled wider. Her efforts these past days had not been in vain. Asking for tens of thousands of liang of gold then shouldn’t be too difficult, right?

“To be so valued by Your Highness, if I don’t show off a bit more, wouldn’t I be ashamed?”

With that, she took Ye Xuejin’s hand and stood up.

Ye Xuejin pursed her lips: “The Royal Consort need not show off anything. You have already helped me greatly.”

Yun Chi smiled, her expression inscrutable: “Follow me.”

A moment ago, when sending out the second sleeve crossbow, she thought that just having a self-defense weapon wasn’t enough. What if Shi Zhu was too focused while lurking and couldn’t react in time? Wouldn’t that be the end?

If only there was something for self-protection, like a bulletproof vest.

Originally, Yun Chi had this idea to protect Shi Zhu, the sniper, but after getting the bulletproof vest, she changed her mind.

For the remaining five days, Ye Xuejin’s safety was the most important thing.

She had almost lost sight of the main priority.

The two walked a distance away. Yun Chi took out the bulletproof vest she had just acquired: “This clothing is virtually invulnerable to swords and spears, and especially effective against sharp objects coming from a distance—it can make you nearly unscathed. Quickly, put it on underneath your clothes.”

Ye Xuejin, however, did not take it. Her eyelids drooped as she looked at the bulletproof vest in Yun Chi’s hand: “Does the Royal Consort have one?”