Transmigrated Into A Novel As A Scumbag Princess’ Consort - Chapter 52

52:

Yun Chi couldn’t help but ask Ye Xuejin, “When two armies face off, don’t they usually position themselves about half a li apart?”

Dashao Kingdom’s most powerful crossbow had an effective range of half a li, about 200 meters.

The sniper crossbow’s effective range reached 800 meters. If used well, wasn’t it practically a divine weapon?

Ye Xuejin’s lips curved slightly: “Exactly.”

The smile in her eyes showed she’d thought of the same thing.

Both turned to look at Shi Zhu.

Their gazes carried the same signal: this was a game-changer.

Shiniang and the others realized it too, looking at Shi Zhu with excitement and envy.

Just then, faint sounds of the exile convoy approaching came from behind.

Ye Xuejin’s expression grew stern: “The matter of testing the crossbow just now, you must keep it absolutely secret. Without my orders, not a single word must leak. Understood?”

“Understood!” the group responded in unison.

Yun Chi, feeling uneasy, added, “The immortal sent me a message: this divine tool is beyond mortal means. We must not reveal a single word. Remember that.”

“We will,” Shiniang and the others answered solemnly, understanding the gravity of the matter and silently vowing not to let anything slip.

Seeing they grasped the stakes, Ye Xuejin nodded, signaling them to rest briefly and wait for the others.

While waiting, Yun Chi pulled Ye Xuejin aside a few steps, lowering her voice: “The sniper crossbow is powerful, but once the enemy encounters it, they’ll stay farther away the next time. It’s best used at critical moments.”

That’s why she’d reiterated the warning, invoking the immortal’s name.

In that short moment, her mind had flashed with images of Shi Zhu in a ghillie suit, lurking in the wilderness, repeatedly assassinating enemy commanders.

Ye Xuejin agreed: “I understand. Not only must we keep it secret, but we must also ensure Zhu’s safety.”

If arranged properly, Shi Zhu could strike repeatedly.

Yun Chi nodded, pulling out a stun baton without hesitation: “Give this to her for self-defense. I also have something to tell you…”

She whispered about the four sleeve crossbows she could provide, letting Ye Xuejin know so she could distribute them to Shiniang and the others when the time came.

Ye Xuejin nodded slowly: “I will trouble the Consort to hold onto them for now.”

Neither the sniper crossbow nor the sleeve crossbows should be revealed yet.

She had only just taken the women ahead; there was no rush.

Yun Chi wanted to say they wouldn’t reach the southern border, as only five days remained.

In five days, news of Ye Xuejin’s exoneration would arrive, and she’d return to the capital.

But Ye Xuejin hadn’t caught a cold or worsened her injuries. She was alive and well.

She’d even detoured to the southwest, reunited with an old friend, and retrieved the gold left by the Empress…

The plot had already changed so much…

For no reason, unease crept into Yun Chi’s heart, the phrase “the plot has already changed” echoing in her mind.

“What’s on your mind, Consort?” Ye Xuejin asked, noticing her grave expression.

“Nothing.” Yun Chi saw Yu Lu and the others catching up and said no more.

Some things, though unspoken, were understood by all.

Having taken that step, even if Ye Xuejin were exonerated, would she return to the capital to resume her idle life as the Princess?

But that had little to do with Yun Chi.

She just needed to hold on for five days, avoid the female lead’s wrath, and live well.

Yet, for some reason, the unease in her heart didn’t fade.

If the plot of the exile had changed, would the original story’s key events still happen on schedule?

The unease in Yun Chi’s heart grew tangible, amplifying.

She could no longer be certain. She’d have to wait and see, five days would reveal the truth.

By now, Yu Lu had led the group to them.

The convoy sighed in relief, seeing the Princess hadn’t abandoned them.

The next moment, many eyes were drawn to the stun baton in Ye Xuejin’s hand.

The fourth divine tool!

Old Censor Zhou, in particular, tugged his beard so hard it hurt, forgetting to let go.

The immortal had indeed granted another divine tool. Who would it be this time?

It had to be the Zhou family’s turn.

“Your Highness.” Yu Lu stepped forward, saluting, glancing at the stun baton in Ye Xuejin’s hand, wondering.

Who would be the Princess’ fourth trusted confidant?

Yes, he considered those granted divine tools to be her most trusted and relied-upon allies, like himself.

Ye Xuejin noticed everyone’s gazes, looked at the stun baton, and stepped forward.

All eyes locked onto her steps.

She was heading… towards the women!

Old Censor Zhou nearly stopped breathing. It had to be Qiyue, definitely Qiyue.

“Shi Zhu, let Shiniang teach you how to use the divine tool. Keep it for self-defense,” Ye Xuejin said gently, her eyes affirming Zhu.

“Yes.” Zhu took it excitedly, tears faintly glistening in her eyes.

It was Shi Zhu!

The dust settled, and many sighed with a mix of disappointment and understanding.

Hiss! Old Censor Zhou yanked out his beard hair, his mouth twitching in pain.

“What’s wrong with you, old man?” Old Madam Zhou asked, seeing his grimace.

Old Censor Zhou let out a long breath, sighing, “Nothing, alas.”

Old Madam Zhou: “…”

If it’s nothing, why the long sighs? People might think something terrible happened.

The convoy set off again, stopping by a riverbank as dusk fell.

Yu Lu had the officers light several bonfires and distributed the dry rations bought in Caozhou City.

This time, he didn’t ration by headcount, letting everyone take what they needed until full.

Xiao Gao and the others said nothing, understanding this exile convoy was no longer the same as when it began.

After the meal, Yun Chi distributed the cotton quilts.

“Thanks to the immortal.”

“Thanks to Your Highness.”

After a round of kneeling gratitude, everyone found their marked quilts, huddling in pairs or trios.

Zhou Qiyue hugged her single quilt, happily returning to her family.

“Ying’er, sleep with me tonight.” This way, her parents could have more space.

“Okay.” Little Ying’er nestled obediently in her arms.

Old Censor Zhou, seeing his daughter’s silly grin, asked sternly, “Qiyue, how did Her Highness test you today?”

Clearly, the Princess had taken the women ahead to grant the fourth divine tool.

That meant Shi Zhu stood out among them, while his daughter underperformed.

Thinking of her missed shot, Zhou Qiyue’s heart sank: “Father, don’t ask. I won’t say, even if you beat me.”

Old Censor Zhou suppressed his emotions: “Fine, I won’t ask about the test. Just tell me where you ranked.”

Her guilty look suggested it wasn’t just underperforming.

Seeing Zhou Qiyue stay silent, Old Censor Zhou took a deep breath: “You can’t even say that?”

Zhou Qiyue’s face stiffened. She could say, but saying she was last—or tied for last with Shi Lan, didn’t sound good.

Neither seemed flattering.

After a moment, she mumbled, head down, “I ranked sixth.”

Old Censor Zhou glanced at Shiniang, Mei, Lan, Zhu, Ju, Song, and Qiyue—seven in total.

His heart lurched, clutching his chest in disbelief: “You’re second to last!”

This wasn’t about performance, it was abysmal!

Zhou Qiyue kept her head down, missing her father’s reddened face, correcting softly, “Not second to last. I tied with Lan for last.”

Old Censor Zhou: “…”

He gasped several times, pinching his philtrum to keep from fainting.

“She’s still young, old man. There’ll be more chances,” Old Madam Zhou soothed, seeing his anger.

Old Censor Zhou yanked his beard, sighing to the heavens, his heart weary.

“Father, little sister didn’t mean to do poorly,” Zhou Qishan added with concern.

Old Censor Zhou snapped: “She didn’t mean to? Then you meant to? What’s in that head of yours? At a critical moment, you just blabber like an old lady’s foot-binding cloth, rambling without getting to the point. You wretched boy, I’ll thrash you!”

Recalling his son’s daytime performance, he grew angrier, roaring and raising his hand.

Zhou Qishan, covering his head, bolted, inwardly speechless. How was this his fault now?

Their commotion drew everyone’s attention.

Yun Chi, seeing this, leaned to Ye Xuejin’s ear: “Old Censor Zhou seems obsessed with the stun batons. Are we really not giving the Zhou family one?”