After The Scumbag Alpha Consort Chose To Lie Flat, The Princess Rebelled - Chapter 9

Meng Qianyan reluctantly said goodbye to Second Young Master Zheng. Before leaving, she even gave him a handkerchief.

Second Young Master Zheng returned the gesture with a sachet he had personally embroidered. Holding her hand reluctantly, he said, “Sister Yan, once I leave, I don’t know when I’ll be able to come back. I can’t bear to part with you.”

Meng Qianyan’s eyes reddened too. “Ah-Zhu, we can still exchange letters. The place you’re leaving the capital for this time is far away, with high mountains and long roads. Be careful on the journey. Once you’re settled, send me word.”

“Mm.” Zheng Zhu pressed his lips together, then wiped the corners of his eyes with his handkerchief. “Sister Yan, will you stay in the capital in the future, or go to your fief?”

“I still don’t know. It depends on Imperial Mother’s intentions.”

At the mention of this matter, the thoughts in Meng Qianyan’s heart grew even more complicated.

Zheng Zhu gently patted her hand in comfort. “Sister Yan, don’t worry. His Majesty dotes on you the most, so I imagine your fief will surely not be bad. As long as it isn’t some remote borderland, returning to the capital will be easy too.”

“Yes.” Meng Qianyan did not agree with his words. Ah-Zhu was young and had lived in the inner residence for many years. He did not understand these matters very well. Saying too much to him would be useless and would only make him worry.

Zheng Zhu spoke again, his voice carrying a hint of pleading. “Sister Yan, my father passed away early, and my Alpha father favors his new husband. Now that I have to follow my Alpha husband to another province, my young sister will be left with no one to care for her. I’m afraid she’ll be tormented at home by the new husband and my third younger brother.”

“Sister Yan, if you remain in the capital, could you look in on her more for me? I am useless as her older brother. I often think that it would have been good if I had been an Alpha. Failing that, even being a Beta would have been better. But I just had to be an Omega. Once I leave, my younger sister won’t even have anyone to rely on.”

“Ah-Zhu, don’t be sad. I will take good care of her.”

“Thank you, Sister Yan.” Zheng Zhu sniffed and wiped his tears again. “If Sister Yan leaves the capital, could you think of a way to bring my little sister with you? No matter where you go, following Sister Yan would still be better than staying at home. As an Omega who has already married out, saying these things truly makes me feel ashamed, but I really have no other way. My little sister is an Alpha, and she is still young. I’m afraid the new husband and my third younger brother will not watch her grow up safely. Even if she does grow up unharmed, I fear she will be raised into someone useless.”

“Before my Omega father passed away, he told me to take good care of my little sister until she grew up. I am a useless person, so I can only beg you. Sister Yan, for the sake of our friendship of more than ten years as handkerchief friends, please help me.”

Hearing this, Meng Qianyan’s heart filled with mixed emotions. This world was simply this unfair. Omegas always had a harder time than everyone else.

If Ah-Zhu were a Beta, he could take his younger sister out and establish a separate household on his own. But because he was an Omega, he was restricted everywhere by this world.

On the way back, Meng Qianyan kept thinking about this matter, and her mood grew heavier and heavier.

Even though she was the noble Sixth Princess, she was still nothing more than an object her Crown Prince brother used for trade.

Although Imperial Mother loved her, that love was like the affection one gave to cats and dogs. When in a good mood, she would give Meng Qianyan some benefits. But once interests were involved, all the old affection would vanish like smoke.

Meng Qianyan sighed. After this farewell, seeing each other again would be difficult. She only hoped Ah-Zhu would live a little better in his Alpha husband’s household.

“Your Highness.”

From far away, Silan saw the princess’s carriage approaching the residence. She practically ran over to meet it.

The curtain over the small carriage window was lifted slightly. Before Silan could continue speaking, Meng Qianyan smiled and asked, “How did the consort’s task go?”

“Your Highness, this subordinate was waiting here precisely to tell you about this matter.” Silan was somewhat worried that the consort’s actions this time would truly anger the princess, so she described the whole matter in careful, tactful words.

“This morning, the consort brought the seedlings out of the side courtyard. This subordinate saw that the seedlings had grown extremely well. Even the experienced old farmers on the estates rarely manage to raise such tender, watery-green sprouts in weather like this, when everything is covered in ice and snow. They looked delicate, but their growth was very good. Survival should not be a problem.”

“However, after the consort came out, she prepared to go look for you. Upon learning that you had gone to meet Second Young Master Zheng, the consort’s expression changed at once.”

“Afterward, the consort ordered this subordinate to prepare a carriage. This subordinate did not dare delay a master’s affairs and could only make arrangements as quickly as possible.”

“This subordinate was afraid the seedlings might be damaged, so I had Chief Administrator Jin lead a guard squad to follow the consort back and remain at the consort’s estate to watch over the seedlings.”

“Your Highness had already instructed yesterday that since you were seeing Second Young Master Zheng off today, unless there was a letter from the palace, nothing else was to disturb you. This subordinate therefore did not send anyone to report to Your Highness. Yet remembering that this matter was important, I could only wait here for Your Highness.”

After Meng Qianyan finished listening, there was no movement from inside the carriage.

After quite some time, Meng Qianyan sneered. “How impressive of her. Did she say anything else?”

“The consort said nothing.”

Silan thought it over. She felt Her Highness might have misunderstood the consort as putting on airs, thinking that since she had successfully raised the seedlings, she could seize the chance to gain standing. But Silan felt it was necessary to explain on the consort’s behalf. She had seen clearly that morning; the consort likely had not been trying to cause trouble. Instead, it seemed more like… she had feelings about it?

Silan did not know whether thinking this was right, but the feeling the consort gave her at that time was very much like Silver One and the others throwing little childish tantrums when they were young.

“However, when the consort left, she also took the winter plum blossoms you bestowed on her. The consort held them in her arms the entire way and cherished them greatly.” Silan remembered the courtesy the consort had shown her, so she picked a few things she could say and said them.

She did not add anything or embellish anything. She merely spoke the facts. The rest would be left for Her Highness to decide.

No more sound came from the carriage. Silan also felt a little guilty. She gathered her sleeves in front of herself and walked briskly beside the carriage, hurrying toward the princess’s residence.

The carriage stopped in front of the princess’s residence. Meng Qianyan got out, and after entering the residence, she looked at the closed gate and turned to ask Silan, “Has the cow been sent?”

“Not yet. The estate thought fresh would be better, so they are still waiting for Your Highness’s instructions and did not dare make the decision on their own.”

“Send word. Have it dealt with overnight, then deliver it to the consort’s estate first thing tomorrow morning.” Meng Qianyan felt a little tired, but her face still maintained the dignity and majesty of a princess. “Why was the consort in such a hurry to leave? Does she have some grudge against Ah-Zhu?”

Before Silan could answer, Meng Qianyan refuted herself. “Ah-Zhu was raised deep in the inner residence. He rarely even attends Omega gatherings. Before the consort even entered the capital for the imperial exam, Ah-Zhu had already married out. What kind of grudge could he possibly have with the consort?”

“This subordinate thought the same. The consort also said there was no grudge.”

“Then what is the meaning of this behavior? She is neither putting on airs with this palace nor hating Ah-Zhu. Surely this vast princess’s residence of mine cannot be inferior to that hastily built consort’s estate of hers?”

“This… this subordinate does not know.” Silan actually had some guesses, but she did not dare say them.

Meng Qianyan understood her too well. Seeing that hesitant look of wanting to speak but holding back, she knew what Silan was thinking.

“Say whatever you have to say. Must this palace guess everything?” Meng Qianyan greatly appreciated Silan’s ability to handle people and affairs, but right now, she was somewhat tired of Silan being overly smooth.

Silan was even better at reading people’s expressions. With one glance, she understood her master’s thoughts.

She quickly said, “Judging from the consort’s expression, this subordinate does not think she dislikes Second Young Master Zheng.”

“Could it be that she dislikes this palace, then? Heh. She acts impudently toward this palace at every turn, and this palace has tolerated her offenses again and again. Does this palace not treat her well enough? Every single thing she did before would have been enough for her to drop dead silently dozens of times over.”

“Your Highness, calm your anger! That is not what this subordinate meant. This subordinate feels that the consort’s behavior is rather like an Omega in the inner residence, sour with jealousy because her Alpha went out to have a private meeting with another Omega.”

“…” In the end, Meng Qianyan still lost the poise of a princess. Her red lips parted slightly, and only after a long while did she say, “What did you say?”

“In reply to Your Highness! This subordinate boldly guesses that the consort is jealous.”

“Silan.” The expression on Meng Qianyan’s face became extremely interesting. It looked as though she were smiling, but there was a slight bitterness to it, and her whole face was filled with helplessness. “Ah-Zhu is an Omega.”

“Mm. This subordinate thought so at first as well. But the consort, the consort… the consort, she…”

“Do not imitate the way she speaks. It sounds irritating.”

“Yes.” Silan’s tongue became nimble again. “But the consort’s expression and behavior truly looked exactly like jealousy.”

Meng Qianyan fell silent. “Silan, withdraw for now.”

She wanted to be alone for a while.

After Silan left, Meng Qianyan returned to her sleeping chambers and called for hot water to ease the exhaustion in her body. Her heat period was in the next few days, so her body was uncomfortable, and her heart was terribly restless as well.

Yet all these matters had piled up at precisely this moment, making her truly agitated.

Her fingertips tapped lightly against the edge of the bathtub. In her mind, she thought of that night, when that person had stood by the window with a beaming face, telling her about her skill in raising seedlings.

That was a confidence, pride, and faint smugness Meng Qianyan had rarely seen on the consort.

Meng Qianyan rose, and the maids attending her immediately came forward to dry her body.

It was only just the hour of you now. According to her usual habits, after washing, Meng Qianyan would spend some time in the study, then rest at the hour of hai.

On the first and fifteenth of every month, things were a little different. At the hour of you, the consort would be summoned to attend her in bed. The next day, if the princess did not continue keeping the consort there, the consort could leave on her own.

In Great Jin, Alphas with even slight ambition and decent family backgrounds would never rush to become a consort, because being a consort was far too humiliating. They were clearly the most noble Alphas, yet in front of princesses and princes, they were like little pets to be summoned and dismissed at will.

After all, male attendants could at least be kept inside a princess’s or prince’s residence.

If the emperor bestowed the marriage, there was no helping it. Defying an imperial decree would implicate nine generations of one’s family.

Therefore, some great noble families would deliberately cultivate their legitimate eldest Alpha children, while the other legitimate Alphas could be raised more casually, making it convenient to send them into the imperial family in exchange for the family’s future. As for the family’s development, concubine-born children could also be carefully cultivated and used by the legitimate eldest Alpha.

This had already become an unspoken rule among the great noble families of the capital.

There were even some Alphas who were born precisely to claim a consort position for their family.

Meng Qianyan lowered her head and looked at the casual clothes she wore. This was the night attire she usually favored.

“Bring me the black sable cloak Crown Prince Brother sent.”

Meng Qianyan’s body was cold by nature, and she feared the cold. Although the Crown Prince had no real sibling affection for her, as her elder brother, he had not mistreated her either. At the very least, Imperial Mother would praise the Crown Prince for being benevolent and kind to his younger siblings.

Meng Qianyan understood very well, however, that the Crown Prince merely wanted to put on a show in front of Imperial Mother while also not benefiting outsiders. And although she and the Crown Prince were not close, no matter what, she was still his full-blooded younger sister.

To the Crown Prince, she belonged to the Crown Prince’s faction. He did not even need her opinion. Everyone simply assumed it by default.

Meng Qianyan let the maid dress her in that warm black sable cloak. Very soon, her body felt warmer.

It was also at this moment that Meng Qianyan thought of the plate of chili stir-fried meat the consort had made. After one bite, her whole body had felt this warm too—warmer than now.

Meng Qianyan came to the study. The local gazetteer in her hand was flipped back and forth until it returned to the first page.

“Silan,” Meng Qianyan called.

But Silan did not come in.

Someone outside the door answered, “Your Highness, this subordinate is Gold Two. The registrar has gone to eat. Shall this subordinate call the registrar back?”

“No need. You come in.”

The person outside pushed the door open and entered, keeping her head lowered and not daring to look around. She stood properly and saluted, then waited for orders.

“Has Gold Sixteen sent a letter back?”

“In reply to Your Highness, not yet. Shall this subordinate urge her?”

“She is not that lazy by nature. Since no letter has come, I imagine she has found nothing. Let her investigate slowly.” Meng Qianyan waved her hand, preparing to let Gold Two leave, only to suddenly stop her again. “Wait.”

“Your Highness?”

“Why did Silver One not send any message today? What has the consort been doing after returning today?”

“In reply to Your Highness, this subordinate belongs to the Gold squad. This subordinate does not know Silver One’s whereabouts.”

Only after being reminded by her did Meng Qianyan react. She thought that she really must be exhausted today; her mind was muddled.

Earlier, she had been the one who told Silver One not to send over every insignificant message.

Meng Qianyan then felt Silver One truly was too stubbornly literal. She had said not to send messy, irrelevant things, so Silver One had stopped sending even a few words.

“Forget it. You may leave. Once Silan finishes her work, have her come see me.”

“Yes.”

Gold Two had only just withdrawn when Silan suddenly came running over in a hurry, a grain of rice still stuck at the corner of her mouth.

She was just about to knock when Gold Two stopped her and pointed at her mouth.

Silan subconsciously touched it, then looked at Gold Two with slight embarrassment. She cupped her hands. “Many thanks.”

“No need.” Gold Two was very curious. Silan was usually the most steady person in the residence. Why was she so anxious today that she had not even had time to fix her appearance?

Silan did not have time to say much to her. She raised her hand and knocked. “Your Highness, this subordinate is Silan. Silver Two has brought an urgent report. The consort has collapsed from illness, and the physicians at the consort’s estate are useless, so they have begged Your Highness for help. Your Highness, the consort, she…”

The study door suddenly opened.

“Prepare the carriage.” Meng Qianyan was startled by the cold wind and shivered. Then she said, “Go call Yun Rou.”