Transmigrated into the Scum Female Consort - Chapter 65

The night wind grew cooler, but the two people embracing tightly only felt each other’s warmth.

“Consort, shall we just sleep like this tonight?”

Yun Chi was startled. Is this intimacy really appropriate? Why do I feel like we are not people who are about to separate?

In her daze, she neither said yes nor no, turning instead to another matter.

“Are we resting here tonight? Is it safe not to enter the mountains?”

“Since tonight is not the death calamity the Consort saw, there shouldn’t be any danger.” Ye Xuejin said this, her fingers clenching, then loosening, then clenching again.

After tonight, her Consort will figure it out.

Figure out that she knew all along that the day of vindication would not come, not as long as she was alive.

She was slightly hesitant, wanting to continue concealing it, yet also wanting to explain it upfront.

Yun Chi did not know how conflicted Ye Xuejin was at that moment, and subconsciously asked, “Are you sure nothing will happen tonight?”

If something were to happen on the last night before the supposed vindication, she would truly cry.

Ye Xuejin collected her thoughts and gently explained: “This area is densely forested, and the mountains are not far away, making escape convenient. In This Princess’s view, the most opportune time for an attack should be two days from now.”

By then, the exiled group would be outside Yangzhou City, where the areas near the city were open and inconvenient for evasion.

Most importantly, the closer they got to Yangzhou City, the lower their vigilance would become. With the destination in sight, if she were the person carrying out the attack, she would choose that time too.

Although the Emperor was muddle-headed, not everyone under the Imperial authority was incompetent; there were many capable and intelligent people.

It’s just that I don’t know who warned us in secret.

Seeing that she was certain nothing would happen tonight, Yun Chi felt relieved: “It’s good that nothing will happen. Hurry and sleep.”

Yun Chi was relieved, but Ye Xuejin had no intention of sleeping.

“Consort, since This Princess has already survived the death calamity you foresaw, why do you still believe that tomorrow’s vindication will proceed as initially predicted?”

She ultimately wanted to honestly possess the favoritism of her Goddess.

Yun Chi replied straightforwardly: “Because the only change that occurred was on our side, just with you.”

She had only helped Ye Xuejin survive the death calamity in the original plot. The vindication, however, depended on everything the heroine Tao Qianhua did in the capital.

In other words, in the plot her cousin complained about, the person who made the vindication happen was Tao Qianhua. As long as the plot in the capital hadn’t collapsed, the outcome wouldn’t change.

Ye Xuejin understood Yun Chi’s words and consequently fell silent.

Her Consort might be naive in some ways, but she was undoubtedly intelligent—intelligent yet innocent.

Like a wise person standing in the sun who has never witnessed the filth in the darkness, and thus believes everything to be bright.

And at this moment, she wanted to personally pull her Consort and make her look into that darkness.

To look at the hidden schemes and calculations, and to look at the disgraceful cause and effect.

Ye Xuejin hesitated for a long time, then spoke in a seemingly casual manner: “Consort, if This Princess deceived you, and used you, would you forgive This Princess?”

Hearing this, Yun Chi quietly glanced at her: “That depends on what the matter is.”

When someone asks a question like this, they have usually already acted upon it.

So, what did Ye Xuejin deceive her about? And what did she use her for?

Ye Xuejin silently gripped the corner of Yun Chi’s clothes, her voice becoming soft: “What kind of matter do you deem unforgivable, Consort?”

She deceived this person’s kindness and used this person’s soft heart. Can I be forgiven?

If she could, then perhaps she shouldn’t say it yet…

As this thought flashed through her mind, Ye Xuejin felt utterly despicable. She attempted to stall, letting the Consort discover the truth on her own, as if that would lessen her guilt.

Yun Chi suddenly smiled: “Small matters are fine, and big matters are fine too. I won’t blame you for either.”

She felt that she didn’t need to care too much, because she would leave tomorrow. They might not cross paths again in the future, so why trouble herself with unnecessary worries?

“Is that so? No matter what the matter is, the Consort won’t blame me?” Ye Xuejin looked up at her, a faint smile touching her lips. “It’s getting late. Go to sleep.”

Then she was relieved. All would be revealed tomorrow.

The moment dawn broke the next day, the exiled group simply ate some dry provisions and continued toward Yangzhou City.

Ye Xuejin still held Yun Chi’s hand, her expression calm.

Yun Chi, however, couldn’t help but look back every few steps, her heart anxious yet expectant: When would the messenger arrive?

What did my cousin say? Oh, an official carrying an imperial decree would come on a fast horse.

The thought was quite exciting. As soon as the imperial decree of vindication arrived, Ye Xuejin could return to the capital immediately.

The so-called danger ahead would no longer exist, and she could gracefully step away after successfully completing her mission.

With this feeling, Yun Chi constantly looked behind her. Even the people walking behind her couldn’t help but turn their heads a few times.

What is the Consort looking at? What is behind us?

By evening, when everyone saw Yun Chi look back again, it no longer stirred any curiosity.

There was nothing behind them.

But how could there be nothing? Yun Chi stopped, looking at the sky in disbelief. The entire day was almost over. Did the official plan to pursue them in the middle of the night?

Seeing this, Ye Xuejin signaled to Yu Lu to stop there for the night.

After Yu Lu instructed everyone to rest where they were, he looked at Ye Xuejin, hesitating to speak.

Ye Xuejin’s expression was serene, no different from usual, but a captivating gleam faintly shone in her eyes.

Her Consort would not leave today.

Because she had to suppress the waves of excitement in her heart, her face became increasingly calm and indifferent.

She didn’t notice Yu Lu’s hesitation, nor did she notice the expectant looks in everyone’s eyes.

Shushui could arguably be the person who understood Ye Xuejin’s current mood the best, but she was also the hungriest.

“Your Highness.” Seeing everyone looking at her expectantly, Shushui understood. She was once Her Highness’s personal maid and, in the eyes of these people, the closest person to Her Highness besides the Consort.

Ye Xuejin looked at her: “What is it?”

Shushui subtly glanced at Yun Chi and then spoke to her gracefully beautiful Princess: “Are we eating dinner tonight?”

Ever since Her Highness mentioned the Consort’s miraculous ability, and hearing everyone reminisce about the food bestowed by the immortal, she had been eagerly anticipating this meal, which didn’t require dry provisions.

Ye Xuejin paused, her lips slowly curving into a smile. She gently squeezed Yun Chi’s fingers.

Yun Chi had been lost in thought for too long and didn’t immediately react: “What’s wrong?”

Ye Xuejin’s eyes were tender: “Consort, This Princess is a little hungry.”

A smile played on her lips, and her tone was soft, like a devotee favored by a god, confidently asking her Goddess for affection.

Yun Chi was only concerned with the road behind. The sunset glow was vast, but no people or horses were in sight.

She temporarily suppressed the anxiety and expectation in her heart and asked in a low voice, “What do you want to eat?”

Ye Xuejin looked at her deeply and said considerately: “Didn’t the Consort say you saved a lot of compressed biscuits? Let’s just eat those. It will save the Consort trouble, and it’s convenient.”

“Alright.” Yun Chi checked everyone’s location and was not in the mood to think about the reward. She only squeezed Ye Xuejin’s hand back, signaling that she was ready and could drop the food anytime.

Ye Xuejin understood and calmly looked up.

The moment they saw her make this gesture, everyone’s hearts beat faster. They devoutly and excitedly followed her gaze upwards.

The Immortal is right there in the sky! Eldest Princess must be requesting food from the Immortal for them.

Only Shushui was confused. Why is everyone craning their necks? What is Her Highness looking at?

Just then, Ye Xuejin retracted her gaze, scanned the crowd, and simultaneously squeezed Yun Chi’s hand.

As soon as Yun Chi received the signal, she dropped the compressed biscuits by the campfire in front of them.

The original thirty people plus Shushui meant thirty-one compressed biscuits exactly, no more, no less.

Ye Xuejin’s gaze then fell upon Zhou Qiyue. Zhou Qiyue immediately stood up; it was her turn to act.

Yu Lu also timely instructed everyone to queue up for the biscuits.

The queue was orderly. From the appearance of the compressed biscuits to each person receiving one, it only took a moment.

Shushui was stunned. It truly is the power of an immortal! However, she wondered: Will this small piece of “duck biscuit” be enough to fill one up?

Seeing her staring at the biscuit in her hand with confusion and curiosity, Zhou Qiyue remembered her mother’s instructions to befriend this Lady Shushui and kindly explained: “Sister Shushui, this compressed biscuit looks small, but it’s very filling. As long as you drink a few mouthfuls of water, it can satisfy you for most of the day.”

Shushui was surprised. It’s that magical? Realizing this, she smiled kindly: “May I ask for your name, young sister?”

It was obvious that everyone was used to this girl distributing the food, and Her Highness had entrusted her with an important responsibility.

Since she was someone Her Highness valued and trusted, she certainly had to establish a good relationship.

Zhou Qiyue immediately straightened her back, saying proudly: “My name is Zhou Qiyue. You can call me Little Yue. I’m in charge of distributing provisions for the group.”

She was Her Highness’s Chief Provision General, highly regarded by Her Highness.

Shushui examined her with a thoughtful look and also stood up straight: “So it’s Little Yue. You are in charge of provisions, and I am in charge of strategy. We must work diligently for Her Highness together in the future.”

She was Her Highness’s female Zhuge Liang.

The two felt they had met their match and exchanged insights on serving Her Highness, forgetting to eat first.

The others were more pragmatic and started eating the compressed biscuits as soon as they received them.

“It smells so good.” Old Madam Zhou took a bite. After tasting it, she looked at the biscuit in her hand under the firelight. The previous ones were salty and savory, but this time it was sesame flavored.

The Immortal is truly considerate, even minding their taste preferences! She loved sesame-flavored pastries ever since she got older.

Everyone noticed this change and couldn’t help but look at Ye Xuejin with fervent eyes. The Eldest Princess was practically their Immortal.

Under the gaze of the crowd, Ye Xuejin finished her biscuit and drank water, but the Consort beside her remained stiff as a pillar, constantly looking behind them.

Yun Chi watched the sky grow darker, her heart sinking inch by inch, and her expression gradually became solemn.

Did something happen in the capital? Did Tao Qianhua fail to find the crucial evidence?

Could Ye Xuejin still be vindicated then?

“Consort, eat something first.”

Yun Chi nodded distractedly, finished the compressed biscuit in a few quick bites, and then looked back toward the path they came from.

Ye Xuejin pursed her lips, her heart softening. She tugged at Yun Chi’s hand.

“Consort, stop looking. No one is coming.”

Yun Chi turned back blankly, as if she hadn’t heard clearly: “What did you say? How do you know no one is coming?”

Ye Xuejin couldn’t bear to see her hope dashed, yet she also couldn’t bear to let her wait foolishly any longer.

Seeing Yun Chi so eagerly hoping for vindication and so eager to leave, the secret joy in her heart gradually turned into sorrow.

“Consort, don’t you understand yet? As long as This Princess is alive, my grievances can never be cleared.”

“What do you mean? Wait a minute.” Yun Chi suddenly realized something, her face stunned. “Are you saying…”

Does she mean that in the original plot, the heroine only succeeded because Ye Xuejin died?

Ye Xuejin slowly nodded.