Transmigrated Into A Novel As A Scumbag Princess’ Consort - Chapter 7

7:

In the hut, the escorts were just getting up and hadn’t spoken yet, and the prisoners remained silent.

Yun Chi’s outburst stood out starkly in the quiet.

Yu Lu turned abruptly, saying nothing, but his expression grew colder.

Nearby, Zeng Laosan quietly withdrew his gaze, finally confirming something in his mind. This Sir Yu might seem neutral, but he was likely on the Princess’s side.

Meanwhile, Ye Xuejin, as if she hadn’t heard, got up and followed behind Yun Chi.

After all, aside from Zhou Qiyue, the Zhou family seemed eager to avoid any association with her.

As a woman, she couldn’t possibly walk with the two brothers.

Seeing this, Zhou Qiyue couldn’t help glancing at Old Madam Zhou, whispering, “Mother, can’t we really help Her Highness?”

Was the Princess really stuck with that scumbag?

Old Madam Zhou shot her daughter with a stern warning look.

“Watch your words.”

There were only exiled prisoners here, no Princess.

Zhou Qiyue’s eyes dimmed. She took her five-year-old niece Zhou Ciying’s hand and walked on in silence.

“Auntie, I’m hungry.”

“Ying’er, be good. We’ll have food soon.”

Looking at her young niece, Zhou Qiyue’s nose stung. Their Zhou family could barely fend for themselves, how could they spare the strength to help others?

“Auntie, don’t cry. Ying’er’s not hungry anymore,” little Ying’er said, gripping Zhou Qiyue’s hand tightly, consoling her innocently.

Seeing her sensible niece, Zhou Qiyue nearly teared up. She’d been foolish.

Old Madam Zhou sighed softly, her eyes filled with helplessness.

She was the one who taught her daughter to be kind-hearted…

“Xiao Yue, I’ll take Ying’er. You go to the back.”

“Mother?” Zhou Qiyue froze, confused.

Old Madam Zhou took Ying’er’s hand without explanation, whispering, “Keep an eye on them. Consider it a good deed.”

With that, she ignored her husband’s furrowed brow, fixed her eyes on her feet, and walked forward.

Old Censor Zhou pinched the bridge of his nose, muttering, “Foolish woman’s kindness.”

Though he said this, he didn’t stop her.

Zhou Qiyue wiped her eyes, hesitated briefly, then jogged to Ye Xuejin’s side.

Seeing the half-meter gap between Yun Chi and Ye Xuejin, she boldly squeezed between them. When Yun Chi looked over, she warned softly, “What are you looking at? I’m not afraid of you. Try touching her, and we’ll fight again.”

She wasn’t the only one who’d get whipped, and her constitution was stronger than this scumbag’s—let’s see who’d give out first.

Yun Chi was speechless. She needed to keep up the act, but she knew her priorities and wouldn’t cause trouble while marching.

Still, having someone help with the performance was a bonus.

Hitting Ye Xuejin required controlling her strength and worrying about not seeming convincing enough.

Fighting Zhou Qiyue was easier, she could go all out without fear of being seen through.

The only downside was the whips hurt like hell.

Yun Chi thought it over. No need to fight, just use words.

Ye Xuejin clearly wasn’t one to argue, but Zhou Qiyue, a spirited young girl, was a perfect sparring partner.

Seeing Yun Chi cowed by her presence and lowering her head silently, Zhou Qiyue turned awkwardly to Ye Xuejin.

“Your High… High…”

Ye Xuejin glanced at her, saying unhurriedly, “I’m probably a few years older than you. If you don’t mind, call me Sister.”

“Sister Ye, I’m Zhou Qiyue. You can call me Xiao Yue,” Zhou Qiyue said readily.

She knew Ye Xuejin was twenty-six, a full ten years older than her, but she didn’t bother correcting her.

A few years older sounded closer than ten years older.

Ye Xuejin nodded, her gaze unconsciously flicking to Yun Chi.

Yun Chi was lost in thought. She was starving. The two bowls of pea noodle soup in her storage space were probably still hot. Leaving them longer might affect the taste.

There were six anti-inflammatory pills left, wondering what the next reward would be.

As for the reward trigger, was it limited to giving things to Ye Xuejin, or could she give to anyone?

With food and drink so scarce, it wasn’t the time to test recklessly. If there was no reward, she’d lose something for nothing.

They trudged numbly for two hours until the exile group reached a village and stopped at its entrance.

The escorts distributed the usual rock-hard coarse flatbreads, half a piece per person.

But instead of cooking dried meat like the day before, Zeng Laosan led a few escorts to trade with the villagers for food.

Soon, several villagers followed Zeng Laosan, carrying dishes to the group.

Yu Lu pointed to a stone slab a few steps away. “Leave it there. Don’t come closer.”

The villagers set down the food and hurried off. To them, exiled prisoners were dangerous criminals, and getting close felt like bad luck.

The prisoners, with only half a flatbread and no water, watched the escorts feast, and some couldn’t hold back.

The two similar-looking brothers, surnamed Mu, exchanged a glance. The elder, Mu Da, took off his shoe, pulled out the insole, and fished out a piece of broken silver.

Zhou Qiyue, witnessing this, suddenly felt nauseous, wanting to gag.

She really wanted to ask Mu Da if that didn’t hurt his foot.

Seeing Zhou Qiyue cover her mouth and walk away, Yun Chi leaned toward Ye Xuejin and slipped her the flatbread.

“I’m not hungry. You eat it.”

Ye Xuejin’s eyes flashed with confusion but she tucked the flatbread away.

[Gave half a coarse flatbread. Please choose a reward: ten taels of silver or five bags of milk.]

Yun Chi’s eyes lit up, and she thought: I choose silv… I choose five bags of milk.

She needed to save silver, but her body mattered more. The water pouch was empty, and going on thirsty wasn’t good.

Plus, Ye Xuejin was injured.

Sensing five bags of milk appear in her storage space, Yun Chi relaxed, only to catch Zeng Laosan’s glance and the twirl of his whip.

Her heart tightened. Looking around and seeing Zhou Qiyue hadn’t returned, she held off acting.

She guessed Yu Lu and Zeng Laosan were at odds, checking each other, so neither would go too far.

Unfortunately, she miscalculated.

Seeing her inaction, Zeng Laosan walked over and lashed out with his whip.

“Eat faster, don’t dawdle.”

The whip struck Yun Chi’s foot. Even through her cloth shoes, she felt a sharp sting.

She’d been careless. Both men had reservations about Ye Xuejin, whether protecting or harming her, but she, the unlucky consort, wasn’t part of those considerations.

Realizing this, Yun Chi kicked Ye Xuejin’s shin. “Hurry up and give me the flatbread. I’m hungry again.”

She’d rather “hit” Ye Xuejin, where she could control her strength, than take another beating herself.

The escorts’ whips drew bl00d every time, with no restraint.

Their eyes met and Ye Xuejin, understanding it was an act, stiffened but didn’t move.

There were no wounds on her leg, it just felt sore. A few kicks wouldn’t hurt.

“Didn’t you hear me? Hand it over!” Yun Chi, seeing her cooperate, kicked again.

“What are you doing!” Zhou Qiyue rushed back, stepping in front of Ye Xuejin protectively.

Everyone looked over, thinking in unison: These two idiots.

They were all hungry, thirsty, and exhausted.

Yet these two insisted on fighting every day, truly clueless about survival.

Yu Lu, not far off, set down his bowl and chopsticks and approached.

His last intervention had been too light, it seemed.

At that moment, Ye Xuejin grabbed Zhou Qiyue’s arm, shaking her head, and stepped forward to hand over the half flatbread.

Yun Chi took it, saying coldly, “That’s more like it.”

Yu Lu paused. As long as no one was fighting, he wouldn’t interfere too much—it’d be easier to stay clear if questions arose later.

But then Yun Chi tossed the flatbread back. “This bread’s hard as a rock. Get me some water to soften it.”

“You’re going too far!” Zhou Qiyue couldn’t hold back.

“Xiao Yue, go back to your mother,” Ye Xuejin said, frowning. She didn’t want to see either of them get whipped.

Seeing Ye Xuejin’s cold gaze, Zhou Qiyue felt a pang of grievance, her emotions slipping as she turned and walked away.

Yun Chi’s expression dimmed. It seemed giving the same flatbread twice didn’t trigger another reward. She had acted on a whim to test it, but the result was disappointing.

Lost in thought, she glared at Ye Xuejin. “Hurry up and give me the flatbread. Do you have any sense?”

Ye Xuejin: “…” Was this whole act just about this half piece of bread?

Zeng Laosan was also exasperated. All thunder and no rain, what was this beggar doing?

They’d agreed on slow torment, but this was pathetic.

In his frustration, Zeng Laosan swung his whip again, striking Yun Chi’s arm.

“If you don’t want to eat, don’t.” He stomped the fallen flatbread into the dirt, crushing it.

Yun Chi sighed inwardly. She hadn’t eaten a bite today just to keep up the act.

As the group set out again, Ye Xuejin quietly slipped her uneaten flatbread into Yun Chi’s hand, avoiding others’ gazes, and quickened her pace.

Yun Chi froze, her heart stirring with mixed emotions.