Transmigrated Into A Novel As A Scumbag Princess’ Consort - Chapter 5

5:

“Ye Xuejin!” Yun Chi cried out in alarm, hurriedly supporting her. No way, this woman couldn’t be collapsing already, could she?

Not far off, Yu Lu noticed the commotion and strode over quickly.

“What’s going on?”

Yun Chi held Ye Xuejin tightly, panicking for a moment and answering instinctively, “She just collapsed suddenly. I don’t know what’s wrong with her… her…”

Had this woman fainted, or was it…

Yu Lu, startled, disregarded proprieties and reached to check Ye Xuejin’s breathing, then quietly sighed in relief.

“Her Highness… ahem, the prisoner has fainted from exhaustion. Stop the bleeding quickly and let her rest, she’ll wake up. Follow me.”

Yun Chi took a deep breath, lifted Ye Xuejin up with effort, and struggled to stand, her steps shaky as she followed.

The original consort, a beggar who rarely ate her fill before catching the embroidered ball, was frail and weak, only slightly stronger than the injured Ye Xuejin.

So, carrying her was no easy task.

Yu Lu could see Yun Chi’s struggle, but Ye Xuejin wasn’t an ordinary person, and he didn’t dare overstep.

Fortunately, the distance wasn’t far.

Yu Lu stopped outside a grass hut, pulled a fire starter from his bosom, lit a torch, and fixed it to the ground inside the hut before speaking. “I’ll be on guard. Hurry and apply the medicine.”

Yun Chi nodded, not wasting time. She carried Ye Xuejin into the hut and gently set her down.

“Mother…” Another murmur escaped as Ye Xuejin opened her eyes.

Their eyes met, and Yun Chi explained, “You fainted just now. Lord Yu said to quickly apply medicine to stop the bleeding.”

In the torchlight, Ye Xuejin’s eyes flickered briefly before she looked away. “No need.”

Ordinarily, wounds like hers wouldn’t be an issue with proper treatment.

But they had to march daily with almost no rest, and her wounds would likely reopen. Why bother with futile efforts?

Hearing Ye Xuejin’s discouraging words again, Yun Chi frowned, her tone turning blunt. “If you want to die, wait half a month before doing it. Don’t die halfway and drag others down with you.”

With that, she extended her hand, gesturing for Ye Xuejin to hand over the medicine.

Ye Xuejin pursed her lips. “Who would I drag down by dying?”

Yun Chi said seriously, “Me, obviously. Just trust me on this once. We’ll deal with the rest later.”

This hut was clearly hastily built by Yu Lu and his men. The other prisoners might come soon, and it wouldn’t be as convenient then.

Ye Xuejin gazed at her quietly, silent for a moment before saying softly, “Fine. You go out. I’ll do it myself.”

Who would willingly choose death if they could live well?

“I’ll stand guard outside. Call if you need help.” Yun Chi turned, and took out the warm cotton shirt from her storage space, pretending to pull it from her bosom. “After applying the medicine, wear this under your clothes.”

The moment she placed the shirt beside Ye Xuejin, the reward appeared as expected.

[Gave one warm cotton shirt. Please choose a reward: one bottle of anti-inflammatory medicine or ten taels of gold.]

Yun Chi thought: Anti-inflammatory medicine.

The text vanished, and she sensed a bottle of anti-inflammatory medicine appear in her storage space. She turned and walked out.

Ye Xuejin knew further delay would be inconvenient. Sitting up, she began unbuttoning her clothes.

As the fabric, stuck with dried bl00d, peeled away, a tearing pain hit her. She removed her top completely.

Her smooth, jade-like skin was marred by glaring wounds stretching from her shoulder, across her chest, and down her arm—likely from an iron whip, still bleeding.

Ye Xuejin pursed her lips tightly, opened the medicine bottle, and gently applied it with her fingers.

A sharper pain assaulted her senses, causing her to tremble uncontrollably, but she clenched her teeth and made no sound.

Outside the hut, Yun Chi looked at Yu Lu, who stood with his back to her.

“Thank you, Lord Yu.”

Yu Lu didn’t turn. “It’s my duty.”

With that, he strode toward the prisoners’ gathering area.

Yun Chi’s gaze followed his back, her eyes thoughtful. This Lord Yu didn’t seem aligned with Zeng Laosan. She even suspected he was subtly protecting them—or rather, protecting Ye Xuejin.

But that was just a hunch.

Soon, Ye Xuejin, dressed again, walked out slowly. Yun Chi handed her a single anti-inflammatory pill she had prepared. “Take this, it’ll help your wounds heal faster.”

Ye Xuejin paused, then took it and swallowed it. Having taken the first step of trust, the rest became easier.

Yet, two new doubts arose in her mind: the brand-new clean cotton shirt and this pill…

She couldn’t help but study Yun Chi, who seemed to have thought of something happy, a faint smile on her thin face, like the rising sun, radiating hope.

Yun Chi was smiling because a new text had appeared before her.

[Gave one anti-inflammatory pill. Please choose a reward: one bowl of bamboo shoot and duck soup or two bowls of pea noodle soup.]

Two bowls of pea noodle soup, Yun Chi thought, her lips curling slightly.

Giving Ye Xuejin just one pill was deliberate, a test of her cheat system.

If each pill could trigger a reward, she wouldn’t give the whole bottle at once.

In times like these, she had to maximize benefits.

Both fell silent. Yu Lu returned with the others.

“Men and women, separate. Then get inside.”

He knew a bit about weather patterns and figured it would likely rain later that night.

With this, Zeng Laosan rolled his eyes, casually saying, “Sir, why pity these prisoners?”

“Our duty is to deliver them to the border, not let them die on the way,” Yu Lu replied sternly before entering the hut.

Zeng Laosan smirked silently, thinking, Really? It’s just the first night, sleeping outside won’t kill anyone.

Soon, the twenty prisoners split into two groups. Yun Chi and Ye Xuejin joined the three women from the Zhou family on the inner side of the hut.

The thirteen Zhou men and the two brothers stayed on the outer side.

The seven escorts took the middle, lighting another fire and cooking more meat soup.

The prisoners nibbled on coarse flatbreads, their eyes occasionally drifting to the steaming, fragrant pot.

In this atmosphere, Zeng Laosan shot Yun Chi a dark glare, twirling his whip deliberately.

Yun Chi gave a slight nod, signaling she understood.

She’d already coordinated with Ye Xuejin, they would put on a show to get through this.

As she thought, Zeng Laosan flicked his whip in the air, as if urging her.

Yun Chi stood, shooting Ye Xuejin a look from behind Zeng Laosan’s back, then feigned irritation. “Where’s the cornbread bun you’re hiding? Hand it over now.”

Her voice, neither loud nor soft, echoed in the hut, drawing everyone’s attention.

The prisoners’ expressions varied—some scornful, some numb, some watching the drama unfold.

Ye Xuejin said nothing, simply pulling out the two halves of the cornbread bun.

Yun Chi froze. Was this woman even acting? Shouldn’t she refuse to hand it over so Yun Chi could “justifiably” hit her?

No matter, she could handle this.

Yun Chi grabbed the bun, devoured half in a few bites, and stuffed the other half into her bosom, grumbling, “What else are you hiding? Hand over all of your food.”

“There’s nothing else,” Ye Xuejin said softly, eyes lowered.

“Nothing? I think you’re asking for trouble.” Yun Chi raised her voice slightly.

Ye Xuejin kept her head down, as if she hadn’t heard.

Yun Chi had to keep the act going, slapping Ye Xuejin’s back with a controlled pat.

“Did you hear me? Hand it over!”

Ye Xuejin looked up, giving her a blank glance before closing her eyes.

Yun Chi pushed through with her acting, snarling, “What’s that look? I’ll beat you to death!”

She raised her foot, carefully kicking Ye Xuejin’s shoulder twice with minimal force.

Ye Xuejin shrank back with a pained expression, her face even paler, looking convincingly hurt.

Yun Chi mentally gave her a thumbs-up—great acting, very realistic.

Still unsatisfied, she kicked again lightly.

“I really don’t have any more food. I’m sorry…” Ye Xuejin clutched her shoulder, breathing heavily, as if finally bowing her pride and pleading.

She wasn’t pretending, the wounds hurt with every touch. She’d been enduring it before but didn’t hold back this time.

The escorts exchanged glances, occasionally looking at Yu Lu, unsure if they should intervene.

Only Zeng Laosan’s eyes gleamed with a triumphant smirk. This job will be done soon.

Yu Lu hesitated inwardly. He couldn’t interfere too obviously, lest it be used against him.

Yun Chi wasn’t sure if their act was convincing enough. To be safe, she clenched her fist, preparing to “hit” a few more times.

Before her fist could fall, someone grabbed her wrist, stopping her.

“Xiao Yue!” Several voices rang out as members of the Zhou family stood up.

The one who acted was Zhou Qiyue, Old Censor Zhou’s daughter.

Zhou Qiyue’s face was flushed. She knew her parents and brother were worried about her, but she couldn’t stand by any longer.

Seeing the escorts didn’t stop her, she shoved Yun Chi’s arm away. “Shameless!”

Yun Chi and Ye Xuejin’s coordination wasn’t perfect, and she’d been worried the act wasn’t convincing enough. Seeing someone jump in to help, her eyes lit up.

“Who do you think you are, meddling in my business? What’s wrong with me beating my own wife?”

She was ready to unleash a stellar performance to thoroughly fool the scheming Zeng Laosan.