The Female Alpha Consort Mistakenly Marks the Empress - TFACMME Chapter 11

“Come, get in the carriage with me,” Qi Yingzhu quickly waved her hand, signaling Little Mi to follow.

Originally, she was supposed to share a carriage with her older sister Qi Nian, but their adoptive parents seemed to have something to discuss with Qi Nian, so the arrangements were changed.

That was how Little Mi came to ride with Qi Yingzhu.

Little Mi nodded repeatedly and climbed into the carriage after her.

She was still a young girl, with bright almond-shaped eyes full of curiosity, especially about everything in the capital.

Little Mi had been the same in her previous life—Qi Yingzhu’s personal maid.

From then on, she stayed by her side and gave up all her youth for her.

Qi Yingzhu had entered the palace in her past life full of despair. Even so, she had never intended to drag anyone else down with her. She had even paid off the contracts of her servants and let them go free.

…But Little Mi was the only one who stayed.

They hadn’t experienced any earth-shattering or heartbreaking events together in their previous lives, but whenever Qi Yingzhu thought of her—a girl just as young or even younger than her—wasting her entire youth alongside her, her heart ached unbearably.

Qi Yingzhu was not a cold-hearted person. She remembered all the kindness Little Mi had shown her. So when she gained power, she quickly found Little Mi, wanting to reward her with gold and jewels, promising her wealth and status, and even sought an exception to the law so Little Mi could marry a middle-born man.

By custom, a middle-born could only marry another middle-born, but with the empress’s new edict, there was room to maneuver. If one wanted to be with an alpha or an omega, it would’ve been simple.

But back then, Little Mi had raised her eyes and looked directly at her, showing a shy smile as she said, “I’ve already passed that stage, my lady.”

Only then did Qi Yingzhu realize it.

There were fine lines at the corners of Little Mi’s eyes too. The light in her eyes had grown dim, just like hers—quiet and lonely through more than half a life.

Their bright youth had rotted away, day by day, behind the deep palace walls.

The years withered silently, candlelight dimmed with each night. Fine silks at the bottom of trunks became wrinkled and faded, gold earrings in their boxes mottled and dull.

She had never asked Little Mi in her past life: did she want to leave?

“Younger Miss, Younger Miss,” Little Mi was still chattering away, “let’s go out and have fun tomorrow, shall we? I heard Yushuo Street is super lively, the road is wide and straight, and in summer the catalpa trees have these big, thick leaves that block out the sun! And there’s a clear stream running beside them…”

Qi Yingzhu’s thoughts faded. She smiled and said, “Alright.”

“Younger Miss, you’re the best!” Little Mi grinned, showing two neat rows of white teeth.

She thought, if she could just spend her whole life like this with Younger Miss, she’d be content. Wherever Younger Miss went, she’d go too.

“But we probably can’t tomorrow. Little Mi, we’ll have to wait a few more days,” Qi Yingzhu suddenly added.

Little Mi blinked, confused. “Why, Younger Miss?”

Qi Yingzhu didn’t answer directly, instead saying, “Just wait. Tomorrow, the lord and madam won’t be in a good mood. We need to wait until they’re in a better mood and beg me to go out.”

Little Mi was even more puzzled now and stared at Qi Yingzhu with a confused look.

Had Younger Miss gone silly after coming to the capital? Or had she been dazzled by the city’s sights?

Why was she saying such strange things?

She was a servant, and she knew very well how the family treated its members.

The lord and madam weren’t exactly harsh to Younger Miss, but compared to Older Miss, there was a clear difference.

Especially that comment about “begging her to go out”—Little Mi had never heard anything like it.

At home, Younger Miss obeyed her parents in everything. Every move had to be fitting for a proper young lady. Since when did the parents ever have to lower themselves for their daughter to go out?

She thought Younger Miss must’ve been dazzled by the scenery of the capital.

***

In another carriage, though the space was larger and more people were present, the atmosphere was tense.

Qi Nian’s elegant brows were tightly furrowed as she anxiously held Madam Xu’s hand and asked, “Mother, what exactly happened last night? Why can’t younger sister go into the palace?”

Originally, her younger sister was going in her place. They had exploited the loophole of “a daughter of the Qi family.” If her sister couldn’t go, then the one truly bearing the Qi family name—she would have to go!

That old emperor couldn’t even walk anymore. There was no way she was going!

Madam Xu held her daughter’s hand in return, softly reassuring her, “It’s alright, Little Nian. Your father and I will take care of you…”

Qi Nian was not satisfied with that vague reply and directly questioned Master Qi: “Father, if younger sister can’t go into the palace, what am I supposed to do? Why can’t she go?”

She hadn’t been there when her parents confronted Qi Yingzhu, and had only gotten bits and pieces from her mother.

Qi Nian doubted the truth of what her sister had said. What if Qi Yingzhu had just made it all up?

Though her younger sister had always been gentle and kind, this was a marriage matter. A lie wasn’t out of the question.

Master Qi’s brows were nearly forming a character “川”. He said, “Didn’t your mother tell you?”

Madam Xu, having the experience of an omega herself, could sense things if she paid close enough attention.

She gave her daughter a confirming look. Only then did Qi Nian feel slightly relieved, but she quickly asked again, “Then who in our family is going into the palace?”

That was really all she cared about.

Lord Qi said, “Let’s wait for now. I’ll try to talk to the eunuchs beside His Imperial Majesty… see if they can be persuaded to allow your sister into the palace.”

Madam Xu paused for a moment, thinking it over. “Husband, is that really possible? Which eunuch do we talk to? Maybe someone from my family could help.”

As she spoke, Qi Nian clutched her hand tighter and whispered, “Mother, I don’t want to go into the palace.”

That irritated voice rang in Lord Qi’s ears, and his face turned black as coal. He grunted, “What else can we do? For now, we have to deal with His Imperial Majesty! I’ve never had dealings with his eunuchs before. If someone finds out and exposes that Yingzhu is not a virgin, wouldn’t our whole family be doomed?”

His Imperial Majesty had already issued a decree! It was a royal command, it couldn’t be taken back.

He had also promised him an official position and a marquis title, a future filled with opportunities. Of course, he had to handle this carefully.

Madam Xu faintly picked up on his true meaning and sternly said, “Qi Zhongxuan, you have to promise me. No matter what, you cannot let Little Nian go into the palace. She’s my only daughter.”

She wasn’t going to let her daughter enter the palace just to live as a widow. What royal power or wealth? Her Xu family might be a minor noble house, but they could still ensure Little Nian lived a carefree life.

But Lord Qi didn’t respond. His mind was filled with the promises the emperor had made.

High rank, great fortune, imperial in-law—who wouldn’t be tempted?

Whether biological or adopted didn’t matter. As long as they could enter the palace through a daughter of the Qi family, it would be an excellent outcome.

His daughter’s soft pleas, his wife’s stern voice—all kept echoing in Qi Zhongxuan’s mind, shattering the grand future he had been imagining.

Irritated, he waved his hand and said, “Enough. Don’t say another word!”

He had already made up his mind. All he needed now was the right opportunity.

***

TL/N:

Eunuchs existed in the Chinese court starting around 146 AD during the reign of Emperor Huan of Han, and were common as civil servants as early as the time of the Qin dynasty. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eunuchs_in_China)