The Female Alpha Consort Mistakenly Marks the Empress - TFACMME Chapter 14

The heavy carriage curtain was suddenly lifted, and daylight poured in like a bright and clear silver waterfall.

Slender, elegant fingers held the curtain. Backlit, the woman looked at her and smiled.

The smile was like the clear sky after rain, the clouds parting and the fog dispersing.

Long eyebrows reached her temples, her eyes contained mountains and rivers, and a few rays of fading light fell into her pupils like fragments of gold and tiny stars.

The light mottled her jade-like face, a startled swan.

“Mu Lanshi is here to greet Lady Qi,” Mu Lanshi said loudly, then lowered her voice so only Qi Yingzhu could hear, “She also wants to see you.”

She said this deliberately. Qi Yingzhu thought so because right now she had lost control of her own emotions and loudly said, “I don’t want to see anyone.”

So Mu Lanshi deliberately came closer. “She wants to see her.”

If she really wanted to see her, what was she doing last life? And if she did see her, what then?

Just thinking about being reborn on that night, when Mu Lanshi had promised she would take responsibility, made her feel uneasy.

Qi Yingzhu pressed her lips tightly. She regretted not acting faster—when she saw the few carriages earlier, she should have moved quicker and told Little Mi to leave instantly, so she wouldn’t be in such an awkward situation.

They faced each other, their eyes locking as if with real substance colliding.

Mu Lanshi had indeed gone too far—lifting the curtain like that, everyone waiting outside could hear their conversation.

She couldn’t chase her away, nor could she leave herself and humiliate Mu Lanshi and Zhou Yuanlai.

“Young Lady Qi?” Mu Lanshi gently called her, “Today, we really have fate on our side.”

What kind of fate… Qi Yingzhu didn’t want to see her! She even started to resent this street.

Qi Yingzhu forced a smile: “Yes, it is fate. This is my first time on Yushu Street. The prosperity of Jiangnan I had never seen before, and today, seeing it, I quite like it. And moreover, meeting Young Lady Mu Lanshi is very joyful.” She struggled to say these words.

“Then it’s just right to go inside the residence together.” Mu Lanshi still held the curtain, standing like a jade mountain, unmoved by the wind: “I too am surprised to meet you.”

Qi Yingzhu moved slowly, hoping Little Mi would notice and come help or something—

Maybe Little Mi thought about it, or maybe not, but it didn’t matter because Mu Lanshi stood there, blocking the way. No one could get in the way.

Qi Yingzhu was a little annoyed but said nothing, moving slowly. Finally, she shot a sharp look at Mu Lanshi, but Mu Lanshi seemed blind, calm and ignoring her gaze.

In her previous life, she was such a ruthless empress, yet in this life, she was trapped in a carriage, neither able to leave nor stay.

If she left, she would lose face. If she stayed…

If she stayed, she’d fall into Mu Lanshi’s trap.

When Qi Yingzhu stepped out, she caught Mu Lanshi’s gaze. She wanted to say that as a noble lady, she was not worthy of Young Lady Mu Lanshi holding her hand, but Mu Lanshi had already extended her elbow, smiling brightly.

Little Mi’s monthly pay could be docked.

Qi Yingzhu forced a smile and could only get down from the carriage, holding Mu Lanshi’s elbow.

“Do you still dislike me?” Mu Lanshi spoke softly, close to her ear.

In public, a blush spread over her fair ear, heat rising.

She placed her hand on top of Qi Yingzhu’s.

Qi Yingzhu’s hands were different from Mu Lanshi’s, being skilled only in music, chess, calligraphy, painting, poetry, wine, and tea—smoother than jade, but thinner than paper.

But Mu Lanshi had learned martial arts. Lowering her eyes slightly, Qi Yingzhu could see the thin calluses on her palm and her long, visible strong knuckles.

Qi Yingzhu tucked a lock of hair behind her ear and, standing still, returned the gentle gaze, composed: “The last time we met, I was captivated by Young Lady Mu’s grace and have been looking forward to seeing you again.”

Meeting was one thing; dislike was another.

Little Mi didn’t understand the storm brewing between them. Hearing this, she turned her dark eyes and decided: ‘Younger Miss must think Miss Mu Lanshi was a wonderful person and enjoyed spending time with her.’

Otherwise, why say “captivated by her grace” and “looking forward to seeing you again”?

Miss and she rarely went out; meeting a good person in a good place was not easy, so Little Mi didn’t think long and said, “Then, Miss, shall we go in with Miss Mu Lanshi?”

She looked at Mu Lanshi gratefully but didn’t expect the latter to return the same look.

An unsure look again?

Okay, it disappeared.

Little Mi thought she must be dazzled by the prosperity of Yushu Street because how could someone like Mu Lanshi from a noble family look at her, a servant, with gratitude?

Okay, Miss Mu Lanshi shouldn’t look at her with that grateful gaze; Younger Miss should be the one looking at her with “thank you” eyes.

Though Younger Miss’s status wasn’t so high, saying such words would still lower her dignity, so Little Mi decided to take the burden. This month, Lady and Master would surely treat Younger Miss well, maybe even increase her monthly pay…

Only, when Little Mi looked at her Younger Miss with anticipation, she saw a resentful look she had never seen before.

Wah!

Little Mi was startled, rubbed her eyes, and saw Younger Miss’s gaze had softened again.

She patted her chest, telling herself the murderous devil-like look would never appear in Younger Miss’s eyes.

Looks like she really was dazzled by Yushu Street’s prosperity.

She rubbed her eyes hard. Afterward, she saw her miss walking with Miss Mu Lanshi. Though their heights were different, standing together, they looked perfectly matched and elegant.

Ah, this must be what sisters call “pleasing to the eyes.”

***

Qi Yingzhu kept the demeanor of a noble lady, quietly walking beside Mu Lanshi.

There was actually no one else around, only Little Mi and two Zhou family servants following silently, making the atmosphere increasingly strange.

Mu Lanshi took the initiative: “Miss Qi, how long do you plan to stay from Jiangnan to the capital?”

She spoke calmly, as if nothing was wrong.

“Not long, once I find the right alpha, I will leave.” Qi Yingzhu smiled.

Mu Lanshi choked on her words. She had been planning to stop Qi Yingzhu from entering the palace, but now, barely happy to see her, she was immediately shut down.

That really was Qi Yingzhu’s style, holding grudges deeply.

She said she had moved on, but secretly folded a corner in her heart.

Last life, she and this empress never got along.

The empress ruled behind the curtain; who knew what Qi Yingzhu was doing behind that veil. Was she grinding her teeth in hatred?

Little Mi and the servants heard this and thought nothing strange.

After all, Lady Qi was an omega, looking for the right alpha was perfectly normal.

This also explained why Lady Qi came to Yushu Street today.

Inside Yushu Residence were refined and talented people.

Just as Qi Yingzhu finished speaking, Zhou Yuanlai saw them from afar and waved loudly: “Both of you, please come in quickly!”

He thanked Mu Lanshi for helping him receive the guests and hurried forward to thank her personally.

No longer awkward facing Mu Lanshi.

However, as Mu Lanshi lifted her long sleeve and stepped forward, she whispered beside Qi Yingzhu:

“After finding the right alpha, will you leave the capital?”

“Of course—”

Of course she would leave.

Mu Lanshi didn’t hear Qi Yingzhu’s reply, instead enthusiastically introduced Qi Yingzhu to Zhou Yuanlai.

“A longtime acquaintance of Young Lady Mu Lanshi!” Zhou Yuanlai’s eyes lit up, smiling repeatedly. “I will surely treat you well.” Afterwards, he smiled obsequiously at Qi Yingzhu: “I didn’t come to greet you in person, I hope you won’t blame me?”

Zhou Yuanlai was a high-status man; his behavior was due to his connections with noble families.

But Qi Yingzhu’s unfinished refusal hung in her throat; starting with “of course,” it ended as: “Of course I won’t blame you.”

Mu Lanshi smiled quietly by the side.

It wasn’t like she was the one that got pardoned; why was she smiling?

Qi Yingzhu withdrew her gaze and continued to exchange polite words with Zhou Yuanlai.

What a pity—an heir of high prestige, yet deaf and blind. Mu family wasted so much money and effort!

The Mu family head was already in her forties or fifties so she couldn’t have another child.

***

Meanwhile, when Mu Lanshi arrived, people inside the residence became restless.

When Mu Lanshi and Zhou Yuanlai left, a servant quickly went into the garden. The guests would soon drink and play in the garden, tossing arrows or floating wine cups down a stream…

They would definitely pass through Bixiu Garden, where a very popular parrot lived.

He trembled as he put the scented pouch in the cage.

Putting in the pouch also needed a mechanical box.

No choice; this was about his family’s revival. He couldn’t let Mu Lanshi and Zhou Yuanlai become close friends.

“You, bird, the whole house praises you for being smart and clever, almost like a person. But we value loyalty and filial piety most. Let’s see if you are really like a person today.” he murmured, placing the mechanical box nearby on the lawn.

He would return later. The residence was busy; moving back and forth was easy.

Time was short; he couldn’t report back and had to improvise to sabotage.

When he finished and sneaked back, he met the host finishing the banquet and going to the garden to play.

Zhou Yuanlai was in a good mood, drunken and unsteady, needing support as he muttered, “Today is a good day; even Young Lady Mu Lanshi honored us with her presence. Let’s go to Bixiu Garden.”

Mu Lanshi and Qi Yingzhu were both among the crowd.

At the banquet, their seats differed: because Mu Lanshi arrived first and was important to Zhou Yuanlai, she sat in front; Qi Yingzhu resisted sitting next to Mu Lanshi and settled in the middle.

Now, walking behind Zhou Yuanlai, they didn’t stand close.

A large group followed Zhou Yuanlai forward; he drunkenly introduced his Bixiu Garden scenery:

“Some of you have never been to my humble home or Bixiu Garden… You will surely enjoy it!”

“Yes, yes, everyone will enjoy it.” The servant came to support Zhou Yuanlai, agreeing, “You won’t disappoint us, Lord Zhou.”

Zhou Yuanlai laughed, pleased to hear agreement: “Haha, indeed!”

But midway, a servant suddenly appeared from behind a rock, making Qi Yingzhu alert.

Zhou Yuanlai was not a good man, related to the emperor by marriage, amassing wealth and connections, he was looked down upon by many.

Though Qi Yingzhu’s rise was later, this man had died in political struggles.

Still, many people had surely already been keeping tabs on him.

She was not famous now, only known as a “Qi family girl,” so probably no one wanted to harm her yet.

But she had to be fully prepared. Yushu Residence was not safe—in the last life, a bloody incident happened here.

Arrows were easy to guard against, but some strange people who got close uninvited, she could not avoid.

“Lady, about what I told you last time…” Mu Lanshi suddenly came beside her. Qi Yingzhu instinctively looked away but saw Little Mi shyly watching her and Mu Lanshi.

Mu Lanshi deliberately kept some distance, just enough so their private words could not be heard over the noisy crowd.

In other words, Little Mi had allowed this private chat distance.

Qi Yingzhu: …?

She suspected that even if she docked all of Little Mi’s monthly pay, Little Mi would go ask Mu Lanshi for money anyway.

***

TL/N:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pitch-pot

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Winding_stream_party