Transmigrated into the Scum Female Consort - Chapter 71

The others were not as sharp as Ye Xuejin; they were still immersed in the thrill of that swift battle. It had ended so quickly that they hadn’t quite processed it yet. However, the overwhelming sense of accomplishment was exhilarating, leaving them eager to experience it again.

Even Yun Chi felt an indescribable excitement. She hadn’t realized that her storage space could be used in such a way—and with such devastating effectiveness. For a moment, she almost wanted to stay by Ye Xuejin’s side and fight all the way back to the capital.

No, stay calm, she told herself. Once Ye Xuejin was settled in the Southern Borders, she had to leave. If she kept lingering, she truly feared she wouldn’t be able to bring herself to go.

Ye Xuejin looked at the excited crowd, then at Yun Chi’s spirited expression, a smile flickering in her eyes. Her “Consort” was indeed extraordinary, but… she glanced at Yun Chi and slightly tightened her grip on her own fingers.

Yun Chi noticed the look. “What is it?”

Ye Xuejin hesitated for a moment before asking with feigned indifference, “Consort, when you performed that… ‘de-robing’ technique, was it exhausting for your spirit?”

As soon as the words left her mouth, she recalled the sensation from the previous night when her own clothes had suddenly vanished, and the tips of her ears instantly turned red.

Yun Chi was baffled. “Not at all.” It only took a single thought to make it happen. At the time, she had simply acted on a whim, fearing the men in black might have hidden weapons or poisoned needles. She decided to pull the rug out from under them—literally—to prevent anyone else from getting hurt.

Ye Xuejin pursed her lips, her voice softening. “I mean… when the Consort uses such a method, must you… must you use your eyes to see?”

At the thought of a certain possibility, a wave of displeasure rose in her heart.

“Of course I have to use my eyes. Otherwise, how would I know where they are?” Yun Chi stared at Ye Xuejin strangely. What was this woman trying to ask? Why was she being so hesitant?

Ye Xuejin’s face chilled, and her tone turned cold. “Then the Consort saw everything just now.”

How could this person…

Yun Chi instinctively asked, “Saw what?”

Ye Xuejin looked at her icily, her voice strained. “How should I know what the Consort saw?”

Yun Chi froze, then realization dawned on her. She shook her head frantically. “No, no! I didn’t see anything. I only saw the clothes. You’re overthinking it!”

What is she thinking? Am I that kind of person?

Ye Xuejin gave her a sidelong glance, her tone still aloof. “Last night, when the Consort did that to me… I was still wearing my prisoner’s garb on the outside.”

How else could she have seen the bulletproof vest beneath the robes?

“Ahem…” Yun Chi’s face flushed crimson, and her eyes darted around. “Didn’t I see you wearing just the vest before? I just… imagined it.”

She would never admit that while “imagining” it, a memory of a fair-skinned back glimpsed behind a screen had flashed through her mind. Even now, thinking of it brought back that hazy, ethereal scene.

Ye Xuejin stared directly at Yun Chi’s reddened cheeks, her voice turning even colder. “So, the Consort really did see everything.”

And she had seen so many people. At that thought, Ye Xuejin’s heart sank to the bottom of an abyss.

Yun Chi frowned. Why did it feel like the more she explained, the worse it got? “I didn’t see! I was afraid of polluting my eyes!”

“Then why is the Consort blushing?”

Yun Chi fell silent. Am I blushing? My face does feel a bit hot…

Seeing her silence, Ye Xuejin misinterpreted it. She spoke with difficulty, “Consort… I am sorry.”

She felt guilty; had she known it worked like this, she never would have agreed to let Yun Chi use such a divine power.

Yun Chi let out a long, helpless sigh. “I really didn’t see anything. I’m blushing because… because…”

Heavens, why can’t I explain this?

Ye Xuejin lowered her gaze, her eyes like a pool of frozen water—clear, cold, and tinged with a hint of sadness and self-reproach.

Seeing her like this, Yun Chi’s heart grew frantic. She gritted her teeth and blurted out, “I’m blushing because I thought of you! Last night, at that moment, I thought of how you looked while bathing!”

Fine, let the world end. I give up.

Ye Xuejin was stunned, momentarily forgetting how to react. After a beat, she turned her head away. “When did the Consort peek at me bathing?”

Her deity had actually fallen into such worldly habits…

The thought of being seen by Yun Chi in such a state filled her with a mixture of shame, anger, and embarrassment. “How could the Consort peek at me while I was bathing?” Ye Xuejin questioned hoarsely.

Yun Chi shook her head repeatedly. “You misunderstand! I didn’t peek. It was that time I brought you clean clothes. I had just woken up and was dazed. I only saw your back—no, just a tiny bit of your back… anyway, it wasn’t intentional, and I didn’t see much!”

The word “skin” felt like it would burn her tongue; she couldn’t bring herself to say it.

“And how much more did the Consort want to see?” Ye Xuejin felt a sudden wave of relief, yet she found herself asking that question as if possessed.

Yun Chi: “…”

She felt like she was about to have a breakdown. Why was this conversation still going?

Realizing her question was inappropriate, Ye Xuejin’s mind wavered, and her voice softened. “Does the Consort… think it polluted your eyes?”

As she spoke, she felt her heart skip a beat, realizing she had said something improper again.

Yun Chi was quiet for a moment. She looked down at the uneven ground and whispered, “No. It didn’t pollute them at all.”

It wasn’t a pollution; that fleeting glimpse had been enough to captivate her soul…

Ye Xuejin lowered her eyes and unconsciously gripped Yun Chi’s hand tightly. Their warmth seeped through their palms, feeling scorchingly hot.

The exile party arrived outside the Governor’s Estate in silence. Before they could enter, they were intercepted by a hurried Military Deputy Chen.

“Governor Zhou, the Chief Secretary’s orders are to send the exiles directly to the mines outside the city. There is no need for them to stay within the city walls.”

He then quickly signaled his men to bring over the eleven prisoners who had entered the city the day before.

Governor Zhou clenched his fists. “I shall escort them myself.”

Deputy Chen glanced at Ye Xuejin, quickly withdrew his gaze, and said with a fake smile, “How could we trouble you, Governor? I can handle such a small matter.”

Governor Zhou frowned but ultimately suppressed the turmoil in his heart. He couldn’t be rash. Princess He’an (Ye Xuejin) had arrived and displayed such power at the gate; these people were wary and wouldn’t dare do anything extreme yet. Sending her out of the city was their limit. He had endured for so many years; he could endure a little longer.

Ye Xuejin watched quietly, her suspicions confirmed. By law, exiles were supposed to be processed by the Governor before being assigned to labor. Yet here in Yangzhou, Governor Zhou seemed to have no authority, carrying less weight than a Chief Secretary. Moreover, these people were in such a hurry to move them without even verifying identities. Yangzhou was definitely hiding something.

Soon, the eleven members of the Zhou family joined the line.

“Princess—” Zhou Qiyue started to call out but was silenced as Old Madam Zhou covered her mouth and pulled her to the back of the group. The others took the hint, staying quiet to avoid causing trouble.

Deputy Chen barked orders to the guards: “Take them to the eastern mines.”

The exiles looked toward Ye Xuejin. Those who had witnessed the battle knew that if the Princess willed it, she could overturn the Governor’s Estate at any moment. Seeing her remain silent, they obediently followed the guards.

As the group vanished into the distance, Deputy Chen turned to Governor Zhou with a chilling gaze. “Governor, you would do well to remember your place. Otherwise, Yangzhou wouldn’t mind having a new Governor.”

Governor Zhou said nothing and walked into his estate with heavy, slumping shoulders.

“Coward,” Deputy Chen spat. Despite his bravado, he felt a lingering fear. He couldn’t help but look back at the departing exiles, remembering the scene on the city walls. What kind of group was this? Invulnerable to blades, wiping out an army several times their size… it was terrifying.

The Chief Secretary was right. Such a formidable presence couldn’t be provoked recklessly. It was better to send them away and plot slowly.

At the front of the line, Ye Xuejin thought of the Governor’s reaction and the Deputy’s attitude. She naturally took Yun Chi’s hand and slowed her pace. After a brief hesitation, Yun Chi didn’t pull away.

Ye Xuejin signaled for Shi Niang to come closer. “Shi Niang, the six of you are not on the official exile documents. You don’t need to stay with us. From today on, stay in the city and find a way to investigate two things for me.”

Shi Niang straightened up. “Your Highness, give us your orders.”