Transmigrated Into A Novel As A Scumbag Princess’ Consort - Chapter 13

13:

Having eaten eggs and drunk water, Yun Chi and Ye Xuejin regained some strength and walked at the front, avoiding the whips.

The tall, sturdy Mu brothers always led the way, also escaping the lashes.

Thus, only the Zhou family, with their dozen members, occasionally cried out in pain.

Yu Lu glanced back at the Zhou family’s condition, helplessly ordering, “Stop whipping. Keep moving.”

If the beating continued, he feared they’d collapse, causing real trouble.

Having overheard Yu Lu, Yun Chi whispered, “Do these escorts even know the route?”

For Yu Lu, the leader, to personally scout and determine the distance to the next town seemed unprofessional.

Ye Xuejin’s gaze flicked toward Yu Lu, her voice soft. “Usually, there’d be one or two veterans leading the way.”

Even if the prisoners suffered, the escorts should at least ensure timely supplies to avoid excessive hardship.

Typically, an escort team would include someone familiar with the route and distances.

“Then why do they all seem clueless?” Yun Chi asked.

Ye Xuejin’s eyes flickered, and she slowly shook her head, saying nothing.

She knew the reason…

Though they were at the front and the escorts were busy urging the Zhou family at the rear, the Mu brothers were nearby, making some topics inconvenient.

The reason was her.

Some wanted her alive, others wanted her dead.

Amid the power struggle, these seven escorts were chosen.

Seeing Ye Xuejin’s reticence, Yun Chi thought it over and vaguely understood.

It seemed the key lay with Ye Xuejin, unclear which factions backed these escorts.

As the sun sank westward, the prisoners’ pace slowed to a crawl, no longer marching but dragging their feet.

Yu Lu gazed ahead, still seeing no signs of habitation. In two hours, they’d likely covered only a dozen li.

Noting the time, he halted the group.

Zeng Laosan grumbled, “No village ahead, no shop behind—what are we eating or drinking? We can’t starve until tomorrow.”

Yu Lu caught his ulterior motive, giving him a hard look before turning his horse.

At the rear, he noticed only six women remained, led by Shiniang.

Though curious, he had no intention of meddling and didn’t ask.

Fewer people was better, easier to manage.

Shiniang asked calmly, “Does the sir have business?”

Yu Lu got to the point. “I can take you along, but on my terms.”

“Please, speak.”

“Hand over your food. From now on, you’re treated like the prisoners—it’s easier to explain.”

Shiniang showed no surprise, promptly handing over her bundle. “To be honest, this is all the food we have left.”

She’d anticipated this, eating on the way with the girls, leaving only a few buns.

Yu Lu didn’t take it, his gaze shifting to the five girls behind her.

Shiniang understood, signaling the girls to present their bundles. “Just clothes and worthless items.”

Yu Lu frowned, took the bundles, and said, “Follow me.”

Meanwhile, as Yun Chi sat, she snapped, “Rub my legs, I’m exhausted.”

She hadn’t forgotten Zeng Laosan’s glare and knew the act must continue, or he’d scheme something worse.

Ye Xuejin, without a word, obediently massaged her legs.

Onlookers showed disdain.

At that moment, Yu Lu approached the group with the women.

Everyone looked over.

Yu Lu handed his horse to Xiao Gao, instructing him to distribute the food to the escorts first, then walked toward Yun Chi.

Seeing their situation, he frowned, clenching his fist but holding back.

“You, come with me.”

He was addressing Yun Chi.

Startled, she confirmed he meant her and scrambled up.

Yu Lu brought her to Shiniang, raising his voice. “These six are your kin. They’ll join us to the southern border.”

Without identity papers, the only way to pass checkpoints was to tie them to Yun Chi, a beggar.

A group of beggars implicated by the Princess wouldn’t have papers.

He didn’t want to deal with this, but with the prisoners’ dire state, to accept their rations and use their help guilt-free, he had to agree.

Yun Chi nodded cooperatively, understanding her place—she had no right to refuse Yu Lu’s decisions.

Seeing her silence, Yu Lu addressed the others. “These six will go ahead to buy food and water and wait for us. Understood?”

After a moment of confusion, the group nodded in realization.

The women had given up their food and were willing to endure hardship to buy supplies, what could they say? It wasn’t their place anyway.

The escorts, qualified to object, held steaming buns and stayed quiet.

Satisfied, Yu Lu turned to Shiniang. “Hurry ahead. Try to buy food and water before the city gates close. Wait for us there.”

Shiniang agreed briskly, leading the five girls away quickly.

Well-fed and hydrated, their stamina far surpassed the exhausted prisoners.

Yu Lu watched them go, sitting down with relief.

“Let everyone rest. We’ll move slowly later.”

No rush now—even if the gates closed, Shiniang would have supplies waiting. They wouldn’t starve tonight.

Otherwise, he feared the prisoners wouldn’t hold out.

Seeing no further business, Yun Chi returned and resumed her act.

“Keep massaging. Don’t stop until I say.”

Ye Xuejin mumbled an “mm” and continued like a downtrodden maid.

The once ethereal Princess now resembled a bullied servant, leaving onlookers at a loss for words.

But they had no standing to intervene, their gazes toward Yun Chi growing more contemptuous.

As dusk fell, the group set out again.

The escorts, too tired to raise torches, didn’t bother—nobody would escape.

Fleeing meant certain punishment, possibly death or clan-wide consequences, and the starving, dizzy prisoners lacked the strength anyway.

Under the moonlight, Yun Chi held Ye Xuejin’s hand, deliberately slowing to create distance from others. She slipped her an anti-inflammatory pill, mentally wishing for compressed biscuits.

Other foods were too conspicuous or aromatic. For discreet, hunger-sating food, compressed biscuits were ideal.

The reward arrived as expected.

[Gave one anti-inflammatory pill. Please choose a reward: two compressed biscuits or two compressed biscuits.]

Yun Chi: “…”

No choice, huh? At least the reward was formal.

With two biscuits in hand, she ate one and gave the other to Ye Xuejin.

“Eat.” A whisper by her ear made Ye Xuejin’s heart skip.

She glanced at Yun Chi, checked their surroundings, and shielded by her sleeve, put the biscuit in her mouth.

It had a floury scent, yet different, with a rich, unfamiliar savory flavor that invigorated her.

As Ye Xuejin swallowed, savoring the taste, another strange bottle with half its water was pressed into her hand.

“Drink it and give me the bottle.” The familiar whisper carried a calming strength.

Ye Xuejin’s lips tightened, a slight smile forming. Her consort was showing her powers again…

Yun Chi wished for more biscuits. Since it was Ye Xuejin’s first time receiving one, the reward was generous—a pack of eight.

But giving biscuits again likely wouldn’t yield as much.

As she calculated how to maximize her storage space’s resources, a child’s pitiful sobbing broke through—heart-wrenching and miserable.