Transmigrated into the Scum Female Consort - Chapter 77

Old Censor Zhou pondered for a moment before saying in a deep voice, “As we have just arrived, work should be assigned by the government officials. We shall not trouble you all with it.”

“Hah, you old fogey!” The brawny man’s face darkened. He raised a clenched fist. “I told you to work, so work! Any more chatter and I’ll send you to see the King of Hell.”

Zhou Qishan couldn’t restrain himself upon hearing this. With him leading the way, the dozen or so members of the Zhou clan rushed forward without hesitation, surrounding and protecting the old Censor.

The brute was stunned. It seemed this was the first time he had seen exiled prisoners acting with such unity. He instinctively looked back. The other miners, who had been whispering with him and standing by to watch the fun, silently retreated a few steps.

Stirring up trouble at the mine results in a beating…

Old Censor Zhou withdrew his gaze coldly, ignored the brute, and led his people outside.

“Father, what do we do now? Her Highness surely won’t actually make us dig for copper here, will she?” Zhou Qishan asked, unable to help himself.

The Zhou family had thrown their lot in with the Eldest Princess to achieve great things, to pursue a future, and to return to the capital—not to actually become miners.

Old Censor Zhou tugged at his beard and said solemnly, “Her Highness likely believes the time is not yet right. While no one is watching, go nearby and look for the Qi clan and Chen’er. We made such a stir entering the city yesterday; Madam Qi is a clever woman, she must have followed us.”

A flash of reluctance crossed Zhou Qishan’s face. “Father, we can survive without looking for her.” He did not want to see Madam Qi.

Old Censor Zhou frowned, displeased. “Eldest Son, that is your wife and child. Do not commit any more foolish acts!”

Zhou Qishan lowered his head and walked away sullenly.

Old Censor Zhou let out a long sigh and signaled for the others to rest. His son was so indecisive; the future of the Zhou family would likely have to rest on his daughter’s shoulders…

The daughter he was thinking of, Zhou Qiyue, had already integrated herself with the female prisoners, calling them “Auntie” or “Sister,” filling the air with laughter.

Inside the hut, Madam Lu knelt on the floor, answering Ye Xuejin’s questions with proper decorum as she explained her identity.

Her name was Lu Shang. She had once been a Compiler in the Hanlin Academy—the only female compiler—and was among the first group of female officials dealt with by the new Emperor after his ascension.

“This lowly sinner once saw Your Highness from a distance, which is how I recognized you just now.”

Ye Xuejin pursed her lips and helped her up. “Minister Lu, please rise. Do not speak like that ever again.”

Lu Shang asked blankly, “This sinner is dull-witted; I pray Your Highness clarifies.”

Ye Xuejin looked at her deeply. “From now on, you shall refer to yourself as ‘Your Humble Servant.’ Even if you are in a state of disgrace, you should call yourself ‘Your Disgraced Minister.’ Do you now truly believe that women cannot be officials or ministers?”

“This sin— This disgraced— This humble servant… I would not dare.” Lu Shang choked up. Indeed, she was an official of the Kingdom of Dashao. she had studied by the cold window and rightfully passed the second-tier imperial examinations, slowly earning her seniority to become a Compiler in middle age.

Yet, simply because she was a woman, and because the new Emperor said: “How can a mere woman grace the halls of elegance?”… a fault was manufactured, and she was exiled to the Southern Borders.

Her crime did not warrant this. No—she had committed no crime at all.

Once Lu Shang had calmed her emotions, Ye Xuejin asked, “Among those outside, how many share your circumstances?”

“Of the twelve of us, half are family members of disgraced officials exiled previously. The other half are like me.”

Ye Xuejin said thoughtfully, “Since you were exiled to Yangzhou, are there other family members here as well?”

Lu Shang’s expression turned complex as she shook her head. “No. We are all people loathed by the new Emperor. Those who reacted quickly requested a divorce to avoid implicating their families. Those who were slower were simply cast out by their husbands’ families.”

She was one of the cast-offs. That thin-blooded, ungrateful man had not only divorced her but kicked their daughter out as well.

Ye Xuejin nodded. “Go out and sit with the others. Do not worry; I am here.”

“Your Highness…” Lu Shang hesitated.

“Speak freely.”

“Your Highness must be extremely careful. This mine is very chaotic. At night, people often break into the doors…”

Halfway through, Lu Shang couldn’t go on. Had it not been for her daughter, she would never have endured until today. This mine was a wolf’s den that ate people alive. She spent every night in terror, prepared to fight for her life at any moment. If the Princess hadn’t come, she didn’t know how many more days she could have lasted.

Ye Xuejin’s gaze sharpened, her voice turning cold. “Tell me everything in detail.”

Lu Shang recounted the life she had led since arriving and the tragedies the women had suffered. “…When I first arrived two months ago, there were twenty-five women. Now, only twelve remain.”

In two months, thirteen had died.

Ye Xuejin’s brows drew together, her voice growing heavy. “I understand. You may go.”

Watching Lu Shang walk out the door, Ye Xuejin unconsciously clenched her fingers. A flash of killing intent, cold and profound, flickered in her eyes.

“Don’t worry, nothing will happen.” Seeing that Ye Xuejin’s expression was off, Yun Chi quickly grabbed her hand.

The woman’s fingers were gripped so hard her knuckles were white, as if she were exerting every ounce of strength to restrain her emotions.

Ye Xuejin let out a soft breath, her eyes still fixed on the door. “Prince Consort, give me an electric baton for self-defense. And that dagger.” Her voice was slow, but by the end, her emotional turmoil became too much to bear, and she closed her eyes.

Yun Chi was silent for a moment. She withdrew her hand, and when she grasped Ye Xuejin’s hand again, she pressed a compressed biscuit into it.

Ye Xuejin opened her palm and looked at the biscuit. Suddenly, she looked up. “Prince Consort?”

Yun Chi brushed aside a stray lock of hair from the princess’s forehead and winked. “We can use a safer method.”

An electric baton wasn’t immediately lethal and, like a dagger, required close combat. To be safe, a sleeve-crossbow was more appropriate.

With that, Yun Chi produced two sleeve-crossbows. Like the four previous ones, they were designed to fire three bolts simultaneously.

Ye Xuejin took them in a daze, her red lips slightly parted, momentarily lost for words.

Yun Chi took the crossbows back for a second to demonstrate. “I’m the same as you. I’ll stay by your side.” No more words were needed; that single sentence was enough.

Ye Xuejin bit her lip slightly as clusters of joy blossomed in her heart.

Her royal father had taught her to be steady; her royal mother had taught her to endure; her Grand Tutor had taught her to keep her joy and anger hidden. She had never known that being seen through and understood by someone could feel this wonderful. Especially since this person was her Prince Consort—her deity.

“Prince Consort, thank you.”

Yun Chi stowed the crossbows and laughed. “Why are you still thanking me? This time won’t cost any gold. I want to uphold justice for Heaven, too.”

“Alright.” Ye Xuejin smiled, her happiness growing. Her deity did not despise her “baseness” or “wretchedness,” no longer cared about gold, and was willing to stay for her.

A faint smile hung at the corner of her mouth. Her gaze was gentle and calm, devoid of her usual icy indifference. Her whole being seemed to become vivid and radiant.

A flash of wonder crossed Yun Chi’s eyes. Instinctively, she took Ye Xuejin’s hand, brought it to her lips, and kissed it lightly.

“Prince Consort?” Ye Xuejin’s eyelashes fluttered, and her fingers twitched.

It seemed that ever since she woke up, the way the Prince Consort looked at her had become much more affectionate. Perhaps… was this the reason the deity had decided to stay?

Yun Chi’s face heated up. On impulse, she extended her own hand to the princess’s lips—a “fair trade.”

The fingers were cool, the lips warm; the slight roughness of skin against softness sent hearts into a flutter.

Ye Xuejin looked at Yun Chi in surprise. Hesitating for a moment, she opened her mouth slightly and, mimicking her, gave a light kiss in return.

This is what the Prince Consort meant… right?