Transmigrated into the Scum Female Consort - Chapter 68

Hearing Ye Xuejin request such a large amount of self-defense supplies, Yun Chi instinctively felt that something major was about to happen.

Ye Xuejin frowned slightly: “The Consort should just do as This Princess says, and also give This Princess two ingots of gold.”

Since they were only talking about gold, and only about transactions, she felt no need to explain.

Yun Chi knitted her brows, but ultimately did not ask further.

“Then I won’t call them over. I’ll take everything out all at once later.”

With that, she took out one bowl of Rock Sugar, White Fungus, and Pear Soup. After receiving two steamed buns as a reward, she repeated the process, storing the items and then continuing to retrieve more.

Thirty-one bowls of soup were exchanged for sixty-two steamed buns. Only after converting the buns, bulletproof vests, and electric batons into compressed biscuits did she stop.

Finally, she took out an ingot of gold from the iron box and handed it to Ye Xuejin. Yun Chi felt relieved and asked: “Everything is ready. Shall we go back directly?”

Ye Xuejin was silent throughout the whole process. Hearing the question, she only nodded.

As the two returned to the exiled group, they were met with the gaze of everyone.

Ye Xuejin calmly glanced at Yun Chi, then slightly raised her head, looking towards the morning sun on the horizon.

The morning sun was not dazzling, only revealing half of itself, secretly watching the human world.

Just like her Goddess, who clearly entered her world to save her from peril, yet refused to stay for her, half-hidden and half-revealed, tugging at her heartstrings.

While everyone else was devoutly and expectantly looking up at the sky with Ye Xuejin, only Yun Chi was quietly watching Ye Xuejin.

She was just waiting for Ye Xuejin to withdraw her gaze so she could deploy the supplies.

But this wait lasted for a while, until everyone’s necks felt slightly sore. They couldn’t help but secretly glance at Ye Xuejin, each silently wondering: The Eldest Princess has been listening to the immortal’s whispers for so long this time. Does the immortal have some instructions?

Yun Chi knew the truth and naturally wouldn’t think this way. She looked with confusion at Ye Xuejin, who seemed lost in thought, hesitated, and then grasped Ye Xuejin’s hand, which was hanging by her side, shaking it gently.

What is wrong?

Ye Xuejin suddenly lowered her head, looking at the hand holding hers.

The skin was fair, but the texture was a little rough; the hand was dry and warm.

Her expression was neutral, her emotions unchanged. She moved her fingers and slowly pulled away.

“Consort, you have overstepped.”

Yun Chi: “…”

Seriously, the distance she put between them was too deliberate.

The crowd couldn’t help but exchange glances, feeling that something was amiss, but they couldn’t quite place it.

Ye Xuejin pursed her lips, as if she had just remembered what she should be doing, and cast her gaze towards the open space in the center of the group.

Fortunately, Yun Chi had been watching her expression closely. Seeing this, she immediately deployed the steamed buns, which had been packed into wooden buckets beforehand, along with the Rock Sugar, White Fungus, and Pear Soup that instantly covered the ground.

Ye Xuejin then looked at the crowd: “Little Yue, please distribute these to everyone.”

“Yes!” Zhou Qiyue’s heart leaped with joy. The Chief Provision General was about to take up her post again.

The first bowl was naturally for Her Highness.

Ye Xuejin accepted the soup but did not take the steamed bun: “This Princess is not hungry. The soup is enough.”

The soup was hot, the sweetness was just right, the white fungus was soft and sticky, and the pear pieces were refreshing. It tasted better than the Rock Sugar, White Fungus, and Pear Soup from the Imperial Kitchen.

But her heart still felt cold, and even the sweet, hot soup offered little comfort.

Ye Xuejin slowly finished the soup and unconsciously looked up at the morning sun, which was now fully revealed, gently lowering her lashes.

Winter is coming soon. It seems the sun isn’t warm anymore either.

“Your Highness, there is a town not far ahead. Should we stop?” Yu Lu asked, taking the empty bowl from her hand and turning to place it on the ground, where several rows were already neatly arranged.

Yun Chi focused her mind and silently collected the empty bowls.

Ye Xuejin returned to her senses and said flatly: “We will decide once we get there.” With that, she took out the two ingots of gold and quietly gave instructions to Yu Lu.

Yu Lu’s expression changed upon hearing her instructions. After accepting the gold, he responded solemnly: “This subordinate understands.”

Ye Xuejin nodded and led the way forward.

Soon, the group arrived in front of the town.

Ye Xuejin stopped, turned to the crowd, and said in a solemn voice: “All members of the Zhou family listen to my order: those under seventeen and those over forty-five, step forward and follow Lord Yu into the town. The rest of you, remain here and await orders.”

The members of the Zhou family exchanged glances and hurried to step forward as instructed. The eleven people consisted of the elderly, the weak, and Zhou Qiyue, who happened to be only sixteen years old.

Yu Lu waved his hand and led the group away.

The rest of the people felt inexplicably nervous, sensing that something big was about to happen.

It wasn’t until Yu Lu returned alone, carrying a large bag of dry provisions, that the remaining people not only felt nervous but also showed anxiety on their faces.

Ye Xuejin remained calm, speaking with an air of composure: “Let us depart.”

The group set off again, but everyone felt uneasy. Where were those eleven members of the Zhou family? Why didn’t they return with Lord Yu? Moreover, the speed of the group’s travel seemed to have slowed considerably.

But since the Eldest Princess said nothing, they dared not inquire rashly.

Even the usually impulsive Shi Niang (Tenth Mistress) was quiet, as she had been reflecting on Shushui’s words. Even with so many doubts now, she could only patiently endure.

Because of this change, during lunchtime, everyone hastily ate the dry provisions Yu Lu had purchased and continued their journey with distracted minds.

In the evening, they felt somewhat relieved as they caught sight of the faint outline of city walls in the distance.

There was a saying that watching a mountain could kill a running horse, but since they could already see Yangzhou City, why worry about not reaching it? This distance could be covered in, at most, half a day of walking.

In other words, barring any accidents, they would reach their destination for exile by this time tomorrow at the latest.

Yu Lu glanced at the nearby river and urged everyone to hurry and walk into the dense forest, no longer resting by the more open riverbank.

The exiled group finally stopped after night fell.

Ye Xuejin stood at the very front of the group, looking remotely at Yun Chi.

Yun Chi had been subtly looking at her all day. Seeing her look now, she quickly walked over.

“Consort.” Ye Xuejin seemed satisfied with the unspoken understanding between them and instinctively curved her lips, only to stiffly suppress the smile immediately. “I must trouble the Consort to retrieve twenty compressed biscuits.”

Currently, there were twenty people remaining in the exiled group.

After saying this, she glanced at the sky, then looked at the crowd already sitting around the campfire.

Yun Chi did not hesitate and followed the instructions directly.

Thus, a compressed biscuit unexpectedly dropped in front of each person.

The crowd was stunned for a moment. After realizing what it was, they quickly scrambled up and knelt.

“Thank you for the Immortal’s grace! Thank you for the Eldest Princess’s grace!”

Yun Chi had suppressed her questions all day, and finally, at this moment, she could no longer hold back and asked Ye Xuejin: “Is the danger warned about in that book coming within tonight or tomorrow?”

It had to be either tonight or tomorrow.

Ye Xuejin glanced at her, not denying it. Her tone softened: “Is the Consort afraid?”

Yun Chi wouldn’t say she was afraid; she simply didn’t understand.

“Are you going to take a risk?”

Ye Xuejin’s eyes flickered: “Yes and no.”

Yun Chi couldn’t help but frown. She finally couldn’t restrain herself and gently took her hand: “Ye Xuejin, promise me you won’t take risks. You must be alive to have a future.”

She didn’t know what Ye Xuejin was planning, but intuitively, she sensed a risk.

This woman had barely survived the death calamity; she had barely managed to live. It wasn’t worth risking it again…

Ye Xuejin curled her lips in a self-mocking way: “Does the Consort still not understand? This Princess has no retreat.”

Unless she died, she had to keep moving forward and could never look back.

Yun Chi sighed inwardly, pulling her hand half a step closer so the two stood nearer.

“It seems I have no choice but to take this risk with you.”

What kind of situation was this? People, indeed, should not be too soft-hearted.

“Is the Consort regretting it?”

“A little.”

Ye Xuejin lowered her gaze, her expression turning cold: “The Consort can leave. It’s still not too late to leave tonight. Take all the gold and fly far away.”

Yun Chi was speechless, almost rolling her eyes: “You don’t need my help anymore?”

She was still telling me to leave at this stage. Did she think I didn’t want to go?

I have my own bottom line, alright? Once she promised to help, she wouldn’t go back on her word. Moreover, what would it look like if she left with all the gold?

Fleeing with the funds?

This woman clearly knew that she would be soft-hearted and wouldn’t abandon them to escape alone, yet she still said these words to provoke her.

Ye Xuejin’s expression softened, and her voice slowed: “If This Princess says she needs you, will the Consort stay?”

Yun Chi smiled helplessly: “Haven’t I already stayed?”

Though she did regret it a little. If she had known it involved such a risk, she really wouldn’t have been sure whether to stay and help.

Ye Xuejin looked deeply at Yun Chi, then suddenly smiled: “Then thank you very much, Consort.”

She should be grateful. Her Goddess was still willing to favor her and be soft-hearted towards her even after seeing her own despicable nature.

This was enough.

She should be content…

Seeing her smile, Yun Chi stopped holding back and unconsciously tightened her grip on Ye Xuejin’s hand: “What exactly are you thinking? How are you planning to take this risk, and what are the chances of success?”