Transmigrated Into A Novel As A Scumbag Princess’ Consort - Chapter 8

8:

A cool breeze swept through, and Yun Chi looked at the small piece of coarse flatbread in her hand.

It was clearly Ye Xuejin’s carefully saved ration…

The exile journey was as grueling as expected. From yesterday morning to noon today, a day and a half, the escorts had distributed food only three times—half a coarse flatbread each time, totalling about the size of a fist.

Just enough to keep them alive, and not starve to death.

Though they had each eaten half a cornbread bun, the constant marching during the day only intensified their hunger.

Yun Chi had skipped eating earlier to keep up the act and test the specific conditions for triggering rewards.

Of course, it was mainly because she had food in her storage space, so she didn’t mind losing a bit of flatbread—just felt a twinge of regret.

But Ye Xuejin’s only food was this barely edible coarse flatbread.

Even so, this woman had given her saved ration to Yun Chi.

Yun Chi felt a pang of unease, stuffed the flatbread into her mouth, and hurried to catch up with Ye Xuejin.

“Thanks. From now on, just look out for yourself, you don’t need to worry about me.”

Ye Xuejin’s expression paused, then became calm again, saying nothing.

The wind picked up, stirring dust into the air.

The prisoners trudged numbly. As the sun neared setting, they spotted a small village in the distance.

Yu Lu glanced back at the lifeless group and said sternly, “Pick up the pace.”

His words were followed by a chorus of shouts from the other escorts.

“Move it!”

“Hurry up!”

Amid the urging, the prisoners quickened their steps slightly, reaching the village entrance before dark.

The village was small, with only a few dozen households, mostly thatched huts.

As the exile group entered, villagers shut their doors and locked their gates.

Yu Lu frowned, sensing something off. The group, except for his horse, was traveling on foot. Even after two days, they were only a hundred li far from the capital. Villages this close to the capital shouldn’t react like this.

Yu Lu’s brow furrowed further, and he instructed the youngest of the three lead escorts, “Xiao Gao, go knock on some doors. See if any villagers can let us stay for the night.”

Staying, of course, wouldn’t be free so they would offer some compensation.

Xiao Gao jogged off, knocking on several doors before quickly returning.

“Sir, the villagers say they have no spare rooms or food.”

Yu Lu’s frown deepened, feeling something was amiss. These villagers were overly cautious.

Unlike the village they had passed earlier, where people were wary but still came out to watch and were willing to trade food for silver.

It was dark now, and the prisoners were exhausted, unfit for night travel, so they’d have to make do for the night.

The group of over twenty settled at the village entrance.

This time, no grass hut was built, so there was no division of men and women. The Zhou family huddled together, the Mu brothers sat close, and Yun Chi and Ye Xuejin sat side by side on the ground.

Everyone then looked expectantly at the escorts, eagerly waiting for their coarse flatbreads.

Yu Lu signaled Zeng Laosan to distribute the flatbreads while he took Xiao Gao back into the village.

The flatbread supply was running low, they needed to replenish dry rations.

Seeing Yu Lu walk off, Zeng Laosan’s eyes gleamed. He approached Yun Chi, casually waving his hand. “These two flatbreads are yours.”

Yun Chi blinked. She saw nothing.

The dog was tossing air at her.

“Ahem.” Zeng Laosan coughed twice. “If it’s not enough, figure out how to please me.”

Yun Chi got it, he meant she would only get food if she would beat and insult Ye Xuejin.

In the dark, the others didn’t see what happened and were unaware of Zeng Laosan’s trick.

Yun Chi knew arguing was pointless and held back.

After a moment’s thought, she leaned toward Zeng Laosan, testing the waters. “Sir, could you grant me a favor?”

Zeng Laosan raised a brow. “What favor?”

Yun Chi lowered her voice, feigning flattery. “I want to teach this woman a lesson. Don’t worry, I’ll make it good this time.”

Zeng Laosan’s interest piqued. “Go ahead.”

Yun Chi scratched her nose, pretending unease. “We’re women, after all. Why don’t you let me take her behind that tree to teach her a lesson?”

Their hushed exchange drew curious glances, with some catching snippets, their expressions varying.

Zeng Laosan, thinking of something, chuckled. “Go ahead.”

Yun Chi grinned. “I’ll make sure you’re satisfied.”

Then, she raised her voice, shouting at Ye Xuejin, “Get up and follow me!”

For emphasis, she gave Ye Xuejin a light kick.

Ye Xuejin stood up, taking just two steps before Zhou Qiyue shouted, “Sister Ye, don’t go!”

Her tone was urgent, laced with worry.

Ye Xuejin paused but didn’t look at Zhou Qiyue, continuing to follow Yun Chi.

Zhou Qiyue stood anxiously but was stopped by Old Censor Zhou. “Sit down.”

Zhou Qiyue clenched her fists, looking pleadingly at Old Madam Zhou. “Mother.”

This time, Old Madam Zhou didn’t indulge her kindness. “Xiao Yue, listen to your father.”

Some people, though pitiable, couldn’t be helped if they wouldn’t resist themselves.

Meanwhile, Ye Xuejin followed Yun Chi to a large tree. She wasn’t ungrateful and knew their act shouldn’t involve outsiders, so that others will not be dragged in and beaten.

Yun Chi saw the escorts had lit a fire. She grabbed Ye Xuejin’s wrist and moved behind the tree.

The tree was only seven or eight meters from the group’s resting spot, and with Zeng Laosan watching, they couldn’t whisper.

Fortunately, the trunk was thick enough to hide one person. Yun Chi shouted, “Lie down!”

Ye Xuejin hesitated, then slowly lay down.

Yun Chi glanced at Zeng Laosan with her peripheral vision. In the firelight, everyone was watching, intentionally or not.

She took a deep breath and yelled, “Cover your mouth! If you embarrass me, I’ll beat you to death!”

With that, she leaned over Ye Xuejin, unhooked the water pouch from her waist, raised it above Ye Xuejin’s head, and pulled five bags of milk from her storage space. She quickly tore them open, pouring them into the pouch while whispering in Ye Xuejin’s ear, “Scream.”

Ye Xuejin froze. Scream?

Seeing her stunned and trembling slightly, Yun Chi whispered again, “Curse me.”

Why was this woman shaking? Did she really think Yun Chi would do something?

Ye Xuejin pursed her lips, turned her face away, and stiffly muttered, “You… shameless.”

Her soft, hoarse voice, slow and melodic, sounded more like a caress than a curse, sending a shiver through the listener.

But it worked by accident.

“Sister Ye!” Zhou Qiyue gritted her teeth and stood up again.

“Stay put.” Zeng Laosan cracked his whip on the ground, smirking meaningfully. “They’re having a moment—let’s not ruin it, right, brothers?”

“Exactly, little girl, so naive.”

“Hahaha.”

Laughter erupted, the atmosphere turning oddly lively.

Yun Chi had poured all the milk into the pouch. If not for the risk of the pea noodle soup’s aroma being noticed at such close quarters, she’d have eaten a few bites.

But now wasn’t the time.

“Turn your around and open your mouth,” Yun Chi said, no longer whispering, her blunt words sparking another round of laughter.

Ye Xuejin’s fingers tightened, and she turned her head but hesitated to open her mouth.

She decided to trust this person, but they had no real bond. She couldn’t fully obey Yun Chi.

Plus, this act was getting excessive, stirring unease…

As she wavered, her lips felt a cool touch—Yun Chi’s fingers.

Ye Xuejin stiffened, about to struggle, when a single word whispered in her ear: “Drink.”

Drink…

Her fingers moved aside, replaced by the pouch’s spout.

Realizing something, Ye Xuejin opened her mouth in disbelief.

Cool liquid with the rich fragrance of milk flowed in, soothing her parched throat. She gulped instinctively.

Yun Chi sighed in relief. If the pouch hadn’t been empty since last night and they hadn’t passed a river today, having drinkable liquid might seem suspicious, and she wouldn’t have gone to such lengths.

“Drink more.” Seeing the text appear, she silently smiled.

[Gave one bag of milk. Please choose a reward: ten taels of silver or one dagger.]

[Gave one bag of milk. Please choose a reward: ten taels of silver or one cotton blanket.]

An unexpected bonus. Yun Chi thought briefly, choosing the dagger first, then the silver.

Ye Xuejin must have drunk the equivalent of two bags.

Feeling the act was about done and seeing Yu Lu appear by the fire, Yun Chi rolled off, helped Ye Xuejin sit up, took a few sips of milk herself, and hooked the pouch back on her waist.

“Were you scared just now?”

Ye Xuejin shook her head. “Not scared.”

Yun Chi paused, then said gently, “Don’t be afraid. Trust me.”

The sudden comfort caught Ye Xuejin off guard. She hesitated, then explained, “I just… felt pain earlier.”

It was because Yun Chi had pressed on her chest wound, she couldn’t hold back…