Transmigrated Into A Novel As A Scumbag Princess’ Consort - Chapter 45

45:

Yu Lu’s expression froze, and he stepped aside.

Captain Hu then turned his gaze to Ye Xuejin. At first glance, he knew this striking woman who had spoken was none other than Princess He’an, renowned for her unparalleled beauty.

He looked at her briefly before averting his eyes, waving his hand decisively. “Listen up, everyone line up in two rows, stand properly, and place all your belongings on the ground.” With that, he signaled his men to untie the prisoners’ ropes.

The group had initially been frightened by the arrival of so many soldiers, but upon hearing it was just a search for items, they relaxed.

Aside from their prison clothes, they had nothing else. There had been a human head earlier, but it had already been dealt with.

Only then did they realize the significance of Ye Xuejin’s earlier actions.

The princess was truly remarkable, foreseeing even this.

Many thought as much.

Soon, everyone lined up outside the stable. On the ground were a few water pouches, a knife that had belonged to Zeng Laosan now carried by Shiniang, and the stun baton Shi Song had carefully placed down.

Captain Hu’s gaze swept over the items, and he kicked the knife with his foot. “Why is this an official’s blade?”

“Captain Hu, you may not know—” Yu Lu began.

“Did I ask you?” Captain Hu cut him off sharply, turning to Shiniang. “Speak. Why do you have an official’s blade?”

Shiniang answered calmly, “We were ambushed in the mountains, and one of the officers died. Lord Yu saw that I had some martial skills and asked me to temporarily hold this blade to protect the women.”

Captain Hu sized her up, then turned to Shi Song. “And what’s this?”

He stepped on the stun baton, unable to discern its material.

Seeing him step on the stun baton, Shi Song’s face flushed with anger, and she felt an urge to confront him, blurting out, “Get your foot off it!”

This was a divine artifact bestowed by the immortal!

The group’s expressions grew solemn, all staring at the artifact under his foot, silently praying in their hearts: Immortal, don’t blame us. This man is defiling your divine artifact. If you must punish someone, punish him alone.

Seeing Shi Song’s agitation, Captain Hu sneered and ground his foot against it. “Answer me. What is this?”

Shi Song clenched her fists, ready to charge forward, but Yun Chi quickly grabbed her arm.

“Officer, this belongs to me. The young lady is just impulsive; please don’t take it personally,” Yun Chi said, bowing and stepping forward.

Thankfully, she had acted quickly, or things could have escalated.

The girl was too reckless. People were living, objects were not. Even if the stun baton was truly an immortal’s gift, it was meant to protect lives. Losing a life over it would be putting the cart before the horse.

Captain Hu turned to Yun Chi. “Name, identity, background, explain clearly.”

Yun Chi replied without hesitation, “Honorable officer, my name is Yun Chi. I was a beggar in the capital. These women are my sisters. As women, we were often bullied while begging, so we formed a beggar’s guild for self-protection. I’m the guild leader, and this stick was something I found. We treated it as the guild’s sacred relic, which is why my sister got so worked up.”

She paused, glancing at Ye Xuejin with a slight frown. “Later, I was fortunate enough to catch the princess’ embroidered ball and became her consort. But who knew I’d be so unlucky? I didn’t get to enjoy the good life and ended up dragging my sisters into this mess. They’re loyal and still call me their leader, following me into exile. If you must blame someone, blame me, officer.”

Her words left the group dumbfounded, marveling at how convincingly the Princess’ Consort could spin a tale.

Yet, when they first met Yun Chi, this was exactly how she had seemed—calling the princess unlucky and constantly complaining about and mistreating her.

Who would’ve thought it was all a facade? The immortal was indeed wise, seeing that the Princess’ Consort was the most loyal to the princess.

Captain Hu raised an eyebrow. So this was the beggar consort…

He pondered for a moment, then raised his hand. “Keep searching. Don’t miss a single person.”

By “keep searching,” he meant body searches.

“Captain Hu!” Yu Lu couldn’t help but intervene. “Surely the women don’t need to be searched?”

Given the distinction between men and women, how could the princess be subjected to such close inspection?

Captain Hu casually touched the sword at his waist, drawing it and pointing it at Yu Lu. “I say search, so we search. Anyone who dares to interfere can try me.”

Yu Lu gritted his teeth and stood his ground. “I wouldn’t dare, but please, Captain Hu, show some leniency and have a woman conduct the search.”

“Are you telling me how to do my job?” Captain Hu’s target was Princess He’an.

“Please, sir, have a woman conduct the search,” Yu Lu said, kneeling without backing down.

Old Censor Zhou, seeing this, knelt as well. “Please, sir, have a woman conduct the search.”

“Please, sir, have a woman conduct the search,” the rest of the group followed.

The standoff thickened, the air seemingly frozen.

“You’ve got some nerve,” Captain Hu said, his voice growing colder. “Not only will I search, but I’ll do it myself.”

“Who’s got some nerve? Who does Captain Hu plan to search personally?”

At that moment, a lazy female voice came from atop the wall.

Captain Hu looked up, saw who it was, and quickly led his men to kneel. “Greetings, Your Highness, the County Princess.”

The newcomer was the eldest daughter of the Southwest King, titled “Yi.”

Why was she here? She must have planted spies in the governor’s mansion to arrive so quickly.

County Princess Yi smiled. “Captain Hu, stay kneeling for now. You, go fetch Lady Hu.”

The soldier she pointed to looked troubled, glancing at Captain Hu.

Captain Hu was about to shake his head when County Princess Yi said, “Either Lady Hu conducts the search, or no one does. Surely Captain Hu doesn’t distrust his own wife?”

Captain Hu said helplessly, “County Princess, I’m just following orders. Please don’t make this difficult for us.”

County Princess Yi, as if she hadn’t heard, jumped down from the wall and said leisurely, “It seems Captain Hu doesn’t want to search anymore. In that case, keep kneeling.”

Captain Hu fell silent for a moment before waving to his men.

In the crowd, Yu Lu’s eyes widened as if he’d uncovered a shocking secret, quickly glancing at County Princess Yi, dressed in a cyan martial outfit.

How had he forgotten? During the Southwest King’s time as the General of the Western Conquest, though he was often fighting on the southwestern border with his family by his side, County Princess Yi, his only child at the time, had remained in the capital.

Later, when the General became the Southwest King and his wife bore a son, County Princess Yi was sent back to the southwest.

That was only a few years ago.

Yu Lu suddenly had a strong hunch that the princess’ detour to the southwest was likely for County Princess Yi, not the Southwest King.

Old Censor Zhou, well-versed in court affairs, also had a glint in his eyes. Indeed, County Princess Yi had fared well in the capital, but after news spread of the Southwest King gaining a son in his later years, her situation became difficult.

Who had proposed sending County Princess Yi back to the southwest to reunite with her family? It was the old Grand Tutor, wasn’t it?

The old Grand Tutor, who had served as imperial teacher to two emperors—first the late emperor, then both the princess and the current emperor when he was still the crown prince.

Old Censor Zhou tugged at his beard, sensing a vast web being subtly woven.

No one noticed Ye Xuejin lower her eyes, concealing a fleeting smile, her left index finger twitching twice.

The courtyard fell quiet. Captain Hu forced a smile. “County Princess, may I first search the other prisoners so I can complete my task sooner?”

As a fifth-rank city gate captain, kneeling like this was humiliating, and with his wife arriving soon, he felt even more uneasy.

County Princess Yi smiled. “You can search, but remember, I can’t stand seeing women mistreated. If anyone’s hands dare touch the women, I’ll chop them off and feed them to the dogs.”

Thus, the soldiers began searching the men first. As expected, they found nothing.

Captain Hu then had them thoroughly search the stable, inside and out, but still came up empty.

At that moment, Lady Hu arrived.

“Husband,” Lady Hu called to Captain Hu before curtsying to County Princess Yi. “This humble woman greets Your Highness, the County Princess.”

County Princess Yi smiled brightly. “Lady Hu, no need for formalities. You must know what to do. Get to it, don’t delay Captain Hu’s task.”

Captain Hu cleared his throat and managed three words: “Be thorough.”

Lady Hu nodded and approached the line of female prisoners, searching each from head to toe with meticulous care.

After finishing, she shook her head at Captain Hu.

Nothing but their clothes.

Captain Hu took a deep breath, forced another smile, and said to County Princess Yi, “I won’t disturb Your Highness’ reunion.”

County Princess Yi ignored him, walking past him toward the exit. “Reunion? I’m just a passerby who can’t stand hypocrites bullying women under the guise of duty. Sorry, Captain Hu, for not letting you search personally. Farewell.”

With that, she left without looking back.

Lady Hu’s eyes twitched at her words. “Husband?”

Captain Hu quickly smiled at her. “Don’t overthink, my dear. I’m just doing my job. This isn’t the place to talk, ask your father later.”

His wife was the daughter of the Caozhou governor. Without such a powerful father-in-law, he wouldn’t have risen so quickly.

Lady Hu looked at him skeptically but said nothing more.

The group then left.

Outside the post station gate, County Princess Yi mounted her horse and turned back to the post station staff. “I don’t care about the others, but the women are not to be bound again.”

“Understood, safe travels, County Princess,” the staff nodded repeatedly.

In the back courtyard stable, Old Censor Zhou couldn’t help glancing at Ye Xuejin several times, wanting to confirm his suspicions.

After much hesitation, he finally spoke. “Does Your Highness have a prior connection with County Princess Yi?”

Ye Xuejin’s gaze paused, first landing on Mu Er, lingering briefly as if confirming something, before she slowly said, “Since none of you spoke out of turn just now, I’ll be honest in return. To be frank, County Princess Yi and I are mere acquaintances. I wanted to converse with her after she spoke up for us, but she didn’t give me the chance.”

After all, County Princess Yi had left swiftly.

“Is that so?” Old Censor Zhou’s first instinct was disbelief, but County Princess Yi indeed hadn’t interacted much with the princess and left decisively. Had he overthought it?

Or perhaps…

He subtly glanced at Mu Er.

Mu Er lowered his head, raising an eyebrow. Staying silent was the right call, though even speaking up likely wouldn’t have mattered.

He felt Captain Hu wasn’t after the head but something else.

All the better. As long as he could gain the princess’ trust, his opportunity would come eventually.