Chapter 2: This Man Is the Consort
Gan Qiongying was just an ordinary person, and for a moment, she felt somewhat uncomfortable with this hellish mode of life.
Fortunately, the point at which she transmigrated coincided with the original body’s recovery from a fall from a horse. Using her convalescence as an excuse, she hid inside the Princess Manor and refused to go out, which saved her a lot of trouble.
Moreover, the original body had a temperamental personality. Having been forced into such a marriage, she now found everyone irritating, and no matter how erratic her behavior, it all seemed normal.
Gan Qiongying didn’t even need to speak much. With a deadpan expression all day long and an attitude of “you’re all trash, don’t come near me,” she managed not to break character.
She avoided the plot like this for over a month. During this time, she maintained her deadpan expression, allowing her personal maids to interpret her intentions and decline many invitations on her behalf. She even stood up the Emperor once.
To be honest, Gan Qiongying was a bit alarmed. She hadn’t intentionally ignored the Emperor’s summons; she simply hadn’t expected the original body to be so audacious as to refuse even the Emperor’s call.
By the time her servants informed her that the Emperor had summoned her, three days had already passed. And based on Gan Qiongying’s observation of her maids’ attitudes, it was clear that defying the Emperor’s orders was not a one-time occurrence…
However, what shocked Gan Qiongying the most about this incident wasn’t that she dared to defy the Emperor’s orders or ignore his summons, but that she faced no punishment or condemnation for doing so.
In fact, it was said that the very next day, the Emperor even sent his personal eunuch to deliver some of the finest brocade from this spring’s tribute.
This was far too intriguing.
Although Gan Qiongying had never lived in ancient times, she had watched TV dramas and read novels. She knew that imperial authority was supreme and not to be challenged or defied.
For the Emperor to tolerate her to such an extent, even seeming to indulge and placate her as a Princess, made no sense at all.
But ever since arriving in this world from the book, there were too many things Gan Qiongying couldn’t figure out, so she didn’t dwell too much on the Emperor’s attitude.
After all, some novels simply lacked logic. Perhaps her audacity was meant to highlight her tragic fate later on, emphasizing the stark contrast.
The most urgent matter now was how to survive until the end while keeping her life intact.
For the past month or so, she had been thinking about how to navigate this world so she wouldn’t meet as gruesome a death as in the plot.
Should she cling to the male lead’s coattails now?
As a Princess of the Nanzhao Kingdom, she could indeed offer Zhongli Zhengzhen, who was still lying low, a great deal of assistance.
Leaving aside whether cozying up to a hostage from an enemy state would brand her a traitor, the idea of approaching Zhongli Zhengzhen, the male lead, simply wouldn’t work.
In the plot, Zhongli Zhengzhen was a deeply scheming and difficult-to-approach lone wolf. It took the female lead half a lifetime, losing two children while remaining devoted, to earn his trust and affection. Gan Qiongying didn’t think she had what it took.
Run away with money?
Roaming freely to the ends of the earth sounded wonderful.
But she was a modern person, completely unfamiliar with the basic skills of ancient life and lacking the ability to protect herself.
If she took people with her, she couldn’t guarantee their loyalty. Stories of treacherous servants turning on their masters were all too common. If she went alone, as a weak woman carrying wealth, she’d be like a beggar walking through the marketplace holding a priceless jade.
Moreover, in this world, women lacked the protection of a harmonious society’s laws. Once stripped of their status as imperial relatives or nobility, their fate would be unimaginably tragic.
Neither of these paths was viable, and as the villainess who drove the plot forward, Gan Qiongying found herself overwhelmed, wishing she could simply seal the gates of the Princess Manor and confine herself within.
Yet, just as she feared, as the villainess who propelled the story, even if she consciously avoided the plot, the plot would always find its way to her.
Like now.
“Cough, cough, cough…” The man curled into a ball on the ground, a trickle of blood seeping from the corner of his mouth as he coughed weakly and hoarsely.
Unsystematic punches and kicks continued to rain down on him, for the assailants were not professionals—they were merely eight maidservants.
The man showed no signs of resistance, curling up and silently enduring. The curve of his slender back arched so sharply it seemed about to pierce through his thin robe.
His hair was disheveled, obscuring his pale, handsome face.
At least from Gan Qiongying’s perspective, his expression remained hidden.
Gan Qiongying had been roused early by her maidservants, dressed up, and escorted to the reception hall. Her personal maid, Manyue, had smiled at her with flushed cheeks, saying there was something amusing to lift her spirits.
Naïve as she was, Gan Qiongying had genuinely expected something pleasant, only to witness this “grand spectacle.”
Now, seated in the main position of the reception hall, Gan Qiongying looked down expressionlessly at the man being beaten by the maidservants.
But in reality, her inner turmoil was the complete opposite of her outward calm. Inside, she was screaming, wailing, and even pleading on behalf of the man on the ground.
Brother, say something!
Otherwise, how can I speak up and call it off?
Brother truly has a spine of steel.
Brother… what a real man.
Soon, the real man spat blood!
With a “pfft,” this was the first time Gan Qiongying had seen someone actually spit blood—not just a trickle, but a spray—outside of novels and TV dramas.
She was so startled she nearly leaped from her cushion.
Oh, my dear ancestors!
Is this going to end in death?
Gan Qiongying mustered every ounce of her rationality and strength to keep from jumping up and rushing to the man on the ground. But her hand trembled, and her finger accidentally plunged into the hot teacup beside her.
Hot, hot, hot, hot, hot!
Who knew what kind of teacup this was, with such excellent heat retention!
Gan Qiongying discreetly withdrew her reddened little finger, only to see her head maid, Manyue, walk over to the man and start kicking him too—and not lightly at that.
This won’t do… if this continues, someone will really die!
Anxious, Gan Qiongying grabbed the teacup that had scalded her finger and hurled it fiercely to the ground!
“Bang!” The hall fell into utter silence.
“This Princess is weary.”
Propping herself up with her arm, she waved dismissively without even glancing at the expressions of those in the hall, signaling them to quickly send the man away.
Gan Qiongying was now immensely grateful for the original owner’s mercurial temperament; no one would suspect anything if she suddenly went mad.
Head maid Manyue swiftly grasped Gan Qiongying’s meaning and stopped the beating.
Her voice carried the standard, sarcastic tone of a villainess, the kind that made you want to strangle her: “You brainless, useless girls! What are you standing around for? Hurry up and help the Prince Consort to his feet!”
The maids who were passionately beating someone quickly straightened their clothes upon hearing this, then skillfully lifted the Prince Consort, who was spitting blood on the ground.
Yes, this man was the Consort.
He was the very Prince Consort of Princess Duanrong, Gan Qiongying, infamous throughout Nánzhào.
In the story, he was the elder brother of the male lead, Zhongli Zhengzhen, who was tortured to death by Princess Duanrong, Gan Qiongying.