Transmigrated into the Scum Female Consort - Chapter 85

Yun Chi felt the warmth of the embrace behind her, and her entire body went numb. She had really wanted to sleep…

She couldn’t help but wonder if her “golden finger” system could reward her with some soundproof panels. The insulation in this small wooden cabin was pitiful; she could even hear the children crying in the room next door with perfect clarity. In her daze, Yun Chi’s final thoughts before drifting off were: soundproof panels… soundproof panels…

In the neighboring room, little Ying’er seemed to hear her mother’s voice in her dreams and opened her eyes in a haze. Seeing her mother sitting by the bedside, talking to her grandmother and aunt, the girl’s nose wrinkled with emotion.

“Mother… Mother…” Ying’er climbed up and threw herself onto Qi Mingyan’s back, sobbing piteously.

Beside them, Zhou Qiyue silently shifted her position, pressing her leg tightly against Qi Mingyan’s side. Qi Mingyan paused, then turned to pull little Ying’er into her arms.

“Be good, Ying’er. No more crying.” Her tone was light—it sounded like a comfort to a child, yet carried the weight of a command.

Ying’er immediately choked back her tears. “Mother, I won’t cry. I’ll be good.”

Qi Mingyan stared at her intently for a moment before suddenly smiling. “Good. Then why don’t you sleep a little longer?”

Ying’er nodded vigorously. She lay back down under the covers, stole one last cautious glance at Qi Mingyan, and closed her eyes.

Watching them, Zhou Qiyue couldn’t help but feel a sense of awe. Even though she was used to this, she was always amazed at how her sister-in-law never spoiled the children. To be separated for so long and yet remain so composed was incredible.

“Mingyan, you have suffered,” Madam Zhou said, her eyes filled with a complex mix of emotions. Qi Mingyan shook her head but said nothing.

Zhou Qiyue gritted her teeth and grabbed Qi Mingyan’s hand. “Sister-in-law, don’t leave again, alright? Let our family stay together forever.”

Madam Zhou quickly added, “Yes, don’t leave. With Her Highness here, nothing bad will happen.”

Qi Mingyan remained silent for a long moment. She gently pried Zhou Qiyue’s hand away and looked at Madam Zhou. “Mother, I have already resolved to follow Her Highness.”

The implication was clear: she was staying, but not necessarily as a “Zhou.”

Madam Zhou’s eyelids twitched. She asked tentatively, “Then… are you still willing to be with my eldest son, Qishan?”

If she wasn’t mistaken, the “following the Princess” that her daughter-in-law spoke of was a very different concept from “staying with the Zhou family.”

At this, Qi Mingyan fell into a deep silence.

Zhou Qiyue blinked in confusion, not understanding why her mother would ask such a redundant question. Her mouth moved faster than her brain: “Wasn’t the divorce between Sister-in-law and Brother just a ruse? A necessity forced by the situation?”

Madam Zhou remained silent as well. The son and daughter-in-law had claimed it was a fake divorce, but the papers were real, and the official seal of the government had been pressed upon them. In the eyes of the law, Qi Mingyan and Zhou Qishan were no longer husband and wife.

The atmosphere became heavy with a strange, suffocating silence.

After a long while, Madam Zhou let out a heavy sigh. “Mingyan, it is Qishan who has wronged you. If you are unwilling, so be it. As for Chen’er and Ying’er, we will follow your wishes. I will speak to Qishan myself.”

From the moment her son stubbornly insisted on keeping Ying’er while allowing Qi Mingyan to take Chen’er, perhaps this outcome was inevitable. Or perhaps it had been decided even earlier…

Zhou Qiyue was stunned. She wanted to ask but didn’t dare, and a secret, hidden spark of joy flickered in her heart. If Sister-in-law is no longer with my brother, then… She quickly shook her head, forcing those forbidden thoughts away.

Qi Mingyan remained silent for a few more beats before producing a stack of silver notes and pressing them into Madam Zhou’s hand. “This is the proceeds from selling the property and valuables I took with me. Mother, please count them. Everything is here.”

Madam Zhou’s voice choked up. “Mingyan… must you draw such a clear line between us?”

She truly loved Qi Mingyan as a daughter. In all their years together, she had forgotten she was a daughter-in-law.

Qi Mingyan lowered her gaze, her voice dropping. “If the line isn’t clear, Qishan will overthink things.”

That man had only allowed her to take Chen’er while forcing Ying’er to go into exile—was it not because he feared she would embezzle the family assets he had transferred out?

Madam Zhou’s lips trembled. She sighed again. “It is Qishan’s fault. It is our Zhou family that has failed you. I have no face to keep you. It was my poor upbringing of my son that caused you such suffering.”

“Mother, do not blame yourself,” Qi Mingyan said, clutching the hem of her sleeve tightly. “Though the fate between Qishan and me has ended, I will always call you Mother. And Xiaoyue will always be my sister.”

She had once felt lucky to marry into the Zhou family because her father-in-law was reasonable and her mother-in-law was kind. Without them, she wouldn’t have lasted this long.

Zhou Qiyue was dazed. She didn’t have time to feel disappointed by the words “always be my sister” because she was too busy being shocked. “Mother, Sister-in-law, what are you talking about? Why would my brother ever wrong Sister-in-law?”

Madam Zhou only shook her head, offering no explanation. She wiped her eyes and patted Qi Mingyan’s hand. “I will always treat you as my own daughter. Since you wish to follow the Princess, then live here with me. Consider it a favor to an old woman.”

A single tear rolled down Qi Mingyan’s cheek. “Yes.”

Zhou Qiyue was confused once more—alternating between wondering about her brother’s “sin” and the joy of knowing her sister-in-law was staying with her.

“Mother, there is one more thing,” Qi Mingyan said, her expression regaining its calm. “I did not bring Chen’er.”

She had left the child in the capital and come to Yangzhou alone.

Madam Zhou froze, then nodded in understanding. “It is for the best. This journey is too treacherous. The child is so young; he is better off in the capital.” She paused, then couldn’t help but ask, “Have you seen Qishan?”

Qi Mingyan shook her head. In truth, she had seen him—or rather, she had observed him from afar. But she had not revealed herself.

“By the way, Mother, what has happened on your journey? Are you adjusting to life in Yangzhou?”

Madam Zhou was successfully distracted and began recounting the major events. Zhou Qiyue chimed in excitedly, describing everything that had happened the previous night. Qi Mingyan listened quietly, her questions finally finding answers.

So, that site of bloody carnage was the first step the Princess and the women took to escape the abyss. She was certain now: regardless of whether the “Immortal’s protection” was real, the Princess held a powerful hand and was committed to her path. That was enough for her.

“Mingyan,” Madam Zhou said earnestly, “I know you are a woman of great talent. I ask for nothing else, only that you do not forget Ying’er. That child cares for you deeply.”

Qi Mingyan looked at the sleeping girl. “Rest assured, Mother. Ying’er will always be my child.”

Madam Zhou felt a wave of relief. “That is good. That is good.”

Qi Mingyan stood up and looked around the sparse room. “I will return to the city to fetch two sets of bedding.”

The room had only one bed. With the elderly, the child, and Zhou Qiyue, it was already a tight squeeze. If she was to stay, she needed to prepare.

“I’ll go with you!” Zhou Qiyue followed immediately.

Qi Mingyan stopped and looked at her deeply. “How can you go with me?”

Zhou Qiyue realized her mistake. She was wearing prisoner’s garb and was a convict serving a sentence; she couldn’t enter the city. But she didn’t want to be away from Qi Mingyan for even a second.

I have it!

Zhou Qiyue grabbed Qi Mingyan’s hand and ran out into the courtyard. Looking up at the sky, she shouted at the top of her lungs:

“Immortal above! My sister-in-law is also truly loyal to the Princess! I pray for the Immortal’s favor—please bestow upon us two sets of bedding! Just two sets will do!”