Transmigrated Into A Novel As A Scumbag Princess’ Consort - Chapter 49

49:

Their eyes met, and both smiled.

Once, they had seen each other as confidantes, bosom friends who would spare no effort to help one another.

And at this moment, they still were.

Caught up in the moment, Princess Yi couldn’t help but say, “Your Highness seems to have changed a bit.”

She had become more decisive. The old Ye Xuejin would likely have been too soft-hearted to deal with someone like Shiniang so firmly.

This was for the better. A soft-hearted person could never sit in that position.

Ye Xuejin smiled faintly: “Have I? You’ve matured as well.”

They had both grown, but the bond from their youth remained unchanged.

Princess Yi smiled but didn’t pursue the topic, instead asking, “How does Your Highness plan to take these things away?”

Ye Xuejin thought for a moment before giving a selective explanation: “…I am fortunate to have the protection of an immortal, who is willing to store them for me and make them available whenever I need.”

She still didn’t reveal Yun Chi’s ability.

Though she trusted Princess Yi, she wasn’t ready to tell anyone without sufficient means to protect herself.

Princess Yi was first shocked, then overjoyed: “That’s wonderful, Your Highness… truly wonderful.”

Her Highness was flawless, truly worthy of the heavens’ protection.

Ye Xuejin didn’t avoid Princess Yi’s gaze, casually taking Yun Chi’s hand as they walked to the stone racks.

These were all left to her by her mother…

She couldn’t help but reach out to touch the cold iron chests. In the next instant, the row of chests vanished into thin air, as if they had never existed.

“Your Highness!” Wen Yi, stunned, covered her mouth, letting out a gasp before falling speechless.

Was this immortal magic? It was too miraculous.

In her excitement, a sudden idea struck her, and she blurted out, “Why not ask the immortal to take the Caozhou Guard as well, Your Highness? It would be useful for starting an uprising on the southern border.”

Ye Xuejin shook her head, her expression solemn: “I have no intention of taking control of the Caozhou Guard. They can achieve far more in your hands, Sister Yi. Besides, now is not the time for an uprising.”

Though the new Emperor was already showing signs of incompetence, he hadn’t yet given anyone a clear handle to use against him.

But that day wasn’t far off.

Because her dear brother was fixated on abolishing the laws set by their ancestors, intent on driving women out of the court and cutting off the path for women across the realm.

That would be the perfect opportunity.

Otherwise, acting now would brand her a traitor, a rebel.

With this in mind, Ye Xuejin said, “I must ask Sister Yi to handle two more matters.”

“Your Highness, please give your orders.” Princess Yi could hardly contain her excitement. The day had finally come.

Nearby, Yun Chi watched their back-and-forth, feeling a surge of enthusiasm in her heart.

Who said women couldn’t change the world? Who said women couldn’t achieve greatness?

Ambition, for women, was never a derogatory term.

In the storehouse of the Princess’ residence, she seemed to see a resplendent golden hall, vast rivers and mountains, and the future Ye Xuejin and Princess Yi envisioned.

In the end, they didn’t have time for that meal.

Ye Xuejin couldn’t linger in the southwest, as the Emperor suspected she held the secret seal for the Caozhou Guard.

The Princess’ residence had been searched to the ground, and after her imprisonment, she had been tortured repeatedly, even subjected to searches in broad daylight.

All of this showed the Emperor still hadn’t let go of his suspicions.

Returning to the post station, they happened to encounter Shiniang, who had come back.

Seeing Princess Yi personally driving the carriage and Ye Xuejin and Yun Chi stepping out, Shiniang quietly crouched on the roof, not rushing to show herself.

Princess Yi accompanied them back to the courtyard before bidding farewell: “The road ahead is long and treacherous, Your Highness. Take care.”

Ye Xuejin nodded: “You too, Sister Yi. The next time we meet, I will personally host a feast to welcome you.”

“Very well.” Princess Yi gave a hearty laugh, glancing at the roof. “It seems Your Highness has gained another capable ally.”

With that, she signaled to Ye Xuejin and turned to leave.

Ye Xuejin understood, looking towards the roof: “Is that Shiniang back?”

Only then did Shiniang reveal herself, kneeling and bowing her head: “Your Highness, this subordinate is willing to follow you loyally.”

After much hesitation, she had only reported the incidents at Mao Family Village and the Zhenshan County Office, briefly mentioning that they had been forced to detour to Caozhou due to an ambush, and said no more.

Ye Xuejin remained silent, quietly looking at Yun Chi and mouthing two words: divine tool.

It was time to give out the third stun baton.

Yun Chi smiled silently, taking out a stun baton.

Since the batons had previously been given to Ye Xuejin, her cheat system didn’t react.

Ye Xuejin looked at Shiniang, saying calmly, “Rise.”

Shiniang raised her head nervously, standing to see Ye Xuejin holding out a baton toward her.

When she realized it was identical to the divine tool Shi Song clung to, her pupils contracted, and she froze.

“Your Highness…”

“Listen carefully,” Ye Xuejin said unhurriedly, explaining how to use the baton and going over the precautions clearly before handing it to her. “Shi Song and the others are still young and lack experience. You’ll need to take extra care in the future. And that Mu Er, watch him closely. Don’t give him any chance to send messages.”

“This subordinate will not fail you!” Shiniang, overcome with excitement, answered loudly.

Her voice seemed to disturb the sleeping group, as faint voices stirred from the stable.

Shiniang awkwardly rubbed her nose. Her Highness had just praised her and asked her to take care, yet she’d caused a commotion—how embarrassing.

“Your Highness, please forgive me, I…”

“It’s fine. I do believe and trust you’ll do well. Go wake everyone up,” Ye Xuejin said with a faint smile, gesturing for her to proceed.

The sky was already growing light. The exile convoy needed to leave early to avoid attracting unwanted attention.

“This subordinate obeys.” Still excited, Shiniang gripped the stun baton tightly, heading toward the stable while repeatedly glancing down at it.

This was the divine tool, the one that could knock someone out with a single touch!

Had she known, she would’ve pledged her loyalty sooner, sparing herself the itching envy.

Ye Xuejin turned her gaze away, wanting to check the contents of the iron chests before everyone was ready. She mentioned it to Yun Chi.

Yun Chi agreed without hesitation, as she was also curious about what the Empress had left for Ye Xuejin.

In the blink of an eye, Ye Xuejin saw her consort sway slightly, as if unsteady on her feet.

“Consort! What’s wrong?” Ye Xuejin’s heart jolted, and she quickly reached out to steady her, unable to suppress the concern and worry on her face.

Yun Chi waved her hand, laughing, “I’m fine, I’m fine.”

Hahaha, they’d struck it rich!

The Empress was truly thoughtful. All ten iron chests were filled with gold.

Pure gold, so shocking!

Yun Chi mentally calculated. The chests could hold roughly one cubic meter of contents.

Even conservatively, each chest contained at least 300,000 taels of gold.

Ten chests meant 3 million taels.

Seeing Yun Chi unable to stop smiling, Ye Xuejin guessed something, watching her quietly with a faint curve of her lips.

Her mother must have left her quite a fortune.

Yun Chi calmed down slightly, leaning close to Ye Xuejin’s ear and whispering, “It’s all gold, at least 3 million taels. You’ve struck it rich.”

Ye Xuejin’s gaze froze. Three million taels of gold…

She could never spend that much in a lifetime. Could her mother have…

Of course. What was more costly than war?

Dashao Kingdom’s military expenses accounted for nearly eighty percent of the treasury’s budget. A single major war could cost 10 million taels of silver, equivalent to 1 million taels of gold.

The kingdom’s treasury took in about 10 million taels of silver annually.

Yet her mother had prepared 3 million taels of gold for her, equivalent to 30 million taels of silver!

But where had her mother gotten so much gold?

Before Ye Xuejin could puzzle it out, Yu Lu arrived at the courtyard with the officers.

“Your Highness.”

“To the southern border,” Ye Xuejin said concisely, snapping out of her thoughts.

“This humble servant obeys.” Yu Lu understood. They were to head southwest swiftly, no longer lingering in Caozhou City.

As soon as the city gates opened, the exile convoy left Caozhou.

…

In the capital, the Imperial Study.

The Emperor glanced at the head eunuch, frowning: “Still no news?”

“Replying to Your Majesty, there’s still no word. Perhaps the journey is arduous, and something has delayed them.”

The Emperor snorted coldly: “A bunch of useless fools.”

Just then, a palace matron outside the Imperial Study relayed a message.

The head eunuch listened, cautiously glancing at the Emperor.

“What is it?” the Emperor asked, frowning again.

The head eunuch hesitated: “Replying to Your Majesty, the Empress sent word that the monthly stipends for the consorts’ palaces are due.”

“Then let her distribute them.”

“The Empress says the Imperial Clan Court is out of silver.”

The Emperor froze, then roared, “Absurd! How could the treasury be out of silver?”

The head eunuch flinched, stammering, “The Imperial Clan Court has always been tight. In past years, it was supported by both the national treasury and the imperial private treasury.”

The Emperor’s face grew more impatient: “Then have them go to the Ministry of Revenue and draw silver from the national treasury.”

A bunch of incompetent rice buckets, none of them are useful.

The head eunuch was inwardly panicking but forced himself to say, “The Ministry of Revenue sends silver on schedule each month. This month has already been delivered to the palace.”

The Emperor slammed the memorial in his hand, taking deep breaths to suppress his anger: “Where did all the silver go? It was enough before, so why is it insufficient under my reign? Summon the Empress. I want to ask her how she’s managing the harem.”

The head eunuch knew what was going on but didn’t dare say it.

By custom, harem expenses were covered half by the national treasury and half by the Emperor’s private treasury, managed by the Imperial Clan Court and delivered to the Empress.

But the new Emperor, in over half a year since his ascension, had never opened his private treasury. The Imperial Clan Court didn’t dare ask him for silver and had been scraping by.

Now, the Imperial Clan Court’s treasury was likely empty.

Whoever brought this up would face the Emperor’s wrath, so it was better to let the Empress handle it—she was his wife, after all.

Soon, the Empress hurried to the Imperial Study. Seeing the Emperor’s furious expression, she cautiously called, “Your Majesty, pardon me for being late.”

The Emperor, no longer bothering with memorials, said coldly, “I hear the Imperial Clan Court’s treasury is empty, and the silver from the Ministry of Revenue is gone. Empress, don’t you owe me an explanation?”

The young Empress, hearing this, immediately cried out, “Your Majesty, I’ve been wronged! The Imperial Clan Court says…”

The Emperor listened, his head pounding.

It was all because Father passed away so suddenly, and Mother was ill for so long. When he ascended the throne, no one told him about this.

“Take whatever is needed from the private treasury,” the Emperor said irritably, waving his hand. After a pause, he abruptly stood. “I’ll go take a look at it myself.”

His father’s private treasury—no, now his private treasury. He ought to see how much wealth it held.