Transmigrated into the Scum Female Consort - Chapter 99

The group of five soon distance themselves from the camp.

As they pass the site of that night’s ambush, Yun Chi instinctively tightens her grip on Ye Xuejin’s hand. It is only when she sees that the road holds nothing but a few tattered rags and patches of darkened soil that her fingers finally relax.

She had forgotten—it is already winter; the mountain beasts are likely desperate for food and drink.

Ye Xuejin also remembers that night. Her gaze turns cold. Among those at the mine, how many were truly innocent, and how many simply stood by and watched?

The ringleaders have been eliminated, but the remaining culprits cannot be caught red-handed. Without evidence, the matter can only be left as it is for now.

She purses her lips, forcing herself to stop dwelling on it, but her thoughts refuse to obey. If anyone dares to commit such a crime again, I will pursue them to the very end…

Sensing Ye Xuejin’s shifting mood, Yun Chi gives a light cough, intentionally trying to distract her. “I forgot to ask—what do I need to do later?”

“The Consort may simply act as the occasion demands,” Ye Xuejin replies.

Yun Chi couldn’t help but smile. “Then if I fail to read the occasion correctly, you must not blame me.”

She tilts her head, her smile bright and her eyes clear. As their eyes meet, Ye Xuejin freezes momentarily, the tips of her ears quietly turning red.

“This Princess would never blame the Consort.”

Yun Chi let out a soft laugh. “Then I shall act as boldly as I please.”

Interrupted by this banter, Ye Xuejin’s dark thoughts are completely pulled back to the present. She allows a small smile to curve her lips. “Very well.”

Nearby, the Elder Madam Zhou is also instructing Qi Mingyan. “Mingyan, you needn’t say a word later. Leave everything to Mother.”

Qi Mingyan nods. “I shall trouble you then, Mother.”

Elder Madam Zhou smiles and pats the back of her hand. “Don’t speak like an outsider. To be able to serve Her Highness alongside you brings peace to my heart.”

Qi Mingyan nods again, though her gaze toward the Elder Madam is complex—a mixture of pity and relief she cannot quite name. It is a pity that in the entire Zhou family, only the Elder Madam sees the current situation clearly. Fortunately, at least the Elder Madam is not muddled.

While the Elder Madam looks gratified on the surface, she sighs inwardly. Such a good child; she was failed by our Zhou family in the end.

With this thought in mind, upon reaching the mine, the Elder Madam volunteers to walk alone toward the cluster of makeshift straw and wooden shacks.

“Eldest Son!” Seeing Zhou Qishan standing outside a shack staring at the sky, the Elder Madam shouts with great vigor.

Zhou Qishan starts, quickly turning to call for the Old Imperial Censor Zhou, and the two walk over together. After a few steps, they notice the figures standing not far away.

After a moment’s thought, the Old Imperial Censor waves his hand, and the Zhou family servants follow behind them. Beneath the shacks, the miners look at one another, yet none dare to make a sound. Ever since this group of prisoners arrived, the official guards had vanished one by one, and even the boldest thugs among them had disappeared. Those left were either “fence-sitters” who followed the wind or honest laborers who only knew how to work; they lacked a leader.

In fact, everyone is somewhat afraid of the Zhou family now. After all, the dozen or so men of the Zhou house are very united, whereas the miners, without a leader, are nothing but a heap of loose sand.

As Zhou Qishan approaches, the Elder Madam immediately delivers a sharp slap to his head.

“Mother!” Zhou Qishan cries out, clutching his head in disbelief. It hurts.

The Elder Madam’s expression is grim. “Eldest Son, kneel.”

Seeing this, the Old Imperial Censor’s face darkens. “Madam, surely there is a way to speak civilly.” To teach a son behind closed doors is one thing, but Qishan is a father himself; such a slap strips him of all dignity.

The Elder Madam glares at him, wishing she could slap the old man as well. She takes a deep breath and looks back at Zhou Qishan. “Still not kneeling? What, have I, your mother, lost the right to command you?”

“Madam, whatever it is, set it aside for a moment. Allow me to go greet Her Highness first…”

Seeing the Old Censor interrupt again, the Elder Madam sighs, her voice full of weary frustration. “Old man, do you think I would keep Her Highness waiting just to bicker with you? Or is it that you wish to go cause a scene in front of Her Highness?”

The Old Censor is struck silent by the realization, though his expression remains sour. “Qishan, kneel.”

The old woman is becoming more and more formidable… he thinks.

Only then does Zhou Qishan kneel, his face twisted with indignation. “Mother, I do not know what I have done wrong.”

The Elder Madam laughs—a laugh born of pure anger. “Fine. Then I ask you: when Mingyan and Xiaoyue came yesterday to invite you to see Her Highness, why did you not go?”

Zhou Qishan pauses, then mutters, “I did not know their invitation was Her Highness’s wish.”

The Old Censor instinctively chimes in, “Exactly. Qishan and I were worried it wasn’t the Princess’s intent.”

“Old man!” The Elder Madam can no longer contain herself and roars, “I see you’ve lived all these years only to go backward! If Mingyan and Xiaoyue coming to fetch you isn’t the Princess’s intent, then whose intent would it be? Do you truly believe Mingyan and Xiaoyue would use the Princess’s name to harm the Zhou family?”

The Old Censor tugs hard on his beard and falls silent. In truth, he had thought that way at first, but after his son’s persuasion, his mind had muddled the facts.

Zhou Qishan wants to argue further, but looking at his furious mother and silent father, he bites his tongue and lowers his head.

Seeing them quiet, the Elder Madam exhales her anger. Ignoring the father and son, she looks directly at the Zhou family servants. “I came ahead specifically to tell you one thing: Mingyan is now the Princess’s officially appointed Military Strategist. From now on, I will only listen to Mingyan and Her Highness. If you are not fools, you will know what to do.”

With that, she turns to leave.

At this moment, the Elder Madam’s heart is heavy. She was born of a noble house and raised with care. Since marrying into the Zhou family, she has been the mistress of the household, supporting her husband and teaching her children without a single mistake. She thought she would live out her life in such a quiet, muddled fashion.

But fate is fickle. She is no longer a great mistress, and her husband and son are no longer noble civil officials. This exile has allowed her to see too much.

Now, the Princess clearly intends to use women of talent and virtue, showing no favoritism toward men. Yet the old man and her son still cannot see it. They still believe they are in the Capital, thinking that as long as a man has some learning, he will be held in high regard. Or perhaps, they simply refuse to admit that the day has come where they might be inferior to women.

The Elder Madam’s steps heavy. Uttering words that were essentially a break from her husband and son pained her, but no matter the pain, she could not remain muddled with them. Now that the Zhou family has fallen, she cannot allow her daughter and granddaughter to be covered in dust.

The Zhou servants are panicked, watching the Elder Madam walk away, unsure of what to do. Faintly, they see two paths before them: remain loyal to the Old Censor and his son, or follow the Elder Madam and the Young Mistress.

Suddenly, a young servant lifts his foot. It is the same young servant who had doubted Zhou Qishan that night.

The Steward Zhou immediately grabs his sleeve. “Wu’er!”

Zhou Wu slowly shakes his head, firmly prying his father’s hand away, and strides after the Elder Madam. He sees further than the rest. To be loyal to the Zhou father and son is to remain a servant of the Zhou house forever. But to be loyal to the Elder Madam and the Young Mistress is to serve Her Highness—it means a future of infinite possibilities.

Zhou Wu rushes to the front of Ye Xuejin, dropping to his knees. “This subordinate, Zhou Wu, wishes to pledge his loyalty to Her Highness!” He then shifts his knees toward Qi Mingyan and bows again. “Zhou Wu wishes to serve the Military Strategist and the Elder Madam.”

Ye Xuejin remains silent, merely glancing at Qi Mingyan.

“Rise and speak,” Qi Mingyan says calmly. “Do you realize this act is a betrayal of your master?”

Zhou Wu, having just stood up, kneels again immediately. His eyes are wide. “Military Strategist, I… I am not. When the Zhou family met with disaster, I never plotted for myself. I followed faithfully and protected the family all the way to Yangzhou; I have fulfilled my loyalty. Now, I wish to strive for my own future.”

Qi Mingyan smiles slowly. “I have already divorced Zhou Qishan. In the future, simply call me Military Strategist.”

Zhou Wu cannot help but grin. “Yes, Military Strategist!”

To the side, the Elder Madam looks at the father and son who remain frozen in place, and her heart sinks to the depths. Even Zhou Wu can see the truth, yet her husband and son refuse to open their eyes. Because of this, she is even more determined. In the future, the only ones the Zhou family can rely on are her daughter and granddaughter. With her watching over Xiaoyue and Mingyan helping little Ying’er, the future will not be too bleak.

Thinking of this, the Elder Madam looks ashamed and kneels. “Your Highness, this old servant is disgraced.” Her trip had been in vain.

Ye Xuejin, however, is not disappointed. She reaches out to help the Elder Madam up, saying warmly, “You are mistaken, Madam. You have done quite enough.”

There are some things she cannot say—such as picking out those among the Zhou family who are willing to serve her with a single heart. Sometimes, one person who understands is worth ten who are muddled. Ordinarily, she would want the whole family’s loyalty. But now, with the Consort’s help and those “immortal methods,” she only needs her circle to be elite, not numerous.

After helping the Elder Madam, Ye Xuejin looks at Zhou Wu. “Zhou Wu, step forward.”

“Yes!” Zhou Wu’s voice is resonant.

Ye Xuejin gives her orders unhurriedly. “This Princess commands you: go to those miners and repeat exactly what you were just thinking. Do it once. It does not matter if no one returns with you.”

The miners’ situation is only slightly better than refugees living hand-to-mouth. If they have the heart for it, a clever person will know how to seize an opportunity. She is never stingy with giving chances; whether they can be grasped depends on the individual.

Yun Chi watches, somewhat puzzled. Doesn’t a rebellion require manpower? She feels that Ye Xuejin doesn’t seem to care about that at all. Though she has doubts, she knows now is not the time to ask. When they are alone, she will ask. Doing so in front of everyone would make her look unintelligent.

Before long, Zhou Wu runs back. Unsurprisingly, he is alone. At the same time, the Old Censor brings the rest of the Zhou family over.

“Greetings, Your Highness.”

Ye Xuejin’s expression remains unchanged. She says coolly, “This Princess is fine. You may all rise.”

With that, she takes Yun Chi’s hand, turns, and leaves.

The Elder Madam’s eyes dim for a moment before she quickly follows. Qi Mingyan and Shisong also turn to leave. After a few steps, Qi Mingyan looks back at the stunned Zhou Wu.

Shisong blinks and tries calling out, “Zhou Wu, hurry up and follow!”

“Ah!” Zhou Wu immediately runs over.

The group leaves just like that.

They left just like that!

The Old Censor pulls at his beard in a daze. Does Her Highness have no orders? When exactly are we starting the uprising?

Among the Zhou servants, the old Steward tries to suppress the corners of his mouth from curling upward. His heart is thumping wildly—his son, Wu’er, has gone with the Princess! His son was chosen by Her Highness!

Wait… why did he think “chosen”? Shouldn’t he have stopped his son? The Master of the house is still right here…

But why is he so excited? His son was chosen by the Princess! The smoke from his ancestral graves must be turning blue with good fortune!