Transmigrated into the Scum Female Consort - Chapter 62

When Yun Chi heard that, she knew Ye Xuejin had misunderstood, and quickly explained: “This is the ‘auspicious’ clothing I prepared for Shi Song. She can wear it when hiding in the wilderness. I haven’t taken yours out yet.”

Auspicious clothing? What a strange name.

Ye Xuejin took it and pinched it. It looked like grass, but didn’t feel like grass; it was completely realistic.

If Shi Song were to ambush enemies in the wilderness with the sniper crossbow, wearing this outfit would make it very difficult to detect her.

The items the Consort took out were always so practical, novel, and surprising.

“You gave me the auspicious clothing; take this one.” Yun Chi, as wished, received a set of clean clothes and handed it back, with her hands behind her back.

The clothes were exchanged, their fingers brushing.

As soon as Yun Chi received the ‘auspicious’ clothing, she fled back to the bed. She let out a long breath, and it took a while for her to calm down.

Ye Xuejin also finished dressing and walked over: “Does the Consort want to bathe?”

Yun Chi answered without turning around: “Yes.” She had thought about washing up herself when she gave Ye Xuejin the clothes, so she had already wished for a clean set of clothes.

Behind her, footsteps sounded slowly, like drumbeats against her ear, stopping right beside her.

Her hand was taken, and Ye Xuejin’s soft voice fell into her ear.

“Consort, why won’t you look at This Princess?”

“I am looking!” Yun Chi immediately turned her head, staring wide-eyed at Ye Xuejin.

In her sight, the woman’s cheeks were flushed, as if steamed by the hot water, and even the corners of her eyes were slightly pink, lending her an air of languor and allure.

Her damp, long hair was loosely draped over her shoulders. Dressed in simple, plain white undergarments, she possessed an air of noble refinement.

Yun Chi couldn’t help but recall a line from a Li Bai poem: Clear water yields the lotus flower, naturally without adornment.

Even though she was mentally prepared, she couldn’t help but be struck by her beauty.

“What is the Consort thinking?” Ye Xuejin leaned in slightly, getting close to Yun Chi, as if wanting to see clearly why she was spacing out.

Yun Chi blurted out: “I’m looking at you.”

Ye Xuejin curved her lips and smiled: “Then look.”

Yun Chi: “…” What was that?

She looked at the person with smiling eyes and quietly shifted her gaze: “I’m going to heat the water.”

Ye Xuejin raised her hand to stop her: “Consort, you can instruct Shi Niang and the others to do this.”

Seeing Yun Chi hesitate, Ye Xuejin simply turned around. As she was leaving the room, she dropped a final word.

“I will remind them: seeing the Consort is like seeing This Princess.”

With that, she went out.

Before long, Shi Niang and Shi Song came in, carried out the tub, and returned shortly after, having changed the water.

After Yun Chi finished bathing, she saw that Ye Xuejin hadn’t returned, so she pushed the door open.

The sky had already darkened. Some people were cooking, some were chatting, and some hadn’t left their rooms. Ye Xuejin was nowhere to be seen in the courtyard.

She glanced around and walked toward one of the rooms.

Since Shi Niang and Shi Song were standing guard right outside the door of this room, Yun Chi instinctively felt Ye Xuejin was inside.

“Your… Is Her Highness present?”

Shi Niang merely nodded, saying nothing, as if worried about something.

Shi Song, however, spoke frankly: “Sir Yu just brought a lady back, and Her Highness is speaking with her inside.”

With that, she casually pushed the door open.

The people in the room looked over. Yun Chi also saw the lady standing in front of Ye Xuejin.

She looked a little familiar…

“Shushui, please invite the Consort in,” Ye Xuejin unconsciously curved her lips.

Hearing the name “Shushui,” Yun Chi knew why she felt this lady looked familiar.

The first person she met on the day she transmigrated into this world, in the Ministry of Justice prison, was Ye Xuejin’s personal maid, Shushui.

At the time, it was Shushui who hid a wowo tou (steamed bun) and asked Yun Chi to pass it to Ye Xuejin.

Shushui had already walked over, respectfully curtsied: “This servant greets the Consort. Consort, please come in.”

Yun Chi smiled and stepped inside.

Ye Xuejin looked at Yun Chi, a smile lingering on her lips: “Consort, are you looking for This Princess for something?”

Yun Chi’s thoughts paused: “No, nothing. I just came to check.”

When asked, she realized she didn’t have any particular reason for seeking Ye Xuejin. Perhaps she had become accustomed to always being with Ye Xuejin these past few days. When she didn’t see Ye Xuejin, she naturally wanted to know where she was, which led her to seek her out.

Ye Xuejin gave her a long look, then turned to Shushui: “Continue.”

Shushui lightly glanced at Yun Chi, a look of sudden realization on her face, and continued: “As soon as this servant received word from Princess Yi, I secretly visited some court officials. This is the list.”

There were two lists: one with the names of those who agreed to follow, and one with the names of those taking a wait-and-see approach.

Shushui was very cautious in her actions. The people on both lists were those who had been relatively close to the Princess’s residence in the past.

Ye Xuejin was satisfied: “You did well.”

“This servant knows this matter is no small thing, so I only visited those who are 100% trustworthy. That’s why there are only these few who agreed.” Among these people, even those who didn’t explicitly pledge their allegiance would not betray the information.

Ye Xuejin smiled slightly: “Weighing pros and cons is human nature. I understand, and you have worked hard.”

Shushui quickly shook her head: “This servant has not worked hard at all. Your Highness is the one who has endured hardship.”

In fact, after visiting those court officials overnight, she immediately rode hard to catch up as soon as the city gates opened the next day. She barely stopped along the way, changed horses three times, and just managed to arrive today.

But compared to the suffering Her Highness endured during her exile, this was nothing.

Ye Xuejin was touched. She reached out and hugged Shushui, repeating: “You have worked hard.”

Even if Shushui didn’t say it, she could tell. The girl’s face was covered in travel dust; she likely hadn’t rested much. The capital was so far away—how could she have caught up so quickly under normal travel conditions?

Shushui couldn’t help but choke up: “Seeing that Your Highness is safe, this servant is relieved.”

She had grown up alongside Ye Xuejin. The two were closer than blood sisters, and some things didn’t need to be said; they understood each other.

To the side, Yun Chi felt a bit awkward. With the mistress and servant reminiscing, her presence felt somewhat superfluous.

Seeing their emotions soften, Yun Chi timely excused herself and returned to her room first.

After Yun Chi left, Shushui immediately asked: “Does Your Highness treat the Consort differently now?”

She knew Ye Xuejin well and was excellent at reading expressions. From the moment the door opened to the moment Yun Chi walked in,

Her Highness’s eyes held a smile, and her speaking tone became lighter as soon as she saw the Consort.

Moreover, Her Highness wasn’t avoiding the Consort regarding such a major affair, clearly having placed her trust in her.

One had to remember that previously, even when they were about to get married, Her Highness wouldn’t even inquire about the Consort, treating her like air.

But now, Her Highness might have taken the Consort to heart…

Ye Xuejin unconsciously glanced at the tightly closed door, as if she could see Yun Chi’s back through the door.

“To meet the Consort is the good fortune of my life…”

She didn’t hide anything from Shushui, relating Yun Chi’s supernatural ability, her companionship, and her help.

“The Consort is like a divine being!” Shushui’s mouth gaped in astonishment. After regaining her composure, she couldn’t help but cheer: “That’s wonderful, Your Highness, that’s wonderful…”

Ye Xuejin’s voice was gentle: “It is the Consort who is wonderful.”

“Yes, yes, yes, the Consort is also wonderful, just as wonderful as Your Highness. Heaven is protecting us,” Shushui said, filled with immense joy.

Ye Xuejin remembered something, and her smile gradually faded, a flicker of worry crossing her eyes.

“Is something wrong?” Shushui immediately sensed the change in her mood.

Ye Xuejin hesitated but decided not to hide it. Shushui had always been the person she trusted the most.

“The Consort predicted that I would be vindicated in two days. At that time, she plans to leave.”

“How is that possible—vindication?” Shushui frowned, then shifted the topic: “I received a message on my way here saying that the Emperor privately misappropriated the Ministry of Revenue’s cash reserves. Although the news hasn’t spread, those who should know are aware.”

Ye Xuejin narrowed her eyes: “Is that true!”

As the ruler of a nation, to privately misappropriate the national treasury was utterly foolish.

Shushui nodded solemnly: “Absolutely true. It was the Old Grand Tutor who informed this servant, adding that the Emperor went to the Imperial Mausoleum and acted like a madman, constantly cursing Your Highness. The Old Grand Tutor instructed me to warn you to be careful going forward, lest he be driven to desperate measures and act disrespectfully.”

Ye Xuejin froze. She realized where her mother’s gold might have come from.

Her father’s private treasury must have been emptied by her mother!

And since the Emperor was someone who didn’t plan for the future, he must not have properly budgeted the official salaries. When the palace ran out of silver, he cleverly dipped into the national treasury, not wanting to lose face in front of his concubines.

Little did he know that court officials were as cunning as foxes, and with such a large Ministry of Revenue, it would be impossible for everyone to keep the matter secret.

What chilled Ye Xuejin’s heart the most was that the Emperor had even gone to the Imperial Mausoleum.

She knew without a doubt that her mother’s use of the private treasury must have been permitted by her father in advance, most likely under the pretext of using the gold as burial offerings.

Therefore, the Emperor went to the Imperial Mausoleum to…

How dare he!

“Your Highness,” Shushui called out worriedly, seeing her cold expression and the anger in her eyes.

Ye Xuejin regained her composure, gently closing her eyes: “I am fine. Go quickly and eat something, and get a good night’s rest.”

Shushui was still a little worried, her attention returning to Yun Chi: “If the Consort truly leaves in two days, what will you do?”

Ye Xuejin unconsciously clenched her fingers: “I have my own plan for this matter.”

The Consort has already promised to leave only on the day of my vindication.

Shushui was slightly relieved: “As long as Your Highness has a plan, I will withdraw first.”

Ye Xuejin followed her out and, seeing Yu Lu and Shi Niang present, greeted them together.

“Shushui is my personal maid. Like all of you, she is the person I trust the most.”