Transmigrated into the Scum Female Consort - Chapter 82

Yun Chi’s movements paused momentarily. After cleaning the wounds and finishing the bandages, she sat down on the edge of the bed.

“Are you… a little scared?” she asked. It was late at night, and they had just survived a terrifying ordeal. To return alone to call for help must have been frightening.

Ye Xuejin looked up, her expression calm. “A little.”

However, her fear was not the kind of fear her Consort was imagining.

Gazing into those deep, inscrutable eyes, Yun Chi’s heart softened. “It’s all over now.” Regarding the two men she had killed later, she suddenly decided not to mention them.

Ye Xuejin looked at her, a flicker in her gaze. (Fuma).”

“Yes?”

Ye Xuejin looked away. “This Princess wishes to bathe.”

Yun Chi was momentarily dazed. “Then go ahead and bathe.”

Ye Xuejin blinked, then slowly lifted her right hand, which was wrapped up like a heavy cocoon.

Yun Chi: “…” She had almost forgotten the fresh bandages.

What was to be done? She couldn’t exactly offer to help—and even if she did, Ye Xuejin would surely never agree to it. Yun Chi’s mind raced; she opened her mouth to speak but hesitated.

Ye Xuejin watched her quietly, her tone steady. “Then I must trouble the Consort to boil some hot water.”

Yun Chi stammered, “That… I could…”

Their eyes met. She bit her lip, unable to finish the sentence.

Ye Xuejin’s heart gave a sudden leap. While she maintained a calm facade, her pace of speech slowed. “The Consort could… do what?”

Yun Chi hurriedly averted her gaze and rushed toward the stove. “I can boil the water! Just wait a moment.”

I must be losing my mind, Yun Chi thought. She had actually been about to say, “I could help you bathe.” How could she offer to help with something so intimate? Luckily, her reason had returned in time to stop her from speaking. Otherwise, it would have been incredibly awkward.

Ye Xuejin watched Yun Chi’s retreating back, a faint smile touching her lips as the heat in her ears slowly subsided.

In the end, Yun Chi had to re-bandage the hand anyway, as the first set of gauze had—unsurprisingly—gotten wet.

The next morning, the sun rose high before any movement stirred outside. The women had exhausted so much mental and physical energy the night before that they slept longer than usual.

Hearing muffled conversations outside, Yun Chi forced her eyes open, only to freeze. The person in front of her was too close—so close that their foreheads were nearly touching. She could feel Ye Xuejin’s gentle breath against her skin.

Yun Chi’s heart skipped a beat. She could smell a faint, elegant fragrance—tranquil and warm.

The sleeping woman seemed to sense the intense gaze beside her and slowly drifted awake.

“Fuma,” Ye Xuejin murmured, her eyelashes fluttering as she opened her eyes. Her voice was soft and melodious.

Yun Chi smiled instinctively. “You’re awake. Does your hand still hurt?”

Ye Xuejin smiled back unconsciously. “It doesn’t hurt. Your medicine is very effective, and the bandaging was well done.”

“That’s good.” Relieved, Yun Chi got up to boil water, prepare a washbasin, and help Ye Xuejin dress.

“I have troubled you,” Ye Xuejin said, watching Yun Chi bustle about her. Her gaze deepened.

Yun Chi smiled dismissively. “It’s nothing. It’s only right.” She at least had that much common sense.

Once they were ready and stepped outside, they found the women standing in a line in the open clearing as usual. There were no gongs or drums this morning, and no one to rush them. Having finally had a good night’s sleep, the women were eager—eager to talk to one another, and eager to see the Grand Princess to confirm that the events of last night were real and not a self-delusion.

“Your Highness, Consort! The porridge is ready, and we’ve steamed some buns,” Zhou Qiyue called out cheerfully the moment the door opened.

Ye Xuejin looked at the women. “You have all worked hard. Please, eat quickly.”

“It was no trouble at all, Your Highness…”

The women waved their hands dismissively, though they appeared somewhat restrained. Thinking back to their frenzy the night before, they felt a lingering apprehension about what the future held.

Ye Xuejin sensed their unease. “Lu Shang, carry on as usual. I am here for everything. I will be here for you from now on.”

The implication was clear: they need not fear the fallout of last night, nor worry about a bleak future. She would handle everything.

“Yes, Your Highness!” Lu Shang replied excitedly. She knew Her Highness would not abandon them. They were truly saved.

After the meal, Ye Xuejin turned to Zhou Qiyue and Lu Shang. “The Consort and I will take a walk nearby. We shall return in half an hour. Do not worry.”

She knew it would take time for the women to feel truly secure, so she offered these reassuring words before leading Yun Chi away by the hand. After walking for a while, Ye Xuejin stopped.

Yun Chi scanned the surroundings. “Is this where we met Yu Lu and Shi Niang yesterday?”

Ye Xuejin nodded. “We wait.”

She had instructed them to meet here if there were new developments. Currently, she didn’t know if they had found anything, but her own mindset had shifted. Yesterday, she had been patient, wanting to take things step-by-step. But after last night, she wanted to move faster. She wanted to carve out an open path as soon as possible.

Sensing her urgency, Yun Chi squeezed her hand. “Don’t rush. Haste makes waste.”

Ye Xuejin gazed toward the horizon. “When I saw Lu Shang and the others this morning, I couldn’t help but think: if I had arrived in Yangzhou just one day later, what would have happened to them last night? If I had arrived a month later, how many would still be alive? Fuma… I want to be faster.”

Yun Chi remained silent for a moment before offering her support. “Then we must be careful and steady.”

Just as she finished speaking, a figure appeared. It was Shi Niang, alone.

“Reporting to Your Highness,” Shi Niang began. “I have discovered new information. The officials in the yamen are different from what the commoners say. They all seem to take orders from a Secretary named Zhu… This Secretary Zhu styles himself as an ‘envoy of the Immortals.’ He is quite skilled at charlatanry to win over the people. As for Lord Yu, he failed to infiltrate the Governor’s estate last night, so he did not come.”

Ye Xuejin nodded slightly. “You have done well. From now on, cooperate with Yu Lu. Find an opportunity to meet Governor Zhou alone. Also, keep a close watch on the yamen. Report any abnormalities immediately.”

“Yes!” Shi Niang answered vigorously. She thought to herself that Her Highness was indeed wise—if some people were incompetent at their tasks, the work should be given to those who could actually get it done. To her, a mere Governor’s estate was nothing.

Seeing the pride on Shi Niang’s face, Ye Xuejin started to say something but held back. Experience is the best teacher. This task was a test not only for Shi Niang but for Yu Lu as well.

“Go. Whether you succeed or not, meet here at this time tomorrow,” Ye Xuejin ordered.

As Shi Niang departed, Yun Chi turned to Ye Xuejin. “If Yu Lu couldn’t even get into the Governor’s estate, can Shi Niang really do it?” She remembered how easily Yu Lu had intercepted Shi Niang when she had first kidnapped Yun Chi.

Ye Xuejin gave her a meaningful look. “Just because Yu Lu failed doesn’t mean Shi Niang and the others—Mei, Lan, Zhu, Ju, and Song—cannot succeed. Only through cooperation can there be a ‘win-win’.”

Yun Chi pondered this. “You mean the six of them working together are stronger than Yu Lu alone?”

Ye Xuejin shook her head. “I mean mutual benefit.” She emphasized the last words. She needed capable subordinates, but more importantly, she needed subordinates with brains. She couldn’t always be there to explain every detail.

Yun Chi’s eyes brightened as she thought of historical records. “You actually enjoy the competition between them?”

Ye Xuejin’s smile faltered slightly as she nodded.

“Is it true then?” Yun Chi blurted out. “Do all you Princes and Princesses really study the ‘Art of Balancing’ (制衡之道)?”

The so-called Emperor’s Craft.

Ye Xuejin did not deny it. She looked deeply at Yun Chi. “Where did the Consort hear of such things?”

The Art of Balancing was indeed something her old Grand Tutor had taught her. But he had taught her even more about recognizing talent, balancing kindness with authority, and discerning right from wrong.