The Female Alpha Consort Mistakenly Marks the Empress - TFACMME Chapter 26

“Then, Young Lady Qi, what do you think,” Mu Lanshi suddenly found it funny when she heard this and suddenly leaned in close. Lanshi’s breath, warm and heavy, hit her face.

She got way too close.

So close that Qi Yingzhu could clearly see the fine fuzz and tiny particles on her face.

In her suddenly contracted pupils was a magnified reflection of Mu Lanshi’s face, down to the butterfly-like shadow cast by her eyelashes. Qi Yingzhu held her breath and leaned back but couldn’t avoid the inch-by-inch pressing gaze. Her creamy skin flushed a rouge color, like madder dye bleeding on rice paper.

Qi Yingzhu was speechless at this sudden closeness. “You…”

The trailing sound from her throat trembled, shattered by the noise leaking through the carved carriage window. She clearly saw the mischief flickering in those eyes, yet at this moment she couldn’t put together a complete sentence.

Her white cheeks were visibly flushed.

Is she important? She’s definitely not important.

But if she really said she wasn’t important…

Just as she was about to say these three words, Mu Lanshi smiled and said, “Young Lady Qi, you’re slow to answer. It seems you think Lanshi is as light as a feather.”

She said this and sighed.

“You…” Hmph.

Qi Yingzhu simply turned her head away, brushing back her hair to try and hide the heat spreading up her neck.

She could easily say she wasn’t important and not take herself too seriously. But if she really said that so casually, what would that make her, who kept relying on and depending on Mu Lanshi again and again?

But if she said she was important…

She really didn’t know how this person would become proud and lose herself.

Hmph. This is a trap. No matter how she turned, she couldn’t escape.

Qi Yingzhu puffed her cheeks in anger, “Who asked you to judge Mu Lanshi? A noble praised as ‘elegant and outstanding’ at seven years old, why should a commoner like me comment? I, Qi Yingzhu, am no scholar! Why ask for my opinion?”

What she said was true.

However, Mu Lanshi’s heart suddenly skipped a beat.

Yes, she did become famous at a young age. At only seven years old, she was praised by the famous scholars of the time as elegant and outstanding.

That was how things were nowadays. People socialized, judged, and discussed. Mutual praise and competition among them became common. Once an ordinary scholar was praised by a famous one, it was like passing through the dragon gate and their worth would multiply.

And Mu Lanshi? She had already done that at seven years old. Besides, she was no ordinary scholar.

Who could say such a person was not important?

“But Lanshi just wants to know your opinion,” Mu Lanshi said again.

Her cheek, slightly lowered, showed no sign of lifting. It seemed she really wanted an answer today.

Qi Yingzhu was helpless. She drooped her eyelids and said tiredly and resignedly, “You’re important, alright? You’re important.”

Her lips softened, but she was still unsatisfied and had to find some way to get back at her.

So she raised her leg and lightly kicked Mu Lanshi.

When she saw Mu Lanshi’s expression slightly change and that she no longer turned toward her in a domineering way, Qi Yingzhu’s face relaxed.

Then a satisfied curve silently appeared on her lips.

Hmph, that’s better.

Who told her to bully her all the time?

Mu Lanshi shrugged and sat back down after that kick.

A little kick wouldn’t hurt; it could loosen her muscles. She rubbed her not-really-hurt ankle, spring water shimmering in her eyes.

“Mu Lanshi, I warn you, since we agreed that I take care of you, you better be careful,” Qi Yingzhu said as she got out of the carriage, still looking a bit annoyed. Even though she was about to leave, she turned her head and purposely said it.

Mu Lanshi smiled and could only say, “Alright, alright, I’ll be careful… Then, Lanshi will see you off?”

Qi Yingzhu wanted to refuse, but she suddenly realized that the people standing outside were now her ‘family’. The refusal stuck in her throat and she didn’t say it, instead swallowing the words and slowly saying, “Mm, very sensible.”

“Of course, after all, I’m Young Lady Qi’s mate. Being sensible means the lady will care for me more.”

Qi Yingzhu no longer even thought about glaring at her.

She was just waiting for this person’s alpha heat to come so she could get revenge.

***

Qi Zhongxuan was not at the door, only Xu Yuan was there.

Since Qi Yingzhu followed Mu Lanshi away, Xu Yuan had made up her mind to ask something of Qi Yingzhu. Now seeing the Mu family carriage return, she smiled and greeted them: “You two are back?”

Mu Lanshi politely bowed, and Qi Yingzhu calmly accepted her mother’s sudden change.

What exactly is years of upbringing?

Her relationship with the Qi family was merely like dodder vine clinging to the branches of power—seemingly tightly entwined, but actually rootless. Once she lost her use, those threads called “affection” would instantly break and vanish.

In her past life, she had painfully come to understand this truth.

Yes, relying on power itself is unreliable. Therefore, she wanted to become power itself.

The dodder vine on the branch of power must eventually grow into a honeysuckle vine wrapped in thorns before the cold winter comes.

Qi Yingzhu smiled calmly, showing no trace of resentment toward herself.

Xu Yuan stood there dumbfounded, apparently not understanding Qi Yingzhu’s reaction.

Strange.

Was it just a response without grudges? More like disdain for having found something better.

While she did not understand, she also understood a little. A trace of guilt and worry appeared in her heart.

Just from seeing how close Qi Yingzhu and Mu Lanshi were when they got out of the carriage, she could guess something.

If it were her, she would also be proud.

Xu Yuan swallowed hard and let it be. Right now in the capital, she had no one to rely on. Even if she lost face, she had to ask Yingzhu for help.

“The wind outside is strong,” Qi Yingzhu said with a faint smile as she turned to Mu Lanshi, “Thank you, Young Lady, for accompanying me today. My father invited you so suddenly, you must have had a hard time.”

Mu Lanshi raised her eyebrows and smiled naturally, “Not hard at all. I gained a lot.”

Qi Yingzhu: …

This person’s heart is dark.

She would definitely torment her harshly when this person’s heat phase came.

The two of them had an undercurrent that Xu Yuan could not understand, but she could guess most of it.

These two were flirting. The more intimate they were, the more Xu Yuan thought of her daughter lying ill and unconscious for a very long time.

—A blunt doctor even said her daughter might become mentally slow after waking up. It was caused by the argument that day.

Qi Yingzhu frowned, but Mu Lanshi changed the subject: “This time I came to your home, next time… it will be soon. At the Grain Rain spring outing, I hope Young Lady can come then too.”

Grain Rain spring outing? Qi Yingzhu thought for a moment.

That was a traditional festival, usually lasting two or three days. Families like the Mu family would often host a refined gathering.

Since Mu Lanshi took the initiative to invite her, maybe she had her reasons.

Or maybe she would make some moves at that gathering.

What would she do?

Qi Yingzhu suddenly wanted to know.

“All right.” She agreed quickly and decisively. If only she were like Mu Lanshi. Unfortunately, her birth mother was too far away.

And she, once again, would waste her fate like in the past life.

Tsk, but this time she left herself some retreat. She thought she might as well see how far this faithless woman could go. If things did not go her way, she could make other plans later.

Mu Lanshi also smiled: “Then I will be waiting.”

Their agreement was close and natural. Xu Yuan stood not far but could not get a word in.

Finally, she got her chance.

Mu Lanshi smiled to say goodbye, saying she would see them off but was refused.

“It’s fine, Madam, the wind outside is strong. You should go inside with Yingzhu first.” She gently persuaded.

Xu Yuan could only laugh awkwardly: “Haha, all right, good…”

Yingzhu, Yingzhu! What a close form of address!

Looking at Qi Yingzhu’s expression, normal as usual, clearly because Mu Lanshi often called her that privately.

Many signs flashed through Xu Yuan’s mind, too numerous to list. All of this strengthened one thought inside her.

No matter what, she must ask Qi Yingzhu for help.

***

Qi Yingzhu rarely felt this way in both her lives.

Her adoptive mother, Xu Yuan, waited respectfully by her side, cautious.

Why did she not feel this way in her previous life? Because Xu Yuan’s temperament did not match Qi Zhongxuan’s. Qi Zhongxuan was the kind of person who, once his adopted daughter entered the palace and did not receive favor or benefit the family, would have other thoughts.

—Didn’t he still have a legitimate eldest daughter?

To him, his daughter was only worth that much.

Xu Yuan could turn a blind eye since Qi Yingzhu was not her biological daughter. But when it came to Qi Nian, she could no longer tolerate it. Qi Yingzhu had heard about this in her past life. That was exactly why she acted as she did in this life.

Sometimes watching dogs bite each other is a kind of pleasure. Maybe Xu Yuan did not act directly, but watching coldly was already being an accomplice.

As for Qi Nian, she seemed simpler. Just unwilling.

Qi Yingzhu walked calmly ahead, saying nothing, feeling refreshed.

Though she sometimes lost face with someone, that person always gave her face in front of others.

Thinking of this, Qi Yingzhu’s mood improved and the corner of her lips curved.

“Yingzhu.” After some hesitation, Xu Yuan slowly called her.

Qi Yingzhu was surprised and said “Ah,” but did not turn around.

This was not polite.

But under this roof, she had to bow. She had the pride and means for this, something Xu Yuan clearly understood.

She feared her.

But she resented Qi Zhongxuan even more.

“Mother wants to say something to you,” Xu Yuan gathered courage and said, “Shall we talk in detail?”

Qi Yingzhu said calmly, “Where does Madam want to go?”

She called her “madam,” not “mother.”

Xu Yuan shuddered inexplicably. She knew well what this term meant now.

Qi Yingzhu no longer recognized her as her mother.

“Just in my room,” she said, “the one I used to place the folding stool to hit Qi Zhongxuan’s room.”

The hint was unmistakable.

Qi Yingzhu raised her eyebrows and smiled.

Look, her clever mother’s words were interesting.

She was very skilled now.

If only in the past life she had been better to her adopted daughter and used these skills on her.

But such regrets were only momentary. Qi Yingzhu soon composed herself and agreed, “Fine, then we’ll talk.”

Hearing this, Xu Yuan breathed a long sigh of relief.

It seemed Yingzhu still held some place for her as mother. Calling her “Madam” just now might have been in anger.

No matter what, the urgent matter was to get Yingzhu’s help.

***

“Yingzhu.” Xu Yuan stood behind a wooden table, nervously folding her hands.

Though standing, she pulled a grand chair for Qi Yingzhu: “Sit.”

Qi Yingzhu said, “Why don’t you sit, Madam?”

Xu Yuan shook her head, smiling awkwardly, “You sit. I’ll stand.”

She also brought a cup of tea and smelled it. It was Snow Bud tea—the first tea Xu Yuan had patiently taught her to brew.

As if sensing Xu Yuan’s thoughts, Qi Yingzhu said nothing, pulled out the chair, and sat down, signaling Xu Yuan to put down the tea.

“Madam, you can speak frankly.” Once seated, Qi Yingzhu asked.

Xu Yuan bit her lip and hardened her heart, then came forward and said, “Yingzhu, what I want to talk about is what’s happened to us in the capital these days.”

Qi Yingzhu obviously knew something, and now that she had someone to rely on, calling her mother “Madam” meant there was still room to negotiate.

“Go on.” Qi Yingzhu nodded.

Xu Yuan said, “You know, your father Qi Zhongxuan has never treated you well. When you were little, he hardly cared for you. Bringing you home was only to use you to climb higher later.”

“Yingzhu, think carefully, isn’t what I say true? That old man has never treated you seriously. When you could connect with the royal family, he wanted to send you into the palace; now that you have a relationship with Young Lady Mu, he’s already making other plans… Look at you—barely over twenty. So young, how could you go into the deep palace to live a lonely life? If you go in, you’ll just make your disgusting father happy. Things will benefit him anyway. Do you want to do that?”

The gist was that Qi Zhongxuan treated Qi Yingzhu badly and she should think carefully whether she wanted to fulfill his wishes.

“Oh, so that’s it,” Qi Yingzhu smiled faintly, “I didn’t expect Madam to come to me to talk about this. Madam’s words are quite right, very reasonable.” She drew out her words slowly, putting the trembling and uneasy Xu Yuan under pressure.

Xu Yuan’s sharp eyes flickered faintly.

“But I want to ask, was adopting me really a ‘moment of kindness’ back then?” Her tone suddenly lowered. “Or was Madam not among those who ‘adopted’ me back then?”

Her adoption was actually strange. Her biological mother had been searching for her ever since she got lost but never found her. In her past life, if it weren’t for the protection of the omega’s family, she would hardly have reached the high position of regent.

Qi Yingzhu’s words struck Xu Yuan deeply. She suddenly fell silent, feeling guilty.

But Qi Yingzhu’s expression suddenly turned harsh. She said, “Xu Yuan, you want to clear yourself completely. Now everything is Qi Zhongxuan’s fault. Even if the past is too distant for you to remember, what you three did at Mu Lanshi’s banquet—don’t you have any idea in your heart?”

The three of them—one playing the villain, one playing the good cop, and the older sister crying with blurred tears—all teamed up, using both soft and hard tactics to force her to comply.

How could they fail? Of course, they succeeded. In her previous life, the upright Qi Yingzhu did obey their words.

She carried all her pain, rotting inside the palace.

Xu Yuan lowered her head under Qi Yingzhu’s scolding, picking at her fingers, not daring to say a word.

“Whatever benefits you, you support that. Now I don’t enter the palace, but your biological daughter will, then you support me.” Qi Yingzhu first sneered, then sharply said, “Xu Yuan, you don’t sympathize with my plight. You’re just afraid of your own situation!”

Those words hit like thunder, almost shattering Xu Yuan’s mind with their force.

Xu Yuan’s face turned pale. She stammered, explaining repeatedly, “No, it’s not like that… Yingzhu, please listen to me.”

Yes, her daughter had quickly risen to become the eldest miss of the Mu family. She was indeed very scheming. What to do then? Her daughter was about to enter the palace? That was unacceptable!

“But.” Qi Yingzhu suddenly spoke softly again. She raised her head slightly and carefully looked at the trembling Xu Yuan.

Xu Yuan nervously clenched her hands, swallowed hard, and looked back.

“If you want me to help, fine,” Qi Yingzhu shifted her tone, but still carried an unapproachable sternness on her face, “But it’s not for you, nor for Qi Nian.”

Xu Yuan’s face stiffened. The smile she unconsciously showed at the word “fine” disappeared.

But when she heard the next sentence, her expression turned gray and withered.

Not for her, not for Nian?

Then why?

“Because I have never forgiven you,” on Qi Yingzhu’s previously stern face appeared a trace of sarcasm, “Xu Yuan, what I’m doing is the same as your thinking. Whatever benefits me, I support that.”

Saying this, Qi Yingzhu stood up and lightly shook her sleeves.

Her height was the same as Xu Yuan’s, but her aura was far more imposing.

She agreed to team up with Xu Yuan, but it was not forgiveness.

Was Xu Yuan worthy of sympathy? Perhaps yes. She married into the Qi family and had a daughter. According to her personality, if she knew Qi Nian would be sent to the palace, she might never have agreed early on. But when a way appeared that could make her family happy, she gave in.

Yes, she gave in to Qi Yingzhu’s happiness. When that method stopped working, she would start planning for herself and her daughter.

For this, Xu Yuan didn’t hesitate to break ties with Qi Zhongxuan, and now came humbly to ask Qi Yingzhu.

It seemed like a point where she deserved forgiveness. But if Qi Yingzhu forgave everything, then all the suffering she endured would be justified.

If she forgave, it would betray her past self.

But the political storm in the capital was not just a private grudge between daughters of different families.

“I help you, not to forgive,” Qi Yingzhu returned from her thoughts, her eyes calm and clear, each word resolute, “I’m tired of this caged bird act.”

She could easily ignore Xu Yuan’s request, and Mu Lanshi’s side would also agree. The marriage was imminent, and the one who would enter the palace and live a life of widowhood would be Qi Nian. She would repay suffering with suffering.

…But some things don’t have to be done that way, just as Mu Lanshi was willing to wait patiently: she also could have married her early.

Qi Yingzhu’s eyelashes trembled slightly, suddenly recalling what her biological mother said in her past life.

Her decision was simply the hope that, under the pressing power struggles of the imperial family and noble clans, no more girls like her would be oppressed.

The golden cage in this world should all be melted down to forge swords.

Luckily, Xu Yuan still had some backbone. Now she was willing to join forces with Qi Yingzhu, surely they would make a huge fuss across the city. The Xu and Qi families were evenly matched in strength. Xu family would not stand by while their child was humiliated, and the Qi family’s pride would not allow it either. The two families would definitely fall out, at least lose face.

As for Qi Nian, she had seen Little Mi. Now she was still bedridden and unable to move.

With this commotion, the reputation of the Jiangnan Qi family would definitely be ruined—Qi Yingzhu was very sure of that.

Thinking this, a slight smile curved Qi Yingzhu’s lips. Yes, she must leave this bad family. If it wasn’t bad enough, she’d add fuel to the fire.

When Xu Yuan heard “tired of this caged bird act,” her face was ashamed, and she bowed her head.

Maybe human nature is like this—one doesn’t know pain until the knife cuts oneself.

She looked down to find Qi Yingzhu’s face. Her expression was as clear and resolute as the words she spoke. Like reeds by the river, bending from the impact but never breaking.

Actually, Xu Yuan was a person who lived day by day. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have ignored Qi’s womanizing affairs. When younger, she thought her daughter was just a pretty doll, about the same age as Nian. Although she said she wanted to use her as a stepping stone, the days she spent with Qi Yingzhu were no pretense.

When Yingzhu was babbling, she patiently listened to her indistinct words; when Yingzhu couldn’t hold the horn comb, she took her hand and stroked her soft black hair; when Yingzhu couldn’t eat, she sent the nanny away and coaxed her herself…

Those days were still vivid, but she knew clearly she would never get Yingzhu’s forgiveness.

“Sorry, Yingzhu, it’s my fault,” she murmured, “You just said we can join forces…”

As she spoke, she suddenly knelt with a thud, her face stained with tears.

She would never receive her daughter’s forgiveness.

Never.

She knelt for a long time.

Finally, Qi Yingzhu spoke: “Tell me your plan.”

This meant she no longer wanted to argue with her! Xu Yuan’s nose tingled. She wanted to say something, but Qi Yingzhu seemed indifferent.

Probably knowing she and Yingzhu would ultimately part ways, Xu Yuan choked up and stopped insisting on that matter. Instead, she spoke about the urgent matter.

Qi Yingzhu finally nodded: “Yes, we can join forces.”

Xu Yuan took a deep breath and continued: “My plan is to divorce that old man and take Nian away. To be honest, Yingzhu, Nian already has some hidden illness. Last time when I argued with that old man, it seemed to have scarred her. Several doctors came but couldn’t cure her… She can only wake intermittently, and might have to use a wheelchair in the future.”

As she spoke, Xu Yuan’s eyes reddened. Some things, was one wrong step a step towards all wrong?

She didn’t stop Yingzhu from entering the palace, hoping to use imperial power to create a beautiful golden cage for her, but instead she trapped herself.

The whole family was ruined.

Qi Yingzhu looked at her: “Was she scared by your quarrel? If so, are you willing to hit that man again?”

Xu Yuan was stunned, then slowly gave a bitter smile. Her words became firm: “Yes.”

Qi Yingzhu smiled.

“Yingzhu, I want to take Nian away. I guess you don’t want to stay under the Qi family’s roof, right? Jiangnan is far from the capital. Even if they want to cause trouble, they won’t find us. I want to end this while I can. Will you come with me?” Xu Yuan rubbed her eyes, crying, showing her utmost sincerity.

This was almost all of her consideration.

Yingzhu certainly didn’t want to stay in the Jiangnan Qi family either. Leaving would take effort, but was not impossible.

“No need,” Qi Yingzhu rejected decisively, “I’ll go alone.”

She would stand on her own in this capital.

Xu Yuan looked at her in surprise.

—She didn’t know when this daughter changed so much. Or perhaps this was Qi Yingzhu’s true face. The gentle kindness she once showed was fake, all to deceive them.

Only now, this face like gold and frozen jade was her real face.

On the surface calm, but inside roiling with waves.

“But if you go alone, won’t that…” Xu Yuan said anxiously.

Qi Yingzhu replied with eyes bright as ice and snow: “What harm is there in going alone?”

She herself was her own axis.

“I will measure the storms of this capital,” she said coldly, voice neutral and almost resolute, “After this, we break all ties.”

After saying this, she poured out the cup of Snow Bud tea on the table.

Xu Yuan knelt on the ground, trembling under that icy, bright gaze—she recalled teaching Qi Yingzhu to write.

The little girl held a pen and said: “Mother, I can write the character ‘人’ by myself.”

***

TL/Note:

Snow Bud | Xue Ya Grade AAA

https://www.chineseboost.com/grammar/ren2-vs-nan2ren2/