Transmigrated Into A Novel As A Scumbag Princess’ Consort - Chapter 17

17:

But things rarely go entirely as planned.

[Gave one sip of mineral water. Please choose a reward: two pairs of cotton socks or one pair of gloves.]

Yun Chi was speechless. She’d wished for two sets of thermal underwear, and all she got were socks or gloves?

Even if she’d given water multiple times, was the reward depreciation this severe?

Wait!

She noticed two key words: *one sip*?

Glancing at Ye Xuejin, she saw her curiously examining the water bottle.

Yun Chi: “…”

“You’re not drinking?”

Ye Xuejin handed the bottle back. “I’m not thirsty anymore.”

Yun Chi poured the water into the pouch and returned the empty bottle to the storage space.

Ye Xuejin’s eyes flickered. Her consort was growing less guarded around her…

Yun Chi took her hand. “Come with me.”

Back at their earlier spot, Yun Chi decided not to hide from Ye Xuejin, conjuring a bucket of warm water and two pairs of cotton socks on the spot.

She’d figured out her golden finger’s pattern—since she could wish for specific rewards, she wouldn’t hold back.

Ye Xuejin stared at the bucket and socks that appeared from nowhere. Despite having seen her consort’s abilities before, she was still astonished.

Yun Chi handed her a pair of socks. “Take these.”

Ye Xuejin accepted them dazedly.

As wished, Yun Chi received two clean towels as a reward.

“Use the warm water to clean up and tend to your wounds,” Yun Chi said, handing over a towel.

This time, she wished for a first-aid kit.

Ye Xuejin was nearly overwhelmed, waves of shock crashing within her.

What was her consort’s origin?

How could a mortal have such powers?

Was she an immortal reincarnated to face a trial, or a mountain spirit?

Yun Chi, as if it weren’t enough, produced the first-aid kit. “This has supplies for bandaging wounds…”

After explaining how to use gauze and such, she handed over the kit. The moment Ye Xuejin took it, two sets of thermal underwear finally appeared as wished.

Socks led to towels, towels to a first-aid kit, and the kit to thermal underwear.

Yun Chi mentally patted herself on the back for her clever maneuvering.

A modern person like her could master this golden finger with ease.

Ye Xuejin, as if just regaining her senses, murmured, “Thank you, Consort.”

Yun Chi smiled, handing her a set of thermal underwear. “Change into these clean undergarments later. Wash under that tree, I’ll turn around and keep watch.”

She glanced at the text in the air.

[Gave one set of thermal underwear. Please choose a reward: two packs of compressed biscuits or sixteen compressed biscuits.]

Since she’d specified compressed biscuits, that was the only option.

One pack held eight biscuits, this golden finger was oddly formal.

Yun Chi chose two packs, stopping there to avoid wasting time.

She craved delicious meals, but future opportunities to slip away were uncertain, and compressed biscuits were the easiest to eat discreetly.

Likewise, with eleven days until Ye Xuejin’s vindication, if no such chances arose again, treating her wounds now was crucial.

Behind her, Ye Xuejin moved mechanically, still reeling.

Was her consort even human?

Soon, Yun Chi wiped herself down with the remaining water, changed into clean thermal underwear and socks, and slipped back into her coarse prisoner’s garb.

“I’m done.”

Ye Xuejin turned, a thousand words in her heart reduced to one question: “Why are you so good to me?”

Yun Chi smiled vaguely. “No reason. I just want you to stay alive.”

Alive until her name was cleared, and Yun Chi’s life would be safe.

Ye Xuejin’s lips tightened, her voice softening. “You could leave me behind.”

Yun Chi understood her meaning and countered, “What about you? Never thought of escaping?”

Ye Xuejin shook her head. “I’m not like you, Consort.”

Her wounds made fleeing impossible, and she couldn’t abandon those who’d followed her, risking their lives.

Yun Chi paused. “You mean I could just walk away?”

Truth be told, she was a bit tempted…

Ye Xuejin considered it carefully. “You have no kin, unlike others with many ties. You only need to handle two things.”

“What two things?”

“First, the arrest warrant. Government artists are skilled, and the bounty could make commoners rich overnight, so you’d need to disguise yourself.

Second, without travel permits or identity papers, you can’t enter towns. But as a former beggar with your abilities… you could flee to another country and start anew.”

Yun Chi listened quietly, her hopes fading.

Her so-called abilities only worked for Ye Xuejin.

So, she’d better stick it out for these dozen days and avoid risky ventures.

Yun Chi sighed lightly. “I’m not thinking about that. I just want to see you safely through this. As long as you’re alive, that’s enough.”

Her casual words stirred ripples in Ye Xuejin’s heart.

“Why?”

Yun Chi smiled. “No reason. When you’re vindicated, I’ll ask for one thing.”

“What thing?”

“You’ll know then.”

Ye Xuejin gripped her hand silently, asking no more.

They fell quiet, soon returning to the city gate.

Since many had washed at the river, their clean appearance didn’t stand out.

At the gate, the prisoners had returned, along with Shiniang and the five girls. Only the four escorts, including Yu Lu, were absent.

Yun Chi and Ye Xuejin exchanged a glance, sitting closer to the Zhou family.

Soon, Yu Lu returned, each escort carrying two fish.

Zeng Laosan rushed forward. “Lord Yu, you’re amazing! We’re in for a treat!”

Yu Lu handed him the fish. “Cleaned already. Roast it and eat it.”

He scanned the group, saw no one missing, and sat by the fire.

As usual, only escorts could be warmed by the fire—exile was a harsh punishment, not meant to be comfortable.

Once the fish was cooked, the escorts ate jovially.

The starving prisoners, stomachs filled only with cold river water, grew hungrier at the fish’s aroma, their eyes fixed on the escorts’ mouths.

Some even smacked their lips, as if tasting the fish from afar.

Even Shiniang’s group couldn’t help glancing over.

Only Yun Chi and Ye Xuejin paid little attention to the escorts.

Ye Xuejin watched Yun Chi, eyes closed in rest, feeling a deep calm.

She was full, warm, and no longer worried about her wounds—all thanks to the person beside her.

Her consort…

From a distance, two gazes fell on them.

One was Shiniang’s.

She glanced at Yun Chi, then Ye Xuejin, her movements subtle, her eyes deep, lost in thought.

The other was Zeng Laosan’s.

He covertly eyed them, then stood up, circling the prisoners as if patrolling.

Yun Chi, sitting and mentally inventorying her storage space—twenty taels of silver, one dagger, one stun baton, three anti-inflammatory pills, twenty-one water bottles, six self-heating rice meals, twenty compressed biscuits, one jin of beef jerky, a first-aid kit, two towels, and a water bucket—was kicked from behind.

Turning, she saw Zeng Laosan, whip in hand.

He smirked pointedly. “Consort, want to gnaw on some fish bones?”

Yun Chi: “…” Thanks, but no.

Ye Xuejin’s fingers clenched, guessing what was coming.

Time to perform again.

Seeing Yun Chi’s silence, Zeng Laosan glanced at Yu Lu, then lashed out with his whip.

Yun Chi scrambled up in pain, forcing a smile. “Sir, calm down. Let me handle some family matters, and I’ll come beg for those fish bones.”

She turned to Ye Xuejin, kicking her harshly. “Are you blind? Didn’t see me get hit? You couldn’t block it? I’m cursed for eight lifetimes marrying you. If you hadn’t dragged me into this exile, I might’ve been the Beggar Clan’s leader by now!”