Transmigrated into the Scum Female Consort - Chapter 86

A few loud shouts successfully startled the women in the various rooms, including Yun Chi and Ye Xuejin, who had just drifted off to sleep.

Yun Chi, woken before she could truly sink into slumber, turned over dazed. She instinctively pulled Ye Xuejin into her arms. “Is that Zhou Qiyue? What is she shouting about?”

“It is nothing. Go back to sleep, Consort,” Ye Xuejin replied softly. She knit her brows slightly but ignored the commotion outside.

Outside the door, Zhou Qiyue finished her shouting and hurriedly looked around. Seeing no quilts falling from the sky, a visible look of disappointment washed over her face.

However, she was not discouraged. She looked at Qi Mingyan with great optimism. “Sister-in-law, do not worry. The Immortal definitely won’t ignore us. Last time I prayed to the Immortal just like this, and he bestowed several celestial melons upon us.”

“Can the Immortal truly satisfy even our petty desires?” Qi Mingyan’s eyes flickered with doubt. Suddenly, she asked, “Last time… was Her Highness present? What did Her Highness do?”

If she remembered correctly, according to the Old Lady Zhou’s account of the exile journey, the Immortal protected the Eldest Princess. Everything bestowed by the Immortal was because of Her Highness.

Zhou Qiyue replied without reservation, “Her Highness was there! She even nodded at me.”

Having said that, she looked up again, preparing to shout once more.

“Xiao Yue!” Qi Mingyan’s heart sank. she immediately grabbed the girl’s arm. “Do not disturb the others.”

“Sister… Sister-in-law?” Zhou Qiyue froze, looking bewildered.

After a moment’s thought, Qi Mingyan pulled her toward their room. “Come with me.”

Zhou Qiyue instinctively struggled. “Sister-in-law, the Immortal hasn’t heard my prayer yet!”

If she shouted just once more, perhaps the Immortal would grant them quilts. Then her sister-in-law wouldn’t have to leave; she could stay right here.

Qi Mingyan’s expression was dark. She glanced at the door to the neighboring room. Realizing the wooden walls provided little insulation, she changed direction, gripped Zhou Qiyue’s wrist firmly, and walked quickly toward a more distant spot.

“Sister-in-law?”

“Be silent.” Qi Mingyan’s tone was stern, her face grave.

When she finally stopped, she saw that the young girl was already streaming with tears.

Qi Mingyan frowned and released her grip. “Xiao Yue, it is time you grew up.”

They said the road to exile offered only a slim chance of survival, and she had heard of the hardships of this journey from Old Lady Zhou. Yet, the girl before her acted as if she were still the pampered young miss of the Zhou Manor in the Capital, shedding tears at the slightest provocation.

Zhou Qiyue sniffled, her voice thick with a sob. “Sister-in-law, you’ve changed.”

In the past, whenever she cried, her sister-in-law would coax her and agree to anything. But the current Qi Mingyan seemed to have hardened her heart, no longer showing her any softness.

Hearing this, Qi Mingyan’s face turned cold. “It is not that I have changed, but that you have made no progress.”

The emotionless words and stern tone felt like a blow to Zhou Qiyue’s ears, filling her with a sense of grievance.

“But… but you were the one who said you hoped I could stay innocent and happy forever. You said I could always act spoiled and cry in front of you.”

Qi Mingyan sighed inwardly, her expression softening slightly. “Xiao Yue, you must understand that today is not like the days of the past.”

Worldly affairs are unpredictable. She hadn’t known the Zhou family would suffer such a sudden catastrophe, nor did she know she would find herself in this position…

Zhou Qiyue fought back her tears. “Then do your words no longer count?”

Of course she knew today was different. She knew she was now a criminal in the eyes of the law, but she simply wanted to remain the same toward her sister-in-law as she had always been. Yet her sister-in-law no longer treated her with the same attitude.

Qi Mingyan lowered her gaze and met her eyes. “I do not wish to argue these points with you. I only remind you: use your head before you act in the future. Since the Immortal only manifests to protect the Eldest Princess, and only Her Highness and the Consort can communicate with the Immortal, you should understand what should be done and what must never be done.”

Zhou Qiyue stared at her fixedly. “Then what does Sister-in-law think should not be done?”

With a solemn face, Qi Mingyan spoke slowly, “Remember this: making demands of the Immortal without Her Highness’s consent is the one thing you must never do. Otherwise, in Her Highness’s eyes—and in mine—you will forever be nothing more than a child who cannot be trusted with important matters.”

If Her Highness did not care, so be it. But if she did, such a presumptuous act was nothing short of a transgression of rank.

Just now, if the Immortal had truly granted Zhou Qiyue’s wish, no one in the Zhou family would have ever earned Her Highness’s respect again.

Furthermore, if just anyone could receive the Immortal’s favor, Her Highness’s supposed ability to communicate with the divine would lose its mystery. It would even cause many to lose their sense of awe.

Qi Mingyan did not know if this “Immortal protection” was real or a ruse, but she understood one thing: only by making this protection unique—by ensuring that every divine manifestation was tied solely to the Eldest Princess—could it provide the greatest benefit to their schemes.

Zhou Qiyue rubbed her eyes, her emotions finally stabilizing. “Then what should be done?”

“Go back. From now on, put Her Highness first in everything. Think thrice before you act. That is what you should do.”

As long as Zhou Qiyue remained loyal to the Princess, her future would not be too bleak. After speaking, Qi Mingyan lowered her eyes and walked away without looking back.

Behind her, Zhou Qiyue stood dazed for a long time before silently turning around.

The world changes easily, and people change with it. Those who remain unchanged are fools. I am such a fool, she thought.

Back at the wooden house, Ye Xuejin saw that there was no more noise outside and couldn’t help but curl her lips. Her judgment had been correct.

Qi Mingyan was indeed useful.

She even had a strong intuition that Qi Mingyan would become her most capable assistant. Ye Xuejin looked up at the person fast asleep beside her, her heart feeling completely at peace.

…

Soon, Qi Mingyan finished packing and drove the carriage out of the city.

On the road, seeing people running frantically from the direction of the mines, she couldn’t help but tighten her grip on the reins.

After rushing back, Qi Mingyan had just brought a bundle into the room when Zhou Qiyue stepped out with a wooden expression. She moved all the items from the carriage inside, then sat by the fire, accompanying Old Lady Zhou and little Ying’er.

Qi Mingyan paused for a moment before greeting the elder. “Mother, I’ve brought some food for you all. I’ve already eaten, so please eat while it’s hot. I have matters to discuss with Her Highness.”

“Ah, go ahead then,” Old Lady Zhou said with a smile.

Little Ying’er watched her come and go in a hurry, sitting obediently in Old Lady Zhou’s lap without making a sound.

As soon as the door closed, Old Lady Zhou’s smile vanished. She looked at the brooding Zhou Qiyue. “Xiao Yue, did you have a falling out with your sister-in-law?”

In the past, these two were as close as sisters. Her daughter would usually cling to her daughter-in-law the moment she saw her. Today, the sun had truly risen from the west.

Zhou Qiyue remained silent, then suddenly stood up. “Mother, I’m not hungry. I’m going outside to wait for Sister-in-law.”

Old Lady Zhou: “…” Wait, did this child even hear me?

Besides, Qi Mingyan was just next door; it was only a few steps away. It was freezing outside—what was there to wait for?

Yet Zhou Qiyue went straight out the door, leaning dazed against the wall between the two rooms, truly beginning her wait.

In the neighboring room, Qi Mingyan finished describing what she had seen on the road. She analyzed the situation: “The mine managers and guards have vanished without a word. Someone among the miners will surely go to the city to deliver the news. If I am not mistaken, people will come to investigate as early as tomorrow morning. Your Highness needs to prepare a response soon.”

Ye Xuejin nodded, a shallow smile playing on her lips. “And how does Mingyan think we should respond?”

Qi Mingyan spoke without hesitation, “To be honest with Your Highness, I have already visited the site of the incident. Although there is little physical evidence left, some traces remain.”