The Female Alpha Consort Mistakenly Marks the Empress - TFACMME Chapter 28

There were many onlookers, and Mu Lanshi stood out. No matter where she stood, all eyes were drawn to her. This enchantress had to dress plainly among the powdered crowd, making her stand out even more than the girls in red sleeves throughout the building.

And she still had the nerve to come down and pull her!

Qi Yingzhu shook off the sleeve that had been caught. The rabbit fur on the edge of her hood trembled slightly. She said in disgust, “I’m not standing with you.”

Mu Lanshi was dumbfounded. “Why not? I came down right away.”

She was trying to explain.

She meant she saw her and immediately came downstairs to meet her.

The two of them drifted through the lively and noisy crowd, one ahead and one behind.

Qi Yingzhu didn’t look back. She said in a muffled voice, “You knew you went upstairs.”

Mu Lanshi was slightly stunned. So her earlier suspicion was right. The moment Qi Yingzhu saw her at Qicheng Pavilion, she started imagining all sorts of things.

She was indeed at fault. After all, they had just agreed to look after each other.

“I don’t even know what use there is in making an agreement with you,” Qi Yingzhu kept walking forward, “You have your own ways, plenty of ways… The usual medicine to suppress heat wouldn’t suit you. Besides, what need do you have for calming balm?”

Mu Lanshi was scolded head-on and knew she was in the wrong, so she followed behind her.

She tried to soothe her. “Just let me explain.”

But Qi Yingzhu kept walking, muttering, “You’re so impressive, wherever you go people look at you. If you go to a dirty place like Qicheng Pavilion, there must be omegas rushing to you…”

Qi Yingzhu kept her hood on and walked with her head down. Mu Lanshi followed closely behind. Just by looking at them, anyone could tell there was a story here. These two were a perfect match in appearance and quickly drew even more attention.

“Now more and more people are looking over here. What do we do?” Mu Lanshi asked. “If you don’t stop, there won’t be any spectacle left for you to watch. Everyone will be watching you instead.”

Qi Yingzhu finally stopped and stomped her foot.

Mu Lanshi smiled. “Just so happens, there’s a teahouse owned by my family nearby.”

Qi Yingzhu said coldly, “Your family owns property everywhere.”

That wasn’t untrue, but there was sarcasm in her tone.

Mu Lanshi naturally picked it up. “Yes. If I don’t do a bit more business, what if someone decides they don’t want me as their young lady? I’m already feeling uneasy about that now… Aren’t you, too?”

She really wanted to shut this person up. Qi Yingzhu felt even more stifled. At that moment, something was pushed into her palm.

She looked down and saw—it was a piece of candy.

“Mint candy, for Her Ladyship to cool down.”

It wasn’t even summer yet. Who needed cooling down?

“This little candy won’t do anything for my temper,” Qi Yingzhu shot her a sidelong glance. “I’d need to open a whole shop to calm down.”

Mu Lanshi asked curiously, “What kind of shop?”

“A coffin shop. Right here—” Qi Yingzhu pointed into the distance. Right across from Qicheng Pavilion!

Mu Lanshi suddenly felt guilty. “…Who’s it for?”

“For Young Lady Mu’s rotten admirers!”

This really was jealousy turned sour.

***

“Excuse me, please make way.” The server girl was carrying freshly brewed Longjing tea upstairs when the beaded curtain was suddenly lifted by a jade fan handle. Mu Lanshi’s dark blue cross-collared robe was dusted with willow fluff. Her belt was neat and fastened perfectly, looking elegant and poised.

Why did this person seem familiar? The server girl was puzzled, holding the tea tray and forgetting to head upstairs.

She hesitated a moment. “Are there only two of you, guests?”

On the way, Qi Yingzhu had changed from walking far ahead to walking beside her.

Tsk, this young lady also looked familiar somehow, but the server couldn’t place her right away.

Mu Lanshi’s expression was calm. She pulled out a token from her sleeve, carved with the character “Shi.”

“Ah! M-Young Lady Mu!” The server girl trembled and hurriedly said, “Forgive me, I didn’t recognize you…”

Oh dear, what wind had brought the young lady here today? And who was this young woman beside her?

Never mind. That wasn’t her business.

“Get us a private room,” Mu Lanshi said.

Before the words had finished, Qi Yingzhu suddenly pulled down her hood a bit. The sky after spring rain shone into her eyes. The faint green under her eyes made the bite mark on her lip look even redder. She added, “A window seat.”

The server girl glanced at the beautiful woman beside her in surprise.

That tone didn’t sound very pleased. And she was giving orders?

Strangely, the young lady actually followed her lead. “Yes, by the window. Do as she says.”

The server girl pressed down her slightly raised brows and set aside her doubts.

“Understood. The third room in the west wing then. It has a full view of the street! Please follow me,” the server girl said warmly, leading the way. “Watch your step, we just cleaned this area.”

Even after the server girl left, Mu Lanshi could still hear Qi Yingzhu muttering softly.

She didn’t listen carefully, but she could guess.

Probably things like “no matter what you do, I won’t give you a good face.”

Since the young master herself had come, the server girl dared not slack off. Once the two were settled, she brought fruit and refreshments, then tactfully left.

The west wing room opened onto a window full of fresh greenery. Faint sunlight spilled in and dyed the celadon teacups. But Qi Yingzhu deliberately chose a dark, backlit ebony chair to sit in, puffed up with anger and not speaking to Mu Lanshi.

Mu Lanshi paused while pouring the tea. The Pre-rain Dragonwell steam wafted past her furrowed brows. “You really have to sit in the wind?”

While the server was still present, Mu Lanshi had sat calmly like a mountain, unaffected, choosing the seat opposite Qi Yingzhu.

After she left, Mu Lanshi tried to get up, but Qi Yingzhu turned her head away even more.

—So what if she stood up? Just because she was taller didn’t mean she was right.

Her cheeks puffed out in frustration.

“Why won’t my mate talk to me?” Mu Lanshi teased her, seeing that angry little face.

At the word “mate,” Qi Yingzhu’s cheeks flushed bright red.

Where had this woman learned such terms?

Mate… mate…

Hmph. Maybe one of her parents used to call her mother that!

No, wait—Mu Lanshi knew who her own mother was. Mu Mei did not tell her who the other parent was…

Qi Yingzhu furrowed her brows and still ignored her. She hummed quietly, watching the crowd outside the window, refusing to look back at Mu Lanshi.

“Really not going to talk?” Mu Lanshi made a show of being troubled, leaning her head onto Qi Yingzhu’s shoulder. “Didn’t my mate agree last time that we’d look after each other?”

She spoke with a malicious breath. Qi Yingzhu’s ears were the most sensitive to teasing; a single breath would turn them red, without even needing to rub.

“You still need me to take care of you? Go find someone in the Qicheng Pavilion to take care of you,” Qi Yingzhu snapped irritably, “Without even opening your mouth, Young Lady Mu stands there and becomes a scene. All kinds of people would rush over…”

It seemed she was truly angry, which was why she was speaking so carelessly.

All kinds of people. Mu Lanshi couldn’t help but smile, but then she thought, if it were her, she would probably do the same to her rival.

Mu Lanshi patiently explained, “No, there aren’t people rushing over to me… You listen to me.”

“I won’t listen.”

Mu Lanshi softly clicked her tongue. Alright, she was being quite domineering.

No wonder she was the mate treating the concubine this way.

She thought she had already lowered herself enough, but Qi Yingzhu still wanted her to lower herself a bit more—though it wasn’t a big deal.

If only there had been a chance to talk things out in her past life. But because there wasn’t, Mu Lanshi treasured it even more.

“You won’t listen to even one sentence?” Mu Lanshi deliberately softened her voice, adding a hint of coyness.

Like she was pouting cutely.

Qi Yingzhu’s heart felt like it was brushed by a feather, and she slowly said, “Just one sentence.”

So, she agreed.

Mu Lanshi smiled and moved closer to Qi Yingzhu’s ear, her breath making the person beside her shiver repeatedly, as she said, “I was called by my mother to burn incense. This item is necessary for alphas when they enter heat… Whatever they are doing there has nothing to do with me.”

Qi Yingzhu’s body jolted, but she didn’t raise her hand to slap her. Instead, she coldly said, “As if I didn’t know.”

She had been the Empress for so many years; what didn’t she know? Although she was past the age for the alpha incense, the children in the royal family still had to do such things.

Qi Yingzhu felt the weight pressing on her shoulders.

“So, you blame me for that?” Mu Lanshi sighed, “But it doesn’t matter, as long as the mate is happy, I’ll do anything. Although the mate just promised me that she would take care of me during my heat…”

Qi Yingzhu: ?

Heat?

Finally, Qi Yingzhu couldn’t hold back anymore and directly bumped her head against Mu Lanshi’s cheek: “Then why haven’t you had it?”

“But someone has had it,” Mu Lanshi said, and her previously still hand wrapped around her again, holding her soft and slender waist, “Jealousy is also a form of having it, right?”

Tsk. She fell for her trick again!

Qi Yingzhu was rubbed against her.

“Mate, mate…” Mu Lanshi called her softly, teasingly, “Can you let me sit?”

No shame.

As soon as she finished speaking, she already supported her under her soft buttocks, immediately lifting her up.

Then she parted her legs and let her straddle her.

Whether during the action or after it was completed, this action made Qi Yingzhu quite embarrassed.

How could she let her sit on her lap like this!

“Mate is still kind, you let Lanshi sit down, and even sat on top of her.” She smiled and twisted her ear.

“…Put me down, don’t do this,” Qi Yingzhu was extremely embarrassed, always burying her head in Mu Lanshi’s chest, “There are so many people here, what if someone sees us?”

Before she finished speaking, she felt her waist being pinched, and Mu Lanshi deliberately supported her, moving her half an inch towards the bright window. The carved wooden window outside was filled with falling cherry blossoms, but not as enchanting as the rouge color spreading from the corner of the eye in her embrace.

From Mu Lanshi’s angle, she could see the curled long eyelashes, adorned on that pair of almond eyes.

Yes, Qi Yingzhu had almond eyes, with a blunt outer corner, like a rabbit’s, round and spirited.

And now she was blushing, burying her face in her embrace…

She really did look like a shy rabbit.

“It’s fine, they can only see me, not the mate.” Mu Lanshi nodded seriously, “When my heat comes, it will be my own shame, right?” She said, rubbing and kneading the soft, fitting parts, “Am I right?”

Although Qi Yingzhu stubbornly refused to marry her, in this situation… it wasn’t impossible.

Clearly, Qi Yingzhu was the one being bullied, but Mu Lanshi called her “mate,” looking at her blushing face was really amusing.

Straddling on her lap was a very bold and ambiguous action.

Although they had done everything, sitting like this in broad daylight, by the window, Qi Yingzhu still felt quite embarrassed. She quietly pinched Mu Lanshi’s body, questioning, “So, how can I make you put me down?”

Oh. So soon to admit it?

Mu Lanshi raised an eyebrow, but then she thought, if Qi Yingzhu didn’t even acknowledge the title of “mate” now, then she would be completely dominated.

“What does the mate think?”

The place where they were straddling, because of the fabric rubbing, caused a series of tingling sensations, or even moistness.

And Mu Lanshi didn’t support her very stably, so Qi Yingzhu had to personally hold her to make herself fully stable.

“I think?” Qi Yingzhu huffed and puffed, rubbing against Mu Lanshi’s neck for a long time, “How about, kiss you once?”

Mu Lanshi thought this was a great idea: “We can start with a kiss.”

Hmph. After all, she smelled really good. A kiss wouldn’t hurt. Just a kiss.

Qi Yingzhu thought this and tilted her neck, pressing against her jaw, gently and softly containing her lips.

This time, she was the one initiating the kiss with Mu Lanshi—but this also exposed something: she wasn’t skilled at it.

Kiss, how to kiss?

Suck, or…? She didn’t understand. She could only follow her own way, kissing chaotically, and randomly completed the ‘kiss you once’ she had promised Mu Lanshi, considering it done.

Her clumsy lips and tongue were like a young butterfly exploring a flower bud, sometimes lightly pecking at the lip corners, sometimes hesitating to leave. Mu Lanshi let out a sigh from her throat.

The kissing lasted a while, and she kissed quite eagerly.

But Mu Lanshi didn’t have any resisting reactions.

…Whatever Yingzhu did to her, she was willing to accept.

Clumsy or skilled, it didn’t matter.

“Little Lord is quite good at kissing.” Mu Lanshi laughed, her upturned phoenix eyes welling up with a few drops of moist tears, and she held Qi Yingzhu’s waist more tightly.

Little Lord was a term of endearment for her wife. Of course, for Qi Yingzhu, Mu Lanshi sometimes thought of other names…

Maybe Qi Yingzhu’s figure wasn’t enough.

So Qi Yingzhu lifted her up, and she lowered her own head to hers.

Let her kiss her lips, either delicately or wildly.

Any way was fine.

Outside the window, a sparrow suddenly flew by, taking away half a broken sigh.

Qi Yingzhu finally let go of Mu Lanshi’s lips, and in this not very skilled kiss, both of their lips were kissed red and seductive.

“Who gave you permission to call me Little Lord…” She complained with some dissatisfaction, like a sulky coquettishness, “You have no awareness of being my concubine.”

Although she said this, her hand still lingered on Mu Lanshi’s hanging black hair.

Wrapping her little fingers around it, unwilling to let go.

Mu Lanshi saw all this and smiled slightly, not showing any expression: “Alright, alright, alright. It’s my fault for lacking awareness, but Little Lord also has no rules.”

Teasing her a bit was fine, Mu Lanshi held the person and turned in another direction, using her foot to step on the nearby clever switch, and the window curtain suddenly contracted, leaving only a gap wide enough for them to look out.

“Little Lord wants to see what?” Pulling the curtain, but it didn’t mean Mu Lanshi would let go of the person.

She just held her like this, with her breath occasionally brushing past Qi Yingzhu’s neck.

But she didn’t dare to tease her for long, Qi Yingzhu seemed uncomfortable with her doing this to her.

Mu Lanshi suddenly felt her chest get cold, it turned out that at some point, Qi Yingzhu had untied it, angrily licking or biting.

Mm, after all, a cornered rabbit will bite.

By the time she bit enough, it might be too late.

“Little Lord, be careful, don’t miss spotting because you’re busy gnawing…” Mu Lanshi laughed, her chest rumbling with laughter.

She said this and even amused herself.

Qi Yingzhu’s actions then slightly stopped, looking at her with some frustration: “Who said gnawing you is important?”

At most, it was just her entertainment!

“Xu Yuan are going to divorce that old man, will you do the same?”

Qi Yingzhu tilted her neck, pointing downstairs, “Look, wasn’t I here only to watch that? It’s you who broke your promise…”

Not guard what? Qi Yingzhu had already gotten used to sitting on Mu Lanshi’s lap, with no reaction, just a low grunt.

Because she couldn’t think of any words to blame Mu Lanshi, Qi Yingzhu quickly passed over the part about not guarding.

But Mu Lanshi insisted on making an issue out of it: “Not guard what? Not guard virtue, or not guard the alpha rules? Or is it that I, as the concubine, didn’t fulfill the mate’s wishes?”

“Mu Lanshi… shut up!” Qi Yingzhu was angry, wanting to cover her mischievous mouth, but heard the knocking sound from the door, it was the shopkeeper’s voice.

A light and agile female voice came: “Ladies, the freshly steamed pear blossom cakes are here!”

Mu Lanshi and Qi Yingzhu’s ambiguous actions simultaneously stopped, Mu Lanshi coughed, loudly said, “Give it to the beggars at the street corner.” Her voice was steady, only the ending revealed a hint of emotional hoarseness.

“Um,” the shopkeeper was stunned for a moment, “Okay.”

Well, a reward is in order.

***

There was a three-inch gap on the carved wooden window. Qi Yingzhu’s fingertips hooked Mu Lanshi’s fingers, playing with them.

Mu Lanshi stared at Qi Yingzhu’s elegant face, lost in thought for a moment.

Don’t be fooled by how she bickered so happily with Qi Yingzhu—truthfully, this kind of situation was the only place where she could take a little advantage of her.

Qi Yingzhu hadn’t told her anything more about her plans.

She only said, she would help her gain a foothold.

But what if she didn’t help her gain that foothold? What were her backup plans? These were all things Mu Lanshi wanted to know.

And after causing a scene at the magistrate’s office? Just a concubine? That might work, but what if those higher up chose to hush it up?

The noisy voices downstairs grew louder and louder, and suspicion crept deeper into Mu Lanshi’s heart.

“Little Lord, can you tell me,” Mu Lanshi suddenly lowered her head and took into her mouth the hand Qi Yingzhu was playing with, licking the fingers and letting the wetness linger as she released them, “what exactly is Madam Xu trying to stir up?”

***

“Heavens above! Merciful sky mother!” Xu Yuan wailed loudly in the middle of Qinglong Street, tears and snot flowing. “Is there no justice left in this world?”

She was still wearing luxurious clothing, but something unknown had stained them, and the spring rain had soaked them through. They clung to her body like her damp sideburns.

The crowd had already gathered—this was the third time this madam had caused a scene.

“Qi Zhongxuan, you shameless dog! You keep a wife outside. You think just because we’re in Jiangnan and far from the capital, you can do whatever you want… Have you forgotten what your father said when the marriage was arranged? Now you’ve run off, staying with that woman and not even coming home! My daughters and I are just left pitiful and alone!” Her shouting shook the street, drawing even more stares. “Even when our daughter fell ill, you wouldn’t come back! I had still been clinging to hope you would return.”

The crowd gossiped among themselves. Some newcomers asked, “What’s going on? Who is this woman?”

Someone kindly explained: the woman was Madam Xu from the Xu family of Jiangnan, who had married Qi Zhongxuan. Their marriage had been one of equal status, but Xu Yuan had loved Qi Zhongxuan more and gave in.

“But now I’m done with him! That wretched man!” Xu Yuan shouted. “He’s acting like a coward, hiding away and refusing to come out! So I’m going to the magistrate to seek justice!”

Her voice wasn’t small, and the way she sobbed and cried moved the crowd to sympathy. Besides, this wasn’t the first time she’d made a scene here—everyone remembered her.

“So, Madam Xu… where did your husband go?” someone poked their head out to ask.

Xu Yuan wiped away her tears. “That’s exactly what I’m trying to find out. I can’t find where that coward has gone, so I came to the authorities for help!”

Hmph. Today was just to give that old bastard a show of force. No way he’d dare show up!

If he didn’t, all the better. He was probably still drowning in that woman’s tenderness!

Ha, but he’d never guess just how dangerous that woman’s real background was.

Since that’s the case, she didn’t mind stirring up an even bigger mess.

At a nearby teahouse, Mu Lanshi watched the entire thing unfold. She ran her fingers through Qi Yingzhu’s hair, the soft scent of osmanthus drifting up from the ends.

Qi Yingzhu suddenly seemed to think of something and turned her head. Her shining apricot eyes looked straight into Mu Lanshi’s. “Lanshi.”

She called her… Lanshi?

This woman had just been pouting and refusing to let her touch her—how was she now sweetly calling her “Lanshi”?

As the saying goes: if something’s off, there’s definitely something going on.

Mu Lanshi raised her guard and looked up. “What is it, Yingzhu?”

There was a flicker of light in Qi Yingzhu’s eyes. She really did learn fast.

But judging by Mu Lanshi’s reaction, she had already guessed that she was about to ask something of her.

“Mm.” Qi Yingzhu climbed further onto her, speaking softly and sweetly. “Lord Alpha… I know the Mu family raises private soldiers, don’t they?”

Of course. In these unstable times, every reputable noble house kept their own loyal soldiers. After all, when dynasties shift, only the strength in your own hands can be relied on.

That was exactly why, in her past life, Meng Yan had held her in high regard. Since the Li family wouldn’t support her, controlling Mu Lanshi was a perfect strategy.

Soldiers were lifeblood.

Mu Lanshi raised an eyebrow, suddenly feeling a bit displeased.

All this time, she had never forced Qi Yingzhu into anything. Whatever Qi Yingzhu chose to tell her, she would accept. Everything had been led by her.

She truly had great means—just look at the chaos on the street below and you could tell how ruthless the young empress dowager was.

But still, being left in the dark felt unpleasant. And it was clear that Qi Yingzhu still wanted something from her.

Her soldiers.

Mu Lanshi’s tone was flat. “But the military authority is in my mother’s hands, and this is no small matter… What if she scolds me?”

Qi Yingzhu tilted her head, round apricot eyes looking up at her. She wrapped her arms around her neck, affectionately licking her earlobe and murmured, “Yes, the authority lies with your esteemed mother. But doesn’t the young miss have her own loyal men too? You’re kind and generous. I’m sure you have many who would die for you, don’t you?”

…That wasn’t wrong.

Besides the ones loyal to the family and assigned by the family leader, she had her own hidden guards as well—people like Ah Chen were among them.

Truthfully, whatever Qi Yingzhu wanted, Mu Lanshi was willing to give. But being kept in the dark like this didn’t feel good.

She helped her gain footing, she agreed to become her external partner, and yet Qi Yingzhu wouldn’t share what she was really planning.

Clearly, she had run into trouble, and with no one trustworthy around, she had set her sights on Mu Lanshi’s private soldiers.

Mu Lanshi quietly reached for the family leader’s token, making sure it was secure and out of Qi Yingzhu’s reach.

Some greedy kittens had to be lured with bait.

“There are soldiers, but raising them costs a lot of money, and takes a lot of time,” Mu Lanshi said lightly. “Yingzhu asking me like this… really puts me in a difficult position. What if they die? They’re precious.”

“It’s alright,” Qi Yingzhu tilted her head and kissed the corner of her lips. “Lanshi has lots and lots of money and time.”

“But there’s only one Qi Yingzhu.” Mu Lanshi deliberately kept her face cold. Or maybe, she just wanted to see what Qi Yingzhu would do.

“Mm, just one Qi Yingzhu?” she repeated slowly. Sure enough, seeing Mu Lanshi unmoved, Qi Yingzhu leaned closer, scratched the back of her neck, and continued softly, “But didn’t you call me mate? There are so many women in the world—why did you call me mate?”

In her amber pupils floated gold-like flecks, swirling like starlight stirred by a spring breeze. Even the trembling lashes shimmered with a sly glow.

She was such a fake when she tried to coax someone.

Mu Lanshi thought to herself she had fallen for the young empress dowager’s tricks again. She chuckled coldly, then pinched and released her long fingers before reaching to squeeze the soft flesh of her cheek.

So soft. Just like the flesh around her waist. The texture was wonderful.

Qi Yingzhu was being pinched, a little annoyed but unable to resist. Her muffled complaint came out sulky: “Mu Lanshi, say something. Don’t just squeeze my face—”

“I’m just measuring how thick the skin is on my one and only mate in the world.”

She had looked so reluctant when accepting those land deeds the other day.

Mu Lanshi kneaded her cheek carefully, the sensation ticklish and warm.

She wanted to see how far Qi Yingzhu would go to win her private soldiers and guards.

“A wise bird chooses the right tree,” Qi Yingzhu said softly. Her white teeth bit her earlobe, warm breath wrapping her words in a honeyed tone. “And isn’t Lanshi’s surname Mu?”

Mu Lanshi clicked her tongue, rubbed her waist again, and replied, “Wicked bird.”

A greedy kitten wasn’t a wise bird at all.

Hearing her tone, Qi Yingzhu knew she had succeeded. Her arms that had been wrapped around Mu Lanshi’s neck began to loosen.

That only made Mu Lanshi more displeased—what did this woman mean by that?

Use her, then toss her away? She hadn’t even said what she’d offer her in exchange, nor what the guards were needed for.

So Mu Lanshi suddenly caught the retreating hand and forced her to stay in her arms.

“So wicked,” Qi Yingzhu said in a low, muffled voice, almost whining, “If it’s wicked, does that mean you’ll stop loving me?”

She spoke as if daring, feeling fearless because she had Mu Lanshi’s support. Mu Lanshi smiled silently to herself—she wanted Qi Yingzhu to be just this confident, this fearless.

“Alright, then it’s a deal,” Mu Lanshi replied firmly. “Break it, and you’ll spend a night with me.”

Qi Yingzhu still sounded reluctant, grumbling, “Oh, but if it isn’t broken, does that mean I won’t get to see you, Lanshi?”

***

TL/Note:

Pre-rain Longjing (雨前龍井) https://redblossomtea.com/products/prerain-dragonwell?variant=31627346820

小 xiǎo small; tiny; few; young. 君 jūn monarch; lord; gentleman; ruler. = Little Lord.